albymush

But be honest, if they don’t spend those Billions, no one can get kickbacks!

The new regulations, aimed at reducing the accidents on Thai roads, during the holiday seasons, highlight the fact that there is no real understanding of the overwhelming cause.
It is simply that: very few motor-cyclists know or care how to behave on roads!
For instance, it is a rule all over the world, not to overtake a vehicle on the side nearest the pavement; in Thailand this is on the vehicles left. In Thailand, overtaking on the left is “normal”, even when the vehicle is indicating to turn left.
Age limitations have no meaning in Thailand, 10 year old, seems to be the age when parents buy their young motorbikes and let them venture onto the highways.
Laws, demanding head protection are laughed at. As are the police that turn “blind eyes” to kids on bikes with no helmets.
Only when the Thai authorities take responsibility, to ensure that ALL motor-cyclists are competent, and protected will the road deaths be reduced.
I know this has all been said before, but if it is said often enough, someone in authority may spot it and act on it. 

The airplane body has nothing to do with it its the engines Rolls Royce seem to be going thru a bad patch. The airplanes have been airbus and now a boing.

Good old English quality fly 1 hour, 10 hours in the shop.

What are the moderators doing letting you post? strikes me Thai Visa is going to the Moes oops I mean Dogs

An advantage to the O-A visa is not having to keep the money in a Thai non-interest-bearing account. The Royal Thai Consulate or Embassy will use retirement funds in an IRA or 401(k) plan, or a brokerage account. This helps, too, if you have money invested in a tax-deferred account, so you won't have to take a distribution and pay extra taxes, especially if you worked in the current tax year. Later, when you have moved to a lower tax bracket, you can take a distribution, move it to Thailand, and do an extension of stay. This could be as much as nearly two years after you arrive in Thailand, plenty of time in which to decide if it's going to work for you.

Sateev

"pay no attention to the m[e]n behind the curtain"

Hi Sateev I'm really glad you posted today!

I was really wondering what to do? You see I had taken my distribution and moved it to Thailand, but the Embassy had worked a flanker and used the retirement fund in a 401k sorry 401(k). They could have used a brokerage account or an IRA (cunning)I had worked in the current year you see and therefore could not move into a lower tax bracket, so even though I took my extension of stay I was stumped cos I hadn't a clue what I was doing, or what I was doing it with with

1. Consulates work under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have nothing to do with and in most cases little knowledge of Immigration extension of stay requirements.

2. Immigration requires the 800k be in a Thai bank account for the previous two or three months every year if using that method. The only alternative is 65k per month income by your Embassy certification or a combination of the two to meet 800k.

3. There is no requirement that income or 800k in bank account be remitted or used.

4. Ownership of property is a very gray area and if company is set up to avoid foreign land ownership could be illegal so probably not something most would want to get into government channels.

Hi Lopburi3

I take onboard the meaning of your 4th point and I will pass this on.

albymush

OK. I see your point. That's kind of a technical point. For an O-A visa the money doesn't even need to be in Thailand! There are different ways to show money for that depending on the specific home country embassy rules. But that is TEMPORARY. But eventually people with O-A's who are really retired in Thailand go for their annual extensions based on retirement can NEVER use owned property to meet the financial requirements. So this presumed good news that people using the bank account method in Thailand for their annual retirement extensions isn't real.

Hi Jingthing

To your knowledge has this question ever been asked before? I guess it must have because you are so certain that proof of financial transfer is not an accepted parameter

We may be talking about different things. There is qualifying for the O-A in the home country (see post 3) and there is qualifying for extensions in Thailand. I am not sure what you asking about here now. In any case, I have 100 percent certainly nobody is qualifying for retirement extensions in Thailand on the bank account method with either property ownership OR proof of transfer; the proof needed is the money in the bank account for that, seasoned according to the rules, and that's that. In other words for such extensions, you could have proof you had transferred 100 million baht but still would not get a retirement extension if you showed up with 799,000 baht in your Thai bank account (using the pure bank account method, no pension).

Hi again Jingthing

You're spot on, I've just re-read the application requirements for an extension of visa and there is no mention of proof of remittance - just a requirement for 800K baht in a Thai bank.

So --- sadly the guy seems to have been talking a lot of hot air. unless he knows something that we don't.

My Mate is sure the Guy wasn't talking about the "O-A" visa as that clearly states that the requirement for the finances, is in ones own country.

OK. I see your point. That's kind of a technical point. For an O-A visa the money doesn't even need to be in Thailand! There are different ways to show money for that depending on the specific home country embassy rules. But that is TEMPORARY. But eventually people with O-A's who are really retired in Thailand go for their annual extensions based on retirement can NEVER use owned property to meet the financial requirements. So this presumed good news that people using the bank account method in Thailand for their annual retirement extensions isn't real.

Hi Jingthing

To your knowledge has this question ever been asked before? I guess it must have because you are so certain that proof of financial transfer is not an accepted parameter

As the only authorized source for a retirement (long stay) visa in the UK is the Royal Thai Embassy in London I suspect the Consulate is saying they will issue a one year non immigrant O visa with such proof. That requires exit of Thailand every 90 days so is not the same an an O-A visa or one year extension of stay for retirement.

Hi Lopburi3

You're right about the London Embassy being the only source for the "O-A" visa

But this info was passed over whilst applying for an "O" visa for his present visit.

Whilst he was there he asked about the 800K Baht requirement and was given the info I passed on. The guy also took their property details and entered them into the consulate computer system for future reference!

Yes, there is a flaw. A 100 percent flaw. They have received totally fallacious information. Sorry.

For those looking for a super easy path to permanent residency abroad and even a second passport if desired, try Ecuador, where simply buying a 25,000 dollar piece of real estate gets you in. Permanently.

Hi Jingthing

Thanks for the info about Ecuador, I'll bear it in mind.

But back to this financial aspect here. Have you noticed in the document, describing requirements for Non-Imm. "O-A" visa, it states, and I copy here:- Foreigner who wishes to extend his or her stay shall submit a request for extension of stay at the Office of the Immigration Bureau with documented evidence of money transfer or a deposit account in Thailand or an income certificate showing an amount of not less than 800,000.- Baht.

That phrase "Documented evidence of Money transfer" is what the guy in Cardiff told my mate. He said, the ownership of the house, plus proof of money transfer, would class as the financial requirement.

Both Options do not require border runs.

Retirement Visa O-A is issued in your own country and has the same financial requirements as the 12 month Extension.

However the money can be in a bank in your own country and you also need a Police Check and Medical.

With the Extension the money has to be in a Thai bank and no Police check or Medical is needed.

To Lite Beer

Are you sure there is no medical check requirement for a first time applicant, I had to have one 4 years ago?

Hello

My Mate and his wife (both English) were told by the Thai Consulate officer in Cardiff, that their House in Thailand, Value about 5 million Baht, which they own through a company, can count as my mates financial requirement when applying for a retiremnt visa?

If this is factual, then there are a lot of expats going to be smiling due to not having to have 800000 baht in Thai Bank, or equivalent pension.

But I suspect there is flaw in there somewhere.

Any comments?

Albymush

Hello all

does anyone know if one requires a Thai driving licence to buy a car? and must the Non-Immigrant visa be a 12 month one or will a single entry class "O" do?

Hi again

there were actually a couple of relevant replies, Thanks lopburi3 and jingthing

Hi this is Albymush, English, retired.

I've read the explanitory note in the appropriate ThaiVisa section regarding this Non-Imm. "O-A" visa, and there is no mention of the funds required (800,000 Baht) being required to be "in Kingdom" ie the funds for the first visa could be in a UK bank.

It is clear that subsequent years require funds to be in Kingdom,

Does anyone know if this is correct?

They seem to think that the democratically elected government is just another sphere of Thaksin's influence. They (PAD) and their friends prefer and are in favour of military coups, hence increasing the power of unelected bureaucrats and the army. They also accuse Khun Somchai's government of being anti-royalist - which is bowlecks.

As you say, they just don't like losing elections.

Now i've heard this a few times today yet nobody can explain how PAD can loose an election it has NEVER participated in. Anyone.....anyone?

There seems to be a mis-understanding by some of my fellow Falangs!

The PAD never stood against the PPP at the elections -- they are a group of non-elected people, rounded up by a small group of Ex- Friends of Thaksin, that disagree with the PPP being in charge!!!

their reasons are:-

1) They think the PPP is being manipulated by Thaksin.

2) They think the PPP is being manipulated by Thaksin.

3) They think the PPP is being manipulated by Thaksin.

The PAD is not a political party - they are protesters, although they are being supported by some influential people and organisations. They claim (maybe correctly) to represent the middle and influential classes of Thailand

They do at this time seem to form the main opposition to the PPP.

Then there is the other group (the Red shirts) (the UDD) that are Pro Government/PPP.

This group is made up of Retired Police, Army and Civil Services, and a whole host of North/NorthEasterners

It seems that their viewpoint is - that what the PAD is doing is wrong! The Army/Police are doing nothing - so they are showing solidarity with the goverment by opposing the protesters.

It Must also be added that this group is Pro-Thaksin

Albymush

Then why don't they <deleted> off then. Be a party and stand or just go away and boil their heads. The PPP is a political party and and Elected on at that. PAD has no rights what soever.

Be part of the system or quit wingeing.

So you are saying no-one can protest unless they first lost an election?

That sure will make it hard for you and me if, as you claim PAD and their supporters are xenophobic and want to tighten VISA further further, to make any protests at all. You are effectivly gagging yourself.

I prefer to see it that anyone with any ties to any country in any way, physical, biological or emotional, can protest against anything the government does. That is a persons right.

Anything else is fascism.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Difficult to believe what I read in a lot of these posts!!!

Here we have the duly elected government of a country of over 60 million people, being pressured by a few thousand PAD supporters. (Basically supporters of the opposition party)

Seemingly sane, ThaiVisa Posters, are almost 50% in favour of a Coup????

What would the Yanks have thought if Al Gore had tried to depose George W Bush by organised riots, or John McCain advocate preventing Pres. Elect Barak Obama from taking office?

What would Brits have to say if David Cameron organised the Tories to besiege and force the closure of Heathrow, accusing George Brown of Gross negligence over the credit crunch

In democracy the rules are simple! --- Watch the mistakes the government make, and bring them to the notice of the electorate, loudly and strongly at the next election! And hope that your policies are acceptable to the majority of the countries voters. if they are - you will be voted into power.

Make your case loudly and strongly --- but don't try to ruin the country for heavens sake

Military coups??? in a democratic country???? Never

Albymush

I'm a Brit who has lived in Thailand for several years, first on marriage visas, then retirement (combining pension with bank account). I've never left the country, never had to do visa runs.

Unfortunately, with the recent exchange rates, it could be difficult to reach the required 800,000 baht level in January. As a complete dummy regarding types of visas available, visa runs, etc., I would very much appreciate any information from experienced visa-sufferers as to what options may be available to me, to enable me to continue living here with my family.

Many thanks.

Hi Elwood

I've read the Posts and excuse me if I missed it, but I didnt see anyone had advised you that your pension can easily be counted in the 800k Baht requirement!

You mentioned that you are well over retirement age! Even if you are on a reduced State Pension, of say £100 a week, this makes around 350k Baht to be deducted from the 800k, all you need to do is get the local UK Consul, (or the Embassy in Bangkok if necessary) to verify your retirement payment documents,including a bank statement showing the payments. You can get these pension doc's sent out to you from the Pension Services in UK,

Hope this helps

We are in the onset of worldwide mayhem----but I am optimistic that it will be quite a bit less catasclysmic for Thailand than we might think and fear.

Thanks for that. I agree with the whole article.

However, do you have any insights as to -- where that leave us Brits. Aussies and other non US or Japanese, with our rapidly diminishing cash - due to the current exchange rates?

As many of you have been pointing out on this thread, it is those who immediately lose their jobs when the factory, or property developer, ceases to get orders who suffer first (along with the vendors at the factory gates). But many can come back to their villages on the first bus, without even needing an invitation. And others will be invited very quickly.

Some very prominent social scientists (Phasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker) summarised it well, when they said in their book 'Thailand's Boom and Bust': "Its Villages are the Social Security System of Thailand".

We are in the onset of worldwide mayhem----but I am optimistic that it will be quite a bit less catasclysmic for Thailand than we might think and fear.

Thanks for that. I agree with the whole article.

Pretty simplistic report, written by journalists ill-prepared to understand the subject. Emerging economies feel it last, and historically, the least. Perhaps not so in an increasingly globalized environment.

Three points need only be mentioned: [1] Thai export manufacturing generates 70% of total GDP; [2] tourism another 6-7% of total GDP; and, [3] Thais (across all sectors, government and private) are ill-prepared for what is about to hit them 1Q2009. Without foreigners, Thailand becomes Cambodia.

Then, expect a hard economic hit to the lower-income, less-educated classes, meaningful social dislocation, and even greater political morass.

I Think you are forgetting that Thailand is the worlds biggest Rice exporter - which - combined with other foodstuffs and rubber - makes up a large slice of their 70% export capability.

Rice and rubber are essential goods and will always have a market!! Admittedly the Tourist market (6-7%GDP) will suffer, but in comparison to the worlds - non-essential goods exporters - Thailand is in a good position to survive the worst of this crisis

No aaaaaa the USD is not utterly f***ked. The dollar may be down, but it is not out. Right now demand for U.S. treasuries is strengthening the USD. The European economy is in far worse shape than the American economy. Believe or not many investors are dumping their euros. I am not saying this out of patriotism. It's just reality.

Your right, the dollar is still a rock in the currancy world !!!

The £pound to the $USD has collapsed, along with the Euro and a host of other currancies! And that is the problem with the £, and the $AUS for instance, to Thai Baht -- because the Thai's are holding the Baht to the $USD, hence the $USD still converts at 34 B

before this upheaval. when the £ was equal to $2 - the exchange rate was around 68 B = £1

However the Thai financial systems are not to blame for the weak £, it's has been caused by a whole raft of problems such as:- The soaring price of oil, that scared 50% of British industry into pulling back from any investments.

The credit crunch - that scuppered the investment plans of the other 50%.

The frightening sounds made by crashing financial institutions in Britain and around the world.

But I blame the greed of the oil producers that sat back smirking whilst the price of oil soared. they kicked off the whole lack of trust scene that escalated into the crisis that we now have.

Oil prices affect much more than the price of petrol. It affects most plastics (a by- product of oil). it affects Mineral oil - prices were raised to double, and more, to maintain parity as an alternative fuel for transport and heating. and basically everything else that is transported from "A" to "B" became more expensive because fuel costs and therefore transport costs rocketed.

Will Thailand be affected by this world crisis?? --- Without a single doubt.

Are Thailands banks safe?? -- Safe as the bank of England mate!

No one is disputing this as people do this all the time.

It is a Twelve Month Extension Of Stay based on Retirement.

It is not an O-A Visa.

OK! so now let me see if I now have this right

1) An O-A visa is issued only by a Thai Embassy, and certain Consulates, in your own country.

2) An O-A visa is also known as a "long stay visa" and is also unofficially referred to as a retirement visa!

3) An O-A visa comes in Single entry or Multiple entry flavours, valid for 12 months.

4) The Multiple entry visa can be managed in such a way as to be effective for almost 2 years

5) Just prior to the final expiry of the O-A visa, if one has the age, the credentials and the wherewithal, all duly accredited and within the time constraints, one applies for an extension of stay for reasons of retirement.

6) An extension of stay for the purpose of retirement is not an O-A visa (or indeed a visa of any kind)

albymush, the Thai consulate in Hull and you make the same mistake that quite a number of ThaiVisa members have made before you: Hull uses “O-A retirement visa “and you use “retirement visa” to refer to the annual extension of stay for the reason of retirement, obtainable at an immigration office in Thailand. Therefore, both Hull and you are wrong, Lopburi is right.

O-A visa: available only from Thai embassies and selected Thai consulates.

Retirement extension, by some people erroneously called retirement visa: available only from immigration offices in Thailand.

These are the facts.

--

Maestro

I stand corrected again Maestro! Strictly speaking I should not have used the term "visa" when referring to the 12 month extension of stay for retirement purposes!

The Hull Consulate however was and is correct.

One fact that is irrefutable however - is that I entered Thailand on a Visa Exemption permit to stay. After 13 days I was issued a category "O" VISA (valid for one day), and then I had an 12 month extension with "RETIREMENT" stamped on it, which I collected the next day

And Hull is wrong and is not the Embassy (which is in London). An O-A visa can only be issued outside of Thailand and inside Thailand extensions of stay are issued or a single entry O visa to be extended later. The O-A means that advance approval has been granted for a one year permitted to stay stamp on entry into Thailand. In the UK only London issues this type of visa from my understanding.

Doing it the Hull way is arriving with a non immigrant O visa entry for 90 days and then you go to Immigration during the last 30 days to apply for an extension of stay for one year. Once you obtain an extension of stay you will lose it if you enter on a visa rather than a re-entry permit so buying a multi entry non immigrant visa is not good advise for most people. In fact a visa (that allows extension of stay) can be obtained in Thailand at an extra cost of 2,000 baht for those that meet financial/age requirements for retirement.

I stand corrected. Hull is a Consulate not an Embassy!

However, your reply prompted further investigation, which reveals, that at present Consulates in UK are not authorised to issue the special NON-IMMIGRANT category 0-A Visas but once the working of the current system is established, the position could be reviewed. which makes the Hull web document correct, as far as Consulates (and postal applications) are concerned.

At the present time the appropriate Visa “NON-IMMIGRANT” CAT “O-A” can only be obtained through personal application (i.e. not by post) to the Royal Thai Embassy, 30, Queen’s Gate, London S.W.7 or the Office of the Immigration Bureau, Section 1, Sub Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 0120. Tel 0066-228/3101-10 Ext.2236.

Both paragraphs are taken from Thai UK Consulate websites!

And sorry to have to say this but you are in error! an OA visa can be issued inside of Thailand. and was - to me!

Also I think it should be mentioned, to enlighten those members that are intending to be new retirees, that a retirement visa actually has the word "Retirement" stamped into the passport and is not merely "colloquially Known as a retirement Visa"

OK, this is Streetlite again, the one who has sucessfully garnered the A-O multi but now I am confused by some of the replies after my submission.

Are you saying that the A-O multi is the exact same as the retirement Visa?

I thought, and I'm sure read, that only in Thailand could this retirement Visa be obtained and only after acquiring the long stay Visa from your home country. I did not think that the USA Embassy could issue such a "retirement" Visa.

Also, are you saying that I can keep renewing this A-O Visa every year by leaving and arriving just prior to expiration?

Do I have the responsibility of 90 day reporting with the A-O Visa? If so, do I have to report to Nakhon Sawam which is the Province I have indicated on my application.

So mant additional questions arise here.

Thanks, everyone.

JG seems to have it down now except perhaps for "residence" as that is another subject. The way you extend your stay in Thailand for retirement is submit a TM.7, financial papers, passport, departure card, 4x6cm photo and 1,900 baht. Not hard at all.

The O-A is a long stay visa issued in your home country - normally called a retirement visa. But when it first became available it was single entry only and many people lost there one year stay by exiting the country not knowing that had to obtain a re-entry permit. Then the multi entry became common to avoid this - but this allows an extra years stay if worked right. The only difference (other than the cost) is single entry is one entry/one year stay. Multi is unlimited number of one year entry during one year validity of visa.

The US Embassy does not issue Thai visas - but they do certify your income when you want to apply for one year extension of stay for retirement. This is issued by Immigration inside Thailand and must be from a non immigrant visa (but the visa can also be issued by Immigration if you don't have one).

No you do not renew O-A visa but you can get almost two years out of it as explained above. Once that time is over you apply for extensions of stay from Immigration using TM.7

Any time you stay 90 days in Thailand you must report your address using TM.47 form. That can be done by mail to Bangkok.

The USA system and the British system appears to be different, if in fact what Lopburi3 states is correct, and I do not doubt that it is.

The following is copied and pasted directly from the latest - online explanitory document - from the website of the Thai Embassy in Hull, UK.

"Having made the decision to retire in Thailand and having obtained/completed all the necessary documents,

it is necessary to apply to the Royal Thai Consulate for a Non-Immigrant Category “O” Visa – see pages 3/10

to 6/10. This visa will enable the person to gain entry to Thailand so they can go through the process of

applying for the retirement status. Furthermore, because the “O-A” Retirement Visa allows a continuous

stay of up to twelve months but does not allow that person to (having exited) re-enter Thailand we advise

obtaining the Non-Immigrant Category “O” Multiple Entry Visa. This visa entitles the holder to exit and

re-enter Thailand at will, incurring no extra fees."

this is saying that an "O-A" retirement visa can only be issued in Thailand!