dsmiththailand

On 7/12/2021 at 4:00 PM, mtls2005 said:

Who told you this would not be acceptable? Was it an immigration officer? And did they tell you why it would be unacceptable?

 

While there is some variation in interpretation with some IOs, in some offices, the rule says "income, such as...". There is no requirement that the source of the income must be from a pension.

 

Yes, there have been a few reports about prickly IOs demanding "pension or else", sometimes in an effort to steer a customer towards the 800K option, or the marriage option, or the agent option.

 

As long as the monthly transfer is 65,000 or more, and shows as coming from outside of Thailand, this is sufficient.

 

I too receive one-time annual retirement annuity payout (in addition to SocSec), usually on the first business day of the year in January. I then wire transfer at least 65,000 baht each month. I've done two extensions so far (ext stay/ret-inc at CW) successfully. Imm wants to see my passbooks, and I provide a bank-issued summary letter of the twelve transactions.

So, i just heard back from the law firm in Pattaya today and this is the response from their visit to the Thai immigration office.

"My staff checked at immigration earlier today.

If you have supporting paperwork that the "pension" was paid from the pension company to your American bank account then you transferred it to your Thai bank account they wills accept that however, when you change a tourist visas to a non o on the grounds of retirement you can only do that is you can show the 800,000 baht in the bank (At the same time the visa is changed) so immigration are saying the first time you will need to show the 800,000 in both accounts. At the end of the year and you go to renew these you will be able to show the 100,000 as a monthly income at that time for one of the visas.

Regards"

3 hours ago, kiteman9 said:

My immigration office  wants a letter from the social security and the veterans association stating the amount I receive each month. So a letter showing you receive an annual payment from Merrill Lynch should be what you need to back up where your funds are coming from.

I have my online statement (which i can print out) showing the amount of deposit.  Worst case scenario i will deposit the 800,000 baht but really really really prefer not to do so.

4 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Red Flag!   Red Flag!  From my pass experience I live in Pattaya did a half dozen or more interviews with Attorneys when I first came to Pattaya, even went down a list of recommended Attorneys by the Embassy result all pretty much useless every interview there were problems and uncertainty I walked away with.  When an attorney tells you " they got to go down to immigration and check "  that is the time to cut your loses and run for the hills!  this is what I call learning as they go at your expense. 

 

Doing what you are doing take a bit of patience it is really a simple process that you can do yourself,  personally if in Pattaya you be better off using the place next door to Immigration than this lawyer!  RUN FOREST RUN!

Totally agree.  I checked in with TikTok Services in Pattaya https://tiktokservicesthailand.com/ and they confirmed the process of 65,000 baht being transferred from a USA Bank is acceptable.  So once Saigon is off of its lock down in two weeks i will be at the thai embassy to request my tourist visa and once approved will be on the first flight out to Thailand. Thanks for all your very helpful feedback

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

Rather than converting in Thailand can you not get a single non-O before you leave?  Aside for the need for the 40/400 insurance you would at least avoid the conversion step and go straight for the extension after your 90 days.

I could but the thai embassy in Saigon is closed and also the government offices are closed for the next two weeks and even then no guarantee they will reopen again after the two weeks.  I will fly to Hanoi and get our tourist visa in two days and then fly out immediately, just in case Thailand decides to close its borders. 

9 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Is it reasonable to assume that the document list to support the change to a Non-O was just not updated, when some embassies stopped issuing letters?

 

And that they do allow the proof of foreign transfers as equivalent?

 

Or was this done on purpose to steer people towards the 800k option?

 

I guess I'm asking if anyone (U.S., U.K. etc.) has made the change using the monthly foreign transfer method?

 

I've seen reports of people doing this but maybe I wasn't reading closely, or maybe they were from countries still issuing letters?

 

In any event thanks for surfacing this question as it may have helped me, and a neighbor immensely. Maybe time to move to the 800K method. at least as back-up.

 

 

The law firm just stated that they will visit immigration tomorrow and confirm what the latest requirements is around the 65,000.  I will keep you updated.

8 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Who told you this would not be acceptable? Was it an immigration officer? And did they tell you why it would be unacceptable?

 

While there is some variation in interpretation with some IOs, in some offices, the rule says "income, such as...". There is no requirement that the source of the income must be from a pension.

 

Yes, there have been a few reports about prickly IOs demanding "pension or else", sometimes in an effort to steer a customer towards the 800K option, or the marriage option, or the agent option.

 

As long as the monthly transfer is 65,000 or more, and shows as coming from outside of Thailand, this is sufficient.

 

I too receive one-time annual retirement annuity payout (in addition to SocSec), usually on the first business day of the year in January. I then wire transfer at least 65,000 baht each month. I've done two extensions so far (ext stay/ret-inc at CW) successfully. Imm wants to see my passbooks, and I provide a bank-issued summary letter of the twelve transactions.

I was told that by a law firm in Pattaya today, as i am looking for a law firm or agent to assist me with changing a tourist visa to a retirement visa when i arrive in Thailand next month.  I was surprise to receive that response from them as what you have said matches up with what i have previously read online.  Sounds like I need to find a new law firm to deal with asap. Thanks

I receive an annual payment from Merrill Lynch (401K provider) that is deposited into my USA bank account.  I am planning on doing a monthly transfer into my thai bank account but i was told that this would not be acceptable with the Thai immigration.  Has anyone have any experience as to what the Thai Immigration would find acceptable?  Thanks

On 7/10/2021 at 8:52 AM, ubonjoe said:

Totally false info. If you can meet all the requirements it will not be a problem.

great to know.. thanks so much

i have heard?? that it is very hard to change from a tourist visa to a non O? Is this not true?

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

When you enter Thailand you will be granted permission of stay for 90 days.

You will have used the single entry of that Visa on entry and it will be 'USED'.

 

You then apply to extend that 90 day permission of stay for a further 365 days based on retirement, which is a permit, not a Visa. No such animal as a 'retirement' Visa' exists.

 

The other issue with the 65K transfers is depending on which bank you open an account with and the method you use for transfers, they may not be coded as 'International' transfers, then you will require extra documentation as proof it came from overseas. The accounts must be in your sole individual names.

 

Thanks. We are planning to use KASIKORNBANK in Pattaya as based on my research it is easy to open an account.  As for transferring funds from USA to Thailand, we are going to use Wise (formally Transferwise)

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

According the rules it will require at least 2 months of 65k baht transfers form abroad to apply for the extension. It will require proof the 65k baht was transferred form abroad and a updated bank book showing them along with a bank statement.

You need to check with immigration in Jomtien as to where they will accept 2 months of transfers for the first extension. Many offices will not accept the application unless there are 12 months of transfers.

Thanks for the infor. very helpful

I went through the Thai embassy in Los Angeles California USA

We have been approved for our Non O visas which allow us to stay in Thailand for 90 days, which we will then apply for the 1 year retirement visas.  During this time frame, one of us will open a bank account to deposit 800,000baht and the other person will open a bank account to deposit the required 65,000 baht per month.  My question is after 60 days of opening our accounts what documentation does the Pattaya immigration require to show proof of income for the 65,000baht?  is the bank book showing deposit of 65,000baht enough?  Thanks

6 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

You will not find Thailand's visa laws as easy as Vietnam's for Americans.  

 

What nationality is your wife?  

We are both americans.  Per the Bangkok consulate in Vietnam, we would qualify for the retirement visa.  They walked us through the process and told us what documents must be submitted. Seem straight forward.

41 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

have you spent much time in Pattaya?

wife and I have been to Pattaya many times over the past 20 years.  

28 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

 

look here:

 

https://farangmart.co.th/ad-category/real-estate/houses-for-rent/

 

https://www.hipflat.co.th/en/search/rent/house_y/TH.TY_r1/any_r2/any_p/any_b/any_a/any_w/any_i/100.870789,12.925264_c/12_z/list_v

 

 what country are you from? think about getting a international drivers license. 

 

 

From the USA but been in Vietnam for the past two years and my USA driver license has expired.  Thanks for the links

We are planning to retire to Pattaya in September 2021 and will rent an airbnb for one month while looking for a permanent house to rent.  As i will priortize getting my scooter/car thai driving license, what is the best form of transportation to be driven around the different areas of pattaya to look for a house to rent?  Also, looking for the person to drive us around to contact the owners of homes we would like to see. Thanks, this will be in addition to reaching out to an agent to also help look for an house.  Thanks

I've been riding maxi scooters for over 20 years throughout Asia, Vietnam, Thailand and India (never been in an accident and take all required precautions in wearing protective clothing).. I am now looking how to learn to ride (shift) gears on the big bikes, as i am wanting to purchase a touring motorcycle, like the BMW 850GS.  Is there a school in Pattaya that i can attend for training?  Thanks

1 hour ago, Jeffr2 said:

But they'll also widen the road, so it won't be one lane on busy weekends with all the big buses parked near the end of Beach road.  That will be fantastic.

Also saw youtube videos of all the street wires being taken down and put underground...Huge improvement.

2 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

Well be prepared for a shock about the state of the city you are going to find here

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/for-sale-signs-outnumber-tourists-in-pattaya-350587

 

If you are old and enjoy a quiet life on the beach\swimming pool side it should be ok. 

If you are younger and enjoy the vibrant nightlife and the multiples activities in a cosmopolitan crowded city, i am afraid you will be disapointed

 

 

we are younger but love the pool/beach with two adopted dogs and bbq and beer all day... we have been to Bali last year and you can't get worse then that place so Pattaya will do us just fine until the crowds come back in 2023.

18 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

when was your last visit to the city?

 

If it was more than 1 year ago, you should find a lot of changes

and not in a good way.

With no any internatinal tourism since 1 year all the fun is gone, most of the venues are closed with ''for rent'' and ''for sale'' sign everywhere

more than half of the Thai people have already fleed the city, it's a ghost town now

 

Unfortunately i don't think any improvment of this situation can be expected before at least the end of 2021, and more likely middle 2022anyway nobody really know at the moment about the future

 

And i agree with the others you should take at least 1 month in a rental condo to take your time to chose a place to stay. 

 

Try to limit your search to a particular area and walk in to spot the ''for rent'' signs with a telephon number on it.

 

The facebook groups and agents can give you an idea of

the market, but they are not the cheapest.

 

Try Marketplace and Bathsold to have something more realist.

We were last there in 2019 before moving to Vietnam which we currently reside for the past two years.  We love it here also but Pattaya continues to call us back every time.

5 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Why the 2 week limit in a hotel/Airbnb, why not stay in a hotel/airbnb for as long as it takes. Most will do a monthly rate, no leases, elec bills to worry about, everything is included, its cleaned each day etc.

Most rentals are done informally, not through agents. You will find more just driving around or places like local facebook groups, buy/sell websites etc

We love Pattaya. I cannot count the number of times we have stayed in Pattaya (NaKlua to Bang saray) over the past 20 years and have finally decided to make it official.  It seems that Airbnb has a lot to offer for one month rentals, which will avoid the agents.

Wife and I will be retiring to Pattaya in September 2021 and debating if we should do AIRBnB/hotel for two weeks while looking for a house to rent long term (seems this will put us under some pressure to find a place in two weeks) or stay in a hotel for 3 nights when we first arrive and then rent a temporary house for one month, and then look for a long term house to rent long term. Your thoughts?  If we decide to rent a house for one month, which real estate company/agent is best?  Again Thanks for your comments and feedback.

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Most are probably not in Pattaya for  "the beach" per say. Rarely do residents swim at the beach.

But, it is a general beach environment that I find attractive.  Haters will probably never like it but Pattaya beach is much improved. Many people enjoy a walk or a jog or just sitting in a beach chair.  Nice place to enjoy an evening watch the sun go down I think.  But, if people don't appreciate that then I guess they don't.  Sure beats staring at a fog of filthy air in Chiang Mai.

I actually would only use an agent for the process and not rent directly from an owner.  An agent will get the paperwork correctly completed and can be a good mediator if issues arise.  Also, be careful of fraud on some of these non agent sites reports of people renting properties they do not even own.

To add, I have dealt with Alan Bolton RE a few times and found them honest and efficient.

 

So if i find a place just driving around town, what paperwork should the owner provide to prove that they owned the house they are trying to rent to me?

Wife and I will be moving (retirement VISAs) to Pattaya in September.  As we will be looking to rent a house (under 25,000baht) as we are planning to adopt two dogs and looking in the areas between Na Kluea and Bang Saray and close to the beach if possible, do you guys recommend a great real estate company or agent that could help us?  Also, when using an agent or Company, or their services free or do we need to pay a commission?

Also, any advice as to best location to live or avoid?