Lost Nomad

On 4-24-24 I received the email stating my application has been endorsed and I should update information and upload any additional documents (none requested).  I had sent the BOI an email asking when the 60-day countdown started for me to either pay for the e-visa or show up at the BOI.  The BOI responded to my email stating that the 60-day clock hadn't started yet since I hadn't updated my information picking a visa issuance location.

Fast forward to now and I am scheduled to arrive on 7-15-24 which should comply with the 60-day countdown depending on when Immigration issues the endorsement memo.

I am struggling with the website.  I update my address to the hotel I have booked in BKK (currently still in the US).  I also indicated that I would be on visa exempt status issued at the BKK airport on 7-15-24.  I think that's all of the updates needed, but no matter what I cannot get the webpage to indicate that it has accepted my updates.

The LTR tab of the website states "Your LTR application is in process". How do I proceed?  Do I need to remove & reattach my previously reviewed and approved documents?  My understanding is I'm on step 5 which means the BOI has reviewed my case but Immigration hasn't formally approved it yet.  Once that happens I'll be able to schedule my BOI appointment.

I have FEP Blue Dental and will need some dental work done.  I'll probably use BIDC or BIDH if in Bangkok.  There is an option for e-filing the claims paperwork for reimbursement.  I'm not sure if Geo Blue handles the claims reimbursement processing.  Anyone have experience using FEP Blue Dental overseas?

May need similar treatment for my foot.  Looking at having it done in either BKK or Pattaya.  In the US this was outpatient at a podiatrist office and involved having an x-ray, ultrasound for aiming, and injection.  Recommendations welcome, otherwise I'll probably end up at Bumrungrad which will still be less expensive than US cost.

As indicated in my previous post, I received the endorsed email (step 5) and need to update information (step 6).  I sent the BOI an email asking about the latest I can arrive in BKK in order to comply with the  +60 days requirement if paying in BKK.  The BOI response said since I haven't updated my information the clock hasn't started yet.  I hope the endorsed status means my income and medical insurance are good to go, so the only thing I need to update is my projected arrival in BKK date and desired appointment date.  Cash or QR code is acceptable.  The BOI response also confirmed if paying for e-visa than there is no deadline on my arrival in country.

14 hours ago, Misty said:

 

1. Yes, I think you're supposed to make an appointment at the BOI within 60 days of receiving the approval letter.  You may be able to get this extended if you request it.

2. As of Dec 2023 they were still accepting cash for the LTR visa itself. If you get a digital work permit, however, it's a different cashier and they would only accept credit card or phone app bank transfer.

3. If you choose the e-visa in the US, you'll get a pdf of the visa and there's no 60 day limit for entry.

 

Just a note on e-visas:  if you later want to switch to another type of visa these can be problematic.  The LTR e-visa is good for 10 years (rather than the standard 90 days for most visa types). So you'd have to get the e-visa cancelled by the Thai embassy or consulate that issued it.  It can be done, but the process is complicated and long.  I had an LTR e-visa initially, but when I became eligible for an LTR visa with a lower income tax rate, it was financially worthwhile to switch.  Eventually I was able to do so, but had I not gone the LTR e-visa route initially and instead gotten my LTR visa issues in Bangkok, the LTR unit in Bangkok could have handled cancelling the old visa, and the  switch would have been much easier.

 

 

Thanks Misty.  I don't plan on needing to switch visas in the future so the issue is my arrival date in Thailand with the THB 50K < USD 1600 consideration.  I sent an email to the BOI to confirm if 6-21-24 would be the latest valid date if paying in BKK.  I didn't ask if they could extend the date.

Wealthy Pensioner LTR April 2023 - March 2024 time frame for income details.

 4-4-24: Submitted the following information

• Explanation memo:  Describes monthly pension, dividend calculations, and insurance coverage.  I also translated this into Thai using Google Translate in an effort to make things easy to understand for the BOI staff.

• Income documentation

1. April 2023 - March 2024 OPM summary of payments to show pension income
2. Vanguard 3-31-23, 12-31-23, 3-31-24 monthly statements to show April 2023-March 2024 dividend calculation.  Account numbers and anything non-dividend related was redacted.
3. IRS Form 1040 for 2023 with line 3b (ordinary dividends) and line 5a (pensions and annuities) highlighted.  SSN and banking info redacted.

• Medical insurance documentation:

1. Verification of coverage memo from AFSPA (FEHB medical).
2. April 2024 OPM annuity statement showing latest monthly insurance premium
3. Select pages of annual brochure showing inpatient/outpatient coverage

4-11-24:  Received email from BOI requesting 2023 form 1099 for pension. 15 day limit to respond.

4-23-24:   Sent the following supplemental information

1. 2023 OPM 1099-R (pension)
2. 2023 Vanguard 1099-R (dividends)

4-24-24 Received email from BOI stating LTRWP##### has been endorsed.  Instructions are to update information and select location to pay fee.  Nothing was asked about medical insurance.  I need to make flight reservations and add that info. 

Questions for the group:

1. If I choose to pay THB 50K at the BOI do I need to do this within 60 days of 4-24-24?
2. Will they still accept cash? I don't have a Thai bank account yet.
3. If I instead choose to pay for the e-visa in the US do I still need to arrive in Thailand within 60 days?

It's cheaper to pay in BKK, but the e-visa (USD 1600) might be worth the extra expense if it allows me to arrive later in 2023.

1 hour ago, Pib said:

 

Is above a snapshot of the online form within your online BOI LTR account or just the example paper-based form you have photoshopped?  You can't submitted a paper-based application; you have to use the online application from within your BOI LTR acct.

 

DO NOT consolidate all the various forms/docs into one BIG document "because" the online application has specific areas for specific forms.

 

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Yes, that was a photoshop version of the pdf form.  I thought I needed to submit it as part of the online application.  I was hoping to make things as easy as possible for the BOI and I've been told that the BOI reps like the 1040 as supporting documentation.  I'll be applying using my 4/1/23-3/31/24 income so my 1040 numbers won't match.  I want to give them enough info to make the decision without oversharing info they don't need. I'll group all of my income documents into one file, all medical insurance info into another file, etc.

I've completed my 2023 taxes and am now ready to submit my LTR Pensioner application.    I thought I could use my 1040 form since Pension + Dividends > 80K. I'm unsure on how to make this the easiest for BOI to approve since Box 1A wants current year.  I can show 1/1-3/31 statement for pension and pull the 1Q24 dividend amount from online account.  I'm not sure if my 1Q24 income is $20K since the dividends seem to be weighted to pay more in December. Recommendations?

2nd question:  Is it better to consolidate all forms/passport photo/etc into one document when uploading to the BOI?  I think I've read that once uploaded there is no means to delete documents from my BOI account.  True?

Pib,

    Thank you for your very detailed and helpful posts on FEHB.  To anyone that has gotten the BOI to accept FEHB, please DM me if you don't mind sharing specifics.  I will work on getting my FEHB paperwork in order and  am also going to allow for self-funding money to season as a backup.

Do we have any US government civilian retirees that have been able to use their FEHB insurance for the LTR visa?  It has unlimited worldwide coverage similar to Tricare and direct billing arrangements with hospitals in Thailand.

I'm crossing my fingers for JackGats' strategy of using the option B social security benefits approach to meeting the requirement.

6 hours ago, retiree said:

Thank you for posting this thought, which describes the path the BOI does allow for meeting the insurance requirement.

 

Is this what you are doing to comply with the insurance requirement? I have 100K held as mutual funds/ETFs in retirement accounts (IRA/401K) and would be happy to hear that the BOI is accepting proof of those funds not held as (1) cash or (2) annuity.  If statements with the current balance &  historical balance meet the documentation requirements, that would be great. 

Reference:  "This new Thai visa could change your life" video by Retired Working for You.  Timestamp:  14:05

BOI representative Miss Kantarot states that any passive income shortfall (80K - SS amount) * 10 in a retirement account can bump up your annual total to meet the 80K passive income requirement. She doesn't state that you actually need to buy the annuity.  It seems like just by having sufficient funds in the account is "self funding" the income.  I'd clarify this when you communicate with the BOI.

10 March Bangkok Post article:

LTR data from 1 Nov 22 - 28 Feb 23:

 195 Wealthy Global Citizens

1011 Wealthy Pensioners

 771 Work from Thailand Professionals

 390 Highly Skilled Professionals

 553 Spouses and Dependents

2920 Applications

??? Approvals

I'm interested in hearing data points from others in similar circumstances.  If each version of LTR has a consistent POC and we know what they prefer to see we can use this to streamline our submission approvals.  

Goal:  LTR Wealthy Pensioner Visa
Considerations:  Prefer to minimize data provided, avoid purchasing Thai insurance, avoid needing large cash account
Timeline:  Planning stage only so not ready to apply

About me:  Retired US federal employee, age 50+, with FERS pension (< 80K) and FEHB medical insurance (AFSPA)

Income verification (Pension + Dividends > 80K):

•      Preferred data to provide:  OPM 1099-R, redacted Recipient ID Number & Account Number, highlighted Box 1 Gross Distribution
•      Preferred data to provide:  Vanguard 1099-DIV page 1, redacted Document ID & Recipient TIN & all data in Summary of Proceeds section, highlighted Line 1a Total Ordinary Dividends 

     Supplemental data if requested by BOI:

•   Form 1040 (e-filed using Turbotax), redacted Social Security Number & Banking information, highlighted Box 3B Ordinary Dividends & Box 5A Pensions and Annuities.  Considering redacting Adjusted Gross Income and Taxable Income since I believe these are used by the IRS for identity verification purposes.
• 2023 OPM Annuity Statement provides monthly benefit.  Redact Annuitant Claim Number. Highlight Gross Amount of Annuity & FERS Annuity Supplement data.  

Medical Insurance:

•      Preferred data to provide:  Letter of Coverage from AFSPA
•      Supplemental data if requested by BOI:  Self fund USD 100K.  I can use either Vanguard or my Thrift Savings Plan.  My checking/savings account is the only pure cash account and is minimal.

    
Additional thoughts:

•      Income verification:  In lieu of providing the Form 1040, has anyone been successful in providing only the tax transcript?  I would need 2023 YTD dividend amounts from Vanguard and show the calculation for 2023 pension + estimated dividends > 80K.  
•     Medical insurance:  AFSPA and FEPBlue are 2 FEHB plans that have Direct Billing Arrangements with the best private hospitals in Thailand.  I read somewhere that the BOI may be easing the 10 month remaining requirement for Tricare and possibly FEHB insurance, but not sure of the validity of this rumor.  Has anyone successfully received a Proof of Coverage letter from any FEHB provider that the BOI has accepted? 
•     Medical insurance Self Funding:  The TSP quarterly statement (page 1) shows the balance amounts with no indication of the underlying investments.  TSP does have Savings in the name so maybe it will be approved easier.  Others have indicated they self funded using IRA accounts, but nobody has specified Vanguard and if Traditional/Roth.  I read a comment on Reddit where a Vanguard account was denied.  Has anyone used a Vanguard IRA to self fund?

    
     BOI contact information I found online but have not verified:

•    Wealthy Global Citizen – Khun Auttapol (022091141)
•    Wealthy Pensioner – Khun Mumtaz (022091143)
•    Work From Thailand Professional – Khun Poothip (022091146) and Khun Suchawadee (0220091142)
•    Highly Skilled Professional – Khun Intuch (022091144) and Khun Jakkrawan (022091149)