Retirement Or Spouse Visa?

[paulsmithson]

I am an English national aged 60 years who has been married ( in the UK) to a Thai national for the last 20 years and during this period we have lived in the UK.

Owning my own business in the UK I have always reinvested my own money into my own business rather than pension funds. A far greater rate of return. I therefore now have little income at the moment and a sizeable nest egg.

I intend to come and live in Thailand shortly and so far everyone talks about a retirement visa for me, based on a deposit of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank.

I read from the Royal Thai police order 606/2549 clause7.17 that as the alien spouse of a Thai national I will be granted permission to stay in Thailand provided that I have;-

1. A legitimate marriage --- (20 years seems legitimate to me)

2. A joint income of 40,000 baht per month -- I have no Income as such

OR

a bank account in the name of either or both parties of not less than 40,000 baht having been on deposit for the previous 3 months.

Alternatively I could apply for a retirement visa and obtain this by having 800,000 baht on deposit in a Thai bank for 3 months before applying for permission to stay in Thailand.

Why is everyone I speak to recommending the retirement visa route???

The spouse's visa requires only half of the monies tied up that the retirement visa requires .

Also if I later decided to invest some of my monies into a business would not the spouse's visa allow me to then obtain a work permit if I wanted one? (The retirement visa would not allow this)

Your opinions on which type of visa I should apply for would be appreciated.

[Mahout Angrit]

I read from the Royal Thai police order 606/2549 clause7.17 that as the alien spouse of a Thai national I will be granted permission to stay in Thailand provided that I have;-

1. A legitimate marriage --- (20 years seems legitimate to me)

2. A joint income of 40,000 baht per month -- I have no Income as such

OR

a bank account in the name of either or both parties of not less than 40,000 baht having been on deposit for the previous 3 months.

It's the way you read it... The deposit of 400.000 (not 40,000) is only a facility you can use if you had previously been applying for extensions before the police order 606/2549 came into affect. Since that order the only option to new applicants married to a Thai is an income of 40,000 per month.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I read from the Royal Thai police order 606/2549 clause7.17 that as the alien spouse of a Thai national I will be granted permission to stay in Thailand provided that I have;-

1. A legitimate marriage --- (20 years seems legitimate to me)

2. A joint income of 40,000 baht per month -- I have no Income as such

OR

a bank account in the name of either or both parties of not less than 40,000 baht having been on deposit for the previous 3 months.

It's the way you read it... The deposit of 400.000 (not 40,000) is only a facility you can use if you had previously been applying for extensions before the police order 606/2549 came into affect. Since that order the only option to new applicants married to a Thai is an income of 40,000 per month.

Absolutely correct.

[pepsi666]

I am not a Thai, I am not married to a Thai, BUT I would like to retire to Thailand

I will have a yearly income of £10,500.00, roughly (I do have a fair amount od savings as well)

My bank is the HSBC (which does have branches in Thailand)

Would I be able to qaulify for a retirement visa ?

I know SOME of the rules about owning (or NOT) a property in Thailand, ideally I'd like a house rather than a condo (any suggestions ?

Would I need to have an amount in a Thai bank or would the HSBC be sufficient ?

any advice appreciated PM, posting, or email

[dclaryjr]

It's the way you read it... The deposit of 400.000 (not 40,000) is only a facility you can use if you had previously been applying for extensions before the police order 606/2549 came into affect. Since that order the only option to new applicants married to a Thai is an income of 40,000 per month.

Absolutely correct.

Assuming the monthly income is not a problem, is there ANY reason not to choose spousal support over retirement.

[victor15]

Would I need to have an amount in a Thai bank or would the HSBC be sufficient ?

You would need the amount Baht 800,000 in Thai Bank (retirement visa), Just because bank is the same does not work, all banking transfer restrictions will still apply. Too buy a house you will need to set up a holding company, make sure you read the new rules that came out in October 2006, also when transfering monies to pay for house go to bank and get the transfer recipts which state that the money is for buying a house (old thor thor 3) or you will not be able to take that money tax free back out of the country.

[victor15]

Why is everyone I speak to recommending the retirement visa route???

The spouse's visa requires only half of the monies tied up that the retirement visa requires .

Also if I later decided to invest some of my monies into a business would not the spouse's visa allow me to then obtain a work permit if I wanted one? (The retirement visa would not allow this)

Your opinions on which type of visa I should apply for would be appreciated.

I'm married to a Thai with thai / english boy (duel Nat.) I live here with non-immigrant "O" visa, But I would still advise you to get retitement visa if you have the required monetry requirements.

It takes about twenty mins. to get a retirement visa if all documents are correct, it takes three months to get marriage visa, every thirty days you will have to go back to immigration to renew stamp until your application returns from Bangkok.

Pluses / negative with non-immigrant "O" visa , with thai wife and child is that if your wife dies (god forebid) you can still live here with same visa to support child (as long as your name is on Thai Birth Cert.)

No child and wife dies or devorce, you have 7 days to change visa, on devorce one day

[Gary A]

Since you obviously qualify for a retirement visa, I would say that is the easiest way to go. I also have a legal Thai wife and Thai immigration actually prefers that I go with the retirement visa. The retirement visa means less work and headaches for them. If there were any benefits as far as having a support visa I would go that way but I don't see any benefits at all.

[lopburi3]

1. You can not own land in Thailand so a house involves work around that are often suspect or subject to reversal. Rent is very reasonable and condo ownership (with its own problems) is possible.

2. There is no spousal support anymore. It is family income of 40k per month. But this requires much more detailed investigation and several months to complete each year. A retirement extension of stay is less paperwork and involves you only. One visit per year (other than the 90 day address reports).

3. HSBC is fine if the money is located in Thailand. Located overseas it can be used for the first non immigrant O-A visa but not for immigration extensions of stay.

4. There no longer is any provision for support of a Thai child, regardless of your name on the birth certificate. If over age 50 there is an option to live with child.

5. Over age 50 and 800k bank (with three month record), or 65k income/pension or combination are the primary requirements for retirement extensions of stay.

[dclaryjr]

But this requires much more detailed investigation and several months to complete each year. A retirement extension of stay is less paperwork and involves you only. One visit per year (other than the 90 day address reports).

Sounds like a good 'nuff reason to go with the retirement option! Thanks!

[pepsi666]

I have been told I could set up a Thai company to own a house, WHAT does that involve and how risky is it ?

What problems are involved with owning a condo ?

What about the 30 year lease ? is that an option ?

[paulsmithson]

Lopburi, may I pick your brain yet again?

Ok retirement visa it is for me.

I do not yet have a Thai bank account and would open one with over 800,000 baht when I arrive on my O-A visa. this money would be left on long term deposit purely for visa requirements.

I have already obtained UK police check to show I have no criminal record and this is dated 8th Jan 2007.

I plan to arrive in Thailand early March,

If I wait till I have had monies on deposit the required 3 months then ask for permission to stay in Thailand for the purpose of retirement the police check will be older than the required 3 months.

How do I get around this problem- as it seems impossible to meet both requirements within the 3 months timescale?

[Lite Beer]

You do not need a police check when extending in Thailand.

[lopburi3]

If you are going to use bank deposit the money must have a three month record in bank prior to application. That rules out a single entry non immigrant O visa unless money is in bank prior to arrival.

The non immigrant O-A visa is a pre-approved one year stay that you obtain in your home country. No money in Thailand is required for that but medical and police report would be required.

If you want to do in Thailand you should arrive on either a tourist visa (which you can later change to non immigrant at Immigration) or a multi entry non immigrant O visa to allow you to meet the 3 months bank deposit rule. The three month rule is not required for change of visa so you could come on tourist, stay a month and apply for non immigrant with proof of bank account 800k (one month) and then wait two more months and apply for extension of stay (meeting the 3 month rule).

Alternative and probably easier would be multi entry non immigrant - stay one 90 day entry and on second 90 day entry do your extension of stay - provides plenty of time to have bank money meet the 3 month requirement.