Retirement visa application - confused

[britishjohn]

I am trying to understand the process of applying for a retirement visa but getting a little confused by the differing and sometimes contradictory information out there. I'm 57 and currently living in the UK. One legal firm's website stated "you must first obtain a 90-day visa or a 1 year non-immigrant O visa from your home country or country of residence prior to your application for the Thai Retirement visa."  But when I spoke on the phone to them I got a different story. Apparently this doesn't apply because I am under 65 yrs old. He told me  I can apply directly myself for an O-A retirement visa in the UK or come over on a tourist visa and then they can apply for a retirement visa and obtain a bank account for me. I had heard obtaining a bank account can be difficult so I thought the legal firm might make the whole process less hassle. But obviously I don't want to pay legal fees if I don't need to.

 

Maybe I'm just a bit dim, but can anyone explain the process in simple terms for me ? And what is my easiest option ?

 

 

 

[Lite Beer]

Apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa at the embassy in London.

This will give you a stay of almost 2 years if you do a border run just before the visa expires.

 

Or you can arrive with a Tourist Visa and convert it in Thailand.

 

Don't have anything to do with legal firms or agents.

Up to you.

[britishjohn]

Great thanks. 

So when it does expire, do I then have to apply for a new Non Imm O-A Visa ? And can that be done in Thailand ?

Also will be I able to open a bank account ?

[ubonjoe]

The OA visa is a good option.

The higher fees at some law firms and agents is because they put the funds for you into the bank account. You can find some that will help with only opening the account and assisting with the paper work for the the non immigrant visa entry and extension applications for lower fees. 

To open account yourself just means trying at different banks and branches of the same banks.

After getting the bank account opened the applications are not that difficult.

[Lite Beer]

When the visa expires you can apply for a 12 month extension at Immigration in Thailand.

Yes you can open a bank account.

You might have to try a few but you will get one.

[berybert]

I went the O-A route. very easy and cheap. 

I wouldn't do the agency thing because its bent. Having the money in your bank for half an hour is not the same as having it your account for a long as it should be. 

Wont be long before this gets cracked down on and everyone who's done it will end up in big trouble.

[JackThompson]

In the UK, you cannot get a single-entry Non-O until 65 / receipt of govt-pension, so the Non-O-A is your only option. 

 

Starting with an O-A from your home-country will give you nearly 2 years of stay - a 1-year stamp each time you enter Thailand.  It will also allow you to go straight to a Retirement Extension (1-year "permitted stay") without a "conversion from Tourist" process.  The "conversion" process is more difficult, and next to impossible at the more corrupt immigration offices, unless you pay a huge fee (10x the actual cost or more) to an agent, who then bribes immigration agents to simply do their job. 

 

There is also the matter of agents "faking the financials" which could lead to all applications submitted by an agent coming under scrutiny, when this practice is eventually prosecuted (when that will happen is anyone's guess).

 

If you decide not to get the O-A in your home country for some reason, you may want to stay in Bangkok for a month when you arrive, so that you can do the "conversion" at that office, called "Chang Wattana."  They have a legal/clean path to doing it, which can be done without agents.  They will not give you service unless living in their service-area, so don't stay in a suburb (some of those offices are not friendly).

[britishjohn]

Thanks for your help guys. I am now preparing documents for an O-A application. There is so much contradictory information about requirement, even with regard to simple matters like how many photographs to attach. The Thai embassy website says 4 in one place 3 elsewhere. I emailed the embassy and they replied saying 2 photos will do ! Hard to know what to believe. 

 

This is also on the Thai embassy website:  "Copies of bank statement, criminal record, medical record and marriage certificate must be certified by a Notary Public officer or solicitor"

 

Does this mean if I send in the originals I don't need to take the documents to a legal firm for certification ?

[berybert]

26 minutes ago, britishjohn said:

Thanks for your help guys. I am now preparing documents for an O-A application. There is so much contradictory information about requirement, even with regard to simple matters like how many photographs to attach. The Thai embassy website says 4 in one place 3 elsewhere. I emailed the embassy and they replied saying 2 photos will do ! Hard to know what to believe. 

 

This is also on the Thai embassy website:  "Copies of bank statement, criminal record, medical record and marriage certificate must be certified by a Notary Public officer or solicitor"

 

Does this mean if I send in the originals I don't need to take the documents to a legal firm for certification ?

They wont accept the originals you need to take signed photo copies. Use the guys who advertise on the website. They charge £5 a document and you only need 3 signing. 

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, britishjohn said:

I am now preparing documents for an O-A application. There is so much contradictory information about requirement...  The Thai embassy website says ...

When applying for an O-A, go by what is said by the Thai Consulate where you will apply.  Every consulate runs its own show / own rules.

[BritTim]

I believe you will only need two photos, but I always have half a dozen spare photos in my wallet in case I need them unexpectedly for passport and visa applications or other purposes.

[Andrew65]

On 1/10/2018 at 4:52 PM, Lite Beer said:

Apply for a Non Imm O-A Visa at the embassy in London.

This will give you a stay of almost 2 years if you do a border run just before the visa expires.

 

Or you can arrive with a Tourist Visa and convert it in Thailand.

 

Don't have anything to do with legal firms or agents.

Up to you.

I did it a few years ago. A bit of advice. If you apply in your home country I believe you need a criminal record check (not saying you have one), and a medical. This all costs time, hassle & money.

 

When I did mine, I popped over to Phnom Penh for a week (Penang's a good place to do this also), got my 60 non-immigrant O visa. You then re-enter Thailand and reside here for 45 days and then visit Chaeng Watthana/Laksi Immigration Department. In your sweaty-palm will be your bank statement that confirms that you've had 800,000 in a Thai bank for at least 2 months (when you do your annual renewal it's 3 months), or confirmation of an income of 65,000 a month.

 

As I said, no medical or legal checks if one does this outside one's own country.

[berybert]

12 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

I did it a few years ago. A bit of advice. If you apply in your home country I believe you need a criminal record check (not saying you have one), and a medical. This all costs time, hassle & money.

 

When I did mine, I popped over to Phnom Penh for a week (Penang's a good place to do this also), got my 60 non-immigrant O visa. You then re-enter Thailand and reside here for 45 days and then visit Chaeng Watthana/Laksi Immigration Department. In your sweaty-palm will be your bank statement that confirms that you've had 800,000 in a Thai bank for at least 2 months (when you do your annual renewal it's 3 months), or confirmation of an income of 65,000 a month.

 

As I said, no medical or legal checks if one does this outside one's own country.

A criminal record check and medical certificate cost money. 

Going to Phnom Penh for a week probably costs more than getting the criminal records check and the medical certificate. 

The criminal records check can be done for £45 if I remember correctly and I got my medical certificate for nothing. And being as I did that well before I left for Thailand I was still working. 

How much was your trip to Cambodia ?

[Andrew65]

Just now, berybert said:

A criminal record check and medical certificate cost money. 

Going to Phnom Penh for a week probably costs more than getting the criminal records check and the medical certificate. 

The criminal records check can be done for £45 if I remember correctly and I got my medical certificate for nothing. And being as I did that well before I left for Thailand I was still working. 

How much was your trip to Cambodia ?

I'll put it in context. I used to do 3 visa runs a tear cost c.10,000 Baht each (I've lived here since 1997, you're not going to be "educating" me about anything here mate).

 

A friend of mine was refused a Non Immigrant O A in Canada cos he had a very old criminal record (nothing serious, drink driving or affray etc). Also, what health problems might put the mockers on our application, heart disease, diabetes? Who knows.

 

Getting the things that we talk about means spending days longer in the joke of a country that is the UK, and dealing with their BS.

[OJAS]

19 minutes ago, berybert said:

How much was your trip to Cambodia ?

To which would need to be added, in making a meaningful comparison with the OA visa option, the cost of his initial extension of stay, which he could have delayed by a year with an OA visa (on the basis that he only obtained a single-entry non-O in Cambodia, which appears to be the case from what he has said). Probably not small beer if he proved finances on the basis of an Embassy income confirmation letter/affidavit!

[Andrew65]

4 minutes ago, OJAS said:

To which would need to be added, in making a meaningful comparison with the OA visa option, the cost of his initial extension of stay, which he could have delayed by a year with an OA visa (on the basis that he only obtained a single-entry non-O in Cambodia, which appears to be the case from what he has said). Probably not small beer if he proved finances on the basis of an Embassy income confirmation letter/affidavit!

...I'd had around 900k in Bangkok Bank before I even visited Cambodia, so that was all good. I also gave the people in the Embassy a copy of my 457 Australian visa as proof that I'd been working there for a few years (ie, not working in Thailand).

 

On the day that I went to Laksi I paid 1,000 Baht into the bank account, and copied my updated passbook, then of course got the letter from the bank.

 

Finally, thanks to UbonJoe on here for his much appreciated guidance with this process.

[lmaxv]

I personally just went to a counsulate/embassy website and followed what was stated as necessary documents and procedures.  Easily done in one's home country.  Got the docs together and notarized at no cost to me, mailed all to Thai consulate and a week later received my passport back with my ret. visa. 

[berybert]

25 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

I'll put it in context. I used to do 3 visa runs a tear cost c.10,000 Baht each (I've lived here since 1997, you're not going to be "educating" me about anything here mate).

 

A friend of mine was refused a Non Immigrant O A in Canada cos he had a very old criminal record (nothing serious, drink driving or affray etc). Also, what health problems might put the mockers on our application, heart disease, diabetes? Who knows.

 

Getting the things that we talk about means spending days longer in the joke of a country that is the UK, and dealing with their BS.

No I cant teach you anything, but they ask 4 questions on the health form. Maybe you could educate yourself.

[Andrew65]

1 minute ago, lmaxv said:

I personally just went to a counsulate/embassy website and followed what was stated as necessary documents and procedures.  Easily done in one's home country.  Got the docs together and notarized at no cost to me, mailed all to Thai consulate and a week later received my passport back with my ret. visa. 

It would have been a non-immigrant O-A I believe, which isn't a retirement visa per se. (you get that at Laksi)

 

...but I get your point.

 

Obviously if one is living in one's own country this is a perfectly good way to go. However, following that route would have meant me flying BKK-LHR-BKK.

 

In July I did my only trip to the UK in 6 years. not too bothered about ever going there again, but will probably have to.

[aussieinphuket]

Hi John & Others...

 

i don't wish to sound Elitist but this was why i changed over to Thai Elite ...

 

Yes yes its costs money but it takes out all the non-sense changes frequently experiences

when trying to do your renewal/roll over of Retirement visa....

 

i bought the 5 yr membership which means i only ever need to see these people every 5 years and then

Thai Elite will do al the work for me..  yes i still need to do the 90 day reporting if i haven't been abroad

but thats the easy part now you dont even need to fill in any forms just hand them your passport and

previous arrival card...

 

just so John is aware this 5 yr card costs thb 500,000 but you do have some savings like your yearly

renewal of retirement visa and multiple re-entry visa which go hand in hand a cost from memory of about

thb 7,000 so over 5 yrs thb 35,0000 if you do it yourself.. you also get free limo transfers to and from the

airport so there is a saving for taxis if of course you would use this... and the excellent VIP treatment in

and out of the airport going through Immigration.

 

this membership is not for everyone as a lot will say its too expensive but if you can afford it you will

take out any future hassle for the period of the membership. good luck...

 

ps when we first arrived here doing the renewal of retirement visa and the multiple re-entry was so easy

it took my wife and i about max 45mins to 1 hr each year but has just become a bit more time consuming

and difficult ....

 

 

[Andrew65]

9 minutes ago, berybert said:

No I cant teach you anything, but they ask 4 questions on the health form. Maybe you could educate yourself.

My point being, I was asked any questions whatsoever with regard to health or criminality, that was all the education I needed.

 

As I said in an earlier post, to get my visa the way that you did would have involved flying BKK-LHR-BKK. I did this in July for the first time in 6 years, just the ticket on Eva Air was £700, add about another £120 to get to Hereford & back and about 27 hours sat on a 777. (both flights had long delays).

[scubascuba3]

I've read that its better to get the medical certificate in Thailand for circ 150 baht, apparently some UK GPs won't provide the certificate without going through all the tests and can be expensive

[Andrew65]

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

I've read that its better to get the medical certificate in Thailand for circ 150 baht, apparently some UK GPs won't provide the certificate without going through all the tests and can be expensive

Yes, there used to be a clinic in Sukhumvit Soi 11 where the doctor would give you the cert for about that much money.

 

But, as I said, you don't need one anyway if you go to Penang or Phnom Penh etc...

[scubascuba3]

Yes, there used to be a clinic in Sukhumvit Soi 11 where the doctor would give you the cert for about that much money.
 
But, as I said, you don't need one anyway if you go to Penang or Phnom Penh etc...

The advantage of doing it in the UK is you don't need to do an FX for 800,000 baht for a year or so, they use the UK bank balance

[Kerryd]

I started out with just a 30 Day "Visa Exempt" stamp in my passport.

I had an apartment and knew I'd need to have 800k in a bank for 2(+) months ahead of time and already had that set up. For me, sticking the cash in the bank made more sense as I don't have to worry about verifying pension amounts or fluctuating exchange rates. It also gives me a bit of "peace of mind" knowing that the money is there if I need it for an emergency.

Setting up a savings account is not a problem as long as you have an address, even if you only have a 30 Day stamp in your passport. Staying in a hotel room or guest house doesn't count. The important thing is having a verifiable address so you can get a Certificate of Residence from Immigration (which you need to open a bank account or buy a moto/car). If you are planning on getting a Non-O(A) then it's probably a good bet that you will have a condo/apartment/house and therefore most likely will have utility bills as well which help when you are trying to get a Certificate of Residency.

 

(Note: For bank accounts, ensure you ask for a Savings account and NOT a "chequing account". Also, from my experience, they won't give you internet access until you have a year long "Visa" or Extension of Stay based on a Visa. Also they won't give you a credit card unless you have a different kind of visa and a work permit. Bangkok Bank seems to be pretty "foreigner friendly", as long as you have your ducks in order before trying to open an account.)

I used an agent (in Thailand) to get my Non-O(A) Visa as I wasn't familiar with the procedures. Didn't have to get a "police check" or a medical. (I also had him get a Multi Re-entry permit as well.) The following year I used the same agent to get my "Extension of Stay" (and another multi re-entry permit). After that I've been doing it all myself as it isn't really that complicated or time consuming (in Pattaya at least) ! (Also much cheaper as well of course.)

My dad did it slightly differently.

He was here on a 30 day stamp and got an apartment. Couldn't open a bank account at that time because he only had a week left on his trip. He went home, went straight to the consulate and applied for a Non-O(A). As he was applying for the visa in his home country, he only needed to prove he had sufficient funds (or pension) in his home country at the time of application. I believe he did have to do the police check and medical as well. He then packed up his house and as soon as he got his passport back with the shiny new visa, he was on a plane back to Thailand. 6 weeks from the time he got back to Canada until he was back in Thailand.

When he got back to Thailand he was able to get the Certificate of Residency and open a bank account (he also did the 800k deposit routine). Then all he had to do was the 90 Day reports and the following year applied for an Extension of Stay. Never used an agent at all (but he did have a Thai lady friend assist him).

Dad was 75 at the time. If he could do it all by himself (i.e. no agent/company assisting him) than I'm sure almost anyone could do it.

(2 months before he died from late stage lung cancer and despite being nearly completely bed-ridden, he still managed to go to Immigration to do his 90 day report and never complained about it at all.)

[berybert]

11 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I've read that its better to get the medical certificate in Thailand for circ 150 baht, apparently some UK GPs won't provide the certificate without going through all the tests and can be expensive

You can not get the tests done in the U.K because 2 of them don't exist. I ended up getting an email from a Harley Street doctor telling my doctor the tests were not something that is done in the UK before my doctor signed my form. All at not cost I might add.

Most doctors if you have been a patient for years will just sign the form without question but for a small fee. 

 

[buick]

britishjohn,

 

as others have said, the O-A is generally considered the best visa when you have no problems applying in your home country.  some of us already established a residence, bank account, etc... here in thailand before obtaining a retirement visa.  so it didn't make alot of sense to go back to our home country to obtain an O-A.  instead, that group of people obtained an O visa in thailand (a two week process) or went to a nearby country and obtained the O visa at a thai embassy/consulate in that country.  in most cases, those of us that did not obtain the O-A did not have to get a medical cert or a police report when obtaining our O visa.

 

the benefit to your O-A is you can show your UK based bank account for the financial requirement.  then you'll have two years to open your bank account here in thailand in order to show the 800,000thb on deposit for your 3rd year (your 1st extension of stay from your O-A visa).  there was a recent report of a forum member opening an account at bangkok bank, siam paragon branch, using only his passport (his entry was either visa exempt or a tourist visa, i can't recall which).  bangkok bank can be a good bank to use as transfers are relatively cheap and easy (from the USA or UK).  i opened my account at bangkok bank's main branch on silom road.  i was on a tourist visa and needed a letter from my embassy and a copy of my rental contract (along with a letter from the landlord).  this was in feb 2016.  i realize you may not be staying in bangkok so the bank branch recommendations might not help much.

 

good luck with your future in thailand.

[scubascuba3]

You can not get the tests done in the U.K because 2 of them don't exist. I ended up getting an email from a Harley Street doctor telling my doctor the tests were not something that is done in the UK before my doctor signed my form. All at not cost I might add.
Most doctors if you have been a patient for years will just sign the form without question but for a small fee. 
 

Yes you'd hope your GP would just sign the certificate but as a precaution get a 150 baht one whilst in Thailand

[berybert]

25 minutes ago, aussieinphuket said:

Hi John & Others...

 

i don't wish to sound Elitist but this was why i changed over to Thai Elite ...

 

Yes yes its costs money but it takes out all the non-sense changes frequently experiences

when trying to do your renewal/roll over of Retirement visa....

 

i bought the 5 yr membership which means i only ever need to see these people every 5 years and then

Thai Elite will do al the work for me..  yes i still need to do the 90 day reporting if i haven't been abroad

but thats the easy part now you dont even need to fill in any forms just hand them your passport and

previous arrival card...

 

just so John is aware this 5 yr card costs thb 500,000 but you do have some savings like your yearly

renewal of retirement visa and multiple re-entry visa which go hand in hand a cost from memory of about

thb 7,000 so over 5 yrs thb 35,0000 if you do it yourself.. you also get free limo transfers to and from the

airport so there is a saving for taxis if of course you would use this... and the excellent VIP treatment in

and out of the airport going through Immigration.

 

this membership is not for everyone as a lot will say its too expensive but if you can afford it you will

take out any future hassle for the period of the membership. good luck...

 

ps when we first arrived here doing the renewal of retirement visa and the multiple re-entry was so easy

it took my wife and i about max 45mins to 1 hr each year but has just become a bit more time consuming

and difficult ....

 

 

500,000 Baht for 3 or 4 hours work. I'll stick with the renewals. And the train to the airport.

[buick]

2 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

Also, from my experience, they won't give you internet access until you have a year long "Visa" or Extension of Stay based on a Visa.

this was my experience also.  i couldn't get online banking with bangkok bank until i received the extension of stay from my 90 day O visa.