We were in pretty much the same situation as the OP, and the solution is really not that complex.

 

His wife has a Thai ID card so that problem is resolved. Just get her a Thai passport, and if she enters Thailand on that passport she can stay as long as she likes.

 

As an aside my wife was away from Thailand for almost forty years with no Thai ID card. She returned via an American passport, and with the help of the Pooyai bon was able to get to locate the necessary documents and obtain a Thai passport, and from there it was a short, easy step to get a Thai passport. 

 

As for the OP, I would suggest he obtain a non imm o-a multi entry visa prior to leaving the US. It is not that difficult to get and it will give him at least a year - two years if he does a border run - to resolve issues and figure out his next step.

7 minutes ago, SpokaneAl said:

His wife has a Thai ID card so that problem is resolved. Just get her a Thai passport, and if she enters Thailand on that passport she can stay as long as she likes.

Absolutely correct, if getting one from an official Thai Consulate or the Thai Embassy in the US proves to be difficult for whatever reason, alternatively, his wife can arrive in to Thailand on her US passport, apply for a Thai passport here, once issued, then they could go for a short holiday to say Singapore, then enter Thailand again on the Thai passport.

Incidentally, she can also apply for a one year extension of stay if she enters on her US passport, based on being a Thai citizen, which would give more time to sort things out.

5 hours ago, wayned said:

If your wife doesn't have a Thai passport she should get one from the Thai Embassy or Consulate.  There is no problem with a US citizen having dual citizenship.  She should always enter and leave Thailand using her Thai Passport and she should always enter and leave the US using her US Passport.  There will be no problem for her to remain in Thailand if she does this as she is a Thai Citizen and she has entered using her Thai passport.

 

You should either apply for a non immigrant "O" visa or and "OA" visa.  If you come to Thailand on the Non "O" you can apply for yearly extensions since you are married to a Thai.   The financial requirement is either have 400,000 baht in a Thai Bank account, in your name only, or prove that you income is at least 40,000 baht/month.  It very easy to get an income affidavit from the Embassy in Bangkok or the Consulate in Chiang Mai.  It's a motorized declaration, no proof required, and costs $50..  You will have to renew the extension every year.  The other option is that you could apply for a retirement extension, the requirements change to 800,000 or 60,000/month but is quicker to get and requires less paperwork.  You wife will have no problem getting  a joint  bank account.  I would recommend Bangkok Bank as they have a branch in New York and are the only bank authorized to accept direct federal retirement payments.

 

I've been here 20 years with no problems after I understood the requirements.  Good luck!

I know that the UK Embassy will no longer allow local Honourary Consules to sign proof of income, but don't know if it is the same for the USA Embassy?  Might be worth checking.

1 hour ago, SpokaneAl said:

We were in pretty much the same situation as the OP, and the solution is really not that complex.

 

His wife has a Thai ID card so that problem is resolved. Just get her a Thai passport, and if she enters Thailand on that passport she can stay as long as she likes.

 

As an aside my wife was away from Thailand for almost forty years with no Thai ID card. She returned via an American passport, and with the help of the Pooyai bon was able to get to locate the necessary documents and obtain a Thai passport, and from there it was a short, easy step to get a Thai passport. 

 

As for the OP, I would suggest he obtain a non imm o-a multi entry visa prior to leaving the US. It is not that difficult to get and it will give him at least a year - two years if he does a border run - to resolve issues and figure out his next step.

If you get a Retirement Visa, you do not need to do a border run ever!  Just renew you Visa Annualy and report to your local Immigration Office every 90 days to confirm you are still in the Country.  I have been doing this for 12 years now.  By the way, you might find it convenient to get a Multi Entry Certificate from Immigration, which will allow you to leave and enter Thailand without effectively cancelling your Retiirement Visa and putting you back on to a 30 day Tourist Visa.

All looks like good information. I’m on Retirement Visa and have to report every 90 day for Residence check. I’ve not tried 90 day check in on line yet want to make sure it’s easy. I go to Udon Thani Immigration

a d the check in process has taken from 3 to 20minutes depending on the line. 

 

 

Note I was advised if you go on a trip out of Thailand and on Retirement     Visa to get re-entry permit before you leave or all the work you’ve done will be voided. 

 

The earnings affidavit for US citizens at Bangkok Embassy is easy. Fill out the document with you earnings per year. Swear on it sign it and your on the way. You must m,e an appointment and if more than one person need to go both need appointments. 

1 minute ago, robertson468 said:

I know that the UK Embassy will no longer allow local Honourary Consules to sign proof of income, but don't know if it is the same for the USA Embassy?

The US consulate in Chiang Mai is not a honorary consulate. Not sure the US has a honorary consulate anywhere.

 

Every case is different, but after considering all options, I did not opt for a 'retirement visa'.

Note: I also considered changing my residence, but came to conclusion that keeping my residence in Europe (and all the associated social security rights) was the best option.

And so I am living in Thailand now on a Multiple Entry visa.

Such a visa must be arranged at the Thai embassy of consulate of your home country and takes approx 2 weeks to have it available.

It costs 150 Euro (approx 200 US $) and it is valid till 6 months after issue.  And during that period you are allowed multiple 2 months stays in Thailand. 

At the end of the 2 months stay you have 2 options:

- do a border run (just cross the border to one of the neighboring countries, and come back in - can be done same day) and then you can stay again for 2 months from date of re-entry;

- extend your visa for 1 month at a Thai Immigration office (every big city has one) - this costs 1900 Bath (equivalent of approx 60 US $)

> Note: the extension counts from the visa expiry date, so you do not have to wait till last days to extend it.

If you leave Thailand and re-enter one or a couple of days before the Multiple entry visa (6 month date) expires, the 2 month stay is provided and you have the possibility to extend once again for 1 month.

So this means that with a Multiple Entry visa you can stay 9 months in Thailand provided that you make at least

- 2 re-entries (so called border-run);

- 3 visa extensions.

If you have relatives/friends at home which you plan to visit occasionally, or if you also like to visit the neighboring countries during your retirement in Thailand, the Multiple Entry visa option is worth considering.

NOTE: On a Multiple Entry visa you are not allowed to do business in Thailand, but if you consider to do that you could of course do it via your Thai wife.

> hope this helps to clarify the options.

 

 

ecently they’ve cracked down on land border crossing. Not sure what the limit is but UK friend went twice and the third time they told him 4 days to leave the country. He may have come in on a Tourit Visa. 

 

Air boarder crossing aren’t affected. 

6 minutes ago, DJ54 said:

ecently they’ve cracked down on land border crossing. Not sure what the limit is but UK friend went twice and the third time they told him 4 days to leave the country. He may have come in on a Tourit Visa. 

 

Air boarder crossing aren’t affected. 

not really relevant to the OP post though is it? by the way it's twice and renews every new years at midnight

** he would have came on visa exempt not visa

4 minutes ago, DJ54 said:

ecently they’ve cracked down on land border crossing. Not sure what the limit is but UK friend went twice and the third time they told him 4 days to leave the country. He may have come in on a Tourit Visa. 

 

Air boarder crossing aren’t affected. 

If you are not sure about something , its better to let someone who is sure ,post info

Just would like to add for the original poster, that getting your wife a thai passport and using that to enter and leave Thailand (can use US passport to ENTER and LEAVE USA) has the benefit of that she will not need a visa to stay in Thailand. Otherwise, if she enters Thailand on her US passport she will be treated as a US citizen, and would need a retirement visa and would have to qualify for that (i.e. both of you would have to show 65,000 baht a month income or 800,000 baht in the bank). 

 

Once you have the correct advice visas and renewals are not difficult to do, just tedious.It is true that sometimes you do get officials who make up their own rules (guess this was Yooper's problem). But that is the exception. And most couples can live comfortably in Thailand on $2,000 a month, even when renting.

If you get a Retirement Visa, you do not need to do a border run ever!  Just renew you Visa Annualy and report to your local Immigration Office every 90 days to confirm you are still in the Country.  I have been doing this for 12 years now.  By the way, you might find it convenient to get a Multi Entry Certificate from Immigration, which will allow you to leave and enter Thailand without effectively cancelling your Retiirement Visa and putting you back on to a 30 day Tourist Visa.

You are confusing the issue with your incorrect terminology. You are referring to an extension of stay, which is not a visa.

 

I am referring to an actual visa - a non imm o-a multi entry visa which will allow the OP to avoid dealing with immigration for anything except for the 90 day reports for a year. And if he makes one border run towards the end of that year, he will get a second year before he must face immigration with its income verification and/or money in the bank requirements.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

8 minutes ago, SpokaneAl said:

You are confusing the issue with your incorrect terminology. You are referring to an extension of stay, which is not a visa.

 

I am referring to an actual visa - a non imm o-a multi entry visa which will allow the OP to avoid dealing with immigration for anything except for the 90 day reports for a year. And if he makes one border run towards the end of that year, he will get a second year before he must face immigration with its income verification and/or money in the bank requirements.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

However in order to get the "O/A" you still have to show the income on application ans\d also  need a medical certificate, expensive in the US, and a criminal background check.  IMHO the "O" visa and one year extension is the way to go unless you are using the bank deposit to prove eligibility and don't want to transfer the money to Thailand, but that only buys you 1 year.

1 hour ago, Classic Ray said:

Wrong term, it is not retirement visa but extension of the O or OA visa based on retirement. This can be extended innumerable times annually without border runs even after the original visa has expired. But you must purchase exit/re entry permits before you leave the country on any trip to keep the extension current, otherwise you need to get a new visa to base the extension on.

 

I would advise coming on an extended holiday on a tourist visa first to make sure this is really what you want to do, and can put up with the cultural differences and hassles. Will also give you the chance to sort out visa and passport issues. Personally I love Chiangmai, but traffic getting heavy. 

No.  the correct term is retirement Visa which is what 100 % of people know it as.

Yours is the technical description, which I bet many have no idea what it is.

Just common knowledge and common sense= retirement Visa.

A friend of mine is married to Chinese. She has US passport and China Passport ID. Usese Chines docs when going into China. US to go into US. No problems. Should be same for Thai 

5 hours ago, yooper said:

 

 

 

http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/506c08862.pdf

11 Section 9/1 through 9/7 as amended by Nationality Act (5) B.E. 2555 (2012)

Translated by Bongkot Napaumporn and Dunnapar Tilakamonkul Updated on 19 September 2012

 

 

(1) becoming sui juris in accordance with Thai law and the law under which he has nationality;

(2) having good behavior;

(3) having regular occupation;

(4) having a domicile in the Thai Kingdom for a consecutive period of not less than five years till the day of filing the application for naturalization;

(5) having knowledge of Thai language as prescribed in the Regulations.

 

I work with a Thai lawyer and he disputes pretty much everything you say.  If your wife has a Thai ID card and is registered in a blue Tabien Baan, then getting a Thai passport is almost a formality.

 

The sections relating to Section 9 of the Nationality Act refers to 'Displaced Thais' which your wife is not.

 

The definition of a 'Displaced Thai' is

 

Quote

““Displaced Thai” means an ethnic Thai who has become a subject of another State because of territorial succession of the Thai Kingdom in the past, including his/her descendants. These persons do not possess any other nationality, has immigrated into and resides in the Kingdom for a consecutive period, which can be proved by civil registration evidences, and observe the Thai way of life. Or, hold other relevant characteristics as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation.”

 

7 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

No.  the correct term is retirement Visa which is what 100 % of people know it as.

Yours is the technical description, which I bet many have no idea what it is.

Just common knowledge and common sense= retirement Visa.

The issue is though when asking questions on forums such as this, the answer would be completely different, hence why the terminology is important.

Particularly as there is no visa available specifically for retirement.

Example being, if you said I'm on a 'retirement visa' (non o) do I need to do 90 day reports, the answer would be no, you must leave the country every 90 days, whereas if you wrote I am on an extension of stay based on retirement, the answer would be yes you do have to do 90 day reports.

8 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

No.  the correct term is retirement Visa which is what 100 % of people know it as.

Yours is the technical description, which I bet many have no idea what it is.

Just common knowledge and common sense= retirement Visa.

IMHO, referring to an extension of your permission to stay as a visa is confusing. It is important for people to understand that visas are only available at a consulate outside Thailand (I ignore the case of a conversion from a tourist entry to a non immigrant entry) while an extension of your permission to stay is only available at your local immigration office in Thailand. Referring to Non O-A (long term) visa, Non O visa, conversion and extension of permission to stay all as "retirement visa" makes it often impossible to know what people are actually talking about, and confusing when discussing requirements.

 

You seem to want to refer to an extension as a "visa", and a Non O-A visa (or is it Non O visa) as something else. Unlike you, that does not strike me as commonsense, more as ignorance. (Yes, I know some in immigration also use inaccurate terms. That does not lessen the confusion.)

8 hours ago, Ruffian Dick said:

And beware, Chiang Mai is getting VERY crowded and polluted;

depends where you live. There are crowded "cheap" areas and those with a higher standard of living. Those areas are not polluted and not crowded! (as San Kamphaeng e.g)

31 minutes ago, DJ54 said:

A friend of mine is married to Chinese. She has US passport and China Passport ID. Usese Chines docs when going into China. US to go into US. No problems. Should be same for Thai 

it is

An aside to your discussion on Thai passports- a Thai friend living in USA (green card) returned to Thailand this month and the machine used for Thais at BKK accepted his Thai passport even though it was expired ! I found this interesting. 

However in order to get the "O/A" you still have to show the income on application ans\d also  need a medical certificate, expensive in the US, and a criminal background check.  IMHO the "O" visa and one year extension is the way to go unless you are using the bank deposit to prove eligibility and don't want to transfer the money to Thailand, but that only buys you 1 year.

 Your point is well taken. However the OP, in his original post, states that he has enough money to open the necessary bank account. Also, in that it seems that he has lived in the US for most, if not all of his life, so I am assuming he had a doctor/medical plan. At their ages, they should have a Medicare doctor. This means that the financial requirements for the non imm o-a are not a problem for him, and if he has a doctor or medical plan, there is usually no cost to get the medical form completed.

 

Again, I am just thinking that if he is able, getting the non imm o-a before heading to Thailand would give him some breathing room as he figures out a place to stay, how to receive US television coverage :) etc.

 

Also, in most states the criminal background check is fairly easy to obtain as well.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

An aside to your discussion on Thai passports- a Thai friend living in USA (green card) returned to Thailand this month and the machine used for Thais at BKK accepted his Thai passport even though it was expired ! I found this interesting. 

Shouldn’t the machine accept his Thai passport? Even if the passport is expired Thailand will not refuse entry of a Thai citizen.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

38 minutes ago, Searat7 said:

An aside to your discussion on Thai passports- a Thai friend living in USA (green card) returned to Thailand this month and the machine used for Thais at BKK accepted his Thai passport even though it was expired ! I found this interesting. 

Yes, you can enter Thailand on an  expired Thai passport but can't leave on it.  It has to be renewed before leaving.

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

No.  the correct term is retirement Visa which is what 100 % of people know it as.

Yours is the technical description, which I bet many have no idea what it is.

Just common knowledge and common sense= retirement Visa.

So presumably you consider it infinitely more sensible for quarterly trips to be made to the likes of Penang or Vientiane for "retirement visas" of the real genuine McCoy single-entry non-O variety than annual trips to local immigration offices for extensions of stay, do you? Many of us would beg to disagree.

9 hours ago, yooper said:

Well, the Thai embassy in Chicago said we can only get a new ID card in Thailand, they do issue passports if you have an ID. We have all the documents you mention and are denied. Thanks for your opinion anyway.

There is no Thai Embassy in Chicago  that is a consulate and cannot do all the services that the Thai Embassy in Wash DC can and also not thesame as some other consulates in US can. Can check the various services available at different Thai Consulates in US. Same as Thai Consulates in nearby countries to Thailand . Different rules /requirements at each one.

Just now, OJAS said:

So presumably you consider it infinitely more sensible for quarterly trips to be made to the likes of Penang or Vientiane for "retirement visas" of the real genuine McCoy single-entry non-O variety than annual trips to local immigration offices for extensions of stay, do you? Many of us would beg to disagree.

No. Its an extension of stay.

The over 50 crowd who are asking questions,  need to meet the financial requirements etc. 99 % refer to it as a retirement visa.  So does immigration.  So do the Ads by agencies on this TV site.  So do the signs at the front of agents. So does every person I know who has common sense.

But if some have no idea what one is talking about when they are over 50 and asking about the requirements and are immediately shut down by an arrogant: There is no such thing as a retirement visa.

If they don't get it duh, then I guess they don't......

 

No. Its an extension of stay.
The over 50 crowd who are asking questions,  need to meet the financial requirements etc. 99 % refer to it as a retirement visa.  So does immigration.  So do the Ads by agencies on this TV site.  So do the signs at the front of agents. So does every person I know who has common sense.
But if some have no idea what one is talking about when they are over 50 and asking about the requirements and are immediately shut down by an arrogant: There is no such thing as a retirement visa.
If they don't get it duh, then I guess they don't......
 

I am always amazed at the pushback when a poster attempts to clarify, via correct and precise terminology, the questions from others seeking answers on successfully navigating the Thai Embassy, Consulate and immigration world.

I suspect we all demand preciseness when we visit a doctor, a lawyer, or get some work done on our automobiles or motorcycles.

When we use less than precise terms we can very easily head someone down the wrong path and as I have seen on many occasions here, completely misunderstand the questions being asked.

That hardly seems the correct position if we truly profess to want to help and aid those who have questions.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

8 minutes ago, SpokaneAl said:

I am always amazed at the pushback when a poster attempts to clarify, via correct and precise terminology, the questions from others seeking answers on successfully navigating the Thai Embassy, Consulate and immigration world.

I suspect we all demand preciseness when we visit a doctor, a lawyer, or get some work done on our automobiles or motorcycles.

When we use less than precise terms we can very easily head someone down the wrong path and as I have seen on many occasions here, completely misunderstand the questions being asked.

That hardly seems the correct position if we truly profess to want to help and aid those who have questions.


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

My suggestion for anyone who is confused is to go into immigration and ask the question.

Tell them you are over 50 and want to know about a Retirement Visa.

They are not as stupid as some think and will not snap back; there is no such thing as a retirement visa!

They in fact have common sense and will provide you with appropriate information and direction.

 

 

There is no such thing as a Retirement Visa. 

It is vital to get the terminology correct. 

Otherwise we spend the first page or two giving wrong information or trying to understand what the query is. 

Those who purposely choose  to confuse the issue are of no help whatsoever.