I am 66 and have lived in Cambodia for a number of years .

I have fixed deposits and rental income in Cambodia totalling approx US$2100 per month .

I now wish to spend more time in Thailand , with the option to return to Cambodia perhaps twice per

year to collect funds .

 

What are my best options ?     Thank you in advance for assistance .

$2100 US a month, so you do not want to spend the money on a 5 year Elite visa.

Money comes from interest and deposits, so no monthly pension that can be confirmed by an embassy.

You only want to go out of Thailand like twice a year, so no 30 day or 60 day visa runs.

 

Only sensible option left a retirement visa which will require to transfer 800,000 baht of your funds to a Thai bank account. First you have to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa or One Year Non-Immigrant Visa and then convert it in Thailand to Retirement Visa.

 

You can do all the paperwork yourself or search for an agency that can help you for fee. You probably have to go to a Thai consulate/embassy and your country embassy a few times.

As far as income, Thai immigration accepts many kinds of income as qualifying. It is not limited to pensions. Certainly, rents would qualify. Not sure what he means by fixed deposits. But things like income from annuities would definitely qualify.

 

Of course they wouldn't accept income from working in Thailand as expats with retirement status are not allowed to work in Thailand. 

 

As far as what embassies accept as income for their income letter, that varies a lot based on nationality. Some nationalities require no verification at all. I imagine at least some others would accept documentation of rental income as well. 

 

Also, he could get his initial 90 day O visa IN Thailand if he can show financial qualification for the later retirement extension. Qualification via bank account, income, or combination. To do the 90 day O in Thailand though using a bank method, it must be shown that the money in a Thai bank was transferred to Thailand from abroad. 

Edited June 12, 20188 yr by Jingthing

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

 

Also, he could get his initial 90 day O visa IN Thailand if he can show financial qualification for the later retirement extension. Qualification via bank account, income, or combination. To do the 90 day O in Thailand though using a bank method, it must be shown that the money in a Thai bank was transferred to Thailand from abroad. 

The challenge then is to get a Thai bank account on a tourist visa. Assuming the OP does not have a Thai bank account yet.

1 hour ago, Paul944 said:

Only sensible option left a retirement visa which will require to transfer 800,000 baht of your funds to a Thai bank account. First you have to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa or One Year Non-Immigrant Visa and then convert it in Thailand to Retirement Visa.

No such thing as a retirement Visa

The OP wants an extension of permission to stay based on retirement. (Permit, not a Visa).

 

The financial requirement for this extension are;

1.800,000 baht deposited in a Thai bank for 60 days prior to the date of your application, OR

2. A monthly income of 65,000 baht per month, OR

3.A combination of funds in a Thai bank and income totalling 800,000 per annum.

 

If you go sown the line of option 1 or 2 you can obtain a proof of income letter from the US Embassy in the form of an affidavit without showing any proof of funds.

 

I suggest you obtain a Tourist Visa to enter Thailand, (60 days), which can be extended by another 30 days at your local Immigration office.

This allows time to deposit and season the funds in a Thai bank if required.

You can convert your Tourist Visa to a 90 day Non Imm Visa (2,000 baht) at your local IO. You must have at least 15 days permission to stay remaining from your entry to Thailand.

Within the last 30 days permission to stay from the Non Imm Visa, you can apply for the extension based on retirement. (1,900 baht)

You apply annually for further extensions.

 

If you wish to leave/re-enter Thailand during your permission to stay periods, obtain a re-entry permit from your IO.

Single entry 1,000 baht, multi entry 3,800 baht.

 

 

 

RobJohn - Where were you living in Cambodia and what is it like living there?

 

(I thought this thread was going to be about you asking which country is preferable to live in).

1 hour ago, JimmyJ said:

RobJohn - Where were you living in Cambodia and what is it like living there?

 

(I thought this thread was going to be about you asking which country is preferable to live in).

I have lived in Sihanoukville for 9 years and enjoyed it immensely . I just need a change of scenery .

Just wondering if you are a US resident and if you declare the income to the IRS especially since if you are doing the income verification letter method from the US Embassy which now affirms and puts on record with the USA that you are making money abroad?  Not that the agencies communicate with each other very much, but one never knows

Just wondering if you are a US resident and if you declare the income to the IRS especially since if you are doing the income verification letter method from the US Embassy which now affirms and puts on record with the USA that you are making money abroad?  Not that the agencies communicate with each other very much, but one never knows

I doubt that they do but banks internationally are reporting on Americans bank activity. File fbar if required!

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12 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

If you go sown the line of option 1 or 2 you can obtain a proof of income letter from the US Embassy in the form of an affidavit without showing any proof of funds.

Typo error.

Should read if you go down the line of 2 or 3.

What is the complication....Retire to Thailand and fly back as often as you like?

16 hours ago, Paul944 said:

Money comes from interest and deposits, so no monthly pension that can be confirmed by an embassy.

There are other sources than just pensions that might be confirmed as monthly income by an embassy. 

 

16 hours ago, Paul944 said:

Only sensible option left a retirement visa which will require to transfer800,000 baht of your funds to a Thai bank account. First you have to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa or One Year Non-Immigrant Visa and then convert it in Thailand to Retirement Visa.

There is no retirement visa. The non-imm O-A is what is often called a retirement visa, but it can only be obtained in your home country or country of legal residence.  You would not start with a non-imm O if you wanted a non-imm O-A.

 

What you are apparently describing is an extension of stay based on retirement (which is not a visa), but which can be applied for starting with a non-imm O (or O-A) visa entry. 

 

Probably a good idea to have a firm understanding of something before offering confusing advice to others.

Edited June 13, 20188 yr by Suradit69

10 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Just wondering if you are a US resident and if you declare the income to the IRS especially since if you are doing the income verification letter method from the US Embassy which now affirms and puts on record with the USA that you are making money abroad?  Not that the agencies communicate with each other very much, but one never knows

If the OP is a US citizen, the US Embassy doesn't verify where the money comes from.  They only affirm what income amount you claim to receive.

14 hours ago, RobJohn said:

I have lived in Sihanoukville for 9 years and enjoyed it immensely . I just need a change of scenery .

LOL   u dont speak Chinese?? Do u know Rony that runs sailboat charters in snv??
i have land and a house in Kep & Svay Rieng, BUT still live here in Phuket. Air Asia r/t Phuket- Bangkok- Phnom Pehn is less than 8,000 baht and takes only 4 hours with transit in Bangkok if u book at least a few weeks in advance

on $2,100 u can live very well in Thailand.

 

wont get into which is better Thailand vs Cambodia...

 

get ur Non o singe entry visa in PP since ur over 50, gives you 90 days in Thailand to open a bank account, as you need the deposit in for 2 months before u apply for the 1 year extension, which u than extend,  a year extension is 1,900, than u need get a  single re entry permit for 1,000 or multiple 3, 800

 

Edited June 13, 20188 yr by phuketrichard

11 hours ago, tweedledee2 said:

If the OP is a US citizen, the US Embassy doesn't verify where the money comes from.  They only affirm what income amount you claim to receive.

Yes I know that.  My point was simply asking that since the guy is now affirming on record with a US Government agency that he has income, is the OP doing his USA tax filings correctly and accounting for the income? 

8 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

Yes I know that.  My point was simply asking that since the guy is now affirming on record with a US Government agency that he has income, is the OP doing his USA tax filings correctly and accounting for the income? 

The embassy does not share the info on the income affidavit with the IRS. They don't even make a copy of it,

Thank you for the replys and advice so far .

I hold a UK passport , but have never worked in the UK , nor lived there since 1962 .

My research shows I may be able to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa  “O-A” (Long Stay)

in Phnom Penh , while retaining my funds in Cambodia .

Or get a tourist visa , and then get an agent in Thailand to smooth the process , while still

retaining my funds in Cambodia .

I get between 9 - 10.5% on funds in banks here , I don't really want to move more than I have to ,

to Thailand .

7 hours ago, RobJohn said:

My research shows I may be able to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa  “O-A” (Long Stay)

in Phnom Penh , while retaining my funds in Cambodia .

Only if you have permanent residency status in Cambodia.

On 6/12/2018 at 6:46 PM, Tanoshi said:

No such thing as a retirement Visa

The OP wants an extension of permission to stay based on retirement. (Permit, not a Visa).

 

Almost right, but it is an extension of stay based on being over 50, (not being retired).

On 6/12/2018 at 8:06 PM, RobJohn said:

I have lived in Sihanoukville for 9 years and enjoyed it immensely . I just need a change of scenery .

It certainly makes sense then why you want to leave.

22 minutes ago, NetJunkie said:

 

Almost right, but it is an extension of stay based on being over 50, (not being retired).

Being over 50 is a condition, same as financial qualifications.

Extensions are issued based on Marriage or Retirement.

The reason of issue is clearly stated on the extension.

11 hours ago, RobJohn said:

Thank you for the replys and advice so far .

I hold a UK passport , but have never worked in the UK , nor lived there since 1962 .

My research shows I may be able to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa  “O-A” (Long Stay)

in Phnom Penh , while retaining my funds in Cambodia .

Or get a tourist visa , and then get an agent in Thailand to smooth the process , while still

retaining my funds in Cambodia .

I get between 9 - 10.5% on funds in banks here , I don't really want to move more than I have to ,

to Thailand .

they will issue u a non O single entry visa valid for 90 day stay and only ONCE

Tourist visas , 3-4 and no more

you dont need an agent at all in Thailand...

10 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Being over 50 is a condition, same as financial qualifications.

Extensions are issued based on Marriage or Retirement.

The reason of issue is clearly stated on the extension.

I will only say it once, you do not have to be retired to get an extension of stay based on being over 50,

 
Many people do not dream to live under sharia law. I would not live in any Muslim country even for $10000/month.
 
 
 
 

I would!

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I will only say it once, you do not have to be retired to get an extension of stay based on being over 50,

True Dat.

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On 6/13/2018 at 9:19 AM, ubonjoe said:

The embassy does not share the info on the income affidavit with the IRS. They don't even make a copy of it,

I did not say that they did.  I am simply saying the man has now affirmed something and legally notarized it.  One might be surprised how such things can come back to bite one later on, when the IRS for whatever reason audits, or does an income reconstruction audit, or Dept of Health and Human Services asks about income for Medicare premium determination, or Department of Veterans affairs looks over his application for VA benefits and income levels, etc.

17 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

I did not say that they did.  I am simply saying the man has now affirmed something and legally notarized it.  One might be surprised how such things can come back to bite one later on, when the IRS for whatever reason audits, or does an income reconstruction audit, or Dept of Health and Human Services asks about income for Medicare premium determination, or Department of Veterans affairs looks over his application for VA benefits and income levels, etc.

Totally bogus guessing and comments that will never happen.

Seriously, you think too mutt.....

On 6/15/2018 at 8:12 PM, gk10002000 said:

I did not say that they did.  I am simply saying the man has now affirmed something and legally notarized it.  One might be surprised how such things can come back to bite one later on, when the IRS for whatever reason audits, or does an income reconstruction audit, or Dept of Health and Human Services asks about income for Medicare premium determination, or Department of Veterans affairs looks over his application for VA benefits and income levels, etc.

The OP holds an U.K. passport. who cares about IRS anyway? Do not be another American paranoid in Thailand!

 

Surin, Surin, Surin.  Fourty minutes to the border, easy and friendly immigration at Chomg Chong.  Quiet town with a decent ExPat community and a five hour bus ride to Bangkok.  With your fixed income you should enjoy a good life there.