Currently, I have a valid Retirement Visa. With the new changes requiring 800K in the bank or 65K monthly. I don't really want to transfer that much into a Thai bank. Can I switch it to a family visa. Requiring 400K in a bank and 45K monthly. I have a Thai son that I have. I'm on the Thai birth certificate as the father. Is there any documents I would need to change the visa?

Dont confuse it with a VISA, It is extension of stay you are talking about... Better you keep them apart to avoid confusion..

 

glegolo

1 hour ago, Larryst said:

I have a Thai son that I have. I'm on the Thai birth certificate as the father. Is there any documents I would need to change the visa?

To apply for an extension of stay based upon being the parent of a Thai you must be the legal father by way of marriage or legitimization of your parenthood. Info about legitimization is in this topic.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/381917-how-to-gain-parental-rights-as-a-father/

You could change the reason for your extension based upon retirement to one after you are the legal father of your child. You would need 400k baht in a Thai bank or proof of 40k baht income.

You may want to read this running-topic, discussing the problems you may encounter if switching to marriage:

 

 

 

Switching to an extension of stay as a parent (“family visa”) is no problem once you are the legal parent. And if applying as a parent the 400K only needs to be in your bank on the day you apply if using that method.

Then there shouldn't be no problem on switching from Retirement to Family extension to stay. Since, on my sons Thai birth certificate has me as the father. He also has a U.S. birth certificate too. No problem with the 400K in the bank. I don't want to tie up 800K in a Thai bank.

3 minutes ago, Larryst said:

Then there shouldn't be no problem on switching from Retirement to Family extension to stay. Since, on my sons Thai birth certificate has me as the father. He also has a U.S. birth certificate too. No problem with the 400K in the bank. I don't want to tie up 800K in a Thai bank.

Being named on the birth certificate isn’t enough. Anyone could be named as a father. You need to get your parenthood legalised before they’ll grant you an extension of stay as a parent.

6 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Being named on the birth certificate isn’t enough. Anyone could be named as a father. You need to get your parenthood legalised before they’ll grant you an extension of stay as a parent.

Thanks, I did a little search on parenthood legalized in Thailand. Found this link

  I think I might stay with the retirement. Reason is. I will never go to my girlfriends home again. I don't like her parents and they feel the same about me. So I'll have to go with the 65K deposits monthly to Bangkok Bank.