Feb 4 2019 Latest info to apply for Retirement Visa

[mokubc]

Hi.  Just spent the morning at Chern Wattana (sp?).  My goal was to start the process of turning a 30 day entry stamp into a Retirement Visa.  First step is to change the 30day stamp into a Non Immigrant O visa, which will then (sometime during the final 30 days of the 90 day Non O visa) be changed into the one year Retirement Visa.

 

Disclaimer:  I'm just trying to give more accurate/current info here, as most of the content that I came across while researching was either incomplete, wrong, or just plain insufficient.  That goes for info on this site, as well as Trip Advisor and the various legal sites that offer info.

 

I transferred 800,000 baht last October so that isn't the topic here.  Yes, I believe that is the only way to do it now, as of Jan 1.  But this post is just to inform what documents, etc that I needed today.  Now, maybe the woman that helped me (who was very pleasant) was being extra detailed because there was another older, quite official-looking female officer who seemed to be only there to oversea what was occurring at the various desks in her office/room area.  Your experience might be different, but she asked me for "everything" except a health cert and a police clearance.  

 

First thing, I came in with 2 days left on my 30 day stamp.  Well, I was supposed to have 15 days left on any stamp that I wished to change/convert.  So I had to get a 30 day extension, which immediately set me back 1900 baht.  Took a breath, and dealt with it.  No problem.  Got a new number for the correct department, then downstairs to re-copy the passport page with the current stamp.

 

Got to the visa desk and presented, what I believed, were the correct documents.  Photos, visa form, passport page copy, stamp and departure card copy, official letter from Thai bank stating that I had over the necessary amount in it, and a copy of my bank passbook updated that morning downstairs at Chern Watana.   Also brought a copy of my current rental contract.   I thought I had everything.  Wrong.

 

Long story short.  I needed to fill out another form that registered me here in Thailand where I was staying.  I thought my landlord had done this, as it is required by law (but seems to be very loosely enforced).  But she wanted it.  She looked up my records in her computer and it showed that I had been registered by a hotel I stayed at for a week last Fall in Phuket, but nothing else.   Luckily that document wasn't difficult to get.  Another office in the same area and same floor of all visa activity.  But make sure you bring some sort of rental contract.  Filled out a new form, wait a while.  Add the stamped/signed receipt to the collection of material.  

 

Then I also needed a paper from the bank showing the 800,000 baht had come from a source outside of Thailand.  I went downstairs and managed to get this document, although the bank's first response was that I needed to go to my home branch in Siam.  Ouch.  I pleaded and they called that branch, who faxed over the document.   That means you need 2 documents from the Thai bank, not just one.

 

Back upstairs to my new friend.  No waiting.  Signed all papers, paid 2000 baht, and will have to go back in 2 weeks to collect to Non Im O.  I keep my passport, but it takes about 2 weeks (hence the 15 days left on existing visa idea) for all of the paperwork to clear through whoever looks at it.  No more fees on pick-up day.  The official said that someone would call me in a few days, and would come to my rental unit to make sure that I was, in fact, staying there.   A Thai person there must account for me as well.  That probably means the landlord but i'm hoping that the receptionist/cleaning lady will be enough to verify that I stay there.

 

Enough.  Get it?  Lots of steps.  I finished before lunch time, thank goodness, and I was mentally prepared to have unexpected things come up (and I wasn't disappointed ; )

 

So, here's a list:

-copies of relevant passport pages (info page, entry stamp, departure card)

-copy of bank book front page, and of ALL pages with transactions in the bank book, including the latest update, preferably same day.

-photos

-Be sure you are registered at your current address.  Bring something that documents this.  If not, you can do it there but bring a rental contract (and it might cost you 800 baht             for 'late fee' as we are supposed to register within 24 hours after arrival in the Kingdom).

-2 letters from bank.  One stating current balance (I've heard that this document can not be more than one week old), and another showing foreign origin of 800,000 baht.  Of                 course you know that 800,000 must be here in a Thai bank for at least 60 days. Some say 90 but I can't tell you which is correct. I had the money here for a little over 3               months.

 

If your material is deemed "complete", then it will be accepted and you will be given a date to return in about 2 weeks.  Now, i'm not 100% sure that something will be found to be lacking during these next 15 days.  I hope not.  Fingers are crossed.

 

What else?  Oh yes. don't forget your patience and perspective : )

 

 

 

[rott]

Interesting. Over time you forget what was involved initially, or they have added a lot.

[BumGun]

My problem is, I can't open a bank account.

[scubascuba3]

So you'll be heading back to go through a similar palaver for the year extension. Sounds like they were helping you ok. They picked you up on legit stuff but didn't make a song and dance about it

[yang123]

1 hour ago, BumGun said:

My problem is, I can't open a bank account.

What's the problem?

[steve187]

all the things that you had to go back and do are detailed on this forum. proof of money from abroad, having to have 15 days remaining on permission to stay.

[jacko45k]

You appear to be at the stage of waiting for the conversion of your entry to that of a Non-Imm O. The approval for that process includes the need to prove your money in the bank came from overseas, but not any 2 month seasoning.

 

You will receive 90 days permission of stay. when you get the Non-Imm O. The next step, 30 days before that is finished, is to apply for the one year extension based on retirement, where the 2 month money seasoning is a requirement and back copies of passbook needed to prove it. Of course that is not a problem for you, but you will also be required to supply pics, copies, forms and money and do the hoop dance a bit more then!

[BumGun]

What's the problem?

If I arrive on a visa exemption, when I go into a bank and ask to open an account, I am told I need the correct visa.. 30 day exemption is not good enough.

 

I say I need a bank account to get a visa for retirement, and round and round we go. I got tired off it after the 6th bank... so sort of Catch 22.

 

[DrJack54]

Thanks for the report however you mention you had difficulty finding out what is required. All that info is on Thaivisa. You did not mention map of your residence. I suggest others bring that. Its now being asked for at CW.

The reason you had to show the funds from os is because you applied for conversion to non o. For others obtaining non o outside los that is not required. The TM30 form is standard and is up to you to make sure that is done. Hence the 800 baht fine. 

[mikebell]

Phew!  Do you think this process will be any easier in Vietnam?

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Phew!  Do you think this process will be any easier in Vietnam?

What process. Process to obtain non o based on retirement? The op was changing to a non o at ti CW.

BTW just double check that they do non o at Saigon. I not 100% sure. An expert will advise.

[flexomike]

7 hours ago, BumGun said:

If I arrive on a visa exemption, when I go into a bank and ask to open an account, I am told I need the correct visa.. 30 day exemption is not good enough.

 

I say I need a bank account to get a visa for retirement, and round and round we go. I got tired off it after the 6th bank... so sort of Catch 22.

 

almost impossible to do without a visa, some banks even want work permits, tourist visas are sometimes hard to do also, so you are going to have to get a visa of some kind

 

[Thomas J]

On 2/4/2019 at 8:57 PM, BumGun said:

My problem is, I can't open a bank account.

I wrote about that several times.  You just get the answer to "find a friendly branch"  I went to 7 in total.  Finally I found that Bangkok Bank will open an account for you if you pay their "extortion" of buying an insurance policy.  Even if you do open it, the money $800k  baht will not be aged for 3 months.  There are numerous posts about it  being 2 months by Jomtien required 3 months for intial 0 Visa and 3 months for renewals.  Fortunately my embassy was still issuing affidavits otherwise I would not have been able to get my visa. 

 

[Thomas J]

You forgot the map of where you live.  Though it is not on the list of requirements Jomtien said I needed a map pointing to the location of where I was residing as part of the immigration application. 

[marcusarelus]

8 hours ago, BumGun said:

If I arrive on a visa exemption, when I go into a bank and ask to open an account, I am told I need the correct visa.. 30 day exemption is not good enough.

 

I say I need a bank account to get a visa for retirement, and round and round we go. I got tired off it after the 6th bank... so sort of Catch 22.

 

Many topics on this in the banking section of Thaivisa try reading them.

[marcusarelus]

5 hours ago, mikebell said:

Phew!  Do you think this process will be any easier in Vietnam?

If they guy had all the necessary documents it would have been very easy.  I think he posted the information so others might just go in and out.  The required documents have been listed on this forum many times.  I guess the OP didn't look at the right ones.  Seems to me it would have been a better post if he included a list of what was needed at the end of his post.  

[jacko45k]

20 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

here are numerous posts about it  being 2 months by Jomtien required 3 months for intial 0 Visa and 3 months for renewals. 

No need to argue that anymore, as of 1st March it will be 2 months before and 3 months after!

[mokwit]

18 hours ago, jacko45k said:

No need to argue that anymore, as of 1st March it will be 2 months before and 3 months after!

Personally I will assume it is still 3 months before just in case the two months is an error/typo

[ubonjoe]

21 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Personally I will assume it is still 3 months before just in case the two months is an error/typo

It is certainly not an error.

If you compare the old and new order it said 60 days for the first extension which has now been replaced by 2 months for every extension application.

[mokubc]

Lots of good comments.  Yes, I suppose had I searched more I would have found all of the appropriate requirements necessary here on ThaiVisa before I went, but, as I mentioned, there is a lot of mixed info posted.   Also, the legal websites and other private posters that appear on a google search didn't include a number of things that turned out to be necessary.  I'm not sure how or if the 'incorrect' or 'incomplete' postings here on TV could be removed?  Anyways, was just trying to update with at least mostly accurate information.  As most of us know, the requirements seem to change as often as the tides.  To address someone's comment, I believe I did list all the necessary documents at the end of the post.  Perhaps it was read while imbibing a third sangsom and soda, which would make it similar to the conditions of when I wrote it  ; )

Yes, there was a request for a map to my accommodation.  I made a hand-drawn one in 3 minutes, with the immigration officer supplying the paper and a ruler ("for rip roi" : )  No copy necessary.  Also, an immigration officer called me the next day (a couple of days ago already) and came to the apartment the same day for photos.  There must be a Thai guarantee-or there, usually (always?) the landlord or owner.  Luckily my landlord was available and happy to come.  Officer was pleasant and the whole process was done in under 10 minutes.   All seems to be in order.  

Yes, information is available for those who search for it.  But any time one makes a visit to immigration (me anyways it seems) there is always the possibility of the unexpected.  Again, patience pays off, as does a smile and a wai or two.  Jai yen can go a long way.