Cannot meet the requirement of 65000 or 800000. Options please

[norfolkandchance]

Retirement extension till September

Uk citizen.Italian resident.

180 days in Thailand. 3 visits a year . Duration of 2 months each 

Thanks in advance.

[scubascuba3]

tourist visas

[ubonjoe]

Perhaps you could do the combination of annual income and money in a Thai bank to reach a total of 800k baht would be possible.

[AlexRich]

I also think you could get away with tourist visas. You are not a full time resident.

[DrJack54]

Just now, AlexRich said:

I also think you could get away with tourist visas. You are not a full time resident.

Agree and imagine the visits are spread out. Time between entries is a big deal. 

[onera1961]

Two TVs per year (one home country and one neighboring country) back-to-back entering land border for the second one will be OK, I think. 

Edited March 16, 2019 by onera1961

[elviajero]

31 minutes ago, norfolkandchance said:

Retirement extension till September

Uk citizen.Italian resident.

180 days in Thailand. 3 visits a year . Duration of 2 months each 

Thanks in advance.

3 x 60 day Single Entry Tourist Visa. (recommended)

or

3 x 30 day Visa Exempt Entries with 30 day extensions.

 

 

[norfolkandchance]

15 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Perhaps you could do the combination of annual income and money in a Thai bank to reach a total of 800k baht would be possible.

Sorry Joe. Insufficient funds.

[scubascuba3]

Sorry Joe. Insufficient funds.

Then do tourist visas and relax

[norfolkandchance]

Thanks everyone for their input. Looks like Tourist Visa’s for me.

[SEtonal]

Option 1:  When in the UK or Italy, borrow enough money from a friend or relative to qualify for an Non-Immigrant OA visa.  Once the visa is granted, return the borrowed money.   The Non-Immigrant OA visa will last two years if timed right.

 

Option 2:  Only stay in Thailand 150 days.   Arrive in Thailand with a 60-day tourist visa and extend for another 30 days at Immigration Office.  Then make a land border run in and out of a neighboring country to receive a 30-day visa exempt permission to stay and extend that for another 30 days.   The reason is that more and more people are being refused tourist visas at Thai embassies and consulates in nearby countries -- although, if you are willing to fly some distance, like to Japan, there might not be as much trouble getting a 60-day tourist visa.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, SEtonal said:

If you are willing to fly some distance, like to Japan, there might not be as much trouble getting a 60-day tourist visa.

Japan Thai consulates won't do one unless one has residency in Japan.  Maybe Seoul, but not sure how friendly they are - some report getting them there. 

 

2 hours ago, SEtonal said:

Arrive in Thailand with a 60-day tourist visa and extend for another 30 days at Immigration Office.  Then make a land border run in and out of a neighboring country to receive a 30-day visa exempt permission to stay and extend that for another 30 days.  

The problem comes in the next year, when he arrives again, and they may say he "stayed too long last time," because "tourists only spend a week or two."  Never mind a TR-Visa grants 60-days (not 14) and immigration granted extensions; they seem to have permission to break the law and be raging-hypocrites at the same time, blaming "The Farang" for what their own MFA and Immigration Offices did in the past.

 

But, so far, people "snowbirding" in Thailand like this, and entering at the lawless Bangkok Airports with a valid Tourist Visa, have only been interrogated and insulted; I don't recall a case where they actually denied-entry with only 5 months stay in the previous year.  If they began outright denying entry to snowbirds, it would just mean doing both the 1st and 2nd entries at law-abiding land-borders and flying domestic within Thailand - at least, while "law abiding" entry points still exist in the country.

[Ej2562]

I just want to know if the 65000 baht/mo is an option to the 800000 baht

[JackThompson]

3 hours ago, Ej2562 said:

I just want to know if the 65000 baht/mo is an option to the 800000 baht

Yes, if you can prove the income to the satisfaction of immigration.

[dcnx]

Vietnam. 1 year multi entry visa for around $400. 

 

Forget Thailand. Go somewhere where you’re welcome.

[donnacha]

You say you are staying two months at a time, so, you do not need a tourist visa. Get 29 days on entry and extend by 30 days for 1,900 baht. The 60-day tourist visa is slightly cheaper but requires paperwork and burns more time (bring passport and paperwork to consulate, pick up your visa the next day).

A visa (of any type) is no guarantee that you will be allowed to enter Thailand, neither is looking respectable, it currently boils down to how often you visit and how close together those visits are.

You say you are from the UK. If you are from Northern Ireland, or have any Irish heritage, you should consider getting a ten-year Irish passport for £68. That will allow you to alternate your passports so that it won't be apparent that your visits are back-to-back. It may also be useful for traveling in Europe if Brexit does actually happen.

You should avoid Don Mueang, but that advice applies to any Westerner, even first-time visitors.

Edited March 16, 2019 by donnacha

[elviajero]

50 minutes ago, donnacha said:

You say you are staying two months at a time, so, you do not need a tourist visa. Get 29 days on entry and extend by 30 days for 1,900 baht. The 60-day tourist visa is slightly cheaper but requires paperwork and burns more time (bring passport and paperwork to consulate, pick up your visa the next day).

A visa (of any type) is no guarantee that you will be allowed to enter Thailand, neither is looking respectable, it currently boils down to how often you visit and how close together those visits are.

You say you are from the UK. If you are from Northern Ireland, or have any Irish heritage, you should consider getting a ten-year Irish passport for £68. That will allow you to alternate your passports so that it won't be apparent that your visits are back-to-back. It may also be useful for traveling in Europe if Brexit does actually happen.

Visa exemption is 30 days on entry, not 29. The day you enter counts as day 1.

 

Having two passports would not help as immigration would almost certainly link them based on name and DOB. Once linked they have access to the combined record of entries. And it's unnecessary as the OP is not going to be making back to back visits.

 

50 minutes ago, donnacha said:

You should avoid Don Mueang, but that advice applies to any Westerner, even first-time visitors.

Why would any first-time visitor avoid one of the main international airports? In the first 9 months of 2018 the top 17 western countries (based on entries) made 4.7 million entries for tourism. How many of them were denied entry to warrant your ridiculous warning?

[donnacha]

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

Visa exemption is 30 days on entry, not 29. The day you enter counts as day 1.

Yes. I say 29 because many non-Thais make the mistake of simply adding 30 days to their arrival date, as you would for other countries, resulting in being one day over. That is the #1 cause of accidental overstays in Thailand. In this case, it is also important to highlight that the tourist visa gives you an extra day over the waiver + extension method.

 

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

Having two passports would not help as immigration would almost certainly link them based on name and DOB.

Despite your "almost" certainty, you do not know what you are talking about. At this time, there is no such system in place. There may be in the future, it would make a lot of sense, but at this time there is not and many members of this forum benefit from that, the OP might benefit too.
 

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

And it's unnecessary as the OP is not going to be making back to back visits.

The OP said no such thing. He said he would be here 180 days per year, in 60 day blocks. We do not know how he plans to arrange them but, as there are only 365 days in a year, it is not a wild stretch to suggest that some of his visits might run close together. In the context of my suggestion - that he simply use the visa waiver + extensions - it was worth mentioning the possible pitfalls of such a schedule.
 

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

Why would any first-time visitor avoid one of the main international airports? In the first 9 months of 2018 the top 17 western countries (based on entries) made 4.7 million entries for tourism. How many of them were denied entry to warrant your ridiculous warning?

Whatever the overall risk of being denied entry to Thailand, it is widely recognized as being higher in Don Mueang. A significant majority of the refusals reported on this forum occur there. In the context of my suggestion - that he use the visa waiver + extensions - it was relevant to mention that, if possible, he should avoid relying on visa waivers from immigration officers at that airport.

Elviajero, I do not know if you have some sort of deep-seated problems in your life, or if you are just having a bad day, but perhaps you should be less eager to jump all over other members' posts when they are trying to help other members, particularly when you are factually wrong on key points.

It is not enough to be "almost" certain, you need to either know from experience or do some research. You might be knowledgeable on many subjects, but no-one knows everything and, if you pretend you do, you risk making a fool of yourself. I mean this kindly.

 

Edited March 16, 2019 by donnacha

[mikebell]

6 hours ago, dcnx said:

Vietnam. 1 year multi entry visa for around $400. 

 

Forget Thailand. Go somewhere where you’re welcome.

Here, here.  I'm checking it out over Songkran.

Edited March 17, 2019 by mikebell
spelling error

[brokenbone]

10 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Here, here.  I'm checking it out over Songkran.

do report back, we need a vietnam topic more then ever

[travelerjim]

20 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Perhaps you could do the combination of annual income and money in a Thai bank to reach a total of 800k baht would be possible.

Jomtien Pattaya are NOT allowing combo method. 

[Kerryd]

I'm guessing you probably don't have 500k kicking around for a Thailand Elite Easy Access membership either ?

 

(Renewable five-year multiple entry visa with extendable one-year length of stay per each entry.)

No hassles with number of trips to Thailand, or length of stay each trip. No need to do extensions or leave the country "for a day" just to come back in and get a new stamp.

Assistance with Immigration on arrival (as well as when doing the annual renewals, 90 day reports and other matters like opening bank accounts or getting a driver's license).

 

No funds in bank required. No monthly income required.

I'd say that for some people, this could be a viable option, but then again, I'm pretty sure that most of those that don't have the monthly income or the "money in bank" couldn't afford this either.
As the money is gone once you pay for the membership, this is the most expensive option. In most cases you'd probably be much further ahead to use alternative methods (like METVs) for a couple of years and build up the bank account to the point you can use that method for a Retirement Extension, instead of spending 500k and then, 5 years later, having nothing to show for it.

(Personally I use the "money in bank" method" but many years ago would have considered an Easy Access as I was "too young" to qualify for the Retirement Extension. Back then they didn't have the "Easy Access" option either and the full membership (2 million baht) didn't offer enough "extras" to make it worthwhile.)

[sometimewoodworker]

19 hours ago, SEtonal said:

although, if you are willing to fly some distance, like to Japan, there might not be as much trouble getting a 60-day tourist visa.

Japan does not issue visas to non residents so that is not a good country to try that. AFIK Korea is an option.

[SEtonal]

21 minutes ago, travelerjim said:

Jomtien Pattaya are NOT allowing combo method. 

 

I have not read one report this year of the combination method being accepted for an extension based on retirement without an Embassy income verification letter or use of an agent.  

 

A Brit was refused the combo method at Phuket, but was able to successfully get a 90-day non-O immigrant visa and 1-year extension based on retirement at Savannakhet.

 

An Australian (former Dutch/Netherlands citizen) was refused the combo method at Chiang Mai.   He will go back to Australia, apply for a 90-day non-O, top his Thai bank account up to 800K baht, and apply for an extension once his funds are properly seasoned.  

 

 

 

 

[SEtonal]

7 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Japan does not issue visas to non residents so that is not a good country to try that. AFIK Korea is an option.

 

Thanks to both you and JackThompson for pointing that out about Japan and South Korea.   

[SEtonal]

39 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

I'm guessing you probably don't have 500k kicking around for a Thailand Elite Easy Access membership either ?

 

He could try a visa agent.  I believe 40K baht is the maximum being charged for a 1-year retirement extension without proof of proper funds.  That is significantly cheaper than a 500K 5-year Thailand Elite visa and comparable to the 1 million baht 20-year Thailand Elite visa.

[leverito]

I guess you to find any visa agent,they will "find" your options and your remained funds.

[Peter Denis]

20 hours ago, SEtonal said:

Option 1:  When in the UK or Italy, borrow enough money from a friend or relative to qualify for an Non-Immigrant OA visa.  Once the visa is granted, return the borrowed money.   The Non-Immigrant OA visa will last two years if timed right. 

When the OP is over 50 years of age, the option 1 suggested by SEtonal is most probably your best option.

Long-time staying on tourist visas is getting increasingly risky for being denied entrance on arrival.

[Pib]

2 hours ago, Kerryd said:

I'm guessing you probably don't have 500k kicking around for a Thailand Elite Easy Access membership either ?

 

(Renewable five-year multiple entry visa with extendable one-year length of stay per each entry.)

No hassles with number of trips to Thailand, or length of stay each trip. No need to do extensions or leave the country "for a day" just to come back in and get a new stamp.

 

Where you say in the second paragraph "....extendable one-year length of stay per entry" what is the procedure/paperwork and cost to extend for another year without needing to leave the country?

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, SEtonal said:

 

He could try a visa agent.  I believe 40K baht is the maximum being charged for a 1-year retirement extension without proof of proper funds.  That is significantly cheaper than a 500K 5-year Thailand Elite visa and comparable to the 1 million baht 20-year Thailand Elite visa.

I have heard a report a few days ago of an offer of ฿25,000 from an agent in Bangkok "all you need is passport 3 photos and 25,000 + 4,000 for multiple re-entry permit + EMS cost. You do not need money in the bank we take care of that" the person who received the offer lives in the Northeast