Retirement or Tourist?

[Negita43]

Sorry if this has been covered but I have been out of Thai Visa for 4 months.

 

I would like to get a discussion going on the following subject (of course it not about me it’s about a friend).

Currently in Thailand on retirement visa/extension – age 75

Girlfriend retires next year

They want to spend time in Thailand and UK (and Europe). Probably 3/4 months Thailand,3/4 months UK, 3/4 Months Spain/ Europe She has 10 year UK tourist visa (180 days a year). And they are aware about “90 day residency rule” which seems to apply in most countries)

So what is the best way to do this for the Thai Visa (extension)?

Continue with the retirement visa extension.

Advantages: No visa run, can get Thai driving license etc. have Thai bank accounts. Has multiple entry re-entry permit so can come and go more or less as he pleases

Disadvantages: Effectively have to tie up 800,000 baht in Thai Bank (but it does earn more interest than if in a UK bank account).  Implies residency in Thailand?? - (90 day reporting?). Requires renewing before a fixed date every year so has to be in Thailand at a certain time (long term visa at 75 not sensible with regard to cost).

Let the retirement visa lapse and rely on tourist visa.

Advantages: Frees up 800,000 Baht.  Probably does not imply Thai residency? Can be obtained as and when he enters kingdom.

Disadvantages: Visa run if he stays more than 90 days (is it possible to get multiple entry tourist visa?). Can he keep his Bank accounts? Can he get his Thai driving license?

Of course all this is occurring in the context of changing “rules” (for example how long will it be 800,000 Baht in the bank or how long will 90 day (in total) tourist visas and border runs be acceptable) and of course changing interpretations of those rules by individual immigration offices.

Why can’t life be simple?

Thoughts, ideas appreciated.

[DrJack54]

"3 or 4 months in los". Especially given then extended period not in Thailand. I would not even consider extensions. Given new regs money in bank etc. Can easily achieve 3 or 4 months here. Stuff em. Having said that I would obtain driving license and he would already have bank a/c.

[DrJack54]

Setv with extension is 3 months already. Visa exempt + extension is 2 more months. =5

[jackdd]

The easiest way is probably a Non-OA visa. If he is regularly in his home country anyway, that should be easy to obtain

[Tanoshi]

He may have to re-evaluate his time periods in the various Countries.

 

She can spend up to 6 months in the UK in a 12 month period.

Schengen Visa for Europe allows max stay of 90 days in any 180 days.

She should apply for the SV in Thailand.

To remain in Thailand for longer than 90 days he would almost certainly have to do a border run or apply for a TV from a nearby Consulate, or an O-A Visa from the UK, or remain on his current retirement extension.

 

 

[BritTim]

Two points I would clarify:

• Residency (for tax purposes) is not determined by visa type, only whether you are in Thailand for 180+ days in any year.
• In the past, it would have been worthwhile to maintain an existing retirement extension status in Thailand. The reason was that the Thai authorities tended to grandfather existing extensions, allowing them to use previous rules, when changes were made to things like the financial requirements for a retirement extension. Thus, in the past, it was worthwhile to maintain the extension to future proof you against changes. Recently, it does not seem changes are taking account of the needs of those already here on retirement extensions, so this is probably no longer a consideration.

I am tempted to advise just doing what seems easiest year to year. The rules change so often now that any method you choose may become impractical in a year's time.

[UKresonant]

Big advantage having the 800000k released at the current painful exchange rate.

To generate time out side the UK I would use HKG as the hub, with weeks 2 and 3 of January as an anchor point in the plan (good deals on accom., if still the same as years ago, have to check). Fly to HKG from UK, have a few days there, fly to Bangkok or Chaing Mai, use whatever visa combo, visa run to HKG for a couple of weeks, back to Thailand, then, back to HKG fly back to UK. Should be able to get about 140 days out of that combo. I think UK still have 180days and Thais 30 day entry to HKG. ( need to check the travel insurance limitation). Would get the GF out of the UK winter.

 

SE Non-O from London 89days - HKG 16 - 29 day visa exempt.

METV 59 - HKG 16 - METV 59. (perhaps better)

 

[Leaver]

7 hours ago, jackdd said:

The easiest way is probably a Non-OA visa. If he is regularly in his home country anyway, that should be easy to obtain

Isn't there a limit on how many Non OA's you can have now?

[Leaver]

This is the problem many snowbirds are facing now. 

 

The 3 months is no problem.  2 month tourist visa, extended 1 month to give a 3 month stay.  It's the fourth month that is the issue.

 

Many don't want to do a visa run, but have done them in the past, but now, there is no guarantee you will be let back in for the fourth month, as it's back to back tourist visas / exemption.  Sure, the chances of being denied entry for a 75 year old, with a history of returning to his home country, are slim, however, entry in no long guaranteed. 

 

Another member suggested the Non OA visa, as I would have, in the past, but I believe they have now limited these, but this would be best clarified by UbonJoe.  I am sure he will be along later.

 

It makes no economic sense to tie up 800k / 400k for a 4 month holiday to Thailand, and have to go through the associated hoops on certain dates.

 

My advice would be to come in on a 2 month tourist visa, extend for 1 month, do a boarder run, but have a plan B ready in case of denial of entry. 

 

There is also another option of staying the 3 months in Thailand, and spending 1 month in another country in the region.  He would have to leave Thailand after 3 month anyway, so why not check out some other places?

[ThaiBunny]

17 minutes ago, Leaver said:

he 3 months is no problem.  2 month tourist visa, extended 1 month to give a 3 month stay.  It's the fourth month that is the issue.

All my snowbird friends are/will be using an METV rather than an SETV. Sure, you have to do a visa run but given your suggestion of an SETV followed by a visa run followed by a visa exempt there's no difference. If you get an extension at the end of each entry that gives you 90 days + 90 days

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

Isn't there a limit on how many Non OA's you can have now?

There is no limit. People have been getting a new one back to back for many years.

[Leaver]

On 6/30/2019 at 10:47 AM, ThaiBunny said:

All my snowbird friends are/will be using an METV rather than an SETV. Sure, you have to do a visa run but given your suggestion of an SETV followed by a visa run followed by a visa exempt there's no difference. If you get an extension at the end of each entry that gives you 90 days + 90 days

Agreed.  There is no real difference.

 

The point being, making a 75 year old do a visa run, just for another 30 days, means this demographic (snowbirds) are being inconvenienced. 

 

So, it's possible, Thailand loses collective revenue from a large portion of this demographic for that fourth month of stay that many of them would like.

[Leaver]

On 6/30/2019 at 11:56 AM, ubonjoe said:

There is no limit. People have been getting a new one back to back for many years.

I am quite sure I read in a thread on this forum that some people reported they were refused Non OA's because they were "living here" on them. 

 

I know many were looking towards the Non OA when the new rules came into force.  I would not be surprised if they limit them in the future.