Steps to Visa/Extension of Stay Based On Retirement

[Ms Tigger]

After visiting Thailand a number of times over the years I'm going to be (hopefully) making the move permanently this year, so I'd be grateful if it could be confirmed by the visa gurus that I've got all my ducks in a row regarding step procedures. And if I get extension of stay and visa mixed up please don't rip it out of me! I'm probably going to travel visa exempt and the do one extension at immigration, followed by one border run, this is purely to do with the hassles involved in applying for SETV or METV and the fact that it might be a very quick move.

 

1. Book flight with return or cheapo onward flight within the 30 day visa exempt period.

2. Book hotel at destination (Cha Am) for couple nights.

3. Travel.

4. Once arrived find somewhere more permanent than hotel to live (plenty round Cha Am), and make sure have rental contract and have been registered with immigration by agency/owner.

5. Get certificate of residency from immigration.

6. Open bank account (this would seem to be the hardest part of everything) and transfer in 800K plus bit extra, ensuring that it shows as foreign transfer. I think this would have to be done within first 2 weeks as it has to be in account for 2 months before applying for extension of stay based on retirement 2 weeks before 3rd visa exempt runs out, is this correct?

7. Extend visa exempt at immigration/border as necessary to get to point where can apply for  extension of stay based on retirement.

8. Get Thai driving licence.

9. Relax and call for wine waiter.

 

Anything else?

[ubonjoe]

You missed the first step of getting the one year extension of stay based upon retirement.

You will first need to apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry at immigration. You would only need the 800k baht in the bank on the date you apply. See: https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

If you were able to get the bank account opened quickly you would only need one visa exempt entry and possibley the 30 day extension of it.

Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa you could apply for the extension of stay.

[Ms Tigger]

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You missed the first step of getting the one year extension of stay based upon retirement.

You will first need to apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry at immigration. You would only need the 800k baht in the bank on the date you apply. See: https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

If you were able to get the bank account opened quickly you would only need one visa exempt entry and possibley the 30 day extension of it.

Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa you could apply for the extension of stay.

Thank you for your kind reply Ubonjoe. I was under the impression that the 800k had to be in the Thai bank account for 2 months prior to applying? But I may well have got my wires crossed on that one! I still think opening the bank account will be the hardest thing, especially as I don't know anyone there, so I might have to enlist the services of an agent just for the opening of the account, if they provide that service (not for the loan of 800k though, I've got that covered!).

So basically as soon as the account is open and money transferred, I can apply for the O visa based on retirement (as long as I've got the rest of the stuff mentioned in the link as well), they give me a 90 day stay and then I apply for the 90 day extension of stay 2 weeks before the end of that first 90 days, is that correct?

[Ms Tigger]

I'm a bit confused about Clause 7 on the link, which seems to supersede Clause 5 in that all you need is proof of 800k in the bank (Clause 7) and none of the bank letters etc in Clause 5.....unless I'm reading it incorrectly!

[beddhist]

Suphanburi IO refused to issue certificate of residence for bank. I had to obtain a yellow book to open bank account. That was the hardest part. Plus, don't forget health insurance for the 1 year extension of stay.

[steve187]

25 minutes ago, beddhist said:

Suphanburi IO refused to issue certificate of residence for bank. I had to obtain a yellow book to open bank account. That was the hardest part. Plus, don't forget health insurance for the 1 year extension of stay.

a yellow book would be hard if not impossible to obtain without an address, ie condo or a long term contract with owners blessing, no insurance required for any extension from a non imm 'O' visa only 'O''A' visa.

 

op can you not get a non imm 'O' visa from your home country

[jacko45k]

7 hours ago, Ms Tigger said:

So basically as soon as the account is open and money transferred, I can apply for the O visa based on retirement (as long as I've got the rest of the stuff mentioned in the link as well), they give me a 90 day stay and then I apply for the 90 day extension of stay 2 weeks before the end of that first 90 days, is that correct?

You will need to demonstrate the 800,000 came from overseas, but yes, you can convert the Permit of Stay obtained using a Visa Exempt, (or 30 day Extension of it) into a Non-Imm-O 'Visa',  giving a 90 day Permission of stay. You will need to sit on that until your 800,000 baht has been in the bank, untouched, for 2 full months. Then, in the last month,  you can apply for a ONE YEAR Extension based on retirement, I guess you are over 50.

Retirement Extensions are often referred to as retirement Visas... just beware of that. A retirement Extension can only be made to a Non-Imm Visa Permit of Stay. Good Luck.

 

 

[Martyp]

It sounds like you are going to get a non-immigrant O visa and then extend it for 1 year. You will not need insurance to do that. Insurance is only required for people who get a non-immigrant O-A visa purchased in their home country. Your plan to get an O visa is the best choice.

[unheard]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

You will need to demonstrate the 800,000 came from overseas,

could you please confirm that 800K must show foreign origins?

I thought that was the requirement only applied to the monthly deposits option while on a 1 year extension of stay.

Thank you

[Surelynot]

A Thai person to hold your hand. Just done everything you have listed and could not have achieved it without a friendly Thai every step of the way.

 

All done in Chaiyaphum. Immigration staff there are the 'dogs'. Quick, polite, friendly, helpful. 

[Surelynot]

You need a letter from your bank confirming overseas transfer and updated bank book, both no more than 2 days old.

[ubonjoe]

5 hours ago, Ms Tigger said:

I'm a bit confused about Clause 7 on the link, which seems to supersede Clause 5 in that all you need is proof of 800k in the bank (Clause 7) and none of the bank letters etc in Clause 5.....unless I'm reading it incorrectly!

Seven is for the combination of income and money in the bank option to apply.

"Evidence of deposited money under Clause 5 and evidence of income under Clause 6 (for one year) showing the total amount not less than Baht 800,000"

That means everything in 5 and 6 is needed.

[ubonjoe]

3 hours ago, beddhist said:

Suphanburi IO refused to issue certificate of residence for bank. I had to obtain a yellow book to open bank account. That was the hardest part. Plus, don't forget health insurance for the 1 year extension of stay.

You could of done a proof of residence (aka address ) at your embassy that the bank would of accepted.

No insurance is needed if you have a non-o visa entry. Only needed if you have a OA visa entry.

[samsensam]

1 hour ago, unheard said:

could you please confirm that 800K must show foreign origins?

I thought that was the requirement only applied to the monthly deposits option while on a 1 year extension of stay.

Thank you

 

I did my first non O extension based on 800k at CW last week, i had overseas transfer evidence from OFX and K bank, but the IO didn't ask so see it, or for that matter, ask to see my TM 30 receipt.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, unheard said:

could you please confirm that 800K must show foreign origins?

I thought that was the requirement only applied to the monthly deposits option while on a 1 year extension of stay.

Thank you

When you convert a Tourist Visa or Visa Exempt to a Non-Imm-O based on retirement (a precursor to obtaining a retirement extension)  you must show the 800k came from overseas. 

The 800k for the retirement extension itself needs to be seasoned for 2 month in a Thai bank account, no requirement to show its origins. 

 

5. 5.1 A letter confirming the amount of the deposit from a bank in Thailand (in Thai) (to the Commander of the Immigration Office) *        
      5.2 A copy of every time deposit or savings account page (Specify the name of the applicant solely, not less than 800,000 baht) *
      5.3 Evidence of transferring foreign currency into Thailand *
      * (documents 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 must specify the name of the applicant solely And dated and adjusted the book to be the same as the date of request submission) or

 

Source: https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80

 

 

 

[Ms Tigger]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and suggestions, and thanks Ubonjoe for clarifying Clause 7, I did wonder if that's what it was referring to.

I notice there's some folks still a bit confused over insurance, I am aware that it's only (currently) needed for O/A and not the O.

Thanks again, seems like I'm pretty much on the right track.

[Salerno]

Since getting the retirement extension of stay procedure is bedded down ...

 

  

On 1/14/2020 at 6:42 PM, Ms Tigger said:

9. Relax and call for wine waiter.

 

Anything else?

Second mortgage to pay for a decent bottle of wine.