Retirement Visa Renewal

[melbat]

When you apply for a retirement visa you have to show you have had 800000 baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or more... I think that is correct?? What about when you renew? Do you still have to show you have had 800000 baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months? If anyone knows please tell me.. my retirement visa is due for renewal in July

[Crossy]

At each extension you must have the 800k in the bank for the previous 3 months

[farangene]

When you apply for a retirement visa you have to show you have had 800000 baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or more... I think that is correct?? What about when you renew? Do you still have to show you have had 800000 baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months? If anyone knows please tell me.. my retirement visa is due for renewal in July

For what it is worth:

I don't think this is being enforced for retirement renewals right now. I renewed in Bkk in early April and my 800K had been in acct for only 2-3 weeks. The lady reviewing my paperwork said nothing about it and didn't mention anything about the new requirement.

I think I saw other posts on TV stating the 3 month rule was not being strictly applied for renewals but people were being told to be ready for it at next year's renewal when it would be enforced.

[peter124]

When you apply for a retirement visa you have to show you have had 800000 baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or more... I think that is correct?? What about when you renew? Do you still have to show you have had 800000 baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months? If anyone knows please tell me.. my retirement visa is due for renewal in July

For what it is worth:

I don't think this is being enforced for retirement renewals right now. I renewed in Bkk in early April and my 800K had been in acct for only 2-3 weeks. The lady reviewing my paperwork said nothing about it and didn't mention anything about the new requirement.

I think I saw other posts on TV stating the 3 month rule was not being strictly applied for renewals but people were being told to be ready for it at next year's renewal when it would be enforced.

What if you do not have the required 800000 baht in your account but have pension income of over 65000 baht each month. Do you have to obtain a letter from your embassy each year to certify this?

[ronw]

What if you do not have the required 800000 baht in your account but have pension income of over 65000 baht each month. Do you have to obtain a letter from your embassy each year to certify this?

When i applied for my "married" extension....the interviewer made a point of telling me to "keep this letter safe....as you will never need to buy another one....you can use it for every year"...

This was in Chiang Mai.....in February....

Needless to say....the letter is kept in a safe place.....not that I am mean....it is just one less hassle!!

[Nomad97]

"What if you do not have the required 800000 baht in your account but have pension income of over 65000 baht each month. Do you have to obtain a letter from your embassy each year to certify this?"

In 2005, 3 months before the yearly extension, I showed the Immigration Officer the income letter from the UK Embassy dated late 2004. "Will this letter be acceptable for extending my 'retirement' visa?" I asked. "Certainly Sir" was the reply. Three months later when I tried to extend my visa I was told that the same letter was not acceptable and I needed to do a rush trip to Bangkok to obtain a new letter before the Embassy closed for the Christmas holidays. Last year, the letter I obtained from the Embassy in late 2005 was accepted for extending my visa in 2006. What will happen this year? Your guess is as good as mine.

I will try and use the existing letter because it saves the trouble and expense of travelling to Bangkok to get a new letter from the Embassy. A night or two accommodation in 'town' plus the letter from the Embassy, now some 2,400 baht, and more expensive than the visa extension at 1,900 baht! However, I will plan my trip to Immigration to give myself sufficient time to get to Bangkok if I need to renew the letter.

[grandad]

"What if you do not have the required 800000 baht in your account but have pension income of over 65000 baht each month. Do you have to obtain a letter from your embassy each year to certify this?"

In 2005, 3 months before the yearly extension, I showed the Immigration Officer the income letter from the UK Embassy dated late 2004. "Will this letter be acceptable for extending my 'retirement' visa?" I asked. "Certainly Sir" was the reply. Three months later when I tried to extend my visa I was told that the same letter was not acceptable and I needed to do a rush trip to Bangkok to obtain a new letter before the Embassy closed for the Christmas holidays. Last year, the letter I obtained from the Embassy in late 2005 was accepted for extending my visa in 2006. What will happen this year? Your guess is as good as mine.

I will try and use the existing letter because it saves the trouble and expense of travelling to Bangkok to get a new letter from the Embassy. A night or two accommodation in 'town' plus the letter from the Embassy, now some 2,400 baht, and more expensive than the visa extension at 1,900 baht! However, I will plan my trip to Immigration to give myself sufficient time to get to Bangkok if I need to renew the letter.

I obtained my last two income letters from the UK consulate through the post. Best to phone to check current cost and return postage.

Also renewed passport by post, although may not be possible for much longer.

cheers