Couple in 50's looking for extended stay options

[RoninTech]

We are a Canadian couple in our 50's looking to come back to Thailand for a minimum 6 month time period.  Last year we came on a 60+30 day tourist Visa and stayed for a few months via the Covid extensions.  It worked out great but it sounds like this is coming to an end and we don't want to deal with the stress of maybe having to leave early.  We are not looking to work or go to school.   Ideally we would like to spend half the year in Thailand and half the year in Canada.

 

After looking at the options it appears that the Non-Immigrant O-A visa would be the way to go (please advise if we are missing other options).  Some questions we have about this are:

- Official page says "Financial evidence : a guarantee letter from the bank and a copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 THB".  "The bank" is in Thailand right?  Wife is worried we have to get this from our Canadian bank who have told us they cannot provide a "guarantee letter".

- We are not clear if we can leave and come back to Thailand with the O-A Visa?

- Official page says says "Can be extended for 1 year every year".  Does that mean after we receive the O-A visa we can get multiple extensions without re-applying all over again?

- Can the annual extensions work with the afore mentioned ability to leave Thailand and come back every year?

- In the past we were under the impression we couldn't open a Thai bank account while on a tourist visa.  What is the typical "800K into a Thai bank account" process for people applying for the O-A while on a tourist visa?

 

Thanks in advance for any info/comments on this stuff!

[RoninTech]

Forgot one more question.  We have heard mention of a spouse being able to piggyback on certain visas.  Would that be possible for us with this O-A visa?

[Salerno]

13 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

"The bank" is in Thailand right?

No, Canada (in your case). But ... see below.

 

14 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

We are not clear if we can leave and come back to Thailand with the O-A Visa?

 You can by getting a reentry permit prior to travel (at IO or airport).

 

23 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

Does that mean after we receive the O-A visa we can get multiple extensions without re-applying all over again?

Kinda. The O-A visa is valid for 12 months, you can get virtually 2 years out of it by leaving and entering again just before it expires (and getting stamped in for another 12 months). Then apply for a new visa.

 

Or, you can get an extension to stay based on retirement on the initial visa (at which point you need to have the 800K in a Thai bank or transfer 65K in monthly or a combination thereof). This you can keep going indefinitely at the present time.

 

Either way, just need a reentry permit to keep it "live" if you wish to travel in and out.

 

35 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

In the past we were under the impression we couldn't open a Thai bank account while on a tourist visa.  What is the typical "800K into a Thai bank account" process for people applying for the O-A while on a tourist visa?

You can open an account even if you enter visa exempt, although it's getting more difficult. If you enter on a tourist visa or visa exempt, you'd apply for a Non-O in Thailand (800K in bank on the day of the application) then an extension based on retirement after the money has been in the bank 2 months.

 

32 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

We have heard mention of a spouse being able to piggyback on certain visas.  Would that be possible for us with this O-A visa?

With your wife being over 50 I don't think the dependant visa applies, I believe you both need to meet the requirements but not 100% sure as not looked into it.

 

44 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

(please advise if we are missing other options)

Personally, the O-A only makes sense to me if you don't want to move money into Thailand, the extra paperwork, insurance etc. is not for me.

 

For my circumstances, visa exempt > Non-O > extension based on retirement is the least hassle path (or arrive on a Non-O).

 

If money is no issue could also throw some at an Elite Visa (at your age and planned travel not an appealing option IMO).

[BritTim]

The O-A visa is a multiple entry visa allowing unlimited entries for one year. Each time you enter Thailand using the visa, you are granted a one-year permission to stay. This means that, under ideal circumstances, you can achieve almost two years in Thailand by arranging to enter Thailand just before the expiry of the visa. Once the visa has expired, you need a re-entry permit to keep the final permission to stay from the visa intact when you come back to Thailand.

[ourdon]

Hi,

It is a Canadian bank statement needed.  The bank won't give a guarantee of future deposits but will give a statement of existing facts.  You can easily word a statement to the banks and the consulates satisfaction.

 

Am doing the same routine that you are but have altered it a bit to arrive home from Europe at the end of June.  Have no desire to spend any of the seven months of winter in Canada.

 

If you have any questions, PM me

[Swiss1960]

Please have a look at the "standard" Non-Imm-O tourist visa (NOT the O-A). This would allow you 90 initial days (can be renewed at immigration), so you can then open a bank account in Thailand, deposit the necessary funds and then do a 1-year extension of stay. MAIN advantage is that you don't need to fulfill the insurance requirements for the O-A

[Salerno]

15 minutes ago, BritTim said:

The O-A visa is a multiple entry visa allowing unlimited entries for one year.

Good pickup, thanks.

[RoninTech]

Thanks Salerno.

 

Can anyone expand on what this "guarantee letter" required from your home bank for the Non Immigrant O-A visa is?  Hopefully once I understand I can better explain it to our bank (Tangerine), but their initial reaction was they have no idea and just use our monthly bank statement as proof.  Would love to hear from any Westerner that has gone through getting this letter.

 

40 minutes ago, Salerno said:

The O-A visa is valid for 12 months, you can get virtually 2 years out of it by leaving and entering again just before it expires (and getting stamped in for another 12 months). Then apply for a new visa.

 

Or, you can get an extension to stay based on retirement on the initial visa (at which point you need to have the 800K in a Thai bank or transfer 65K in monthly or a combination thereof). This you can keep going indefinitely at the present time.

 

Either way, just need a reentry permit to keep it "live" if you wish to travel in and out.

This sounds really promising as far as being able to return to Thailand once a year.  You lost me with the "Or" part though.  Doesn't the initial Non-Immigrant O-A visa also require the 800K in a Thai bank?

 

35 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Personally, the O-A only makes sense to me if you don't want to move money into Thailand, the extra paperwork, insurance etc. is not for me.

Wait, we don't have to move money into Thailand on a Non Immigrant O-A visa?  The official site says:

Quote

• 3. Financial evidence : a guarantee letter from the bank and a copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 THB or an income certificate with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 THB or a deposit account plus a monthly income in total not less than 80,000 THB.

Do we interpret that as meaning we just have to show 800K THB in our Canadian bank and not move any to Thailand?

 

36 minutes ago, Salerno said:

For my circumstances, visa exempt > Non-O > extension based on retirement is the least hassle path (or arrive on a Non-O).

I thought the Non-Immigrant O visa was only applicable when a Thai person was involved?  Neither of us hold a Thai passport.  It also says it is only for 90 days vs. almost 2 years or the O-A.  I think we would be ok getting the medical and criminal paperwork once every 2 years if it means the Visa essentially lasts for 2 years vs. 90 days, unless O visa extensions are easy?

 

Sounds like either way we should start the process in Thailand on a free visa exempt vs. paying for the 60 + 30 day tourist visa.

 

Really appreciate the response and thanks for the help!

 

[RoninTech]

6 minutes ago, ourdon said:

It is a Canadian bank statement needed.  The bank won't give a guarantee of future deposits but will give a statement of existing facts.  You can easily word a statement to the banks and the consulates satisfaction.

The official Non-immigrant O-A page says:

Quote

a guarantee letter from the bank and a copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 THB

We get bank statements every month so that part is easy. Are you saying that is all we need or that we can make up this guarantee letter?

 

Thanks for the PM offer.  I'll keep it on here for future searchers if that works.

[RoninTech]

7 minutes ago, Swiss1960 said:

Please have a look at the "standard" Non-Imm-O tourist visa (NOT the O-A). This would allow you 90 initial days (can be renewed at immigration), so you can then open a bank account in Thailand, deposit the necessary funds and then do a 1-year extension of stay. MAIN advantage is that you don't need to fulfill the insurance requirements for the O-A

The official Non-immigrant O page makes it sounds like one of the parties has to be Thai for the O visa.  Neither of us is.  Am I interpreting this wrong?

[ourdon]

Not made up.  It should be on bank letterhead.  I also do send a copy of one of my accounts that has more value in it than Thailand requires

[ourdon]

Multiple entry visa's lose a lot of their appeal when you can't go to any other country and if you could you might not be able to get back.

[Swiss1960]

5 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

The official Non-immigrant O page makes it sounds like one of the parties has to be Thai for the O visa.  Neither of us is.  Am I interpreting this wrong?

Yes. What you need to do is apply for the Non-Imm-O Visa on the base of "retirement". That is how I entered the country once I was ready to retire. Can't speak what the Thai embassy in Canada will require for bank "guarantee", but what I had to show in Switzerland was a simple bank statement (back 6 months) showing that I have enough funds.

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, RoninTech said:

Can anyone expand on what this "guarantee letter" required from your home bank for the Non Immigrant O-A visa is?

See post from @ourdon above.

 

2 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

You lost me with the "Or" part though.  Doesn't the initial Non-Immigrant O-A visa also require the 800K in a Thai bank?

Different requirements. O-A doesn't require the money in a Thai bank to get the actual visa. To get yearly extensions based on retirement (i.e. after the visa expires) does. 

 

5 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

Do we interpret that as meaning we just have to show 800K THB in our Canadian bank and not move any to Thailand?

Yes.

 

7 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

I thought the Non-Immigrant O visa was only applicable when a Thai person was involved?  Neither of us hold a Thai passport.  It also says it is only for 90 days vs. almost 2 years or the O-A.  I think we would be ok getting the medical and criminal paperwork once every 2 years if it means the Visa essentially lasts for 2 years vs. 90 days, unless O visa extensions are easy?

There's a couple of things that tend to get muddled up - visas and extensions of stay. You can get a Non-O for reason of retirement and then get an annual 12 month extension of stay based on that visa. No Thai involvement required. Getting the extension is a fairly simple and painless process depending on the IO involved.

 

If as you say, you intend to spend 6 months every year in Thailand going forward, to me, the simplest would be to drop 800K in a Thai bank and then come and go as I please (allowing for reentry permit and current restrictions due to Covid of course). Others are possibly happier keeping the money invested elsewhere and redoing the paperwork every time they need a new visa.

[RoninTech]

1 hour ago, ourdon said:

Multiple entry visa's lose a lot of their appeal when you can't go to any other country and if you could you might not be able to get back.

Agreed.  However for our use case of annual travel between Canada and Thailand it appears to fit well.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, RoninTech said:

The official Non-immigrant O page makes it sounds like one of the parties has to be Thai for the O visa.  Neither of us is.  Am I interpreting this wrong?

In "Non Immigrant O", the "O" stands for "other". There are quite a number of conditions under which a Non O visa can be issued. One of these is for those over the age of 50. However, not all embassies/consulates will issue you with the Non O over age 50 visa.

[RoninTech]

1 hour ago, Swiss1960 said:

What you need to do is apply for the Non-Imm-O Visa on the base of "retirement". That is how I entered the country once I was ready to retire.

 

1 hour ago, Salerno said:

You can get a Non-O for reason of retirement and then get an annual 12 month extension of stay based on that visa.

It is so hard to find the applicable info on the official website.  There is no mention of "retirement" on their Non immigrant O visa page.  Under requirements it also states: "4. Proof of relationship to a family in Thailand." which is what I meant above when I said that I thought the Non Immigrant O visa required a Thai persons involvement (spouse, child, parent).

 

I absolutely believe you guys who have obviously been through this.  It just brings in a bit of the fear factor when the Thai government website requirements conflicts with actual people's experiences. ????

 

[RoninTech]

1 hour ago, ourdon said:

Not made up.  It should be on bank letterhead.  I also do send a copy of one of my accounts that has more value in it than Thailand requires

Well that sucks.  We asked Tangerine "Do you provide guarantee letters for account holders and how do we get one?".  They replied: "Thanks for reaching out.  Unfortunately this is not a letter that Tangerine is able to provide clients".

 

May I ask what Canadian bank you were able to get one through?

[BritTim]

3 minutes ago, RoninTech said:

I absolutely believe you guys who have obviously been through this.  It just brings in a bit of the fear factor when the Thai government website requirements conflicts with actual people's experiences

The official websites (both of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the various embassies/consulates) vary in their level of accuracy. Also, embassies/consulates vary greatly in the options available. You need to contact the local Thai embassy directly, if possible, to find out which visas they offer, and under what conditions. As I wrote earlier, the single entry Non Immigrant O visa for those over age 50 (usually called a retirement visa, though this is strictly incorrect) is not offered in all countries.

 

A further word of warning: under no circumstances believe what consular officials tell you about anything other than the services they provide themselves. If you do, there is a better than 50% chance that you will be acting based on grossly out of date or totally inaccurate information.

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, RoninTech said:

It just brings in a bit of the fear factor when the Thai government website requirements conflicts with actual people's experiences.

Thai embassy websites have to be up there in the list of "most erroneous official websites" list. Over the years I've seen so many with the wrong/outdated info it's unbelievable.

 

That said, here's the info from the Vancouver Consulate re the Non-O (retirement). If you entered on that visa you could go down the 800K in a Thai bank to get the ongoing extension of stay.

[Salerno]

Again though, if intending to go the extension of stay route, IMO easier to just rock up visa exempt. It adds an extra step (applying for the Non-O in Thailand) but you don't have the hassle in Canada (getting bank statements for the visa, and getting the actual visa @ $130 - cheaper in Thailand).

[RoninTech]

25 minutes ago, Salerno said:

That said, here's the info from the Vancouver Consulate re the Non-O (retirement). If you entered on that visa you could go down the 800K in a Thai bank to get the ongoing extension of stay.

Thank you so much for steering us in the "wisest" direction Salerno and others.  Until now we have always used this Vancouver consulate.  When we browsed there today they now have this on the front page, pointing Canadians to the new thaievisa.go.th page that I have been quoting above in this thread.

So we just used that link to the Thai gov page instead of using the links below this image.  I completely agree that the Non O looks easier to setup for the 90 days based on the PDF you linked to.

 

15 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Again though, if intending to go the extension of stay route, IMO easier to just rock up visa exempt. It adds an extra step (applying for the Non-O in Thailand) but you don't have the hassle in Canada (getting bank statements for the visa, and getting the actual visa @ $130 - cheaper in Thailand).

We will likely be in Chiang Mai after we get out of ASQ and have no issue going to the Airport Immigration office there.  It has been good to us in the past for sure.  Is a Non immigration O visa extension a no brainer?  If so that would give us 30 + 30 on an exempt then 90 days on the O and another 90 on the O extension which would work great for hopefully minimal effort.  How much is a Non O and it's extension when you are in Thailand?

[Salerno]

1 hour ago, RoninTech said:

Is a Non immigration O visa extension a no brainer?

Yes (well plenty members here have managed it anyway 555).

 

1 hour ago, RoninTech said:

If so that would give us 30 + 30 on an exempt then 90 days on the O and another 90 on the O extension which would work great for hopefully minimal effort.

Not quite (see below).

 

1 hour ago, RoninTech said:

How much is a Non O and it's extension when you are in Thailand?

A potential plan of attack (based on you being happy depositing money in a Thai bank of course):

1. Arrive visa exempt: currently gives you 45 days, open bank account and deposit 800K once you've finished quarantine/sandbox if still applicable, hassles opening bank account, get an agent to help if needed.
    
2. Apply for Non-O: Costs 2000 Bht - need 15 days left on your stay which is tight but doable (get 30 day extension on your visa exempt for 1900 Bht if necessary). The 800K has to be in bank the day you apply. Gives you 90 days.
    
3. Apply for extension of stay: Costs 1900 Bht. Money has to be in the bank for 2 months at this point. Extension gives you 12 months and you then renew the extension annually (1900 Bht). Get a reentry permit at the same time (1000 Bht for single, 3800 Bht for multiple) so you can come and go as you please or pick one up at the airport on the way out.

From then on, no more hassles getting visas etc. you just have to coordinate your travels so you are in Thailand when the renewal is due.

 

The 800K has to be in the bank for 2 months prior to extension and 3 months after, the remaining 7 months it can drop to minimum of 400K (personally I think it would be easier to just drop it in and forget about it).

 

I believe you can actually piggy-back off the one visa therefore, given the stats might be worth your wife getting the visa and extension outlined above (i.e. the 800K deposit) and you getting a spouse visa/permission to stay based on that (i.e. no financial requirement). Possibly a bit morbid but I think the spouse permission to stay is cancelled on the death of the visa/extension holder (not much of an issue based on your current plans to split your time, but might as well set things up to cover any eventuality ... your travel plans changing, not the dying part! 555).

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by Salerno

[Lite Beer]

You can enter with a Tourist Visa of a Visa Except entry.

Once here you can apply a for a Non Imm O Visa and after 2 months apply for a 12 month extension of stay.

800,000 Baht in a Thai bank  needed for both of you.

Or proof of 65,000 Income.

Yes your wife can apply as your Wife with nothing in the bank needed but she would need to apply for the Non Imm O Visa outside of Thailand.

 

Forget O-A Visa as it needs the rip off insurance to get one.

Edited September 4, 2021 by Lite Beer

[dsj]

6 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

You can enter with a Tourist Visa of a Visa Except entry.

Once here you can apply a for a Non Imm O Visa and after 2 months apply for a 12 month extension of stay.

800,000 Baht in a Thai bank  needed for both of you.

Or proof of 65,000 Income.

I would recommend what Lite Beer said, and enter on a Visa Exempt or even on a 60 day visa, then go and apply for a 1 year retirement extension, and with the two of you being Canadian can get a Income verification letter from the Canadian Embassy, but you will have to show them proof that you have 65,000 Baht or more per month. I usually just show them a copy of my tax return, as they still issue those, that way you don't need to keep 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank. I use the Income Verification method for my retirement extension.

[Tony125]

Wow, reading this post has my head spinning with some of the misinformation and well meant but wrong solutions. Some are giving replies as if you were Brits or US citizens.  Austraila, GB, and US no longer give out Income Afadavits from their Embassies so are required to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank or 65,000 baht a month transfered into a Thai bank to verify income .You are Canadian so can get an income afadavit at the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok. No need to transfer money into Thailand but still should open a Thai bank account while here and have online banking with Canada bank so can transfer funds here. Visa Exempt is no longer 30 days. It is 45 ( to cover your time in quarentene ) and can be extended 30 days and you can get a 60 day Covid extension after that.

 

https://ottawa.thaiembassy.org/en/content/119628-thailand-visa-and-coe?cate=5f069ee272a783584326eaf5

 

Canadians can travel to Thailand without a visa (45 days visa exemption). For Medium Term Visitor - Visa Exemption, please CLICK HERE. 1. You need to have a copy of your health insurance policy with health coverage including COVID-related treatment in Thailand of no less than 100,000 USD.

 

Keep proof of income (could be a pension, rental property, cash )that you might want to show Canada embassy to prove financials.  You could apply for a 90 day non-o by reason of retirement after getting out of quarentene or on the 30 day extension of the visa exempt.You then would apply for a 1 year extesion of stay of the 90 day non-o by reason of retirement. These extensions cost 1900 baht. Yes  you or your wife can piggy back on this retirement extension as being the spouse of the holder of the retirement extension. Can get an agent to help if these suggestions seem difficult. Or can try contacting the moderator UbonJoe on this site.  

 

The poster above mine Salerno's info is also pretty accurate , good luck.

 

Edited September 4, 2021 by Tony125
spelling

[skatewash]

10 hours ago, Salerno said:

Yes (well plenty members here have managed it anyway 555).

 

Not quite (see below).

 

A potential plan of attack (based on you being happy depositing money in a Thai bank of course):

1. Arrive visa exempt: currently gives you 45 days, open bank account and deposit 800K once you've finished quarantine/sandbox if still applicable, hassles opening bank account, get an agent to help if needed.
    
2. Apply for Non-O: Costs 2000 Bht - need 15 days left on your stay which is tight but doable (get 30 day extension on your visa exempt for 1900 Bht if necessary). The 800K has to be in bank the day you apply. Gives you 90 days.
    
3. Apply for extension of stay: Costs 1900 Bht. Money has to be in the bank for 2 months at this point. Extension gives you 12 months and you then renew the extension annually (1900 Bht). Get a reentry permit at the same time (1000 Bht for single, 3800 Bht for multiple) so you can come and go as you please or pick one up at the airport on the way out.

From then on, no more hassles getting visas etc. you just have to coordinate your travels so you are in Thailand when the renewal is due.

 

The 800K has to be in the bank for 2 months prior to extension and 3 months after, the remaining 7 months it can drop to minimum of 400K (personally I think it would be easier to just drop it in and forget about it).

 

I believe you can actually piggy-back off the one visa therefore, given the stats might be worth your wife getting the visa and extension outlined above (i.e. the 800K deposit) and you getting a spouse visa/permission to stay based on that (i.e. no financial requirement). Possibly a bit morbid but I think the spouse permission to stay is cancelled on the death of the visa/extension holder (not much of an issue based on your current plans to split your time, but might as well set things up to cover any eventuality ... your travel plans changing, not the dying part! 555).

 

 

 

Just to add to the part about being in Thailand during your annual extension of stay application.  The day you are granted your first extension of stay for purpose of retirement establishes the date that your extension of stay will expire (and start) the next year.  In Chiang Mai you can actually do your application for extension of stay up to 45 days earlier than your extension of stay expiration date.  Note that once established the extension of stay start/expiration date does not change. 

Possibly this gives you a little more flexibility (45 days) as to when you have to be in Thailand to apply for your next extension of stay.  For example if your extension of stay start/expiration date is April 1, then you could do the application for your extension of stay as early as February 16, and you would receive an extension of stay until April 1 of the next year.  After receiving this extension of stay you could purchase a re-entry permit (for 1,900 from immigration) and leave Thailand say in February.  You could return to Thailand in say November using the re-entry permit.  But you would need to be in Thailand at some point between February 16 and April 1 every year in order to apply for your next extension of stay.

This is to say that you should give some thought to when you apply for your first extension of stay because you will need to apply for the same extension of stay at the same time (or up to 45 days before) every year thereafter.  Pick a date that you are reasonably certain to be in Thailand each year.  This will make it more convenient to maintain your annual extensions of stay year after year.

[RoninTech]

OK, I think we are slowly getting there. ????

 

15 hours ago, Salerno said:

Arrive visa exempt: currently gives you 45 days, open bank account and deposit 800K once you've finished quarantine/sandbox if still applicable, hassles opening bank account, get an agent to help if needed.

Show up on a visa exempt which is currently 45 days but *may* drop to 30 days on Oct. 1st.  Either way, it can be extended for 30 days if necessary.  As soon as we are out of ASQ and in Chiang Mai, open up a bank account.  Use an agent to do this if pounding the pavement and knocking on doors doesn't work.

 

15 hours ago, Salerno said:

Apply for Non-O: Costs 2000 Bht - need 15 days left on your stay which is tight but doable (get 30 day extension on your visa exempt for 1900 Bht if necessary). The 800K has to be in bank the day you apply. Gives you 90 days.

Good to know about the the rule requiring 15 days left on your current visa to apply for a Non-O.  Is that just because they don't issue them same day and they need that time to prepare the new Visa?  Definitely need to make sure Wise would have finished the transfer into our new Thai account before showing up at immigration to apply for the Non-O.  This approach would require each of us to show 800K right?  We have a joint bank account in Canada, is it acceptable for us to have a joint Thai account containing 1600K or would we each need our own Thai account with 800K in it?

 

15 hours ago, Salerno said:

Apply for extension of stay: Costs 1900 Bht. Money has to be in the bank for 2 months at this point. Extension gives you 12 months and you then renew the extension annually (1900 Bht). Get a reentry permit at the same time (1000 Bht for single, 3800 Bht for multiple) so you can come and go as you please or pick one up at the airport on the way out.

So apply for an extension based on retirement as soon as the money has been in the Thai account for 60 days.  Is the extension still considered a Non-O?  I really need to wrap my head around the timeline of all this so it lines up with when we would like to be entering and leaving Thailand.

 

16 hours ago, Salerno said:

From then on, no more hassles getting visas etc. you just have to coordinate your travels so you are in Thailand when the renewal is due.

Worth the effort to get us to this point!  Are you saying that Mrs RoninTech should get the Non-O and extension and I should slide in as her spouse because women statistically live longer than men?  I'll have to make sure I don't <deleted> her off then.  ???? 

 

I just read that they will not issue an in country 90 day Non-O visa for the reason of being a spouse of someone on a retirement visa. Which jives with:

 

16 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

Yes your wife can apply as your Wife with nothing in the bank needed but she would need to apply for the Non Imm O Visa outside of Thailand.

To avoid both of us having to independently show the 800K in a Thai bank account, would it make more sense to apply for the Non-O based on retirement from Canada?  It's $50 more expensive for the Non-o from Canada but if it means we can keep 800K working for us in Canada vs. stuck making nothing in a Thai account then that would be preferable.  

 

8 hours ago, Tony125 said:

You are Canadian so can get an income afadavit at the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok. No need to transfer money into Thailand but still should open a Thai bank account while here and have online banking with Canada bank so can transfer funds here.

Very interesting.  Haven't read that anywhere but awesome if true.  Is this documented online anywhere?  Would a current statement from our investment account be sufficient to give the Canadian embassy to get this affidavit?  Also, does the Canadian consulate in Chiang Mai also provide these affidavits?

 

6 hours ago, skatewash said:

This is to say that you should give some thought to when you apply for your first extension of stay because you will need to apply for the same extension of stay at the same time (or up to 45 days before) every year thereafter.  Pick a date that you are reasonably certain to be in Thailand each year.  This will make it more convenient to maintain your annual extensions of stay year after year.

Thanks skatewash, will definitely put some thought into the timeline of all of this so that it matches up with what we need to do.

 

Thanks to everyone who has chipped in on this!  When we started yesterday it was overwhelming but with all of your help, a way forward seems to be coalescing out of that chaos.  ???? 

[skatewash]

9 hours ago, RoninTech said:

OK, I think we are slowly getting there. ????

 

Show up on a visa exempt which is currently 45 days but *may* drop to 30 days on Oct. 1st.  Either way, it can be extended for 30 days if necessary.  As soon as we are out of ASQ and in Chiang Mai, open up a bank account.  Use an agent to do this if pounding the pavement and knocking on doors doesn't work.

 

Good to know about the the rule requiring 15 days left on your current visa to apply for a Non-O.  Is that just because they don't issue them same day and they need that time to prepare the new Visa?  Definitely need to make sure Wise would have finished the transfer into our new Thai account before showing up at immigration to apply for the Non-O.  This approach would require each of us to show 800K right?  We have a joint bank account in Canada, is it acceptable for us to have a joint Thai account containing 1600K or would we each need our own Thai account with 800K in it?

 

So apply for an extension based on retirement as soon as the money has been in the Thai account for 60 days.  Is the extension still considered a Non-O?  I really need to wrap my head around the timeline of all this so it lines up with when we would like to be entering and leaving Thailand.

 

Worth the effort to get us to this point!  Are you saying that Mrs RoninTech should get the Non-O and extension and I should slide in as her spouse because women statistically live longer than men?  I'll have to make sure I don't <deleted> her off then.  ???? 

 

I just read that they will not issue an in country 90 day Non-O visa for the reason of being a spouse of someone on a retirement visa. Which jives with:

 

To avoid both of us having to independently show the 800K in a Thai bank account, would it make more sense to apply for the Non-O based on retirement from Canada?  It's $50 more expensive for the Non-o from Canada but if it means we can keep 800K working for us in Canada vs. stuck making nothing in a Thai account then that would be preferable.  

 

Very interesting.  Haven't read that anywhere but awesome if true.  Is this documented online anywhere?  Would a current statement from our investment account be sufficient to give the Canadian embassy to get this affidavit?  Also, does the Canadian consulate in Chiang Mai also provide these affidavits?

 

Thanks skatewash, will definitely put some thought into the timeline of all of this so that it matches up with what we need to do.

 

Thanks to everyone who has chipped in on this!  When we started yesterday it was overwhelming but with all of your help, a way forward seems to be coalescing out of that chaos.  ???? 

Suggestions to consider:

1.  Since you are Canadians and your Embassy will issue you an income verification letter (something that US, UK, and Australian citizens can no longer get) I would definitely go that route.  There are basically two routes to meeting the financial requirements of a retirement extension of stay:  the lump-sum method and the income method.  The lump-sum method is parking 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for a year subject to various minimum balance requirements throughout the year.  The income method is where you demonstrate to your embassy's satisfaction that you have at least 65,000 baht income per month.  The Canadian Embassy issues you a letter to that effect and you use that letter to satisfy the financial requirements for a retirement extension.  The advantages are probably obvious, you don't have to bring the money into Thailand or keep a large sum of money in Thailand.  What money you bring into Thailand and keep in Thailand is entirely up to you and not dictated by immigration requirements.  No one who can easily meet the income method would want to use the lump-sum method, in my opinion.

2.  I believe you do want to acquire Non-O visas for purpose of retirement in Canada because when in Thailand you would then be able to use one of you (doesn't particularly matter which one) can be the primary applicant (who needs to meet the financial requirements) and one of you can be the dependent applicant (who doesn't need to meet the financial requirements).  This way you don't need two 65,000 baht/month income streams but only one.  (The same argument would apply to the lump sum method.)  The reason you want to do this from Canada rather than inside Thailand is that inside Thailand they won't allow one to apply for a Non-O for purpose of being a dependent upon another's Non-O visa, whilst in Canada that should be possible.

3.  Were you to choose the lump sum method the money would need to be in an account in one person's name only.  The reason is that immigration dislikes having more than the applicant's name on an account for the lump-sum method and even if your office would accept that they would very likely want to see twice the amount of the minimum balance, 1,600,000 baht rather than just 800,000.

4.  Proceeding under the income method would mean that each year you would need to procure from the Canadian Embassy (or perhaps from the Consulate in Chiang Mai) a income verification letter proving you have 65,000 baht or more of income per month.  Don't know what the Canadian Embassy charges for this letter but for comparison purposes the US Embassy charged $50 USD per letter.  Remember you would only need one letter for the primary applicant.  The dependent doesn't need an income letter only evidence of the relationship to the primary.

[brianthainess]

It may be worth mentioning that the 800k deposit in a Thai bank and the 65k a month income method of obtaining an extension , can be balanced out between the two. But I have heard some IO don't like it.