Non Imm O Or A

[binnsy]

My situatuation is i am English.i am 50 in August.i am Married to Thai lady.Which visa do i require to live in Thailand.Not sure as to how much my company pension will pay as i have to pay a 3.6%per year penalty if i take my pension before i am 60.but i can take it at 50 with the penaltys.Will have enough cash for the 800,000 baht in the bank.If i can get a bank account but they all want a work permit and i do not intend to work.

All sensible replies i will be grateful

[lopburi3]

1. You do not need a work permit to open a bank account - but it may take some legwork from branch to branch until you find the one who wants your business.

2. You can obtain an O-A long stay for one year type visa in your home country with the money there and not have to worry about it for a year or more (if you obtain multi entry type).

3. If you want to do the long stay extension for retirement in Thailand the 800k will have to be in the bank account for 3 months prior to application - so a multi entry non immigrant O visa might be the best choice for entry in that case. As you are married to a Thai that should be easy to obtain at an honorary type Consulate.

[binnsy]

1. You do not need a work permit to open a bank account - but it may take some legwork from branch to branch until you find the one who wants your business.

2. You can obtain an O-A long stay for one year type visa in your home country with the money there and not have to worry about it for a year or more (if you obtain multi entry type).

3. If you want to do the long stay extension for retirement in Thailand the 800k will have to be in the bank account for 3 months prior to application - so a multi entry non immigrant O visa might be the best choice for entry in that case. As you are married to a Thai that should be easy to obtain at an honorary type Consulate.

Thanks for the advice it seems like a bit of a jungle with the various visa's available

Roger

[naka]

1. You do not need a work permit to open a bank account - but it may take some legwork from branch to branch until you find the one who wants your business.

2. You can obtain an O-A long stay for one year type visa in your home country with the money there and not have to worry about it for a year or more (if you obtain multi entry type).

3. If you want to do the long stay extension for retirement in Thailand the 800k will have to be in the bank account for 3 months prior to application - so a multi entry non immigrant O visa might be the best choice for entry in that case. As you are married to a Thai that should be easy to obtain at an honorary type Consulate.

Thanks for the advice it seems like a bit of a jungle with the various visa's available

Roger

Not at all difficult Binnsy. A cakewalk really (if you can comply)

Go with Lopburi's option 3.

Naka.

Edited May 31, 2007 by naka

[rgs2001uk]

binnsy

i would get a pension forecast first, to see what it will pay each month.

i may be wrong but i beleive if you were not grandfathered under the old system, you have to prove an income of 65,000 baht per month for an extension of visa based on retirement.

also i dont know the effect on your pension, if you decide to take it early, but to lose 3.6% per annum would work out to a 36% loss over 10 years.

i suggest you get some independant financial advise first before committing yourself, to a descion that you may not be able to reverse in a few years.

as other posters have said, opening a bank account would appear to be a lottery, if the first wont open it, then try the next one, you might even consider opening a joint one in your wifes name. when immigration asked me why mine was joint, i replied that if i had any problems my wife would still be able to access the account, the officer was satisfied with that answer.

the oracle (the mighty lopburi 3) will know better than me regarding what you will require to satisfy immigration, eg, lump sum or regular income.

good luck

[lopburi3]

The only change for long stay (retirement) is the 3 month in account requirement. You can still use 800k, 65k, or combination.

[eyebee]

Binnsy,

I found that the TMB (Thai Military Bank) only needed to see my passport for me to open an account there. This was in Pattaya, so it may be different in other parts of Thailand.

[binnsy]

Thanks for all the advice which has been posted.The bank i tried 3 in Bangkok but it was the same old thing WORKPERMIT.

Will try in Issan on next visit might be easier in buriram

Roger

[jackmuu]

Thanks for all the advice which has been posted.The bank i tried 3 in Bangkok but it was the same old thing WORKPERMIT.

Will try in Issan on next visit might be easier in buriram

Kasikorn bank in Bangkok didn't even ask to see my passport, just asked me to write the number on the application form. Very easy. Also they don't freeze your account if you don't use it for a few months.

[Mahout Angrit]

Best not to go for a joint account as immigration considers that half the money is yours and half is your wife's so you would need B1,600,000 to fulfil the deposit requirement of B800,000

[rgs2001uk]

Best not to go for a joint account as immigration considers that half the money is yours and half is your wife's so you would need B1,600,000 to fulfil the deposit requirement of B800,000

mahout angrit,

my experience at suan plu bkk.

extended non imm o visa in march 2006, showed 450,000 bht in bangkok bank account, joint names, me and my wifes.

jan 2007 , extended again, showed the same bank book, plus letter from the bank, again no problems.

maybe some offices have different interpretations, i dont know where op intends to apply, but why not have his wife check first with local immigration.

[billrose]

My situatuation is i am English.i am 50 in August.i am Married to Thai lady.Which visa do i require to live in Thailand.Not sure as to how much my company pension will pay as i have to pay a 3.6%per year penalty if i take my pension before i am 60.but i can take it at 50 with the penaltys.Will have enough cash for the 800,000 baht in the bank.If i can get a bank account but they all want a work permit and i do not intend to work.

All sensible replies i will be grateful

Get a non imm-o multiple entry from the Thai Consul in Birmingham, you can do it by post, he is much easier to deal with than the Thai embassy in London. This gives you time to sort things out when you get to Thailand. You will have to do a border run every 90 days, but if you are living in Buriram it's not far to the border at Kap Cheung. You can stay in Thailand for up to 15 months with this visa. This will give you time to settle down and not worry about visas until you are ready.

I have Bank accounts with 3 banks in Korat (Nakhon Rachasima), Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, and Goverment Savings Bank, I only ever had to show my passport and Marriage Certificate.

When you are ready to go for a 12 month extension, if you are in Buriram, I presume you will use the Immigration office in Korat. They are very friendly and helpful.

You can go for an extension based on marriage to a Thai (show 40k Baht/ month), or retirement (show 800,000 in Thai bank or 65K Baht/month). The 40K Baht and 800,000 Baht routes take about 3 weeks as they have to be refered to Bankok. I used the 65k/month pension route as they do it while you wait at Korat.

If you go the pension route you will need a letter from the British Embassy. You don't have to go to Bangkok, you can get this by post.

Hope this helps.

Good luck

P.S. I still haven't forgiven Ipswich Town for having a bent referee (Mr B. Knight) in the play-off semi-final 2nd leg in 2000!!! It was a long way back to Bolton that night!!!!

[binnsy]

My situatuation is i am English.i am 50 in August.i am Married to Thai lady.Which visa do i require to live in Thailand.Not sure as to how much my company pension will pay as i have to pay a 3.6%per year penalty if i take my pension before i am 60.but i can take it at 50 with the penaltys.Will have enough cash for the 800,000 baht in the bank.If i can get a bank account but they all want a work permit and i do not intend to work.

All sensible replies i will be grateful

Get a non imm-o multiple entry from the Thai Consul in Birmingham, you can do it by post, he is much easier to deal with than the Thai embassy in London. This gives you time to sort things out when you get to Thailand. You will have to do a border run every 90 days, but if you are living in Buriram it's not far to the border at Kap Cheung. You can stay in Thailand for up to 15 months with this visa. This will give you time to settle down and not worry about visas until you are ready.

I have Bank accounts with 3 banks in Korat (Nakhon Rachasima), Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, and Goverment Savings Bank, I only ever had to show my passport and Marriage Certificate.

When you are ready to go for a 12 month extension, if you are in Buriram, I presume you will use the Immigration office in Korat. They are very friendly and helpful.

You can go for an extension based on marriage to a Thai (show 40k Baht/ month), or retirement (show 800,000 in Thai bank or 65K Baht/month). The 40K Baht and 800,000 Baht routes take about 3 weeks as they have to be refered to Bankok. I used the 65k/month pension route as they do it while you wait at Korat.

If you go the pension route you will need a letter from the British Embassy. You don't have to go to Bangkok, you can get this by post.

Hope this helps.

Good luck

P.S. I still haven't forgiven Ipswich Town for having a bent referee (Mr B. Knight) in the play-off semi-final 2nd leg in 2000!!! It was a long way back to Bolton that night!!!!

That night was great but i have to agree i don't no what the ref was on but if you had a white shirt he had it in for you.mind you that Holdsworth deseved it for dropping his shorts and we did go on and win the play off against Barnsley.

thanks for the info it makes it all appear pretty simple and i guess it is but i have never done the border run etc and it all seems odd to say the least.

[billrose]

My situatuation is i am English.i am 50 in August.i am Married to Thai lady.Which visa do i require to live in Thailand.Not sure as to how much my company pension will pay as i have to pay a 3.6%per year penalty if i take my pension before i am 60.but i can take it at 50 with the penaltys.Will have enough cash for the 800,000 baht in the bank.If i can get a bank account but they all want a work permit and i do not intend to work.

All sensible replies i will be grateful

Get a non imm-o multiple entry from the Thai Consul in Birmingham, you can do it by post, he is much easier to deal with than the Thai embassy in London. This gives you time to sort things out when you get to Thailand. You will have to do a border run every 90 days, but if you are living in Buriram it's not far to the border at Kap Cheung. You can stay in Thailand for up to 15 months with this visa. This will give you time to settle down and not worry about visas until you are ready.

I have Bank accounts with 3 banks in Korat (Nakhon Rachasima), Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, and Goverment Savings Bank, I only ever had to show my passport and Marriage Certificate.

When you are ready to go for a 12 month extension, if you are in Buriram, I presume you will use the Immigration office in Korat. They are very friendly and helpful.

You can go for an extension based on marriage to a Thai (show 40k Baht/ month), or retirement (show 800,000 in Thai bank or 65K Baht/month). The 40K Baht and 800,000 Baht routes take about 3 weeks as they have to be refered to Bankok. I used the 65k/month pension route as they do it while you wait at Korat.

If you go the pension route you will need a letter from the British Embassy. You don't have to go to Bangkok, you can get this by post.

Hope this helps.

Good luck

P.S. I still haven't forgiven Ipswich Town for having a bent referee (Mr B. Knight) in the play-off semi-final 2nd leg in 2000!!! It was a long way back to Bolton that night!!!!

That night was great but i have to agree i don't no what the ref was on but if you had a white shirt he had it in for you.mind you that Holdsworth deseved it for dropping his shorts and we did go on and win the play off against Barnsley.

thanks for the info it makes it all appear pretty simple and i guess it is but i have never done the border run etc and it all seems odd to say the least.

Don't worry about border runs, no problem when you have a non imm-o visa. If you are going by car there is a car park at the border. You just show your passport and departure card as you exit Thailand. Walk across the border to Cambodia immigration office. There are two Casinos on the border if you like to have a little flutter while you are there!! Fill in a visa application form (you need a photo) and pay 1,100 Baht and within minutes you have a visa to enter Cambodia. Make sure you ask for Tourist visa! and tell them you are coming straight back in. You also have to fill in an Arrival and Departure card the same as for entering Thailand. You then walk across the road to the Cambodia exit office, show your passport and departure card, and fill in an arrival and departure card for Thailand. You then go to the Thailand immigration passport control and after they check and stamp your passport make sure they give you a stamp for 90 days before you leave the desk, and you are then back in Thailand for another 90 days.

All that takes about 30 minutes and there are not normally any queues.

There is a big market a couple of Kms near the border to keep the wife happy for a while.

Good luck