Visas for a snowbird

[mikem20]

I'm trying to choose which is the best visa for a snowbird. I'm planning on staying for 7-9 months at a time. I'm thinking about the costs and the effort it takes.

On the one hand there's the 6 months ME visa that could allow me to stay for up to 9 months. That would cost me 2 or 3 30 days extensions of stay plus the hassle of dealing with IO. And two trips out of country with travel costs, maybe at a time I don't feel like travelling but would have to. And if repeated year after year could raise red flag at some immigration points?

On the other hand is getting a 90 days non O e-visa for retirement from a Thai embassy. Then apply for a 1 year extension when I'm in Thailand with TM.7. But I'm not sure if it will work, there always seem to be new obstacles put in the way by IO from what I read here.
How soon can I apply for extension? After 45 days or can I do it in the first month?
I would use the letter of income from consulate method, maybe with documents from home about my income. But for how long will documents from home be valid for IO? Will they be expired if I wait until there are 2-3 weeks left of my initial stay? Does Jomtien immigration accept the income letter method or is it strictly 800K there?
I see from some recent posts that Jomtien immigration is demanding 1 year rental contract for extension. I can't do that because I'm not staying that long and maybe I like to try different places. I've seen posts saying that in Bangkok and Hua Hin a TM.30 is enough. Is it better to do it there and then move on elsewhere if I please?
Is it possible to apply for a 180 days extension of stay, with less requirements? It's just an empty field on the TM.7 form. Anybody tried that?
If I take the agent route, will any Pattaya agents offer 1 year extension of stay from a 90 days non O visa for retirement from a Thai embassy? So I would not be paying them for the initial 90 days stay? And at the same prices that they normally charge for extensions, 12-14K baht? Anybody have experience with that?

Sorry for the lengthy post. Maybe someone in similar circumstances can offer advice on some of the points?

Thanks in advance

[treetops]

26 minutes ago, mikem20 said:

If I take the agent route, will any Pattaya agents offer 1 year extension of stay from a 90 days non O visa for retirement from a Thai embassy? So I would not be paying them for the initial 90 days stay? And at the same prices that they normally charge for extensions, 12-14K baht? Anybody have experience with that?

It was a few years ago now, but that's what I did.  The price was reduced from that charged if they got the Non Imm O as well, but I don't recall by how much.

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, mikem20 said:

If I  take the agent route, will any Pattaya agents offer 1 year extension of stay from a 90 days non O visa for retirement from a Thai embassy? So I would not be paying them for the initial 90 days stay? And at the same prices that they normally charge for extensions, 12-14K baht?

You seem aware of your options.

IMO, since you imply that this will be ongoing plan.....

The METV will become tiresome at some point.

Depends on travel habits. 

Would suit me fine as I enjoy trips to Saigon. 

For some it's a pain.

Good thing about Pattaya is several good agents and certainly an option. 

Maneerat is often recommended.

 

If you do the process yourself Jomtien has few issues if you enter visa exempt and apply for non O.

These are mentioned in attached thread @Red Phoenix post. 

 

Assume that you already have a Thai bank account in your name only.

 

In some countries you can apply for ME Non O (retirement) 

UK being one example.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1297092-non-o-visa-retirement-purpose/

[DJ54]

OP obtaining an income letter is dependent on country your from US,UK,OZ no longer provides 

 

[Iamloki]

9 hours ago, mikem20 said:

I'm trying to choose which is the best visa for a snowbird. I'm planning on staying for 7-9 months at a time. I'm thinking about the costs and the effort it takes.

On the one hand there's the 6 months ME visa that could allow me to stay for up to 9 months. That would cost me 2 or 3 30 days extensions of stay plus the hassle of dealing with IO. And two trips out of country with travel costs, maybe at a time I don't feel like travelling but would have to. And if repeated year after year could raise red flag at some immigration points?

On the other hand is getting a 90 days non O e-visa for retirement from a Thai embassy. Then apply for a 1 year extension when I'm in Thailand with TM.7. But I'm not sure if it will work, there always seem to be new obstacles put in the way by IO from what I read here.
How soon can I apply for extension? After 45 days or can I do it in the first month?
I would use the letter of income from consulate method, maybe with documents from home about my income. But for how long will documents from home be valid for IO? Will they be expired if I wait until there are 2-3 weeks left of my initial stay? Does Jomtien immigration accept the income letter method or is it strictly 800K there?
I see from some recent posts that Jomtien immigration is demanding 1 year rental contract for extension. I can't do that because I'm not staying that long and maybe I like to try different places. I've seen posts saying that in Bangkok and Hua Hin a TM.30 is enough. Is it better to do it there and then move on elsewhere if I please?
Is it possible to apply for a 180 days extension of stay, with less requirements? It's just an empty field on the TM.7 form. Anybody tried that?
If I take the agent route, will any Pattaya agents offer 1 year extension of stay from a 90 days non O visa for retirement from a Thai embassy? So I would not be paying them for the initial 90 days stay? And at the same prices that they normally charge for extensions, 12-14K baht? Anybody have experience with that?

Sorry for the lengthy post. Maybe someone in similar circumstances can offer advice on some of the points?

Thanks in advance

To throw another wrench into the cogs - and not offer any solutions... in the next year or two, those of us here over 180 days may (or may not) be required to pay tax on income brought into the Kingdom...

 

 

[Sigmund]

9 minutes ago, Iamloki said:

To throw another wrench into the cogs - and not offer any solutions... in the next year or two, those of us here over 180 days may (or may not) be required to pay tax on income brought into the Kingdom...

 

 

very true.....OP and others should consider other countries like Vietham or Cambodia instead of Thailand. Not to mention how prices are catching up with the west in many Thai cities.

[Iamloki]

2 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

very true.....OP and others should consider other countries like Vietham or Cambodia instead of Thailand. Not to mention how prices are catching up with the west in many Thai cities.

I'm fairly sure both Vietnam and Cambodia tax expat income... I would suggest investigating how/if that would apply to you and your circumstances.

[BE88]

31 minutes ago, Iamloki said:

To throw another wrench into the cogs - and not offer any solutions... in the next year or two, those of us here over 180 days may (or may not) be required to pay tax on income brought into the Kingdom...

 

 

With an O visa and staying under 180 in Thailand would be a good way

 

[Iamloki]

2 minutes ago, BE88 said:

With an O visa and staying under 180 in Thailand would be a good way

 

True. From what I glean from the video... 180 days is the magic number for living here.

[Pattaya57]

47 minutes ago, Iamloki said:

To throw another wrench into the cogs - and not offer any solutions... in the next year or two, those of us here over 180 days may (or may not) be required to pay tax on income brought into the Kingdom...

 

 

Way to derail a thread with tax scare mongering. What a load of rubbish which is already debated in finance thread (as long as you're from one of the 61 countries with double tax agreement this subject is irrelevent)

 

Edited September 22, 2023 by Pattaya57

[Iamloki]

4 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Way to derail a thread with tax scare mongering. What a load of rubbish which is already debated in finance thread (as long as you're from one of the 61 countries with double tax agreement this subject is irrelevent)

 

I hope you're right... but upon watching the video - perhaps not. This is early information, and as in all things, subject to change. No derailment or scare mongering intended - simply bringing up something that could impact long term planning.

[khunPer]

Best snowbird visa is the non-immigrant O-A visa, when you are 50 years or older. It gives you one years stay on each entry within the one year visa period – no need for visa runs – and you don't need to open any bank accounts to transfer and deposit money in Thailand to permit your stay; i.e. you can keep your funds in your home country. A health insurance is required – which is good common sense to have, and preferable one with repatriation, when being a snowbird – the only little difficult part here that insurance needs to be approved by the Thai authorities.

[BE88]

59 minutes ago, Iamloki said:

True. From what I glean from the video... 180 days is the magic number for living here.

And in fact my new plan for next year is early spring in Europe.

[ThaiFelix]

56 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Way to derail a thread with tax scare mongering. What a load of rubbish which is already debated in finance thread (as long as you're from one of the 61 countries with double tax agreement this subject is irrelevent)

 

Yeah but what can they worry about then.  At least they can worry about something that wont affect them lol!

[DrJack54]

52 minutes ago, Iamloki said:

No derailment or scare mongering intended - simply bringing up something that could impact long term planning.

The person you quoted is exactly correct.

Just Scaremongering and side tracking thread which is very common..

Edited September 22, 2023 by DrJack54

[Toby1947]

1 hour ago, Pattaya57 said:

Way to derail a thread with tax scare mongering. What a load of rubbish which is already debated in finance thread (as long as you're from one of the 61 countries with double tax agreement this subject is irrelevent)

 

Whistling in wind, you hope ????????????. After all, This is Thailand ????????????

Edited September 22, 2023 by Toby1947

[alex8912]

Just do the METV at first. What's the big deal about taking 2 small trips out of country anywhere for a couple days after each 90 day stay? You can also plan your 2 visits to immigration ahead of time and do weekday visits not after a holiday and if you travel ( or want to travel ) around Thailand you can just stay in a hotel that does the TM 30 for you the night before your visit to immigration. All the other options seem almost silly.  If you " tire" from doing that after a couple years ( poor dear) then look at some of the other confusing options!  No one really knows what other ( easier ) options may come along. Have you tried the METV yet? I did it for the first 5 years in a row when it was offered for 6-7 months stays. So easy! You seem to know already how to get up to 9 months out of it. Good luck.

Edited September 22, 2023 by alex8912

[DrJack54]

4 hours ago, alex8912 said:

All the other options seem almost silly.  

In your opinion.

There are better options posted in this thread.

I put METV last on list.

The OP indicates ongoing plan to spend up to 9 months per year ongoing.

For ONE or 2 years METV could be an option.

Even then better options than METV

[bwanajohn]

Since this tax issue has already been brought upon this thread I'd like to add this query.

My experience with tax agreement between countries is this.

It does not exempt you from paying tax in both countries just reduces the percentage 

 

[nglodnig]

The ninety-day Visa exempt suggested by the new PM might be an option, if it ever happens - I assume this would be extendable by another thirty days - but I wouldn't hold your breath. 

[mikem20]

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You seem aware of your options.

IMO, since you imply that this will be ongoing plan.....

The METV will become tiresome at some point.

Depends on travel habits. 

Would suit me fine as I enjoy trips to Saigon. 

For some it's a pain.

Good thing about Pattaya is several good agents and certainly an option. 

Maneerat is often recommended.

 

If you do the process yourself Jomtien has few issues if you enter visa exempt and apply for non O.

These are mentioned in attached thread @Red Phoenix post. 

 

Assume that you already have a Thai bank account in your name only.

 

In some countries you can apply for ME Non O (retirement) 

UK being one example.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1297092-non-o-visa-retirement-purpose/

Thanks for the answer.

 

I did the METV twice pre-covid and I found the unwanted travel a pain. I rather take some trips for my own reasons. That's why I like to try non O this time.

I've seen threads about problems getting the non O in Jomtien. That's why I'd like to get it from the embassy, seems dead easy on paper at least. But will Jomtien give me troubles getting an extension with an income letter, no money in the bank and no 1 year lease? Maybe easier to do that in Bangkok?
I do have a Bangkok Bank bank account if an agent requires that.
The embassy I will apply to only issues 90 days non O and a 1 year non O-A, which would be great if it wasn't for the insurance complications.

[mikem20]

13 hours ago, DJ54 said:

OP obtaining an income letter is dependent on country your from US,UK,OZ no longer provides 

 

I'm lucky enough to be from a country that still provides them.

[mikem20]

13 hours ago, Iamloki said:

To throw another wrench into the cogs - and not offer any solutions... in the next year or two, those of us here over 180 days may (or may not) be required to pay tax on income brought into the Kingdom...

 

 

555 I cross that bridge when I come to it but not planning on becoming a tax resident of Thailand.

[mikem20]

12 hours ago, khunPer said:

Best snowbird visa is the non-immigrant O-A visa, when you are 50 years or older. It gives you one years stay on each entry within the one year visa period – no need for visa runs – and you don't need to open any bank accounts to transfer and deposit money in Thailand to permit your stay; i.e. you can keep your funds in your home country. A health insurance is required – which is good common sense to have, and preferable one with repatriation, when being a snowbird – the only little difficult part here that insurance needs to be approved by the Thai authorities.

Yes the non O-A would be perfect for me but the insurance requirement kills it for me. I've extended my travel insurance when I've gone for long stays and that suits me fine. If anything happens the insurance company has a choice of repatriating me or paying for treatment locally. I'm sure that Thai authorities would never approve that insurance. The red tape is just crazy. And I don't like to buy throw-away insurance on top of travel insurance and national health. But thanks for the advice.

[mikem20]

11 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Just do the METV at first. What's the big deal about taking 2 small trips out of country anywhere for a couple days after each 90 day stay? You can also plan your 2 visits to immigration ahead of time and do weekday visits not after a holiday and if you travel ( or want to travel ) around Thailand you can just stay in a hotel that does the TM 30 for you the night before your visit to immigration. All the other options seem almost silly.  If you " tire" from doing that after a couple years ( poor dear) then look at some of the other confusing options!  No one really knows what other ( easier ) options may come along. Have you tried the METV yet? I did it for the first 5 years in a row when it was offered for 6-7 months stays. So easy! You seem to know already how to get up to 9 months out of it. Good luck.

Thanks. I've done METV twice already in the past and I'm afraid I'm tired of having my deep procrastination disturbed by unwanted travel and IO visits.
But seriously, I'm not knocking the METV and I will use it if it comes to that. But now I would like to see if getting a non O and an extension will be easier and cheaper in the long run, so I did this post to get some feedback on that.