Difference on retired visa Thai spouse or not ?

[jaxon]

Is there a diffrent long term visa recommendation for retirees depending on whether they are married to a Thai or not ?   It seems that on the retiree basis (Type O, OA) the main criteria is age 50+ and financials.  Does being married effect the extension of stay process at the expiry of the visa.  

 

[Georgealbert]

The difference is what you base your extensions of stay on, either marriage or retirement, etc.

 

I am assuming you are asking about yearly extensions, not initial visa from outside Thailand, which also have different requirements.

 

There are different requirements, documents required for each type, have a look at the recent thread below.

 

 

[jaxon]

Thanks George, will read that thread !  I'm asking on both, correct.  

[VinnieK]

No difference 

[bigt3116]

7 minutes ago, VinnieK said:

No difference 

 

Whatever!

 

OP also be aware that your first extension will have to be for same reason as the issuance of the visa

[jaxon]

7 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

 

Whatever!

 

OP also be aware that your first extension will have to be for same reason as the issuance of the visa

 

It will be. Long time married. 

[Lite Beer]

Both are pretty easy to do.

Retirement needs more money in bank/income.

With marriage you can work with a work permit.

With retirement you cannot.

[DrJack54]

Extensions based on marriage have an "under consideration period".

For frequent travelers that can be a  nuisance.

 

Can also include a home visit which some view as a negative. 

 

Using money in the bank method the requirement for marriage extension is very sweet deal compared to retirement however more paperwork. 

[jaxon]

17 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

Both are pretty easy to do.

Retirement needs more money in bank/income.

With marriage you can work with a work permit.

With retirement you cannot.

 

That's good to hear. Reading AN has been making me feel like it's a very complex process (despite many doing it).  Is it possible to arrive on a SEV and then convert to a long stay marriage visa from within Thailand (married abroad years ago)?  

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, jaxon said:

Is it possible to arrive on a SEV and then convert to a long stay marriage visa from within Thailand (married abroad years ago)

Yes. You can enter with tourist visa or even visa exempt and obtain a Non O

You first obtain non O based on marriage. 

That provides a 90 day permission of stay stamp.

In the last 15+ days you apply for 12 month extension.

Do you have a Thai bank account in your name only.

You will require 400k in bank on day you apply for the Non O.

Do you have your marriage certificate.

 

[jaxon]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes. You can enter with tourist visa or even visa exempt and obtain a Non O

You first obtain non O based on marriage. 

That provides a 90 day permission of stay stamp.

In the last 15+ days you apply for 12 month extension.

Do you have a Thai bank account in your name only.

You will require 400k in bank on day you apply for the Non O.

Do you have your marriage certificate.

 

 

Thanks !  Does the 400k only need to be in the Thai bank on the day of application?  I don't have an account yet but I do have a marriage certificate (of course!).  

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, jaxon said:

Thanks !  Does the 400k only need to be in the Thai bank on the day of application?  I don't have an account yet....

Yes 400k in bank on day of application for the Non O.

The money needs to have also been in the bank for two months prior to application for 12 months extension.

After approval the money can be used.

Then for subsequent extensions requires 400k in bank for 2 months prior for every extension.

 

Here is where the problem arises.

Its not simple to open a bank account on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry.

You can use an agent.

What area do you plan to live. 

 

The OP in this attached thread provided detailed list and update at end.

Note he entered visa exempt so used TM87.

For tourist visa entry use TM86.

 

[jaxon]

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Here is where the problem arises.

Its not simple to open a bank account on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry.

You can use an agent.

What area do you plan to live. 

 

 

Really helpful info !  Will live central BKK.  Good to know about the potential bank account issue.  How do these agents work, by the way, are they simply expert in the regulations and engineer some kind of solution or is it some kind of money under the table situation?   

[bigt3116]

34 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes 400k in bank on day of application for the Non O.

 

Just to clarify, if using Jomtien Immigration, they require 2 months seasoning for the initial Non-O

[DrJack54]

35 minutes ago, jaxon said:

 

Really helpful info !  Will live central BKK.  Good to know about the potential bank account issue.  How do these agents work, by the way, are they simply expert in the regulations and engineer some kind of solution or is it some kind of money under the table situation?   

Think the later or perhaps insurance policy. 

You mention location Bangkok.

Reason I ask is that of late it seems even agents are having issues in Bangkok.

Siam Legal previously assisted with bank account. You could contact them directly.

@ThaiVisaCentre also were previously able to assist.... currently I'm not sure. 

 

Edit: just checked SL.

States currently service not available. 

 

[oldcpu]

6 hours ago, jaxon said:

Is there a diffrent long term visa recommendation for retirees depending on whether they are married to a Thai or not ?   It seems that on the retiree basis (Type O, OA) the main criteria is age 50+ and financials.  Does being married effect the extension of stay process at the expiry of the visa.  

 

 

Not sure what you mean by "process". 

 

A number of us, who were on an 'extension of our permission to stay' (for reason of retirement) on an underlying type-OA visa, on our next extension, to avoid the "Type-OA" health insurance requirement (from the Thai branch of a health insurance company) switched to getting an extension for reason of 'marriage'.   The extension for reason of 'marriage' thou (in addition to having financial benefits such as no health insurance req'd, only 400k in bank, and possibility to work) does have a lot more paperwork, and in offices such as Phuket immigration takes a long time to be approved (as opposed to extension for retirement which is quick to approve in Phuket).

 

I went from a Type-OA extensions (for reason of retirement), to a year later to a Type-OA extensions (for reason of marriage), to a year later leaving the country, invalidating my Type-OA, re-entering visa exempt, and obtaining a Type-O (for reason of retirement) to (1) avoid having to buy health insurance from Thai branch of an insurance company, and (2) have quicker processing of my annual extensions since retirement extensions in Phuket are processed quicker than marriage extensions. 

 

Note I have great (superior to Thai requirements) health insurance, but immigration don't accept such and I don't like buying double health insurance ( just to meet the immigration requirements on the Type-OA for retirement extensions) and I don't want to give up my superior European insurance (which is also cheaper as it is subsidized as part of my pension).

 

If you are on a Type-OA (for reason of marriage), you might in the future (next time you plan to leave the country) consider switching to a Type-O (for reason of retirement) if the money in the bank and other aspects are not big issues. By switching to Type-O, one doesn't have the health insurance factor to consider, which as one gets older gets more expensive. The reduced paperwork and faster processing (for a retirement vs marriage extension)  made it worthwhile for me to switch.

 

By being on a Type-O, it may also make your life easier (than being on a Type-OA), if something very unfortunate, very sad, and definitely unwanted should happen to your Thai wife. 

[sirineou]

6 hours ago, jaxon said:

 It seems that on the retiree basis (Type O, OA) the main criteria is age 50+ and financials.  Does being married effect the extension of stay process at the expiry of the visa.  

I don't believe being married affects your retirement extension to stay.

But Where it is simpler to do a retirement extension, (no need for the visit home, and marriage certificates. 

An extension based on marriage has some advantages over a retirement extension. 

You only need 400k in the bank two months before application or a monthly income of 40k , medical insurance is not required, and you could work, if you wanted. 

Most of the extra things  needed  for a marriage extension  , a few and you probably already have, and after you do your first extension , it becomes a lot easier. 

I do an extension based on marriage and I find it very easy to do. But perhaps that's only  the case at my local IO in Khon Kaen. 

[CartagenaWarlock]

6 hours ago, jaxon said:

Does being married effect the extension of stay process at the expiry of the visa.  

Yes, it does

[Lite Beer]

Was your marriage Certificate issued in Thailand?

If not you need to register in Thailand.

Kor Ror 2 document also need every year.

Get this at your local amphur at a cost of 20 Baht.

[Dirk Z]

After marrying I never bothered to change my single person visa fearing that I would need to provide more paperwork. There is indeed the requirement of less money in the bank, but I just left my 800.000 where it had already been for some years.

[brianthainess]

As for difficulties opening a Thai Bank account, once you have your Thai marriage Cert or KR2 , going along to a bank with this and your wife may help, they may want a Letter Of Residence from Immigration, the Insurance BKB offers so you can open an account is nothing more than a scam IMO no banking laws say you have to. 

[statman78]

This morning I just did my 5th extension based on retirement even though I am married to a Thai.  After my first extension my Thai wife does not accompany me.  I provide the same documents every year.  I am never questioned about having a Thai spouse and the is no indication that I am married in any of the documents I provide.

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

.......they may want a Letter Of Residence from Immigration,.....

Indeed the bank will want a certificate of residence in Bangkok.

The issue in Bangkok is that a certificate of residence will not be issued without a TM47 having been done.

The issue for the OP is him asking about entering with tourist visa and living in Bangkok and needing to open bank account. 

[jimn]

I am married to a Thai lady but I prefer to be on an extension of stay based on Retirement. It matters not if you are married as long as you are over 50 and satisfy the requirements. Retiremement in my opinion is less hassle.

[timendres]

It should be noted that, in general, immigration officers view the retirement extension as "easier" to process.

In my experience, having done both, it is.

[Lite Beer]

3 hours ago, timendres said:

It should be noted that, in general, immigration officers view the retirement extension as "easier" to process.

In my experience, having done both, it is.

Easier for them but for us? Not really.

[jaxon]

In terms of terminology are the two visas being discussed here:

 

(Non Imm)  Type O (visiting friends & family reason)

(Non Imm) Type O (retirement reason)

 

And then it's case of the annual extension either being "for retirement" or "married" ?  Is there a visa based on marriage that can be applied for prior to Thailand entry?  

 

Also, if one were on the retirement extension, and then wanted to apply for a work permit, would the procedure be to go to Immigration and ask to change the extension reason from retirement to marriage, and the apply for the work permit?  Is there a problem doing that mid-extension or do you have to wait till the next renewal? 

 

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

16 minutes ago, jaxon said:

Also, if one were on the retirement extension, and then wanted to apply for a work permit, would the procedure be to go to Immigration and ask to change the extension reason from retirement to marriage, and the apply for the work permit?  Is there a problem doing that mid-extension or do you have to wait till the next renewal? 

Yes there is an issue changing "mid stream" 

Yes a non O based on marriage or retirement can be obtained from home country or embassies/consulate outside of Thailand

 

Also in Thailand from TV and visa exempt entry.

This info has already been provided.

Are you asking serious questions or kicking the can 

[jaxon]

19 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes there is an issue changing "mid stream" 

Yes a non O based on marriage or retirement can be obtained from home country or embassies/consulate outside of Thailand

 

Also in Thailand from TV and visa exempt entry.

This info has already been provided.

Are you asking serious questions or kicking the can 

 

Serious questions.  I haven't decided if I want to arrive and begin a long term stay or visit for three months and then return for a long term stay or, frankly, whether the hassles with residency will put off the project entirely.  The responses I have had on my threads have been very helpful, but there are differing opinions on differing visa options.  For instance, it didn't occur to me until a few days ago that the marriage base visa was available to me, but not some of the other respondents that were discussing O vs OA.  I've looked at the Thai Embassy website and emailed the consulate for clarification, but they slow and opaque.  Unlike AN !

[Liquorice]

Hi Jaxon,

 

Section 34 of the Thai Immigration Act lists 15 different activities you may enter Thailand for;

Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) ENG.pdf
Section 34 : aliens entering into the kingdom for a temporary stay may enter for the below listed activities ;

1. Diplomatic or Consular Missions.

2. Performance of official duties.

3. Touring

4. Sporting

5. Business

6. Investing under the concurrence of the Ministries and Departments concerned.

7. Investing or other activities relating to investing subject to the provisions of the law on investment promotion.

8. Transit journey.

9. Being the person in charge of the crew of a conveyance coming to port, station , or area in the Kingdom.

10. Study or observation.

11. Mass media.

12. Missionary work under the concurrence of the Ministries and departments concerned.

13. Scientific research or training or teach in a Research Institute in the Kingdom.

14. The practice of skilled handicraft or as a specialist

15. Other activities as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.

 

The letter ''O'' in a Non Imm O visa merely stands for 'Other' activities not listed in 1-14 and includes for the purpose of retirement or visiting/staying with Thai spouse/family.

The Non O-A visa is issued purely for the purpose of retirement.
The Non O single entry visa can be applied for on the basis of retirement or Thai spouse/family, the only difference being documents supplied and the financial requirements.
Certain Thai Embassies also offer the Non Imm O multi entry visa on the basis of retirement or Thai spouse/family.

 

In your particular case, you should apply for the Non O single entry visa based on Thai spouse.

The validity of the Visa and the period of stay are different.

The Non O SE visa is valid to enter Thailand for 3 months.
On entry, you are granted a period of stay of 90 days.
You cannot extend a visa, but you can extend your temporary period of stay for 1 year based on retirement or Thai spouse/family, subject to meeting the financial requirements.
These are commonly referred to as extensions of stay and are permits (of stay), not visas.

 

One issue you have is that you mentioned you married in the UK.
Whilst the Thai Embassy, London will accept your UK marriage certificate as proof of marriage, internal Thai Immigration offices will not accept a foreign marriage certificate for applications of extending your stay based on Thai spouse. Your UK marriage must first be registered in Thailand, and there is a legal procedure for doing that.