Hello, I think I have my head around it, but need some advice from people who are actually doing it.

 

I am 53.

My father passed away and I sold his house so I am now ready to retire in Thailand.

I have holidayed here before in Pattaya once a long time ago, and Phuket once. Really enjoy the people, weather, cheap beer.

 

During Covid in London I met a lovely Thai lady in a “massage” place and we spent a lot of time together when she could not work and will marry in the future. She speaks very good English. 

 

We are in Phuket now for a holiday. It is wonderful. I am living my dream. Beautiful resort will a pool.
Her mother has given us some land up north where we build a house. They are very generous and sharing people. I offered to pay for it but her mother refused.

 

She has two kids, one is 20+ and lives somewhere else, the youngest will live with us.

My holiday visa runs out in 2 weeks. 
 

What is the best visa for my situation?

 

Retirement visa? I think might be good? Any pitfalls? Can you get it if you are married? My girlfriend is only 46, does that affect it?

 

Marriage visa? I heard that I can do before we get married if we are engaged and it is cheaper? Do I have to adopt her kid? Is that possible?

ED visa? Someone yesterday told me I don’t have to attend classes, can do it online. That way I will speak Thai which will be handy. I have already learned some words. Spy Tee My

Elites visa? It seems good but expensive and they might change the rules?

 

Do I have to leave Thailand to get a visa? 
Everyone seems to tell me different things. 

 

Thanks in advance for advice.

"Her mother has given us some land up north where we build a house."

She has given her some land, foreigners can't own land.

"Retirement visa? I think might be good? Any pitfalls? Can you get it if you are married? My girlfriend is only 46, does that affect it?"

Put 800K thb in a Thai bank account. Her age has nothing to do with it.

"Marriage visa? I heard that I can do before we get married if we are engaged and it is cheaper? Do I have to adopt her kid? Is that possible?"

400K thb in a Thai bank account, Need to married, can't get it earlier. Youngest kid becomes your responsibility too when married, don't have to take any action. 

"ED visa? Someone yesterday told me I don’t have to attend classes, can do it online."

Need to take classes and limited duration. 

 

In no particular order.

You cannot obtain a non O based on marriage if just engaged.

Until you are married you could go the non O based on retirement.

You could wait till you are married and use some gap stop method in meantime such as visa exempt entry (might be 60 days soon) + 30 day extension..

You only have 2 weeks remaining on your stamp.

How did you enter Thailand. Visa exempt 30 day stamp? If so you could obtain a 30 day extension.

Forget ED visa etc.

You do not have to adopt and of her children. 

You state....."Youngest kid becomes your responsibility too when married, don't have to take any action" 

Perhaps poor expression. Her children and your wife (future) is your responsibility.

Here is a thread outlining how to enter Thailand visa exempt and process to non O marriage and subsequent 12 month extension 

In my post I have links to other threads. Read them all.

 

 

I recommend the retirement visa.

Avoid the marriage visa, unless you cannot afford the 800K deposit for the retirement visa.

14 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

"Her mother has given us some land up north where we build a house."

She has given her some land, foreigners can't own land.

"Retirement visa? I think might be good? Any pitfalls? Can you get it if you are married? My girlfriend is only 46, does that affect it?"

Put 800K thb in a Thai bank account. Her age has nothing to do with it.

"Marriage visa? I heard that I can do before we get married if we are engaged and it is cheaper? Do I have to adopt her kid? Is that possible?"

400K thb in a Thai bank account, Need to married, can't get it earlier. Youngest kid becomes your responsibility too when married, don't have to take any action. 

"ED visa? Someone yesterday told me I don’t have to attend classes, can do it online."

Need to take classes and limited duration. 

 

Thankyou sir.

15 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You state....."Youngest kid becomes your responsibility too when married, don't have to take any action" 

No Frits said that. 
 

thank you. 
 

 

7 minutes ago, timendres said:

I recommend the retirement visa.

Avoid the marriage visa, unless you cannot afford the 800K deposit for the retirement visa.

Ok, thanks.

 

800,000 baht is no problem. 
can use any Thai bank right? 

8 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

can use any Thai bank right? 

yes, account must be in your name

Just now, patman30 said:

yes, account must be in your name

Thanks.

 

I will open an account tomorrow. 
Take my passport.

What do you think is the best bank? Are they all the same?

11 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

can use any Thai bank right? 

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

That will be first hurdle. 

2 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Thanks.

 

I will open an account tomorrow. 
Take my passport.

What do you think is the best bank? Are they all the same?

You will also need proof of address. acceptable by the bank you wish to open the account.

 

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

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

That will be first hurdle. 

No I will do it tomorrow.

6 minutes ago, terryq said:

You will also need proof of address. acceptable by the bank you wish to open the account.

 

 

ok thanks.

Can I use the girlfriend’s address in a different province to open in Phuket? 
Proof is what exactly? 
Adress on my girlfriends ID card ok?

1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:

No I will do it tomorrow.

Don't expect to just walk into any bank and leaving with an account. Many branches refuse to open accounts for foreigners or have demands regarding the type of visa you entered on or extension you're on. Be prepared to go to different branches before you finally find one willing to open an account.

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

I will open an account tomorrow. 
Take my passport.

What do you think is the best bank? Are they all the same?

You should use one of 3 banks imo as they allow transfers of over 50k per day using WISE

I would choose Kasikorn as they can provide 12 month bank statement on the spot. Bangkok bank cannot.

 

No offense but you seem to know very little about Thailand.

Opening a bank account is a process in itself. 

Some banks will require a "certificate of residence" 

Much more difficult than years gone by. 

What is your current location? 

1 minute ago, Myran said:

Don't expect to just walk into any bank and leaving with an account. Many branches refuse to open accounts for foreigners or have demands regarding the type of visa you entered on or extension you're on. Be prepared to go to different branches before you finally find one willing to open an account.

Ok.

thanks very much for the tip.

 

i will go to Central. 
they have a lot of banks there. 
 

lots of good food also.

MalcolmB, I wish you all the best with your retirement but becareful how you spend your funds. Say for example you spend $50,000 building a house on your girlfriends land, make sure you would be happy to walk away in the future and losing that $50,000 isnt going to affect your life. 

You're staying at a resort in Phuket.

Have they filed a TM-30?

May be needed at immigration if you request a 30-day extension, and later when you apply to convert your visa/visa waiver to a non-O.

 

 

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

No offense but you seem to know very little about Thailand.

Opening a bank account is a process in itself. 

Some banks will require a "certificate of residence" 

Much more difficult than years gone by. 

What is your current location? 

No offense taken, than you very much for your help.

That is why am asking here. 
 

Don’t I need a bank account first to get the visa to get the certificate of residence?

 

I am in Phuket but will live in the countryside where my wife is from soon.

 

we will go up there after I get the retirement visa.

3 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Don’t I need a bank account first to get the visa to get the certificate of residence?

That is correct.

Ignore any posts implying it's simple to open bank account.

Agents can assist however "shopping around" at different branches is useless.

Head experiences in attached thread

https://aseannow.com/topic/1292317-open-thai-bank-account/ 

 

Did you enter visa exempt? 

When do you return to UK.

 

7 minutes ago, Eddie45 said:

MalcolmB, I wish you all the best with your retirement but becareful how you spend your funds. Say for example you spend $50,000 building a house on your girlfriends land, make sure you would be happy to walk away in the future and losing that $50,000 isnt going to affect your life. 

I heard that if married in Thailand that the money gets split up 50/50? 

 

a lot better than western countries.

5 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

No offense taken, than you very much for your help.

That is why am asking here. 
 

Don’t I need a bank account first to get the visa to get the certificate of residence?

 

I am in Phuket but will live in the countryside where my wife is from soon.

 

we will go up there after I get the retirement visa.

 

Would it perhaps make more sense to open a bank account and apply for your visa in the district in which you intend to reside?

1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:

I heard that if married in Thailand that the money gets split up 50/50? 

You need to do a lot of reading. 

Also check out "Marriage and Divorce" forum. 

 

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That is correct.

Ignore any posts implying it's simple to open bank account.

Agents can assist however "shopping around" at different branches is useless.

Head experiences in attached thread

https://aseannow.com/topic/1292317-open-thai-bank-account/ 

 

Did you enter visa exempt? 

When do you return to UK.

 

Sounds like a bit of a hassle. 
 

Thankyou for the link. 
 

I came on a holiday visa? 30 days which someone said I can get a 30 extension if I go to the immigration office.

 

i don’t really want to return to the UK. I was thinking of takingmy girlfriend to Vietnam for a holiday when that expires and get another one.
I heard it is nice there. 

 

2 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Would it perhaps make more sense to open a bank account and apply for your visa in the district in which you intend to reside?

Indeed.

Clearly OP has not planned well in advance.

States has couple of weeks remaining on permission of stay.

Vague about when marriage will occur.

He could obtain bank account with Agent.

Followed by non O retirement and subsequent extension.

However he requires more time .

Has not indicated if has obtained 30 day extension 

3 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Would it perhaps make more sense to open a bank account and apply for your visa in the district in which you intend to reside?

Thankyou.

 

I was not planning on going there until after I get the retirement visa. 
But maybe do it all after the Vietnam trip if I can not open an account in Phuket.

 

The system seems a bit messy to be honest. Chicken before the egg.
But obviously possible as thousands of people are doing it. 

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Indeed.

Clearly OP has not planned well in advance.

States has couple of weeks remaining on permission of stay.

Vague about when marriage will occur.

 

Girlfriend says her mother will ask the monk at the temple which is the best time to get married. 
I don’t really care. It was only important to do it quickly if I needed the marriage visa.

But sure will use retirement now.

 

 

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

He could obtain bank account with Agent.

Followed by non O retirement and subsequent extension.

However he requires more time .

Has not indicated if has obtained 30 day extension 

Not yet, but I will before it runs out.

 

12 minutes ago, AreYouGerman said:

Just wait a couple of days and get 180 days visa. ☺️

What is that called?

MalcolmB, If you have trouble opening a bank account you can pay a visa agent 5000 baht to open the account for you, plus you can get your retirement visa processed at the same time but you need to go and see the visa agent when you have a new 30 day waiver. 

Just a thought, but maybe you should slow down just a bit and draw up a list of everything you need to do to get the retirement visa/extension. Maybe get some practical experience working with the bureaucracy. Check out the immigration office where you will be living and any quirks it may have. You've done well to start with this message. And it's good you're finding out about the bank accounts. But unless you have severe deadlines, I would just spend some time browsing AN topics and going in person to see what requirements you're going to need from your residence's owner, 90 day notification, notice of address change, bank, sending money into a Thai bank from abroad, and finally immigration and your passport validity.