Can I switch my Visa Status from Retirement Primary to Dependent and My Wife to Retirement

[LivingNThailand]

I was wondering if I could change my visa extension status.  Switch with my wife who is my dependent.  Both US Citizens on a retirement extension.

My wife does all the paperwork, the banking stuff and it is getting harder for me to get around.  We both agree it would be better if she became the primary retiree so she could get the banking statement and letter, and I show up to immigration once a year.   

 

Does anyone know if this is possible without starting all over again?

 

Thank you for any help you can give me on this topic.

 

Oh, forgot to mention Phuket immigration

[Delight]

 I think that the marriage visa only applies if the wife is Thai.

That you need to investigate.

Farang male  with Farang wife is unusual.

 

That said currently her status and your status  are equal.

[LivingNThailand]

2 minutes ago, Delight said:

I think that the marriage visa only applies if the wife is Thai.

That you need to investigate.

Farang male  with Farang wife is unusual.

 

That said currently her status and your status  are equal.

I am on a retirement visa extension.  My wife  is my dependent.  With her as my dependent it saves us putting an extra 800,000 THB in the bank.  I was trying to find out if we could switch roles.  It would mean putting the 800,000 in her account if we can do it.    Not on a marriage visa.   I don't think I said that?

[DrJack54]

22 hours ago, Delight said:

 I think that the marriage visa only applies if the wife is Thai

The OP is on extensions based on retirement.

The non Thai wife had a non O as a dependent due to being married.

She "piggybacks" on his extensions.

OP, thinking that you need to discuss with your immigration office.

I'm not sure however my thinking is step 1. For wife to obtain extension based on retirement. 

At some stage she had a non O.

Hopefully immigration will allow her to switch to extension based on retirement 

In turn allow you to switch to extension based as a dependant. 

 

 

[LivingNThailand]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The OP is on extensions based on retirement.

The non Thai wife had a non O as a dependent due to being married.

She "piggybacks" on his extensions.

Correct.  Maybe my wording wasn't clear.  Can we switch somehow, or have to start all over?  We go in next week to renew and thought I'd ask if I knew the right thing to say.  Don't want to confuse anyone during the renewal process and make it harder than it should be.   

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

We go in next week to renew and thought I'd ask if I knew the right thing to say. 

Your OP is clear. 

Thinking that your best option is for the Extensions new week provide what you have done previously.

 

Hopefully immigration will outline what is required for following year.

They most likely suggest wife needs to change to extension retirement by adhering to the financial requirements.

Meaning 800k 2 months prior to extension etc.

She cannot do that for next week.

Obviously would need to be in her Thai bank account in her name only.

Again (hopefully) immigration would facilitate you switching to extension based as her dependant.

 

Personally I don't see a great deal of advantage in your plan. 

You would still need to go to immigration. 

Seems at best saves you dealing with bank for 12 months bank statement, bank letter etc.

 

[LivingNThailand]

51 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Personally I don't see a great deal of advantage in your plan. 

You would still need to go to immigration. 

Seems at best saves you dealing with bank for 12 months bank statement, bank letter etc.

Thanks for your comments.   It was an idea we were kicking around.  She says I get too cranky about going to the bank.   😂  

[DrJack54]

34 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

She says I get too cranky about going to the bank.

I'm sure you are aware that you can attend bank for "bank letter" and "bank statement" (12 months) few days prior to attending immigration for extension.

 

You will have to go to immigration either way. 

Thinking best to leave things as status quo. 

 

[LivingNThailand]

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You will have to go to immigration either way. 

Thinking best to leave things as a status quo. 

Probably the best.  Just exploring options.  If you don't ask you don't know   thanks

 

[Grusa]

22 hours ago, Delight said:

 I think that the marriage visa only applies if the wife is Thai.

That you need to investigate.

Farang male  with Farang wife is unusual.

 

That said currently her status and your status  are equal.

Not true. My farang wife is retirement lead, and I follow. The 800k is all in her bank account, I need show nothing.

The status is not equal. Her extension stamp shows (in Thai) "retirement", mine shows the same but annotated by hand "follower".

Originally we were both on retirement, when we changed immigration inadvertently marked them incorrectly, which caused problems at the next renewal. They retrospectively issued new extensions, at no charge, before processing the new extensions.

I imagine that in order to change over as you describe, you would need to shuffle your monies around to meet seasoning requirements for the leader. There are none for the follower.

[LivingNThailand]

2 hours ago, Grusa said:

Not true. My farang wife is retirement lead, and I follow. The 800k is all in her bank account, I need show nothing.

The status is not equal. Her extension stamp shows (in Thai) "retirement", mine shows the same but annotated by hand "follower".

Originally we were both on retirement, when we changed immigration inadvertently marked them incorrectly, which caused problems at the next renewal. They retrospectively issued new extensions, at no charge, before processing the new extensions.

I imagine that in order to change over as you describe, you would need to shuffle your monies around to meet seasoning requirements for the leader. There are none for the follower.

I think it can be done if the money part is done right.  We go in next week for renewal.  I just wonder if I need to keep the 800,000 in my account for the next 12 months and put another 800,000 in my wife's account for the next 12 months.  then after 12 months I can start using the 800,000 in my account and spend it down ???  I'd hate to fall short.

There is a new office in Phuket for the retirement visas.  There is "chatter" that they are more accommodating and helpful than in the past.  I will try to ask and see what they say.  If I get any type of reasonable answer I will post it here.  Thanks.

[Grusa]

4 hours ago, LivingNThailand said:

I think it can be done if the money part is done right.  We go in next week for renewal.  I just wonder if I need to keep the 800,000 in my account for the next 12 months and put another 800,000 in my wife's account for the next 12 months.  then after 12 months I can start using the 800,000 in my account and spend it down ???  I'd hate to fall short.

There is a new office in Phuket for the retirement visas.  There is "chatter" that they are more accommodating and helpful than in the past.  I will try to ask and see what they say.  If I get any type of reasonable answer I will post it here.  Thanks.

Factor in, the 800k may not be reduced to less than 400k during the 4th to 10th months....or thereby.

[LivingNThailand]

I just came back from Phuket immigration for my annual retirement extension.  The new and improved system is NOT improved.  But that is another topic.  A few people asked for an  update, which I will do after I recover.

 

Anyway, the topic was, can we switch from me being the primary Retirement visa to my wife and me becoming the dependent.

 

There were two women IO, one junior and another senior with a lot of medals.  We had the junior officer and I asked her about switching.  She didn't know and asked the senior officer.  They had a very brief conversation, and  I heard the word Ma Dai (cannot), and it was explained to me that we would have to get new Non-O visas if we wanted to switch.  That my Non-O was dedicated to the retirement visa and my wife's Non-O was dedicated to dependent.  Which makes no sense to me, a Non-O is a Non-O ????  Isn't it.  

 

Anyway, that is the answer today.   Tomorrow maybe different?   

 

to be continued..... haha

 

UPDATE:  I just got this from Phuket immigration volunteer

 

It should not be a problem to change over the retirement and dependent applications.

But you can expect some questions from the officer of the reasoning of doing this as in most cases the man will be the retirement extension holder and the wife the dependent.

All the banking papers have to be in the name of the wife off-course. Same as it was for the husband in the past.

 

 

So, again, clear as mud.   Not going to worry about it right now.