Retirement Visa Without Regular Income ?

[manaM]

I'm 54, married with a thai and having 2 own children bearing also thai-passports and going to school in Thailand.

I entered the kingdom with a 90 day-Visa, category "0", which expires next february, and want to apply a.s.a.p. for a retirement visa at the nearest immigration office.

But I do not have a steady and regular income, as my retirement payments only will start at the age of 60. How can that be solved ?

It's no problem for me to transfer 800.000 Baht to my thai-bank-account, or even more, and keep it there for as long as it might be neccesary.

Who can help, and give some advice before I make the first contacts with Immigration ?

[Mosha]

I hope this thread helps you.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1682404

[naka]

You can get the extension with only the 800k bank account, no proof of income is required.

But note that the money should be in your Thai bank account at least three months

prior to your application for the 12 month extension.

Looks like you need to get the money into your bank account and then work out the

proper timing as you are already a bit too late on your current visa for this 3 months maturity.

By the way, you are allowed to spend any/all of this 800k after getting extension as long as you top

it up before your next extension application.

Naka.

Edited December 3, 2007 by naka

[lopburi3]

The money must have been in a Thai bank account for 3 months prior to application so if you have not yet transferred you will not be able to do this on your current visa stay. So make the transfer and keep the about above 800k for the last three months (Jan-Mar). Obtain a new non immigrant O visa from Vientiane or Penang in February using marriage certificate/wife ID card and then when down to 30 days remaining (April) visit Immigration to extend your stay for a year.

[ballbreaker]

The money must have been in a Thai bank account for 3 months prior to application so if you have not yet transferred you will not be able to do this on your current visa stay. So make the transfer and keep the about above 800k for the last three months (Jan-Mar). Obtain a new non immigrant O visa from Vientiane or Penang in February using marriage certificate/wife ID card and then when down to 30 days remaining (April) visit Immigration to extend your stay for a year.

lopburi3's idea is good but I would try a slightly different tactic because it might save a trip. Get the 800k wired into the Thai bank ASAP. Wait until 14 days before current O visa expires and apply for retirement visa using the argument that it is not possible for you to have money in bank for 3 months because you have not been in Thailand for that long. If they say no then you do what lopburi3 says.

In regard to the 800k. If you are US citizen and money coming from US then send two transfers (less than 20k each) because amounts of $20k and over are big hassle.

[paulsmithson]

Just deposit 800.000 fpr three months and get s letter from your bank comfirmimg that this money came from outsideThailand -no problems

[mahjongguy]

...amounts of $20k and over are big hassle.

When you receive an amount of US$20,000 or more you must go to your designated branch and sign a document before the money is released into your account. You may still have to wait 4 business days before you can return to get the wire transfer detail report (signed & stamped!) for later submission to Immigration.

The extra trip to the bank may or may not be a big hassle for you. Given that a wire transfer costs $25 or more to send, and 500 baht to receive, you might not want to make additional transfers just to keep them under $20,000.

[lopburi3]

Firstly the 20k USD limit applies to all currencies and countries. If you wire that or more 30% can be directly sent to the Bank of Thailand and it would be up to you to prove it was not subject to withholding later. It seems most banks now hold the money rather than forward but I would not take the chance for the small extra fees involved with two transfers. Getting it back if already sent could prove daunting for a small branch bank or if they were not inclined to help you.