Retirement Visa

[Lelipad]

The foreigners over 50 and already “in the system” before the order 606/2549 effective from October 1/06, i.e. the foreigners who are also called “grandfathered” have still now and as far as I understand, three choices:

1) money in the bank, 400k if married to a Thai lady or 800k if not;

2) monthly income of not less than 40k if married to a Thai lady or 65k if not;

3) a combination of money in Bank and month income reaching 400k or 800k;

also and as far as I understand, these “grandfathered” foreigners do not need to have the money in the Bank seasoning for 3 months. For them it is enough to show a letter from their Bank, dated near to the day they present the application form to the immigration office, stating that Mr…….has, on the day the letter is dated, the required amount on his account and better to bring also the Bank book…

Is the above correct please?

As to the foreigners over 50 applying for the 1 year retiree permission of stay for the first time in the year 2008, and as far as I understand, they do not have the options 1) and 3), but only the option 2) and they are granted the 1 year retiree permission of stay only if they can show a monthly income of 40k if married to a Thai lady or 65k if not.

Is the above correct please?

Thank you

[sweetchariot]

From what you have said you are confusing 2 types of permission to stay, marriage and retirement. For marriage only the income route is available now (40k joint), whereas for retirement it is still 65k OR 800k, OR a combination of the 2.

[Crossy]

Is the above correct please?

NO!

For a RETIREMENT extension you need EITHER 800,000 in the bank for 3 months OR and income of 65,000 per month OR a combination of income/bank balance.

For a MARRIAGE extension you need a family income of 40,000 per month, offshore is OK and you can use your wifes income as all or part of the requirement. The option of 400,000 in the bank was killed off except for those already in the system and using this option.

[lopburi3]

No you are not correct.

1. Retirement is 800k and was 800k before the change - only the family (Thai Wife) was 400k and that is grandfathered for those using spouse extensions of stay.

2. Personal pension/income of 65k if using retirement. Combined income of 40k if using family.

3. Combination of pension/deposit 800k for retirement - 400k deposit only is the grandfather requirement for Thai wife and a record of having in bank for 3 months.

All deposit extensions of stay require meeting the 3 month rule (there was no enforcement for those in system past year as they were not aware of the rule change - don't expect that to continue everywhere - although apparently some have not yet enforced it).

New retirement extension requires 65k, 800k (three months) or combination. There is no other option unless grandfathered under the old 200k or earlier systems.

New family extension requires 40k family income.