Requirements Same For All Retirees Regardless Of Age?

[devaram]

Anyone know if the income requirements are less stringent for over 60 or is this just a rumor I heard?

Another important question: If after showing documentation from usa embassy to prove income, the immigration officer asks to see more proof would a print-out from usa online bank account for activity over past year be sufficient?

Any advice about this last tricky detail is appreciated.

[Maestro]

It is primarily a question of the date when the retiree started with annual extensions for retirement, combined with his age. See the attached extract from the current rules.

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Maestro

606_2549_7_21.pdf

[casablanca12]

I am confused. I hear the fixed amount for 3 months on a bank account is not valid any more. So for example: If you are over 55 years old you cannot get a visa because you got 500,000 Baht on the Thai bank account. Think this is only valid when you already got a 1 year visa (grandfather clausule). And if you want a visa now you have to show prove of 50,000 Baht income every month to get it. True or not?

[Maestro]

If you want a visa, you apply for it at a Thai consulate, ie outside Thailand. If you want an extension of stay, you apply for it at an immigration office, ie inside Thailand.

Also today, an extension for stay for retirement can be obtained with money in the bank, 800k to be exact, and it has to be in the bank for at lest three months before the application, or a monthly income of 65,000 Baht, or a combination of both.

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Maestro

[casablanca12]

So in the case of Devaram: He did not enter Thailand before October 21, 1998. So he needs 800,000 Baht on a Thai bank account or 65,000 Baht/month or a combination of these. Does not matter if he is over 60 years old. Correct? And I suppose he needs the 800,00 Baht in a Thai bank and a official letter of his bank if he got a monthly income, not just a internet print of his bank account? Correct?

[Lite Beer]

Deveram will need 800,000 in the bank for 3 months or 65,000 a month income.

For the money in the bank he needs a letter from his Thai bank. For the income he will need a letter from his Embassy stating his income. As for what the Immigration officer will accept as additional proof would be up to who he sees. He will have to go and ask them.

He also needs to be over 50 not 55 as he said in his post.

It does not matter if he is 50, 60,70 or 80 he still will need the above.

[devaram]

Actually this is for my mom who is 83.

She has no savings of significance in thailand or usa but has monthly income in the usa.

She might be able to show 65,000 a month but it may be a bit difficult or "hazy"

Does anyone know where the most "friendly" office would be for applying?

She lives in Chiangmai.

Is it sometimes better to go outside thailand for the retirement visa instead of inside thailand for extension?

[lopburi3]

People do not have experience as it is almost never asked for - but yes, I am sure such documents would be accepted. As I am sure a pension source yearly letter of pay, or change of payments, would be accepted.

[jstumbo]

I am confused. I hear the fixed amount for 3 months on a bank account is not valid any more. So for example: If you are over 55 years old you cannot get a visa because you got 500,000 Baht on the Thai bank account. Think this is only valid when you already got a 1 year visa (grandfather clausule). And if you want a visa now you have to show prove of 50,000 Baht income every month to get it. True or not?

Current requirements now for people that have not been extending their stay for the last 10 years is to have 800K in the bank prior to applying for the extension of stay, or 65k / month income, or combination of both. If you have been in Thailand since the date in 1998, and have continually been getting an extension of stay based on retirement, then you are grandfathered in and can follow the rules on the above attached document for being over 60 or 55. But if you are just starting now, or were not grandfathered in, then it is only over 50 years old, 800K in bank, or 65K/month, or combination that you can do.