Retirement visa extension

[Roger13]

Hi Gang,

Can anybody tell us that they obtained a Retirement Visa Extension

by Satisfying the INCOME requirement ALONE

and NOT show any evidence of a Deposit?

(OR maybe was allowed a reduced Deposit?)

Roger

[tonyevans]

Hi Roger,

Two years ago at my renewal of the retirement visa when I asked the question about how much money I required to hold in the bank I was told " You don't need to worry as your pension covers the requirement" so it would seem that the rule is Deposit or Income or a combination of the two. That is my interpretation of those comments.

As mentioned in a previous post at my recent renewal June 2003 they did confirm the pre 1998 rule was still applicable that with unbroken retirement visa's since before October 1998 the requirements was 200,000 baht.

Is there any firm information about changes to the retirement visa requirements or are these still rumours? Anyone know yet.

Tony Evans

[Eneukman]

Can I use investment income towards the 800,000 baht (or 1,500,000) requirement - or will I have to show all of it as being held in cash as I won't get a pension for several years after I arrive in Thailand?

Alan

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Provided the source of income is considered safe and reliable by Immigration, and adequate Embassy certified documentation is supplied you shouldn't have a problem.

[Roger13]

it would seem that the rule is Deposit or Income or a combination of the two. That is my interpretation of those comments.

Hi Tony Evans,

I think we are all agreed on the Interpretation of the Rules.

The Question is - who got their Retirement Visa Extension without showing any money on Deposit

Did you ?

Roger

[tonyevans]

Hi Roger,

I did have money on deposit but under the 800,000 baht.

Tony

[Roger13]

Hi Tony,

Sorry to be pedantic ... !

Can you say if you showed evidence of your deposit

when you last extended your Retirement Visa.

I have always shown evidence of both

Income & Deposit, as a matter of routine.

My income exceeds the requirement

but in June this year I was asked to produce

the Bank Passbooks (and photocopies)

to support the Letter from my Bank.

Roger

[tonyevans]

Hi Roger,

On the first renewal of my retirement visa in 1998, I was asked by the Immigration at Bangkok to provide an updated letter from the embassy to confirm my pension and also a letter from  the Thai Bank confirming my balance, also the Bank Pass Books for the period from the previous renewal, and photocopies of those  Pass books.

I have continued with the same documents every year since then.

Tony

[Roger13]

Hi Tony,

You are in the same situation as myself.

[Except this year was the first time they

asked for the Passbooks (+photocopies)]

I wonder what would happen if next time

we submit only proof of pension and no

deposit letter ... but I don't want to Rock the Boat !

... Unless I can hear from someone who has successfully extended their Retirement Visa on proof of Income alone ...

ANYBODY ????

Roger

[Buccaneer]

Well with me it will be the other way round. I dont like to show my income after retirement , but to show a healthy deposit in a Thai bank is not a problem. I have however accounts in Thailand on both my own and my wife's name. Would that be a problem?

On pension from abroad, do the thai levy income tax on this?

Some countries have regulations and treaties that prevent double taxation. But some countries like South Afrika do not levy income tax on foreign pensions, hence one can create a situation where no tax is paid at all. It is rumoured that a simil;ar situaion exist with thailand. Does anybody know?

Now, I am totally lost on retirement visa's, married to a Thai etc. So If I in the nearby future ritire to Thailand, being married for decades to a thai, having enough in the bank, what does it cost me?

Cheers

Marcus

[lopburi3]

I have however accounts in Thailand on both my own and my wife's name. Would that be a problem?

If you mean joint accounts they are fine.

On pension from abroad, do the thai levy income tax on this?

I don't believe they do; but I do believe they can.

what does it cost me?

Everything.

If your choice is marriage/support you will need about 200-400k in the bank (400k is expected to be new rate).

If your choice is retirement visa it jumps to 800-1,500k (if increase is made - but I still have doubts on this as it was just recently increased to 800k).

[jonwilly]

I obtained a retirement visa a couple of weeks ago. i was discusing how easy it was with a guy at the weekend. He went down immigration on monday for a chat on his case.

The officer on duty said no problems look here 's an example of the last guy we issued a R visa too and showed him all my personal details.

[huski]

I obtained a retirement visa a couple of weeks ago. i was discusing how easy it was with a guy at the weekend. He went down immigration on monday for a chat on his case.

The officer on duty said no problems look here 's an example of the last guy we issued a R visa too and showed him all my personal details.

Sounds like someone is full of it. Do you really believe you were the "last guy" to be issued a Retirement visa in weeks and that an officer would show your file to anyone?

[silverhawk_usa]

I just returned from applying for a 1 year extension of my retirement visa at Chiang Mai Immigration.  This answers my original post  “sort of”.

I went in the late morning hours and was given a 1:00 PM appointment to return.  At 1:05 they called me in to process the paperwork and an interview.  They were quite professional and friendly.  I cannot complain at all.

They DID require a copy of my Bank Book and a letter from the Bank (Bangkok Bank). However I had only 80,000 Baht in the account.  As I had a letter from the U.S. Embassy and my pension provider in the U.S. showing that my pension made up for the difference of the 800,000 Baht requirement they had no problem.  I brought along a copy of the law which stated this fact, but it was unnecessary.

So although my pension did not stand entirely on it’s own, the bank account was almost an afterthought.

In addition, I was able to speak with Pol. Lt. Col. Bonphot who did the Chaing Mai Life (and other magazines) interview.  He speaks fluent English and was again quite amiable.  I couldn’t help but notice that none of the staff are wearing their “brown” uniforms and instead now wear matching polo shirts and trousers.  A much less intimidating atmosphere.

As I was speaking with him, I was embarrassed by a fellow falang who came in wearing a grey “Army” t-shirt with very short workout shorts and clearly little else underneath. I recalled Lt. Col. Bonphot’s interview where he said it would be nice if falangs dressed and acted more politely and respected the Thai culture.  Come on guys, you would not go to a Government Office on business in your home country dressed like that, why do it here?

In the end (about a 50 min process) I was given a 10 day visa extension while they processed and checked my paperwork.  They said they had to verify the information (all valid BTW) and check the Immigration Computers at the airport.  All in all, they did not give any indication I should anticipate a problem. At the counter they had told me in advance to expect this process on my first renewal.  I was told to return Oct. 9 for my Multi entry Non Imm O-A visa.

Note however, they are checking EVERYTHING especially computer entries.