Work Permit To Retirement + Stuff

[desertrat]

I am due to retire having had a work permit for last 14 years

1. According to the rules I only need 200,000 baht on deposit, having had unbroken stay here prior

to 1998.

2. According to the rules I must show that my deposit came from abroad. I have always been paid here

by my local employer,

Others have noted that even the well known rules are sometimes contested, i.e. Deposit plus Income.

I have in excess of the deposit plus a retirement income, (and 2 condos), but don't like the idea of tying up 800,000 as I have no will.

I feel like going to the "pros" but their web pages show little more understanding of the issues than the "man in the forum"

Advice/comments appreciated thanks.

[thaihome]

1.Surely you can see the faulty logic in the argument that you should be “grandfathered” back 10 years for the qualifications for a visa you are applying for the first time now?

2.I think you have misunderstood the requirement for the 800k in a bank account. There is no need for it to be “tied” up except for having to have it in the bank 3 months before applying. Once the visa extension is granted, you are free to draw it down, only needing to top it up again 3 months before next application for extension. I am not sure, but don’t believe there is a requirement for the 800k to have come from an overseas transfer.

TH

[Lite Beer]

Yes. You need 800,000 in the bank.

Can use it after your extension is agreed and top it up again next year.

200,000 ? I wish.

[Maestro]

...1. According to the rules I only need 200,000 baht on deposit, having had unbroken stay here prior

to 1998.

That rule would apply to you if your first application for retirement extension had been made before October 21, 1998. From Royal Thai Police Order No. 606/2549, paragraph 7.21:

(6) For an alien who entered Thailand before October 21, 1998 and continuously allowed to stay in the Kingdom as a retiree, the following shall apply:

(a) He/she must be 60 years of age or over and has regular income. His/her bank account deposit shall not be less than Baht 200,000 a year and evidence of the account deposit for the previous 3 months must be shown; or he/she has a monthly income of not less than Baht 20,000.

--

Maestro

[bokeh]

I am due to retire having had a work permit for last 14 years

1. According to the rules I only need 200,000 baht on deposit, having had unbroken stay here prior

to 1998.

2. According to the rules I must show that my deposit came from abroad.

I just retired after having had a work permit for 17 years using the embassy letter guarantee of income and under the current rules for such income. You, too, will be under the 65,000/month income or 800,000 in the bank for 3 months prior to the application.

Reading the rules, you see those who entered Thailand before Oct. 21, '98 and have been staying *as a retiree* continuously since are under the rules prevailing at the time they were granted the retirement visa (or extension, whatever), thus only 200,000 needed for those people if they're over 60.

Those, like us, applying for retirement extension for the first time now, come under the current rules. Friends of mine, who have all switched from a visa with work permit to a retirement extension (at least within the last 8 years or so) and who had been here continuously for several years prior to 1998, had to have the the 800,000 in the bank. However, none of them, last I heard, have had to show proof the the 800,000 came from abroad; the only proof they had to have was the amount and that it was in the bank 3 months prior to the application.

For me, the actual switch, back in June, was a breeze. I just had to cancel the current visa using a letter from my employer, then go back to the info desk and get an application form, then go into the other room where they process retirement and marriage visas and whatnot, and wait. I was finished within about 20 minutes after my number was called, and that included interruptions by people just walking up and talking to the officer. She kept the original of the embassy letter. In all, I entered the building at 8:35 and was walking out at 11:50 with a 1-year extension and new multiple re-entry permit. It was a Friday at the end of the month- a bit crowded, so most of that time was just waiting for my number to be called. Now I'm enjoying the easy life.

[expatman]

I am due to retire having had a work permit for last 14 years

1. According to the rules I only need 200,000 baht on deposit, having had unbroken stay here prior

to 1998.

2. According to the rules I must show that my deposit came from abroad.

I just retired after having had a work permit for 17 years

.....................

This is a bit off-topic, but did you retire voluntarily or were you forced to retire by the company ?

If it was involuntary, did you get any severence pay ?

[desertrat]

I am due to retire having had a work permit for last 14 years

1. According to the rules I only need 200,000 baht on deposit, having had unbroken stay here prior

to 1998.

2. According to the rules I must show that my deposit came from abroad.

I just retired after having had a work permit for 17 years

.....................

This is a bit off-topic, but did you retire voluntarily or were you forced to retire by the company ?

If it was involuntary, did you get any severence pay ?

Thanks to all for the info (should have seen it myself)

Ref the retirement, I have been mulling this ref the severance pay.

I have never had a contract, but have been treated so well it has never been a problem.

My work permit has ben renewed annually, actually I'm WELL over retirement age, and have been for a

number of years.

I guess that eventually they will not just renew my wp, I would feel a bit churlish asking for severance pay, as I'm not boracic....but.......????