Retirment Visa A-o

[Joachim]

Hi all,

I seem to have a little problem.

Being German but having my work and residence since over 3 years in Indonesia, I applied for an A-O retirment-visa, because I did decide to retire in Chiang - Mai.

All criteria have been met, all documents complete. But when submitted to the Royal Thai Embassy in Jakarta I was informed that I could apply only when already in retirement (which will be at the end of February next year). Their advice was to retire first and then go back to Germany and apply at the Embassy in Berlin, since my nationality was German.

I do not worry so much as to get to Thailand, but about my household container. As far as I have been reading in the internet, it would only be possible to import it with a one year visa.

Two questions:

Is it correct, that a A-O retirementvisa can only be applied for from the country you hold the nationality of, despite your country of residence?

Would it be possible to import the household container with a Non-Immigrant 0 Visa without having to pay import duties?

Greetings

Joachim

[Soutpeel]

Being German

Two questions:

Is it correct, that a A-O retirementvisa can only be applied for from the country you hold the nationality of, despite your country of residence?

Would it be possible to import the household container with a Non-Immigrant 0 Visa without having to pay import duties?

We wont hold that against you...

Believe you have to apply for the O-A in your home country...ie Germany....

Highly unlikely you will get your container in with no import duty on a Type "O"...but of course this is Thailand and money talks, and sometimes a little tea money can do wonderful things..

[Lite Beer]

Yes. You have to apply in your own country.

You can extend a Non O Imm Visa at Immigration in Thailand for a year based on retirement.

[ubonjoe]

Is it correct, that a A-O retirementvisa can only be applied for from the country you hold the nationality of, despite your country of residence?

I think it would depend upon how the conulate defines residence. They may require permanent resident status. Not just being a resident of the country. This from the Ministry of Forign affairs website.

1.4 Having the nationality of or residence in the country where applicant's application is submitted.

Link to page for OA visa requirements: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493

To save dealing with the consulate you could apply for a standard non-o visa for retirement and travel to Thailand prior to your retirement date and get a one year extension ahead of time and then get a re-entry permit which would allow you to return to Indonesia until your retirement date.

The requirement for getting a visa can be found on page 10 clause 7.21 of police order.

Link: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/2notice/rtp606EN.pdf

For the income requirement you need a letter/document from the German embassy/conulate in Thailand.

The requirement for bank deposit of course would require opening a bank account then having the money in bank for 3 months. It would require 2 trips to Thailand to do the extension using this option. Also if you can prove income that is less than the 65K requirement you can make a bank deposit that makes up the difference and not have to wait the 3 months.