Us Citizen, I Want A Retirement Visa. What's Best Route?

[venturalaw]

In establishing the 40,000 baht income per month, is it required that the moneys flow through Thai bank accounts, or will a notarized statement regarding my earnings from the US Consulate's Office suffice?

Usually the Embassy statement is enough.

The odd Immigration office is wanting the money to pass through the account but that is not the norm.

Thank you

[JimGant]

You may be referring to me. With all required docs, it was easy and fast to obtain the retirement visa from the Thai Consulate in Hawaii. Visited once or twice to ask some questions, dropped the paperwork off around 10am, came back at 1pm and had my retirement visa in hand. Very nice folks.

Did they require notarization, or did 'official letterhead' suffice? (I ask because someone here reported no notarization required, except on the police report. Others have reported no notarization required, period.)

[ronaldo]

I have a question regarding the bank situation. It appears you need to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account 3 months before you apply for a retirement visa. I have just been in Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa and tried to open a bank account at several banks but was declined because I did not have a work visa! How do you open a bank account there?

[Jingthing]

I have a question regarding the bank situation. It appears you need to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account 3 months before you apply for a retirement visa. I have just been in Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa and tried to open a bank account at several banks but was declined because I did not have a work visa! How do you open a bank account there?

Two ideas, keep trying different banks. Their policies vary from bank to bank, branch to branch. Kasikorn Bank is reportedly often easiest (in my experience they didn't even ask about visas there).

It might not hurt to walk in with a big wad of cash and show it, ha ha.

If that fails for some reason (it shouldn't) you could approach a real estate broker. If you shopping to buy housing, they will likely help you open an account by sending you with a worker to open the account at the branch they deal with. That is how I opened my first account. Or, if you aren't really shopping, you might be able to persuade ($$) them to offer this service.

[ubonjoe]

You just have to keep trying different banks and branches.

The big ones should be the best to try.

[ronaldo]

You just have to keep trying different banks and branches.

The big ones should be the best to try.

Thanks for the advice, I'll try that next time.

[TPUBON]

I am a US citizen, 64 years old, have been doing visa runs for a while, also getting 60 day tourist visas then 30 day extentions, etc. A friend told me it's not so difficult to get the retirement visa so i dont have to bother with visa runs.

Will i have to leave thailand to get this visa? Is there another type of visa I have to get first before i get the retirement visa? Is it more or less complicated for US citizens to get retirement visa here? Can i do the paperwork on my own or is it better to use a visa service place? If i use a visa service, what's the fair price to pay?

Thanks !

Just a heads up. If your going to Immigration at Phibun, they might require a translation to Thai of the document the US Embassy gives you. I had mine done last year and they (immigration) wanted the translation even though the embassy and immigration agreed the english version would be accepted. They said the "boss" wanted it.

I was also told by the embassy that they were going to start taking appointments for this. Just might want to check before ou go.

[ubonjoe]

Just a heads up. If your going to Immigration at Phibun, they might require a translation to Thai of the document the US Embassy gives you. I had mine done last year and they (immigration) wanted the translation even though the embassy and immigration agreed the english version would be accepted. They said the "boss" wanted it.

I was also told by the embassy that they were going to start taking appointments for this. Just might want to check before ou go.

Did my marriage extenesion at Phibun in August and no translation was required.

The US consulate does have an appointment system now but it is not mandatory yet which I mentioned in an earlier post. It does save time to have an appointment since you don't have to take a number.

[klons]

In reference to the retirement extension and re-entry permit, are there any time restrictions for being out of Thailand. Is it OK for example to spend 6 months in country and 6 months if timed to be back in Thailand at the appropiate time to renew the extension? I am also an American and just got my first retirement extension this past week.Although I would like to stay put here in Thailand, the wife a dualie (Thai/U.S.) may have other ideas.

[ubonjoe]

In reference to the retirement extension and re-entry permit, are there any time restrictions for being out of Thailand. Is it OK for example to spend 6 months in country and 6 months if timed to be back in Thailand at the appropiate time to renew the extension? I am also an American and just got my first retirement extension this past week.Although I would like to stay put here in Thailand, the wife a dualie (Thai/U.S.) may have other ideas.

There are no restrictions that I know of. I think many do it on a retirement visa to winter here and summer elsewhere. In the states we would call them snow birds.

Just be here to do the extension.