Retirement Visa

[tjansen]

My Contract with a Thai Company ended after nine months. I still have my Work Permit and have not yet officially notified Immigration about the end of my contract for reasons that I explain below.

I have a one-year, multiple entry Non-Imm-B Visa with the company's name on the Visa in my passport. There are 3 months remaining on this Visa

I want to get a Retirement Visa. I meet the requirement for a bank deposit, but I just crossed the 800,000 thb line about 3 weeks ago. So as I understand it, I will need to wait the balance of 90 days, or about 9 weeks, to use this to apply for the Retirement Visa. This money was earned in Thailand and direct deposited by the company in the Thai bank.

I went to Immigration yesterday to start my inquiry. The officer told me I need to turn in my Work Permit to the company I was working for, cancel my Non-Immigrant-B Visa and apply for the Retirement Visa.

Here are my questions:

1) I was told by an expat at Immigration that is working in a similar status to mine, that when the Work Permit is turned in, the Visa is canceled immediately, and I need to leave the country that day. Is that true?

2) Given that I still have a wait of 9 weeks to verify my bank account, what is my best course of action to get the retirement Visa.

3) I plan to request that my former employer delay turning in the work permit by extending our contract for a period that will cover my waiting time, but I can't count on that happening.

4) Somewhere on the Internet I saw a requirement for proof of foreign remittance (SWIFT) for the money in my Thai bank account, which I don't have since I earned the money in Thailand. The Retirement Visa requirement form that I got at Immigration yesterday does not mention this requirement of proof of foreign remittance. Does anyone know of this being a requirement?

[ubonjoe]

If you have a multiple entry visa it is still good.

If you have an extension of stay then it does end on the date your employment ends. You are then required to leave the country or get an extension for 7 days. In your case your could apply for the retirement extension on that date.

You don't have to turn in the work permit to anybody.

Your employer has to notify the labour departmentt when your job ends.

You only need the money in the bank for 60 days for a first time retirement extension (new rules since Nov. 25).

The foreign remittence proof only shows up on the change of visa status page on the immigration website so you don't have to worry about that.

[tjansen]

If you have a multiple entry visa it is still good.

If you have an extension of stay then it does end on the date your employment ends. You are then required to leave the country or get an extension for 7 days. In your case your could apply for the retirement extension on that date.

You don't have to turn in the work permit to anybody.

Your employer has to notify the labour departmentt when your job ends.

You only need the money in the bank for 60 days for a first time retirement extension (new rules since Nov. 25).

The foreign remittence proof only shows up on the change of visa status page on the immigration website so you don't have to worry about that.

Thank you for the clarification. Your comments are helping me understand the details, which, up until now, I have not needed to know and have therefore ignored. Looking at the stamps in my Passport, the stamp that they were looking at is "Extension of Stay permitted to 31 Mar 2009" Next to that is another stamp that says "Non-Imm. Immigration Thailand Re-Entry Permit." It is also stamped "Multiple" and the date stamped on it is also 31 March 2009.

Please continue your advice and bear with my need for details. Would I be getting an Extension on the Extension? And must I do that when or before my company notifies the labor department (they used the term BOI) of the end of my employment?

And when I apply for the Retirement Extension, and the 60 days have not passed, can I remain in Thailand, and with what type of permit? krop khun krub.

[ubonjoe]

Thank you for the clarification. Your comments are helping me understand the details, which, up until now, I have not needed to know and have therefore ignored. Looking at the stamps in my Passport, the stamp that they were looking at is "Extension of Stay permitted to 31 Mar 2009" Next to that is another stamp that says "Non-Imm. Immigration Thailand Re-Entry Permit." It is also stamped "Multiple" and the date stamped on it is also 31 March 2009.

Please continue your advice and bear with my need for details. Would I be getting an Extension on the Extension? And must I do that when or before my company notifies the labor department (they used the term BOI) of the end of my employment?

And when I apply for the Retirement Extension, and the 60 days have not passed, can I remain in Thailand, and with what type of permit? krop khun krub.

You are on an extension of stay not a visa.

On the date when your employment ends is the date you need to apply for an extension, If your empolyer is willing to delay the notification until you have your money in the bank for 60 days that would be best (it could be called unpaid leave for example). You could tthen take a copy of the letter saying your employment has ended to immigration and apply for your retirement extension at the same time. You would be changing from one catagory of extension to another.

If you cannot get that arranged then the next best option would be to leave and get a 90 day non immigrant O visa at a nearby consulate. Then within the last 30 days of that entry you would apply for your extension.

[InterestedObserver]

tjansen,

As I read this:

1. You are here on an Extension of Stay for work, your Non-Immigrant "B" visa having expired. You can't get a retirement extension now because you have not had 800K THB in the bank for a minimum of 60 days.
   
2. Your current Extension of Stay is only valid until 31 March 2009, if not canceled by immigration since it is tied in with your former employment.
   
3. If immigration does not cancel your work extension, and you get the 800K THB seasoned, and apply before 31 March 2009, then you should be able to get a retirement extension: i.e., change the work extension into a retirement extension. Apply as soon as the money is seasoned.
   
4. If immigration cancels your work extension you will immediately need to leave Thailand or apply for a 7 day extension.
   
5. You may have to exit Thailand, go to a local expat friendly Thai embassy, and get a Non-Immigrant "O" visa. This will give you a 90 day entry with which to season your money and apply for the retirement extension.
   
6. Since your money was earned in Thailand from legal, documented employment. Proof of transfer (SWIFT) does not exist and therefore irrelevant. Additionally, recently immigration has not been asking for proof of foreign remittance.
   
7. All is dependent on the cooperation of immigration and good luck.
   

[TerryLH]

You probably will need proof of taxes being paid on what you earned in Thailand.

[tjansen]

You probably will need proof of taxes being paid on what you earned in Thailand.

To: ubonjoe, Terry LH, and Interested Observer. Thanks to all for making it very clear what I need to do and what my options are. It is interesting how the need for action hurries one along the learning curve. I have gone from a befuddled reader / working visitor to a near-expert on Extensions of Stay...well maybe not quite, huh?

My company is very by-the-book so my taxes were withheld--thanks for the heads up to bring proof. I understand both options that were given. I will copy this suggestion to my company and see what they think. Referring to the first sentence of this paragraph, there is a good chance that they would not consider this proper, in which case I will exercise Option 2.

This begs one additional question. What nearby country would be the most likely to grant the required Non-Immigrant O Visa. I am used to traveling to Penang, Malaysia, by plane as well as by train, so that one woule be the most familiar, but I am willing to go to some other country that might be closer and / or more cooperative. Train would be my desired mode of travel at this moment, but it would be nice to have a destination that I could also fly to.

Thanks again for the excellent advice. Tom J

[ubonjoe]

Any nearby consulate will do a single entry non-o for retirement.

It depends on which part of the country you are in as to which one you choose to use. In the northern part of the country Vientiane Laos if going overland is the nearest. You can fly to Udon and go by bus to Vientiane instead of bus or train to Nong Kai.

In the South Penang or Khota Bharu are the nearest.

[tjansen]

Any nearby consulate will do a single entry non-o for retirement.

It depends on which part of the country you are in as to which one you choose to use. In the northern part of the country Vientiane Laos if going overland is the nearest. You can fly to Udon and go by bus to Vientiane instead of bus or train to Nong Kai.

In the South Penang or Khota Bharu are the nearest.

Great. It sounds like Penang will be my best option. I am staying in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi Province, and can travel by train from Nakon Patthom to Butterworh, Malaysia, for 1,100 thb, now a relevant consideration, having ceased my employment.

Again, thanks to all. This Forum is an amazingly efficient way to get pertinent advice in what had appeared to be a cloudy haze of uncertainty.

Tom

[ubonjoe]

Glad we could clear the haze.

Good Luck

Joe

[tjansen]

Glad we could clear the haze.

Good Luck

Joe

!!!!!!!!Well, I am glad I learned about the required actions!!!!!!!! Now I need some very quick answers.

Could somebody list nearby cities serviced by Air Asia, flying from Bangkok, that have a Thai Consulate, where I can get the 90 day Non-Immigrant-O Visa, as well as the procedures. Is there an overnight wait, etc. I plan travel to the airport area tonight and fly tomorrow, Tuesday, returning as quickly as practical.

Thank you for any detailed help!!!!!

[ubonjoe]

Kl or Penang. Both are overnight service. Apply morning get the it back the next afternoon.

Or fly to Udon Thani and go to Vientiane from there.

[tjansen]

Glad we could clear the haze.

Good Luck

Joe

!!!!!!!!Well, I am glad I learned about the required actions!!!!!!!! Now I need some very quick answers.

Could somebody list nearby cities serviced by Air Asia, flying from Bangkok, that have a Thai Consulate, where I can get the 90 day Non-Immigrant-O Visa, as well as the procedures. Is there an overnight wait, etc. I plan travel to the airport area tonight and fly tomorrow, Tuesday, returning as quickly as practical.

Thank you for any detailed help!!!!!

I forgot to ask, What documents do I need, other than my passport, to apply for the Non-O?

Thanks again,

Tom

[ubonjoe]

Only your passport. Nothing else is needed. Might not hurt to have your bank book just in case.

[tjansen]

Only your passport. Nothing else is needed. Might not hurt to have your bank book just in case.

Thank you. And how about a list of cities that have consulates?

Thanks again.

[tjansen]

Only your passport. Nothing else is needed. Might not hurt to have your bank book just in case.

Thank you. And how about a list of cities that have consulates?

Thanks again.

OK. I am on my way.

Thanks for all of the help.

Tom

[tjansen]

Only your passport. Nothing else is needed. Might not hurt to have your bank book just in case.

Thank you. And how about a list of cities that have consulates?

Thanks again.

OK. I am on my way.

Thanks for all of the help.

Tom

Well, that part went very smoothly. I got a 60 day Tourist Visa, since, as I understand it, I do not qualify for a Non-Imm-B. In the process I met up with a service in Penang that does all the leg work, including transport from the airport, hotel room for two nights, and doing the drop off and pick up at the Consulate, with the whole package costing 500 baht, worth it to me.

I would like to ask about the next step in getting changed to a Retirement Extension (I am told it won't be a Visa but rather an Extension of Permission to Stay). I will ask by describing my situation and my understanding of what I need to do and asking for a yeah or nay.

My new Tourist Visa expires on March 15.

My bank account with 800k baht achieves 60 days seasoning on February 23, leaving less than a 21 day gap.

Am I correct in my understanding that a Tourist Visa must have 21 days remaining on it in order to obtain an Extension? If so I would have to get the extension by February 21, two days before my bank account is seasoned.

Here is what I plan to do:

On February 16 (arbitrary date, but assuring that I still have 21 days left), I will apply for an Extension of my Tourist Visa at Thai Immigration. I am targeting a Monday for my convenience, but I can travel a different day if need be.

Then, after February 23, with my bank account seasoned, I will apply for the Retirement Extension of Stay.

Am I missing anything? Any other pitfalls to watch for or general advice? Thanks again for this helpful forum.

Tom

[Maestro]

Tjansen, before you can apply for the retirement extension you must get a change of visa from tourist visa to non-immigrant visa at an immigration office. The fee for this is 2,000 Baht. Therefore, your timeline looks something like this:

• With at least 21 days left on your current permission to stay, ie not later than 21 February, apply for the change of visa to non-immigrant visa. This gives you a new permission to stay for 90 days.
  
• 3-4 weeks before the expiration of the new permission to stay, apply for the retirement extension (fee 1,900 Baht)
  

--

Maestro

[tjansen]

Tjansen, before you can apply for the retirement extension you must get a change of visa from tourist visa to non-immigrant visa at an immigration office. The fee for this is 2,000 Baht. Therefore, your timeline looks something like this:

• With at least 21 days left on your current permission to stay, ie not later than 21 February, apply for the change of visa to non-immigrant visa. This gives you a new permission to stay for 90 days.
  
• 3-4 weeks before the expiration of the new permission to stay, apply for the retirement extension (fee 1,900 Baht)
  

--

Maestro

I got it. Very helpful group on this forum. Sorry for somewhat of a double post. I posted the same question as a new post, thinking maybe my last question wasn't being noticed here. This should do it for me. Thanks once again.

I am enjoying Thailand.