Retirement Visa

[dvbutler]

I understand about having the Bt800,000 here for three months before getting the retirement visa.

My question is can I start building up to that amount way ahead of time?

I'm a US citizen. I'll turn 68 in June. I've lived in Thailand for many years and have a job and a work permit.

I will almost certainly retire some time between three months and three years from now.

If I start building up to the Bt800,000 now, would dollars sent in and converted to baht in May of this year, for example, be part of my application package 12 or 18 or 24 months from now?

Second question: When I have dollars sent to me here do I have to go to the Thai bank and get a stamped document for each transfer?

(My middle name is vertume and I use it in all messages so I can find the messages later.)

Thanks, David in Thon Buri

[ubonjoe]

Yes you can start saming for your retirement now. Immigration does not normally check to see if your funds have come from outside the country. Since you are legally working money you have made here can even be shown.

You don't need any documents from the bank showing each transfer.

[lopburi3]

There is currently no requirement for money to be new so it should not matter. But three years out is a lifetime in immigration rule guessing so we really can not be sure what will be the story then. You do not have to obtain any special paperwork - transfers should show up as such and can be checked if required - but currently there is no checking. But would not hurt to get transfer reports on a yearly basis and file them away.

[JimGant]

I'll throw this out to Lopburi.........

There have been several situations lately on the forum involving folks here on work extensions that wish to retire -- and convert to a retirement extension. My questions are:

Ok, they have been here for several years, getting extensions based on work, so their Non Imm B visa has long ago expired. To get a retirement extension, is there any reason why they need to now get a Non Imm O visa?

Assuming *no* above, do they then just go to Immigration, with all their retirement extension requirements in hand, before their current work extension/work permit expires?

If *yes* to the above, I would assume the '21 days remaining on permission to stay' would not apply, since that is usually used for converting/receiving a Non Imm O visa in-country?

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

DV get your first year OA visa in the US. You don't have to show the 800,000B until you apply for renewal, but you do have to show you have a police clearance, a medical and that you are financially sound for the initial visa.

Being from the US it is very easy to get the embassy to issue a letter showing you have a 65,000B a month pension or guaranteed income. The embassy does not require you to verify this they just require you to sign a document swearing to it. If you are on social security you should have adequate to satisfy the embassy and the Thai immigration. Then you don't have to have the 800,000 B in the bank.

Like someone else mentioned, the rules change often and you should check a few months prior to moving over here. I find it a great place to be retired in. Hope it all goes smoothly for you and that you enjoy it as much as I have.

[lopburi3]

I'll throw this out to Lopburi.........

There have been several situations lately on the forum involving folks here on work extensions that wish to retire -- and convert to a retirement extension. My questions are:

Ok, they have been here for several years, getting extensions based on work, so their Non Imm B visa has long ago expired. To get a retirement extension, is there any reason why they need to now get a Non Imm O visa?

Assuming *no* above, do they then just go to Immigration, with all their retirement extension requirements in hand, before their current work extension/work permit expires?

If *yes* to the above, I would assume the '21 days remaining on permission to stay' would not apply, since that is usually used for converting/receiving a Non Imm O visa in-country?

There is no 21 day requirement for extension of stay - that is for conversion to a non immigrant visa. If you already have a non immigrant visa you can do the extension up till the last day - although it is requested you do a little early to allow time for any missing documents.

[Tafia]

DV get your first year OA visa in the US. You don't have to show the 800,000B until you apply for renewal, but you do have to show you have a police clearance, a medical and that you are financially sound for the initial visa.

Being from the US it is very easy to get the embassy to issue a letter showing you have a 65,000B a month pension or guaranteed income. The embassy does not require you to verify this they just require you to sign a document swearing to it. If you are on social security you should have adequate to satisfy the embassy and the Thai immigration. Then you don't have to have the 800,000 B in the bank.

Like someone else mentioned, the rules change often and you should check a few months prior to moving over here. I find it a great place to be retired in. Hope it all goes smoothly for you and that you enjoy it as much as I have.

1.If you opt for the 65000 (or part thereof and some capital) do you need to show 65000 coming into the country monthly or is the letter sufficient to satisfy Immigration?

2. If you opt for the 800,000 in the bank do you:-

a)need to show this as having come into the country?

b)can you leave it untouched in a Thai Bank to satify immigration annually?

Thanks

[lopburi3]

1. No. Yes. Although some have been asked to show some kind of bank account just to prove they are real - not special amount needed in it.

2. (a) It has not been checked recently but could be - best to make wire transfers so there is a record.

(B ) This has been acceptable in the past and expect still is.

[ubonjoe]

1.If you opt for the 65000 (or part thereof and some capital) do you need to show 65000 coming into the country monthly or is the letter sufficient to satisfy Immigration?

2. If you opt for the 800,000 in the bank do you:-

a)need to show this as having come into the country?

b)can you leave it untouched in a Thai Bank to satify immigration annually?

Thanks

1.No you do not. Some immigration offices will want a copy of your bank book to see that some money is coming in (again not in the rules but some offices make there own).

2. a. As said immigration does not check for this. Also there is no mention of it in the rules.

b. Yes You can even have it in a CD (fixed account).

[Tafia]

1.If you opt for the 65000 (or part thereof and some capital) do you need to show 65000 coming into the country monthly or is the letter sufficient to satisfy Immigration?

2. If you opt for the 800,000 in the bank do you:-

a)need to show this as having come into the country?

b)can you leave it untouched in a Thai Bank to satify immigration annually?

Thanks

1.No you do not. Some immigration offices will want a copy of your bank book to see that some money is coming in (again not in the rules but some offices make there own).

2. a. As said immigration does not check for this. Also there is no mention of it in the rules.

b. Yes You can even have it in a CD (fixed account).

Thanks Joe & Lopburi