Marraige Or Retirement Visa?

[PaulThai]

I qualify for both the retirement and the marriage visas. Either 800K or 400K in the bank is not a concern. In the long run is one visa type more beneficial than the other? Is one any more "secure" than the other? Thanks for your advice.

[Lite Beer]

Retirement is easier and requires less paperwork but as you say, more money tied up.

The decision for retirement is instant. For Marriage you have to wait a month.

[ubonjoe]

Both are about the same.

With an extension based on marriage you can work an get a work premit. It can also lead to Permanent Residency.

The marriage extension takes a little more paper work and you have a 30 day wait period after you apply while your application is under consideration.

You already mentioned the money factor. With the marriage extension you would be grandfathered at the 400,000 baht amount if they were to raise the amount needed instead of 800,000. That would help if you had a change in your financial situation in the future and needed the lower amount.

[tominchaam]

How sure can we be marriage extension will be grandfathered at the 400.000 baht level in the future?

I always find it difficult to predict the future re. what is needed for visa extensions. With your answer in mind I think most of us requesting retirement extension as it is more easy should request marriage extension instead. Regarding retirement extension I think grandfathering is only allowed for those who came here when the level was 200.000 baht.

[Lite Beer]

Regarding retirement extension I think grandfathering is only allowed for those who came here when the level was 200.000 baht.

The Retirement Requirements for those that are Grandfathered.

(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.

( If he/she is under 60 years of age but not less than 55,

the alien shall have regular income with a bank account deposit of not less than Baht 500,000 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 50,000 baht

[ubonjoe]

How sure can we be marriage extension will be grandfathered at the 400.000 baht level in the future?

I always find it difficult to predict the future re. what is needed for visa extensions. With your answer in mind I think most of us requesting retirement extension as it is more easy should request marriage extension instead. Regarding retirement extension I think grandfathering is only allowed for those who came here when the level was 200.000 baht.

They grandfathered marriage extensions those that were using the 400K option when they did away with it back 2006. But since it is now back it does not matter. The last change they did has a grandfather clause for one year for those that were already on extensions. That has helped some that were using their wifes income or a combination of the 2 incomes.

Retirement extensions are grandfathered all the way back to 1998. Some are frozen at 200K and others at 500K.

Tradition says they will grandfather them if they raise the money amounts.

I don't think having to show 3 additional documents and maybe some photos a lot more paperwork. And taking the wife along a lot more trouble. The extra trip back to immigration because of the 30 day wait is not that big a problem either.

I chose marriage over retirement because I could and did not want to be commited to the higher amounts. Plus the ability to get a work permit if an opportunity was to appear. Also PR was a consideration.

I would rather hedge my bets on the lower number.

[tominchaam]

Ubonjoe - thanks a lot for good information.

To me it means I will go for marriage extension as well even if it means a little bit of more papers as well as another visit to Immigration.

I did not know the 500K for retirement was grandfathered. As I might be one of those covered hereby I appreciate if you could let me know when the 500 K was the rule.

[ubonjoe]

It appears it depends on age. See the post just before mine.

If you have been on extensions since 1998 and are between the age of 55 and 60 its 500k over 60 its 200K.

[lopburi3]

About 10 years ago retirement was age 60 at 200k - but you could retire early at age 55 with a larger amount (500k).

There are other factors in the retirement/marriage extension which vary by office used. Two trips to a close office is easy - for those a day away it is not - especially if they also have to make a trip to Bangkok for paperwork. For some treatment of spouse is fine - for others it can be tear time. Both have to be able to attend the same time (which may have work conflicts for spouse). You may have to arrange travel a bit to use the two visit system. Immigration may encourage the retirement option and it is rather hard to say no in that case.

[ubonjoe]

Immigration won't push your for the retirement extension if you don't show enough money to them. That's the mistake some people have made and got pushed into it.

I think the interview being bad or not will depend upon how long you have been married. I think they are a lot rougher on newlyweds. I can say ours amounted to nothing more than a few questions needed for a form the immigration officer was filling out on the computer.

[Mosha]

What annoys me is. Every year the immigration people have had me go to Bangkok to prove my pension salary slips are genuine. ie go to the embassy. The source has never changed. It's immaterial now as the last changes caught me out, so it's Penang in September.

[ubonjoe]

What annoys me is. Every year the immigration people have had me go to Bangkok to prove my pension salary slips are genuine. ie go to the embassy. The source has never changed. It's immaterial now as the last changes caught me out, so it's Penang in September.

Having to get the new income letter is the same for everybody that use that option. Some people are lucky because they can do it by mail because their embassy allows it.

The only change made was for marriage extensions and that was the one that eliminated using the wifes income. And brought back the 400K option.

If you were using your wifes income then you should check with immigration before you go to Penang.

There is a clause good for one year that is meant to help those that are hurt by the new change.

6. If an alien who has entered Thailand before this order came into force and has been continuously granted temporary stay as clause 2.18(6), in case the marriage with Thai lady, is found to lack the qualifications as prescribed in this order, the Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau or competent official shall consider and decide on the particular case based on the prevailing reasons and circumstances within 1 year from the effective date hereof.

There have been reports of people getting their extension using their wifes income since the rule came into effect.

[Mosha]

Joe that's interesting. Do you have a link for that info in English and Thai please? The officer said I had 2 months to come up with the money, and previously tax receipts were accepted. Given the current exchange rate, my pension rise in november would lift me over the 40K/month

[ubonjoe]

Joe that's interesting. Do you have a link for that info in English and Thai please? The officer said I had 2 months to come up with the money, and previously tax receipts were accepted. Given the current exchange rate, my pension rise in november would lift me over the 40K/month

It would be best if you did the combined income and show them the tax receipts for the shortage.

police_order_2008.pdfThai_2008_police_order.pdf

[Mosha]

Thank you, I've copied what I can see from the English. She changes her story every time we go. My wife asks no more Bangkok, answer is no. We go for the extension and it's Bai Krung Thep.

[ubonjoe]

You have to get your extension at your assigned office now. If it's not Bangkok they will send you home.

[Mosha]

They keep sending me to the UK embassy to verify my pension payslips are genuine

[ubonjoe]

You can appply for and get the income letter from the embassy by mail. No need to go to Bangkok.

See the webpage for info: http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for...ing-in-thailand

No immigration office will accept anything other than the letter for income from outside the country. And you have to get a new one every year.

I was talking about immigration for getting the extension. You have to use your assigned office now.

[PaulThai]

About 10 years ago retirement was age 60 at 200k - but you could retire early at age 55 with a larger amount (500k).

There are other factors in the retirement/marriage extension which vary by office used. Two trips to a close office is easy - for those a day away it is not - especially if they also have to make a trip to Bangkok for paperwork. For some treatment of spouse is fine - for others it can be tear time. Both have to be able to attend the same time (which may have work conflicts for spouse). You may have to arrange travel a bit to use the two visit system. Immigration may encourage the retirement option and it is rather hard to say no in that case.

Thank you gentlemen. All very informative. I believe that I shall go the marriage route as I have all the paperwork anyway and it seems particularly in relation to later PR application that this would be the best way.

Thank you all again.

[Petey]

I have a question about the letter from Embassy (USA in my case) required for extension of a marriage visa. I previously had a retirement visa with 4 subsequent extensions. During those five years I had only had to go to the embassy once for a letter confirming my income. I submitted the same letter every time I requested an extension and the original was always returned to me by Immigration. This year I applied for a marriage visa, submitting a new, updated letter from the US Embassy. The visa was approved but the embassy letter was not returned to me. Does this mean that i will need to get a new letter from the embassy every time I request an extension of my marriage visa? Could I submit a photocopy of the original letter?

[ubonjoe]

I have a question about the letter from Embassy (USA in my case) required for extension of a marriage visa. I previously had a retirement visa with 4 subsequent extensions. During those five years I had only had to go to the embassy once for a letter confirming my income. I submitted the same letter every time I requested an extension and the original was always returned to me by Immigration. This year I applied for a marriage visa, submitting a new, updated letter from the US Embassy. The visa was approved but the embassy letter was not returned to me. Does this mean that i will need to get a new letter from the embassy every time I request an extension of my marriage visa? Could I submit a photocopy of the original letter?

You are luckey that you didn't have to get one every year before. Most offices want a new letter everytime you apply for either extension (it's not a visa).;

[Lite Beer]

Yep. A new letter every year.

[tutsiwarrior]

is it true that in both cases (marriage and retirement extension) the earliest that one can apply is during the last 30 days of the most recent 90 day permit to stay? Has anyone heard of an application for either extension being accepted any earlier?

[lopburi3]

They will often accept early if you have a valid reason, such as travel, and can show it.

[ubonjoe]

is it true that in both cases (marriage and retirement extension) the earliest that one can apply is during the last 30 days of the most recent 90 day permit to stay? Has anyone heard of an application for either extension being accepted any earlier?

I have seen no reports of it being done early for a first time extension.

You should check with the immigration office that you are going to apply to. Every office will have their own rules that could be different from others.

If you have a good reason such as a planned trip out of the country they may do it a little early.

Don't forget that you will have a 30 day wait period for an extension based upon marriage.

[wpcoe]

You should check with the immigration office that you are going to apply to. Every office will have their own rules that could be different from others.

The oft-quoted example being Jomtien, where an Immigraitons officer explained in a local Pattaya newpaper (last year?) that they accept applications for extension up to 90 days before the current one expires. I seem to recall (but can't find the article right now) that they were encouraging folks to apply earlier than 30 days.