Possible To Apply For Retirement At Embassy In Penang?

[devaram]

My 84 years old mother from usa who lives in chiangmai would like to apply for retirement visa.

Her ability to pass financial would be based on the usa embassy statement.

Would it be easier to do this from penang using an agent?

Would the required documents be different in those two places?

Are they more lenient with old people?

How would the process be different inside thailand or in penang?

Thanks for help if you have the time..

[Lite Beer]

These are the requirements for 12 monthly extensions from Immigration in Thailand.

2.22 In the case of a retiree: Permission will be granted for a period of not more

than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

This would be the preferred option as she would not have to keep leaving the country every 90 days.

Any thing she got from a Consulate would mean doing border runs every 90 days and at 84 not a good idea.

She would need a single Non Imm O Visa to start with.

Penang would issue this with no problems. Maybe she already has one so will not need to travel.

What is your Immigration Status in Thailand? If you are staying on annual extensions it would give her more and better options.

[lopburi3]

You apply for retirement extension of stay inside Thailand at the local immigration office (Chiang Mai). She need a non immigrant visa to apply and the letter from Embassy.

Advise if she is not here on a non immigrant visa (type?) and will provide further.

[Jingthing]

Some notes.

No, they aren't officially more lenient with older people as far as the specific requirements. There are some longer term people who qualified on easier requirements, and they are grandfathered in under the old requirements as long as they never break the chain of continuous renewals.

Even though your Mom is qualifying based on a pension letter, she will still need a Thai bank account with some money in it, at least that is a requirement in most offices as far as I know. Assuming her pension meets the financial requirement, the bank account can have 1000 baht in it if that's what she wants, but be prepared to answer questions about how the living on funds get sent to Thailand.

Edited July 14, 2009 by Jingthing

[lopburi3]

It is not required in Bangkok or by the immigration regulations if you meet the requirements of 65k by Embassy letter. Some may ask but it is a local issue if they do.

[Jingthing]

OK, thanks for the correction. It is required in Pattaya. Perhaps someone from Chiang Mai can report their policy.

[devaram]

These are the requirements for 12 monthly extensions from Immigration in Thailand.

2.22 In the case of a retiree: Permission will be granted for a period of not more

than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

This would be the preferred option as she would not have to keep leaving the country every 90 days.

Any thing she got from a Consulate would mean doing border runs every 90 days and at 84 not a good idea.

She would need a single Non Imm O Visa to start with.

Penang would issue this with no problems. Maybe she already has one so will not need to travel.

What is your Immigration Status in Thailand? If you are staying on annual extensions it would give her more and better options.

Thanks to all of you for the helpful advice.

You asked about my situation. I am here as a tourist for a long time as is my mom.

Im not sure if my situation will be helpful and would prefer to stay out the picture except as family member who is in the area part of the time.

Can she apply for the nonO in chiangmai if in last few days of tourist visa?

She uses an atm card to transfer money to Thailand.

If any other question please let me know any more comments appreciated.

[devaram]

You apply for retirement extension of stay inside Thailand at the local immigration office (Chiang Mai). She need a non immigrant visa to apply and the letter from Embassy.

Advise if she is not here on a non immigrant visa (type?) and will provide further.

She is in last week of tourist visa did not get the 30 day extension yet.

thanks..

Edited July 14, 2009 by devaram

[Jingthing]

Can she apply for the nonO in chiangmai if in last few days of tourist visa?

To convert to an O visa IN Thailand, you need AT LEAST 21 days left on the current extension to stay, so the answer is NO. Do it earlier. If too late, you can even do this on a 30 day stamp though, again at least 21 days left on the stay are needed, more is better to be sure to deal with any complications. This is sometimes called the "two step process" -- change visa type to O IN Thailand and then apply or an extension based on retirment.

She is in last week of tourist visa

TOO LATE.

BTW, I suggest she open a small Thai bank account if she doesn't have one, whether it is required in CM or not. It can be very useful to have in any case.

Edited July 14, 2009 by Jingthing

[Lite Beer]

From reports Chiangmai will not convert to a Non Imm O Visa. Even if they did you need at least 21 days remaining. She will need to go to a Consulate and get a single entry Non Imm O Visa. She only has to do this one time so not too bad.

The Embassy Document should be enough although sometimes.they like to see a bankbook with money flowing through it. Open a bank account. Also keep the ATM Receipts.

[Jingthing]

Yes, I agree it makes the most sense to go for an O visa now outside Thailand and then return to do the extension based on retirement. However, if that is a problem to get the O, the visa conversion should be able to be done in CM with either a 30 day stamp or much better, a new tourist visa (with at least 21 days left).

[lopburi3]

She has a choice.

1. Obtain 30 day extension of stay (1,900 baht) and apply for conversion (2,000 baht) in Bangkok - should be able to do the same day if visits Bangkok - then later apply for the normal one year extension of stay (1,900 baht). The down side is the she will probably require two trips to Bangkok to obtain income letter and pay $30 twice.

2. Visit Vientiane or Penang (or other) Consulate to obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa. This is probably the better option. Then 60 days later do the one year extension of stay.

[devaram]

She has a choice.

1. Obtain 30 day extension of stay (1,900 baht) and apply for conversion (2,000 baht) in Bangkok - should be able to do the same day if visits Bangkok - then later apply for the normal one year extension of stay (1,900 baht). The down side is the she will probably require two trips to Bangkok to obtain income letter and pay $30 twice.

2. Visit Vientiane or Penang (or other) Consulate to obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa. This is probably the better option. Then 60 days later do the one year extension of stay.

I believe she could get the income letter in at usa consulate in chiangmai??

To get the nonO in penang no special documents are needed?

To convert visa in bangkok is financial letter from consualte needed before conversion?

[Lite Beer]

I believe she could get the income letter in at usa consulate in chiangmai??

To get the nonO in penang no special documents are needed?

To convert visa in bangkok is financial letter from consualte needed before conversion?

1. Should be no problem.

2. No problem . Passport only.

3. Yes it is,

From ChiangMai she can get a Non O Visa from Vientiane Laos. May be easier.