Hi

[leonn]

i have tourist visa already

but i have got 50 years old few days ago

i want to get my first retirement visa in pattaya ( i want to change my tourist visa to retirement visa)

what i have to do at all now? how much will be the all cost to me?

thanks

[Jingthing]

Yes, it is possible to do it all in Thailand. First things first, how are you qualifying financially? Do you have a pension? How much? If not, do you have over 800K baht in a Thai bank account that has been above that amount for two months? If your pension is under 65K per month, you can combine with a Thai bank account to meet the 800k qualification.

[leonn]

Yes, it is possible to do it all in Thailand. First things first, how are you qualifying financially? Do you have a pension? How much? If not, do you have over 800K baht in a Thai bank account that has been above that amount for two months? If your pension is under 65K per month, you can combine with a Thai bank account to meet the 800k qualification.

i dont have a pension yet..

but i have 800k baht and i can open a bank account too

so i have to wait 2 months and then apply for retirement visa !!

[Jingthing]

In your case as you don't have an O visa, applying for a retirement extension is a two step process.

1. Change of visa status (from tourist to O). Generally you need at least 21 days left on your current permission to stay to do this (though recent reports they are now allowing more time, so that's hard to pin down). Also, generally, immigration won't let you start this unless you can also show your qualification for step 2.

2. Application for retirement extension. For this with the bank account used for qualification, the money must be in the Thai bank account for two months prior to application, and never even one baht under 800K.

Given that are NOT qualified at this time to apply for retirement extension I am going to punt on offering you more advice. Another visa nerd may help you, or you can fund your account now and simply visit immigration and see how they can help you (even though your money won't be ready for two months).

OK, well though there may be other ways, one option for you is to do this --

fund your account NOW

visit Penang, Vientienne, or Kuala Lumpur and apply for single entry O visa.

Back in Thailand, after using about 60 days of your 90 day O entry, apply for the retirement extension in Thailand. By then, your money will be seasoned long enough (and of course you will already have your O so no need for the change of visa status step).

[JimGant]

you can fund your account now and simply visit immigration and see how they can help you (even though your money won't be ready for two months).

Seasoning has reportedly NOT been required to convert to a Non Imm visa in-country. Of course, you then have to come back after 2 months of seasoning to obtain the retirement extension -- but meanwhile you're on a 90-day permission stamp related to your new Non Imm visa. Certainly easier than flying out of the country to get a Non Imm visa.

The related travesty with the above is the folks who DID have the seasoning (or the income statement) when they applied for conversion -- but were told to come back in 2 months for the retirement extension anyway. For many, travel to and from their nearest Immigration office is not a snap.

[lopburi3]

You also may have the extra cost of a second set of paperwork for the second visit. Embassy letters can be rather expensive. You do not have to fly out so a visit to Vientiane might be cost competitive for some.

[Jingthing]

I agree what JimGant said is worth a try and would save you a trip outside Thailand.

However, a big caveat for you. Not all Thai immigration offices will do the first step, change of visa status. If your local office won't you have to do that part in Bangkok first (or get a single entry O in Laos or Malaysia, etc.). What office will you be using in Thailand?

[moe666]

I agree what JimGant said is worth a try and would save you a trip outside Thailand.

However, a big caveat for you. Not all Thai immigration offices will do the first step, change of visa status. If your local office won't you have to do that part in Bangkok first (or get a single entry O in Laos or Malaysia, etc.). What office will you be using in Thailand?

He says Pattaya.

[Jingthing]

I agree what JimGant said is worth a try and would save you a trip outside Thailand.

However, a big caveat for you. Not all Thai immigration offices will do the first step, change of visa status. If your local office won't you have to do that part in Bangkok first (or get a single entry O in Laos or Malaysia, etc.). What office will you be using in Thailand?

He says Pattaya.

Ooops, that he does. Pattaya definitely does change of visa status for retirees.