I hope someone can help me with my problem,

I am a British Citizen & currently hold a 12 month Non Immigrant "B" Visa

However when this Visa expires in September I want to change to a Retirement Visa

I have the funds required in my Thai bank

What I really need to know is

1) What steps do I need to take ?

2) Do I have to leave Thailand to apply for this ?

3) Do I have to inform the Thai Immigration Authorities of my intentions ?

You need to have the money in account for 2 months and during the last 30 days of any 90 day visa entry apply to the local immigration office with current letter from bank of account balance/passbook/passport/copies/TM.7/4x6cm photos and 1,900 baht. You may also be asked for proof of address so rent contract/lease or such should be available with you. Any travel outside Thailand after obtaining will require a re-entry permit so you might want to get that during the same visit at 1,000 baht single or 3,800 baht multi.

Thanks for your reply it was most helpful

So I am correct in thinking that I don't have to leave the country at all despite changing from a "B" Visa to an "O' ?

Correct. No need to leave the country. Just make sure you meet the requrements and apply for an extension of stay based on retirement.

Does the money have to be in a Thai bank account? or can you use funds you have in accounts overseas, in the UK for example, I have a UK savings bond which would cover the 800,000 baht requirement but would I need to bring it to Thailand and put it in a Thai bank account for the two months prior to application?

Money has to be in a Thai Bank account when applying for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement.

Thanks Lite Beer for the clarification

Regards

Vistana

Correct. No need to leave the country. Just make sure you meet the requrements and apply for an extension of stay based on retirement.

Thank you for confirming that Mario

Coker says he has a "12 month Non Immigrant "B" Visa", which I assume is a work visa or extension, so doesn't he have to cancel his old visa with a letter from his employer? According to another post, he can't just walk in and apply for a retirement extension while his work extension is still valid.

Good point, but he applies at the end of his current permisison to stay (and job) for retirement. That means his employment came to a natural end and doesn't need to be canceled.