Just putting this out there, because it is has been stated many times that some senior immigration officials read this board.

It has been reported that the new financial requirements for retirement visas will go up from 800K to 1.5 million baht sometime in 2004. The 1.5 million baht that is validated annually is more than enough for most people to live for one year in most any country in the world.

The intent is quite clear -- to assure that people staying on long term retirement visas have a high financial capability to support themselves in Thailand, and have a high probability to spend a large enough amount of money to make a contribution to the Thai economy. Some others have called this an "assurance bond" and I think that is a reasonable way of describing the higher requirements.

My suggestion is this: Along with the increases, why not continue the trend of lowering the age requirements for the retirement visa? This could be lowered to age 40, age 30, or no age restriction at all (as is the case in some other countries).

Such people would still be liable to meet all the other requirements for the visa.

If the objection is that under 50s are at high risk to not really be retired, consider these points:

-- while it is true that a person under 50 is less likely to have actually quit their life work forever than those over 50, why is this relevant if the person has the required funds to contribute to Thailand and will not work in Thailand for the one year period of the visa? Also, such persons are quite unlikely to illegally work in Thailand, as they have shown they have the resources not to need to work.

-- for a younger affluent person, there is no convenient one year long term visa offered by Thailand that allows a stay in Thailand without working. Perhaps they would just like to live in Thailand for one year, or four years, etc. This visa would allow them to legally do that, and then move to another country or their home country, at a later time if they wish. Some younger people wish a long break in their life and many wish to spend this time and their money in Thailand. Others are truly finished with the world of work at a younger than average age, and have enough money to support themselves for their lifetime.

In summary, perhaps the retirement visa should be reimagined as a long term visa for financially capable persons who will not work in Thailand.

Also note that the Thailand Elite Card does not provide the solution for most such persons. It is not being marketed as a way to immigrate to Thailand, and many people would much prefer to bank the 1.5 million baht in a Thai bank account than to spend the 1 or 2 million baht for the card.

It is certainly worth more than a casual thought. Maybe the powers that be will consider the matter. Good suggestion.