Tourist Visa Disallowed In Penang If Thai Extensions ?

[brianbxb]

I have extended my Non-Immigrant "O" visa in Dan Singkon/Hua Hin on the basis of retirement for the past 4 years but this will come to an end in December as I can no longer meet the financial requirements. Is it true that the Thai Consulate in Penang will not issue a Tourist Visa ( Single ) to anyone that has an or multiple Thai extension(s) as I do ? Would this be the same in Kota Baru/KL/Singapore ? Thanks.

Brian B - Chumphon

[beano2274]

Am sure it relates to those who extend a tourist visa inside Thailand then go to Penang to get a new Tourist visa.

[Mario2008]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

[brianbxb]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

[lopburi3]

Short term a tourist visa would be best and not that hard to obtain. As said the no visa for those that extend was for tourist visa 30 day extensions and not even sure it is still policy (things change often). For longer term the ED visa for Thai study is often used but that requires one year enrollment and some study (but likely worth the cost/effort if planning to stay here).

[lexilis]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Maybe there is "another way". I'm 57 and also live in Hua Hin and for the past two years have been on back-to-back double entry tourist visas that I got in Vientiane (I have four of them in my passport). I have been watching the various TV reports for months about the situation for 2X tourist visas (back-to-back) and I fully expected that to get another 2X entry would be impossible now (in Vientiane or anywhere else). My 30 day extension on my last visa entry expired this week. My plan was to still go to Vientiane but my expectations were that I would only get a single entry TR (and with the possibility of even problems with that). This was going to be a problem and I was expecting that I was going to have to then organize the 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank to get a retirement visa. This was doable but it was going to be a hassle. OK, so this week because of the floods (and my own lazyness) I decided to delay the trip to Vientiane and I went to Hua Hin immigration to get a 7 day extension. I requested the 7 day extension and the visa officer said "you need to get a retirement visa". She started speaking very softly and writing on a piece of paper. I said "I know about that. I'll need to put 800,000 Bt in a bank for three months". She said "I can take care of that for you". Oh? To make a long story a little bit shorter, the deal played out like this: I paid 22,000 Bt (certainly less than I would have spent in two week-long trips to Vientiane) and I got a 60 day stamp plus a 1 year retirement visa (with two entries) - 15 months stay. There was a bit of funny business involved -- going to a specific bank branch where a person put 800, 000 into an account I opened, a letter was written, and then that person withdrew their money immediately. Back to immigration (and dealing with this same officer) and all the right stamps are given and my immigration issues are solved for the next 15 months. For me it was worth the 22k. Although the fact is I actually really enjoyed the trips to Vientiane and I'll probably go visit there anyway but at least I don't have to be concerned with the visa issues.

[elliss]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

does the money have to be in a thai bank

will not proof , of the said amount in a UK bank suffice ?.

thank you for informed replies .

:jap:

[lopburi3]

Money must be in a Thai bank account for the required amount of time if using bank deposit for extension while in Thailand. For issue of a non immigrant O-A visa in your home country it could be there but not for extension of stay here.

[elliss]

Money must be in a Thai bank account for the required amount of time if using bank deposit for extension while in Thailand. For issue of a non immigrant O-A visa in your home country it could be there but not for extension of stay here.

many thanks for your clarifying , the financial requirements .

:jap:

[notmyself]

Met a fella at a party the other day and he too has been affected by the exchange rate so his pension does not meet up with what is required. He says that he just bounces monthey every month from one account to another account then back into his current account so it looks as if his income is more than enough. I was a bit skeptical and said that would they see that money was not coming from a pension or business but he said they don't care and maybe not even look. They just add up the figures and if it is enough then it is enough. Might be a bit late now for the OP but it's something to think about for the future.

[brianbxb]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Maybe there is "another way". I'm 57 and also live in Hua Hin and for the past two years have been on back-to-back double entry tourist visas that I got in Vientiane (I have four of them in my passport). I have been watching the various TV reports for months about the situation for 2X tourist visas (back-to-back) and I fully expected that to get another 2X entry would be impossible now (in Vientiane or anywhere else). My 30 day extension on my last visa entry expired this week. My plan was to still go to Vientiane but my expectations were that I would only get a single entry TR (and with the possibility of even problems with that). This was going to be a problem and I was expecting that I was going to have to then organize the 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank to get a retirement visa. This was doable but it was going to be a hassle. OK, so this week because of the floods (and my own lazyness) I decided to delay the trip to Vientiane and I went to Hua Hin immigration to get a 7 day extension. I requested the 7 day extension and the visa officer said "you need to get a retirement visa". She started speaking very softly and writing on a piece of paper. I said "I know about that. I'll need to put 800,000 Bt in a bank for three months". She said "I can take care of that for you". Oh? To make a long story a little bit shorter, the deal played out like this: I paid 22,000 Bt (certainly less than I would have spent in two week-long trips to Vientiane) and I got a 60 day stamp plus a 1 year retirement visa (with two entries) - 15 months stay. There was a bit of funny business involved -- going to a specific bank branch where a person put 800, 000 into an account I opened, a letter was written, and then that person withdrew their money immediately. Back to immigration (and dealing with this same officer) and all the right stamps are given and my immigration issues are solved for the next 15 months. For me it was worth the 22k. Although the fact is I actually really enjoyed the trips to Vientiane and I'll probably go visit there anyway but at least I don't have to be concerned with the visa issues.

Fascinating story. I am pretty sure I know the woman you dealt with in Hua Hin as she used the same style of lowering her voice and passing me a note with an amount in Baht written on it when she did me a much less extreme ( and cheaper ) deal for my extension in December 2010 when the fluctuating Rate of Exchange meant that my combined Bank Balance and pensions had dipped marginally below 800K for a week or two in the prior three months. Surely the funny buisness with the bank means the bank staff are complicit in the deal ? The bank guarantee letter and three months certified statements couldn't be done in your situation without some scullduggery.

[wayned]

Don't you think that people from "the government" read this forum, You and lexils publicly admitted your complicity in obtaining your retirement extensions illegally putting yourselves at risk, but you also implicated and officer in the Hua Hin immigration office and someone in the bank where you opened the account. If you want to do it "it's up tp you", If you want to tell someone else what you did and how to do it send them a PM but don't go public for everybody to read. Don't be surprised if somebody from immigration, who are part of the police department, shows up at your door asking you to provide proof of your current financial status.

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Maybe there is "another way". I'm 57 and also live in Hua Hin and for the past two years have been on back-to-back double entry tourist visas that I got in Vientiane (I have four of them in my passport). I have been watching the various TV reports for months about the situation for 2X tourist visas (back-to-back) and I fully expected that to get another 2X entry would be impossible now (in Vientiane or anywhere else). My 30 day extension on my last visa entry expired this week. My plan was to still go to Vientiane but my expectations were that I would only get a single entry TR (and with the possibility of even problems with that). This was going to be a problem and I was expecting that I was going to have to then organize the 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank to get a retirement visa. This was doable but it was going to be a hassle. OK, so this week because of the floods (and my own lazyness) I decided to delay the trip to Vientiane and I went to Hua Hin immigration to get a 7 day extension. I requested the 7 day extension and the visa officer said "you need to get a retirement visa". She started speaking very softly and writing on a piece of paper. I said "I know about that. I'll need to put 800,000 Bt in a bank for three months". She said "I can take care of that for you". Oh? To make a long story a little bit shorter, the deal played out like this: I paid 22,000 Bt (certainly less than I would have spent in two week-long trips to Vientiane) and I got a 60 day stamp plus a 1 year retirement visa (with two entries) - 15 months stay. There was a bit of funny business involved -- going to a specific bank branch where a person put 800, 000 into an account I opened, a letter was written, and then that person withdrew their money immediately. Back to immigration (and dealing with this same officer) and all the right stamps are given and my immigration issues are solved for the next 15 months. For me it was worth the 22k. Although the fact is I actually really enjoyed the trips to Vientiane and I'll probably go visit there anyway but at least I don't have to be concerned with the visa issues.

Fascinating story. I am pretty sure I know the woman you dealt with in Hua Hin as she used the same style of lowering her voice and passing me a note with an amount in Baht written on it when she did me a much less extreme ( and cheaper ) deal for my extension in December 2010 when the fluctuating Rate of Exchange meant that my combined Bank Balance and pensions had dipped marginally below 800K for a week or two in the prior three months. Surely the funny buisness with the bank means the bank staff are complicit in the deal ? The bank guarantee letter and three months certified statements couldn't be done in your situation without some scullduggery.

[brianbxb]

I can't speak for Mario, but in my case if an Immigration Officer tells me that I must pay an extra fee because I am very marginally short of the financial requirement for a visa then I fail to see what is criminal in my complying with that request. I offered no bribe and asked for no explanation nor receipt for the surcharge. You and I have no way of knowing if there is an internal Immigration Department regulation that says this is the prescribed course of action in such circumstances.

[Mario2008]

I can't speak for Mario, but in my case if an Immigration Officer tells me that I must pay an extra fee because I am very marginally short of the financial requirement for a visa then I fail to see what is criminal in my complying with that request. I offered no bribe and asked for no explanation nor receipt for the surcharge. You and I have no way of knowing if there is an internal Immigration Department regulation that says this is the prescribed course of action in such circumstances.

You do sign the papers and confirm that the information you give is correct. Giving false information is an offence.

[wayned]

I'm not condeming you or anybody for doing anything. We all know that "TIT" and sometimes we do what we have to do. But if you do venture into that grey area, don't outline what you did in a public forum like TV. If you want to tell somebody what you did and how to circumvent the regs, PM them, don't write it on the TV forum for all to read.

I can't speak for Mario, but in my case if an Immigration Officer tells me that I must pay an extra fee because I am very marginally short of the financial requirement for a visa then I fail to see what is criminal in my complying with that request. I offered no bribe and asked for no explanation nor receipt for the surcharge. You and I have no way of knowing if there is an internal Immigration Department regulation that says this is the prescribed course of action in such circumstances.

[PaulHamon]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Get an Eucation Visa (or is extension of stay base on Education) in Hua Hin and learn Thai, I go to Insight Engish Lanuage School twice a week for a total for 4 hours, cost me 10,000B for the first 3 months and 8,500 each 3 months after that. I need to visit the Immgration office every 90 days to get an extension of stay, I was able to extend and I was on a Non-B before.

[gamini]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Maybe there is "another way". I'm 57 and also live in Hua Hin and for the past two years have been on back-to-back double entry tourist visas that I got in Vientiane (I have four of them in my passport). I have been watching the various TV reports for months about the situation for 2X tourist visas (back-to-back) and I fully expected that to get another 2X entry would be impossible now (in Vientiane or anywhere else). My 30 day extension on my last visa entry expired this week. My plan was to still go to Vientiane but my expectations were that I would only get a single entry TR (and with the possibility of even problems with that). This was going to be a problem and I was expecting that I was going to have to then organize the 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank to get a retirement visa. This was doable but it was going to be a hassle. OK, so this week because of the floods (and my own lazyness) I decided to delay the trip to Vientiane and I went to Hua Hin immigration to get a 7 day extension. I requested the 7 day extension and the visa officer said "you need to get a retirement visa". She started speaking very softly and writing on a piece of paper. I said "I know about that. I'll need to put 800,000 Bt in a bank for three months". She said "I can take care of that for you". Oh? To make a long story a little bit shorter, the deal played out like this: I paid 22,000 Bt (certainly less than I would have spent in two week-long trips to Vientiane) and I got a 60 day stamp plus a 1 year retirement visa (with two entries) - 15 months stay. There was a bit of funny business involved -- going to a specific bank branch where a person put 800, 000 into an account I opened, a letter was written, and then that person withdrew their money immediately. Back to immigration (and dealing with this same officer) and all the right stamps are given and my immigration issues are solved for the next 15 months. For me it was worth the 22k. Although the fact is I actually really enjoyed the trips to Vientiane and I'll probably go visit there anyway but at least I don't have to be concerned with the visa issues.

You have broken the law and bribed an immigration official. You will most probably get away with it. But if ever the officer involved was investigated for some reason or other you could be in trouble. A friend of mine paid money to an immigration officer to stamp his passport in and out of Thailand (instead of doing a visa run) and was caught when the next time he exited Thailand and jailed!! The reason why he was caught was that the arrival stamp was a fake.

[merlen10002]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Maybe there is "another way". I'm 57 and also live in Hua Hin and for the past two years have been on back-to-back double entry tourist visas that I got in Vientiane (I have four of them in my passport). I have been watching the various TV reports for months about the situation for 2X tourist visas (back-to-back) and I fully expected that to get another 2X entry would be impossible now (in Vientiane or anywhere else). My 30 day extension on my last visa entry expired this week. My plan was to still go to Vientiane but my expectations were that I would only get a single entry TR (and with the possibility of even problems with that). This was going to be a problem and I was expecting that I was going to have to then organize the 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank to get a retirement visa. This was doable but it was going to be a hassle. OK, so this week because of the floods (and my own lazyness) I decided to delay the trip to Vientiane and I went to Hua Hin immigration to get a 7 day extension. I requested the 7 day extension and the visa officer said "you need to get a retirement visa". She started speaking very softly and writing on a piece of paper. I said "I know about that. I'll need to put 800,000 Bt in a bank for three months". She said "I can take care of that for you". Oh? To make a long story a little bit shorter, the deal played out like this: I paid 22,000 Bt (certainly less than I would have spent in two week-long trips to Vientiane) and I got a 60 day stamp plus a 1 year retirement visa (with two entries) - 15 months stay. There was a bit of funny business involved -- going to a specific bank branch where a person put 800, 000 into an account I opened, a letter was written, and then that person withdrew their money immediately. Back to immigration (and dealing with this same officer) and all the right stamps are given and my immigration issues are solved for the next 15 months. For me it was worth the 22k. Although the fact is I actually really enjoyed the trips to Vientiane and I'll probably go visit there anyway but at least I don't have to be concerned with the visa issues.

A lot of this is going on, I did my extension of stay for retirement last week at the old immigration office in Bangkok, it is open because of the floods at ChaengWattana, I met all the requirements and extension was easy and very quick, Also did my 90 day report at the same time had to go up stairs to do that, it took about five minutes very quick.

I was speaking to a bloke while I was waiting, he told me about a mate that had paid some visa agent 30,000 Bath for a retirement extension of stay, his mate did not have a letter from the bank, and did not have the money in his bank, he only had his pension and that was a long way short of the requirements, he gave his bank book and passport to the visa agent and he did not have a letter from his embassy, two days later he picked up his passport from the visa agent with the extension of stay stamp in the passport.

This is being complicity with a crime and corruption, I think there could be dire consequences if any investigation was undertaken and this would only make it harder in the future for the one that do the right thing and meet the requirements, if you don't have the money to comply you should not get an extension of stay or any other visa, Thailand is one of the easiest countries for foreigners to stay in.

[wayned]

Yes there is probably a lot of this going on, not only with visa extensions but in many other business dealings. All that I wanted to say is if you do enter the grey area, don't brag about it and go public. If you do, you not only paint a target on your back, but you paint targets on the backs of all those that were part of your dealings. I've seen things like this turn around and really bite people in the Ass. There's not many of us that drive that haven't been stopped for speeding and handed over the 100 or so baht to avoid a ticket, there's really no difference but I'm not going to open a thread on TV and brag about how I beat the system! IF YOU DO IT, DON'T TELL THE WORLD! USE SOME COMMON SENSE.

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Maybe there is "another way". I'm 57 and also live in Hua Hin and for the past two years have been on back-to-back double entry tourist visas that I got in Vientiane (I have four of them in my passport). I have been watching the various TV reports for months about the situation for 2X tourist visas (back-to-back) and I fully expected that to get another 2X entry would be impossible now (in Vientiane or anywhere else). My 30 day extension on my last visa entry expired this week. My plan was to still go to Vientiane but my expectations were that I would only get a single entry TR (and with the possibility of even problems with that). This was going to be a problem and I was expecting that I was going to have to then organize the 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank to get a retirement visa. This was doable but it was going to be a hassle. OK, so this week because of the floods (and my own lazyness) I decided to delay the trip to Vientiane and I went to Hua Hin immigration to get a 7 day extension. I requested the 7 day extension and the visa officer said "you need to get a retirement visa". She started speaking very softly and writing on a piece of paper. I said "I know about that. I'll need to put 800,000 Bt in a bank for three months". She said "I can take care of that for you". Oh? To make a long story a little bit shorter, the deal played out like this: I paid 22,000 Bt (certainly less than I would have spent in two week-long trips to Vientiane) and I got a 60 day stamp plus a 1 year retirement visa (with two entries) - 15 months stay. There was a bit of funny business involved -- going to a specific bank branch where a person put 800, 000 into an account I opened, a letter was written, and then that person withdrew their money immediately. Back to immigration (and dealing with this same officer) and all the right stamps are given and my immigration issues are solved for the next 15 months. For me it was worth the 22k. Although the fact is I actually really enjoyed the trips to Vientiane and I'll probably go visit there anyway but at least I don't have to be concerned with the visa issues.

A lot of this is going on, I did my extension of stay for retirement last week at the old immigration office in Bangkok, it is open because of the floods at ChaengWattana, I met all the requirements and extension was easy and very quick, Also did my 90 day report at the same time had to go up stairs to do that, it took about five minutes very quick.

I was speaking to a bloke while I was waiting, he told me about a mate that had paid some visa agent 30,000 Bath for a retirement extension of stay, his mate did not have a letter from the bank, and did not have the money in his bank, he only had his pension and that was a long way short of the requirements, he gave his bank book and passport to the visa agent and he did not have a letter from his embassy, two days later he picked up his passport from the visa agent with the extension of stay stamp in the passport.

This is being complicity with a crime and corruption, I think there could be dire consequences if any investigation was undertaken and this would only make it harder in the future for the one that do the right thing and meet the requirements, if you don't have the money to comply you should not get an extension of stay or any other visa, Thailand is one of the easiest countries for foreigners to stay in.

[BinDhumm]

Sorry, but how can someone be so stupid to tell the public how he or she got his'grey' visa AND identiefy his/ her helpers in the public? Dont you guys know thai internet experts read this, especially tv and are ilegible to identify your cpu without problems? Beyond Belive.

[lopburi3]

Several anti Thai posts removed - this is individual actions.

[Arkady]

We need to face the reality that corruption is endemic in Thailand and it would be surprising if it didn't exist in immigration offices, as it does in most other parts of the police and civil service. There is no point in coming on all sanctimonious and trying to pretend this doesn't exist or sweeping it under the carpet. However, I do think some discretion is advisable. If you have received a special service in exchange for tea money, as happens thousands of times a day in the Kingdom, it would be more sensible to avoid providing information, such as the location, that might make it possible to pin point both you and the "tea drinker".

[brianbxb]

Met a fella at a party the other day and he too has been affected by the exchange rate so his pension does not meet up with what is required. He says that he just bounces monthey every month from one account to another account then back into his current account so it looks as if his income is more than enough. I was a bit skeptical and said that would they see that money was not coming from a pension or business but he said they don't care and maybe not even look. They just add up the figures and if it is enough then it is enough. Might be a bit late now for the OP but it's something to think about for the future.

Based on my personal experience that does not "jive". If you have to meet the 800K Baht figure and part or all of the 800K is from a Thai bank account the Thai immigration look at the certified Bank Statements for the prior three months to see what was the lowest daily Baht balance and add this amount to any hard currency pension income net of income tax ( as evidenced by the standard Embassy letter ) translated to Baht at the Exchange Rate ruling on the the day you extend. Monthly movements of money in and out of the account would not be regarded as pension income as it has to be ratified by your embassy. However, it is right that the source of the money in your bank account is not questioned although I have read that, in theory, it must come from outside Thailand.

With the recent fluctuations in Exchange Rates, you need 20/20 hindsight to know the Baht equivalent of your pension so you can maintain an aggregate 800K based on the exchange rate three months in the future.

[Jerry555]

You have broken the law and bribed an official. You will most probably get away with it .

Well that's exactly how Thailand works so don't worry to much ..... oh no wait you're a farang ....

[sydneyjed]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Is here no one out there you know that can 'move' some money into an account for you just to satisfy the visa requirement?Just a suggestion...

[KayT]

You are aware of the combined option? Money in the bank in Thailand + yearly income must be 800,000 and you can get an extension of stay.

Thanks for the suggestion Mario - I have used the combined ( pensions plus Thai bank balance ) for the past 4 years but the BB element is sadly depleted !

I am at the decree nisi stage of my UK divorce and will marry my Thai "wife" ASAP ; then my pension will meet the 400K requirement for a Non-Imm "O" Marriage Visa to secure my future in Thailand. Is there any other option for me than a Tourist Visa to get me through this short term problem ? Cheers, Brian

Please make sure that your marriage is going to be a legal beneficial thing,There was a thread a few months back that said that if you were over 50 and marrying a Thai it was not going to be legal even if you married them in another country.I just wanted you to make sure just in case it created other visa problems

Hope this helps

[lopburi3]

That was a spoof. There never was or will be any such law.

[notmyself]

Met a fella at a party the other day and he too has been affected by the exchange rate so his pension does not meet up with what is required. He says that he just bounces monthey every month from one account to another account then back into his current account so it looks as if his income is more than enough. I was a bit skeptical and said that would they see that money was not coming from a pension or business but he said they don't care and maybe not even look. They just add up the figures and if it is enough then it is enough. Might be a bit late now for the OP but it's something to think about for the future.

Based on my personal experience that does not "jive". If you have to meet the 800K Baht figure and part or all of the 800K is from a Thai bank account the Thai immigration look at the certified Bank Statements for the prior three months to see what was the lowest daily Baht balance and add this amount to any hard currency pension income net of income tax ( as evidenced by the standard Embassy letter ) translated to Baht at the Exchange Rate ruling on the the day you extend. Monthly movements of money in and out of the account would not be regarded as pension income as it has to be ratified by your embassy. However, it is right that the source of the money in your bank account is not questioned although I have read that, in theory, it must come from outside Thailand.

With the recent fluctuations in Exchange Rates, you need 20/20 hindsight to know the Baht equivalent of your pension so you can maintain an aggregate 800K based on the exchange rate three months in the future.

Thank you for that. I remember he said that the additional money was considered as a wage. He was bouncing the money off three accounts so perhaps the third was a business account or something. We only spoke about this issue for a few minutes before going onto other topics after I asked him how he knew all this. He said he had been a CA for 40 years so we drifted away from visas onto other matters. I don't know if he was a CA but he certainly knew his stuff though I did think at the time that having been a CA for 40 years he shouldn't be short of a few bob, I wasn't going to ask such a personal question as I'd only just met him. I suspect he was just trying to have as little of his money out in the open as it where. I doubt I'll meet him again but if I do I shall ask him some more questions. Thanks again.