Retirement Extension Of Stay

[exppenang]

Hello,

I am a 53 yr old retiree (US citizen) currently staying in Penang. I was considering applying for an O-A visa, but I didn't see any advantage over coming into Thailand on a 60 day tourist Visa and then applying for a retirement extension of stay once inside Thailand. I had read some (apparently false) information that once granted an O-A Visa, personal belongings could be brought in duty free. After checking, it looks like all other 'O' type Visas allow this, but not the O-A.

Lopburi 3 steered me toward the extension of stay rather than the O-A visa, and that looks great to me. I did find the following 'requirements' listed at the immigration website http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/doc/temporarystay/policy777-2551_en.pdf

A. Requirements:

1. Must have been granted a non-immigrant Visa (NON-IMM)

2. Must be 50 years of age or older

3. Must have evidence of income of 65,000 Baht per month, or;

4. Must have evidence of Baht 800,000 on deposit with a Thai bank for 3 months prior to application, or;

5. Must have annual earning and funds on deposit with a thai bank totaling Baht 800,000 per year as of the filing date

I have some questions regarding the requirements:

1. Does a 60 day tourist VISA definitely qualify as a non-immigrant (non-imm) VISA?

2. Since the funds need to be on deposit for 3 months prior to applying for the extension, can a foreigner with only a 60 day tourist VISA apply for a bank account?

3. If I enter on a 60 day tourist VISA and deposit the funds on the same day, then I would have to get a 30 day extension, and apply on the day my 30 day extension to my tourist VISA expires, and then leave and re-enter? How is it possible to have the money on deposit for three months and stay the three months without overstaying?

4. What type of bank accounts qualify? Passbook savings accounts only?

B. Procedure and Forms- can someone tell me - Is this how it works?

1. Enter Thailand on a tourist VISA.

2. Fill out form TM7 application for extension of stay.

3. Fill out form TM8 re-entry permit.

4. Provide notarized letter from embassy stating income and/or copy of bank book w/ a letter from the bank no more than 7 days old showing THB 800,000 on deposit for at least 3 months.

5. Do I need copie(s) of my passport? How many copies? Do all pages need to be copied or just the cover pages?

6. Present to immigration in BKK only? Or, are there other immigration offices such as Phuket that can approve the extension of stay?

Any other documents I need to bring?

When you read the requirements, it seems simple enough. But there seems to be no clear cut source (website) the spells it out in black and white.

Any information/advice would be helpful.

Thanks!

Bill<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break">

[Jingthing]

1. Does a 60 day tourist VISA definitely qualify as a non-immigrant (non-imm) VISA?

Absolutely not! Only an O visa is a non-immigrant visa. You can get an O visa from the US, in Thailand as part of the two step retirement extension process (at some offices), or in a neighboring country like Laos or Malaysia. A single entry O visa gives you a 90 day stay. You don't need a multiple entry O visa as for your goal of a retirement extension, you only need a single entry O.

2. Since the funds need to be on deposit for 3 months prior to applying for the extension, can a foreigner with only a 60 day tourist VISA apply for a bank account?

Not relevant. You can open a bank account in Thailand, sometimes no visa needed, sometimes an O visa need, just shop around. The money needs to seasoned only for TWO months for the first extension. Three months for the subsequent extensions.

3. If I enter on a 60 day tourist VISA and deposit the funds on the same day, then I would have to get a 30 day extension, and apply on the day my 30 day extension to my tourist VISA expires, and then leave and re-enter? How is it possible to have the money on deposit for three months and stay the three months without overstaying?

See answer to question 2. Only two months seasoning needed.

If you don't get an O visa in Penang (which you should) and opt for the two step process, you will get a single entry O in Thailand so if your money isn't seasoned yet, you can come generally come back later for the second extension step. What immigration office will you be using in Thailand? Retirement extensions must be done at the office of your residence in Thailand. Not all offices in Thailand can get you an O for the two step process, the big ones generally yes, if your office doesn't, you can do the O first in Bangkok and the extension at your home office.

In your case, why not get a single entry O in Penang? If you really in Penang, that is absolutely your best path, get the single entry O in Penang just based on being over 50, go to Thailand, get your money in, then apply for an annual extension of stay based on retirement at the immigration office associated with your RESIDENCE in Thailand (that detail is important, you have no choice about which office, it is determined by your residence) the moment your money is seasoned two months.

4. What type of bank accounts qualify? Passbook savings accounts only?

Passbook savings are the most typical. You will not be able to open a checking account so forget about that. For higher earning deposit accounts, it depends on the immigration officer. For a beginner like you, I would advise the standard option, a savings passbook account.

[wayned]

I will let lopburi 3 address your specific questions, but to put your mind at ease, yes you can obtain a retirement extension if you enter on a single entry tourist visa, but timing is critical. If you are using the bank deposit of 800000 baht it only has to season for two months for the first extension, not 3. The money must be deposited in a Thai bank, then you must convert your tourist visa to a Non-O (2000 baht) and after ther money seasons you apply for a retirement extension(1900 baht). You should not have to leave Thailnad.

[Jingthing]

I will let lopburi 3 address your specific questions, but to put your mind at ease, yes you can obtain a retirement extension if you enter on a single entry tourist visa, but timing is critical. If you are using the bank deposit of 800000 baht it only has to season for two months for the first extension, not 3. The money must be deposited in a Thai bank, then you must convert your tourist visa to a Non-O (2000 baht) and after ther money seasons you apply for a retirement extension(1900 baht). You should not have to leave Thailnad.

I agree but he specifically asked if a tourist visa qualifies as an Non-O visa. I took to mean that he was asking if he could go directly from tourist to extension, when that answer is no. At some point, there needs to be an O visa. As it would super easy to get an O at Penang, why not? Then he enters Thailand with the O, no worries about opening a bank account visa-wise, and ready to apply for the extension the moment the funds are seasoned. Of course he could also do a change of visa status in Thailand for tourist to O as part of the two step process.

Also I don't know his place of residence in Thailand, which is relevant if he wants to do the two step process as not all Thai immigration offices offer change of visa status to O.

[wayned]

I agree, I'm getting old and senile, if he's in Penang he should appy for a non-O to "investigate retirement options. The cost is the same and will save him the pain of doing it in Bangkok.

I will let lopburi 3 address your specific questions, but to put your mind at ease, yes you can obtain a retirement extension if you enter on a single entry tourist visa, but timing is critical. If you are using the bank deposit of 800000 baht it only has to season for two months for the first extension, not 3. The money must be deposited in a Thai bank, then you must convert your tourist visa to a Non-O (2000 baht) and after ther money seasons you apply for a retirement extension(1900 baht). You should not have to leave Thailnad.

I agree but he specifically asked if a tourist visa qualifies as an Non-O visa. I took to mean that he was asking if he could go directly from tourist to extension, when that answer is no. At some point, there needs to be an O visa. As it would super easy to get an O at Penang, why not? Then he enters Thailand with the O, no worries about opening a bank account visa-wise, and ready to apply for the extension the moment the funds are seasoned. Of course he could also do a change of visa status in Thailand for tourist to O as part of the two step process.

[lopburi3]

Post 2 outlined it well. Get the single non immigrant O visa and use that for 90 day entry - after money in account 2 months do the extension of stay for retirement.

[exppenang]

Post 2 outlined it well. Get the single non immigrant O visa and use that for 90 day entry - after money in account 2 months do the extension of stay for retirement.

Lopburi, Wayne, and Jing,

Thanks for your replies. I think I got it now.

The requirement for an O VISA is the key if I am reading your posts correctly, and if I enter Thailand on a tourist VISA, I will have added an extra step. Then I would have to first get an O in Thailand, and then go back and extend.

Yes, I do live in Penang, but already have a house in Kamala, Phuket.

So I will try to get an O in Penang. Does anyone know what the requirements for an O VISA are?

I am not familiar with the 'O' for retirement which apparently allows 90 days, only the 'O-A', which has numerous requirements, medical cert, police check, etc.

So I guess I will be using Patong immigration office since I will be living in Kamala? Unless they don't handle the retirement extensions, then I will have to figure out which office I can go to, as you said, apparently I have to go to the one that serves my area.

Does anyone know which office for Patong/Kamala area of Phuket handles retirement extensions?

[Jingthing]

Just apply at Penang for a single entry O. They will see you are over 50 based on your birth date. Just put as the reason -- intend to apply for retirement extension in Thailand. This is not a retirement visa and not an O-A retirement/long stay visa. This is just an O visa and your reason is related to retirement. That should be the only requirement at Penang, KL or Laos, being over 50 and your reason being retirement. If you apply and they want more, such as some financial info, please be sure to REPORT that here. You definitely won't need a medical form or police report. Good luck.

Sounds like your home immigration office in Thailand will be PHUKET. That's where to apply for the retirement extension.

http://phuketdir.com/pktimmigration/

It has two offices. I don't know which of those you are supposed to use.

[exppenang]

Just apply at Penang for a single entry O. They will see you are over 50 based on your birth date. Just put as the reason -- intend to apply for retirement extension in Thailand. This is not a retirement visa and not an O-A retirement/long stay visa. This is just an O visa and your reason is related to retirement. That should be the only requirement, being over 50 and your reason. If you apply and they want more, such as some financial info, please be sure to REPORT that here. You definitely won't need a medical form or police report. Good luck. Sounds like your home immigration office in Thailand will be PHUKET. That's where to apply for the retirement extension.

Jing,

OK. I got it now. It is easy for me to go to the Penang Thai Consulate. I will go, apply, and report back on how it all went.

Thanks for everything. You guys and this forum is a real benefit, and I thank you for the information.

Bill

[NancyL]

Be sure that Thai bank account is solely in your name and not a joint account.

[wayned]

I've outlined what I think are the requirements for the three options that you have as an attachment due to my sh*tty internet connectivity. Good luck!

Retirement Visa - Penang.doc

[attrayant]

I was under the impression that the OP would need to go back to his country of citizenship (USA) to do the switch to O. Not so? I'm in a similar boat. I'm almost 48, in Thailand on sabbaitcal and in two years I will switch to an O for retirement, but I am not crazy about spending the $1500 for a flight back to the states. I'd much prefer to hop over to Saigon or other nearby Thai Consulate and do it.

[lopburi3]

You can obtain the required non immigrant visa at any Consulate or from immigration office directly during the extension of stay process for retirement so there will not be a need to return to home country.

[Lite Beer]

4 posts in danger of confusing the issue have been deleted.

[Evilbaz]

Just apply at Penang for a single entry O. They will see you are over 50 based on your birth date. Just put as the reason -- intend to apply for retirement extension in Thailand. This is not a retirement visa and not an O-A retirement/long stay visa. This is just an O visa and your reason is related to retirement. That should be the only requirement at Penang, KL or Laos, being over 50 and your reason being retirement. If you apply and they want more, such as some financial info, please be sure to REPORT that here. You definitely won't need a medical form or police report. Good luck.

Sounds like your home immigration office in Thailand will be PHUKET. That's where to apply for the retirement extension.

http://phuketdir.com/pktimmigration/

It has two offices. I don't know which of those you are supposed to use.

To the OP - welcome to Lalaland.

You cannot do the Extension to Stay at Patong (you can report there later) - use the Phuket town office.

They will have English speaking volunteers to assist you at "Information" (on the left as you enter).

Have passbook copies no more than a day old plus a letter from your bank manager (and Consul if using the Income method ).

PM me if you need assistance - Baz

[Robby nz]

While things can be different in each office note....

The Suan plue office would not accept a Stat Dec from the NZ embassy and required proof of income.

Same office required the bank book to be updated on the day of application and copies of book name page and page with ammount on deposit.

I go back tomorrow to see if it has been granted.

[lopburi3]

Do not believe that is totally accurate - they asked for supporting documents for that stat deceleration, as they can always do, and you did not have them with you so extra time was required to obtain from your previous posting.

[dsfbrit]

Thanks for the information in this and other threads.

Now just to confirm what needs to be done for a British husband who is 51 to apply for his 'Extension of Temporary Stay for the purpose of retirement' and then apply for his British wife who is 47 to be given an extenson as his dependant. Due to time constraints, they will arrive in Thailand with Tourist Visas - single entry.

So as I now understand it they will need to:-

- open bank account for husband

- transfer 800k to husbands bank account

- When money has arrived in account go to bank and get letter from bank saying money has arrived in account and account now has 800k baht.

- next day go to Pattaya Immigration.

at Pattaya immigration

for husband

- Submit Form TM.87, the 'Application for Visa' form stating he will be applying for a Non Imm O visa for the purpose of retirement extension.

This will change him from a single-entry Tourist Visa to a genuine 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa. It costs B2,000.

- provide bank letter stating the husband account has 800k baht with 1 photocopy.

- provide bank pass book with one photocopy showing name and transaction page.

- provide proof of address with one photocopy

- provide passport with one copy showing name page and page with tourist visa.

- Leave Immigration Office

60 days later when money in bank has matured:-

- Go back to Pattaya Immigration Office

- Submit Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom Non Imm O for the purpose of retirement.

This will extend his permission to stay from the 90 days received with the Non-Immigrant "O" visa to one year from the date of entry on his original

passport stamp. It costs B1,900.

The extension based on retirement will be issued for the husband during this second visit to Pattaya Immigration.

for wife

- Submit Form TM.87, the Application for Visa form saying her husband is applying for Non Imm O visa for the purpose of retirement extension. This will

change her from a single-entry Tourist Visa to a genuine 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa. It costs B2,000.

- provide passport with one copy showing name page and page with tourist visa.

- provide proof of address with one photocopy

- provide marriage certificate with one copy

- Leave Immigration Office

60 days later when money in bank has matured:-

- Go back to Pattaya Immigration Office

- Submit Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay. This will extend her permission to stay from the 90 days received

with the Non-Immigrant "O" visa to Non Imm visa for the purpose of retirement dependant extension, valid one year from the date of entry on her

original passport stamp. It costs B1,900.

- provide marriage certificate with one copy

- the extension based on spouse of retiree will be issued for the wife during this second visit to Pattaya Immigration.

Does that sound about right???

Thanks for your help

[Mario2008]

I don't understand why you would enter with a single entry tourist visa, as a non-O would take just as long to get. Hull would take 3 days by mail, send on day 1 receive it back on day 3.

[Gary A]

Regarding the bank account. A friend of mine retired in Jomtien. Since the Jomtien SCB was the closest, he wanted his account there. They refused to open an account for him. I took him to the immigration office and told them the story. They wrote some kind of note and we took it to the bank. The bank then promptly opened an account for him.

Other friends went from branch to branch until they found one that would open an account. It depends on the bank branch.

[dsfbrit]

Regarding the bank account. A friend of mine retired in Jomtien. Since the Jomtien SCB was the closest, he wanted his account there. They refused to open an account for him. I took him to the immigration office and told them the story. They wrote some kind of note and we took it to the bank. The bank then promptly opened an account for him.

Other friends went from branch to branch until they found one that would open an account. It depends on the bank branch.

Thanks GaryA - we were going to open the account at my Kasikorn bank in South Pattaya, which is pretty 'farang friendly'.

[dsfbrit]

I don't understand why you would enter with a single entry tourist visa, as a non-O would take just as long to get. Hull would take 3 days by mail, send on day 1 receive it back on day 3.

Thanks for the feedback.

They arrive in the UK from Spain on the 19th December. They want to fly out to LOS before Xmas. They were concerned their passports could get caught up in the XMAS postal rush. So they are planning to hand carry their passports to the Thai Embassy in London on Monday 19th and collect them on Wednesday 21st.

The Thai Embasssy guarantees a 2 day turnaround, but the passports must be hand carried.

That way, according to the London Embassy website, they can be sure they will have their passports before their flight before XMAS.

The London Thai Embassy is very happy to issue Tourist Visas, but they would have to use Hull otherwise. I have read on some threads that Hull is no longer as fast as before and 3 days return, especially over the XMAS period, could be a bit hopeful.

Is that the case???

[Mario2008]

You do not apply by normal mail but by special delivery. Still, it would indeed be a bit busy around this time. Visiting Hull is also an option.

Don't know about applying in Spain, never seen reports about that.

[lopburi3]

I don't understand why you would enter with a single entry tourist visa, as a non-O would take just as long to get. Hull would take 3 days by mail, send on day 1 receive it back on day 3.

It would be best to enter with the required visa as am not at all sure that a conversion could be made for dependent and to qualify for extension of stay as dependent the spouse must have there extension of stay stamp. Normal procedure if no non immigrant visa is to wait until extension stamp is made for retirement and then take that copy to a consulate to obtain the required non immigrant O visa for entry/return/matching extension of stay as dependent.

[dsfbrit]

Mario and Lopburi, thanks for the feedback.

I think they want to wait until they get to the UK before they apply for a visa. They have reasons for this to do with the passports I believe, but I am not sure.

They were put off by the Non-imm O based on 'considering retirement in LOS' when they saw the Hull website had written that they may require to prove income. More potential hassle was their immediate thought, and they do not have time for problems. So the tourist visa from London seemed the safest option, if not the most efficient.

Would I be right in saying that if they do the tourist visa, then the scenario would change to this with the information Lopburi has just provided.

- open bank account for husband

- transfer 800k to husbands bank account

- When money has arrived in account go to bank and get letter from bank saying money has arrived in account and account now has 800k baht.

- next day go to Pattaya Immigration.

at Pattaya immigration

for husband

- Submit Form TM.87, the 'Application for Visa' form stating he will be applying for a Non Imm O visa for the purpose of retirement extension.

This will change him from a single-entry Tourist Visa to a genuine 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa. It costs B2,000.

- provide bank letter stating the husband account has 800k baht with 1 photocopy.

- provide bank pass book with one photocopy showing name and transaction page.

- provide proof of address with one photocopy

- provide passport with one copy showing name page and page with tourist visa.

- Leave Immigration Office

60 days later when money in bank has matured:-

- Go back to Pattaya Immigration Office

- Submit Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom Non Imm O for the purpose of retirement.

This will extend his permission to stay from the 90 days received with the Non-Immigrant "O" visa to one year from the date of entry on his original passport stamp. It costs B1,900.

The extension based on retirement will be issued for the husband during this second visit to Pattaya Immigration.

for wife

60 days after arriving in Thailand she has to visit Immigration to extend tourist visa for 30 days :-

When husband receives extension based on retirement she has to:-

- Submit Form TM.87, the Application for Visa form saying her husband has applied and received Non Imm visa for the purpose of retirement extension. This will change her from a single-entry Tourist Visa to a genuine 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa. It costs B2,000.

- At the same time as submitting TM87 - Submit Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom Non Imm O for the purpose of being spouse of a retiree.

This will extend her permission to stay from the 90 days received with the Non-Immigrant "O" visa to one year

- provide passport with one copy showing name page and page with tourist visa.

- provide proof of address with one photocopy

- provide marriage certificate with one copy

- the extension based on spouse of retiree will be issued for the wife during this second visit to Pattaya Immigration.

I think you are saying that the highlighted lines in bold above CANNOT be carried out in LOS - they have to leave the country and go to a consulate - is that correct???

Thanks for your help

[lopburi3]

That blurb from Hull is for multi entry one year visa - not for single entry which should not be any problem if over age 50.

I do not know if they can do conversion in such a case - you would have to confirm or exit to get the correct visa later.

[dsfbrit]

That blurb from Hull is for multi entry one year visa - not for single entry which should not be any problem if over age 50.

I do not know if they can do conversion in such a case - you would have to confirm or exit to get the correct visa later.

Thanks Lopburi.AM I right in saying that if they do not do the Tourist visa and he does the Non-Imm O visa from Hull based on 'investigating retirement' and she does the Non-Imm O from Hull based on being his spouse, then she would have no problems doing the retirement extension at Pattaya Immigration based on his Extension when he does that in LOS.???

Thanks again for all your help - it must be frustrating explaining this stuff all the time, just when I think I understand the rules, I realise there is a slight difference and it seems to lead to yet another question

[lopburi3]

Her only requirement will be having the non immigrant O visa and proof of marriage and of husband having the extension of stay for retirement. I suspect having the same residence will also be a requirement as dependent normally requires that.

[dsfbrit]

Her only requirement will be having the non immigrant O visa and proof of marriage and of husband having the extension of stay for retirement. I suspect having the same residence will also be a requirement as dependent normally requires that.

Thanks very much

Much appreciated -I will pass on this information to them and explain the process in detail - now that I understand it myself!!!

Thanks again

[dsfbrit]

Sorry to bother you again with this, but now I have convinced them that the non-imm-0 visa needs to be acquired from Hull before they leave the UK,does that mean the husband does NOT now need to go to Pattaya Immigration to fill out the TM87 form. Therefore the process would be as follows:-

for husband

- open bank account for husband

- transfer 800k to husbands bank account

60 days later when money in bank has matured:-

- get letter from bank saying money has arrived in account and account now has 800k baht.

- Go to Pattaya Immigration Office

- Submit Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom Non Imm O for the purpose of retirement.

- provide passport with one copy showing name page and page with non-imm O visa.

- provide proof of address with one photocopy

- The extension based on retirement will be issued for the husband during this second visit to Pattaya Immigration.

for wife

- as soon as the husband gets his extension based on retirement:-

- go to Pattaya Immigration:-

- Submit Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom Non Imm O for the purpose of being spouse of a retiree.

- provide passport with one copy showing name page and page with non-imm O visa.

- provide proof of address with one photocopy

- provide marriage certificate with one copy

- the extension based on spouse of retiree will be issued for the wife during this visit to Pattaya Immigration.

Thanks for your help