I am a teacher in Bangkok with a work permit and supporting non Imm 'B' visa. I intend to retire from teaching next year.

As I am married and my wife is Thai I will apply for an 'O' marriage visa. I am aware of the requirements financially and all that goes with it.

My main concern is when to actually apply. Do I wait until my current yearly visa is near to expiry, or should I put the wheels in motion before?

Can I switch from a 'B' to an 'O' without leaving Thailand?

Also, does a pension income have to show regularly in a Thai bank account, or can statements of a UK bank account showing the pension income

suffice?

Advice on the above will be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

In the last 30 days of your eprmission to stay, or when your employement ends (if that is sooner) you apply for an extension of stay based on your Thai wife (OR based on retirement if you meet that criteria).

You do not have to apply broad for a new visa. If your income is from abroad, you visit your embassy and ask for a letter confirming your income from them to give to immigraiton. Your embassy decides what counts as proof to give the letter. There is no need to recieve the income in Thailand, but immirgaitn might want to see some evidence that you have and are spending money. A bankbook or a few recent ATM slips will do in that case.

Moved to the visa section.

Many thanks Mario,

Your reply sounds great!

In the last 30 days of your eprmission to stay, or when your employement ends (if that is sooner) you apply for an extension of stay based on your Thai wife (OR based on retirement if you meet that criteria).

You do not have to apply broad for a new visa. If your income is from abroad, you visit your embassy and ask for a letter confirming your income from them to give to immigraiton. Your embassy decides what counts as proof to give the letter. There is no need to recieve the income in Thailand, but immirgaitn might want to see some evidence that you have and are spending money. A bankbook or a few recent ATM slips will do in that case.

Moved to the visa section.

It would help to know your age and nationality. If you are over 50 and your pension is at least 65000 baht per month and you do not intend to work, it's easier to apply for a retirement visa extension.

Doesnt specifically need to be a "pension" just income of whatever source.

As said apply within the final 30 days of your current stay.

What is required as proof would be up to the British Embassy.

If you qualify it would be slightly easier to apply for the retirement extension.

If you do not, the Marriage route is no big deal and still pretty simple to do.

I'm on a roll today. He said "pension", I said "pension". Plese replace "pension" in my post to "source of income"

Doesnt specifically need to be a "pension" just income of whatever source.

Many thanks for all of your replies. I mentioned pension because I am receiving a British pension. I am 66. I will combine savings and my pension (as my income)

to qualify for the 400,000baht required for the 'O' visa.

Many thanks for all of your replies. I mentioned pension because I am receiving a British pension. I am 66. I will combine savings and my pension (as my income)

to qualify for the 400,000baht required for the 'O' visa.

You cannot combine savings and income if you apply for an extension based on marriage. You must either have an income of 40,000 a month OR have 400,000 in the bank!

Only when you apply based on retirement you can use the combined method, but the total of money in the bank and yearly income must be 800,000 baht.

As Mario said, you cannot use a combination. One or the other.

If I show 400,000baht in my savings account, which is possible, for how long must this remain in the account?

Two months prior to application each year.

OK thanks for that! Much appreciated.

Two months prior to application each year.