Visa Options For Non-Thai Spouse Of Retirement Visa Holder

[mark7754]

I adore all things Thai - no mystery that I'm in this blog! - and would warmly welcome advice about which visa route would be best for my Scottish-Italian spouse. I'm over 50; she's just turned 50. I'm dual nationality: American-Ireland; she's also dual: UK-Italy. I intend to take up staying in Thailand on a retirement visa. For her to have a retirement visa as well, must she demonstrate the 800K bank balance (or the 65K per month) in addition to my requirement to do the same? Or, can we as a married couple rest on the case of just one demonstrable 800K or 65K/month stream and both get retirement visas on this basis? I've also heard tell of spouses accompanying husbands who hold a retirement visa, on the basis of a non-immigrant O 'dependent' visa.

What exactly are the rules in this regard, and, what would be the least-hassle route to take? Many many thanks to any sympathetic advise offers!

[Maestro]

Only one needs to meet the financial requirements for the retirement extension. The spouse can get the so-called dependent extension (clause 2.20 of Police Order 777/2551), which is not subject to financial requirements.

[mark7754]

Very useful, and with thanks, Maestro! I gather then that my non-Thai (and over age 50) spouse should definitely not apply for a retirement visa. Rather, and once I myself have a retirement visa in hand, she would go for the dependent O visa. Many thanks!

[Maestro]

Ideally, you should both arrive in Thailand with a single-entry non-O visa, which an honorary consulate should give you for travel to Thailand for the purpose of exploring retirement. On arrival, you get permission to stay for 90 days. Without tarrying, you get a minimum of 800k Baht transferred to your bank account in Thailand, ie instruct your UK bank to transfer GBP that will, on conversion by your Thai bank, equal that Baht amount, if you choose this route. During the last 30 days of your permission to stay, you both go to the local immigration office where you apply for the retirement extension, your wife for the dependent extension.

If the non-O visa is not available, a tourist visa will do and after arrival in Thailand you apply at the immigration office for a change of visa to non-O and the one-year extension for retirement, respectively dependent.

[Carib]

Interesting subject, I was having a look at this too, not for me but for a couple (both farang and over 50) who both have worked in Thailand for over 20 years now.

They want to call it a day and exchange their Non Im B (based on work permit) to retirement Non O extension of stay.

Suggestions have been made to make her`s a dependency Non O permit, since it will save her the 800.000 in the bank in a not so profitable account.

The question which came up was: Should her husband die, what would happen to the dependency extension of stay.

Obviously it will be cancelled, but will it be done in the same harsh way when getting fired, work permit canceled, and therefore forced to leave the kingdom within 24 hours?

Will she be offered a chance to straighten things out so she can stay in the Kingdom?.

Anyone who could tel me something about this??

C

Edit: Typo

[Mario2008]

In case a spouse dies immigraiton seems to be lenient and doesn't expect one to leave within 24 hours. Never heard of a time frame, they are just very lenient. She will have time to meet the requirements for an extension of stay based on retirement instead of as dependent.

Under current rules she could at least get 7 days to pack her things or apply for an extension based on retirement. But never heard of someone needing to apply for those 7 days. Immigration seems to give a lot more time.

[Carib]

In case a spouse dies immigraiton seems to be lenient and doesn't expect one to leave within 24 hours. Never heard of a time frame, they are just very lenient. She will have time to meet the requirements for an extension of stay based on retirement instead of as dependent.

Under current rules she could at least get 7 days to pack her things or apply for an extension based on retirement. But never heard of someone needing to apply for those 7 days. Immigration seems to give a lot more time.

Thanks for answering Mario,

Yes I too would think and hope and expect there would be time given to take care of things, and arrange " other" options.

It is just that I cannot find anything about it, since this concerns a "dependency" case, it is worth to take it into consideration I think. After all we are all on `borrowed` time here, and things can happen.

Thanks again.

@ Mark 7754,

The answer given to you by Maestro, the various steps to enter the kingdom and action to take thereafter is a perfect one.

Just get the bank account/income situation well organized, since that will be where you will depend on most, when applying for an extension of stay based upon retirement.

Good luck.

C

[Mario2008]

Not everything can be fit in rules, but immigration has hinted that they will be lenient in cases like this or when someone is to old to go for yearly extensions.

They are after all humans too.

[mark7754]

Mario, Carib, Maestro et. al..... Many thanks for all the advice. It's fairly clear and sensible now. Best wishes, M.