Residency Question

[jwdub]

I currently have secured a 90 day non immigrant "O" visa and am scheduled to arrive in BKK May 1st and plan to apply for the retirement portion in BKK. My question is a friend of mine has offered to let me stay at his place indefinately. I hear that one of the stipulations to securing a retirement visa is to have a lease or contract proving your residency. Do I need to find my own place pronto upon arriving in BKK or can I just need to place an address where I will be residing.

Thanks

[Jingthing]

Interesting question. I'll start with a non-authoritative opinion only.

I don't think there is a legal problem staying with your friend.

However, I do think your friend needs to formalize this situation with immigrantion filing papers that you are living there. (Just as hotels hosting foreigners MUST report to immigration.) For proof of residence, I think you need to have your friend draft some kind of document declaring the living arrangement official. If you are not paying rent, I don't see that it needs to technically be a lease. If you are paying rent, you should do a lease. That said, whether immigration will accept your proof of residence document is always at their discretion. If your friend doesn't own the home, but rather leases it from a landlord, I think that's a possibly difficult complication which might point to getting the landlord involved.

Also keep in mind that some immigration offices require fresh proof of residence for EVERY 90 day report as long as you live in Thailand. (Mine does.) So it's not a trivial concern.

Note: if I am way off, please correct this. It's not an everyday question.

[lopburi3]

As said if your friend is the homeowner your presence does need to be reported officially (most Thai will not bother so you may want to insist homeowner do) and that reporting can likely be used by you when extending. Otherwise an informal lease, some mail addressed to you or other paperwork linking you to the address should be available for show.

[moe666]

I get a letter from my residence here in Chiang mai but they have never asked for it, they have except the address I put on the forms without question. But you will need a letter from your friend proving residence if you want to apply for a drivers license. Getting the letter of residence from immigration is cheaper than the Embassy.

My first extension of stay for retirement was in Bangkok, I took correspondance from my brokage account sent to the address I was using at the time but again it was not asked for nor any other proof.

[NancyL]

I get a letter from my residence here in Chiang mai but they have never asked for it, they have except the address I put on the forms without question. But you will need a letter from your friend proving residence if you want to apply for a drivers license. Getting the letter of residence from immigration is cheaper than the Embassy.

My first extension of stay for retirement was in Bangkok, I took correspondance from my brokage account sent to the address I was using at the time but again it was not asked for nor any other proof.

When I applied for a drivers license in Chiang Mai a couple years ago, they accepted the letter of residency from Immigration and never asked for rental contract, letter from condo owner, etc. Nor does Chiang Mai immigration when you go to request a letter of residency. I could list the governor's residence as mine and they'd issue the letter without question!

[mahjongguy]

As said if your friend is the homeowner your presence does need to be reported officially (most Thai will not bother so you may want to insist homeowner do...

If the friend who is renting doesn't want to involve the landlord, can't the OP submit his own TM 28?

[lopburi3]

Believe you will find most immigration offices would prefer to not cause you or them the extra TM-28 paperwork but the homeowner TM-30 is actively wanted now (with terrorist issues).

[Jingthing]

Believe you will find most immigration offices would prefer to not cause you or them the extra TM-28 paperwork but the homeowner TM-30 is actively wanted now (with terrorist issues).

Could you detail what those two things are exactly?

[TommoPhysicist]

Reporting address officially

Done by you filling his address on the landing form you get off the airplane.

Address for retirement extension

Photocopy of house book and ID card of homeowner both signed by the homeowner.

[IMA_FARANG]

My personal experience only...different immigration offices and different officials may have their own opinions.

I came here on a non O visa and i am now on a retirement extension and doing 90 day reporting.

When I applied here in Bangkok i had documents showing my address and mail delivered to me in Bangkok by Thai post at that address.

I was ready to supply that evidence...but immigration at Chaeng Wattana didn't really care. They simply accepted my address on the application form with no questions. All they asked was for was my home telephone number. They have never called me however, so it seems that telephone number was just for show.

One point though, I am here on retirement... but I understand that getting an extension based on marriage to a Thai is often more closely checked than an extension based on retirement in Thailand.

And it does depend somewhat on where the immigration office is, and what immigration official processes your initial application.

[lopburi3]

Believe you will find most immigration offices would prefer to not cause you or them the extra TM-28 paperwork but the homeowner TM-30 is actively wanted now (with terrorist issues).

Could you detail what those two things are exactly?

Form for Aliens to Notify Their Change of Address or Their Stay in the Province over 24 Hours (TM.28)

Notification Form for House Master, Owner, or the Possessor of The Residence Where Aliens Have Stay (TM.30)