First Request For Retirement Extension

[johnbutt]

I will be retiring in Thailand this Autumn. Following advice from this forum I was under the impression that I need to arrive with a non-immigrant O visa (90 days) and then apply for a one year extension during the last 30 days.

I also thought the only documentation I would need, in addition to the relevant completed form, was a letter from the bank confirming at least 800,000 in place for 2 months and bank book showing the same balance.

An aquaintance also retiring later this year has been in touch with Hull UK to start getting his documentation together and been informed that for the first extension application he will need a clear police report and a doctor's letter stating he has no contagious diseases.

Has something changed? Have any Brits out there on TV been through this process recently? Any up to date advice very gratefully received.

JohnB

[MilesCh]

To my knowledge Immigration has required a police report and doctor's report that you don't have certain diseases. Those forms are available on line -- don't forget to make a copy of the completed forms for yourself. At least this is for the USA and doubt Americans are as diseased as Brits so the same should apply.

[Jingthing]

To my knowledge Immigration has required a police report and doctor's report that you don't have certain diseases. Those forms are available on line -- don't forget to make a copy of the completed forms for yourself. At least this is for the USA and doubt Americans are as diseased as Brits so the same should apply.

That information is incorrect.

The OP is asking about retirement extensions done IN Thailand at Thai immigration offices

For such extensions, no medical report needed and no police report needed.

For those people who choose the option of applying for an O-A visa in their home country (never required to retire in Thailand) they must supply the medical form and police report to the Thai embassy/consulate.

For O visas (as opposed to O-A visas) no such reports needed.

Nothing has changed. I repeat. Nothing has changed.

OP, if you plan to start with a single entry O visa, do not bother with obtaining those reports.

Someone may post here that their provincial immigration office requires a medical form which would be a variance from the national policy. In the very unlikely event that your office happens to be one of the rare outliers, no worries, as you can get a form signed off at a clinic in Thailand for a few hundred baht.

Edited August 31, 2012 by Jingthing

[Lite Beer]

As said, a Police Report and Medical is not needed when applying for a 12 month extension at Immigration in Thailand.

They are needed if applying for a Non Imm O-A Visa in UK.

BTW Hull Consulate does not issue these.

It has to be done at the Thai Embassy in London.

[moe666]

To my knowledge Immigration has required a police report and doctor's report that you don't have certain diseases. Those forms are available on line -- don't forget to make a copy of the completed forms for yourself. At least this is for the USA and doubt Americans are as diseased as Brits so the same should apply.

Might I ask where you got this knowledge from as immigration hasn't required this information of me in the last 2 years. There could be bad info being put out there that needs to be corrected.

[Galong]

To my knowledge Immigration has required a police report and doctor's report that you don't have certain diseases. Those forms are available on line -- don't forget to make a copy of the completed forms for yourself. At least this is for the USA and doubt Americans are as diseased as Brits so the same should apply.

By Thai law it is illegal for anyone to discriminate against someone with HIV, for example. I doubt they would deny anyone a visa if they were diabetic or any other pre-existing disease. Perhaps there are some highly contagious diseases they are concerned about. Besides, getting a doctor's certificate is pretty much a matter of going to a clinic and exchanging a bit of money for a piece of paper from my experience.

You'll be fine. Best of luck to you on the changeover.

[lopburi3]

OP has the correct information although some proof of current address may also be required. The information from Hull was not correct for obtaining an extension of stay inside Thailand.

[IMA_FARANG]

As Jingthing said....the visa you get from outside Thailand....as in a Thai consulate (Hull as an example) is differnt from the retirement EXTENSION (visa) you get in Thailand.

They have different documentation requirements.

At most Thai consulates you can get a non O visa...for 90 days or maybe a one year multi-entry visa depending on the particular consulate and country....which do NOT usually require a police records check and a medical certificate.

Always remember though, that ALL Thai consulates MAY request further documention at their option. That is worldwide,,,,but that option is applied at the discretion of the local Thai consulate.

Now there is another type of non immigrant visa,,,the O-A retirement visa.

In the U.S., and most likely the U.K. also, this O-A retirement visa DOES require both a police records check and a medical check before that O-A visa is issued.

To summerise....

A type O non immigrant visa usually does not require a police records check and a doctor's medical report.

A type O-A visa does require police and medical checks.

The type O visa can be issued with a 90 day entry or possibly a one-year multi-entry. The multi-entry is more expensive.

Either of those two visas may be EXTENDED for one year at your local immigration in Thailand....with the required documents. The usual reasons for that extensions are retirement or marriage to a Thai. Both of them have their own required documentation.

The type O-A visa is also issued by a consulate outside of Thailand....not in Thailand. It is the most expensive and requires those local country police and medical checks. The advantage of an O-A retirement visa is that on entry to Thailand you get a one year entry on arrival and it can be extended for one year at a time annually in Thailand.

Hope that;s clear?

[lopburi3]

The non immigrant O-A is exactly the same price as any other non immigrant visa - it is not more expensive - but does require the additional police check and medical papers. OP was asking about a non immigrant O visa entry and extension and these papers are not required for in-country extensions of stay but if using bank deposit that must be in Thailand.

[JimGant]

An aquaintance also retiring later this year has been in touch with Hull UK to start getting his documentation together and been informed that for the first extension application he will need a clear police report and a doctor's letter stating he has no contagious diseases.

Hull has been preaching inaccurate retirement info for years -- and has ignored several attempts to correct their error. In fairness, they're just repeating guidance from their boss, MFA, who believes an O-A visa, obtained in Thailand [but you cannot obtain an O-A visa in Thailand], is the avenue to long stay retirement. As the MFA website says, if you want to retire in Thailand, get an O-A visa here:

Channels to submit [O-A Long Stay] application

Applicant may submit their application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located onGovernment Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel 0-2141-9889.

And hand and glove with this misinformation is the fact that O-A visas require police and medical reports -- as stated on the MFA website. Those who have shown up at Immigration in Bangkok, with their O-A applications, and medical and police reports, have been quickly advised of the retirement extension process by Immigration (which is NOT the same thing as obtaining an O-A visa -- hello, MFA?), and that they have wasted their time and money on police and medical reports. These duped folks show up here on Thai Visa about once a year, with their "what the phuck, over?"

From the Hull website:

When you have received your "O" visa you need to ensure you have all of the following documents which you must take with you for presentation at the "Thai Immigration Bureau" in Bangkok (Thai Immigration Bureau, Section 1, Sub Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120 - tel: 00 66-22873101-10 Extension 2236) or in the town close to where you will be living in your retirement:-

1) Passport containing your "O" visa, passport to be valid for at least one year from date of entering Thailand.

2) Three "Additional Application Form for Non-Immigrant 'O-A' Visa" duly completed and with recent passport type photograph 4cm x 6cm attached to each one - see page 3/4.

3) Subject Access (police) Report - to be no more than 3 months old when presented in Thailand.

4) Medical Report form - to be completed by a doctor in Thailand - see page 4/4.

5) Evidence to show minimum income of 65,000 baht per month going into a bank account in Thailand or minimum 800,000 baht deposited in a bank account in Thailand (a combination may be accepted).

If your application is approved you will be issued with the non-immigrant category “O-A” long stay visa by the relevant Thai Immigration Bureau

Yeah, right.....

Most of the above is blatant bullsh*t, including the old Immigration address. As said, if you show up at Immigration with visa application forms (instead of the TM7 extension form), and with police and medical forms -- just hope the Immigration officer is helpful, and not just bemused.

I guess Hull realizes their MFA boss has their head up and locked, as this Hull rejoinder suggests:

Please understand that the procedures outlined above are the official ones as issued by the

Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok

Not all of the documentary requirements as listed 1 to 5 above may be required by all Thai Immigration Bureaux but you are advised to take everything with you just in case.

Yeah, but just in case, take those medical, police, and O-A applications with you anyhow..... NOT!

One more time for the confused: YOU CAN'T GET A NON-IMMIGRANT O-A VISA IN THAILAND, REGARDLESS OF WHAT MFA AND HULL SAY. AS SUCH, THE O-A POLICE AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO YOUR RETIREMENT EXTENSION IN THAILAND AT AN IMMIGRATION OFFICE.

[johnbutt]

Thanks for the clear and definitive information guys.

Most helpful.

[DILLIGAD]

Glad you got it sorted JohnB

Obrigada

Edited September 1, 2012 by DILLIGAD

[paulswebb]

The letter fom the bank or embassy is the only thing you need. Best bet go to immigration and get the latest form to make sure nothing is different. Information from the Thai embassy in Hull seems to be out of date.

[Postmaster]

Do you still need to go to British Consul to get your money certified before going to Immigration to get Retirement Visa renewed EVEN IF YOU HAVE

THE REQUIRED 800.000 THAI BAHT IN THE BANK FOR THREE MONTHS and don't need the the income certifying anymore?

Thanks anyone and Moderators.

[DILLIGAD]

In theory ... No

but some Immigration Offices (officers) around think otherwise.

[Mario2008]

With 800,000 in the bank you need to show bankbook plus bank letter, income certification is not necesarry.

[lopburi3]

In theory ... No

but some Immigration Offices (officers) around think otherwise.

Who/where/when? I do not recall having seen any such report on this forum.

[Jingthing]

In theory ... No

but some Immigration Offices (officers) around think otherwise.

Who/where/when? I do not recall having seen any such report on this forum.

Agreed. I have never read any such report about people qualifying solely on the bank account method needing any document from their embassy/consulate.

[bobobo]

The rules ima-farang described are exactly the same as in Scandinavia. O-A visa can only be obtained from an embassy abroad. It's also correct that it is the most expensive visa to get. Because You have to pay for Your medical report etc and it also take some time to get all the documents in order. But in the end it's a very good visa to have...

[johnbutt]

Thank you for the answers so far guys, which clear up the business about misinformation from Hull pretty conclusively.

Could I now prevail on one of you to give me a definitive list of precisely what documentation will be needed at the first extension of a 90 day non-immigrant O visa on grounds of retirement, using the 800k in the bank alternative. Many thanks in advance.

[lopburi3]

Such extensions are a local approval so list may vary slightly but in general.

1. Passport and copies of data page, visa page, entry/extensions and departure card (all copies signed).

2. Bank passbook or statements of Thai bank with copy of at least data/last two months of account activity and letter from bank of account balance to match current account balance and normally within a day or several of application. You may also have to make transaction on day of application at some places.

3. Some form of address proof (this determines where you apply for extension).

4. Tm.7 form filled out with 4x6cm current photo on rear (may require more than one outside of Bangkok).

5. Fee of 1,900 baht.

6. If you also want re-entry permit form/fee/photos for that.

[johnbutt]

Thanks Lopburi3 for that clear list.

Just one supplementary......no.3.what kind of evidence of address is acceptable.

Everything is in my wife's name. Will her house book plus our wedding certificate suffice?

What other suggestions.

Many thanks for ylour time and patience.

JohnB

[JohnC]

Get a yellow house book in your name which will suffice for all proof of address requirements

[johnbutt]

Thanks John C

Sorry but...being a novice.....what's a yellow housebook, how do I get it, where and what documents will be needed?

Thanks in anticipation.

[Lite Beer]

A yellow house book is a document that shows where you live.

You get it from the local amphur.

Depended on where you are it could be fairly easy or such a pain in the rear you give up and dont bother.

[lopburi3]

Marriage certificate and wife blue book should be fine if that is where you live - that is all I have ever supplied and dates back prior to retirement extensions - have never been asked for anything on retirement. A lease/letters addressed to you/landlord vouching for you or such normally is all that is required.

[IMA_FARANG]

To my knowledge Immigration has required a police report and doctor's report that you don't have certain diseases. Those forms are available on line -- don't forget to make a copy of the completed forms for yourself. At least this is for the USA and doubt Americans are as diseased as Brits so the same should apply.

Might I ask where you got this knowledge from as immigration hasn't required this information of me in the last 2 years. There could be bad info being put out there that needs to be corrected.

---------------

The medical/doctors certificate and a police records check are required by many if not all Thai consulates in the U.S.if you are applying for a non immigrant type O-A visa (retirement) only.

A non immigrant type O visa doesn't require those checks in the U.S.

You do not need either these for a retirement extension in Bangkok.

In October 2010, when I recieved my non immigrant O visa in Hull they were not needed there either.

I'm a U.S. citizen, but my legal RESIDENCE was not then in the U.S. (for tax reasons), so getting a police records check in my "place of residence"....then legally in Greece....was a problem for me.

So I applied for and recieved a non immigrant O in Hull, came to Thailand and applied in Thailand for my retirement extension.

Easy if you know the rules...there's always some way to get it done.

But just remember:

The immigration always has the option to request you provide further information if they feel it is required.

That also applys to extensions based on retirement in Thailand.

For example, even with a valid bank letter showing 800K Thai Baht in aThai bank account...you MAY be asked by immigration to make a token 100 Baht witdrawal or deposit with your pasbook to show that printed computer entry in your bankbook.

This is especially true when you make your initial (first) application for retirement.

In October 2011 that's was what they wanted me to do in Chang Wattana. Since I already had my passbook with me, it took no more than 5 minutes to do that....and get the officer to sign my papers and submit it to her supervisor for approval.

So be aware of that, and be prepared.

[Kondiao]

Regarding applying for an extension of Type O-A visa in Thailand I have read the recent posts and I am still confused. I got my Type O-A Retirement visa in Los Angeles last September. So I am starting the mission to renew the visa here in Chiang Mai.

I think I go to the U.S. Consulate to get proof of my 65,000 b income, O.K. Then I expect I need a letter also from my bank here, which is Bangkok Bank, which is not one of the Thai banks with a connection to American banks.

First question is: does the Thai Immigration require that my monthly income come into a Thai bank? That is what I read here in the Forum.

After a frustrating experience to try to get my U.S. bank to transfer my funds to Bangkok Bank - Wells Fargo lied to me about this and had me play their idiotic games of trial transfers, and I was supposed to guess how much money they sent - only to decide they really don't make such transfers to foreign banks after all. But, apart from that I wrote a check and deposited it in Bangkok Bank and the money got here in 4 weeks.

It seems to me that Thailand used to require only proof that a person had an account here with some money in it - not that one's monthly income was being deposited in the Thai bank.

My other question is: is the form TM 7 the correct form for this one-year visa extension. It is the same as the 90-day visa extension form.

And one more question: since I went to Lao one day they took away my Departure Card when I left Thailand and gave me a new one when I came back across the river. No problem. It is a multiple-entry visa, which the people at the embassy in L.A. decided was the one for me.

But the date on the Depature Card is now Feb., 2013 in contrast to Sept 27 2012 which was written on it when I first got to BKK in Sept. 28, 2011.

When I went to the Immigration office in Chiang Mai - for the 90-day report in - the official made a fuss about these dates and stated that the visa was good for one year only and the visit ot Lao in no way changed this.

So, is this correct? Or did my visit to Lao in Feb. give me and automatic extension, which is the reason that people with a 90-day visa make border runs. This does not apply to one-year visa's.

Right?

[Mario2008]

You have a multiple O-A visa, that is still valid. A multiple means that every time you enter Thailand while the visa is still valid. (it is valid for 1 year from the date you received the visa, look at the visa from the consulate. It should state that you must use it before a certain date). Since you left and enter while the visa was still valid, (in feb 2012) you are currently allowed to stay till Feb 2013. If the visa itself is not expired, leaving and reentering before the expiry date gives you another year to stay.

Right now you can stay till feb 2013, which means you cannot apply for an extension of stay till Jan 2013.

[JimGant]

So, is this correct? Or did my visit to Lao in Feb. give me and automatic extension,

You stated you had a multi-entry Non Imm O-A visa issued in Sept 2011. I hope it doesn't expire for a week or so -- 'cause right now, you're stamped-in until Feb 2013 (due to Laos trip). So, you needn't worry about getting a retirement extension until, at the earliest, next Jan-Feb (30 days before your permission of stay expires). But even better, if your visa has yet to expire, is to do another border run, which will give you another one-year permission of stay - until Sept 2013.

Then, you'll have one year to read all the repetitive stuff on this forum, to help educate you on what you'll need a year hence to do your first retirement extension of stay. Meanwhile, keep doing your 90 day reporting, but only if you're in the country for over 90 consecutive days. However, don't use a TM7.

Also, should you wish to travel after the date your visa expires, you'll need a re-entry permit, since your visa will be "dead," thus no more good-deal one-year entry stamps.