Retirement Extension To Wp And Back If It Doesn't Work Out - Issues?

[Greenside]

Have been here six or seven years on a retirement extension. I recently made enquiries about an interesting job and it looks as if they may offer it to me if I want it. It's a big company and there should be no problem with them getting a WP for me (which they said they would take care of) but my question is what, if any, are the issues that might arise when the job finishes for whatever reasion?

I'm married with a stable family life and baby and don't want to find that my retirement status is screwed up in some way by doing this or find myself having to leave the country to renew visas periodically (or even once!).

Your thoughts appreciated.

[Mario2008]

When the job finishes, you could return to retirement but would need to qualify for that directly, unless you are marreid to a Thai national or have children with Thai nationality. Then you could get a 60 day extension and at the end of that apply for retirement again.

If the rules for a retirement extension change, you would not be gradfathered and would need to comply with the new rules.

Next to the WP you woud also need to qualify for an extension of stay based on work. In most cases that means your salary needs to be at least 50,000 a month (but does depend on the job and your nationality).

[glegolo]

Extension of stay based on Retirement, means just that. Your extension of stay based on retirement will immediately be cancelled when they find out.

glegolo

[lopburi3]

Do not believe that was the question and immigration could care less - if he can obtain a work permit on a retirement extension of stay they will not have any issue with it. But suspect he will have to change status to obtain the work permit and at the end of work would have to return to retirement.

[Greenside]

I am assuming that my status will change and then have to change back. Other than possibly having to meet new conditions to qualify for the retirement extension should they change, there's no other pitfall I should be aware of?

I am married to a Thai national and my son was born here so I know there are options other than the retirement extension but from what I read they are more hassle and more intrusive. I'm not sure I want officials inspecting our house etc.

[ubonjoe]

But you could work get a work permit and work with an extension based upon marriage.

Getting an extension based upon marriage is not near as bad as some people like to make them out to be.

There might not even be a visit (not an inspection) to your home by immigration or the local police dependent on where you live and the amount of time you have been married.

[OJAS]

Just so that I am absolutely clear, would it really be possible for the OP to continue to live out here under extensions of stay, regardless of any changes in his status? I was under the impression that someone in his position would need to obtain a non-imm "B" visa in tandem with a work permit, then another non-imm "O" visa upon reverting to retirement status.

I, too, am presently living in LOS under a retirement extension, and, although I do not have any plans to work out here, who knows what might happen over the coming years?

PS - lopburi3's advice at post #2 on the thread at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/575839-changing-retirement-visa-to-non-immigrant-0/ would appear to confirm that this is, indeed, the case!

[ubonjoe]

You only have to have a non immigrant visa to get a work permit and extension for working. A non immigrant B visa is not needed.

In most cases you cannot get a work permit on a non-o if it is for retirement. So in that case a new visa might be required. But that depends upon which labor office you have to go to.

If married to a Thai you and have an extension of stay you can get a work permit and work without getting an extension based upon working. Being married to a Thai also lowers the number of Thai's needed for the work permit from 4 to 2 plus the registered capital requirement is also less.

You can also get a marriage or retirement extension if on a B visa. Again the only requirement is that you have a non immigrant visa of any type.

[OJAS]

You only have to have a non immigrant visa to get a work permit and extension for working. A non immigrant B visa is not needed.

In most cases you cannot get a work permit on a non-o if it is for retirement. So in that case a new visa might be required. But that depends upon which labor office you have to go to.

If married to a Thai you and have an extension of stay you can get a work permit and work without getting an extension based upon working. Being married to a Thai also lowers the number of Thai's needed for the work permit from 4 to 2 plus the registered capital requirement is also less.

You can also get a marriage or retirement extension if on a B visa. Again the only requirement is that you have a non immigrant visa of any type.

Thanks. The bottom line, I think, is that the OP would probably be best off extending his stay here on a marriage basis from now on (which I would probably also do myself were a tempting job offer to come my way, as my wife is a Thai citizen as well).