A Visa Related Question Which I Can't Find The Answer To

[oldies1]

Your excellent forum is incredible informative and I have learned

a lot about visa probs etc.

However there is one thing that I haven't been able to find.

Suppose I want to stay in Thailand for 9 months on a retirement visa

(I am over 50, have the required bank account, etc) .

When I want to stay for that long, it seems impossible to book a

return flight, meaning the return flight is 9 months later.

No travel agency in Belgium gives a return flight with such a late date.

I can book a single flight to enter the Kingdom and later buy a seperate

return flight in Thailand. Because I don't have the return flight when

entering the country... what do I fill in on the "departure" side of the

immigration card ? I don't have that ticket yet ....so I can't enter a

departure date, nor a flight number.

I haven't been able to find this...

[Upnotover]

You don't have to fill in the departure side of the form until you depart.

[Crossy]

To arrive with any form of visa there is no requirement for an outgoing ticket.

Just fill in everything except "Flight Number" on the departure side of the TM6, there is no departure date box.

Note to Upnotover, some entry officers insist that you fill in the departure card except the flight number, may as well do it whilst you have the pen out doing the arrival side.

[lopburi3]

What are you calling a retirement visa? If you are talking about a multi entry non immigrant O visa you can not stay longer than 90 days on any entry so you enter 90 days (regardless of returning for a new 90 days immediately). If you are talking about a long stay non immigrant O-A visa you receive a one year stay so you enter that on form. You are always free to leave at any time.

[dazk]

You are always free to leave at any time.

wish someone had told me that i would have left months ago

[oldies1]

What are you calling a retirement visa? If you are talking about a multi entry non immigrant O visa you can not stay longer than 90 days on any entry so you enter 90 days (regardless of returning for a new 90 days immediately). If you are talking about a long stay non immigrant O-A visa you receive a one year stay so you enter that on form. You are always free to leave at any time.

I want to stay in LOS for 9 months a year. Best thing in my situation (I THINK) is to get a retirement visa.

I understood that under this type of visa you can stay 90 days in a row but after that... every three months have to visa-run ? Another source said that you don't have to make a visa run on a retirement visum after 90 days, but report to the nearest immigration office to extend for another 3 months ? So no need for a visa run in that case ?

[Jingthing]

On an O-A visa (also called retirement visa/long stay visa) no visa runs outside Thailand are needed. You do report your address to Thai immigration every 90 days you are in Thailand. Also applies to annual extensions based on retirement obtained in Thailand. If you do travel out of Thailand before the 90 days (you need a reentry permit in that case) no report is needed and the 90 clock for reporting resets upon reentering Thailand.

[oldies1]

What are you calling a retirement visa? If you are talking about a multi entry non immigrant O visa you can not stay longer than 90 days on any entry so you enter 90 days (regardless of returning for a new 90 days immediately). If you are talking about a long stay non immigrant O-A visa you receive a one year stay so you enter that on form. You are always free to leave at any time.

So best thing is to apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa “O-A” (Long Stay) visa

In that case no visa run after 90 days ? But "report" to immigration after 90 days ?

"Report" means going to immigration showing what please ?

They stamp your passport and that's it or they just check some kind of document ?

If they should ask me for a date of departure, I won't have a return ticket at that moment

so I can't answer that.

[lopburi3]

They are several ways and not called retirement visas.

There is a multi entry non immigrant O visa which allows stays of up to 90 days each for one year from date of issue. Number of trips is unlimited but last entry must be made prior to expiration date of the visa. Proof of being older then 50 and perhps of some amount of income.

Another option is the long stay non immigrant O-A visa which requires being over age 50 and both a medical and police check and meeting financial conditions of 800k in bank account or 65k per month income (Thai baht figures) which can be in home country.

The most common retirement option is to extend your stay within Thailand on a yearly basis for 1,900 baht each year. This requires having 800k in Thai bank account or 65k income in an embassy letter and being here on a non immigrant visa entry (visa exept or tourist visa can be changed for 2,000 baht.

[Jingthing]

Don't worry about date of departure if on an O-A visa or retirement extension. You don't need one!

You also don't need one on your landing card.

Even for a reentry permit application in Thailand, you can just make up the date, you are not held to it.

For reporting address, you need some solid proof of your residence in Thailand: copy of lease, utility bill in your name, etc.

People staying in hotels, I am not sure how they get this proof.

Address reports are done in person or by mail at some offices.

It is done at the office associated with your local place of residence in Thailand.

Passports aren't stamped for address reports.

At my office they staple in a form. I think some other offices are using more advanced techniques now though.

[lopburi3]

90 day address reporting is filling out a TM.47 form with current address.

[Jingthing]

90 day address reporting is filling out a TM.47 form with current address.

Yes but at least at some offices proof of residence and sometimes copying of some passport pages is required.

[oldies1]

Another option is the long stay non immigrant O-A visa which requires being over age 50 and both a medical and police check and meeting financial conditions of 800k in bank account or 65k per month income (Thai baht figures) which can be in home country.

The most common retirement option is to extend your stay within Thailand on a yearly basis for 1,900 baht each year. This requires having 800k in Thai bank account or 65k income in an embassy letter and being here on a non immigrant visa entry (visa exept or tourist visa can be changed for 2,000 baht.

Required Documents

A copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totalling not less than 800,000 Baht.

I have a bank account with the required amount, but I am in my home country, so how to obtain that official thai bank document ?

When

do I have to show it to

who

?

[oldies1]

For reporting address, you need some solid proof of your residence in Thailand:

THAT I have here I bought a condo, have the address book and copy of the deed in my home in Belgium.

I have to show this where, when and to who please ?

[oldies1]

Btw... Thank you all for taking time to reply... I feel like a complete idiot at this (well I probably am)

[lopburi3]

You have to have the money in Thailand for an extension of stay. Only the O-A allows money to be outside of Thailand. You are getting way ahead of yourself. First you need to extend your stay for retirement if already in Thailand and want to use that method. That will require 800k in bank or the 65k income document or combination. You first apply to convert to non immigrant visa entry and then after 60 days apply for the extension of stay. Key is having 15 days or more remaining on current entry to be able to convert and the financial proof.

[sanuk247]

Not surprising each immigration office in Thailand can have different requirements in regard to 90 day check-in. In Rayong office, each 1 year renewal of the 1 year retirement visa requires proof of

a) residence

b)meeting financial requirements (new each year)

Those requirements have been stated above in previous posts. For 90 day check-in, filling out the TM.47 is all that is required and they will issue you a new 90 day stay form attached to your passport page. You need only visit them again on or near the issued to date stamped 90 days in the future from this visit where you will go through the process again.

Korean Air has 1 year air tickets where the return can be changed at any time during the 1 year from purchase date. $100 USD.fee for change.

[FritsSikkink]

No travel agency in Belgium gives a return flight with such a late date.

You can buy a return ticket which is valid for a year and with no cost to change the return date. Most airlines do have them.

[Bpuumike]

You can hop over to the UK.

British Airways, Thai Airways, or the cheaper alternative Jet Airways (London-Mumbai-Bangkok, but it's OK and 32kg check-in baggage) will all sell you a changeable 1-year return ticket which you can buy online before you leave Belgium.

[DennyEagle]

Just buy your ticket online, Eva airlines sells open ended tickets also, good for 1 year, and korean airlines has 1 year tickets

[ubonjoe]

Required Documents

A copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totalling not less than 800,000 Baht.

I have a bank account with the required amount, but I am in my home country, so how to obtain that official thai bank document ?

When

do I have to show it to

who

?

The best thing for you to do is get a single entry non-immigrant O visa based upon being over 50 years old that would give you a 90 day stay. With this visa you would not need a return ticket.

During the last 30 days of your 90 day entry go to immigration and apply for a 1 year extension based upon retirement. You will need your bank book plus copies showing you have had the 800K baht in the bank for 60 days or more along with a letter from your bank confirming your balance. You should get the bank letter the same day you make the application or the day before.

After getting the extension you would then apply for a re-entry permit (single 1000 baht multiple 3800 baht) which would allow you to leave and return without loosing your extension of stay.

Edit: I suggest you get your visa from one of the Honorary Thai consulates mentioned on this webpage. http://www.thaiembassy.be/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=40

The embassy would probably only give you the one year long stay visa which is not the best option for you.