Retiring To Bkk / Requirements For Importing

[Havy]

I just joined this forum, great info here. Hope this is appropriate place to pose a couple of questions, appreciate anyone's help. I've read through a lot of posts here but wanted to check on the following points.

little background - bought condo in BKK will finish in July 2006. US Citizen,, now living in Shanghai, and retire in July 2006 and move to the condo. I understand the requirements for retirement visa and will eventually get it, but am not age 50 until January 2007 (50 is the minimum retiree visa age, right?). Just the wife and I, the two labs, and some household things to come to Thailand then.

Questions -

* I understand that a special 1 year visa can be obtained with proof of investment in condo (or other property). Anyone have experience with that?

* to import the dogs, aside from the usual health and vaccine info and certifications for them, do I need to have a "long stay" visa, ie more than a 90 day tourist visa? Likewise to be able to ship in household things, do I need more than 90 day visa?

thanks

Havy

[lopburi3]

There is an investment visa provision for amounts of more than 3.5 million baht with specific requirements set by Immigration; so you will have to talk with them and find out if your property will qualify. Retirement age is 50.

Those who retire here are not allowed duty free import anymore from what I understand.

[p_brownstone]

I would also check to see if the Condo you bought will allow you to keep two - large I guess - Labradors on the premises!

Patrick

[Havy]

I would also check to see if the Condo you bought will allow you to keep two - large I guess - Labradors on the premises!

Patrick

We've checked on bringing the Labs and the Condo is fine with that.

[Sunbelt Asia]

I understand that a special 1 year visa can be obtained with proof of investment in condo (or other property). Anyone have experience with that?

It has to brand new from a developer. If the condo is worth 2 million then you must have another 1 million Baht invested in a condo, bank account or government bonds.

You must have the Foreign Exchange Cert. The deed of the condo and the form that states the amount of tax paid (what the condo was valued at)

* to import the dogs, aside from the usual health and vaccine info and certifications for them, do I need to have a "long stay" visa, ie more than a 90 day tourist visa?

No.

Be aware however the health cert from the vet cannot be older than 7 days.

Likewise to be able to ship in household things, do I need more than 90 day visa?

No. Just be aware you will pay tax on this shipment.

www.lawyer.th.com

[Havy]

Thanks very much for everyone's comments. Yes, the condo is new and the cost for the unit is over 3 million baht. I have the fx cert's for the funds transferred in. I won't get the deed until July after closing so probably will have to wait until then to apply once I have the deed. I found out there is a Thai consulate in Shanghai so I'll check there for the applications for the visa. The dogs are a bit bigger than the condo allows, but we've got a bye from the developer - may have to disguise them as my ugly step-sisters to get them in' tho'! tax on the household goods I'll have to check on the rate, but its mainly just some furniture, bed, basic "stuff". We'll get the dog health certs right before we leave. Again, thanks for everyone's comments.

[Sunbelt Asia]

I found out there is a Thai consulate in Shanghai so I'll check there for the applications for the visa

Only if you are Chinese national or a resident of China, can you apply for a Thai non immigrant visa in China.

www.lawyer.th.com

[lopburi3]

I found out there is a Thai consulate in Shanghai so I'll check there for the applications for the visa

Only if you are Chinese national or a resident of China, can you apply for a Thai non immigrant visa in China.

www.lawyer.th.com

He may be thinking of the 3 million as a visa type; rather than an immigration extension of stay. Believe they should obtain real tourist visas from the Consulate. Change can then be made later.

[Sunbelt Asia]

I found out there is a Thai consulate in Shanghai so I'll check there for the applications for the visa

Only if you are Chinese national or a resident of China, can you apply for a Thai non immigrant visa in China.

www.lawyer.th.com

He may be thinking of the 3 million as a visa type; rather than an immigration extension of stay. Believe they should obtain real tourist visas from the Consulate. Change can then be made later.

Will be interested to know if they even issue tourist visas in China for other nationalities.

If they do, then lopburi you are correct, the change can be made here. However please be aware its another step ( change of visa) and will cost more at immigration.

www.lawyer.th.com

[Havy]

I am going to call the shanghai consulate tomorrow and make a visit if it sounds like they can help. I will post what I find out. Just for my clarification, for a US passport holder, entry into Thailand as a tourist doesn't require a pre-arrival visa, its just the entry stamp at immigration, which I've done many times. Once in Thailand, are you saying I can then apply for the one-year extension visa based on the condo investment criteria? Again, I'll see what I can find out at the shanghai consulate tomorrow and post here. Thanks again for the help.

[lopburi3]

What we are saying is that you can convert a visa inside Thailand. The 30 day entry without visa is not a visa so you can not use that. You will either have to obtain a visa, from a consulate, before you arrive or plan a short trip to Penang or other Consulate later.

FYI: Monday is a Thai holiday so the Consulate will not be open tomorrow.

[Sunbelt Asia]

Once in Thailand, are you saying I can then apply for the one-year extension visa based on the condo investment criteria?

The folks at Immigration have stated before that they would process the change of visa from a 30 day entry to the extension of stay based on investment. The extension of stay permit based on investment is the only permit, that we have ever gotten a positive response it is possible to change from a 30 day entry. Even asking two different officers the same positive answer. However to be frank, we don't trust the system and have never had to try.

Its not written in the law they are allowed to do this change except at their discretion. Discretion means our clients and us have no control over their decision so we always inform our clients to obtain a non immigrant visa or at worse a tourist visa before arriving into Thailand. Then the odds are very high to getting the extension of stay permit based on investment.

Try getting the visa in China first. If you cannot get a Thai tourist visa in China and before flying out of Thailand to another Consulate/Embassy, it will be worth a shot to try it in Thailand. The worse they can say "no, not in your case, on the change from a 30 day entry "l

www.lawyer.th.com

[Havy]

I understand, the entry stamp without a visa isn't a visa and they may not (or may) grant the change. Today I will try to get to shanghai consulate and see what they say. Assuming I get the tourist visa here or someplace else, once in Thailand and going to immigration for the change, since I do not yet have the deed to the condo (not yet completed), do you think they would accept my fx certifications + bank statements + purchase agreement as evidence enough of investment? its just for timing to get the long stay visa so i have it sooner for moving arrangements etc. In any event, I will post here whatever I find out at the shanghai consulate, and thanks for your help.

[Sunbelt Asia]

since I do not yet have the deed to the condo (not yet completed), do you think they would accept my fx certifications + bank statements + purchase agreement as evidence enough of investment?

Sorry no title deed, no visa.

The other option ( may be to late in your case) is to wire the 3 million Baht funds into a Government bank and get the extension of stay permit based on investment . Once the Condo is completed, seek permission to change the cash for the condo.

www.lawyer.th.com

[Havy]

Sunbelt, on your last post I had thought about that but decided it might be more work than benefit, but thanks.

I did contact Thai consulate in Shanghai (twice and spoke to 2 different people and had a chinese associate at my office check once as well). The will issue to US citizen a 60 day tourist visa. Their advice was same as what most of the posts here have said - get the visa, buy the condo and get the deed, go to immigration in Thailand and change. They said "it shouldn't be a problem to do it". So we'll try that.

On the other points - shipping in dogs and furniture - we contacted international moving company and they've confirmed as well no problem for the dogs (with the timely certs) and goods (and duty is payable but depends on what's in the shipment).

Appreciate everyone's comments and help -