What is required?

And which is easier, getting a work permit from a retirement or an Imm O visa later on if required?

Is there any negative reason for breaking an Imm O visa run of several years to change to a retirement one?

Non immigrant O visa is what you get for retirement (unless you want the special O-A one year stay pre-approved extension type in home country with medical and police checks). But if you extend for retirement they are not likely to issue a work permit - if you extend for marriage they likely will. Are you talking about 90 day say visas or one year extensions of stay?

1 year, I am currently thai child support visa.

If you are the legal father and have custody of your child you could get an extension of stay at immigration if you can meet the financial requirements (40K baht income or 400K in bank for 60 days).

You can get a work permit with the visa you have now or with extension of stay since it is based upon having a Thai child.

Not what I asked really is it.

I have been getting extension of stay for several years.

You confused the issue by calling your extension of stay a visa which it is not.

If wand to change your reason for the extension from supporting a Thai child to retirement you can easily do that if you want to. Just apply for the retirement extension when you go in for your next extension instead of for having a Thai child.

Edited June 4, 201313 yr by ubonjoe

Yes, I know I can do that.

Again, not what I asked. But never mind.

You asked in the title 'changing from imm O to retirement visa'.

There is no such animal as a retirement visa. If you changed the reason for extending an O from child support to retirement it would still be an 'O'. However you are unlikely to get a work permit with a 'for retirement purposes' extension whereas you could for child support or marriage.

(if you return to your home country and get an O-A, that is a pre approved long stay visa still not a 'retirement visa')

Yes I asked because it is changing from one to the other isn't it...whether you call it and extension or a visa is just pedantic because regardless it is all still a visa to allow you to stay.

Same documents are not required right ?

How about going from a retirement visa back to something else, most likely a child support visa again if a WP is required later ? Is that possible ?

"How about going from a retirement visa back to something else, most likely a child support visa again if a WP is required later ? Is that possible ?"

It's possible to switch back and forth from a Non Imm O based on a child to a Non Imm O based on retirement..

Either one has it's pros and cons to it.

Again, you seem to be talking about one thing and using 'immigration vocabulary' for something else.

Perhaps a review of the pinned topics at the top of the forum would benefit you, so that instead of rude replies you can understand the advice you're getting.

Good luck with whatever it is you're wanting to do.

Terry

Edited June 4, 201313 yr by TerryLH

"How about going from a retirement visa back to something else, most likely a child support visa again if a WP is required later ? Is that possible ?"

It's possible to switch back and forth.

Again, you seem to be talking about one thing and using 'immigration vocabulary' for something else.

Either one has it's pros and cons to it.

Perhaps a review of the pinned topics at the top of the forum would benefit you, so that instead of rude replies you can understand the advice you're getting.

Good luck with whatever it is you're wanting to do.

Terry

Thanks.

But not rude replies, just replies to replies that don't relate to the queries in the op.

OK, I'll attempt to answer the OP's questions in the order raised.

1. What is required -- you'll be changing the reason for your extension of your existing O visa. You won't get an entirely new visa, just have a new justification for a 12 month extension. You'll need to be over age 50 and have an income of over 65,000 baht/month or 800,000 baht on deposit in a Thai bank for 3 months prior to applying for the visa extension. A combination of income and bank balance can be used. Your consulate/embassy provides a letter to verify income and your Thai bank provides a letter to verify you bank balance. I've known of no one who was asked to verify they're actually over age 50.

2. Most labor offices won't grant a work permit if the reason for your extension is due to retirement. I've heard of exceptions, so perhaps you could inquire of your local labor office if you want to work while holding a retirement extension

3. You won't be breaking a "visa run" of several years, if by that you mean back-to-back extensions for several years. You won't receive a new visa, just a new reason for extending the permission to stay. Unbroken chain.

I've known people who have extended an O visa obtained 15 years ago for various reasons -- maybe marriage for a while, the child support (when the marriage ends) and finally retirement when the person is over age 50.

Edited June 4, 201313 yr by NancyL

He's not really trying to be picky.

Both retirement visas" and a child support "visas" are really extensions of a non O immigrant visa.

So, in effect they are just the same visa, with different reasons for being extended.

Both extensions can be done in Thailand at immigration, just need some supporting documentation.

But to answer your question, it is usually more difficult to get a Work Permit basing the extension on retirement than on supporting a Thai child.

They can be switched though, by changing the reason for the extension.

And it should be possible to change the extension relatively easily if your situation should change. (i.e. you got a job offer).

One possible disadvantage, if you were supporting children on a Work Permit, and lost or quit your job, the Work Permit and it's extension would be canceled when your job ended immediately.

The immigration might also question why your reason for the extension was "retirement in Thailand" and them you wanted to work also.

OK, I'll attempt to answer the OP's questions in the order raised.

1. What is required -- you'll be changing the reason for your extension of your existing O visa. You won't get an entirely new visa, just have a new justification for a 12 month extension. You'll need to be over age 50 and have an income of over 65,000 baht/month or 800,000 baht on deposit in a Thai bank for 3 months prior to applying for the visa extension. A combination of income and bank balance can be used. Your consulate/embassy provides a letter to verify income and your Thai bank provides a letter to verify you bank balance. I've known of no one who was asked to verify they're actually over age 50.

2. Most labor offices won't grant a work permit if the reason for your extension is due to retirement. I've heard of exceptions, so perhaps you could inquire of your local labor office if you want to work while holding a retirement extension

3. You won't be breaking a "visa run" of several years, if by that you mean back-to-back extensions for several years. You won't receive a new visa, just a new reason for extending the permission to stay. Unbroken chain.

I've known people who have extended an O visa obtained 15 years ago for various reasons -- maybe marriage for a while, the child support (when the marriage ends) and finally retirement when the person is over age 50.

Thanks.

Surely there is more paperwork required than just the mebassy or bank letter ?

Which form is downloaded to fill in.

Do you need the house photos and all that, map to residence, etc etc

He's not really trying to be picky.

Both retirement visas" and a child support "visas" are really extensions of a non O immigrant visa.

So, in effect they are just the same visa, with different reasons for being extended.

Both extensions can be done in Thailand at immigration, just need some supporting documentation.

But to answer your question, it is usually more difficult to get a Work Permit basing the extension on retirement than on supporting a Thai child.

They can be switched though, by changing the reason for the extension.

And it should be possible to change the extension relatively easily if your situation should change. (i.e. you got a job offer).

One possible disadvantage, if you were supporting children on a Work Permit, and lost or quit your job, the Work Permit and it's extension would be canceled when your job ended immediately.

The immigration might also question why your reason for the extension was "retirement in Thailand" and them you wanted to work also.

Finally recognition.

Thanks for the info.

I just hit 50 and seems the sensible thing would be to take the easy route, the kids support visa has had its ups and downs and paperwork requirements change many times, many at the last instance.

You are asking about Extensions of your Temporary Permission to Stay in the Kingdom not Visas.

The retirement Extension is about the easiest to apply for.

Order of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters

No.777/2551

Re: Rules and Conditions in the Consideration of Alien Applications for Temporary Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand

2.22 In the case of a retiree: Permission will be granted for a period of not more

than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

" I've known of no one who was asked to verify they're actually over age 50."

Passport.

You don't need a house photo or map to the house to get a retirement extension. No one is going to come check out where you live. They may ask if you rent or own and it's a good idea to bring your lease or whatever that book is (don't have one, so don't know) is it the yellow book or blue book -- whatever proof you have that you live at the place listed on your TM 7 form, which is the application. It's rare they ask about proof of residence.

Also, they may ask for back-up documentation if you use the income method. Whatever document you use at your embassy to prove income should be OK, or if you're from a country whose embassy doesn't ask for proof, then bring your tax return, investment statements, something to wave around if they ask. They rarely ask, and then rarely study the documents once produced. They just want to see if you sweat the answer.

Yes, it really is that easy to get a retirement extension vs. an education, marriage or child support extension. This is why Immigration offices often encourage people over 50 to get them. Less work for them, too.

Edited June 5, 201313 yr by NancyL

" I've known of no one who was asked to verify they're actually over age 50."

Passport.

Passport confirms age

He's not really trying to be picky.

Both retirement visas" and a child support "visas" are really extensions of a non O immigrant visa.

So, in effect they are just the same visa, with different reasons for being extended.

Both extensions can be done in Thailand at immigration, just need some supporting documentation.

But to answer your question, it is usually more difficult to get a Work Permit basing the extension on retirement than on supporting a Thai child.

They can be switched though, by changing the reason for the extension.

And it should be possible to change the extension relatively easily if your situation should change. (i.e. you got a job offer).

One possible disadvantage, if you were supporting children on a Work Permit, and lost or quit your job, the Work Permit and it's extension would be canceled when your job ended immediately.

The immigration might also question why your reason for the extension was "retirement in Thailand" and them you wanted to work also.

You do not extend a visa ever. You extend the permit to stay you got from a visa when you entered the country using the visa.

When on an extension stay based upon marriage to a Thai or having a Thai Child the extension is not cancelled because you loose your job. This only applies to an extension of stay based upon working.

As far as I am concerned, it is a visa.

It is a thing in your passport allowing you to stay and enter a foreign country.

Normal people you meet in conversation might ask "what visa are you on here"...everyone replies, retirement, support thai kids, tourist etc VISA...not "oh I am on an extension,its not a visa"

I understand your point. But when people make a post on here that they have visa but really have an extension of stay it can get confusing because we don't know how to reply.

Once you get an extension you do not leave and re-enter using a visa. You use a re-entry permit for that because your visa has already expired.

Edited June 5, 201313 yr by ubonjoe

As far as I am concerned, it is a visa.

It is a thing in your passport allowing you to stay and enter a foreign country.

Normal people you meet in conversation might ask "what visa are you on here"...everyone replies, retirement, support thai kids, tourist etc VISA...not "oh I am on an extension,its not a visa"

True, but there is a difference and because there is a difference it can and often leads to confusion. Better to use the correct terminology.

Fairy nuff

I may have missed it, but what form do you require to fill out for retirement and where to download it.

You use the same tm 7 form as always and just fill in "retirement" as reason to stay.

Download: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/tm7.doc

Print double sided, two seperate sheets of paper are not accepted.

As far as I am concerned, it is a visa.

It is a thing in your passport allowing you to stay and enter a foreign country.

Normal people you meet in conversation might ask "what visa are you on here"...everyone replies, retirement, support thai kids, tourist etc VISA...not "oh I am on an extension,its not a visa"

True, but there is a difference and because there is a difference it can and often leads to confusion. Better to use the correct terminology.

Last year I came to Thailand with just my american passport. The nice lady at the immigration desk looked at me with a big smile, waved me over (it was late at night and I was the only one wandering into her area). She mumbled a welcome, then put a stamp in my passport. She pointed out the date she had written on the stamp to me, and explained that was the date I was allowed to stay up to on my visit.

My question is, was that a "visa" inf any way shape or form ( a " temporary" visa). And with that would I be able to apply for a retirement extension? Or do I need a proper visa issued by the Thai consulate in the US?

As far as I am concerned, it is a visa.

It is a thing in your passport allowing you to stay and enter a foreign country.

Normal people you meet in conversation might ask "what visa are you on here"...everyone replies, retirement, support thai kids, tourist etc VISA...not "oh I am on an extension,its not a visa"

True, but there is a difference and because there is a difference it can and often leads to confusion. Better to use the correct terminology.

Last year I came to Thailand with just my american passport. The nice lady at the immigration desk looked at me with a big smile, waved me over (it was late at night and I was the only one wandering into her area). She mumbled a welcome, then put a stamp in my passport. She pointed out the date she had written on the stamp to me, and explained that was the date I was allowed to stay up to on my visit.

My question is, was that a "visa" inf any way shape or form ( a " temporary" visa). And with that would I be able to apply for a retirement extension? Or do I need a proper visa issued by the Thai consulate in the US?

No, if you didn't apply for a visa, you made a visa exempt entry. If you meet the qualifications for an extension of stay based on retirement, and time it properly you can make that work, but it requires extra steps. Easy enough to apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" Visa, and make the extension from that.

Edited June 10, 201313 yr by beechguy

Per above that was not a visa, but you can transform it into a non-immirgant visa and get an extension of stay based on retirement on that. You would need proof of 800,000 in a bank in Thailand or an embassy letter confirming you have an income of 65,000 baht a month, or a combination of both totaling 800,000.

However, if flying from the US you might not be allowed to board the plane with a one way ticket. So best is to get a visa to start with. Many consulates allow you to apply by mail.

He said "last year" so must be a question of can I do again.

No it was not a visa but a visa exempt entry. Yes you can convert with 15 days or more remaining to a non immigrant entry of 90 days with proof of meeting financial conditions/age for retirement but as mentioned above you may not get on flight so would be better to pay that 2,000 baht fee for a single entry non immigrant visa prior to travel.