Thanks in advance for answering these two questions:

1) Is it still true that for a first time application for a retirement visa, the 800K needs to be in the bank for just 2 months, not 3 months?

2) Can the bank account that is holding the 800k be a joint account---the retirees name plus another person's name?

Or does it have to be just in the retiree's name?

1) Is it still true that for a first time application for a retirement visa, the 800K needs to be in the bank for just 2 months, not 3 months?

Yes. That is the national written rule enforced that way at most offices. There MAY be a few provincial outlier offices not honoring that.

Also note in Thailand you will be applying for an annual extension based on retirement, NOT a retirement visa.

Assuming you either already have an O visa or plan to do a change of status to an O visa (from a 30 day stamp or tourist visa) at your local Thai immigration office (supported by some offices).

2) Can the bank account that is holding the 800k be a joint account---the retirees name plus another person's name?

No.

Or does it have to be just in the retiree's name?

Yes.

Edited July 25, 201312 yr by Jingthing

Thanks for your response.

Actually, I have a non-immigrant B visa.

I was told that I will still fill out the same extension of stay form (TM7) but instead of putting "work" for the reason for extension, I will put "retirement." Correct?

Correct.

The TM 7 form is used for every extension

Actually for the first application the money has to be in the bank for 60 days. Not 2 months.

Correct.

The TM 7 form is used for every extension

Actually for the first application the money has to be in the bank for 60 days. Not 2 months.

A supplemental question:

May I assume that's 60 days before the date of application, rather than 60 days before expiration of my current retirement extension?

I recently realized that if I am correct that it's 60 days before date of application, I will have to wait to renew only a couple of days before expiration of my extension. I was only thinking of date of expiry there for a while before I woke up and rushed money into an account, about 63 days before expiry. LOL.

Seasoning requirements are always about the date of APPLICATION, not the date of expiry of permission to stay.

While we're on about the 800.000 Baht. Can the monies be in a fixed term account? And can it be in more than one account, in my name only? Last year I did a Marriage Extension and initially the officer refused to process me saying I was out to confuse him by having more than one account. I got passed to another officer who accepted my position.

Yes it can be in a fixed account.

Having it in more than one account confuses the issue.

Better not to if possible.

I spoke with Immigration in Chiang Rai about this yesterday, the nice lady said yes it can be in a fixed account, HOWEVER (and this might be a large issue), she did ask which bank I would have it in before she said that. The bank I have it in is Bangkok Bank and the reason is that I read somewhere else that Kasikorn would not issue the letter from a fixed account, and then I read elsewhere that they did issue the letter but it stated that the funds were unusable so immigration forced the person to go convert the account and come back. But in the case of Bangkok Bank there were experiences reported where they had a fixed account and used that letter with Immigration so be a bit careful with this. I would ask the Immigration officer at the location you are planning to use to clarify.

A fixed term account is permitted, provided you can still access the money (with a penalty or not).

What is not allowed are fixed accounts where you cannot access the money during the agreed period.

Yes it can be in a fixed account.

Having it in more than one account confuses the issue.

Better not to if possible.

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

I agree with Lite Beer ..... but just a caution.

It depends on immigration and what exactly they define as a "fixed account".

Normally they want the 800K funds to be "readily available" ,,,,i.e. you can, if you wish, walk into the bank and withdraw the funds in an emergency.

Now accounts that require a waiting period before funds can be withdrawn are often frowned upon by immigration.

But that is often a local immigration decision .... so it's not possible to say exactly how your local immigration interprets "readily available".

As a rule of thumb however, accounts that pay a fixed rate of interest that is higher than a regular deposit account and for that reason require a notice period before you can withdraw money are frowned upon by immigration and may not be acceptable.

Just be aware of that caution..... it would be wise to ask at your local immigration before you apply for retirement..... if you have such a notice before withdrawal of funds fixed rate account.

That would avoid any unpleasant shocks at application if the immigration balks at your bank account because funds are not "readily available".

With most fixed accounts you can walk into the bank and withdraw immediately.

I know I can at SCB.

What you have to be careful of are the fixed term fund accounts - they would not be accepted and are often advertised as if the same as normal fixed deposit cash accounts by banks.

If you are using Korat immigration , they insist on 3 month seasoning for any type of application .....

While we're on about the 800.000 Baht. Can the monies be in a fixed term account? And can it be in more than one account, in my name only? Last year I did a Marriage Extension and initially the officer refused to process me saying I was out to confuse him by having more than one account. I got passed to another officer who accepted my position.

Regarding my questions, thank you. I feel more relaxed now.

May I assume that's 60 days before the date of application, rather than 60 days before expiration of my current retirement extension?

"before expiration of my current retirement extension" implies that this is not the first application. Then the seasoning period is three months!

May I assume that's 60 days before the date of application, rather than 60 days before expiration of my current retirement extension?

"before expiration of my current retirement extension" implies that this is not the first application. Then the seasoning period is three months!

Good catch. This is my second extension coming up, but I used an income letter before as opposed to a 800K deposit. But that's a very good question. I have a feeling you are right. Two months or three months? Confirmation?

I can still get an income letter but the mails from Canada have been erratic lately so thought I'd choose the deposit method. Too late, it appears.

Edited July 26, 201312 yr by Kaoboi Bebobp

Three months.

Method does not matter.

Have a talk with immigration. They may be willing to give a 30 day extension and then at the end of that process the retirement extension smile nicely.

Edited July 26, 201312 yr by harrry

The official written rules:

800K method: seasoning two months for first extension and three months for all subsequent extensions

Combo method (mix of income letter and Thai bank account): NO seasoning required for bank account balance

Income method: No bank account used for qualification so no seasoning requirement.

^^^Jingthing: Perfect. Didn't know there's no seasoning for combo method. Now, all I have to do is pursuade my pension source to foot courier bill upfront. I believe DHL is dependable in Thailand?

May I assume that's 60 days before the date of application, rather than 60 days before expiration of my current retirement extension?

"before expiration of my current retirement extension" implies that this is not the first application. Then the seasoning period is three months!

Good catch. This is my second extension coming up, but I used an income letter before as opposed to a 800K deposit. But that's a very good question. I have a feeling you are right. Two months or three months? Confirmation?

I can still get an income letter but the mails from Canada have been erratic lately so thought I'd choose the deposit method. Too late, it appears.

You don't have to have anything from Canada to get the extension.

You can do a statutory declaration at the embassy in Bangkok to prove your income.

^^^Jingthing: Perfect. Didn't know there's no seasoning for combo method. Now, all I have to do is pursuade my pension source to foot courier bill upfront. I believe DHL is dependable in Thailand?

There have been some reports of a few outlying provincial offices not honoring the national rule on no seasoning for combo method. I don't think anyone has a master list of current office peculiarities. Just saying ...

Ubonjoe:

Really? You're sure? Thought only Americans could simply swear on a number. If this is case, then that would make me very happy.

BTW, it's not national pension, it's company pension.

Edited July 26, 201312 yr by Kaoboi Bebobp

Not sure what exactly the embassy will want. You should give them a call. I suspect even an old document or one you can have emailed to you would be accepted if they want proof.

Contact info for embassy: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/thailand-thailande/consular_services_consulaires/consul_thailand-thailande.aspx?lang=eng

Immigration will only accept a letter or declaration from your embassy to prove your income.

Edited July 26, 201312 yr by ubonjoe

I am not at home in BKK at the moment but believe I have just the right document, official company ones. I will definitely try this method and will report.

Thanks, Ubonjoe.

Update:

At the Canadian embassy, I was specifically asked for a corroborating income statement from home. I offered a printout of an old PDF file from my company, rather than any specific letter from home simply stating my pension. The official file contained the company pension calculations and payment options. That seemed to satisfy the Thai national counsellor. They printed out a template form, with my information, and asked for 1500 baht. Done.

Are you certain of this? I spoke with immigration officer in amnat charoen this afternoon and he stated it was necessary to age or season the cash in thai bank when using combo option (income + cash). This is driving me crazy. Please help.

There is nothing in Police Order 777/2551 saying this and most immigration offices do not require - but there are several that do require the same 2 or 3 month seasoning that is stated for using full bank deposit of 800k.

Are you certain of this? I spoke with immigration officer in amnat charoen this afternoon and he stated it was necessary to age or season the cash in thai bank when using combo option (income + cash). This is driving me crazy. Please help.

If that's what the officer told you, then for THAT OFFICE, that's what you likely need to do.

The national rule is NO SEASONING when using the combo method, but yes some provincial offices do not follow the correct national rule and I don't think there is usually much you can do about that except to comply with their specific office enforcement policy.

BTW, the official rules when using the 800K method is two months seasoning for the first retirement extension and three months for subsequent ones.

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less
than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application