Retirement Visa Requirements Ventienne Laos

[gdhm]

Hello All,

I have just married a Thai National (thank God she IS the genuine and a beautiful Lady in Heart and mind as is the whole of her family - unlike my first wife who I married and divorced in 4 months who was merely a blood sucking ruthless gold digger who took me for a 800,000baht ride before I could leagally rid myself of her and her tentacles)

My Questions and need for your advice:

1) I understand that as I am 53 that it is better for me to apply for a Retirement Visa (rather than a Visia on the basis of marriage) as renewal is easier AND does not require me to leave and re-enter Thailand at renewal. Can anybody confrim this. (I know I need 800,000 baht and not 400,000 for a retirement visa)

2) Does anybody know the requirement for submitting a retirement Visa application at the Ventienne office, Laos.

There seems to be SO MANY different interpretations by Consulates in different countries (e.g. UK needs a police criminal record report, 800,000 baht or equivalent income BUT money CAN be in a UK bank or OUTSIDE THAILAND and does NOT need to be in Thailand (they highlight this fact their in their information leaflet supplied ith Visa application for retirement), bank statement and letter from bank confirming money in account, medial report from GP, ALL to be notarised before passing to UK consulate for their official stamps to be added prior to submission to Thai immigration in Thailand.

However I am being told by many here in Thailand that I need 800,000 baht in THAILAND (and I see from one article on this forum there is a suggestion I need to prove the money came from outside of Thailand, If so why? I can only get money into my new Bangkok saving account via deposits of money I draw from my UK bank via an ATM as I am in Thailand at the moment.

Other people are telling me I do not need a criminal record report as I am married to a Thai National even though I am applying for a Retirement Visa (not one based on marriage. The Uk report takes 40 days and it come under the Data Protection Act 1998 regulations. It will (I understand) merely says they cannot find a record on me (not that I have a clean record). Obviously, the reason and obvious implication is that they have no record because I have never had the tiniest brush with the law in my life and have a 100% clean record.

I am living in Thailand at the moment (2 months so far) on Visa runs, but I normally live in Spain (last 4 years). I am selling up my house in Spain and car and moving to Thailand permantly to live in this lovely country and for the sake of my wife and the 4 year old son I have happily inherited with out marriage (who is like and IS as far as I am concerned (and my wife is concerned) my Son now)

I will be most grateful to anybody who can tell me EXACTLY what I need to submitt a Retirement Visa application Application to the Ventienne Consulate in Laos.

ALSO,

3) Can anybody tell me if the Bangkok Immigration Office for processing Retirement Visa requests is the nearest (or best) for Khon Kaen (where I and my wife live).

I appoligize if I am asking questions already answered before in other posts, but I have searched the Forum and am confused a little as to what is the latest requirements, and by the occasional difference of understanding or opinions of requirements.

Many Thanks

Regards

Dave

[lopburi3]

1. You do not obtain a retirement visa in Laos unless you are Lao. A retirement (actually non immigrant O-A visa) is issued in your home/residence country and provides a one year stay upon entry. Requirements are the same everywhere which include 800k equivalent in local bank account, police check, medical and over age 50.

2. If you are in Thailand you can obtain a one year extension of stay on the basis of retirement with 800k in local bank account (sourced from overseas by having money wire transferred), medical certificate and bank letter (or Embassy pension letter or combo of both) and over age 50. This can be issued in one visit to immigration. There are no requirements to exit Thailand on such an extension and you can continue each year.

3. You can also obtain support Thai wife extension of stay with 400k in Thai bank from overseas but this will have an under review period so will take 2 or more trips and both have to be present for the first visit. With this extension you could obtain a work permit - not available if for retirement. It is extended each year the same as retirement (except multi visits) and there is no need to exit the country.

4. So what is better is up to you.

5. Reason for overseas source of money is that you do not have a work permit for Thailand.

6. You should use the local immigration office - that is why they are there.

[gdhm]

6. You should use the local immigration office - that is why they are there.

Many thanks Lopburi3

Once again you have helped me as you have so many times with information in the past AND especially since I was taken for a ride by my Ex wife. I am pleased tell you that my new wife (innocent translator for my Ex, and MY friend originally) is a husband's dream and she is 100% opposite to my Ex in almost every aspect. I cannot be more happy if I tried.

I now fully understand the situation.

With regard to you comment No.6.

It is my inexperienced understanding that Khon Kaen does not have an Immigration Office (but I could of course be wrong). If anybody knows of one and its address OR, the address of nearest logical Immigration Office I should use (as I am based in Khon Kaen) then I would be extremely grateful

Regards

Dave

[lopburi3]

The Nong Khai office serves those in Khon Kaen so you make an outing to the river.

[vinny]

See also Telephone Numbers and Required documents, under Visa Extension, to spend the remainder of life.

[lungbing]

If you look on khonkaen.com you will see that there is an immigration office at Roi Et opening two days a month. (The 10th and 20th if I remember correctly) That might be closer than Nong Khai, but I have always found Nong Khai immigration staff to be most helpful. Plus, as Lop says, you get a day out at the river, plus as I say, a trip to the riverside maket and a look across the river at another country.

Khon Kaen is far bigger than Roi Et but does not have an immigration office, not even two days a month.