Converting an education visa to a retirement visa

[Hecate]

I currently have a retirement visa, but would like to change it to a education visa. This seems relatively straight forward, as I could get assistance from the school. I'm wondering if I might have difficulty transferring back to a retirement visa from an education if I chose to do so later. I have a Thai bank account, and getting it was a major pain the last time around. I know there is an issue converting a tourist visa to a retirement visa and am wondering if converting an education visa to a retirement visa would go smoothly.

Also I've heard that the Chiang Mai office does not want to give out ed visa to people over 50. Any truth to this?

Thanks for any assistance.

[ubonjoe]

I suspect you don't have a visa. You have an extension of stay from immigration.

You can not change visas if you already have a non immigrant visa entry. You change the reason for your extension from retirement to one for going to school and vice visa.

I have seen nothing to confirm that immigration in CM will not do an extension for going to school if you are 50 or over.

[olddoc]

The is no need for an ED visa for you to study. Your current extension of stay does not preclude attending school.

There must be a reason for wanting to make this change !

[Mario2008]

You do realize that for an extension based on retirement you can also use the combo option:

- yearly income plus money in the bank in Thailand must together be at least 800,000 baht.

[Hecate]

I suspect you don't have a visa. You have an extension of stay from immigration.

You can not change visas if you already have a non immigrant visa entry. You change the reason for your extension from retirement to one for going to school and vice visa.

I have seen nothing to confirm that immigration in CM will not do an extension for going to school if you are 50 or over.

Actually I do have a retirement visa. I'm not sure why you would be so certain it's an "extension of stay from immigration" or what the difference is. If it weren't a proper retirement visa, I think one of the dozens of immigration officers that checked it in the last several years would have said something. You can assume that I also have been depositing 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account every year, I've been checking in every 90 days, that I have a stamp in my passport, comply with re-entry regulations, and so on. I didn't think it was necessary to include this information. Thanks for the your reply.

[Mario2008]

You are on an extension of stay based on retirement, your visa was good to travel to Thailand and has expired a long time ago.

[Hecate]

The is no need for an ED visa for you to study. Your current extension of stay does not preclude attending school.

There must be a reason for wanting to make this change !

Indeed there is. Well-spotted. I don't want to keep putting 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account and I don't trust the SET. I'm aware that I could transfer the funds back to my country after three months, and put it in a more reliable stock exchange, but that involves transfer fees, hassle, exchange rate issues, capital gains tax and so on. I'd just as soon not bring the money into Thailand in the first place.

My question is whether I could change my visa from retirement to ed and back again. Thanks for your reply.

[Hecate]

You are on an extension of stay based on retirement, your visa was good to travel to Thailand and has expired a long time ago.

What are you talking about? I have a proper, multiple-entry retirement visa, have had it for years, and it doesn't expire for several months, at which time I have the option of renewing it if I top up my bank account to 800,000 THB. It was checked at immigration when I re-entered the country last week with the proper permit. It is checked every 90 days, and whenever I return from travels. If I'm here illegally, so are you and everyone else on this forum.

If there is anyone out there who would like to answer my question instead of making baseless accusations, please reply.

[ubonjoe]

I suspect you don't have a visa. You have an extension of stay from immigration.

You can not change visas if you already have a non immigrant visa entry. You change the reason for your extension from retirement to one for going to school and vice visa.

I have seen nothing to confirm that immigration in CM will not do an extension for going to school if you are 50 or over.

Actually I do have a retirement visa. I'm not sure why you would be so certain it's an "extension of stay from immigration" or what the difference is. If it weren't a proper retirement visa, I think one of the dozens of immigration officers that checked it in the last several years would have said something. You can assume that I also have been depositing 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account every year, I've been checking in every 90 days, that I have a stamp in my passport, comply with re-entry regulations, and so on. I didn't think it was necessary to include this information. Thanks for the your reply.

I suggest you look at the stamp that immigration has been putting in your passport when you go there and show your money in the bank and etc.

I think that it says: .Extension of stay permitted to day, month, year

[Hecate]

You do realize that for an extension based on retirement you can also use the combo option:

- yearly income plus money in the bank in Thailand must together be at least 800,000 baht.

Yes. That was explained when I got the visa. Thank you.

[Hecate]

While it does indeed say this, I don't think that means "you don't have a visa" as you stated earlier or that I am in the country illegally which has been implied by every poster since.

Are you an immigration lawyer? The person who arranged this for me some years ago was, and I would think if it were not done properly, it would have come to light by now. While I'm dying to know what you think the difference between my retirement visa and a proper one, I'd rather stay on topic. Thanks again.

[Hecate]

I suspect you don't have a visa. You have an extension of stay from immigration.

You can not change visas if you already have a non immigrant visa entry. You change the reason for your extension from retirement to one for going to school and vice visa.

I have seen nothing to confirm that immigration in CM will not do an extension for going to school if you are 50 or over.

Actually I do have a retirement visa. I'm not sure why you would be so certain it's an "extension of stay from immigration" or what the difference is. If it weren't a proper retirement visa, I think one of the dozens of immigration officers that checked it in the last several years would have said something. You can assume that I also have been depositing 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account every year, I've been checking in every 90 days, that I have a stamp in my passport, comply with re-entry regulations, and so on. I didn't think it was necessary to include this information. Thanks for the your reply.

I suggest you look at the stamp that immigration has been putting in your passport when you go there and show your money in the bank and etc.

I think that it says: .Extension of stay permitted to day, month, year

While it does indeed say this, I don't think that means "you don't have a visa" as you stated earlier or that I am in the country illegally which has been implied by every poster since.

Are you an immigration lawyer? The person who arranged this for me some years ago was, and I would think if it were not done properly, it would have come to light by now. While I'm dying to know what you think the difference between my retirement visa and a proper one, I'd rather stay on topic, which if you'll recall was converting a retirement visa to an ed visa and back. Thanks again.

[ubonjoe]

While it does indeed say this, I don't think that means "you don't have a visa" as you stated earlier or that I am in the country illegally which has been implied by every poster since.

Are you an immigration lawyer? The person who arranged this for me some years ago was, and I would think if it were not done properly, it would have come to light by now. While I'm dying to know what you think the difference between my retirement visa and a proper one, I'd rather stay on topic. Thanks again.

I don't think anybody meant to say you were here illegally. It is just a matter of terminology.

A visa allows you to enter the country and obtain a permit to stay equal to what the visa allows.

Once in the country you are on a permit to stay and that is what you extend every year.

In the case where a person enters visa exempt or on a tourist visa the permit to stay obtained from that entry is changed to a non immigrant visa entry by immigration issuing a visa and then doing a new entry and permit to stay date 90 days from when the change is done.. Then that permit to stay can be extended.

[olddoc]

i fail to understand the reason for Hecates aggressiveness.

No one has suggested he is in Thailand illegally but for sure he is not here on the basis of a current , valid visa.

If he wishes to "repatriate" his funds that is a personal decision.

If an Ed visa is required all he has to do is secure all the school provided paper work ,exit Thailand and ask at a local Thai Embassy / Consulate for an ED visa. If he is lucky he will be granted a 90 day visa which can subsequently have the "permission to day date" extended 90 days at a time ----assuming the paperwork is in order.

Personally I would rather remain with a 12 month extension of stay which can be secured on the basis of income, money in the bank or a combination.

[Hecate]

i fail to understand the reason for Hecates aggressiveness.

No one has suggested he is in Thailand illegally but for sure he is not here on the basis of a current , valid visa.

If he wishes to "repatriate" his funds that is a personal decision.

If an Ed visa is required all he has to do is secure all the school provided paper work ,exit Thailand and ask at a local Thai Embassy / Consulate for an ED visa. If he is lucky he will be granted a 90 day visa which can subsequently have the "permission to day date" extended 90 days at a time ----assuming the paperwork is in order.

Personally I would rather remain with a 12 month extension of stay which can be secured on the basis of income, money in the bank or a combination.

"For sure he is not here on the basis of a current, valid visa". Why would you say that? You don't know who I am or anything about me. I absolutely do have a current, valid visa that has been checked dozens of times by the proper authorities, most recently last week. On what basis are you suggesting otherwise? If retirement visas exist--and I hope we can agree that they do--how can you be sure I don't have one?

I do understand your aggression. You're a troll. You are not even answering the question that I asked. You just want to put your two cents worth in. Give it a rest, buddy.

Moderator, you may as well close this thread, as it appears no one has anything useful to say. I'm sorry I asked. I will look for the information elsewhere.

[olddoc]

Just a really small question

Was the retirement visa obtained in Thailand ?

If so I would be very pleased if you are able to tell me where the visa was obtained

I really need to obtain one next week

Thanks for your help.

[Mario2008]

This is becoming a flame fest.

Closed.