When was the last increase in the financial requirements for Marriage and Retirement Visas?

I know we dont have a crystal ball but does anyone think this could be reviewed anytime soon? I spend a fair amount of time planning for a retirement visa and though still at least two years off, the thought that the amount necessary may be increased worries me a bit.

Imagine being retired for a good number of years then immigration changes mean that you fall below the minimum.

Last major adjustment was in 1998 and Immigration grandfathered those who already had EXTENSIONS for purposes of retirement or marriage prior to October 1998.

That's one good reason to maintain a string of unbroken extensions, which is a reminder to not forget Re-Entry Permits.

Mac

I think the last change was about 2003. The 1998 date is part of the grandfathering clause.

The last adjustment was for a the devaluation of the baht in 1997 from to 25 baht to approximately 40 to 42 baht at the time they did the change.

I don't anticipate any change in the near future because the baht is at around 32 to the dollar now.

I think Ubonjoe is correct in that the number for retirement extensions was revised up in about 2003 but those with continuous extensions since 21 Oct 1998 were grandfathered in at B200,000 and still are. There was no grandfathering of the B400,000 for extensions based on marriage but I am not sure how long that extension had been in place at the time but it seems pegged at 50% of the retirement amount. The retirement extension must have started in the 80s and I believe B200,000 was the original amount, so there is probably no history beyond that. Certainly there is no mention of retirement or marriage being a reason to admit aliens into the Kingdom in the still current 1979 Immigration Act, which probably explains why these reasons can only support extensions but not visas.

I am sure that the devaluation of the baht entered into their thinking in increasing the lump sum but the fact that it was increased 300% when the dollar had only appreciated around 60% against the baht suggests there was an element of adjustment for inflation too. At some point they will almost certainly adjust for inflation again, seeing as it is over 20 years since the last one but it is impossible to say when and by how much and no noises have been made about it. Hopefully they will not turn their attention to these extensions when they are done with visa runners and migrant labourers from neighbouring countries but who's to say they won't. They could argue that retirement and marriage extensions at the current hurdle rates encourage people to work illegally or engage in criminal activities in the same way as the visa runners are accused of doing. In reality there is probably not a high proportion of people on these extensions working illegally in proper jobs but there are quite a few who start small businesses in the name of a Thai wife or partner and work in them illegally as the manager. That is also what Koreans are accused of doing using the 3 month transit visas they get as a reciprocal deal.

When and if an increase does happen, I would expect a grandfathering clause applying to those already on continuous extensions for 5 years at the cut off date. So it is definitely a good idea not to leave any gaps in your record of extensions.

"Certainly there is no mention of retirement or marriage being a reason to admit aliens into the Kingdom in the still current 1979 Immigration Act, which probably explains why these reasons can only support extensions but not visas."

By 'these reasons', you mean retirement or marriage?

I think those reasons are used often, maybe most of the time, to get visas.

Perhaps there have been changes to the Immigration Act since 1979.

"Certainly there is no mention of retirement or marriage being a reason to admit aliens into the Kingdom in the still current 1979 Immigration Act, which probably explains why these reasons can only support extensions but not visas."

By 'these reasons', you mean retirement or marriage?

I think those reasons are used often, maybe most of the time, to get visas.

Perhaps there have been changes to the Immigration Act since 1979.

There have been no changes made to the immigration act.

Marriage and retirement falls under the other category 15 of Section 34 of the act.

15. Other activities as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations

See: Immigration_Act_EN.pdf

I think the last change was about 2003. The 1998 date is part of the grandfathering clause.

The last adjustment was for a the devaluation of the baht in 1997 //

Cumulative inflations could be another reason for an increase of financial requirements.

If 4% average yearly, it gives about +50% on 10 years.

There doesn't seem much impetus to amend the1979 Immigration Act because they can change virtually anything they like with National Police orders which seem to have the force of ministerial regulations. Major changes to more sensitive legislation would require parliamentary scrutiny but issues regarding foreigners aren't regarded as sensitive.