I know its been discussed before but id like to try and get options cleared up. Ive been coming to Thailand for 15+ years for business but am now semi retired. For last 4 years ive lived here almost full time on yearly visas. That is since i married my girlfriend of long standing 4 years ago. To start i got 1 year multi visit visa in UK (easy and quick if you show funds). I just had to leave country every 90 days which was no problem because I did that anyway. So i did that for 2 years then I changed to a retirement visa and am now on my third extension. no problems at all. I have ample funds (money) and 800,000 or for that matter even if they raise it to 1 million or more baht a year would probably not be a problem. So ive been thinking about applying for permanent residence. I read you cant do this on retirement visa for 3 years. I know immigration far prefer retirement and on my last renewal i was politely told why go for dependent visa you have 800,000 and to save hazzle i went for it (no trouble as usual renewed i nabout 20 minutes)

So anyone had simular experiance of changing from retirement to dependency and any views comments really welcome.

waiting for replies

i heard its not so easy to change from retirement visa to marriage visa, probably since it requires less deposit from you (400k instead of 800k), but it may be possible ...

When talking permanent residency, the single most important thing is: How much have you paid in Thai-tax? Merely switching visa-flavor wouldn't make much of a difference, unless that switch is used to raise the buttomline on your tax-paying record.

I switched to the married visa, I still have the income to qaulify for the single retirement visa. I have heard of instances where the wife is required to go with you for the annual. Mine does anyway so it's not a big deal for me. I have also heard of instances where the husband has been seriously ill and the wife did the renewal for them.

The only diffference that I can see in the proceedure is you to present the marriage documents certified.

So I think it is just a matter of what you feel most comfortable with. No big deal to go back to the single status as long as you have the funds.

In support Thai wife the wife must always apply with you for the extension of stay. To change from support Thai wife to Retirement the wife must also appear with you the first time (if still married) to sign that she understands you have changed your status.

I switched to the married visa, I still have the income to qaulify for the single retirement visa. I have heard of instances where the wife is required to go with you for the annual. Mine does anyway so it's not a big deal for me. I have also heard of instances where the husband has been seriously ill and the wife did the renewal for them.

The only diffference that I can see in the proceedure is you to present the marriage documents certified.

So I think it is just a matter of what you feel most comfortable with. No big deal to go back to the single status as long as you have the funds.

Thanks Ray

Thanks for reply

?? where did u do this ??? do you know of any advantage other than you need less money in your account, as I said on my last renewal I brought my wife, marriage certificate etc but officer still said

It was better I just renewed my retirement visa - maybe easier for them. I just have a sort of gut

feel that a support dependent visa may be better in long run particularly if they ever tighten up on

retirement visa - also i read that you cant apply for perpanent rersidency on retirement visa after 3 years - someone here posted that that depenmds on how much tax you pay - well i pay none here although my Thai wife does. As I said in my first post i dont see funds issue ever being a problem even if they increase the amount a lot - against that my last 3 years on retirement visa has never been a problem and done very easily in BKK

The support Thai wife requires a review period and two trips or more. The retirement is issued in one trip. Unless you expect to meet criteria and have a high taxed income the PR question is not really an issue under current conditions so the retirement option is probably easier for most if they meet the higher financial requirements.

I have a Thai wife but have never had a support visa. I did tell the people at Thai immigration that I was now married. I thought they may have needed to know. I was encouraged that if I had no problem meeting the financial requirements that a retirement visa was the easier way to go. The retirement visa is very easy to renew so I can't see any advantage having a support visa.

Looking further ahead, you wife may predecease you, or you may seperate, then you will be back to retirement.

Perhaps it is better to stay with the status quo, if the money is not a problem.

All my immigration things are done by the Nong Kia office, usually on the two days they are in Udon at AEK Udon.