Can We Have a Restatement & Reiteration of Retirement Visa Requirement for AMERICANS? (Since Aug 30)

[CaptainTyphoon]

Would it be possible to here list the newest "retirement visa" requirements for Americans that are applying for this visa in Thailand?

The reason I ask is that I have seen different figures bandied about, such as 650,000 cash in the bank savings account for Americans on the American Embassy site.

Then, I see 800,000 Baht stated as the requirement on other helpful sites.

What I want is to know, especially after the recent regulations have recently been changed in August for other visas, such as the Ed Visa, what are the newest requirements for the so-called retirement visa, which is NOT really a "retirement" visa, but a visa which allows people over the age of 50 to stay in Thailand for a time.

There seems to be so much confusion now, and so how would anyone know what has been fact checked?

Also, this seems to be a crucial decision that some are making at this time when the Ed Visa has changed so radically, for some.

Please Help.

And, thank you for the help.

(It would be good to know definitively the fastest time frame to completion, as well as would someone need to leave Thailand to switch from another visa to the retirement visa option.)

[lopburi3]

There is no retirement visa for Thailand and the American Embassy would have anything to do with such a visa in any case - the visa used for retirement stay in Thailand is a non immigrant O or O-A and that would normally be issued by a Thai Consulate (and in the case of O-A in your foreign country of residence other than Thailand). There has not been any change in procedures sinced Aug 30 that I am aware of. Please provide a link for the 650k mention on American Embassy web site.

The requirement for immigration extension of stay is 65k per month income or 800k in bank account 2 months (first time - 3 months thereafter) or a combination to meet the 800k figure (some offices now want that to also be in account 2 months so that is the only recent change).

[paz]

This asked and discussed everyday. It is called extension of stay, not visa.

You need to be over 50 with Bt 800,000 in a Thai bank, or monthly income 65,000, or combination.

It is the same for all nationalities. Does not need to leave Thailand.

[CaptainTyphoon]

There is no retirement visa for Thailand and the American Embassy would have anything to do with such a visa in any case - the visa used for retirement stay in Thailand is a non immigrant O or O-A and that would normally be issued by a Thai Consulate (and in the case of O-A in your foreign country of residence other than Thailand). There has not been any change in procedures sinced Aug 30 that I am aware of. Please provide a link for the 650k mention on American Embassy web site.

The requirement for immigration extension of stay is 65k per month income or 800k in bank account 2 months (first time - 3 months thereafter) or a combination to meet the 800k figure (some offices now want that to also be in account 2 months so that is the only recent change).

Here is the link, and now that I re-examine it, I think they state 65 Thousand, not 650 Thousand (sorry).

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/thai-visas-for-americans.html

[CaptainTyphoon]

This asked and discussed everyday. It is called extension of stay, not visa.

You need to be over 50 with Bt 800,000 in a Thai bank, or monthly income 65,000, or combination.

It is the same for all nationalities. Does not need to leave Thailand.

Excuse me, but may I clarify (in my own mind, anyway) what you are stating:

If a US national, or any national perhaps, were here in Thailand with say 18 more days left to his or her visa, and if this visa were say an Ed Visa, ,,,,,

Then one could just immediately wire transfer Baht 800,000 into a Thai bank, and then not be forced to leave the country due to the new ED Visa restrictions? Or, due to one's visa expiring in 20 more days?

Please clarify this point, thank you.

[lopburi3]

Not likely from an ED visa as that is very limited in use - but your could exit and return with normal 30 day visa exempt entry or tourist visa and convert that to an O visa entry for 2,000 baht at Bangkok immigration if you show proof of financials and over age 50.

As for the US Embassy ref it is for obtaining a non immigrant O-A visa in country of residence and not directly concerned with immigration requirements inside Thailand (although the financial amounts remain the same). What is not required from immigration is police check or medical. But on other hand extensions do not allow travel without obtaining a re-entry permit so for some the O-A visa fits.

[CaptainTyphoon]

Not likely from an ED visa as that is very limited in use - but your could exit and return with normal 30 day visa exempt entry or tourist visa and convert that to an O visa entry for 2,000 baht at Bangkok immigration if you show proof of financials and over age 50.

As for the US Embassy ref it is for obtaining a non immigrant O-A visa in country of residence and not directly concerned with immigration requirements inside Thailand (although the financial amounts remain the same). What is not required from immigration is police check or medical. But on other hand extensions do not allow travel without obtaining a re-entry permit so for some the O-A visa fits.

So, what about this:

Leave Thailand, go to say Lao, apply for an Ed Visa, then return to Thailand, then after the dust settles go to Bangkok immigration and apply for the O-A visa, with just 800,000Baht in the bank and no other "financials".

Is that possible?

The logic here is that one must leave the country anyway, so might as well obtain the Ed Visa, (just in case the retirement visa application were to fail, or one did not have enough time in 30 days to pull this off), and then return to Thailand, and during the follow 90 day period before one needed to again extend the Ed Visa for the second 90 day period go to either BKK or CM immigration and apply with the Bank statement for the O-A visa switch?

Again, this does not seem so clear to the lay person, although very critical that one chooses the correct path to many who are here in Thailand, I am sure.

[Maestro]

No, this is not possible. You have to apply for the non-O/A visa at a Thai consulate, usually in the country where you have your permanent residence.

[CaptainTyphoon]

No, this is not possible. You have to apply for the non-O/A visa at a Thai consulate, usually in the country where you have your permanent residence.

Do you mean that Americans would need to travel back to the USA?

Or, could they just fly to Hong Kong's Embassy, for example?

What about going to Guam?

When you say permanent residence, you mean that one would go to the country where one is also a citizen?

That might be very inconvenient for some.

[paz]

No, this is not possible. You have to apply for the non-O/A visa at a Thai consulate, usually in the country where you have your permanent residence.

Do you mean that Americans would need to travel back to the USA?

Or, could they just fly to Hong Kong's Embassy, for example?

What about going to Guam?

When you say permanent residence, you mean that one would go to the country where one is also a citizen?

That might be very inconvenient for some.

That is about O-A visa. Normally it is not the 1st choice because getting an extension of stay in thailand is, after all, easier.

[paz]

Not likely from an ED visa as that is very limited in use - but your could exit and return with normal 30 day visa exempt entry or tourist visa and convert that to an O visa entry for 2,000 baht at Bangkok immigration if you show proof of financials and over age 50.

As for the US Embassy ref it is for obtaining a non immigrant O-A visa in country of residence and not directly concerned with immigration requirements inside Thailand (although the financial amounts remain the same). What is not required from immigration is police check or medical. But on other hand extensions do not allow travel without obtaining a re-entry permit so for some the O-A visa fits.

So, what about this:

Leave Thailand, go to say Lao, apply for an Ed Visa, then return to Thailand, then after the dust settles go to Bangkok immigration and apply for the O-A visa, with just 800,000Baht in the bank and no other "financials".

Is that possible?

The logic here is that one must leave the country anyway, so might as well obtain the Ed Visa, (just in case the retirement visa application were to fail, or one did not have enough time in 30 days to pull this off), and then return to Thailand, and during the follow 90 day period before one needed to again extend the Ed Visa for the second 90 day period go to either BKK or CM immigration and apply with the Bank statement for the O-A visa switch?

Again, this does not seem so clear to the lay person, although very critical that one chooses the correct path to many who are here in Thailand, I am sure.

You don't need to do all that, in places like Jomtien you can get a visa exempt conversion and extension in a day.

[CaptainTyphoon]

Not likely from an ED visa as that is very limited in use - but your could exit and return with normal 30 day visa exempt entry or tourist visa and convert that to an O visa entry for 2,000 baht at Bangkok immigration if you show proof of financials and over age 50.

As for the US Embassy ref it is for obtaining a non immigrant O-A visa in country of residence and not directly concerned with immigration requirements inside Thailand (although the financial amounts remain the same). What is not required from immigration is police check or medical. But on other hand extensions do not allow travel without obtaining a re-entry permit so for some the O-A visa fits.

So, what about this:

Leave Thailand, go to say Lao, apply for an Ed Visa, then return to Thailand, then after the dust settles go to Bangkok immigration and apply for the O-A visa, with just 800,000Baht in the bank and no other "financials".

Is that possible?

The logic here is that one must leave the country anyway, so might as well obtain the Ed Visa, (just in case the retirement visa application were to fail, or one did not have enough time in 30 days to pull this off), and then return to Thailand, and during the follow 90 day period before one needed to again extend the Ed Visa for the second 90 day period go to either BKK or CM immigration and apply with the Bank statement for the O-A visa switch?

Again, this does not seem so clear to the lay person, although very critical that one chooses the correct path to many who are here in Thailand, I am sure.

You don't need to do all that, in places like Jomtien you can get a visa exempt conversion and extension in a day.

OK, then please tell me, do you mean I can get a conversion from an ED visa or a Tourist visa, in JomTien, and then using a visa exempt status finally be able to have a "retirement visa" after I wire transfer 800,000 Baht to a Thai Bank?

Basically, I am trying to get this question answered, as I already stated above:

a. Now, we must leave Thailand to renew ore reapply or apply for an Ed Visa.

b. But, the EdVisa seems more and more difficult, and tenuous.

Therefore

c. Why not just wire transfer 800000 Baht to the Thai Bank and apply for a Retirement Visa if over 50 years old?

d. If this were done, then, would it not be even better to obtain an Ed Visa on this next trip out of the country?

e. Also, would it be possible to NOT LEAVE the country IF YOU COULD change the existing ED Visa which still has 20 days on it to go.

f. Then if you did not need to leave Thailand, how to proceed.

g. If you DID need to leave Thailand and reentered with a Ed Visa, then how to proceed.

h. If you DID need to leave Thailand and reentered with some type of tourist visa, then hot to proceed to obtain the Retirement Visa, or correct terminology for the retirement visa.

Thank you.

[TerryLH]

OP, you're over thinking this.

Forget your 'Ed Visa' plan. If you did that you'd be back here whining about not being able to convert it, and immigration telling you to leave the country again to get something else.

If you're going to want a visa, the best option is to get a single entry Non Imm O Visa. Immigration will stamp you in for 90 days when you return to Thailand. During that 90 days you season your 800k. During the last 30 days, assuming you seasoned the money, go to the immigration office for where you live and extend your permission to stay for a year. 1900 baht.

Yes, you would have to get an O-A Visa in the US. Nobody cares if it's convenient for you, or not. Best to just forget about that and get an O Visa from one of the nearby consulates.

The retirement extension is actually very easy. You normally get it the same day that you apply. I've seen posts on here where people are saying they were in and out of immigration, with a new extension, in a matter of minutes. Of course that will depend on which office you use, and how busy they are that day. But it does happen.

Good luck.

[CaptainTyphoon]

OP, you're over thinking this.

Forget your 'Ed Visa' plan. If you did that you'd be back here whining about not being able to convert it, and immigration telling you to leave the country again to get something else.

If you're going to want a visa, the best option is to get a single entry Non Imm O Visa. Immigration will stamp you in for 90 days when you return to Thailand. During that 90 days you season your 800k. During the last 30 days, assuming you seasoned the money, go to the immigration office for where you live and extend your permission to stay for a year. 1900 baht.

Yes, you would have to get an O-A Visa in the US. Nobody cares if it's convenient for you, or not. Best to just forget about that and get an O Visa from one of the nearby consulates.

The retirement extension is actually very easy. You normally get it the same day that you apply. I've seen posts on here where people are saying they were in and out of immigration, with a new extension, in a matter of minutes. Of course that will depend on which office you use, and how busy they are that day. But it does happen.

Good luck.

Thank you, and I basically did not want to get myself even deeper into a Conradian darkness should I intentionally return without and Ed Visa, and then find there was also a foreseeable and avoidable snag relating to "retirement visa" obtainment. Sometimes, one cannot over-think these things enough.

[Maestro]

You seem be a little confused about visas and extensions of stay. From what you have written so far in this topic it appears that your arrived in Thailand with a non-immigrant visa category ED, subsequently got consecutive 90-day extensions of stay for the reason of education, and now you would like to change the reason for staying in Thailand from education to retirement.

Therefore, the question you are faced is whether your local immigration office will accept a new application for extension of stay from you, this time for the reason of retirement. Theoretically, this should be possible under clause 2.22 of the Immigration Bureau Order 327/2557, but as Lopburi3 indicated immigration offices are not likely to do so and his assessment is obviously based on the experience posted by other members. The only way for you to find out whether your local immigration office will do it is to visit them and ask.

If your immigration office refuses to grant you an extension of stay for the reason of retirement at this point, you have the option of going to a Thai consulate in a neighbouring country and apply for a single-entry non-O visa to travel to Thailand for the purpose of retiring in Thailand, then after your arrival apply at your immigration office for a one-year extension of stay for the reason of retirement. If you cannot get the non-O visa from the consulate, you should get a tourist visa and after your arrival in Thailand go to your immigration office to get a change of visa status from tourist to non-O (form TM.86) and subsequently a one-year extension of stay for the reason of retirement.

[KittenKong]

Why would any US citizen go the bank deposit route for his retirement extension?

Americans only need to get a certificate from their consulate showing income of at least 65KBaht/month, and their consulate issues this certificate based entirely on the applicant's declaration with no proof of any actual income being required. Other consulates are much more fussy (and charge more).

[ubonjoe]

Since the OP is no longer a member of the forum this troll topic is closed.