Confusion about which Visa to request, Retire, Marry, etc.

[anono2223]

Hi guys,

This forum was so helpful 10 years ago when bringing my Thai GF over to US. We have been married for 8 years now and things are now reversed.

We always intended on retiring in the Kingdom, but really thought we had about 10 more years of working and saving to think about how to go about the move.

We came into some money unexpectedly, and instead of worrying about nickel and diming it away over the next few years, we decided to pull the trigger now and head for Thailand as quickly as we can bring everything together.

Here is my dilemma. While having been married here in the US for the last 8 years, we never got married in Thailand. I haven't been back since 2007, she has visited home a few times in the last 8 years.

What visa should I go for? We have enough money to qualify for retirement Visa. But I don't have an account in country as yet. I understand I should get a Visa that allows me to stay up to 90 days, open an account as soon as I get there, and then after the account is in existence for 60 days, we can apply for the retirement/marriage (the latter I assume requires us to marry in country).

I hope my details are enough to allow you gurus to make your suggestions, and they are certainly much appreciated.

Initially, a Non-immigrant 'O'? I have been on the LA Consulate website and see retirement listed as one, but not marriage. And I guess I cannot get the non-immigrant type 'O' because I don't yet have the bank account?

So, I start with just the standard tourist 30 day entry? Then make 2 border runs to get the time required to fulfill the banking regs?

Anyway, thank you for your attention, sorry this was so long,

Michael

tl;dr Want to live in Thailand, should I go retirement or marriage? And how should I initially enter the country to accomplish my goals?

[lopburi3]

Assume you are age 50 or over so a non immigrant O-A visa from Thai Embassy in USA would be the easy route and take care of you for the first two years (although you do have to report address to immigration every 90 days if you do not travel). The requirement is listed on web site - local police report and a medical that basically reports you not have a handful of contagious issues and proof of income or account in USA to meet the 800k requirement (no need for Thai account until two years later when extending locally). This visa allows unlimited entry/exit for one year validity with a new one year stamp at each entry. Use just before expiration gets a new year stay that you would then need re-entry permit to keep alive if you travel.

As for marriage/retirement the retirement is easier if you have the financials as you extend yourself each year - normally you would follow the above with this procedure.

As for marriage you are married - the only requirement, if you want to extend for marriage reasons, would be to have current marriage paperwork registered locally and recorded at a District Office. This is not required if using retirement.

[ubonjoe]

You can easily get a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage to a Thai,.

I guess you missed this under the non-o category on this consulate webpage. http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=34

"To visit as a spouse of a Thai nationality, Fiance and Fiancee are not eligible for this category.

- A copy of a valid and effective marriage certificate.
- A copy of Thai passport /or Thai I.D. of the spouse.
- A letter from the spouse verifying that the applicant and the spouse are still married and the purpose to visit Thailand"

[anono2223]

Thank you lopburi3 and udonjoe,

Yes, I was unable to find the retirement page referenced. Thank you so much for that. I think we are going to try to go the retirement visa route, as the marriage visa didn't look to be a long term stay kind of deal.

A question, on the retirement visa paperwork page, it states that the

Back statement

Bank letter

Medical exam and

Police report

Must be notarized. OK, I know what a notary is, but it's unclear as to the when. For example, I am sure my doctor is not a notary, and he will have no desire to accompany me to a notary to sign the form. Ditto on the cops and my Banker.

Are they just asking me to take the completed forms to a notary after completion and get them stamped before I send them in?

Thanks

Michael

[lopburi3]

I have never done but believe what they really want is for you to sign and have your signature notarized proving you submitted the document. In Thailand you must sign all papers you submit to immigration and believe this was an attempt to do the same outside Thailand were notary service is available.

[Langsuan Man]

Thank you lopburi3 and udonjoe,

Yes, I was unable to find the retirement page referenced. Thank you so much for that. I think we are going to try to go the retirement visa route, as the marriage visa didn't look to be a long term stay kind of deal.

A question, on the retirement visa paperwork page, it states that the

Back statement

Bank letter

Medical exam and

Police report

Must be notarized. OK, I know what a notary is, but it's unclear as to the when. For example, I am sure my doctor is not a notary, and he will have no desire to accompany me to a notary to sign the form. Ditto on the cops and my Banker.

Are they just asking me to take the completed forms to a notary after completion and get them stamped before I send them in?

Thanks

Michael

The notary requirement for both Chicago and Los Angeles causes some people a lot of problems, since many notaries will not sign a form that has anyones other than your signature on it

That is the reason both the Embassy in Washington and the Consulate in New York don't have the notary requirement (Hint: do it by Express mail to the Embassy in Washington and you won't have to deal with the notary )

A way around it, if the notary balks, is for them to merely certify that the form, signed by someone else, is a true copy; that will satisfy the consulates requirement and allow the notary an out

But like the medical form and the free from elephantitis which most doctor laugh about most notaries understand that they are just certifying that the forms are being submitted by you and will take their fee for the notary stamp on each document

BTW if you are getting a pension that is acceptable in lieu of the bank statement or letter so long as whoever issues your pension provides you with some type of annual or monthly statement

[paz]

I have never done but believe what they really want is for you to sign and have your signature notarized proving you submitted the document. In Thailand you must sign all papers you submit to immigration and believe this was an attempt to do the same outside Thailand were notary service is available.

I don't think so. For example the embassy in London accepts applications made in person, without exempting from the notarization requirement.

[anono2223]

Okay, the more info I get, the more questions I seen to generate.

Looks like I can just fly in as a tourist, visa exempt, and get entry for 30 days. I can immediately open a Thai bank account, and 60 days later, I can apply for a 'retirement visa' in country? I think that give me an additional 90 days before having to apply for a 'retirement' extension?

This seems to have some advantages and only 1 disadvantage I can see.

Advantages: Less paperwork (no home country criminal report, no medical exam). No hassle of sending lots of stuff to embassy here and hope everything goes smoothly. Initially saves $200.

Disadvantage: Getting it at home before I leave give me 1 year in Thailand before having to apply for an extension. I would have to do 2 border runs as a tourist to stay the initial 90 days required to get visa in country.

Are there other glaring (dis)advantages I have missed?

Thanks

Michael

[ubonjoe]

Getting the single entry non-o based upon marriage would be much better than doing a visa exempt entry.. You could get your bank account opened deposit the money and apply for the extension based upon retirement. as soon as the money is in the bank for 60 days.

You may not be allowed to board you flight to here if you don't have a visa or a ticket out of the country within 30 days.

Not all immigration offices can do the conversion to a non immigrant visa. Unless you are going to be living in or near Bangkok you might need to make 2 long trips to Bangkok 15 days apart to get the visa/entry stamp.

The money only has to be in the bank on the date the application is made for the non immigrant visa. The 60 days is not required.

[Lite Beer]

Agree with Joe.

Arriving in Thailand with a Non Imm O Visa would be the best option in my view.

[lopburi3]

The O-A visa allows up to two years stay before extension is required in Thailand if you make a trip in just before the visa expires. As you live in USA police report and medical should be routine. The visa cost included ability to enter/exit without re-entry permit for the first year (extra 3,800 baht cost from immigration) so there is no cash savings for that.

But if you prefer to go the immigration route agree getting the non immigrant O visa prior to travel is the best choice - you can more easily do that based on marriage rather than retirement. Once you have it you can use for retirement extension.

[anono2223]

Thank you very much, again, everyone. We have decided to go with the NonImm O-A, and get it here before we leave.

Currently, only one question. The 'Letter of Guarantee' from the bank. Exactly what do I ask my bank for? Just s form letter stating that I am the owner of the account and that the balance is mine?

Thanks again, all,

Michael

[ubonjoe]

As you say just letter confirming your account and perhaps the current balance.