"Retirement Visa" Frustration

[DogNo1]

I had dinner this evening with an acquaintance who told me of his failed atempt to get a "retirement visa" last year. He was accompanied to Chaeng Wattana by an agent who helped him fill out all of his paperwork and get his copies and photos. He was denied because his pension is 1,500 Euros per month, which comes to about 57,000 baht and he had no money in a bank account. He has given up his intention of obtaining a "retirement visa" and instead he and his wife enter on tourist visas obtained in Amsterdam. A shame really because misunderstanding and perhaps miscalculation led him to a loss of time and money and to discouragement. Precision and clarity are really important regarding the requirements and terminology concerning visas, extensions of stay and ninety-day reports.

[Jingthing]

Yes, 65K per month is required to both do a conversion to O in Thailand and retirement extensions.

He could have used the combo method.

That is a mix of income and Thai bank account totaling at least 800K.

He had annually 684K baht.

So he'd need at least 116K in the Thai bank account.

Not very much, eh?

[TheAppletons]

"My friend didn't qualify for a retirement visa" would have been a more accurate title for this thread.

[OMGImInPattaya]

I don't see what's not clear and precise about needing 65k baht monthly income or 800k annually to obtain a visa extension for retirement purposes. It's stated clearly on the Immigration bureau and all other websites, including this one. Does your friend know how to use a calculator?

[NancyL]

Wow, I hope he didn't pay the agent much money. A good visa agent should have been able to explain the combo method and not even taken him into apply until he returned with a properly aged bank account.

[Red Parrot Fish]

That just about sums up visa agents.

Money grabbing parasites.

Could not see that your friend did not qualify but probably still took his money.

[maewang99]

the title of this post grabs attention... the retirement visa is almost as easy as a 90 day letter.

what I don't get at all.... things like high tech scans and imported drugs are as expensive here as anywhere else and insurance rarely covers everything... so having some money seems quite reasonable as a firm requirement especially for folks over 50.

[KhunBENQ]

"My friend didn't qualify for a retirement visa" would have been a more accurate title for this thread.

My suggestion for thread title:

"Ignorant 'visa agents' are not of any help, better read Thaivisa forum"

The friend has not to give up if he has the missing money to put in his account (from todays [miserable] Euro rate it would be about 125'00 Baht).

To have a little buffer, put 150'000.

If he is a good friend, you can lend it

[bubblegum]

If he is from Holland just get an income statement from the embassy stating hie has enough, nobody checks it

[Moonsterk]

If he is from Holland just get an income statement from the embassy stating hie has enough, nobody checks it

How long will you get before you need to actually have the money? Any idea?

[ratcatcher]

If he is from Holland just get an income statement from the embassy stating hie has enough, nobody checks it

The subject's pension is Euro1500 a month. Are you suggesting the embassy be complicit in a lie?

[OJAS]

If he is from Holland just get an income statement from the embassy stating hie has enough, nobody checks it

The subject's pension is Euro1500 a month. Are you suggesting the embassy be complicit in a lie?

And a false assertion in any event. Concrete evidence in support of an income confirmation letter is liable to be requested by the Thai embassy/consulate at which a non-O visa is applied for, or by the immigration office at which an annual extension of stay is sought!

[chainarong]

Frustration indeed , probably the same as those who used to have a charmed life on Tourist Visa's on their aged pensions and now have to have 200,000 baht in the bank , most have their finances at that time of life invested in superannuation and get a monthly allowance, some have property and family , some now don't qualify , frustrating indeed ..............................

[Suradit69]

I don't see what's not clear and precise about needing 65k baht monthly income or 800k annually to obtain a visa extension for retirement purposes. It's stated clearly on the Immigration bureau and all other websites, including this one. Does your friend know how to use a calculator?

He was accompanied to Chaeng Wattana by an agent

Presumably he hired the agent in the hopes of getting the extension without the bother of qualifying for it.

[Suradit69]

...which comes to about 57,000 baht and he had no money in a bank account.

So he had the money to hire an agent and, apparently to fly both of them (??) to Amsterdam and back, but he couldn't put about Baht 120,000 in a Thai bank account so he could combine that with his income and then get a non-o or tourist visa in Laos to allow time for the cash in the bank to sit for a couple of months for the retirement extension?

The "frustration" you mentioned was self-inflicted.

[Suradit69]

That just about sums up visa agents.

Money grabbing parasites.

Could not see that your friend did not qualify but probably still took his money.

"Money grabbing parasites."

And generally the farang who hire them are either trying to scam the system or mentally deficient. It's a match made in heaven.