74 year old American woman on O Visa... get retirement visa?

[GoDucks]

My mom came to Thailand 3 weeks ago on a 3-month O visa she obtained from a Thai consulate. Now she is thinking about staying longer term. She has monthly income from retirement of over 100,000 per month and money in US banks (but no statements with her).

What does she need and how does she do it?

[lostinisaan]

Please see: ( and don't forget an insurance) I don't see any problems for you and your mom.

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

Retirement Visas

Retirement visas for Thailand are available to foreigners 50 years of age or older. These visas are valid for only one year and employment of any kind is strictly prohibited. According to Thai immigration, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be able to provide proof of a pension or other regular income from a source outside of Thailand;
• Applicant’s pension or other regular income must be no less than the equivalent of 65,000 Baht per month;
• Alternatively, the applicant may meet the financial requirement by maintaining a Thai bank account with a minimum amount of 800,000 Baht. (Applicants will need to show that they have 800,000 Baht in savings each year when they renew their visa.)
• Any applicant married to a Thai citizen may be able to receive a visa on that basis rather than retirement.

[GoDucks]

Very helpful. What will the Thai Immigration want?

I have heard that she must/can/should go to the US embassy to make a declaration of income?

[Jingthing]

She will need an income letter, yes.

Those are available from these places:

U.S. Embassy Bangkok

U.S. Consulate Chiang Mai

Periodic (typically biannual) embassy outreach visits to other areas such as Pattaya, Phuket, etc.

Appointments (done online) needed for getting this at embassy or consulate.

No appointment needed for outreach visits.

The letters are generally accepted at Thai immigration for SIX months from issue.

The U.S. officials require no proof of the stated income but by signing it you're formally stating it is truthful. Thai immigration might (usually doesn't) request some documentation in addition to the letter to verify the income stated in the letter. So it's wise to bring such evidence to immigration when applying for the annual extensions based on retirement, just in case they do ask.

[Eclipse]

She cannot get a Retirement Visa.
She can get 12 month extension of permission to stay based on retirement.

2.22 In the case of retirement:
Each permission shall be granted for no more than one year.

The alien:
(1) Must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM).
(2) Must be 50 years of age or over.
(3) Must have evidence of having income of no less than Baht 65,000 per month: or
(4) On the filing date, the applicant must have funds deposited in a bank in Thailand of no less than Baht 800,000 for the past three months. For the first year only, the applicant must have proof of a deposit account in which said amount of funds has been maintained for no less than 60 days prior to the filing date: or
(5) Must have an annual earning and fluids deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht 800,0000 as of the filing date.

Letter from Embassy as proof of income.

Letter from bank plus bank book as proof of savings.

[GoDucks]

So she needs to send 800,000 over? She has monthly income of about 150,000 per month.

[Eclipse]

150,000 what?

[Eclipse]

800,000 Baht in a Thai bank.

OR.

65,000 Baht monthly income.

OR.

A combination of both.

[Jingthing]

So she needs to send 800,000 over? She has monthly income of about 150,000 per month.

She can qualify on INCOME ONLY if showing the income letter showing an income of at least 65K baht per month. Using that method, she doesn't need to fund any Thai bank account at all. However it would very wise to open a Thai bank account for practical purposes.

Thailand's income requirement is based on SHOWING that the income exists. There is no requirement to IMPORT all of that money, one time, or annually.

[Srikcir]

Immigration has the right to request proof of income aside from an embassy attestation. It is rare that they ask for proof but it's up to the immigration officer to decide. So it would be smart to have it. Can she get her pension statement online and print it? Or call and have it faxed to the nearest Thailand Post shop?

[JLCrab]

In-person only. This is a list of upcoming US Embassy Bangkok Consular outreaches:

• Friday, February 5, 2016, Pattaya
• Friday, February 19, 2016, Khon Kaen
• Friday, February 26, 2016, Phuket
• Friday, May 6, 2016, Pattaya
• Friday, May 13, 2016, Udorn
• Friday, May 27, 2016, Phuket
• Friday, August 5, 2016, Pattaya
• Friday, August 19, 2016, Khon Kaen
• Friday, August 26, 2016, Phuket
• Friday, October 28, 2016, Pattaya
• Friday, November 4, 2016, Udorn
• Friday, November 18, 2016, Phuket

[Jingthing]

Because she does have more than enough income to qualify on a pure income method with basically just an embassy letter, it seems like a good idea to go ahead and apply for an annual extension based on retirement while the initial O visa is still being used for a current permission to stay. Typically people go in about 30 days before the end of a 90 day stay on a single entry O to apply for an annual extension. It's only 1900 baht and depending where you are a trip to get the income letter, she doesn't need to import money, if she changes her mind and doesn't want to stay the entire year, no big investment lost! She won't ever be penalized for having an annual extension and deciding not to fully use it. I would go ahead with this if there is even a fair chance she'll actually want to stay much longer.

[gerry1011]

At 74 years old, and with sufficient revenues, don't you think she could offer herself an Elite card?

For such a lady, 5 years of comfortable living with convenient visa would be so much better than the hassles of the retirement option.

That is what I would suggest to my own mother in this case...

[Jingthing]

I don't agree. Annual extensions for someone with such an adequate income would be a breeze. Why throw that money away? Seems crazy.

[ubonjoe]

She will need to get an income affidavit at the US embassy in Bangkok or consulate in Chiang Mai.
It can be filled out online or download and complete it... See: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/notarial-services.html#income_affidavit
There is also info on the page for making an appointment to get it.

[Suradit69]

I don't agree. Annual extensions for someone with such an adequate income would be a breeze. Why throw that money away? Seems crazy.

Agree. For someone like her the Elite visa would be a total waste of money, all the more so since she may not even want to remain here for 5 years.

And with the Thai Elite, don't you still need to either exit the country or go to Immigrations annually anyway?

[robblok]

The US will give you a statement you have the money no proof needed just swear you have it, must be the easiest way other countries at least ask for proof.

[JLCrab]

The US will give you a statement you have the money no proof needed just swear you have it, must be the easiest way other countries at least ask for proof.

It is US State Department policy anywhere in the world that an Embassy/Consulate will not certify any document brought into them as to the document's authenticity.

[NancyL]

The US will give you a statement you have the money no proof needed just swear you have it, must be the easiest way other countries at least ask for proof.

Many other countries have a system similar to the U.S. The U.S. is not the only country.

[Suradit69]

The US will give you a statement you have the money no proof needed just swear you have it, must be the easiest way other countries at least ask for proof.

There are other countries that issue the affidavit without proof and Thai Immigrations can still ask for something to back up the amount you claim. I always include Social Security and pension verification along with the embassy letter when applying for an extension.

"other countries at least ask for proof."

Sort of suggests that some countries assume their citizens are not to be trusted even under oath. Sad really.

[NancyL]

If your Mom gets a retirement extension, it would be a good idea to purchase a single-rentry permit at the same time. She might decide to return next year and if she returns during the time that her extension is still valid, she won't need to get another visa. She'll just have to get another extension here in the country.

[lopburi3]

The US will give you a statement you have the money no proof needed just swear you have it, must be the easiest way other countries at least ask for proof.

Many countries use the signed under oath approach as how many Embassies can actually verify such documents? The statement signed before a Consular Officer is a legal document with legal penalties if proven untrue.

[gerry1011]

I don't agree. Annual extensions for someone with such an adequate income would be a breeze. Why throw that money away? Seems crazy.

Agree. For someone like her the Elite visa would be a total waste of money, all the more so since she may not even want to remain here for 5 years.

And with the Thai Elite, don't you still need to either exit the country or go to Immigrations annually anyway?

At 74 it should be time to enjoy life without the immigration queues and worries.

But, of course, if money is a concern the Elite option is not the right choice at any age.

The Elite visa allows you to stay 5 full years without leaving the country if you wish.

It is highly convenient for anyone, any age, ... At a fee, naturally.

I would advise to that 74yrs old lady to enjoy life and forget the hassles. But, after all, it's her (or her son's) choice.

[lopburi3]

You never have to leave the country with simple retirement extensions of stay.

[NancyL]

You never have to leave the country with simple retirement extensions of stay.

And by all accounts, it's a doddle to do annual retirement extensions just about anywhere in Thailand except for Chiang Mai. And frankly, even here in CM, you can pay one of the legitimate visa agents about 5500 baht/year to take care of everything for your Mom, including giving her a ride from their office out to the Imm. office, getting the re-entry permit and handling her 90 day reports. Much cheaper than the Thai Elite.

If she had money to spend and anticipates traveling frequently in-and-out of BKK, then yes the Thai Elite would be a nice perk, but for most retired people it just doesn't make sense.