UK retiree moving to Thailand early 2017

[NanLaew]

I met a real nice guy in a local pub the other day and he was wondering what was the best visa option for him. His situation is:

UK citizen, living/working in UK.

65 years old

Plans to retire in February 2017

Married to Thai national (married in the UK, no Thai marriage certificate).

Both are working in the UK (she has either ILR or possibly UK citizenship now)

Has a house in Nong Khai (in wife's name).

Has his yellow book.

Has his Thai DL (car and motorbike)

Has Thai bank account.

He has been coming to Thailand regularly for years but only on TR visas from Hull as they are both living and working in the UK. He has had varying 'barstool' advice so was still undecided what was best. He reckons most of the advice he has been given tends to be either from younger guys who are 'retired' but cannot qualify for that sort of visa and subsequent extension, or retired guys without a decent pension that scratch together 20k baht each year for some agent to get them either a marriage or retirement extension illegally. He wants to keep everything totally legal and above board and will have 3 pensions, 2 of which he will use for Thai retirement and the third one banked in the UK for emergencies. I am not sure if he will be retaining property in the UK but when I see him again, I will recommend that he does.

I suggested he get an O-A visa from the RTE in London as that would afford him (I think) a year of unrestricted access and domicile without visa runs and/or reporting. Is that correct?

He can then either go back to the UK and get another one OR he can get it converted to a retirement extension before it expires. The latter means he would then be on on 90-day reports or pop in and out of the country by air... or border visa run. Is that correct?

He mentioned having an option of coming over for some social event in late 2015 which is a couple of months before he officially retires and gets the all-enabling DWP letter which I assume is required for the O-A application. Could he get an O based on marriage through Hull (ultimately sanctioned by London) and then after the 2-month money seasoning, file for the regular O retirement extension in February when he comes back 'full time'?

Does Hull issue an O visa based on retirement using the Thai criteria of 50 years or older or the UK criteria of 65 years or older?

He was unaware of the alternatives to seasoning money in a Thai bank deposit such as the income letter from the British Embassy. I also advised him that he can use a combination of bank deposits to prove the required minimum and it doesn't have to be in Thailand, but seasoning will still be required for any monies in Thailand being used for any extension application? Is that correct?

Since he doesn't have a Thai marriage certificate, getting an O visa in Savanakhet (cheap, easy and no need for proof of financials) would probably require the MFA certifying his UK marriage certificate first? Can the RTE in London assist with that? Is that correct?

I recommended that despite being married and the income proof threshold for a marriage extension being 400k baht versus the 800k baht for retirement, he should eventually go the retirement route as it is much, much easier and quicker and he can file by himself. His Immigration office will be Nong Khai. Does Nong Khai have any local idiosyncrasies regarding their extension processing?

If I have missed anything, got it wrong or otherwise, please comment. I will probably see him one more time before he heads back to the UK for the year and I would like to have the salient points and options correct... or correct as they can be. For now.

Thanks,

NL

[lopburi3]

He will still have to make 90 day address reports for any stay over 90 days without an exit.

He can get two years of use from that visa with an exit/return just before it expires - but will require reentry permit for any travel after the first year visa expiration date.

O-A visa does not require any funds in Thailand or any letter from Embassy. Would seem a good option.

There is no need for any marriage paperwork for retirement - wife is Thai so would return using Thai passport.

Using O-A visa the only contact for up to two years with local immigration office will the the 90 day address reports (and perhaps TM.30 reporting your presence by homeowner).

[ubonjoe]

A OA visa can give almost 2 years of total stay by getting a new one year entry just before the visa expires. Then a re-entry permit would be needed to keep the last entry valid if he wants to travel.

The OA visa still requires him to meet the financial requirements plus a medical and a criminal background check.

Ninety day reports are still required for a OA visa entry since it allows a stay of of longer than 90 days.

He could easily get a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage to a Thai from the embassy or any of the consulates. The UK marriage certificate will accepted for the non-o visa application. Only getting an extension of stay based upon marriage requires the foreign marriage be registered at an Amphoe.

[Eclipse]

Plenty of choices.

Non O-A Visa from Embassy will give him up to 2 years stay but will need a border run in the middle.

Police and medical reports needed.

Non Imm O Visa and apply for 12 monthly extension when in Thailand. no Police or medical reports needed.

Can get single or multiple Non Imm O Visa.

For extension he will need 800,000 Baht in Thai bank for 2 months. Or 65,000 monthly income Or a combination of both.

Non Imm O Visa and apply for monthly extensions in Thailand based on Marriage.

400,000 Baht in Thai bank or 40,000 monthly income.

In spite of what some on this forum might have you believe the marriage extension is not difficult to obtain.

Very easy in fact.

[NanLaew]

Thanks for the information and corrections viz 90-day reporting and the re-entry permit after 12 months. I will tell him the O-A is best.

The criminal record check would only be needed for the UK since he has no previous residential status in Thailand, just an annual vacation on a TR visa. Is that correct?

Regarding the marriage extension; I know they are easy to get but Mrs NL is very happy that she has absolutely nothing to do with my annual extensions now I have opted for retirement ones. She gets the whole day to herself and I only loose about 30 minutes. This compared to the couple of days we never will get back while filing my previous two marriage extensions.

[lopburi3]

Yes police report from UK.

[jacksam]

OP, it's not uncommon for over 50 expat married to a thai to go down the "based on retirement" track. If I was married to a thai I would have the non o based on retirement. Yes fund amount is different but if that's not an issue , I think it's a sensible alternative and commonly used for the reasons you outlined. Also makes it simple if she kicks him out. Joking

Oh make sure 're medical form, that the doctor or clinic stamp it. Meaning not only doctors signature but stamp.