Best Visa for returning to Thailand?

[SimonD]

Hello,

The more I read about the new(ish) visa regulations the more baffled I get. Let me explain my background and requirements:

British citizen, male, 55 years old here in Thailand on a SETV, returning to the UK on 20th July for approximately 3-4 months to finalise plans to rent out my 2 bed flat in SW London, the income from which will fund my long stay beginning in Oct/Nov this year. The income from my flat will net a minimum of £1100/month (50,000 baht at current exchange rates). This is enough for a marriage extension but insufficient by itself for retirement.

I also have UK bank funds to meet the retirement extension criteria (800k) but cannot prove the monthly income as the flat is not rented yet. I can start with the money in bank method and then switch to income method although I would prefer to use income from the start to free up those funds.

I have a long-term TGF and she and I wish to get married in Prasat, Surin and initialy rent a house around here for about one or two years while we make plans for our future. We are hoping to do the official marriage bit at the amphur here in Prasat but I don't have the Freedom to Marry form from British Embassy yet and time is running out. Going to the district office tomorrow to ask questions.

I have not yet been able to open a bank account here in Prasat but I'll ask for help on that in the relevant forum but it is, of course, related to the visa question. I would prefer to open an account before I go back but only enough to keep it open while I wait for the FX rate to improve (?) before transferring the money from UK later this year. I wasn't anticipating the UK to vote to leave...

My question is: what it the most suitable visa for me to return to Thailand on later this year and how many hoops will I have to jump through?

Any advice would be appreciated and if more detail is needed just ask.

Simon

[ubonjoe]

You probably have time enough to get married but you have to hurry up and get the affirmation of permit to marry from the embassy. Going to you local Amphoe will not accomplish anything until you get it.

Info and a template for the affirmation is here: https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad/y/thailand/ceremony_country/partner_local/opposite_sex

You need to make an appointment at the embassy to do the affirmation. See: https://www.consular-appointments.service.gov.uk/fco/#!/british-embassy-bangkok/oaths-affirmations-and-affidavits/slot_picker

If you get married you could get a single entry non-o visa based upon marriage while in the UK and then apply for an extension of stay based upon marriage or retirement when your return.

If don't get married before leaving you could apply for a OA visa while in the UK by showing the equivalent of 800k baht in a bank in the UK. See: http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/51

If none of the above the best option would be to get a single entry tourist visa. Then after you get married. you could go to Savannakhet or Vientiane to get the single entry non-o visa.

[SimonD]

Thank you ubonjoe.

I had no idea that I could use funds in a UK bank account for any visa purposes... I always thought that only funds in a Thai bank account qualified.

That's great news!

Cheers,

Simon