Ques. re retirement visa

[Chicksaw]

I am American over 60 and have been working in Thailand several years now on an F-visa and work permit. My last job contract is till Dec. 31 this year after which I hope to stay on on a retirement (non-immigrant OA) visa. Here are a few questions. Thanks in advance.

 

(1) Presuming that my current visa and work permit will be coterminous with my job, ending Dec. 31, when should I start the process of applying for the retirement visa?

 

(2) Can the process be completed here in Thailand? I have no plan of a trip home in the near future and would rather not go if possible. Related: would I need docs from the US which might not be easy to get as I've been away 12 years with no address there except my brother's?

 

(3) I have a monthly pension income of $1200 from my previous job in the US. I believe I still have to show $X transferred to a Thai bank account at least 3(?) months prior to my visa application. Here's my calculation for X:

 

The requirement is 800k in an ac. or monthly income at least 65k. $1200 = 40k approx. which leaves a monthly deficit of 65 - 40 = 25k. Therefore, X = 25/65 x 800k = 310k about.

 

Is this calculation correct? I have a Bangkok Bank ac. here. which I understand has a branch in NY. Could I just transfer the equivalent of 310k (or whatever is X) in USD  from my US bank to the NY BB branch or does it have to be converted to baht and brought into a Thai branch?

 

(4) Finally, is it possible to do the application oneself or is it advisable to pay professionals? How long does the process take?

 

Again, many thanks.

[glegolo]

You will be helped through the process, but there is a lot of missunderstandings that you have, I must say.

 

You are talking about a extension of stay based on retirement, but writing Non Immigrant O-A... Two completely different things....

 

So just wait,,,, help will follow thankfully..

 

Glegolo

Edited May 3, 2017 by glegolo

[buick]

i didn't want to go back to USA to get the OA.  i entered thailand on feb 28 with a visa exempt entry.  a few days later, i went to chaeng wattana (CW) immigration and applied to convert the visa exempt entry to a non imm O visa (retirement).  that was good for 90 days.  i just returned from CW after getting the 12 month extension.  you apply for the extension with at least 30 days remaining on your stay via the non imm O.  so my entry on the non imm O was good for march, april, may.  i just extended and now good until may 2018. 

 

i qualified using the 800,000thb but 750,000 of that is in USD (bangkok bank foreign currency account).  the balance is in a thai baht account.  i transfer funds into the thai baht account via the NY branch of bangkok bank.  you should set that up.  your bank makes small 'test' deposits into your thai account and you have to verify the amounts deposited in order to get the wire service going.  i've been second guessing my use of the USD account, it seems to be more of a problem than a benefit so far.  i can get into that if you want further details.

 

it is something you can do yourself, with help from the folks on thaivisa.com of course !!!  that said, there are some immigration offices where it might be best to use an agent.  i believe pattaya/jomtien is one of those.  not sure where you are based.

 

addtl visa experts will respond i'm sure.

[ubonjoe]

1/2 I assume you are on a one year extension of stay from immigration not a visa. If you had a visa you would be leaving the country after a 90 stay.

You can change the reason for your extension to one based upon retirement (not a OA visa). You would need a letter from your employer to cancel your current extension so that you can apply for one based upon retirement.

No need to leave the country.

3. No need to show money being transferred into the country. You will obtain a income affidavit to prove your income at the US embassy.

Since you would be doing the combination method for your financial proof. Using your 40k baht income number (480k baht annual income) you would need 320k baht in a Thai bank for 3 months to meet the total of 800k baht needed.

You could transfer the equivalent of 320k baht in dollars to your Bangkok Bank account to meet the requirement.

4. No need for an agent. You will get your extension stamp on the same day you do the change to retirement.

 

 

[Chicksaw]

Thanks a lot, folks. Help is truly appreciated. Most of my questions are answered but just want to make sure of a couple more critical points:

 

(re ubonjoe) I am actually on a visa now, particularly, an F-visa and work permit through my employer. So (as glegolo suggests) I believe I will need to file an Application for Change of Visa (TM.86) to convert this to a non-immigrant O.  Correct?

 

Per ubonjoe, as the process is 1-day, all I need to do is go to Changwattan Immigration Off. with all my papers in order maybe a week before Dec. 31 when my contract (and presumably current F-visa and work permit) expire. Correct?

 

Finally (thanks ubonjoe and buick) glad to know I can do the whole thing here myself and the combo income/balance proof can be done with a USD transfer to NY BB branch.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, Chicksaw said:

(re ubonjoe) I am actually on a visa now, particularly, an F-visa and work permit through my employer. So (as glegolo suggests) I believe I will need to file an Application for Change of Visa (TM.86) to convert this to a non-immigrant O.  Correct?

I still think you are on an extension of stay. If you were on non-f visa it could only be a multiple entry visa that allows 90 day entries that requires you to leave the country every 90 days.

A change of visa status can only be done for a tourist visa entry to get a non immigrant visa entry. You cannot change from a non-f to a non-o since both are non immigrant visas.

You only need a non immigrant visa to apply for an extension of stay.

13 minutes ago, Chicksaw said:

Per ubonjoe, as the process is 1-day, all I need to do is go to Changwattan Immigration Off. with all my papers in order maybe a week before Dec. 31 when my contract (and presumably current F-visa and work permit) expire. Correct?

 

It is only a one day process. You can do it a week before December 31st.

[Chicksaw]

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I still think you are on an extension of stay. If you were on non-f visa it could only be a multiple entry visa that allows 90 day entries that requires you to leave the country every 90 days.

A change of visa status can only be done for a tourist visa entry to get a non immigrant visa entry. You cannot change from a non-f to a non-o since both are non immigrant visas.

You only need a non immigrant visa to apply for an extension of stay.

It is only a one day process. You can do it a week before December 31st.

 

Thanks, ubonjoe. The visa page is copied below. It's a multiple entry F-visa (I work for an NGO which has some kind of special status). Btw, the end date of July 31 was based on my previous contract, which has been renewed to Dec. 31 so my employer will get the visa extended to Dec. 31.

 

So how should it go now? Can it still be the Application for Change of Visa (TM.86)? If so, would it be just that one form TM.86 or would I need another form for the visa which I will be changing to (non-immigrant O presumably)? Reason I ask is that then I will try to download and fill out all needed forms before I go (already have the 86 downloaded).

 

Also can I get multiple reentry on the retirement visa as I travel a lot?

 

 

[Chicksaw]

1 minute ago, Chicksaw said:

 

Thanks, ubonjoe. The visa page is copied below. It's a multiple entry F-visa (I work for an NGO which has some kind of special status). Btw, the end date of July 31 was based on my previous contract, which has been renewed to Dec. 31 so my employer will get the visa extended to Dec. 31.

 

So how should it go now? Can it still be the Application for Change of Visa (TM.86)? If so, would it be just that one form TM.86 or would I need another form for the visa which I will be changing to (non-immigrant O presumably)? Reason I ask is that then I will try to download and fill out all needed forms before I go (already have the 86 downloaded).

 

Also can I get multiple reentry on the retirement visa as I travel a lot?

 

 

 

Insert didn't go through, so attached image:

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, Chicksaw said:

 

Thanks, ubonjoe. The visa page is copied below. It's a multiple entry F-visa (I work for an NGO which has some kind of special status). Btw, the end date of July 31 was based on my previous contract, which has been renewed to Dec. 31 so my employer will get the visa extended to Dec. 31.

 

So how should it go now? Can it still be the Application for Change of Visa (TM.86)? If so, would it be just that one form TM.86 or would I need another form for the visa which I will be changing to (non-immigrant O presumably)? Reason I ask is that then I will try to download and fill out all needed forms before I go (already have the 86 downloaded).

 

Also can I get multiple reentry on the retirement visa as I travel a lot?

 

 

 

You would use a TM7 form to apply for an extension of stay at an immigration office. You would not be changing visa classes since it is not possible.

You might want to check with immigration to see how they will handle your application with your special visa category.

After you get the extension of stay you will need to apply for a multiple re-entry permit for a fee of 3800 baht.

[Chicksaw]

Many thanks, ubonjoe. Guess I need to make a dry run to Changwattana.