Retirement Visa - Are New Regulations Coming In To Place ?

[Speedo1968]

I recently had to have a friend do my 90 day report having just come out of hospital.

My next 90 day is due early October and my new application for extension of stay ( retirement ) is due 7th December.

My deposit of 800K remains in the bank.

 

My friend was told by counter staff at Khon Kaen Immigration that, I should apply for extension of stay in October instead of 90 day report

as, new regulations are coming in to force.

 

Has anyone else had this recommendation ?

Does anyone know of any new regulations that will be set before the end of the year ?

 

 

[ubonjoe]

I have not heard of any new rules coming out for an extension of stay based  upon retirement.

I find it odd they would say do the extension almost 2 months early. 

The new 10 year visas for retirement becoming available in August is only thing I am aware of.

[Speedo1968]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

I have not heard of any new rules coming out for an extension of stay based  upon retirement.

I find it odd they would say do the extension almost 2 months early. 

The new 10 year visas for retirement becoming available in August is only thing I am aware of.

Many thanks 'ubonjoe' for the prompt reply, greatly appreciated.

I don't know which officer was spoken to at KKI but perhaps, as I had been in hospital they may have thought I needed "help".

Hopefully by October I will be fully recovered and do the visa myself.

[bbi1]

Are they doing a crackdown on the retirement visa? They've already done one on student visas & tourist visas so retirement visas are the next step in keeping only quality tourists/residents/retirees in the country. Too many living here on no money and no health insurance. I heard something about needing to show 3 million baht in the bank, is that correct?

[glegolo]

I have been dealing with Khon Kaen office for like 7 years now, since they opened that office 2010 I think it was... And I have been "helped" a couple of times by making it possible to make early extensions, just in order for me NOT to have to come so many times, and also saving the staffs time..

 

So me personaly, I think that you should see this as a service-matter, helping you out and saving both of your time...

 

Maybe a missunderstanding by your friend when it comes to to dates you are talking about, I think so actually!!

 

Glegolo

[glegolo]

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

Are they doing a crackdown on the retirement visa? They've already done one on student visas & tourist visas so retirement visas are the next step in keeping only quality tourists/residents/retirees in the country. Too many living here on no money and no health insurance. I heard something about needing to show 3 million baht in the bank, is that correct?

OMG.... 3 million in a bank??? You are mixing things up, that amount is for the 10 (5) year new VISA coming in august..... relax....

 

Glegolo

[bbi1]

7 minutes ago, glegolo said:

OMG.... 3 million in a bank??? You are mixing things up, that amount is for the 10 (5) year new VISA coming in august..... relax....

 

Glegolo

Ah ok. 10 years, that's a long visa.

 

3 mil baht isn't that much to have for someone who's retired when aged over 50+ years old, they've had 25+ years of working & building up assets under their belt. And especially when Thailand is wanting to focus on "quality" people living here, just like with student & tourist visas.

 

Application fee seems to be only 10k baht for the 10 year visa. An absolute bargain compared paying 500k for an Elite Visa.

[thaitero]

This new "10-year visa" make no sense at all unless they change current retirement plan to worse so maby there is something coming and one should take advice what this officer told....

[tonray]

6 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Ah ok. 10 years, that's a long visa.

 

3 mil baht isn't that much to have for someone who's retired when aged over 50+ years old, they've had 25+ years of working & building up assets under their belt. And especially when Thailand is wanting to focus on "quality" people living here, just like with student & tourist visas.

that's only part of the issue.. it's leaving 3 million baht tied up in the Thai banking system that's also a concern

[bbi1]

2 minutes ago, tonray said:

that's only part of the issue.. it's leaving 3 million baht tied up in the Thai banking system that's also a concern

Does it have to be in a Thai bank or can be in a foreign bank?

[tonray]

2 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Does it have to be in a Thai bank or can be in a foreign bank?

I believe Thai bank but perhaps someone can find the rule itself? 

[OJAS]

14 minutes ago, thaitero said:

This new "10-year visa" make no sense at all unless they change current retirement plan to worse so maby there is something coming and one should take advice what this officer told....

The current requirements for existing retirees on annual extensions may well remain unchanged under "grandfathering" arrangements, as has happened in the past.

[sqwakvfr]

"3 mil baht isn't that much to have for someone who's retired when aged over 50+ years old, they've had 25+ years of working & building up assets under their belt. And especially when Thailand is wanting to focus on "quality" people living here, just like with student & tourist visas."

 

I'm in my mid 50's and I do not have a spare 3 Million Baht ($88,000) lying around so I can put in Thai Bank and not have access to it for at least a year.  I am an O-A Multi and living in CM.  So does that make a  "non-quality" person.  

[thaibeachlovers]

31 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Ah ok. 10 years, that's a long visa.

 

3 mil baht isn't that much to have for someone who's retired when aged over 50+ years old, they've had 25+ years of working & building up assets under their belt. And especially when Thailand is wanting to focus on "quality" people living here, just like with student & tourist visas.

 

Application fee seems to be only 10k baht for the 10 year visa. An absolute bargain compared paying 500k for an Elite Visa.

25+ years of working & building up assets

LOL.

I don't know how much you made in your job, but the vast majority of people in the world make enough to live on and have a holiday every year ( if they are lucky ). Few get to save 3 million baht that they can put aside.

"Quality" in the expat situation is equivalent to "rich", not people of good character.

 

IMO when "quality" is brought into any conversation with regard to whom should be allowed to reside in LOS, it is usually by rich people that think anyone without a big bankroll is scum ( not saying that YOU think that, just that there are many that do ).

[bangkoklasse]

25 minutes ago, OJAS said:

The current requirements for existing retirees on annual extensions may well remain unchanged under "grandfathering" arrangements, as has happened in the past.

Why would they use "grandfathering" when nothing has changed.............

[ubonjoe]

A off topic post meant to derail the topi and the expected replies to it have been removed.

[bbi1]

14 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

"3 mil baht isn't that much to have for someone who's retired when aged over 50+ years old, they've had 25+ years of working & building up assets under their belt. And especially when Thailand is wanting to focus on "quality" people living here, just like with student & tourist visas."

 

I'm in my mid 50's and I do not have a spare 3 Million Baht ($88,000) lying around so I can put in Thai Bank and not have access to it for at least a year.  I am an O-A Multi and living in CM.  So does that make a  "non-quality" person.  

The Thai Gov seems to only want peeps with money who can support themselves well to live in Thailand & peeps who will spend money, seems that's what they regard as a "quality". It's happened with the tourist visa and seems to be coming to the retirement visa.

[Speedo1968]

1 hour ago, glegolo said:

I have been dealing with Khon Kaen office for like 7 years now, since they opened that office 2010 I think it was... And I have been "helped" a couple of times by making it possible to make early extensions, just in order for me NOT to have to come so many times, and also saving the staffs time..

 

So me personaly, I think that you should see this as a service-matter, helping you out and saving both of your time...

 

Maybe a missunderstanding by your friend when it comes to to dates you are talking about, I think so actually!!

 

Glegolo

Thanks 'glegolo'.

Not sure how it will save time, it still means doing a 90 day report every 90 days.

Doing a extension of stay 2 months early, never been "recommended" to do before.

I have never missed a 90 day or extension since I have been here, a couple of days late or early maybe.

I presume the lost 2 months will be added to my next extension giving me 14 months not 12.

[Speedo1968]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

that's only part of the issue.. it's leaving 3 million baht tied up in the Thai banking system that's also a concern

The way exchange rates are going against sterling ........ easy to loose 20% or more.

[Momofarang]

2 hours ago, bbi1 said:

3 mil baht isn't that much to have for someone who's retired when aged over 50+ years old, they've had 25+ years of working & building up assets under their belt.

Maybe, the wise wouldn't want this much in Thailand. 

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, bbi1 said:

I heard something about needing to show 3 million baht in the bank

that would be it for me here; would join the long lines of expats leaving

[ubonjoe]

10 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

that would be it for me here; would join the long lines of expats leaving

That is for the new 10/5 year retirement visas there no changes for retirement extensions.

[glegolo]

2 hours ago, Speedo1968 said:

Thanks 'glegolo'.

Not sure how it will save time, it still means doing a 90 day report every 90 days.

Doing a extension of stay 2 months early, never been "recommended" to do before.

I have never missed a 90 day or extension since I have been here, a couple of days late or early maybe.

I presume the lost 2 months will be added to my next extension giving me 14 months not 12.

Surely you must understand what I am suggesting? I mean simply that if they make a) your 90 day report AND  your extension (early) at the VERY SAME TIME when you are there, so are saving yourself one trip to Khon Kaen 2 months later  when your extension is due!!!!

 

That is what I am talking about...

 

Glegolo

[Maestro]

For those interested in the so-called "10 year multiple entry visa for over 50s" there is this topic in the Thailand news forum:

 

 

[Speedo1968]

54 minutes ago, glegolo said:

Surely you must understand what I am suggesting? I mean simply that if they make a) your 90 day report AND  your extension (early) at the VERY SAME TIME when you are there, so are saving yourself one trip to Khon Kaen 2 months later  when your extension is due!!!!

 

That is what I am talking about...

 

Glegolo

Didn't know you could do this.