Retirement visa virgin

Sun Aug 30, 2009 3:52 pm

Having just retired after working many years in Bangkok, I'll be applying for a retirement visa. But as noted in HHAD forums, the different experiences and requirements are as numerous as immigration offices. Everone has their own story including my colleague who had to open a bank account in Pattaya (despite having one in Bangkok for 20+ years) before the Pattaya immigation folks would grant the visa.

Any advice from folks in HH who have recently applied for a retirement visa in HH? Documents required, and so forth...

And where is the office that issues visas?

About me: I own an apartment in Hua Hin and Bangkok. I will go the THB800,000 route.

Post by **lomuamart** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:36 pm

I've done mine through income before, not savings.
I don't think there's any stipulation regarding which branch of a Thai bank you're 800k has to be in.

Paperwork:
TM7 application form
Copies of your detail page from your passport
Copies of your Non O/B visa, last entry stamp, previous extension and departure card.
Mug shots
Hand drawn map of your location here and any rental/owner contract you have.

Money:
Here I may go wrong as I do mine on the basis of overseas income. But it should be 800k in a Thai bank account. That amount should not drop below that that figure for 2 months before you apply for the first time and 3 months on subsequent occasions. You'll need a letter from your bank verifying that (as close to the date of application as possible) and your bank book to back it up.
I think that's it. It really shouldn't be any more complicated but Imm is Imm and they can throw different rules at you whenever they want.
So, apply early to avoid disappointment. Technically, you can apply within the last 30 days of any extension/permitted to stay stamp you have.
Hope that helps.

Post by **Big Boy** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:44 pm

You'll find the office location at the end of this thread http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/po ... tml#137447

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 5:50 pm

PFW,

Here's the current criteria, as translated by a law firm and posted on HHAD a while back. The notes in red are what changed from previous criteria.

SJ

Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:13 pm

Me again. Thank you for the helpful replies.
I entered Thailand with the ‘visaless’ 30 day stamp. Can I use this as the basis to acquire the one year multi entry retirement visa? A website from wpcoe (the HHAD system bars the URL because I'm new here) says yes. Does anyone have experience of this? The website suggests:
Complete Form TM.87, the Application for Visa form. This will change your visa-less stamp in your passport to a genuine 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa.
Complete Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom. This will convert your 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa to one year from the date of entry on your original passport stamp.
Multi entry: Complete Form TM.8, with a copy of your passport picture page and a 4cm x 6cm photo…
With thanks.

Post by **lomuamart** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:45 pm

Yes you can as long as you have at least 21 days remaining on your permitted to stay stamp.
You'll have to meet Imm's criteria and then get a visa that should be a single entry Non O, good for 90 days. Within the last 30 days of that you can extend for further year.
Cost of both extensions, 1,900THB.

Post by **lomuamart** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:51 pm

I forgot. If you want a stamp that allows you to leave and return, then that's a re-entry permit which is separate to your extension.
They come in either single ot multi-entry varieties. I think the former costs about 1,000THB, the latter about 3,800THB,
You can apply at any time you want as long as your extension is valid.

Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:01 pm

Thanks for confirming this, Lomuamart. To get this right in my own mind, is this correct?:
Get a multi-entry Non O 90 day visa. (I have to leave for a few days at the end of August.)
Towards the end of the 90 days, apply for a one year multiple entry extension and present letters from the bank, yellow book, copy of passport, map, photos etc

Post by **Big Boy** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:35 pm

Get a multi-entry Non O 90 day visa. (I have to leave for a few days at the end of August.)

I'm sure I've read here that you will have to ensure that you return by air as a land crossing will only give you a 15 day stamp.

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:56 pm

Big Boy wrote:
Get a multi-entry Non O 90 day visa. (I have to leave for a few days at the end of August.)
I'm sure I've read here that you will have to ensure that you return by air as a land crossing will only give you a 15 day stamp.

BB, I'm pretty sure that only applies if you have no visa of any kind. Lomu will no doubt confirm/contradict based on sound info!

Post by **pitsch** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:26 pm

PooftersFrothWyoming wrote:Thanks for confirming this, Lomuamart. To get this right in my own mind, is this correct?:
Get a multi-entry Non O 90 day visa. (I have to leave for a few days at the end of August.)
Towards the end of the 90 days, apply for a one year multiple entry extension and present letters from the bank, yellow book, copy of passport, map, photos etc

You need already all the paperwork to get a Non O 90 day visa and then the same again for the extension to 1 year. So you should have 800 000 Baht on your account for 60 days before the application for the 90 day visa. But it can be on any Thai bank (I dont have it in a Hua Hin bank).

Post by **lomuamart** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:04 pm

PooftersFrothWyoming wrote:Thanks for confirming this, Lomuamart. To get this right in my own mind, is this correct?:
Get a multi-entry Non O 90 day visa. (I have to leave for a few days at the end of August.)
Towards the end of the 90 days, apply for a one year multiple entry extension and present letters from the bank, yellow book, copy of passport, map, photos etc

You can't extend for a year unless you have the proper visa first.
Once you have that, your re-entries are up to you.

Arcadian · Post by **Arcadian** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:09 am

Do you still have to get the embassy to confirm you don`t have a criminal record?

Post by **lomuamart** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:11 am

There should be no need for that over here.

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:40 am

dtaai-maai wrote:
Big Boy wrote:
Get a multi-entry Non O 90 day visa. (I have to leave for a few days at the end of August.)
I'm sure I've read here that you will have to ensure that you return by air as a land crossing will only give you a 15 day stamp.
BB, I'm pretty sure that only applies if you have no visa of any kind. Lomu will no doubt confirm/contradict based on sound info!

I thought that was point of leaving for a few days at the end of August. I thought the OP was trying to refresh his (non-visa) period on arrival to at least 21 days so that he or she could obtain the visa - or have I totally misunderstood what he or she is asking?