Retirement Visa

[doogle]

Many thanks chaspul and lomuamart, your feedback has certainly helped with my understanding. I will check out the link and consider the O-A route further.

Doogle

[doogle]

chaspul and lomuamart

Just one further thought..... if applying for an O-A visa in the UK I have to get a number of documents certified by the Public Notary before submitting to the Embassy. No problem with this apart from our marraige certificate. As we were married in Australia the Public Notary has advised that he cannot do this but has not advised what we should do as not in his jurisdiction.

Any ideas what we can do?

The marriage cetificate is an original and has all the right information, no., official stamp, date and signature.

Thanks

Doogle

[lomuamart]

How about the Aus Emb? Can they help?

[doogle]

Good idea - will contact them.

[dalmatiandave]

Very happy yesterday when I attended for my first retirement extension in Hua Hin. Been getting my retirement extension in Pattaya for 8 years so this was my first experience here. Happy to say that all was in order at 11am yesterday, I think I waited for about 5 minutes before my number came up. Had my extension sorted and paid for in 25 minutes. Got my multiple re-entry visa soon after and I left the office fully sorted for 1 more year within 45 minutes. It was a very friendly service.

[barrys]

Have to do my annual extension based on retirement.

Are there any new rules and regulations this year that anyone knows?

So apart from my passport, proof of income letter, proof of residential address, photo and TM7 form, is there anything else I need?

Thanks a lot.

[Dannie Boy]

Have to do my annual extension based on retirement.

Are there any new rules and regulations this year that anyone knows?

So apart from my passport, proof of income letter, proof of residential address, photo and TM7 form, is there anything else I need?

Thanks a lot.

I quoted my experience back in June viewtopic.php?f=9&t=25311 where I had to show my bank book as being updated the same date as the letter from the bank - easiest way is make a withdrawal and then get the book updated and ask for the confirmation letter, however if you're using the income rather than funds route, I guess it won't apply. You also need copies of everything, including your arrival/departure card for when you last arrived and a copy of the page that shows your entry stamp.

[lomuamart]

Dannie, barrys is going the income route rather than savings so no Thai bank account or bank letter needed. A letter from his Embassy is though.
I'm not aware of any new regulations, barrys. It should be the same as last year for you.

[barrys]

Thanks a lot for all your helpful advice

Went to immigration this afternoon - no unpleasant or unexpected surprises - in and out in less than 20 minutes with a visa extension based on retirement until end of July 2015 for the standard fee of 1900 baht - the service was impeccable

[doogle]

Chaspul

I appreciate it is now a couple of months since you commented (very helpfully) on my visa queries and when you mentioned the link in your post states: (sorry but as a newbie I cannot post your URL!)

"The link states that if multi entry, the "O" which your wife qualifies for, can be issued for one year, this would be "to accompany my husband in our retirement home". She would use the same funds as long as you have a valid marriage certificate.

Having just re-checked the link I cannot find this wording - please can you advise me exactly where you found this.

Reason I am asking is because I now have all of the documents I intend to apply for my 'O-A' visa in London on basis of retirement but I still do not know what type of visa I should apply for in respect of my UK wife.

I was planning to apply for a multiple entry 'O' visa on the basis of the wording above. However, I have been advised by others that there is no type of 'O' visa that will allow my wife to remain in Thailand for 12 months without having to leave the country every 90 days. The only option being to get a single entry 'O' visa in the UK and then going to immigration to extend this to 12 months once in Thailand.

Our preference is to get a multiple entry 'O' visa for my wife in the UK but only if it definitely allows her to stay for 12 months.

There are so many conflicting opinions I really do not know what the correct position is.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Doogle

[hhfarang]

I just did it... everything you need in detail is here (using income and with a rental home):

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=23918&start=15#p356904

[doogle]

Thanks hhfarang. That is very useful for a visa extension but I do not think it covers my situation of getting the 'O-A' visa for me and the 'O' visa for my wife first time round ....

[lomuamart]

The multi-entry O will allow your wife to stay for 12 months (in fact up to 15 months if used correctly) but she will have to exit the country every 90 days so the information you have is correct.
See here http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/1 ... ay%29.html for confirmation that your wife will be considered for a O visa.
However, the requirements to get a multi-entry O have changed recently in as much as there are financial requirements. Quite how your wife's application will be affected by virtue of the fact that you get an OA visa, I'm not sure and you need to check that. It's possible that the requirements will not be as strict.
Another thing to consider in relation to the long term is the visa extensions. If your wife is going to apply as your dependent (ie, she dosn't show her own income or savings) then you're going to have to apply at the same time or at the least you'll have to have your extension first. And you'll not be able to apply until the last 30 days of your permitted to stay date which will be a year from when you enter. (I think you're aware of this as you're trying to get your wife the multi-entry O).
I have to ask why you're getting an OA? Are you not in a position to apply for an extension after 60 days here? Ie , get a single entry O which leads to 90 days stay and apply for extension after 60 days. If you already have the required 800K THB in a Thai bank account or you'll be going down the income route then that's the way I'd go. It will just be so much easier to co-ordinate both of your extensions.
As I've said on the forum many times before, savings only need to be seeded for two months for the first extension and three for subsequent ones. Reason for this is that it gives people a month to get their savings sorted out if necessary. HH don't follow this simple rule unfortunately.

[doogle]

I wonder why I am going for 'O-A' too. This was based on advice I was given but seems to be incorrect. I have already paid for a medical certificate, police certificate and for these and other documents to be certified by a public notary in the UK and have the equivalent of 800,000 Thai baht in a UK bank account in my sole name.

The final step is for me to go to the Royal Thai Embassy in London to apply for our visas.

Given where we are I wonder if I the best option is for me to get my 'O-A' visa (multiple entry) in the UK and to get my wife a single entry 'O ' visa in the UK and the extend her visa to 1 year once we get to Thailand?

We have a joint Bangkok Bank account and I also have an account with them in my sole name so I could potentially transfer 800,000 Thai baht into this account and get 'O' visas (single entry) for us both in the UK and extend these on arrival in Thailand. However, I think this means our marriage certificate has to be notarised by the Embassy in Bangkok - this is not a requirement in the UK.

[lomuamart]

I'm a bit confused about your bank account and the transfers.
Your options, as I see them, are:
1. You get your OA. Your wife gets her O - single or multiple. Downside of this is that she has to wait for you to get your extension before she can get her's if she's applying as your dependent. She's going to have a long wait as you can't apply until your year here has nearly finished. If she comes on a multi entry O, she's got to exit the country every 90 days but at least that visa would allow her to apply for the extension at the same time as you. With a single entry O, she'll not only have to exit the country but also get a new visa every 90 days and that's no stroll in the park. It can take up to 5 days, with traveling, to get one.
2. Regardless of you having the paperwork for the OA, you both get O visas - single or multiple entry. Upside of this is that you'll both be on the same time frame and can apply at the same time for the extension. She can "piggyback" off your extension. You say you have an account already here in Thailand. Remember that must be in your sole name for your extension. Joint accounts won't work.
3. You come on your OA, your wife on her O and she extends before you but she must have 800K in the Thai bank in her sole name. You apply later on your own. Can't say that this seems sensible as you're tying up two lots of 800K - unless you apply as her dependent.

Do you need 800K in a Thai account to get an O visa in the UK? It's this bit of your post I don't understand. What does your wife have to show to get an O visa? That obviously applies to you as well. I mean a single entry O not multi entry. Would have thought that you'd just apply for it on the basis of being over 50 and intending to retire here in due course with the correct extension.
You've got the money seeded here already so you're pretty much good to go for the extensions if that's the case. Again, I stress the money must be in your sole name.
See what others think when they wake up as I'd hate to give you bad advice that would end up with you having to go and get more visas after you've arrived here.
But for me, based on what you've said and assuming I've understood it, I'd just get two single entry O visas, get over here and apply for your extensions in due course - some two months after you arrive.
I also think that you'd need the marriage certificate notarised by the Embassy but I've never done it before. Look here https://www.gov.uk/notarial-and-documen ... r-thailand for guidance.