No dependant on retirement visa.

[sam]

"In the case of wishing to be accompanied by spouse, the marriage certificate must be attached. The spouse will be granted a Non–Immigrant “Oâ€

[Guess]

I haven't read every detail of this post but an idea that springs to mind is for one of you to do the tourist visa trip until you reach 50.

The first vis would be obtained in the passport holders country and will last one year but can be stretched effectively to 15 months. You will then need to leave the country to get a tourist visa from a neighboring consulate. Most people use Vientienne or Penang. This 2 month vis can be extended to 3 months here in Hua Hin. I have heard that you can get another year in Singapore or Perth but I have not actually seen one.

As far as I have been told by immigration here in Hua Hin is that there is no limit to the number of times you can repeat the tourist visa cycle.

Once you reach 50 you can apply for the retirement visa. The same 800,000 BHT can be used for each visa if they are spaced correctly.

Please bear in mind though that this information is nearly one year old now. I have a business visa myself and all the troubles that go with that.

The thing is about Thailand is that no rule is cast in stone. There is always a caveat. You just have to find it and exploit it. Also don't tell them anything they don't need to know such as you have a spouse that is also living in Thailand.

[sam]

Thanks Guess,advice appreciated,beers on me at xmas.

[lomuamart]

Guess,
Good advice indeed. I know it's just terminology but as far as I'm aware:
The first visa you mention is a Multiple-entry Non O. You need a reason for applying for that. The usual reasons are marriage to a Thai national or retirement. These are usually only obtained in your country of residence. However, certain consulates are well renowned for their friendly service, as you've said.
There are Work Permits, but I know nothing about them.
For retirement, my understanding is that the 800k in a Thai bank account has not to drop below that balance for three months before you apply for an extension, based on retirement. Once you've got the extension, you can naturally live off your savings here until next year when, three months before applying for the second extension, you need to bring that Thai bank balance up to 800k. "Topping your account up". BTW, I would reckon that Immigration would naturally like to see some activity on that account during the year - otherwise, what have you been living on? AFAIA it's as easy as that.
And read Guess's last two paragraphs. No truer words were said.

[barrys]

Quotes from this week's Pattaya City Expats Club newsletter:

By the way, I am not the Barry referred to in the following.

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALLEGED NEW VISA REGULATIONS – The ThaiVisa web site reported that there were new regulations effective September 1st, which would require dependents of holders of a retirement visa to qualify for an extension on their own. Thus a spouse, if 50 or older would need to also meet the income requirement separate from those his or her spouse. A spouse under 50 or dependents would not be able to have their visas extended based on their spouse/parent having a retirement visa. It now appears that this report is a hoax and completely false. We talked with Barry Kenyon Thursday afternoon (September. 6th) - he stated that he has asked, through his contacts with Immigration in Pattaya to query Immigration Management in Bangkok about it. They stated that they have not issued such regulations, and knew nothing about them. According to Barry, Pattaya Immigration is renewing dependents of holders of Retirement Visa's as normal - married couples are being renewed as they always have been - the spouse's qualification is automatically approved if the husband is approved.

2. LAST WEEK'S MEETING

The meeting was opened by Jim Jones, who was making his first appearance as MC. His first task was to introduce Barry Kenyon, Honorary British Consul who was making a welcome return visit to announce some breaking news about retirement visas – good news for a change. Barry announced that the Commander of the Pattaya Immigration Office told him that he received a notice from his superiors that the requirement to obtain a stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok as verification of the authenticity of the Embassy letter certifying pension income has been cancelled. This requirement was initially supposed to go into effect on October 1, 2007.

[PeteC]

That is good news and seems to lay the issue to rest. I feel sorry for the poor guy who jumped the gun earlier in the week with the letter to the BKP.

I guess the old saying "check your sources..." remains valid. Maybe a discontented troll(s) have found new ways to pull everyone's chain. Pete

[Big Boy]

IMHO it's typical Thailand. 1. Think of an idea. 2. Start a rumour. 3. See how that rumour is received. 4. Decide whether to implement, or deny.

Maybe I'm becoming a bit cynical, but there are so many new regulations that are almost immediately denied/withdrawn - there has to be some truth in what's going on.

[caller]

Well, I thought I read this on here already (edit, just found it, its on Sams post at the top of this page)? Must have been somewhere else. Someone should tell the Thai consulate at Hull, UK, this is a hoax, because its already posted on their website (edit - its still there).

I can't link you to the actual PDF for some reason, but this link takes you to the visa section:

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/visas1.asp

Then go to No.7, "retiring in Thailand" - it states:

In the case of wishing to be accompanied by spouse, the marriage certificate must be attached. The spouse will be granted a Non–Immigrant “Oâ€

[hogus]

Well, as I understand it, this law is reality already, but not valid, because it isn't published in the Royal Gazette yet.
So, may be it never will be published!...than it's the end of this story!

There are everywhere bureaucrats, which are hurrying ahead in unordered obedience!

Anyway, I'm pretty sure, they'll keep that law in a drawer!

It's Thailand and you never can know what's coming up next!

[dtaai-maai]

There are everywhere bureaucrats, ...hurrying ahead in unordered obedience!

Hogus, my friend, I think you may have just coined a phrase. IMHO that could well catch on!

[Burger]

sam wrote:

I will only be 47 when we come out

Blimey, you don't look a day over 37 my dear.

and even when old enough did not really want to put 1,600,000 in thai bank for 3 months

Leave it in a time-deposit account, you can get around 4.7% return p.a.

Or do we sell up and find another country?

Sell up ?? you haven't even bought yet

Burger

[Burger]

hogus wrote:

hurrying ahead in unordered obedience

You can tune a radio but you can't tuna fish.

Burger the BE