Retirement visa

[a1phase3]

My friend recently sent a request to the Thai consulate in DC and he was told that they were not giving out any retirement visa.

Has anyone else had this problem? it will another 10 years before I can retire and move there, so sad. I want to stay informed on what's happening in Thailand.

[Lok Jit]

Thailand retirement visas are issued inside Thailand at the Thai consulate..Not in Washington DC...

[Edge]

Thailand retirement visas are issued inside Thailand at the Thai consulate..Not in Washington DC...

 

AFAIK you can only get a Retirement Visa outside of Thailand and it's hard work.

 

What most people do is come in with a Tourist or One Year Multi-entry Visa (NOT Visa Waiver/Exemption) and then apply for a One Year Extension on the grounds of Retirement. This Extension is not a stand alone Visa.

 

We just did all this for RibaldRay in the Visas Forum HERE.

 

12 month extension to a non-immigrant visa: If you are holding a non-immigrant visa, you have the option of extending this by 12 months based on either retirement (50 years old or over) or support to a Thai citizen, work, education and such. This may only be accomplished at an immigration office inside the Kingdom and certain criteria have to be met. Such extensions consist of a stamp in your passport detailing “issue date” and “permitted to stay until” date.

[Mike Asia]

Thailand retirement visas are issued inside Thailand at the Thai consulate..Not in Washington DC...

 

where can i find a Thai consulate in Thailand?

[kansuwan]

Visas are issued inside Thailand by Thai Immigration, not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here's the start page of its web-site, downloadable forms and what-not.

 

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php

[Edge]

where can i find a Thai consulate in Thailand?

 

Tut tut.

 

 

Visas are issued inside Thailand by Thai Immigration, not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here's the start page of its web-site, downloadable forms and what-not.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php

 

Your post is misleading Sir.

 

Thai Immigration do not issue Visas. They only grant Extensions to Visas.

The OP needs to get a Visa from outside Thailand before he comes. I don't know how a Visa on Arrival works, but if he comes in on Visa Waiver and then tries to get a Visa from Thai Immi' as you suggest, he will be disappointed. Neither will he be able to get an Extension.

 

Read my post above and the posts of others in the link I gave and you will have the basic answers.

 

From your own link:-

A visa is a document entitling the holder to enter a country. A visa is either a stamp or a sticker in the passport and is made according to international regulations. According to international agreements, when a citizen of one country wishes to travel to another country, he or she first has to obtain a visa from the consulate or consular section of the embassy of the country is going to visit. If permission is granted, a stamp or sticker is affixed to his or her passport and he or she may travel to the country of destination. Although basically a visa has to be obtained before travelling to a foreign country, some countries have mutual agreements of visa exemption for their citizens and some countries allow citizens of some countries to enter without visa.

[pubstud]

I had a retirement visa a few years ago. I got an agent in Pattaya to do all the paper work and leg work. Naturally I was charged a fee for this but it saved me a lot of stress and sweat. I was told that you need a Non-Imm O visa to start with (which I did have) then the immigration change that into a retirement visa. Personally I didn't see much advantage in getting the retirement visa, they're expensive, you still have to report in at police stations every 90 days, a big plus for many people is you no longer need to exit the country every 3 months but I've never seen that as a problem and actually look forward to getting away from Thailand every 3 months - have short holidays in the surrounding countries. Anyway, my big tip is get an agent to do all the work for you, it's money well spent.

[Lambik]

^

...................it's money well spent..............

 

I beg to differ.

 

It's very easy without help.

 

~Non immigrant O visa

 

~800.000 ThB on a Thai bank account

or

 

ThB 65.000 monthly income in your home country and regulary transfer from funds to your Thai bank account

 

or

 

a combination of the two

 

~ TM 7 form

 

~ 1.900 ThB fee

 

~Personal application at the immigration office.

[Edge]

I had a retirement visa a few years ago. I got an agent in Pattaya to do all the paper work and leg work. Naturally I was charged a fee for this ..................................... Anyway, my big tip is get an agent to do all the work for you, it's money well spent.

 

Oh no you didn't!

 

A Retirement Visa cannot be obtained in Pattaya, only a Visa Extension on the Grounds of Retirement.

If you do not understand that distinction then perhaps you did right to use an agent.

 

AFAIK the only other time it's worth using an agent is if you don't have the money in bank or income and you can't/don't want to return home or go out to get a new Visa.

There are Agents who take all your paperwork and your Thai bank book and magically return everything a few days later, including the Extension stamp in your Passport. Your bank book will show 800k going in one day and out the next i.e. not seeded as required.

It costs 22-28k and the stamp is illegal but it is a solution many take.

I can only guess what happens if the authorities ever crack down on this practice and identify all those with illegal stamps.

 

If you satisfy all the requirements then it is simple to do yourself as TinTin says.

[pubstud]

Oh no you didn't!

 

A Retirement Visa cannot be obtained in Pattaya, only a Visa Extension on the Grounds of Retirement.

If you do not understand that distinction then perhaps you did right to use an agent.

 

AFAIK the only other time it's worth using an agent is if you don't have the money in bank or income and you can't/don't want to return home or go out to get a new Visa.

There are Agents who take all your paperwork and your Thai bank book and magically return everything a few days later, including the Extension stamp in your Passport. Your bank book will show 800k going in one day and out the next i.e. not seeded as required.

It costs 22-28k and the stamp is illegal but it is a solution many take.

I can only guess what happens if the authorities ever crack down on this practice and identify all those with illegal stamps.

 

If you satisfy all the requirements then it is simple to do yourself as TinTin says.

 

 

Well thank you for pointing out to me Edge, that I've been duped and carry an illegal stamp in my passport. This afternoon I'm going to the Pattaya police station to report this and will go with the police to the agent's office and see if I can have them charged.

[Lok Jit]

Well thank you for pointing out to me Edge, that I've been duped and carry an illegal stamp in my passport. This afternoon I'm going to the Pattaya police station to report this and will go with the police to the agent's office and see if I can have them charged.

 

 

This is a SCAM that has been going on for quite a while in Pattaya..There is Lots of T-Money involved..Not sure if Immigrations is not in on it as well as the BIB and Banks..Saying this also not sure your Stamp is Illegal? Also in my opinion you will be effecting many other X-Pats who use this Method to live here...( I'm Not one of them)...

6 Yrs ago a similar Scam was taking place in Chiang Mai with Tea Money and long term visas..It took an Outside Cop to bust this click up because of many higher ups were getting Tea Money...Curious as to what the BIB tells you?

Keep in mind--Many times here if it ain't broke don't fix it...In my opinion you will effect Many X-Pats that are trying to live here and they use this scam to pull it off..

Next time I certainly would consider doing it yourself and doing it the Right way...

[Edge]

Well thank you for pointing out to me Edge, that I've been duped and carry an illegal stamp in my passport. This afternoon I'm going to the Pattaya police station to report this and will go with the police to the agent's office and see if I can have them charged.

 

I assume you're having a laugh. You said this was several years ago so what would be the point?

I didn't suggest that you had used this option. I just said it was the only reason I could think of why someone would use an agent - unless they simply don't understand the very straightforward process.

 

If you did use this method then I doubt you could have been duped. The people I know who use this method are very well aware of what they are doing. If they could put the 800k in the bank or had the income why would they pay an agent about 25k - for what?

 

 

This is a SCAM that has been going on for quite a while in Pattaya..There is Lots of T-Money involved..Not sure if Immigrations is not in on it as well as the BIB and Banks..Saying this also not sure your Stamp is Illegal? ...........................

Next time I certainly would consider doing it yourself and doing it the Right way...

 

It's not a scam from the applicant's PoV. He will know what is happening and what he's paying for. The agents offering the service are quite open about it I believe.

 

The reason I used the word "illegal" is because one of the clear qualifications for this Extension is the seeding of the funds in the bank. I think that wasn't always the case and these agents have carried on regardless. If someone was picked on for a Visa check and was asked to produce his bank book then all would quickly be revealed. I presume the source of the stamp and signatures would also be known. If "illegal" is the wrong word then how about fraudulent or what would you like?

 

I have stood at Jomtien and listened to a guy recently who had more than enough funds in his bank for more than long enough - except that at one point about two weeks before his application he had taken a big lump out, reducing the balance to less than 800k and put it back in a couple of days later.

No mercy! His application for Extension was refused and he was told he had to leave Thailand forthwith and was advised to travel to another country or home to obtain a Visa as he no longer had one.

 

I would agree that this has been going on a long time and must be known to Immigration.

 

I also accept your point that the cessation of the practice would adversely affect a lot of expats.

If the Mod's think it would have been better not to have raised it here then feel free to delete my posts.

[Lambik]

Just follow the RULES, they are not so complicated.

[pubstud]

Well when I applied for and was granted a resident visa I had sufficient funds in a Thai bank account, plus I had sufficient monthly income, the agent organized a letter from my Embassy gauranteeing that I had this income. So there was nothing sneaky, or illegal about my application. Everything was above board and by the RULES. The reason why I got the agent to do the paper & leg work for me is that I couldn't be bothered myself, I don't like dealing with Thai officialdom, don't like any officialdon for that matter, so I prefered to pay the Thais to do it, rather than stand in ques and sit around on benches myself.

 

Anyway, I was told that I was applying for and getting a bona fide Thai retirement visa. And that's what it say in my passport. Then today I learn from Edge that I had not in fact ever had a proper retirement visa but an illegal fake - "the stamp is illegal" So I intend getting to the bottom about this. I don't like being fucked over.

[Lambik]

^

 

If you have been personally to the immigration office your stamp is legal, if not I am afraid it's a false one. Unless you paid a huge amount via your agent to the immigration officer.

 

I know a case of an expat which is so rich he invites the immigration officer at his home to get a stamp in his passport, of course this cost him big.

 

Anyway you must make a notification of residence every 90 days at the Immigration Office, this can be done by mail or by a third if you don't like to go by yourself..

[pubstud]

^

 

If you have been personally to the immigration office your stamp is legal, if not I am afraid it's a false one.

 

Anyway you must make a notification of residence every 90 days at the Immigration Office, this can be done by mail or by a third if you don't like to go by yourself..

 

So are you saying the only way to get a legal retirement visa is to do it yourself, go personally to immigration. If you get an agent or lawyer to take care of this for you then you get an illegal fake. If so that's astonishing piece of news. What may I ask prevents the agent or lawyer from getting you a legal visa?

[Lambik]

So are you saying the only way to get a legal retirement visa is to do it yourself, go personally to immigration. If you get an agent or lawyer to take care of this for you then you get an illegal fake. If so that's astonishing piece of news. What may I ask prevents the agent or lawyer from getting you a legal visa?

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That's not what I am saying, sorry I am not a native English speaker,

 

I am saying that an agent can take care of every paperwork and the agent can go to the immigration and can do all the necessary talks but you have to be present, otherwise the agent pays some tea money to the immigration officer in order to obtain a visa in your passport.

 

Unfortunately not all agents are honest guys and some do not even go to the immigration and put themselve a fake visa in your passport.

 

There were many cases like that a few years ago, there was even an American agent in Pattaya who was involved with the daughter of the Chief Immigration Officer and they set up a totally fake business, they get caught, the officer was displaced, I believe the American was extradited.

 

So be careful and good luck.

[pubstud]

TinTin, of course "the agent pays some tea money to the immigration officer in order to obtain a visa in your passport", that's expected, that's one reason why I paid the agent's fee, so she'll pay some tea money and get streamlined service and fast results, that's how everything works in Thailand, slip some dosh across and get some action. But all that means is the visa was issued quickly and without me having to personally get involved other than signing a few documents. It doesn't mean the visa is illegal or fake. I have now had the visa looked at by an immigration officer and it is an authentic legal visa.

[Lambik]

^

 

Good for you, care to tell us how much you pay your agent please ?

 

If you don't, fair enough, keep just in mind that the real costs are 1.900 ThB,

 

Once a year it teak me about one hour to get my visa, of course this is my fourth "retirement visa" and everything goes very smoothly ( so far).

[pubstud]

Sure: all up, visa fees, including a multi re-entry visa, plus the costs for getting the income statement document from my Embassy, plus the agent's fee, all came to just under 20,000 THB.

 

TinTin, if you just spend an hour once a year at immigration then that's wonderful and I'm happy for you, however, that hasn't been my own personal experience in dealing with Thai gov' departments. In the past I've been sent round-and-round the mullberry bush on Mickey Mouse missions, drives me mad dealing with them, so I learned years ago whenever possible pay the Thais to do as much as possible for you.

 

I guess we just have 2 different outlooks here. But hey, thanks very much for your interest and imput.

[Edge]

Well when I applied for and was granted a resident visa I had sufficient funds in a Thai bank account, plus I had sufficient monthly income, the agent organized a letter from my Embassy gauranteeing that I had this income. So there was nothing sneaky, or illegal about my application. ...........................................I was told that I was applying for and getting a bona fide Thai retirement visa. And that's what it say in my passport. Then today I learn from Edge that I had not in fact ever had a proper retirement visa but an illegal fake - "the stamp is illegal" So I intend getting to the bottom about this. I don't like being fucked over.

 

That is not what I said but never mind, we seem to have moved on.

 

From the fuller information you have now given, it is clear that your Agent legally applied for a Visa Extension on your behalf.

The fact that you did not physically present yourself (as I've seen some do with Agent) is presumably rule bending/breaking but that's history and they can't get you for it now.

 

Regarding the illegal method described, if you read it properly you would have known that was not what you did.

 

The cost of the items you got was approximately 1900 (Visa Extension) + 3800 (Multi Re-Entry Permit) + 2500 (Embassy Income Verification from the Consulate next door) + 200 (Bank Letter - maybe).

Last time I did it I was at the Bank maybe 15 mins, the consulate maybe 15 mins and 2 times at Jomtien for a total of maybe 40 mins.

If you paid the Agent c. 20000 then you paid about 11600 or currently 250 quid to avoid the officialdom at Jomtien and save possibly 2 hours at most including travelling.

If you think that's a good deal and you're happy that's fine.

Personally, if you did it again I would shop around, but up2 u.

[pubstud]

I was happy with the agent's service and considered that 11,600 Bt well spent. I didn't know anything at all about getting a retirement visa so used a professional to do it all for me. I bet TinTin's mate pays a hell of a lot more than 11,600 Bt to get the immigration official to stamp his passport at his kitchen table.

 

I never renewed the retirement visa as I didn't see any benefit from having it, I'm now back on multi-entry non-imm visas, as I said earlier the fact that I have to leave Thailand every 3 months has never been a problem, I enjoy short trips to the surrounding countries.

 

If I ever went back on a retirement visa then I would probably do it all myself as this discussion with you and TinTin has convinced me that it's not difficult. Like many things in life it's easy once you know how to do it.

 

Thanks for you interest.

[NALAK1]

its so easy to go to immigration and do it the legal way, i cant understand if everything is above board why anybody would not want to do it the correct way in person. Thai consular should be able to give you a letter of proof of income if you can show you have it, and bank manager a letter to say you have had the funds in the bank for 3 months. no worries about copies if you do it that way. of course if somebody does have a copy visa and you report it you will be bounced out the country and black listed from coming back.

multiple re entry is also an option or just get re entry as and when you need it.

[Edge]

I was happy with the agent's service and considered that 11,600 Bt well spent. I didn't know anything at all about getting a retirement visa so used a professional to do it all for me. I bet TinTin's mate pays a hell of a lot more than 11,600 Bt to get the immigration official to stamp his passport at his kitchen table.

 

I never renewed the retirement visa as I didn't see any benefit from having it, I'm now back on multi-entry non-imm visas, as I said earlier the fact that I have to leave Thailand every 3 months has never been a problem, I enjoy short trips to the surrounding countries.

 

If I ever went back on a retirement visa then I would probably do it all myself as this discussion with you and TinTin has convinced me that it's not difficult. Like many things in life it's easy once you know how to do it.

 

Thanks for you interest.

 

Yes, TinTin's mate would have paid 25-28k, but that includes putting 800k in and out of his bank, because he hasn't got either the capital or income required. Edit sorry I misunderstood.

 

I do agree with you about the One Year Multi Entry. It's actually quite a lot cheaper (110 quid?) versus doing a Retirement Extension yourself (180 quid?) as long as you're going back to UK anyway. Also, as you no doubt know, you can time your trips out or border runs to get 15 months out of one.

 

My RE runs out in August and if I go back before then I'll get one. The way air fares are from this end, there's no way I could justify going back just for that though.

 

REs are a very convenient way of avoiding the cost of having to go out of the country or home for a new Visa.

 

Apparently there are also clever ways of using Double Entry Tourist Visas, but that's another story.

[Lambik]

Yes, TinTin's mate would have paid 25-28k, but that includes putting 800k in and out of his bank, because he hasn't got either the capital or income required.

 

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Not at all,

 

the guy I know is rich with millions, therefore for him it's denigrated to go by himself to the immigration office and so yearly he invites the chief immigration officer to his home to put a stamp in his passport as well as in his wife's passport.

 

This of course cost him a lot of money, but apparently it does not care him and I am sure the chief immigration officer is very well pleased with this arrangement to.