New Visa Laws

[Limey711]

Has anyone come across any new changes to the Application for a Retirement Visa.
When we appliied for ours last year, we had to have an income of 65000 baht per month or 800,000 baht in the bank, I was told yesterday that we now have to have 800,000 baht in the bank each, myself and my wife, a total of 1,600,000 baht between us and it has to have been in the bank for a period of not less than three months, before we apply for another retirement visa.
The laws in general seem to change day by day, has anyone else on the forum re-applied for a retirement visa lately.

Thanks

Russ

[lomuamart]

I'll say at the start that I don't have the retirement extension, but certainly it's the case since Oct 1st 2006, that the 800k (or whatever deposit you may be combining with income) has to be in the bank for 3 months before your application and it can't drop below that figure. Immigration said that the change was designed to stop people borrowing that money on a short-term basis.
I'm really not 100% sure about the spouse thing. I've a feeling it might depend on whether you can classify them as a dependant. Hopefully, others will know more.

[bozzman101]

if your wife is farang think they have you on this one
but if she is thai think it should be ok
was looking at some other forums and something comes to mind if spouse is foreigner too

any otheer thoughts guys?????

[bozzman101]

will be going for my first retirment visa end of march so i deposited
a ,million baht to be in account in hua hin for 3 months to apply end of march
so hope to be posting a good cenario then

[niggle]

This is the latest I found on this
RETIREES & THEIR SPOUSES:

Retirees who are married to a foreigner eg. Englishman married to say a Phillipino can apply for his "O" status non immigrant visa under the normal criteria of 800,000 baht or 65,000 baht coming in each month. However if he /she wants to include spouse on this Visa he/she must show evidence of marriage, e g marriage certificate.

[lomuamart]

if your wife is farang think they have you on this one
but if she is thai think it should be ok
was looking at some other forums and something comes to mind if spouse is foreigner too

any otheer thoughts guys?????

I've taken another look at this and you'll have to scroll down to 7.21 to start seeing things regarding retirement. It's not clear, is it?
http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/2n ... p606EN.pdf
These are the new regulations introduced on Oct 1st 2006.
I'm fairly sure that the OP will not have a Thai wife, Bozzman101, but only he can advise.
If I were you, Limey711, I'd just go and ask at imm in HH. The difficulty may be that different imm offices may well have different interpretations of the new regs.
I've got to sort out what they want for my first "marrige extension" soon and whilst I know that the regulation is now 40k combined income and that that dosn't have to be transferred to a Thai bank account each month (just confirmation that I have that income, minimum, every month from my Embassy), I just don't know how HH will view things until I ask them.
Sorry, can't be more helpful.

[niggle]

Just read the literature in the link above. Certainly, by reading 7.19 , then reading 7.21 and going back to 7.19, it appears that the spouse can be inculded as dependant on visa.
But as we know, it seems to depend on who atends to you in the office.

[lomuamart]

Just read the literature in the link above. Certainly, by reading 7.19 , then reading 7.21 and going back to 7.19, it appears that the spouse can be inculded as dependant on visa.
But as we know, it seems to depend on who atends to you in the office.

Yeah, reckon you've got that right, niggle. I knew I'd looked at it before for someone, just missed 7.19 this time.

[niggle]

Just thought, is the 65000 requirement gross or net ?

[lomuamart]

I've never had a satisfactory answer to that - even for the "marriage one". Ie, I have an income of xxx amount, which is well above that necessary here, but after agent's fees, tax and other bits and pieces on a monthly basis back home it's closer to the edge.
I'd reckon that your Embassy will only be interested in what goes into your bank account each month, rather than any other document that shows gross income, for them to give you a certified letter that you meet Thai requirements.
Just a guess, but any paperwork from the Embassy for any visa here must surely be based on nett, not gross?
Certainly mine were last year when my got my wife a visa to go back to England. Bank statements. How much over a 6 month period? Does he have enough to support his wife - and himself - when back home? Can't see the criteria would change for a letter here regarding income to get an extension in Thailand.

[lomuamart]

Than again, niggle, I think most people going for retirement will transfer at least the 65k - or marriage 40k - into a Thai bank account. The bank book confirms this. No need for Embassy letter in those circunstances. It's plain to see.

[bozzman101]

irish consulate charge

1060 bath for letter to state your pension or finincal state

[Onlyme]

Loumart. Don't forget that if you've already received "the right to stay for supporting Thai spouse" before the new regs last October.
You are entitled to "grandad rights" and can stay with the required 400,000 baht. The 40,000 baht per month only applies to applicants after 1st October? last year.
Onlyme.

[lomuamart]

Loumart. Don't forget that if you've already received "the right to stay for supporting Thai spouse" before the new regs last October.
You are entitled to "grandad rights" and can stay with the required 400,000 baht. The 40,000 baht per month only applies to applicants after 1st October? last year.
Onlyme.

That's why it suits me. 400k in a Thai bank doing nothing, give me a break?
A rai?
40k a month seems far more reasonable.

[Onlyme]

Just letting people know that they have an alternative.
You made it sound like they only had one option.