Answered4 years ago
Can I apply for a Non-O retirement visa in Thailand multiple times after living abroad?
I have a question as I refine my long-term plans for Thailand. I didn’t realize until recently that I can’t take the monthly 65k international bank transfer option on a Non-O retirement visa until after my first year. Coming up with the 800k deposit now will require that I delay the start of my stay in Thailand. I may start in Cambodia for a while because their long-term visas are so much cheaper without those financial requirements.
Here is my question. When I make the 800k deposit for my first extension in Thailand I will consider that my emergency savings so if I decide to leave and work for a while after a few years, that money will be available to withdraw. From an immigration standpoint, would there be any issues with living in Thailand for a few years on a Non-O retirement, then leaving for a year and then coming back and starting over again? I may also find reasons to live in other nearby countries for 6 months to a year every so often. Do they care if I end up re-applying for new Non-O retirement visas every few years instead of staying in Thailand and continuing to extend the same visa? Yes, I do realize that each time I get the initial visa and then extend, I will have to satisfy all of the requirements, including the 800k. Thanks
Here is my question. When I make the 800k deposit for my first extension in Thailand I will consider that my emergency savings so if I decide to leave and work for a while after a few years, that money will be available to withdraw. From an immigration standpoint, would there be any issues with living in Thailand for a few years on a Non-O retirement, then leaving for a year and then coming back and starting over again? I may also find reasons to live in other nearby countries for 6 months to a year every so often. Do they care if I end up re-applying for new Non-O retirement visas every few years instead of staying in Thailand and continuing to extend the same visa? Yes, I do realize that each time I get the initial visa and then extend, I will have to satisfy all of the requirements, including the 800k. Thanks
Answer summary
The user inquires about the implications of withdrawing their 800k baht deposit for the Non-O retirement visa and whether they can temporarily leave Thailand after a few years before reapplying for a new Non-O visa. Comments clarify that it is possible to reapply for the Non-O visa after leaving, provided the necessary financial requirements are met each time. Discussions also touch on the challenges of meeting the initial financial conditions and the option of using an agent to navigate visa processes.
27 repliesnewest first
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Andy ******
Visa agent the way to go I was recommended by friends in petchabun and pattaya to use the same agent which I did seemless job . And done no stress it cost me £650 but I allready had a bank account which was Bangkok bank a recommend one and comparable with the agent good luck
Mike *******
Following for information in comments.
Paul *******
No issues coming and going. Thailand treats you the same whether you've been living in country continuously for 20 years, are a brand new arrival or resuming residence after an absence of some time.
Going to live in Cambodia for a bit is also a good idea. Their visa system is much easier to navigate than Thailand's.
Going to live in Cambodia for a bit is also a good idea. Their visa system is much easier to navigate than Thailand's.
John-Paul ******
Why not simply contact the Admins of this site. They will help.
James ***************
I just switched from
*******
k requirements which i have been on for years, to the 65k rule. Took lots of paperwork to immigration to show i can fullful the 65k requirements. Immigration not interested. Just told me to come back next year and show bank statement documenting the 65k minimum monthly international transfers. Not sure what would have happened if i had not been on the *******
k rule for the previous year.Andy *********
@James **************
Using the monthly method is a known headache.Todd *********
@Andy ********
it's a known easy way. IF you come from a country that issues the affadavit. Bit of a no-brainer then.James ***************
@Andy ********
looks very straight fwd to me - immigration officer showed me example of another expats statements. Looks very straight fwd and no need for bank letter same day as going to immigration.James ***************
@Andy ********
- please enlighten me ?
Mike *****
Agent. Easiest option. Put your $$ in a CD and the interest will more than pay the agent's fee and they handle everything.
Mike *****
Chris Howard The definition of the service that an agent provides varies, but they simply 'facilitate the process' on your behalf. The end result is the same, you get legal retirement residence status and legal stamps in your passport. These services are offered for everything, it's a profitable industry that legally operates so until it becomes illegal, it's fine.
Caveat -
re: baht - money tied up in investments is irrelevant. You'd still need to lock up 800k (earning nothing). The same 800k can be left in USD and put in a 12mo CD and make a minimum of 4.5%. That's approx
Caveat -
@Brandon ***********
has clarified before that once you use an agent you'll have to continue using agents or exit/re-enter to start over in order to switch to the non-agent process.re: baht - money tied up in investments is irrelevant. You'd still need to lock up 800k (earning nothing). The same 800k can be left in USD and put in a 12mo CD and make a minimum of 4.5%. That's approx
*****
b - agent fees vary from 30-40k for 1st year, renewal year fees are 15-18k.
Chris ********
OP@Mike ****
thanks for the replay. You said something that might be important. You said that once you use an agent you either have to continue using the agent or leave and start over with a new application. The later is fine if it removes any sketchiness created by using the agentChris ********
OP@Mike ****
by Agent, do you mean someone who helps you get around the rules, like qualifying, but not having to deposit the 800k? I understand from previous discussions that once you get help to circumvent the rules, you are stuck with this method forever. Is that true? I don’t want to jeopardize my ability to get the visa myself in the future, but not having to deposit the money sounds niceMuch of my money is actually sitting in some investments in the US stock market. I left the money in for too long and after making some nice profits the market turned and I am back to my original investment. I want the money to stay there for another year or so when the market goes back up (hopefully). Money sitting in a Thai bank account doesn’t earn me anything (except long term entry into Thailand again)
Todd *********
@Chris *******
yes. Agents are great. You are not ‘stuck’ at all with that method, but once you understand, you aren’t going back to the silliness. Keep your 800k at home and make the 40-50k baht interest and pay 15k for the agent to handle everything for you. It’s quite a good systemTodd *********
@James *************
the requirements are very easy. But completely pointless to waste one’s time and money to get the visa. Agent solves all of the headaches
James **************
@Todd ********
I'm seriously thinking of doing that, even though I meet the requirements!
Brandon ************
@Chris *******
if they get your visa stamped from a province you don't live in then you're likely stuck and only able to get extensions from that agent in the future since most immigration offices know which ones are sketchy and won't touch an application that has a previous extension from one of those provinces.Mike *****
Certificate of Deposit (in the US).
aka GIC - Guaranteed Investment Certificate (in Canada).
(OP's profile shows US)
aka GIC - Guaranteed Investment Certificate (in Canada).
(OP's profile shows US)
John ***********
@Mike ****
CD?James **************
@John **********
or perhaps something like a high interest account?James **************
@John **********
Compact Disk.Todd *********
@Mike ****
yup. Causes great distress for many on this site, but that is the simple reality of it all. Easy, convenient, reasonable cost for great service and no need to uselessly tie up 800k baht. Especially when many countries now have reasonable savings interest rates.
Chris *******
Yes you can lapse the extensions and reapply at a later date.
As long as you qualify there is no problem.
And you are correct in how the first year would work in many cases without embassy letter.
As long as you qualify there is no problem.
And you are correct in how the first year would work in many cases without embassy letter.
Andy *********
I've never before read that the monthly income method for a Retirement Extension can only be done after your first year.
Where did you come up with that?
Where did you come up with that?
John **********
@Andy ********
depends where you are from. If you can get an income affidavit from your embassy in Thailand you can use this to apply for the initial 90 day Non-O and following extensions. If you can't get an income affidavit you must transfer into a Thai bank 800k in order to apply for the initial 90 day Non-O, many immigration offices then expect this to be used for the first extension as you won't have had time to build up the required monthly transfers.Andy *********
No.
No.
No.
Brandon ************
People screw up their finances on the non-O all the time and have to start over. No problem.
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