Can my wife join me in Thailand under a retirement extension if I'm over 50?

Jul 23, 2020
4 years ago
Don ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’m over 50, my wife is not. I was told by the immigration officer at counter B temporary immigration in Muang Thong Thani that I should confirm whether or not my wife would be able to “follow” me and qualify for retirement extension.

I think the answer is: she can, but would like one of the many experts here to confirm if I can have her join me here under the retirement extension or not. I don’t want this to be a loose end for obvious reasons.

TIA
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the conditions for a retiree over 50 in Thailand and whether their younger spouse can join them under a retirement extension. While some commenters confirmed that a dependent visa for the wife is possible, others noted that she cannot apply for a Non-O visa in-country as a trailing spouse. The steps to apply for a retirement extension and clarification about initial entry stamps and restrictions due to the pandemic were also highlighted.
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Alex ********
Why bring your wife?!?

😉😉
Tod *********
IF you entered on the 60 day tourist visa, and then went right onto amnesty AT THIS TIME <- meaning right now, you cannot apply for a 90 day in country Non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement).

That is because you need hard stamp days left in your passport.

IF you didn't get any extension on your 60 day entry stamp you MIGHT be able to go to the immigration office and apply for a 30 day 'regular' extension for 1900baht that would give you a "hard stamp"

Then you could then apply for the Non-O visa by showing you transferred 800K baht into a thai bank account in your name only from overseas.

You would apply for the 90 day non-O visa for 2000baht at Chaengwattana counter C-1 <- the counter that ISSUES in country visas.

The application would go under consideration for 14 days and then you'd go back and get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day stamp inked into your passport.

Then you would wait until you had 30 days or less left on that 90 day stamp and apply for the yearly extension based on retirement for 1900baht by showing the 800K baht was in your bank account for the previous 2 months and submitting the documentation
Steve *********
@Tod ********
You firgot to put phew at the end😁
Don ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thank you for answering, but I only needed to know if my wife can follow as a trailing spouse. I was told by Immigration pretty much same thing you stated in your very thorough answer. The exception being they said I could apply for the retirement extension directly from the 30-day hard stamp. Do I have a high level of confidence that is true? Probably not, considering the IO didn’t know whether or not my wife could join me as trailing spouse, that is really my question here. Everything else is in order, including bank stuff, so I’ll see what happens when I apply for the 30-day extension, then go to apply for the retirement extension at counter C-1 shortly thereafter. Was also told no seasoning required for the 800baht.
Tod *********
@Don *****
you totally CAN apply for the 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement from the hard stamp 30 day extension that you would buy by meeting the proof of funds requirement.

You WILL NOT be applying for a retirement EXTENSION first, you will be going from a 30 day extension to a 90 day Non-O visa FIRST, then once you get that you will apply for the year extension exactly as I listed the steps
Don ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thanks for clarifying. I think the IO I spoke with, while very helpful, may not have been as knowledgeable as I had hoped.
Tod *********
Unfortunately your wife CANNOT get an in country Non-O visa as a trailing spouse (commonly called "piggybacking") of someone getting a Non-O visa based on retirement.

That is one of the only reasons they won't issue an in country 90 day Non-O visa for :( She'd have to ride out the amnesty and see if any countries open up so she could go get a 90 day Non-O based on being married to someone who has a long term extension (which you would have by the time the borders open up).
Don ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
I doubt borders will open enough for us to get what we need by Sep 26, so we’re probably f’d. Thanks anyway for taking the time to respond.
Tod *********
Okay how about stating what type of entry stamp you and your wife are on since the country locked down at the end of March?
Don ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
we arrived on Mar 17 from the US with a 90-day tourist visa
Tod *********
@Don *****
did you get ANY extension on that original entry stamp?
Tod *********
@Don *****
okay just so you're clear a tourist visa is VALID for 90 days <-90 days meaning you have that long to ENTER thailand when you'll get stamped in for 60 days like everyone on a tourist visa gets.

So IF you arrived on Mar 17 you were stamped in until May 15 (look at the small blue rectangular entry stamp you got when you stamped in to the country).
Don ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
correct, I understand that, and no extension on the original.
Wayne ********
she can get a dependent visa based on yr retirement visa under she reaches 50
Steve *********
Some call this a "trailing" visa. Yes it is possible. However I'm not sure how long it'll be before it's considered again post-corona.
Todd *********
haha, also same situation
Tony ********
Yes, can do.
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