How can I extend my retirement visa in Thailand without funds in a Thai bank?

Retirement Visa Extension Visa Rules Thailand Immigration Advice Finances for Visa Thai Bank Requirements Expat Visa Information

Oct 1, 2019

5 years ago

Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am in need of a retirement visa extension

As of today September 30, 2019 I have been told

( By a Chiang Mai  Visa service ) that my government money/pension being deposited into American bank equaling 72,000 per month is sufficient for my visa retirement extension

I was told it does not need to be in a thai  bank as long as I have a letter certifying the money is coming from a retirement fund?

also I was told I would need a one year paper trail of my 72,000 baht per month deposits into an American bank

has anyone had a retirement visa extension done in the last month?

Is it possible to get a retirement visit Extension without having money in a Thailand bank?

Thank you

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user seeks clarification on extending their retirement visa in Thailand. They were informed that their monthly pension from an American bank is sufficient for this extension without needing funds deposited in a Thai bank. However, several comments clarify that, typically, funds must be in a Thai bank account for the extension process. The user is also inquiring about how to stay in Thailand for an additional 96 days beyond their visa expiration on November 28, with suggestions ranging from traveling to nearby countries and applying for a tourist visa to considering discretionary extensions.

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Albert **********

Under the requirements section, sentence #6, it states Thai or US Bank. For the extension, the actual requirement is that it must be in a Thai account, but some of the offices do accept the US Bank account statements. Better to err on the safe side and open the Thai account.

5 years ago

Albert **********

@Michael ******

, you are correct. Here is the link to the Thai Embassy in Wash DC with a list of the requirements straight from the Thai Gov't.

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5 years ago

Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

can someone tell me what would be the best/easiest way to stay in Thailand for 96 days?

my visa expires on November 27

and I’m hoping to stay until March 1

thank you

5 years ago

David ****************

@Michael ******

Best/easiest is subjective. You could go for a 6 day holiday in a nearby country if you don't want to make a long flight and get a 60 day tourist visa and then extend that for 30 days. If your March 1 flight isn't booked yet you could move it up 6 days instead of the full 6 day holiday. If you don't mind the long flight and want to go to the US then you could get a year long OA right now on that trip. If you don't mind the opportunity cost of having 800k in a thai bank earning only around 1.2% (fixed deposit) you could go to immigration and explain that you are moving the money over. I've seen some people given a discretionary extension that allows them to have the money "seasoned" but you shouldn't count on that. Worst case there, though, is a border run and a new retirement visa when you come back. You could also potentially just do a border run and get a 30 day exemption stamp and then extend that another 30 days. You could potentially do that twice but success is not guaranteed and that meams 2 border runs and 2 extensions. Up to you how easy any of that sounds.

5 years ago

Reply to

David ****************

Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you Steven and David this is exactly what I thought, so my next question is??

my retirement visa expires on November 28 and I will be leaving Thailand for the smoky season on March 1

How can I stay in Thailand for

96 more days

after my retirement visa expires ?

thank you 🙏🏽 😊

5 years ago

Amornrat **********

you can do 2 border run each 30days and each time you can extend for a further 30days, total 120days without any hassle.

5 years ago

Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you Stephen

5 years ago

Steven ***************

Michael Paris . Then I guess you've answered your own questions buddy. If you're not prepared to move funds to.where you spend most of your life, then your options are limited and a lot more of a headache. Yearly Extensions are so much easier than stuffing around with other visas. Filling your passport with short term visas/exempts isn't a good idea anymore, it creates attention at immigration checkpoints and long term visa applications.

5 years ago

Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Steven de Blaquiere

thank you Stephen but the yearly extension is not possible because I do not have any money in a tie bank all my retirement funds are deposited in America and I get them out with my ATM here in Thailand

I leave Thailand every year for four months during smoky season March April May and June returning July every year

staying eight months each year in Thailand

i’ve been getting a one year retirement visa for the last five years since I retired

but now the requirements have changed, and I am not going to bring money to Thailand and put in your bank I’m leaving mine in my investment firm in America

I return to America for the month of June 2020 and I will go to Los Angeles to the Thailand Embassy and get my one year multi entry retirement visa and extend that to two year Lisa by exiting and returning to Thailand just before my one year retirement visa expires

but for now I need to figure out a way to stay here with the least amount of hassle from November 27 until March 1, for 96 days

5 years ago

Steven ***************

@Michael ******

.

1. A tourist visa which you'll need to get outside of thailand .

2. Re enter on visa exempt but wont get more than 60 days out of it unless you do back to back which is risky.

3. Get a yearly extension, Even if you leave for a while it is still valid for a year, just make sure you get a re entry permit before you leave. Permit expiry date is same as your extension expiry date. Much cheaper and easier option in your situation. You lose some time while you're away but saves all the headaches of filling the gap with other options.

5 years ago

Reply to

Steven ***************

David ****************

You or the person who told you this might be confusing an extension of stay, which is a thing you get inside Thailand at an immigration office, with an OA visa, which is a thing you get in your home country from a Thai embassy. For the Thai embassies in the US at least, you can use your local US funds or a Thai account to get a new OA visa. You can not use a US account to extend your stay at a immigration office in Thailand.

5 years ago

Steven ***************

Whoever "told" you that is wrong. Must be in Thai bank account now. Same applies for spouse visa extension.

5 years ago

Reply to

Steven ***************

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