How do Thai visa agents assist individuals without the required 800,000 for a retirement visa?

Sandeep Kumar Not at all. The fact that he knows about corruption but has not yet taken steps (yet) to end it does not lead to a conclusion that he is himself on the take.

@Steve ******

But the Philippines is just so much more dangerous than Thailand in terms of crime

@Alex ******

it might be. But it won't affect you unless you're the child of a rich obnoxious Chinese businessman who likes to flaunt his riches around.

@Steve ******

hahahaha 😘

@Tony **********

🥳🥳

@Steve *******

Retirement and marriage visas won't be touched, at least not for a while. Ed and volunteer visa holders don't have the connections to Thailand that those in the former two categories have and also don't have any financial requirements. Many, possibly most have been circumventing the system with the intent on staying in the country and working illegally. Retirement and marriage visa holders often just don't want to keep so much money in a Thai bank account and/or don't want the runaround with immigration.

I doubt we'll be seeing agent assisted extensions for these categories disappear anytime soon.

Sometime in the years to come when Thailand's level of development approaches that of Singapore? Sure. At that time maybe.

@Paul ******

Do you still wear a mask in Thailand? Wow!! 😂😂. Cambodia is crap compared to Thailand.

@Arnold *********

Hun Sen’s place?

@Arnold *********

Yeah I've noticed that too. Kinda strange when you think about it. A lot of very large and opulent properties on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap that put most places in Thailand to shame. Even the 40 million Baht homes inside the higher end moo baans in Bangkok look small and unimpressive compared to the mansions of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap (and Vientiane, Laos).

@Arnold *********

Huge wealth stacked high in a few houses is far less useful than wealth spread more equally across the population, but neither Thailand nor Cambodia could be accused of accomplishing that happy situation.

@Jim *******

Depends on the immigration office. Also, wait and see what happens when Big Joke shakes things up.

@Paul ******

I don't know. I'm just talking about the rules in general. Bangkok and Phuket are ok, maybe Jomtien does it differently - that's always been a whacky immigration office, same as Samui, but the main ones stick by the rules. And I'm talking about now, not when Big Joke starts up. I'd love to see him go through the agents like a dose of salts. Love to see everyone dashing to put money in their bank accounts before immigration come knock knock knockin on heaven's door! 😂

@Stuart *******

I'm not sure that's enough. I think immigration is increasing going to make sure you're transferring 800K a year, not keeping the same funds from years ago in your account with just minimal account movements.

I think that was always the idea - 800K per year.

That being said, maybe they haven't been strict on this yet but I'm sure Big Joke will make things more difficult going forward.

@Paul ******

You don't know how it works. You don't have to transfer 800k once a year. Who told you that horseshit?

@Braulio ********

For me it's nothing, a drop in the ocean, but this group is about giving advice to the community......

@Mike *******

The source of the money just needs to be from abroad. I've read where people just recycle. It's not too hard to live on less than 65k Baht. So a person remits money from Thailand back to their out of Thailand account and then send it back to meet the 65k requirement. Just need to do the math on cost of moving money but I'll bet it's way less than loss of opportunity of the 800k Baht

@Peter ***************

I think that’s how “retired and living the dream” in thailand YT does it,.

@Mike *******

You don't pool anything. You just transfer minimum of baht per month from overseas into a Thai bank account. It must show as an international transfer in your bank account

@Steve *******

Yes I mean pool my 3 pensions in uk to transfer to TH,. I’ll be coming back either in a 30 day exempt or with a 60 day tr visa, if I open bank account and put 65k in it when can I apply for non o retirement visa ?

@Mike *******

First year has to be the 800k lump sum deposit. Subsequent extensions can utilise the 65k/month method, but you must have one year's worth of international transfers at monthly intervals to qualify

@Steve *******

sounds doable, so long as immigration don’t move the goal posts before the end of the year, ?

@Mike *******

Always plenty of rumours but you can't work to rumours, you just adapt as you go along

@Stuart *******

Yes it's easily achievable and it depends on alternatives. I couldn't justify losing almost AUD3,000 in tax free interest every year, which so easily pays for my medical cover in Thailand. I need around 75,000 baht per month to live on anyway, so it's a no-brainer for me. I transfer my living expenses once a month and this doubles as my retirement visa requirement. It's so easy, but each to their own

@Steve *******

you can get a safe return of 7.4% in oz?

@Greg *******

7.8% last financial year

@Steve *******

yea i know its thailand so roll the dice

@Greg *******

It's a bribe. It's why people's passports are sent to provincial immigration offices outside Bangkok

@Jackie **********

many stories of people accidentally dropping their balance below 400,000 for a day and having to start over next year

@Brandon ***********

stories of dropping below 400k, now it sounds like you are saying 400k minimum is required even if you have all 12 monthly transfers when you go renew the next year. It clearly says "65k per month OR" not 65k per month AND. These guys you know who got denied, were they trying to renew with the 800k method ? Or did they have the 12 monthly transfers ?

@Jackie **********

Brandon is correct. The attachment actually refers to proof of 65k by way of embassy affidavit. I've been through this myself. Most embassies give this but the US, UK and Australian do not. For these citizens it is necessary in the first instance to have 800k lump sum for the first year. Subsequent years can use the 65k/month foreign transfer method

Jackie Aliprandi point 4 specifically says you can't withdraw the money until 3 months after the extension is issued? What don't you understand?

They check that NEXT YEAR when you go in for your extension. They don't ask you to return 3 months after you receive your extension to check your bank account. When they see you didn't follow the rules for last year, you can't get an extension this year. It happens to lots of people.

@Brandon ***********

my assertion is they only care about the 3 months after and the 400k if you are renewing with the 800k method. The document excerpt I posted is ambiguous and can be interpreted both ways. I won't be convinced until I talk to the staff at jomtien next week.

@Jackie **********

also a lot of rumors of crackdown coming for people using an agent to skip the requirement lately.

@Jackie **********

that's not correct b they started requiring 12 months bank statements for every retirement extension some time ago so they can check you met the requirements the previous year. If you didn't follow the rules then you are denied an extension. To switch from bank money method to monthly transfer, you must meet the requirements of both for the interim year.

I'll report back after talking to jomtien Monday

@Jackie **********

Get them to clearly put it in writing! Having done the switch from 800k to 65k I know how they scrutinise the bank books, and that's Bangkok! Let's be realistic, Jomtien is probably one of the most anal immigration offices in Thailand!

@Brian *******

thx for the reply

@Russell ******

You moved to a new address.

As long as you report your new address right away, it is not a problem.

@Maarten *******

So why would immigration ask questions about it? His agent was previously doing the 90 day reports.

@Russell ******

yes, I'll probably start out in Jomtien for a year and do everything there. I should have a better feel for how the system works by then. After that I'll probably move around some. Just worried about getting everything right the first time around so less chance of issues later

@Jay ******

It's easy to get your head round, once you start. Need a little patience and a printer.

@Brandon ***********

all agents wants the same money, no matter I have the money in the bank or not.

@Brandon ***********

I'll probably do the bank account on my own on one of my trips in advance of moving. But does using my own money and leaving it in the bank keep me from being stuck with an agent or having agent related visa problems in the future?

@Jay ******

as long as they aren't taking your passport and using bribes to get your stamp you should be fine. You want an agent that will walk you through everything and take you to immigration to do it yourself.

@Brandon ***********

appreciate the info

@Jay ******

I second what Brandon said about using an agent that will accompany you to immigration yourself and assist you to do the paperwork. There are excellent agents but as with life there are also the opposite.

@Steve *******

can you expand on that? Sorry for the newbie questions.

@Jay ******

You hand your passport over to an unlicensed and unregulated person and won't see it for a few days. You have no idea what they are doing with it. A friend of mine in Bangkok did this for about 5000 baht for the "pushing the paperwork" and when he got it back his extension has been issued by Khon Kaen immigration office, which means all the 90 day reporting has to be done at Khon Kaen, and unless you want to travel every 90 days, guess who's going to charge you extra for that service? Do it yourself at immigration, your passport is never out of sight except for the few minutes the new stamp is put in.

@Steve *******

How long does the extension of a Non-O Retirement take in terms of not being able to leave the country etc.? Really only 5 minutes, i.e. one day? Or is it longer? Thanks.

@Alex ******

Not sure what you mean. The 90 day initial visa goes under consideration for 15 days in Bangkok. That's it

@Steve *******

Thanks. And the follow-on one year extension you get without any consideration period, i.e. immediately?

@Wayne *********

been on YouTube last couple days. May increase the amount needed banked plus 65k. Apparently Big Joke is involved saying want more quality retirees and up banked funds is way to go......People using dodgy agents won't change its us follow rules will affect

@Jim **********

The operative words are MAYBE and PERHAPS SOMEDAY.

The Youtubers were extremely careful to point out that this is all pure speculation right now.

Given the context of a crackdown on motorcycle gangs, it’s not yet time to panic.

@Paul *******

yes regarding bike gangs not being the kind of retirees they want here, maybe best to background checks instead of upping banked funds. But this is Thailand.....

@Jim **********

ok. I'm still a long way off the retirement visa age bracket. Hopefully a decent government is ruling the country by the time I get to that age.

I'm on the 'O' visa at the moment. Only 400,000 or 40k baht income for me to worry about.