Is it possible to use an agent to manage my retirement visa requirements using their own funds in Thailand?

@Steve *******

you forgot the big changes happening to the TE visa from October.

I really do have this feeling that the gloves are off this time

@Phillip *******

That's what immigration do when they get the shits about something. Ask anyone who's had a bogus ED or volunteer visa. Only a matter of time until they got into the bogus retirement visas

@Eno **********

I just don't think that is a reasonable assumption. 800k THB is $23k USD. IF you are a plus 50 and don't have $23k in the bank... you are NOT retired. You are a Walmart greeter. I'm sure there are a select few that actually don't have the 800k, but for the vast majority, it's just a foolish financial decision to bring the 800k here to sit at less than 1% return.

@Eno **********

so older people haven’t saved up 25,000$ or 20,000 Euro and expect to live in another country?

@Dianne ****

avoid the headaches. Like I said earlier, the same reason I don't do my own brakes any more. I can afford to have someone else do it. Besides, there's more to it than filling out a form. There's getting a bank account to put the money into when you are still on a tourist visa (not spending all day going to a dozen banks and maybe getting lucky). Etc. And what does it really matter to you? Want to do it yourself? More power to you. I don't.

@Steve *******

I wonder how people ever got a passport to travel, if they can't fill a form out. Doing your own visa at immigration is no more difficult than applying for a passport in your own country. And I'd wager most did not employ an agent in their own country to fill out their passport application form

@Steve *******

lol, I'm probably going to use an agent to get a license also. We'll see. Being a bike nut, I will at least need a scooter to keep my sanity!

@Brian *******

Probably have a point, and probably the same reason I've never bothered getting a Thai driver's licence or a pink ID card. Way too much hassle for little benefit. So yeah, we each have our own idiosyncrasies

@Steve *******

those things give me a headache. I don't like beurocracy of any kind and avoid it whenever possible. It's more than filling a form. It's getting a bank account that requires a long term visa when you don't have one, for starters. A lot of other things. And I grew up in the 60s and 70s. Learned to do everything myself. Thing is, I also learned it's nice when I don't have to.

@Brian *******

Is it judgemental or factual? None of those things gives me a headache. I guess I come from a non-entitled generation where I was taught to do things for myself. Comparing fixing brakes on a car to filling in a form is really of no value. But hey! Each to their own. I know guys pay agents 15,000+ baht each year, and then go into meltdown over 300 baht to get into a national park. Go figure

@Steve *******

i can do all those things myself, but I don't want the headache and I can afford to have someone do it for me. Same reason I don't do my own brakes any more. I wonder how someone so jidgemental of other people's choices relaxes.

@Brian *******

I've never used an agent in 23 years in Thailand, but I see people asking for agents for visas, driver's licenses, passport applications, bank accounts, yellow books, pink cards, green books...you name it, people cannot do simple transactions themselves. I wonder how many people ever made it to retirement without having someone to hold their hands

@Steve *******

would you?

@Bonnie ********

I plan to use an agent just to avoid the headaches like actually getting the bank account to put the money into, however I'll do it honest and upfront. Plan is to never need the 800,000 or any part of it so it just stays there year after year.

@Dianne ****

Jennifer I've just set up a wise account but it appears someone has been using my address in the uk already for money transfers 🤣🤣 just waiting for the fraud team to open in the uk and try and get this sorted

@Paul ********

I found that Wise never charged more than $20 AUS for the monthly transfer of around 65K baht. Usually it was $18-$19

@Jennifer *****

thank you

@Paul ********

we send via Wise.

@Heath *********

The Non Imm O visa IS the 'retirement visa'

@Heath *********

This can be your superannuation balance if you are over 60

@Heath *********

yes - but that money can stay in Aus. Could be retirement funds. No need to transfer any to 🇹🇭

@Heath *********

that might be the case in a couple of offices but generally not

@Jim *****

timing. Back when you did yours the rules were different. You didn't need to keep money in your account

@Jim *****

When you get your 1 year extension you sign a document that says you agree to follow the guidelines. The guidelines for a 1 year extension based on having 800,000 is that you will keep the 800,000 in the bank for 3 months after you receive the extension and never let it drop below 400,000 the rest of the year. Those are the requirements for the year after you get the extension. Next year the immigration will ask for 12 months of bank statements and they will check to see if you followed the rules. If you did not follow the rules, you do not get a new year extension.

Regardless of what your experience was, those are the rules. Many people who use the 800,000 method are denied their extension for the next year for failing to meet these rules.

You will also be denied getting your next year extension if you want to use the monthly transfer method because you broke the rules for your last extension.

Brandon Thurkettle Well that was certainly NOT my experience because my Visa Agent/Lawyer put in and took out the 800k the same day and I just transferred 65k a month for the next 12 months.

Your first renewal is based solely upon the 65k transfer being made every month and absolutely nothing to do with retaining any monies in your account which would only be required if your first renewal was being based upon the “old” method which is not what you are applying for.

Maybe I got lucky but that was definitely my experience as I have NEVER had 800k or even 400k in my bank account other than the day that the agent deposited it and took it out the same day after my visa application was lodged.

@Dudley ********

no.

@Dudley ********

I guess so

@Marc *******

doesn't it still need to be there for your 90 day check-in?

@Heath *********

Ah ok yes for the retirement visa they will transfere 800k in an account and withdraw it again