Should I apply for a retirement visa in Thailand or at a consulate?

@Colin ********

I did not say not to use your own money, only using an agent is simpler, use an agent using your own money. I trust you know what ASSuming makes you.

@Floyd *****

once in Thailand on a 60 day visa, you can go to a visa service agency snd they will take care of everything for you to obtain the 12 month extension based on retirement. All you need is your passport indicating you are over 50 years of age. All Is legit if you use a common, reputable agency. I recommend Manareet Travel and Visa service on soi Post Office in Pattaya. They deal with high volume applications. Everything is legit becsuse the process falls in line with what immigration at the Jomtien office wants.

And immigration won't accept the 800K as legitimate if that money was deposited in Thailand and not having been transferred by international wire transfer. They have to know the source to prevent money laundering. I had a friend who had been deposting money into his account, money he earned while working in Myanmar and coming to Bangkok sometimes to change his dollars into Batht and deposit into his account. The bank wanted to know the source of the money deposited before issuing a certified letter by the bank manager attesting to his 800k in his account.

Since the major changes in 2019, the criteria/policies for applying make it a catch 22 situation, which makes it very difficult to apply on your own. First, if applying based on monthly income, you have to submit 12 consecutive Thai bank statements showing monthly income being trasnferred via internationak wire transfer from a known source- government pension, privte penson source, investment source, etc. So, what or where do you hang out waiting 12 months. Cambodia? Philippines? And you must already have a bank account in Thailand in order to transfer the 800k Baht. This requires paying an agent to assist in opening an account. If applying baed on 800k in the bank, well, you still have to go through an agent while on a tourist visa to get the account open, then transter 800k from your home country to your new account. It has to be seasoned for 3 months before you apply. There are some issues with trasnferring that much money out of the U.S.A.. Documents or forms have to be completed and signed in a bank for you to trasnfer that much ($25k or 800k Baht at one time. I know that Bank of Hawaii requires physical presense at a bank branc and requires U,S. Customs or U.S. Treasury documentaton to be completed.

Vast majority of retirees in Pattaya and Hua Hin are using agencies. I did before and know of many who are still using agencies. Too much money going into Chonburi district Immigration hands for them to discourage applying as an individual and not via an agency. They actually prefer agents. Money rolls up hill and the top dogs get a cut, as well.

Go into the Halifax. Sit down with them. Explain the situation. And surely they will transfer 800,000 Thai baht in one lump.. If they don’t, change banks. i think some uk banks are giving an incentive of around £175 if one does their business with them….

@Gordon ******

are you still in the UK, as your profile shows, or are you already in Thailand with the intention of applying for a 'Retirement' Visa from within the country?

If you are still in the UK and don't yet have a Thai bank account, you would be better to apply for the visa through an Embassy or Consulate there, as you can use your funds in your UK bank account as 'proof of funds', for the initial visa, then enter Thailand on that visa. It just makes it easier to open a Thai bank account if you already have the long term visa.

If you are already in Thailand and have a Thai bank account, then the answer to your question is yes, you can transfer 200k Baht at a time, as long as you have the minimum of 800k Baht in your Thai bank account a full two months before you apply for the first one year Extension of Stay.

@Terje **************

does the Embassy in your home country still do Income Affidavits? That would be the only way around not having 800k Baht in a Thai bank account. Most Embassies don't do Income Affidavits anymore.

@Terje **************

quit lying. Even if what you say was true concerning monthly income, immigration only accepts Thai bank statements, and without a Thai bank account you could never prove it to immigration. I call BS. You are talking out your ass

@Todd ********

actually you can apply for the actual 90 day type O visa outside of Thailand. You can only apply for the one year extension inside Thailand.

@Matthew ********

yep same here it’s been good. Let’s watch the feds next move

@Neil *********

that is a plan

@Neil *********

sorry to be an alarmet but some of the stories about dollars and demise can do that to you.

Be careful and goodluck

@Matthew ********

Would love to know which bank gives you five percent interest?

@Matthew ********

right you are about keeping your money

@Ken *******

If you want to use non-O then you either need embassy certified income or 800,000 for the first year. After that you can move to income if your embassy does not verify.

@Floyd *****

You would need to check with your immigration office. Some might accept a joint account while others will not. But if they accept a joint account it will require double the required amount of funds since only 50% of the money is yours.

@Floyd *****

if I may butt in : no it can't - in your name only

@Neil *********

went through the same in Nong Khai with 90 day non-o Evisa. They had never seen the visa before, so they had a tough time accepting it. Turned down everywhere until a nice lady at Krungthai bank helped me out. Biggest drawback with Krungthai is you can only move 49,999 baht per transfer.

@Colin **********

The health insurance requirement is for a Non-OA Visa not the Non-O which Brandon is outlining. Both these Visas require financial proof which can be via your foreign bank account statement.

@Colin **********

only if you apply for Non O-A , better to apply for O visa on line in home country then the retirement O visa when you get here provided you can show the 800k in Thai bank….

@Colin ********

Oh WOW! Tell us all about the “illegal” way so we don’t do that.