What are the current requirements for the Retirement visa and other visa options for a US citizen planning a long-term stay in Thailand?

Retirement visa O visa Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)Thailand immigration long-term visa options expat advice 90-day visa rules METV Thailand visa requirements

Feb 18, 2019

6 years ago

Carrie **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone! (sorry for long message)

I am returning to Thailand this April and am hoping to stay 6 months this visit.. I'm a US citizen and am planning to arrive on an O visa, good for 90 days, and am interested in applying for a Retirement visa; however, my son who is in a Thai university told me that there have been some changes to the Retirement visa requirements recently, so I'm wondering if anyone could help me know what the requirements currently are as the Boston Thai Consulate did not have that info for me..

What I can tell you is that I receive $1400 in my bank account per month from SSDI, and have a savings of $6,100, but it's very likely I could borrow from a family member to bump my savings up to $7,000/$8,000 for the visa process if $6,100 is not enough..

My other option is to come on a Tourist visa and visit Laos and Vietnam for a spell to fill 6 months.. Or while there find a school and apply for an Education visa (from the US or, if allowed, apply from Thailand?).. But ultimately my goal is to find a visa where I meet the requirements and that would allow me to stay on a long-term basis..

Any help is appreciated as I feel a bit lost and overwhelmed with this part of my plans, and really rely on the expat community for a lot of various questions I don't have the answers to..

Thank you so much in advance for any help you think you could provide.. :)

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is a US citizen returning to Thailand for six months and initially plans to enter on an O visa valid for 90 days. They seek information on the recent changes to Retirement visa requirements, considering their SSDI income of $1400 a month and $6100 in savings. Comments clarify financial eligibility for the Retirement visa, stating the need for a minimum of 800,000 Thai baht (~$22,000) or equivalent monthly income, along with age criteria of 50+. Alternatives discussed include applying for a Tourist visa or METV and exploring Education visas through their child's university status.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Tod *********

I would say come here on a 6 month METV and then look around to see what other types of visas/extensions might be a better 'fit' for you.