Been looking at posts for visas now for a while and still unsure which is best for me. I'm thinking Non O as I have the following plan for retiring in January to fiancées farm in Issan -
I'm 54, had heart attack in Dec 2020 so will have insurance up the wazoo. Cannot claim pension until June '22 but even then will leave that to accumulate in UK bank. Already built little house and have plans to marry 2022. Want to help ON farm growing, planting and harvesting crops, but not OFF farm selling etc. Could go Elite visa but a lot of money to pay upfront. Have money to cover Non O-A visa but seems a lot of extra hoops to jump through for similar benefits to Non O.
I have NO plans to return to UK in future. Likely arriving on exempt status then within 10 days doing the following, if still relevant:
-Apply for the Non-O visa (2000 baht)
(wait 20 days)
-Go back, get the Non-O and new 90 day stamp inked in
(wait until you have 45 days or less left on that new stamp)
-Go back apply for the year extension (1900baht)
Then every year after that apply for a new yearly extension
Any constructive or alternative comments will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and stay safe.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is considering the Non-O visa for retiring in Thailand, as they plan to live on their fiancée's farm in Issan and help with agricultural activities. They express concerns about the complexities of obtaining a Non-O-A visa, the cost of the Elite visa, and the implications of UK pension claims while residing abroad. Comments from the community highlight the legal restrictions on foreigners working in agriculture, the financial proof required for visa applications, the need to care for pre-existing health conditions during insurance selection, and suggestions to seek professional help for navigating visa requirements.
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.