Since a lot off us are getting old time to talk about retirement visa for thailand

[lotusguy 452]

 

Chap I hate to say I'm 49 next year and was thinking about getting a retirement visa when I hit 50

 

Would like to ask a few of the older members a few question

 

I was involved in a schuffle and ended up in court , Long story but while I was in hospital getting stitched up the other person got to the police first and that's when all hell broke looose , luck should have it I got a warning style discharge. So my question is can I live in Thailand with a conviction

 

Second part as age brings health isssue , does that play a part on the application , no worries now but you never no

 

Thanks for the help guys

 

Lotus

[DanceMan 410]

If you don't get a knowledgeable response from a BM post it to Stickman for Sunbelt Legal. See what they say but don't use them unless you like to pay silly prices.

[staple 406]

I'm sure you're already aware of this site lotus, but for those interested in this should check out http://www.thaivisa.com/

[bubba45x 19]

Its been a while since I dealt with this, but I'll tell you what I know.

 

I can't answer about your conviction. But in regards to health, I've applied for the visa in the States. At the time one needed a police record from your county of residence as well as a completed health form from your doctor. The form is really quite simple, and only asks about four ailments, as I recall, all being rather obscure except for TB. You can find the form at the Thai embassy web site.

 

I learned later that I could apply for the same visa in Thailand. As a yank, I could enter and get 60 days. Then apply for the visa. There was no requirement for medical or police record applying in country.

 

I don't know if much has changed; above is from my experiences from roughly 2010 to 2013. Hope that helps.

[Boomerang 2,250]

Chap I hate to say I'm 49 next year and was thinking about getting a retirement visa when I hit 50

Would like to ask a few of the older members a few question

I was involved in a schuffle and ended up in court , Long story but while I was in hospital getting stitched up the other person got to the police first and that's when all hell broke looose , luck should have it I got a warning style discharge. So my question is can I live in Thailand with a conviction

Second part as age brings health isssue , does that play a part on the application , no worries now but you never no

Thanks for the help guys

Lotus

Loan me half a mill & I will help ya .

[scottie1954 612]

Loan me half a mill & I will help ya .

will you hire him as a maid?

[Madchild 206]

Good topic. I'm interested as well. I'm 39, so not quite there yet, but it wouldn't hurt to look to the future, lol.

[Youngone 2,259]

I was involved in a schuffle and ended up in court , Long story but while I was in hospital getting stitched up the other person got to the police first and that's when all hell broke looose , luck should have it I got a warning style discharge. So my question is can I live in Thailand with a conviction

The current retirement visa regulations have nothing in them regarding criminal convictions so at the moment that would not be a problem. I do know they are actively tightening rules so that might change in the year(s) to come. An alternative is the PE Visa via Thailand Elite which I have got, simply pay 500K Baht and get a visa for 5 years without the need to leave the country.

[flipflops 1,276]

I applied in my home country for a Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) based on retirement. You can find the details for this on your country's Thai Embassy/Consulate website. The plus side to doing it this way is you have a visa that if you use it correctly you will get 2 years (minus a few days) permission to stay in the country. You must exit and return before the 'enter before date'. This gives you the second year of permission to stay. You'll need to file 90 day reports. The only downsides are: police report, medical certificate and while the first portion of the visa is multiple entry, any time after the 'enter before date' is not multiple entry, so you would have to get reentry permits if you leave. If you choose to you then apply for 'extension of stay' for the 3rd year and beyond assuming the laws don't change. Total cost for me to get this was $380US.

 

As Youngone said Thai Immigration is tightening rules as time goes by. My guess is they are trying to curtail the people who live here most of the time on 30 day visa exempts and tourists visas. An example of this is the recent change in visa exempts. On land crossings people are now limited to 2 per calendar year. But this does not apply if you enter by airport. There are plenty of people here in Chiang Mai who could not get themselves out of Thailand and back to their home country if they needed to. I think they are curtailing the visa runners with little money.

 

If I knew I was going to make Thailand a place where I was going to hang my hat most of the year for the next 5 years I'd go with Thai Elite. 500,000 thb and no hassles for 5 years. They kiss your ass.

 

Remember This is Thailand. Here in Chiang Mai one can get an agent to do just about anything one might need for the right price. Probably similar deals all over Thigh-land.

 

Thaivisa.com is a good source once you know how to filter out the noise from the signal. And there is one hell of a lot of noise. UbonJoe is a moderator there and I'd take his word for just about everything immigration related. People on Thaivisa can be assholes if you use the wrong terminology. Basically you get a visa from outside Thailand and an extension of stay inside Thailand. Some visa must be obtained in your home country.

 

Health questions are: do you have 1) 3rd stage syphilis 2) TB 3) elephantiasis 4) drug addiction if memory serves.

[flipflops 1,276]

Another thing... with Thailand Elite I don't think you do not have to wait until you are 50.

[mardhi 1,689]

Another thing... with Thailand Elite I don't think you do not have to wait until you are 50.

Correct. No age restriction and easiest way of staying in Thailand by far. Imho nothing else comes close visa wise. Just got to pay 500000 baht for the privilege.

Edited January 12, 2017 by mardhi

[Boomerang 2,250]

Correct. No age restriction and easiest way of staying in Thailand by far. Imho nothing else comes close visa wise. Just got to pay 500000 baht for the privilege.

It sounds a lot , but when you break it down for myself it would be under $80au per week at present . Subtract from that the cost of border runs or the like + the hassle & it's fairly reasonable .

[Youngone 2,259]

It sounds a lot , but when you break it down for myself it would be under $80au per week at present . Subtract from that the cost of border runs or the like + the hassle & it's fairly reasonable .

When you add in other benefits such as 12 free roundtrip limo pick-ups and 20% discount at Duty Free shop the cost becomes even more reasonable. In my case I use the limo service 10-12 times a year so besides the comfort it also represents a substantial saving...

[Boomerang 2,250]

When you add in other benefits such as 12 free roundtrip limo pick-ups and 20% discount at Duty Free shop the cost becomes even more reasonable. In my case I use the limo service 10-12 times a year so besides the comfort it also represents a substantial saving...

Ahh ok ,, even better then .

This website yeah ?

http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

Edited January 12, 2017 by Boomerang

[Youngone 2,259]

Ahh ok ,, even better then .

This website yeah ?

http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

Yep, the 'Elite Easy Access' is the option I went for. http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php#Introduction

 

[DeepnHard 1,117]

Unfortunately you still have to do the 90 day reporting, though supposedly you can send a reporting form instead of travelling to the nearest immigration post, but forms have a way of never getting there (as some have said), and then you're in deep doo-doo. (or Bribeland).

 

For half a million, the services don't justify the price IMO. The primary advantage seems that it does obviate the need to get another visa every year, but renewal for the usual retirement visa is more or less automatic after the first one anyway. I have many friends who do it this way (vs the 5 year option), all in their 60s and 70s with no sweat. (and you have the same option to do the renewal by mail.) Seems more like a money making gimmick to me. Now if they'd do away with that fucking 90 day reporting requirement....

Edited January 13, 2017 by DeepnHard

[mardhi 1,689]

Unfortunately you still have to do the 90 day reporting, though supposedly you can send a reporting form instead of travelling to the nearest immigration post, but forms have a way of never getting there (as some have said), and then you're in deep doo-doo. (or Bribeland).

 

For half a million, the services don't justify the price IMO. The primary advantage seems that it does obviate the need to get another visa every year, but renewal for the usual retirement visa is more or less automatic after the first one anyway. I have many friends who do it this way (vs the 5 year option), all in their 60s and 70s with no sweat. (and you have the same option to do the renewal by mail.) Seems more like a money making gimmick to me. Now if they'd do away with that fucking 90 day reporting requirement....

 

If you are under 50 (which I am), it is about the only viable option aside from annual work permit extension that allows you to stay here. The extras are just nice to have IMHO. I bought the 5 year visa essentially and have little/no need for the perks.

 

Edit, Just as an aside, couple days ago coming back from Laos, the Laos officer when I left was very interested in the gold visa sticker as he'd never seen one before. The Thai officer claimed she knew all about it - then had to go and ask a colleague what to do with it. Got my 364day permission to stay eventually but for sure they are not common knowledge even among visa officers at the various borders. I believe there are only something like 5000 of said visa been issued. So they are very rare.

Edited January 13, 2017 by mardhi

[thebeijinger 31]

just a quick question on the reporting requirement， does the 90 days reset every time you leave the country, or you have to register every 90 days regardless of the last time you came in?

 

If traveling often, having to make sure you were back in thailand to register would be a pain.

[crazycloud 383]

just a quick question on the reporting requirement， does the 90 days reset every time you leave the country, or you have to register every 90 days regardless of the last time you came in?

 

If traveling often, having to make sure you were back in thailand to register would be a pain.

It resets every time you leave the country. Starts again on the day you return.

[flipflops 1,276]

I do 90-day reports with registered mail. I don't think it is wise to use regular mail for immigration matters. I think total cost to send registered w/tracking is 36 baht. Here in Chiang Mai I can get return receipt in usually 5 days. 2 going, 1 process, 2 coming back.

 

Yes the 90 day report resets the clock to the day you return. At least hat was my experience when I went to USA last September.

 

Funny... when I filed my 90 day by mail in December they included a stamp on my paperwork telling me that my visa will expire before the next 90 day report comes due. Friendly reminder I guess.

Edited January 13, 2017 by flipflops

[DeepnHard 1,117]

I do 90-day reports with registered mail. I don't think it is wise to use regular mail for immigration matters. I think total cost to send registered w/tracking is 36 baht. Here in Chiang Mai I can get return receipt in usually 5 days. 2 going, 1 process, 2 coming back.

 

Yes the 90 day report resets the clock to the day you return. At least hat was my experience when I went to USA last September.

 

Funny... when I filed my 90 day by mail in December they included a stamp on my paperwork telling me that my visa will expire before the next 90 day report comes due. Friendly reminder I guess.

That's smart, doing it with registered mail...Then there's no way they can pretend they never received it. Or you also know it was lost in the mail if you don't get the receipt back. (if that's the way they do reg. mail here).

 

The few times I've used it, I've found Thai mail reliable, though anything of value I'd always send registered or have received registered, eg from the United Snakes.

Edited January 14, 2017 by DeepnHard

[flipflops 1,276]

That's smart, doing it with registered mail...Then there's no way they can pretend they never received it. Or you also know it was lost in the mail if you don't get the receipt back. (if that's the way they do reg. mail here).

 

The few times I've used it, I've found Thai mail reliable, though anything of value I'd always send registered or have received registered, eg from the United Snakes.

I register it both ways. The post office will scan the return when they pick it up.

 

I also send it in with plenty of time for me to actually visit immigration if things go south.

 

The reason I hate going to immigration is not because immigration is a pain in the ass... its all the expats that bitch and complain about how screwed up the system is... how Thai's are stupid with no logic etc. Makes for a downer day!

 

I've not had any problems with Thai mail both internationally and domestic.

[DeepnHard 1,117]

I register it both ways. The post office will scan the return when they pick it up.

 

I also send it in with plenty of time for me to actually visit immigration if things go south.

 

The reason I hate going to immigration is not because immigration is a pain in the ass... its all the expats that bitch and complain about how screwed up the system is... how Thai's are stupid with no logic etc. Makes for a downer day!

 

I've not had any problems with Thai mail both internationally and domestic.

Thanks again! Yeah, register in both directions.

 

I know what you mean about the bitchy farangs at Immigration, but I have some sympathy because Thai immigration (the org and the attitude) isn't exactly *friendly* and sometimes downright hostile...and frankly they sometimes don't even know their own laws, as I found out in Ranong when they told me I couldn't renew my enter-as-many-times-as-you-want 1 year visa (which has 9 months left). And then all the waiting in places like BKK and probably CM. That's why God invented earphones and music.

[flipflops 1,276]

Thanks again! Yeah, register in both directions.

 

I know what you mean about the bitchy farangs at Immigration, but I have some sympathy because Thai immigration (the org and the attitude) isn't exactly *friendly* and sometimes downright hostile...and frankly they sometimes don't even know their own laws, as I found out in Ranong when they told me I couldn't renew my enter-as-many-times-as-you-want 1 year visa (which has 9 months left). And then all the waiting in places like BKK and probably CM. That's why God invented earphones and music.

God invented earphones and music? I thought the only thing God invented was the big bang.

 

Well... immigration is absolutely no different from the DMV in CA ..the DMV in Texas or MA. Its a mundane job and the people they have to talk to are often pricks who walk in with an attitude to begin with. One good prick can ruin a whole day with the following customers. Its classic who came first the chicken or the egg. So after someone gets treated like shit once they will always walk in there with an attitude.

 

I've watched farangs call the Thais ignorant and stupid to their faces. I watched one farang get escorted out.

 

Granted the rules are not always clear cut or enforced well... but you know that going in to the game.

[DeepnHard 1,117]

>I've watched farangs call the Thais ignorant and stupid to their faces. I watched one farang get escorted out.

 

I can imagine this happening, given what I know about the citizens of a certain rowdy country who have short fuses. It's a shit job too, low paying no doubt, and frequently shit people are doing it...the formerly powerless but now with a little power to work of their aggressions on people (us) dependent on them. Giving someone a little power is a good character test.

 

So you've got the right technique I think, which is good to know since I'll be going the retirement route in a few months here and will be doing the 90 day reporting *inside* the country. At 70, border runs have lost their romance.

 

> I thought the only thing God invented was the big bang.

 

Actually, that was the ladyboys.