Thai visa

[smooler1]

Hi im after some advice please,i would like to re-locate to thailand and in june next year i will be 50,if i came to thailand in january which type of visa would i need bearing in mind it would be 6 months before im 50.
Also when i am 50 do i HAVE to get a retirement visa or are there other options ?

Thanks..

[CO-CO]

Hi Smooler,

Others may have different opinions but it it also depends on your personal situation.

I am going to assume that if you are re-locating you have an ongoing relationship with a Thai. For the purposes of this exercise I will assume it is heterosexual and that you are not married.


There is no visa, other than a tourist visa, available to you before you are 50.

The best choice for you would be to get tourist visas until you are 50. Once attaining the age of 50 you can apply for a retirement extension (note here the distinction between a VISA that you can only get outside of Thailand and an EXTENSION which you can only get inside Thailand and runs for 12 months). It will be interesting to see if the new Buriram immigration office (if open!) will convert you from the tourist visa to a retirement extension. NB - have a look on here for information regarding the requirement for a retirement extension - UR LEFT has compiled several 'idiot's guides'.

You may be told to go to Savannaket and get a single entry Non-Immigrant O visa based on retirement - from that you can do an extension. As said, try first when you still have circa 30 days left on your tourist visa.

All the above changes if you are married/get married. You can apply at any time for a marriage extension but should get a visa based on marriage from a Thai embassy first. At Savannaket you also have the option of getting a 12 month Non Immigrant O visa and you just need to do border runs every 90 days.

I will mention the O-A visa at this stage - Google that one to see if it fits your circumstances.

[smooler1]

Thank you for your reply,just to clarify if i get a 60 day tourist visa before i come i assume i could extend it another 30 days once in thailand giving me 90 days in total.After that do i have to leave thailand and do a visa run to repeat the process ?

Thanks..

[Sofa_King]

Thank you for your reply,just to clarify if i get a 60 day tourist visa before i come i assume i could extend it another 30 days once in thailand giving me 90 days in total.After that do i have to leave thailand and do a visa run to repeat the process ?

Thanks..

I believe there's a new 6 month tourist visa that's now avalible ...see the link below

http://tielandtothailand.com/thailand-multiple-entry-tourist-visa-requirements/

[gotlost]

Thai Consulate in Savannakhet is hard ass on issuing anything on retirement you would need to go the the Thai Embassy in Vientiane. Surin Immigration does a conversion on a visa exempt or a tourist visa as long as you have 15 days remaining over to a retirement or marriage extension. As noted the best for bing under 50 is the 6 months METV averrable from the Thai Embassy London.

[gotlost]

Thank you for your reply,just to clarify if i get a 60 day tourist visa before i come i assume i could extend it another 30 days once in thailand giving me 90 days in total.After that do i have to leave thailand and do a visa run to repeat the process ?

Thanks..

Correct and the best location would be the Thai Consulate Savannakhet. Need to remember this would be your second back to back tourist visa and you may not get a 3rd one from that location.

[Starman]

To the OP.

You recently posted about teaching here in Thailand.

If you get an extension of stay based on being over 50 you cannot teach. You can teach on an extension based on marriage.

[Starman]

Thai Consulate in Savannakhet is hard ass on issuing anything on retirement you would need to go the the Thai Embassy in Vientiane. Surin Immigration does a conversion on a visa exempt or a tourist visa as long as you have 15 days remaining over to a retirement or marriage extension. As noted the best for bing under 50 is the 6 months METV averrable from the Thai Embassy London.

The requirements for a METV from London are very strict. Requirements include a travel itinery(showing flights) and 5000 pounds in the bank. I know someone who was turned down because he couldn't provide this info.

[Sofa_King]

To the OP.

You recently posted about teaching here in Thailand.

If you get an extension of stay based on being over 50 you cannot teach. You can teach on an extension based on marriage.

It has been reported that some people on a retirement extension have obtained a WP ( even the guy we love to hate has said he has done so )

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/646416-changing-from-retirement-visa-to-work-visacan-it-be-done/

[Starman]

In the past. Not now. Even the wizard is now on a B.