Retirement in Bangkok!

[norice]

Hello,

I'm in the process of applying for Non-Immigrant Visa Category "O-A" (Long Stay) It's straightforward, you just need to submit:

4 copies of passport
Visa application
Additional application form
Medical Certificate that shows you don't have Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis, Drug Addiction and Third stage of Syphilis!
Copy of bank statement or evidence of adequate finance
And letter of verification stating no previous criminal record

I just need to submit medical certificate after my medical examination then I'm able to retire in Bangkok! But I must reapply for Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" after 1 year!

[massageboy666]

Thanks ... it's CCK SPA ¹Ç´àÊÃÔÁÊØ¢ÀÒ¾ÊäµÅìäµéËÇѹ

[Bangkok Master]

Originally Posted by norice

Hello,

I'm in the process of applying for Non-Immigrant Visa Category "O-A" (Long Stay) It's straightforward, you just need to submit:

4 copies of passport
Visa application
Additional application form
Medical Certificate that shows you don't have Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis, Drug Addiction and Third stage of Syphilis!
Copy of bank statement or evidence of adequate finance
And letter of verification stating no previous criminal record

I just need to submit medical certificate after my medical examination then I'm able to retire in Bangkok! But I must reapply for Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" after 1 year!

Just want to check what's the current amount that you need to have for the bank statement?

[norice]

Bangkok Master,

Not less than 800,000B! Also, if your monthly income (pension etc.) is greater than 65,000B will be accepted.

[Bangkok Master]

Originally Posted by norice

Bangkok Master,

Not less than 800,000B! Also, if your monthly income (pension etc.) is greater than 65,000B will be accepted.

Thanks for the info, Bro Norice!

I was given the impression by another friend that the amount to have was 600kbaht would be enough. There's also a difference on the amount if you're applying on different grounds such as marrying a thai lady and applying for a dependent pass.

[norice]

Bangkok Master

Thai consulate Office recently increased the bank savings from 600,000 to 800,000! It really doesn't matter because it's your own money.

I also have to pay $175.00 for 3 multiple entries! Also, when you're retired in Bangkok, every 3 months you have to report to the police or immigration office to tell them your current address!

128 days before early retirement!
82 days before holidays in Bangkok!

[norice]

Hello,

Another Advice:

As we gets older, our prostate enlarges and tend to be bothersome since it effects our sex lives! So, even though it's irratating and painful, my advice to all of us who are over 48 years old, get annual digital prostate or PSA exams! My friend who is only 50 years old, had his prostate removed due to cancer! He's cured but no prostate, in other words, no erection or 1 - 2 years! Even though his nerve bundles been spared by the prostate, due to severe irritation, the nerves are damaged temporarily! His doctor used da Vinci robotic to remove the prostate.

I had digital prostate exams three times and it doesn't get easier, it hurts!!!

[indianmagicoil]

I heard that you can get around the minimum bank deposit requirement if you purchase real estate of at least BHT1 million in your name?

Don't know if its also true that regular sex can reduce the chances of getting prostate cancer?

[norice]

Indianmagicoil,

If you're an American citizen and you want to extend your 1 year non-immigarant visa, you can go to US Embassy in Bangkok and get an written affidavit stating you have sufficient amount of moneyy in the savings account. That will be sufficient in applying for extension VISA in Bangkok! I think, US Embassy official will charge $85.00.

I wish having sex regularly will minimize prostate cancer but that's false! Females have breast cancer, we have prostate cancer! Even Steven!

[khunsanook]

Since the Thai political crisis started with the coup of Taksin, the policies for foreigners in Thailand is becoming more and more oppressive. Here is one good link on info for Non-O visa application/extension: Bangkok Post Forum • View topic - NO EXTENSION TO NON IMMIGRANT VISA

The 800,000 baht requirement was recently upped and I guess they are getting rid of those "lower" end of the foreigners. Now they are enforcing strict checks on foreigner ownership of lands, especially landed properties.

It seems they are blaming their political fiasco on foreigners. But let's hope it does not get more and more oppressive.

For 90 days reporting, you can do it by registered mail or if you leave Thailand before every 90 days, you do not need to report. Everytime you enter the country again, your days will start from 1 from the date of entry. So far, I have not done any 90 days reporting as I go back to S'pore and Dongguan regularly.

CCK looks interesting and will look to pay a visit soon. Btw, looking at the map, I noticed OASIS. I last went to OASIS Suana was 5-6 years ago and got for myself a nice Chinese girl. I mean real PRC girl as she showed me her passport and after the session, we walked to her apartment a few hundred meters away for more strenuous exercises. Any bros can advise what is the situation with OASIS recently?

[khunsanook]

Bro Norice,

Perhaps you can consider Thai Permanent Residence permit after 3 years:

Advantages:
It allows the holder to live permanently in Thailand, with no requirement to apply for an extension of temporary stay.

In addition to the permanent residence book, an alien registration book will be issued, which is the equivalent of the ID card held by Thais.

A permanent resident can have his/her name included on a house registration document.

Obtaining a work permit is easier for a permanent resident than for a non-resident, but you still need to have a work permit if working.

A permanent resident also has a number of other privileges such as, for example, being able to:

(a) buy a condominium without being required to transfer money from abroad;
(b) apply for naturalization in accordance with the law concerned;
(c) have Thai nationality granted to children who are born in Thailand;
(d) become a director of a public company; and
(e) apply for an extension of stay or permanent residence for non-Thai family members.

You can even borrow money from banks like normal Thais subject to income and risk assessments so it will be useful for getting that mortgage loans.

The annual quota for granting permanent residency in Thailand is a maximum of 100 persons per country. Submission of applications is usually from October to the end of December.

How to qualify:

1. An applicant must have received permission for yearly stays in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa for at least of three years prior to the submission of an application for permanent residency. Holders of multiple NON-Immigrant visas can not appy. You must have 3 un-broken yearly extensions in order to qualify.
2. An applicant must be holding a non-immigrant visa at the time of submitting an application.
3. Has personal qualifications that meet one or more of the following categories:
1) Investment category (minumum 3 - 10 Mil. Baht investment in Thailand)
2) Working/Business category
3) Support a family or Humanity Reasons category: He/she must have relationship with a Thai citizen or an alien who already posses a residence permit as the followings:

A legal husband or wife
A legal father or mother
A child who is under 20 years of age up to the submission date of application and must be single
4) Expert / academics category
5) Other categories

If I am not wrong, property investment counts. So if you buy a condo for 3M & above, you qualify but I implore you to check to be sure.

But it is really really expensive:

Application for a residence permit - 7,600
Approval of a residence permit - 191,400
Approval of a residence permit for a foreigner married to a Thai, the spouse of a resident, and any of their children who have not reached the status of a Thai juristic person (i.e., unmarried children aged below 20 years) - 95,700

Once approved, a residence blue book is issued to you. You must then register the place of residence in Thailand at the local Amphur Office and obtain a house card. 7 days after receipt of the residence certificate you then apply for an alien book (red book) at the local police station. You must re-register there every year, and the fee is 200 Baht.

The Residency Permit itself never expires, unless revoked. To be able to leave the country and return at will, though, you need to apply each year for a re-entry permit.

No more 90 days reporting but you must present yourself at the police station covering the area where you are resident once every five years for a stamp in your book.

With permanent residency status, you will be eligible to apply for Thai citizenship after 10 consecutive years.

[Tony Stark]

Originally Posted by khunsanook

With permanent residency status, you will be eligible to apply for Thai citizenship after 10 consecutive years.

I think very few people would want to give up their US or SIN citizenship for Thai citizenship.
I'd only if I have Royal Family connections or Thaksin's equilvalent of wealth and power.

[norice]

Khunsanook,

Thanks for your insightful information! Yes, I will buy a condo after 5 years but not before, I want to determine if I really wants to live in Bangkok! Maybe after 5 years, I might be living in Chiang Mai.

Did you ever read stickman's weekly column regarding Thailand/Bangkok? My recommendation is everyone should read the column, it has lots of insightful information, we all could use in Thailand. The website address is Bangkok, Living, Working, Teaching English, travel

[indianmagicoil]

Officially announced today that the airport rail link to downtown Bangkok will open 5th December barring anymore big political fuck ups.

[norice]

Greetings!

I just booked my tickets through China Airlines. I will be in Bangkok from December 18 through January 5, 2010.

If you want to meet in Bangkok and have few drinks and discuss retirement life, send me a private message.

Tomorrow, I will be receiving my retirement visa stamp from Thai Consulate Office, so I'm ready to retire in Bangkok, after February, 2010!

See you soon!