Retirement Visa.

The problem is,There HAS to be strict rules for people from countries overpopulated/ poor,uneducated. corrupted ect.... wanting to visit a more civilized,wealthier nation.*
The main reason is concern about them not returning back to their country!
So, apart from Thailand having excellent weather,beautiful women and cheap way of living,what other advantage has Thailand to warrant such red tape.
As been said, we are only "Guest's! To get a Thai citizenship is virtually impossible.Unless you are mega rich, have a large business.Even then, you have to be selected out of a pitiful 100 people max in a year!
Could it be" Tit for tat"?...... Thai Imm make it difficult to obtain visa because other countries* do?

Raising the bullsh!t flag again, parrot.

I've walked wives (2) through the US green card process. It's little more difficult than the annual hoop jumping I go through here for a one-year stay (check in every 90 days).

The difference is in the results.

Wife could live, work, buy anything, unlimited exit/reentry in the US for 10 years. That's YEARS. Both were given the green light after two or three months. Period, end of story. Once in the US, they only had to inform INS when they changed address -- by MAIL.

Your comparison is ridiculous.

"Wife could live, work, buy anything, unlimited exit/reentry in the US for 10 years."
Exactly! You know that going in. And you know coming in to Thailand that you'll never attain citizenship, probably won't get residency, the visa rules can change anytime, you can't own land, and if you're wife dumps you or you her, you stand to lose the whole shooting match.

I would take a wild guess that after immigration discovered their error they were scared that someone up above would take them to task for their f~ck up so they went overboard with poor Tex and made him jump through so many hoops he thought he was at the circus.

Of course, if he displayed the attitude at immigration that he's displayed on this forum, they were probably wondering just what this guy is up to. So, let's really check him out. That catch all phrase as the last requirement for getting an extension. Something to the effect, "Anything we want." seems to have been liberally used.

Hopefully, next year will be easier if he doesn't pack it out.

Why are we constantly complaining, a few years ago when the NEW marriage requirements went into effect, it was map and photos and all sorts of things, i went to do it, but in all honesty they did actually poersuade me that if one has a marriage visa, then if ones wife left, your visa becomes invalid and you have do start all over again.
Now apart from the money side of things there is not really a lot of difference between either of the visas on offer to old crinklies like me.
The marriage one may make you feel a bit more comfortable but sonsider this, as many of us have had more than one wife, just think of the confusion when you go to extend your years visa with a new lady.
Thais are unlikely to battle it out with Immigration it is not in their nature, so to avaoid any more controversy, if one can get the retirement visa, keep your stress levels down and stop complaining about the way Thai Immigration works, we ain't going to change it, God knows they wish the 90day reporting was not a requirement as it is an annoyance for them as well I can tell you but it is there, so lump it.
yes we can all leave, yes we can all go back from whence we came, but if you plan things and are aware and ask questions of the right people, it is easy.
As for the mistake on a visa, that would cause me to write to Immigration in Bangkok and point out the errors, and the comments, they would be unjustified I think in cancelling a visa due to their c***-up.
being permanently negative about the tribulations affecting us with reference to visas is in fact self-defeating, it ain't going to change so accept it.

Khun Paul
Well said

No doubt, the retirement visa is easier -- if you're fifty. I got one last week. It took about 30 minutes -- the same amount of time my first witness was questioned today. The second witness interview only lasted 15 minutes. Aside from copying both their ID cards and House Books (x2), and being told to come back in two and a half hours, the second day of my visa renewal was practically effortless.

You did know to tell your witnesses to bring their house books, didn't you? No, it's not on any checklist.

I realize this is Thailand and they make the rules. I wish my own country would tighten the noose on illegals and deport those breaking the rules. As such, I don't have a problem with checking up on the foreigners within their borders. But annual double witness interrogations and photos from the bedroom is a bit much. A bit like police taking a photo of the perp pointing at the motocy he allegedly stole. Irrefutable proof he's guilty!

Texpat wrote:
You did know to tell your witnesses to bring their house books, didn't you? No, it's not on any checklist.

Most Thais know to bring their folder of documents ( Copies of house book, ID, etc ) when dealing with government agencies or similar when creating new accounts , connections for utilities,

Went to do my 90 day in Udon today. Whilst there I did a dummy run on renewing my retirement visa , due in June.
Showed everything I had from last year. Was informed I needed a new confirmation of pension income from the embassy. well I had used the last one for three years running at Nong Khai so expected that, but was told I now need a fresh one every year, he actually showed me the change in the visa requirements so its not just a Udon thing but a general requirement .It does say though that this can be obtained up to six months in advance of the renewal date .When I told him my income hadn't changed from last year , apart from a lower exchange rate into baht, but still well over the 800k needed , he told me it wasn't necessary to get a bank letter as well .Also the income letter does not have to be translated or certified by any other dept, but it must be the original .So it looks like a short visit to Bangkok is on the cards soon and then everything looks set for another year in the land of smiles .Before anyone points out I can get the embasy letter through the post . Yes I know that but the missus doesn't .
PS. All the staff were fresh faces to me including the obviously senior one, but they seem like a very cheerful bunch and fell over themselves to help .Very refreshing .

Can we get these pension letters and other documents from our embassies in Vientiane?

I thought all embassies are geared up to handle the same things, basically.

But I've never heard many speak of this (possible) option, vs going to BKK...?

Anyone have experience with this, or know?

I asked the same question re getting an income letter from the Oz embassy in Laos, and the answer was pretty clear - it must come from Bangkok.

On a more positive note, the Oz embassy in Vientiane is happy to do Oz visas for Mrs spratt - thus saving a trip to Bangers.

Anybody know if you can bring minor children with you to Thailand on a retirement visa?

With relation to the pension letter 'trubrit' was talking about, and although other countries may deal with it differently.
You can of course apply by letterat the Uk Embassy together with the correct slip for the post office stating you have paid the required amount, as you can do it up to 6 months in advance and anytime after the New Year celebrations will do. hence a trip to BKK is NOT required. The pain is the yearly update, as most pensions either stay the same or increase one would think that even they can understand that, the only change is the exchange rate and as that is going in our favour, should not be a problem.

Snowball, if you are staying longer term on a retirement visa, your minor children would have to be dealt with separately, i.e. have their own visa, though you can apply for a Non Immigrant "O" visa for them if they are your children, dependent on you and living with you.

Went to Udon immigration today at 1:10 PM for retirement visa renewal, reentry visa, and 90 day check today for me and wife. Step right up, no one waiting, finished with smiles all around and no surprises at 2:15. We provided the embassy letter and no bank account information with no problem. We were asked to provide a handdrawn map.....3 lines, 1 kilo mark, a crude house drawing, and that was that. I politely inquired if that was necessary for a retirement visa....she said yes. All in all, a wonderful day in the neighborhood.
It never ceases to amaze me the number of stamps that are used to complete the process........and there's always one lost or misplaced....they're always sharing stamps and receipt books between desks.
And finally, just for possible wiki historical purposes: carbon paper is alive and well in the Thai government! I wonder what country will be the last to give up the ghost.