Retirement Extension for Dummies ver 2015

[nookiebear]

I see the BE prolific poster has crawled from his cave.

[Freddy]

I returned to KCI for my retirement extension this morning following the home visit which took place before Christmas. Visa extension granted no problem however there was an interesting little twist. The IO re-checked all the paperwork and then another IO requested that I follow him to an outdoor seating area adjacent to the toilets. There I was introduced to his boss ( he stated head of KCI and was in civilian clothes) who checked passport and then gave a small speech about the consequences should any foreigner on a retirement visa be found working in Thialand. He requested assurance that I fully understood I could not work and stated that they were aware of many foreigners who ran businesses in wives names. He stated that the Immigration Office employed detectives to check on this and anyone discovered working would leave the country permanently. Another gent there for his visa got the same speech. Wives were requested to be present also. The above was delivered on Thai and and English.
After that I was returned to the main office and passport stamped. Then waited another 45 mins for my re- entry permit to be processed but they were kind enough to do the photocopy of the new retirement extension to add to my already completed pack.
Total time 1hr 30min and all quite friendly and polite.
That's that out the way for another year.

[urleft]

That could open a whole can of worms for some.  There needs to be a detailed definition of what constitutes work.  Meaning does investing (meaning setting up your wife's business) and then monitoring the operation constitute work? 

[buckwhelk]

I was also @ Kap Choeng yesterday to get my retirement extension stamp. My experience was identical to that of Freddy in his post above, except that once processing started, I never left the main office. I got the same speech from the top man - I left Mrs B at home. The girls also did my photocopy and never asked for money...Quite painless.

[Freddy]

That could open a whole can of worms for some.  There needs to be a detailed definition of what constitutes work.  Meaning does investing (meaning setting up your wife's business) and then monitoring the operation constitute work?

As neither I or my wife operate any kind of business it's not an issue for me. However,  I would hope that for those who do, that providing shall we say the 'Farang Sponsor' , is not observed working on the premises and no income from the business goes to their account then there shouldn't be a problem. Especially if they can show a personal income coming in from a pension or other foreign asset.
I guess a problem may arise should they ask to see evidence on  how the business was funded at start-up and where the money came from but if it was a gift to wife or GF then not sure what they could do.
Anybody's guess really !!

It may also be that the statement that investigators/ detectives are employed  is BS and just a scare tactic.

[davureborn]

There have been reports of policemen wandering around villages asking about Farangs. both retired and married.
Extract from the list of forbidden occupations, and therefore considered as work in Thailand:
"Work in agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry or fishing excluding specialized work in each particular branch or farm supervision;
Bricklaying, carpentry or other construction works;
Woodcarving;
Driving a mechanically propelled carrier or driving a non-mechanically propelled vehicle, (excluding international aircraft piloting)";

All of which I have been 'guilty' of, same as many of us I suppose. So you can scrap the idea of buying a buffalo cart and buffalo.

[Starman]

Kap Cheong are certainly making a name for themselves. I personally know of 8 expats who have extended within the last 3 weeks. 3 in Khon Kaen, 2 in Sissaket 1 in Pitsanulok and 2 in Amnat Cheroen. All of them got the extention same day. No house visits, no questions about living arrangements and no need for any additional signatures or witnesses.

[DeputyDavid]

. There I was introduced to his boss ( he stated head of KCI and was in civilian clothes) who checked passport and then gave a small speech about the consequences should any foreigner on a retirement visa be found working in Thialand. He requested assurance that I fully understood I could not work and stated that they were aware of many foreigners who ran businesses in wives names. He stated that the Immigration Office employed detectives to check on this and anyone discovered working would leave the country permanently. Another gent there for his visa got the same speech. Wives were requested to be present also. The above was delivered on Thai and and English.

OK, there are a few "big businesses" that I know of that are owned by other than Thai, and they contribute a lot of tax to the economy I am sure.  I wonder what this all means for them, or what the agenda of KCI really is.  Tea money out of the question - (its called Som Tam now....)

[Freddy]

I think the focus is on those who apply for retirement visas.....ie. Claim to be retired but working. Myself and Noi aren't formally married hence my visa extension has to be retirement and not a marriage extension.
Does anyone know of anyone being given the same speech if their extension is on marriage? I'm assuming those on marriage extensions can still apply for work permits

[urleft]

Yes,  you can get a work permit with a marriage visa. 

[dundeemk6]

I've been doing the retirement extention for 8 years and do occasionally work on my wive's ricepaddies, wash my pick-up and SUV on the street next to ur house in town, entertain some foreigners on my porch in front of the house ... this could all be considered as "working" and so one can be thrown out the lovely LOS.
So I think I'm goong to switch to marriage visum and extentins. One this visa one can help his missus - the proper response to the IO would be : " mate, if I don't execute her orders, no nookie for me !!! "

[Freddy]

I actually said to the Head IO that I only work on our own house and garden. He said, this no problem as long as you're not getting paid. His emphasis was on not earning any money in Thailand. I really don't think that normal stuff like truck washing, home decoration, own garden work etc is a problem. It was very clear that they are focusing on those who are earning income from businesses registered in wife/gf name. I'm currently landscaping our garden and was in the process of doing this when my IO visit took place.i was actually Laing stone when they arrived. There was no suggestion that I should pay a Thai worker to do something I can do for myself. I just can't do it for others and get paid.

[BillH52]

Heard of a farang who 'sponsored' his wife's bar operation.  Only thing the guy was seen 'doing' was sitting at the bar visiting with patrons.  That was considered 'working' and the guy lost his visa. 

One little caveat re Non-O family besides being able to apply for a work permit; the funds/income requirement is half that of Retirement Visa.  Not a big deal in most cases; however, it would be half the amount of money sitting around aging and NOT working for you.

[CO-CO]

Bill, did this happen in Buriram ?

Was the guy grassed up. or targeted by immigration ?


I didn't do much more when I had Coffee Corner but I never had a sniff from police or immigration, they left us alone.

I do know that it is a bit more cut-throat in, say, Pattaya where I know of a guy, doing some ironing to help his wife in her laundry business, who was threatened with deportation if he continued. He had been grassed up.

[BillH52]

Believe that was in Pattaya.