Retirement Extension for Dummies ver 2015

[gotlost]

As far as I am concerned, the only PITA with the retirement extension now is having to make a second trip to immigration (which for me is a 250Km round trip) to have the extension stamped in my passport after it is approved following the "under consideration" period but this happens for marriage also.

Thats true and it looks as if this requirement for retirement is to stay infect same as marriage. It is very apparent that Thai immigration has their magnifying glasses on the retirement and not the marriage. Overall if your have nothing to hide the you should not have any problems. The biggest area that immigration is after are those on retirement that are working.

[dundeemk6]

So your advice to me would be : switch from retirement extentions to marriage visum , with this visum you are allowed to "assist" your missus in her work ?

[dundeemk6]

BillH52 : that happened at Dré's Bar on Soi Bukhao a few years ago ... André used to sit every night with some visiting belgian tourists and expats drinking beer ... was considered "entertaining customers with no work permit" !!! Cost him a bundle to get it squashed.

[BillH52]

So your advice to me would be : switch from retirement extentions to marriage visum , with this visum you are allowed to "assist" your missus in her work ?

To be more specific; with marriage visa, you have the option to "apply for a work permit".

[CO-CO]

So your advice to me would be : switch from retirement extentions to marriage visum , with this visum you are allowed to "assist" your missus in her work ?

Only if you have a WP.


I don't get the focus on retirees. Most are just that, retired and while away their time in Thailand. Equally, (I would say this wouldn't I) I see no issue with 'helping out' at Coffee Corner, Buriram Pieman, M & D Coffee, Staffords, Nookies Delights, Jimmys Sports Cafe, Timeout etc, etc. None of these business that are essentially Farang funded are taking any business away from Thais, in fact many are employing Thais.

[BillH52]

Absolutely correct; and I agree whole heartedly; however, technically . . Immigration 'could' classify it as 'working'.  Will they?  Maybe, maybe not.  I have chosen to not take that path; rather, am going with the 'marriage' type thereby reducing the frozen bank account by half or prove half the income and have the option of applying for a work permit, as I see fit.

[Geordie Boy]

I am about to hit KCI on the 15th of this month for my 6th extension of stay based on retirement, I expect a 30 day under cosideration stamp. A visit from the chaps to my home, perhaps a request for fuel monies and then a return to KCI 30 days later to get my extension.

So lets cost this out,

Statement of earnings (pension) from the UK Embassy  2,655 Baht
Extension fee 1,900 Baht
Travel to KCI, my case 270 km return x 2 520 km. I use around 8 ltr per 100 km, so about 1,400 Baht

I  put no cost on copies, being buggered around etc, so total cost 5,955 Baht.

Now I understand why a lot of people I know spend 12,000 Baht per year for the other option.

[CO-CO]

I am about to hit KCI on the 15th of this month for my 6th extension of stay based on retirement, I expect a 30 day under cosideration stamp. A visit from the chaps to my home, perhaps a request for fuel monies and then a return to KCI 30 days later to get my extension.

So lets cost this out,

Statement of earnings (pension) from the UK Embassy  2,655 Baht
Extension fee 1,900 Baht
Travel to KCI, my case 270 km return x 2 520 km. I use around 8 ltr per 100 km, so about 1,400 Baht

I  put no cost on copies, being buggered around etc, so total cost 5,955 Baht.

Now I understand why a lot of people I know spend 12,000 Baht per year for the other option.

Add another 3,500-ish for 90 day reporting if you have to go to KCI

[urleft]

Well I went to get a new extension at KCI today, what a mess.  Seems there's a new girl out front that tries to act like she knows everything but confused the hell out of me. 

1.  She could not understand how I had typed the TM 7/8, she wanted it handwritten. 
2.  Even though I had an Embassy Income Statement she wanted me to get a letter from the Bank stating I had 400,000 baht. 
3.  She did not seem to understand what the TM 8 was. 

Luckily I had my TW with me and after 15 minutes we finally agreed that I would update my Bangkok Bank book and provide copies.  Once that was done I was shown to room opposite where they provide the services to have the paperwork checked.  While I had things in the correct order, the new girl has moved things around.  He wanted copies of my Passport, which were now last, so we showed him.  He then got out the forms for Overstay, income, and residence but then accepted when I had already filled them out (except for income).  He accepted my embassy income statement, but also added my bank book balance.  Luckily I had over 400K  Baht in it, not sure what would have happened if it was less.  They further decided I would get a home visit so the TM 8 issue be mute. 


Got past the guy except as stated earlier I now had to get a copy made.  As someone mentioned, go to the yellow store on the left (pic attached). 

Got the copy made and headed into the room, about 10 minutes later my TW took the pack up where it was approved (for 30 days) pending the home visit.  They further wanted a map (2 copies) which I already had. 

So I paid the 1900 baht and got the under consideration stamp awaiting the home visit. 

Looks like I will start another dummy thread for 2016 when this goat rope is complete. 

Bottom Line (in addition to post #1): 

1.  Have a map to your house for a home visit (2 copies)
2.  Even if using an embassy statement, make copies of your Thailand bank book, I believe it needs to show baht being spent. 
3.  Be prepared to walk across the street to make copies. 


And lastly, it appears there is a new TM 8, I will try to scan and provide it in another posting. 

Good luck. 

[Starman]

Good post but I am confused.

You have posted in "Retirement extension for dummies" but only showed 400000 baht in the bank.

[urleft]

Good post but I am confused.

You have posted in "Retirement extension for dummies" but only showed 400000 baht in the bank.

Exactly, which is one of the multiple reasons I said they confused the hell out of me.  What I believe they wanted was to see the retirement income being spent, and I am not sure what their reaction would have been if I had less than 400K in the bank. 

[CO-CO]

Good post but I am confused.

You have posted in "Retirement extension for dummies" but only showed 400000 baht in the bank.

I am with Starman on this - presumably this should be on the marriage extension thread.

[CO-CO]

Good post but I am confused.

You have posted in "Retirement extension for dummies" but only showed 400000 baht in the bank.

Exactly, which is one of the multiple reasons I said they confused the hell out of me.  What I believe they wanted was to see the retirement income being spent, and I am not sure what their reaction would have been if I had less than 400K in the bank.

Keith  -  what exactly did you apply for ?

[urleft]

A retirement extension

[CO-CO]

A retirement extension

Then it sounds like they were looking at the combination method ?

Stating the obvious, 400k is not sufficient for a retirement extension