Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 3:41:35 GMT 7
I turn 50 in March and I qualify for a retirement visa on both income and cash to hand. Okay, fine - except in my case I don't intend to retire to Thailand. I reckon the new multi-entry tourist visa is perfect for me. £90 - 5000 baht - for 6 months - cheap cheap. vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/news/announce/detail.php?ID=313 I have more than the required 200,000 baht in my Thai bank account at any given time - and of course in my UK account too. I reckon a fair amount of people will use the METV issued in their own country - and if I'm understanding it right, they can then go to Vientiane and get another one? Have I misunderstood that? So that would be a year in Thailand for £180/£200? So what then? If you can't get back to back in Vientiane then possibly fly home ( cheap return flight, say 25,000 baht - the same that guys are paying the visa agents for bent retirement visas ) reapply - then away you go again. So, my figuring is that 25,000 + 10,000 + a bit of spending money in the UK per annum - ( up to you ) would/could see you living in Thailand legally in perpetuity - with the added bonus of a holiday in the UK for a couple of weeks. As long as you have 200,000 baht in a savings account - which is to me, the bare essential emergency fund anyway. So - the question then is - will they keep issuing back-to-back METV? I reckon they will as they are legitimate visas, backed by savings, and are generating 5,000 baht a pop for government coffers. To me, those retirees that are in the habit of going home every year would need to wonder why they need a retirement visa any more? No more 90 day reporting and all the other aggravations. Has Thailand just inadvertently tolled a bell for retirement visas? or am I reading this all wrong? |
|
|
|
Post by Soutpeel on Nov 8, 2015 6:35:58 GMT 7
I reckon a fair amount of people will use the METV issued in their own country - and if I'm understanding it right, they can then go to Vientiane and get another one? Have I misunderstood that? So what then? If you can't get back to back in Vientiane then possibly fly home ( cheap return flight, say 25,000 baht - the same that guys are paying the visa agents for bent retirement visas ) reapply - then away you go again. So - the question then is - will they keep issuing back-to-back METV? Has Thailand just inadvertently tolled a bell for retirement visas? or am I reading this all wrong? My understanding is you will not get a METV in Vientiane or anywhere else "locally" unless your a citizen or legal resident of that country...ergo in your case, you need to get yours in the UK. The "bent visa/agent thing" will be a thing of the past certainly in Thailand Will they keep issuing back to back METV's even in the UK ?....well that's the million dollar or GBP 664341.00 question.... one suspects if you keep applying back to back it will eventually lead to questions what your actually doing in Thailand, as far as I have read, there are no published limited for the number of B2B METV's issued, but lets face it, visa's are issued at the discretion of the embassy or consulate concerned. METV's has nothing to do "retirement visa's"....separate thing Honestly if it was me, and a person aspires to stay long term in Thailand, the Thb 500k TE visa is the way to go...5 years no hassles, Thb 300/day odd... 5 quid a day ! (cost of big mac meal in the UK) |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 6:44:21 GMT 7
I reckon a fair amount of people will use the METV issued in their own country - and if I'm understanding it right, they can then go to Vientiane and get another one? Have I misunderstood that? So what then? If you can't get back to back in Vientiane then possibly fly home ( cheap return flight, say 25,000 baht - the same that guys are paying the visa agents for bent retirement visas ) reapply - then away you go again. So - the question then is - will they keep issuing back-to-back METV? Has Thailand just inadvertently tolled a bell for retirement visas? or am I reading this all wrong? My understanding is you will not get a METV in Vientiane or anywhere else "locally" unless your a citizen or legal resident of that country...ergo in your case, you need to get yours in the UK. The "bent visa/agent thing" will be a thing of the past certainly in Thailand Will they keep issuing back to back METV's even in the UK ?....well that's the million dollar or GBP 664341.00 question.... one suspects if you keep applying back to back it will eventually lead to questions what your actually doing in Thailand, as far as I have read, there are no published limited for the number of B2B METV's issued, but lets face it, visa's are issued at the discretion of the embassy or consulate concerned. METV's has nothing to do "retirement visa's"....separate thing Honestly if it was me, and a person aspires to stay long term in Thailand, the Thb 500k TE visa is the way to go...5 years no hassles, Thb 300/day odd... 5 quid a day ! (cost of big mac meal in the UK) Yep - I agree that Thai Elite is the way to go as a long stay solution. If I were to stay long term that's the one I would go for - great value. In my case I have no plans to stay in Thailand long term - so METV would be sufficient for me, and I'm likely to get one before my next trip - although I'd probably get away with a single entry - I'll decide next week. Thanks for the clarification - it now looks as if you have to go back to your home country to get an METV - so getting a years worth using Vientiane looks out of the question. That's yet another game changer - a lot of people will be squealing now. |
|
|
|
Post by Soutpeel on Nov 8, 2015 7:25:42 GMT 7
My understanding is you will not get a METV in Vientiane or anywhere else "locally" unless your a citizen or legal resident of that country...ergo in your case, you need to get yours in the UK. The "bent visa/agent thing" will be a thing of the past certainly in Thailand Will they keep issuing back to back METV's even in the UK ?....well that's the million dollar or GBP 664341.00 question.... one suspects if you keep applying back to back it will eventually lead to questions what your actually doing in Thailand, as far as I have read, there are no published limited for the number of B2B METV's issued, but lets face it, visa's are issued at the discretion of the embassy or consulate concerned. METV's has nothing to do "retirement visa's"....separate thing Honestly if it was me, and a person aspires to stay long term in Thailand, the Thb 500k TE visa is the way to go...5 years no hassles, Thb 300/day odd... 5 quid a day ! (cost of big mac meal in the UK) Yep - I agree that Thai Elite is the way to go as a long stay solution. If I were to stay long term that's the one I would go for - great value. In my case I have no plans to stay in Thailand long term - so METV would be sufficient for me, and I'm likely to get one before my next trip - although I'd probably get away with a single entry - I'll decide next week. Thanks for the clarification - it now looks as if you have to go back to your home country to get an METV - so getting a years worth using Vientiane looks out of the question. That's yet another game changer - a lot of people will be squealing now. Thailand visa system has always been rather convoluted and messy and bringing in the METV's and dropping the doubles and triples makes perfect sense, lets face facts the visa waiver system and the new METV's will cover what 99% of foreigners as "legitimate tourists" would ever need. 30 day or less holidays - Visa Waiver > 30 days up to 6 month holidays - METV (pretty sure you will be able to get 1 extension on this visa in country) Under 50 want to stay long term up to 5 years - thb 500k TE visa Under 50 want to stay forever - full price TE visa Over 50 - "retirement" 800k or 65k/m pension coming What this change really hits, is the people who are playing the system, claiming to be tourists and working etc. and although it will not eliminate this issue fully, it will make things a lot harder for them now..they will need to show cash in the bank, a job/employment etc and have to go home periodically I personally don't think they will limit the number B2B METV's provided you qualify each time by having the cash in the bank etc...but this will certainly hit a lot of "thai" pikeys as a lot don't have a pot to urinate in |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 7:59:48 GMT 7
^^ Yup - seems to have been well thought out.
Now they've fixed that imbroglio, retirement visa corruption must be on the radar.
|
|
smokie36
Vigilante
Posts: 15,653 
Likes: 9,059
|
Post by smokie36 on Nov 8, 2015 11:33:50 GMT 7
The requirement to get a tourist visa from the country in which you reside makes perfect sense....as going on holiday....then returning home is what tourists do.
Its screwed those who were abusing the system...so good work Thailand!
|
|
smokie36
Vigilante
Posts: 15,653
Likes: 9,059
|
Post by smokie36 on Nov 8, 2015 11:36:33 GMT 7
Just a word on the 30 day free on arrival....I saw someone complaining about oil workers finding it tough going back and forward month on/off but I've never heard of this.
The only people having trouble with this are at land borders and doing same day re-entry over and over.
Yes the Thai immigration are not stupid....they will continue to take the oil workers money.
|
|
|
|
Post by stoneyboy on Nov 8, 2015 12:17:44 GMT 7
I'm all for tightening the rules but if they are changing the tourist visa regulations then they seriously need to look at the retirement visa as well,it's a known fact that for a nominal fee and if over 50 you can obtain a one year extension of stay no problem.
Couple that with the fact that the age of retirement in the west continues to increase its barely credible that lots of people living here long term can barely afford to do so,that is evident by the increasing numbers of homeless destitute foreigners.
|
|
|
|
Post by Soutpeel on Nov 8, 2015 12:47:25 GMT 7
Just a word on the 30 day free on arrival....I saw someone complaining about oil workers finding it tough going back and forward month on/off but I've never heard of this. The only people having trouble with this are at land borders and doing same day re-entry over and over. Yes the Thai immigration are not stupid....they will continue to take the oil workers money. O&G workers will not have any problems, yes they may get asked what they are up to coming in and out on visa waivers, but typically the guys are doing 28/28 swings, which is evident in their PP's. I think the ones who are citing this are not O&G guys and just using this example to try and "build a case" that the whole visa thing is unfair....an O&G guy typically has plenty of options. 1. visa waiver - yes they could get stopped and asked what they are up, but there are no legal limits on the number of VW's they can get and its obvious they are not visa running 2. The METV would work at least partially, they will not get the full six months out of one, but likely 3 to 4 trips out of one 3. the obvious 500k for a TE card... USD 14k for one not the end of the world for the typical O&G guy...would typically represent about 2 weeks money to pay for it for most guys. 4. A lot of the O&G guys these days are over 50 or getting very close, so getting a retirement visa in Thailand and carry on working is not an issue The issues I have heard about with O&G guys, is the fact they are married in Thailand and coming in and out on visa waivers and immigration suggest to them that they should be on an extension of stay for marriage which makes sense.. I know a lot of O&G guys living in Thailand and working elsewhere and all of them are on either an extension for marriage or they have a retirement extension and have never heard a complaint from them about immigration giving them a hard time. |
|
|
|
Post by Soutpeel on Nov 8, 2015 12:53:49 GMT 7
I'm all for tightening the rules but if they are changing the tourist visa regulations then they seriously need to look at the retirement visa as well,it's a known fact that for a nominal fee and if over 50 you can obtain a one year extension of stay no problem. Couple that with the fact that the age of retirement in the west continues to increase its barely credible that lots of people living here long term can barely afford to do so,that is evident by the increasing numbers of homeless destitute foreigners. I am sure that will come in time.... I think the biggest thing they need to introduce with the retirement visa is mandatory medical insurance, in fact to be honest, they should introduce that across all visa and extension types, look at how many cases over the last 12 months of foreigners getting in accidents and ending up in hospital/ICU and not having any form of medical or accident insurance, its mandatory in a lot of countries for tourists and non legal residents. |
|
|
|
Post by Fletchsmile on Nov 8, 2015 13:20:26 GMT 7
Yes if you meet the criteria for extension of stay based on marriage or on retirement, those are the two easiest ways to go. Stick 400k / 800k in a bank account. Cost is around THB 1,000 for the extension application + THB 3,800 for a multiple re-entry stamp.
Haven't done retirement, but the process is similar to marriage. Usually 2 visits to immigration. First to apply, then you're given a 1 month pending and then come back to get your approval the following month at which point you get the re-entry. Then sorted for the year. The re-entry is important otherwise you end back at square one if you leave the country for whatever reason. For me it's about minimising the time taken with it all and the number of visits to bureaucrats in any country. Even if I think I may not leave more than once in the year I still get the multiple re-entry just in case. Single re-entry is cheaper, but I just don't want to be bothered going back to immigration/an embassy whether in Thailand or elsewhere - waste of time.
The process just becomes a habit. Even now with a work permit I still extend based on marriage to keep it going. Couple of years back I was working in Vietnam for the year. Again I still kept the extension of stay based on marriage going, even though I could do 30 days or tourist visas and pay less and was probably in Thailand no more than a few weeks in the year.
The other thing is events crop up so you may want a trip at short notice for whatever reason to whatever country, these can throw out the best laid plans.
If you can get the extension of stay based on retirement or marriage they're probably the easiest and simplest to stick to once you get used to them - 2 trips a year to immigration and sorted.
|
|
smokie36
Vigilante
Posts: 15,653
Likes: 9,059
|
Post by smokie36 on Nov 8, 2015 14:05:30 GMT 7
I just can't for the life of me understand how people can retire in Thailand fully aware of the rules yet not have at least 800k Baht tucked in a bank account that they never plan to touch.
I mean they are retiring....what did they do with 40 odd years cash they made during their working life???
My sympathy for those in this position is low....and its these same people who made no provision for healthcare costs or insurance....geez they should be living in granny flats in their own country eating Baxters soup and dribbling over their jerseys.
|
|
|
|
Post by rgs2001uk on Nov 8, 2015 14:41:49 GMT 7
I'm all for tightening the rules but if they are changing the tourist visa regulations then they seriously need to look at the retirement visa as well,it's a known fact that for a nominal fee and if over 50 you can obtain a one year extension of stay no problem. Couple that with the fact that the age of retirement in the west continues to increase its barely credible that lots of people living here long term can barely afford to do so,that is evident by the increasing numbers of homeless destitute foreigners. I am sure that will come in time.... I think the biggest thing they need to introduce with the retirement visa is mandatory medical insurance, in fact to be honest, they should introduce that across all visa and extension types, look at how many cases over the last 12 months of foreigners getting in accidents and ending up in hospital/ICU and not having any form of medical or accident insurance, its mandatory in a lot of countries for tourists and non legal residents. Concur, if you cant afford medical insurance you shouldnt be here. What I would suggest is, when applying for a visa, present a valid insurance policy, much the same was as in taxing the car, present your insurance policy, no insurance, no visa. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 16:40:25 GMT 7
I just can't for the life of me understand how people can retire in Thailand fully aware of the rules yet not have at least 800k Baht tucked in a bank account that they never plan to touch. I mean they are retiring....what did they do with 40 odd years cash they made during their working life??? My sympathy for those in this position is low....and its these same people who made no provision for healthcare costs or insurance....geez they should be living in granny flats in their own country eating Baxters soup and dribbling over their jerseys. The type of clowns that defraud the visa system then spend all day online moaning about illegals in their own country. Glass houses and all that. |
|
