Thread: Government approves 10 year visas for foreigners over age 50

Originally Posted by cyrille

Well you get a degree of long term peace of mind obviously.
The 'only' difference of doing something once every five years instead of once every year is significant, no?
But who wants to put 3m in a Thai bank account?

I wouldn't since I, along with others, make more than 100,000 baht per month which negates the 3M in the bank requirement.

It is the health insurance part which will screw most older expats.

Agree with that since I already pay for Medicare and Medigap insurance. I wonder if they would accept out of country health insurance coverage as fulfilling the requirement.

Originally Posted by wasabi

The Thai government could offer Me Citizenship and I still wouldn't live there.

And we're all grateful for that.

I'm still trying to find any great advantage to this new arrangement. Apart from the elimination of an annual visit to the immigration office with a wad of papers.....what else is there? We have to visit the Immigration office every 90 days anyway. It actually costs more....has much higher financial qualification requirements and demands proof of medical insurance. with outpatient coverage....which makes the medical insurance much more costly and really not necessary at all for those that can meet the basic financial requirements in the first place.

I personally meet all the requirements except for the OAP which could be added at a cost of about 18K-20K a year.....but then it looks like I have to go back home and apply from there through the local Thai embassy.....another big expense I don't need.

This new option seems to be aimed at new first time long stay Visa applicants and not at those already in the system on the annual extension deal. If I were in that situation I'd probably go for it, but right now I'll just stay on the annual extension... and simply tolerate the inconvenience of a ten minute drive to the local immigration office.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Somchai, up the road, ain't supporting his farang wife and son. She works as a school teacher and supports him. For him a match made in heaven. For her a job til she dies

Well, I know a TON of thai women married to foreigners here who don't work. Instead they sit on the sofa, munchin' somtam, watchin' thai soap operas and berating the burmese house-keeper. So in that regard Somchai is no different.

Originally Posted by Warwick

I believe that it is the case that foreign women married to Thai men can apply and be accepted for Thai citizenship without problems.

Foreign women married to thais do NOT get citizenship "without problems" as they still have to follow the scoring system and meet the minimum points needed.

The only thing is, after they have been on unbroken extensions of stays and married for the requisite time they can go straight for citizenship and don't have to get P/R status first. Then again foreign males who are married to thai women AND legally working here making the minimum income threshold based on nationality for the requisite amount of time can go straight for citizenship too.

As has been pointed out this new "thai wonder visa" is indeed a very poor copy of the Malaysian program. Let's wait to see what actually happens, because it's gonna take the cooperation of several different government agencies (some who don't get along that well).

I see it aimed at the very wealthy ,who think having a 10 year visa gives them some security before they shell out 30++ million for a home that they wont be kicked out

Originally Posted by Phuketrichard

who think having a 10 year visa gives them some security

Personally the words "Thailand" and "security" don't seem to resonate.

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Originally Posted by Storekeeper

Originally Posted by Luigi

They must also have health insurance that covers hospital stays and provides at least USD$10,000 in annual coverage

Interesting. Wonder what needs to be presented to prove this?

Just guessing, but maybe an insurance certificate translated into Thai.

How the Thai officials can prove it's genuine is another story.

Only applies to Texpat and I for people in this forum but I'm thinking we would have to get a letter from the TRICARE ladies in JUSMAGTHAI.

Just been thinking about this damn visa stupidity.
Nobody will go for it because you have to keep
3m baht in the bank for 1 year thereafter 1.5m for
the next 4 years. Further to that if you take 1.5m out
after the first year it has to be spent on certain conditions.
Of course to get a five year visa your passport will need to
have in excess of 5 years validity, more expense perhaps!!!
The visa is designed for retirees so people will be dying
while on this visa, so their bank accounts will have in excess
of 1.5m baht. The will executor/heirs will have to come here hire
a lawyer and go to court with the will, the death certificate and no
doubt proof that the visa was issued and so on. All of that will
cost a lot of money in itself, airfares, lawyer, accommodation
and food and for how long.
The medical insurance wont be a big deterrent, I’m sure the local
hospital groups will have a special “retirement visa” package,
actually that might be a good thing in many ways.
So having said all of that, to make this thing viable it will have to be
the only way to stay here longer than say 3 months at a time.
Looks like it is a “copy” of the Malaysian system “Malaysia my
2nd Home”, there you need 300,000 ringgit in the bank, with special
conditions on spending it. That seems to be the only way to stay
long term in Malaysia.
Lets hope they leave things as they are, maybe tighten up the money
requirements, 400,000 or 800,000 for the 3 month deposit, maybe by
making a cd you need to buy and can only cash in after 3 months, that
should cut out the shonky firms doing the dirty, getting visas without
actually having money in the bank.

Originally Posted by blodger

The visa is designed for retirees so people will be dying
while on this visa, so their bank accounts will have in excess
of 1.5m baht. The will executor/heirs will have to come here hire
a lawyer and go to court with the will, the death certificate and no
doubt proof that the visa was issued and so on. All of that will
cost a lot of money in itself, airfares, lawyer, accommodation
and food and for how long.

This.

Does anyone know if there is a way to avoid a trip to court for the spouse of the deceased?

Why will there be a need to go to court?

^
Completely different retirement visa than what is being discussed above.

S Landreth, sorry gonna hafta call B/S on your assumptions about how this new 10 year wonder visa will work.

No one knows yet, and there is NO information on any thai consulate or embassies website that really hashes it out.

The reason for that is it's just an "approved" plan, it's not even thought out fully yet. There are several gov't agencies that hafta buy off on and have a part in this NOT just the Ministry of Foreign Affairs <- which is the gov't agency that controls the sale of visas for thailand at the thai consulates and embassies.

I will agree that this will be a variation of the visa types that have the letter "A" after their designation, BUT it's way too early to know exactly how this is gonna work.

I'm pretty sure it ain't gonna follow the criteria you need to get the year long O-A visa. That you don't need to bank the 800K here to pull an O-A visa from the US, is neither here nor there. This 5 year O-A seems to have the stipulation that you DO bank 3 million baht in a thai bank.

It's way to early to know how this is really gonna work OR if in fact it ever gets implemented

I will be socializing with the Thai Honorary Consul for south Oz on Monday evening. Are there any specific questions members would like me to table?

She is very good and knows her stuff!

Ok - Will do

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

^
Problem is she probably knows her stuff and can quote regulations, but those regulations get interpreted different ways by different immigration officers or offices in Thailand.

Actually, that's not quite true. That thai honorary consular official probably doesn't know shit from Shinola about how the visa and extension process works inside the country.

She works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs <- the people who SELL visas outside the country at thai consulates. She doesn't work for the Immigration Division of the Royal Thai Police <- the people who sell visas and extensions of stays inside the country.

The rules governing the issuing of visas and extensions of stays inside the country have nothing at all to do with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Iceman123; you might ask her what she knows about the new 10 year wonder visa, and if in any way it's going to affect the availability of other visa types
BUT
don't "feed" her any of the information you know about it. Instead see what she actually knows. I've found (over the years dealing with thai gov't bureaucracy) if you feed them the answers they'll agree with you even if it's wrong.

Good Luck... report back if you can..

Originally Posted by toddaniels

don't "feed" her any of the information you know about it. Instead see what she actually knows. I've found (over the years dealing with thai gov't bureaucracy) if you feed them the answers they'll agree with you even if it's wrong.

Yes no problem she is caucasian, smart, and very easy to talk to.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

It's way to early to know how this is really gonna work OR if in fact it ever gets implemented

We’ll see when it’s written out (they have a workable template now). But for now (little information for others),……

Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand

3. Channels to submit application

Applicant may submit their application at the Royal Thai embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in their home/residence country or at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand located on Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel 0-2141-9889.

5. Recommendations for foreigners with Non-Immigrant Visa “O-A” (Long Stay) while staying in the Kingdom

5.4 Foreigner who wishes to extend his or her stay shall submit a request for extension of stay at the Office of the Immigration Bureau with documented evidence of money transfer or a deposit account in Thailand or an income certificate showing an amount of not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate plus a deposit account showing a total amount of not less than 800,000 Baht. A one-year extension of stay shall be granted at the discretion of the immigration officer to the foreigner as long as he or she meets the above requirements.

When not in Thailand,…….

Originally Posted by S Landreth

Originally Posted by cyrille

But who wants to put 3m in a Thai bank account?

If it’s written as what’s on the Thai Embassy website in Washington DC you will not have to have that 3 million in a Thai bank account.

6. Bank statement or evidence of adequate finance showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank (an original copy) is required.

Or,.....

Royal Thai Consulate - General Los Angeles


5. Four copies of:
- applicant's bank statement (U.S.) showing a balance in the amount of not less than 800,000 Baht (current Thai exchange rate is available from the Bank of Thailand web site)

Pretty much discount the responses by S Landreth because they're talking about a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa (that you get from a thai consulate in your country before you wash up here),
OR
They're talkin' about a yearly extension of stay (that you get at the immigration office for 1900baht).

Neither of those things is falling by the wayside with then implementation of this new 10 year multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-X visa on August 11th..

Here's the news blurb about it:
First proposed in November 2016 as a way to promote Thailand as a medical and wellness hub, Thaivisa understands the 10 year visa was this week formally approved by the Prime Minister.
The new Non O X visa will be available to anyone who is over 50 years of age and from one of the 14 countries listed below.
Applicants will need to have a minimum 3 million baht in a Thai bank account, or a combination of 1.8 million baht in the bank and income not less than 1.2 million baht.
The 3 million baht must be kept in the bank as a deposit for a period of one year but can be reduced to 1.5 million under certain conditions.
Criminal background checks are required on all applicants, who must also have valid medical insurance from a Thai insurance company for the duration of the visa.
Foreigners are not permitted to work while staying in Thailand on the visa and 90 day reports are still required.
The visa will cost 10,000 baht and will be valid for 5 years, before being renewed for a further 5 years.
The new Non O X visa will be available from 11 August, with an official announcement expected imminently.
The Non O X visa does not replace the current annual retirement extension.
Thailand 10 year visa in brief:
– Over 50s only
– 14 nationalities eligible: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada and United States of America.
– Minimum 3 million baht in Thai bank account
– or combination of 1. 8 million in the bank and income not less than 1.2 million
– 3 million baht must be kept in account for one year, can be reduced to 1.5 million under certain conditions
– Criminal background check from country you hold passport
– Health insurance provided by Thai company, Outpatient coverage minimum 40,000 baht, Inpatient coverage not less than 100,000 thousand baht
– Not permitted to work
– Unlimited entry valid for 5 years
– Fee is 10,000 baht
– 90 day report still required.
– Visa issued in two 5 year periods

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

^
What about New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Greece, South America and the umpteen other countries not mentioned?

Don't believe I saw "riff raff" mentioned.

doesn't seem like its going over to well or anyone will sign up to me...

Ten-year retirement visa doesn?t stand up to scrutiny

Barry Kenyon, the person who wrote that op-ed piece is more than a little misinformed on how easy it is to get a police background check in the US. You can get them from your local police station without a lot of fan fare..

The other points are pretty accurate. I did read in the thai version of it, that the criteria where you can take some of the 3 million baht out after a year was ONLY in the instance of buying a condo..

Let's see what other hare-brain stuff they come up with as far as this 10 year wonder visa..