Retirement renewal or swap to an "O"?

[lowprofile]

I've been living in Thailand on a retirement visa for the last 4 or 5 years and am now wondering if I should switch to an "O" visa, issued in The UK, instead.

I'm spending less time in Thailand, touring around other countries much more now, so maybe 7 months per year here, 4 months in Europe and 1 month elsewhere.

The new retirement renewal rules have changed again: 800,000 deposited  2 months before renewal and can't be touched for 3 months after, with the total not dipping under 400,000 for the remainder of the validity. With most of my big bills coming in around that first 3 month period I would probably need to bring in an extra 200,000 to cover expenses. I have the finances to cover all of this, but it pains me to keep money locked away in a Thai bank like this.

An "O" type multi entry visa issued, by post, in The UK when I am there would be valid for 1 year - but with a maximum of 90 days for each entry. I could also get an extra 90 days out of it if I were to re-enter a day before it expires.

The initial downside of this visa is that I need a medical certificate and a police clearance certificate - a minor hassle, I suppose. The money requirement is only 10,000 Pounds in a UK bank.

I have a vehicle and driving licences to keep up.

SO:

I'd be grateful if someone with a wise head could, perhaps, offer some plus / minus points to switching to the "O" multi visa so I can make a sensible, level headed decision I won't live to regret ("you have a retirement, why switch? You never know when the rules are going to change for the worse" type of thing).

 

Oh, and could the trolls please hold their tongues.

 

Cheers

LP

 

[elviajero]

If you’re actually retired and in receipt of state pension you should be able to get a ME ‘O’ visa, otherwise you won’t. It’s easy to get without a medical, money in the bank etc. You just need proof of your pension.

 

The alternative would be a ME ‘O-A’ visa. This is the one that requires “10,000” in the bank, etc.

 

The ‘O-A’ would be the better choice if you can meet the extra criteria, because you get permission to stay for 1 year every time you enter and that would cover a 7 month stay.

 

If you go for the ‘O’ visa you can only stay a maximum of 90 days, so you’d need to do visa runs.

 

 

[lowprofile]

I don't have a recognised pension but I do have an income from letting some property - this amount varies momth by month, though, I also keep a decent float of money in the bank, too.

The "O" visa is 10k in the bank. Visa runs wouldn't be a problem, great excuse for a bike trip ????

I could go for the O-A option as I have sufficient funds in a UK bank to cover the requirements - 800k, not 10k as you say. Looks like you need 3 copies of the application for that one though!

[Nyezhov]

Im going to let me retirement extension expire and use SETVs, extensions and a visa run for a 5-6 month stay