Why is Thailand making it so difficult to retire

[RBOP]

I have worked and lived in Thailand 25 years. A few years ago was laid off and was relatively easy to get a retirement visa with my wife and child as my dependents. Got working again and was easy to get a work permit and visa again with a boi company. Now I'm retiring again but the hoops in the system now to jump through and is so onerous its ridiculous. <deleted> is going on with Thailand. Here's the list of documents CW immigration now requesting for me to retire and support my non-thai wife and our child:

 

1. All passports & visa pages (3 passports).

2. Marriage cert in both English & Thai translated (Kor Nor 2, Kor Nor 3 and Kor Nor 22). But we are married in a Thai Amphere so dont know why they need a KN22 and translations when already issued in Thai from Amphere). 

3. Child birth cert in both English & Thai translated (but our child born in Thailand and certificate already in Thai so don't know why they need it translated).

4. House registration book (in my case yellow book which has all our names in it. I'm the owner).

5. Four color photos of all of us inside and also standing outside the condo. Each photo in A4 size (4 full color pages)

6. Copy of 90 days report (all 3 of us).

7. Map to our condo in either English or Thai (you can print from google). I expect a visit coming.

8. Bank book (in my case fixed account showing 800K. Deposit 100 baht in the morning and update book before present to immigration.

9. Bank letter to confirm 800K baht deposited. 

10. Copy of TM.30 (new instruction...report residence by the house owner. As you're the owner, I have to check if you have to do or not.). My understanding not needed as we are all in my yellow book. We also have our pink cards and/or drivers licences.

11. Proof our child is in school (was suggest may need to bring to show officer). 

12. PND.21 to show I paid my taxes last year. There is another certificate suggested but can't remember its name offhand concerning taxes paid.

 

Now I hear talk about a TM28 requirement which you have to report before doing any travel if for more than 24 hours.  

 

So many hoops to jump through. I love Thailand. Warm climate, great food, and Thais generally very nice. When working all is good. When I want to retire things get difficult and Immigration make me feel unwelcome. What's up with this Thailand? Mai Chob.  

 

[fishtank]

Looks like you are appliying for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement and your wife and child are applying for the same extension based on being your wife and child.

 

800,000 Baht will need to be in your bank for 2 months before application.

800,000 will have to stay there for 3 months after application.

You then have to leave 400,000 in the bank for the remainder of the period until you top up to 800,000 for next time.

 

Edited July 23, 2019 by fishtank

[Isaanbiker]

OP, you're damn right with your post. Especially, when you've been here for so long, paid taxes, bought a house, cars and motorcycles and spent a hell lot of money.

 

  The reason for might be that we're not really wanted, but our money is.

 

 I've been here for 17 years and on the job since 2005. In 2005, I signed in a book the next day, nobody had a problem when teachers left earlier.

 

These days, I have to visit the face scanner twice a day, just got my  Criminal Background Check certificate back with my fingerprints on.

 

In addition, all has gotten way more expensive, almost everything is more complicated and local people do not seem to like us, of course with exceptions. 

 

I hope that you've got a good plan for your retirement. I don't have one.

 

In reality, it looks like I've got to keep working and I'll look at a pretty low pension in six years.

 

But will I still be able to work in six years? Only Buddha knows. I hope that you've got all sorted and you've got the mental strength to continue life as you do now.

 

  Pretty soon, I'll have to chose what's more important. Working a few more years back at the place where I came from, without a job, car, motorcycle, house, money and family.

 

Or just keeping eyes closed and continue what I'm doing right now? I just don't know, to be honest.

 

Listen to your inner voice, I wish I had the right solution. Best of luck for you guys!  

 

 

 

   

 

 

[JimmyTheMook]

Ain't nobody forcing you to stay.

 

 

[from the home of CC]

a couple hours of paperwork once a year, what's your point?

[Felt 35]

Why is Thailand making it so difficult to retire

 

There are five years well planned drilled and political motives behind and now the seeds begin to flourish. That said, I think most people here know (at least if trying to admit the fact) what/who they follow and for some the Superpowers will always be doing everything right until of course a new man steering at the helm with opposite visions.

 

[scubascuba3]

Funny thing is i was at an agent yesterday and the process is simple and pragmatic, it shows that immigration can be pragmatic if they want to but they don't if you go the legit way

[buick]

part of the 'difficulty' here is that you are really doing 3 extensions so some extra stuff that isn't required for the typical extension based on retirement.

 

i'm not sure what bank you use but i use bangkok bank.  when i did my extension this year, i used the branch at CW for the bank letter (#9 on your list).  they updated my bank book.  no need for the deposit 100thb and then take it out that you mention in #8.  i assume your bank has a branch at CW and you can do the same.  maybe not but give it a try. 

 

 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Funny thing is i was at an agent yesterday and the process is simple and pragmatic, it shows that immigration can be pragmatic if they want to but they don't if you go the legit way

25k gets you an easy retirement VISA.

[wilailuk]

2 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

OP, you're damn right with your post. Especially, when you've been here for so long, paid taxes, bought a house, cars and motorcycles and spent a hell lot of money.

 

  The reason for might be that we're not really wanted, but our money is.

 

 I've been here for 17 years and on the job since 2005. In 2005, I signed in a book the next day, nobody had a problem when teachers left earlier.

 

These days, I have to visit the face scanner twice a day, just got my  Criminal Background Check certificate back with my fingerprints on.

 

In addition, all has gotten way more expensive, almost everything is more complicated and local people do not seem to like us, of course with exceptions. 

 

I hope that you've got a good plan for your retirement. I don't have one.

 

In reality, it looks like I've got to keep working and I'll look at a pretty low pension in six years.

 

But will I still be able to work in six years? Only Buddha knows. I hope that you've got all sorted and you've got the mental strength to continue life as you do now.

 

  Pretty soon, I'll have to chose what's more important. Working a few more years back at the place where I came from, without a job, car, motorcycle, house, money and family.

 

Or just keeping eyes closed and continue what I'm doing right now? I just don't know, to be honest.

 

Listen to your inner voice, I wish I had the right solution. Best of luck for you guys!  

 

 

 

   

 

 

How any farang from velfunctioning western countries choose to work in LOS as a teacher, or in other lowpaying jobs, is totally beyond me, I don´t understand it!

 

It should be the other way around: Work at good paying jobs offshore, at sea, fishing boat (Alaska crab fishing) etc. etc. - and when you have a s..tload of dough, THEN move here, much, much better..

 

To use your best working years like that, is just plain stupid, and I don´t accept any crying and whining, when people have chosen like that, som nam naa..

 

 

 

[Presnock]

My wife is the owner of the house and when I do a long stay extension each year I have to have a copy of her blue book plus a copy of her Thai ID card plus a TM 30 for her.  So, I figure you too must have a TM30 for yourself and for your wife.  This is for C/M immigration at least.   Good luck!

 

[scubascuba3]

25k gets you an easy retirement VISA.

Yeah 21,000 baht for 18 months Non imm o plus year extension using an agent. Following year its 12,500. Painless if you go through an agent

[dcnx]

2 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

Listen to your inner voice

Unless someone is in denial of the situation, we all know what our inner voice is saying. 

 

Foreigners have always been tolerated here and never really welcomed. 

 

Thailand has been and always will be xenophobic.

 

The problem is too many of you think there is a difference between “good guys” and “bad guys.” To xenophobic people, we’re all the same, that’s the problem with xenophobia. You’re all just as bad as a beg packing freeloader or an African drug dealer. A foreigner is a foreigner. 

 

Of course this isn’t an issue with all Thais, most of them are really nice and friendly people but it’s clearly an issue with the Thais who are currently running the country, and those are the ones who decide if we stay or go and now difficult our life will be here.

 

The dust is still settling from the “election” but I would plan on it getting a lot worse as the military gets comfortable in their new elected position. These are the dinosaurs who dislike us.

[marcusarelus]

6 minutes ago, dcnx said:

Unless someone is in denial of the situation, we all know what our inner voice is saying. 

 

Foreigners have always been tolerated here and never really welcomed. 

 

Thailand has been and always will be xenophobic.

 

To be fair do you know another Asian country that is less xenophobic than Thailand.  I only speak from experience but Korea and Japan are 10 times more xenophobic than Thailand.  

[dbrenn]

2 hours ago, JimmyTheMook said:

Ain't nobody forcing you to stay.

 

 

That sums it up. 

 

It's harsh, but you should never make plans that extend beyond the visa expiry date that is stamped in your passport. To do otherwise is running the risk of disappointment if the rules change, as they do.

 

Doesn't only apply to Thailand either, unfortunately. 

[RBOP]

3 hours ago, fishtank said:

Looks like you are appliying for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement and your wife and child are applying for the same extension based on being your wife and child.

 

800,000 Baht will need to be in your bank for 2 months before application.

800,000 will have to stay there for 3 months after application.

You then have to leave 400,000 in the bank for the remainder of the period until you top up to 800,000 for next time.

 

Yep. But I just leave the 800K alone collecting 1.625% interest then file for a tax refund to get back the 15% withholding tax. The girls at the Revenue department are actually very helpful and fill out the forms for me. 

[TaoNow]

It's not clear whether OP's wife and child are Thais. 

 

If so, then the obvious solution to his woes is the retirement extension, which is not so onerous if you have the 800K to sock away.

[RBOP]

3 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Honestly man... you should have applied for PR many years ago, and then Thai nationality and all of this would go away.

 

Too late now.

No honestly, I have never had any interest in becoming Thai, absolutely not. I don't think its even possible to become Thai unless your a refugee or get adopted. I do know chap who did the adopted route 40 years ago.  I'll ask my friend who has a PR what hoops he has to jump through. 

[moe666]

49 minutes ago, wilailuk said:

How any farang from velfunctioning western countries choose to work in LOS as a teacher, or in other lowpaying jobs, is totally beyond me, I don´t understand it!

 

It should be the other way around: Work at good paying jobs offshore, at sea, fishing boat (Alaska crab fishing) etc. etc. - and when you have a s..tload of dough, THEN move here, much, much better..

 

To use your best working years like that, is just plain stupid, and I don´t accept any crying and whining, when people have chosen like that, som nam naa..

 

 

 

Believe it or not not ever teaching job in Thailand is not crap. A job in a good international school will net you 5,000 us dollars and up a month. But you have to do your home work to figure out how the system works

Edited July 23, 2019 by moe666

[worgeordie]

It seems some people are making their own problems,

this year is the quickest i have ever done a retirement

extension,the first thing is to make sure you have all your

paperwork in order.

I was at the bank waiting for it to open at 10.00,updated

the bankbook,and had the bank copy ,chop and sign it,

drove to immigration (Chiang Mai),its approx 10.45,get

queue ticket,processed and out the door a little after 

11.30, this is Chiang Mai,where before I have been in the

queue at Promenade at 4.00 in the morning .

 

 

So I visit Immigration once a year, 90 day reports I did

online,5 mins, have new passport now and have not 

been out the country with it ,so cannot do online,but

do it by mail,returned in a few days.  

 

There's an enough information on TV detailing what you

need to take and most of it is just photocopying,if you

don't have a TM30 get one,your landlord or wife have

to do it ,if your immigration office says you don't need 

one get it anyway,new officer's come they might want it,

and it's a 1,600 THB fine if you don't have it.

regards Worgeordie

 

[kiwiaussie]

28 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Honestly man... you should have applied for PR many years ago, and then Thai nationality and all of this would go away.

 

Too late now.

This.

 

People not bothered to research how relatively easy it is to get either of these, particularly if you are working and married.

 

Instead they rely on bar stool talk on it being neigh impossible, which is just cr@p.

[jesimps]

17 hours ago, JimmyTheMook said:

Ain't nobody forcing you to stay.

 

 

There's always one.

 

[Henryford]

Because they don't want you here

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, RBOP said:

Yep. But I just leave the 800K alone collecting 1.625% interest then file for a tax refund to get back the 15% withholding tax. The girls at the Revenue department are actually very helpful and fill out the forms for me. 

Yes mine too was done by a nice lady, after the initially frustrating efforts of getting the tax ID in the first place. Then after being messed about by the bank, before finding a helpful person at another branch. Better get some chocs for next year.

[Fex Bluse]

They don't want farang retiring here. Simple. 

 

The Thai elites have been waiting for decades for the opportunity to rid Thailand of non rich foreign pensioners. 

 

They believe their opportunity has come with the arrival of the Chinese middle and upper classes. 

 

They will happily and quickly replace farang with their Chinese cousins. 

 

If you goto immigration, you will see plenty of Chinese. If you watch for who is buying Thai real estate, you will likewise see many Chinese. 

[eggers]

In process of prepping for application for Visa extension via an Immigration Agent.

Had Retirement Visa for 9 yrs & was relatively easy to use "income requirement" by producing letter from my Accountant backed up w/ Stat Dec witnessed @ Embassy. Not any more! 

I usually transfer funds to acc every 2 -3 mths, Nup!! Must transfer min 65k Bht every mth!!

Plus, need PROOF of deposit to Thai Bank account; statement insufficient, Bank Book insufficient, want "info" ( whatever that may be!!) stamped by Bank!! Tried to explain the Transfers are done 'electronically'; no paper chase!!

It's a bureaucratic nightmare... They love paper!!  Next time @ Immi office, take a look @ Immi Officers desks, piled high w/ files!!

[onera1961]

18 hours ago, fishtank said:

Looks like you are appliying for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement and your wife and child are applying for the same extension based on being your wife and child.

 

800,000 Baht will need to be in your bank for 2 months before application.

800,000 will have to stay there for 3 months after application.

You then have to leave 400,000 in the bank for the remainder of the period until you top up to 800,000 for next time.

Such a ridiculous post. I don't think OP wants t know the requirement. He is venting is anger in the only place where he could. 

[RBOP]

17 hours ago, JimmyTheMook said:

Ain't nobody forcing you to stay.

 

 

Ain't nobody forging you to stay. 

[onera1961]

15 hours ago, dcnx said:

African drug dealer.

Why an African street peddler is bad? He is not forcing anybody to buy his stuff. And where is he getting his stuff from? He is trying to survive with the skills he has. And most Thais don't buy from African street peddlers. They buy from Thai street peddlers. 

[RBOP]

40 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Because they don't want you here

And I get a big hassle from bank when want to transfer money out but depends on the branch and person behind the counter. Last year when paying for overseas purchased health insurance (because local insurance is poor value for the cost) the counter girl wanted my work permit. Another year didn't need it. Lets see what they need this year.