Skipper asked:


Ok, this question is for those of you who have recently resided in the US, then went to live in Thailand with a Retirement Visa. Please don’t respond with “go to this web site” or “check out this blog site” etc. Been there- done that. The info at those sites is as clear as mud. I have even tried telephoning the Thai consulate in LA only to get into one recorded loop after another. I am frustrated. I want to avoid the expense of a visa service company.

I currently live in the US and want to get a Thai Retirement visa. The primary hang-up is with the bank statement. The requirement is that I would need to have money on deposit in a Thai passbook account. Since I can’t do that from here (open a bank account in Thailand), it seems that the only option open to me is to apply for a non-immigrant type “O” 90 day visa…and then, when I am in Thailand, apply for a Retirement visa while I’m there.

So, is this a viable strategy? Do you have a better suggestion? Please tell me how YOU did it.

Thanks in advance!

How to retire in Thailand

Skipper asked:

Ok, I have hit another wall in the retirement visa application process regarding the “letter of gaurantee” from a bank.
In my case, I can prove that I have adequate money in a US bank. I can do this with a bank statemet. But a “letter of gaurantee” is also required. I use three different banks, and none of them knows what this “letter of gaurantee” is.
I have tried to call the Thai consulates, but can’t get to a live person to talk to.
Any ideas how to get this letter?

Here is what they want, quoting from the Thai Consulate website:
- In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank (an original copy) is required

Here is the URL to the Thai consulate site. If you scroll down to the area highlted as Required Documents you will see the statement:

http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/Non-Imglong.aspx

Retire in Thailand

Skipper asked:


Ok, here I go again…
I am now ready to apply for a retirement visa to Thailand. My intent is to go there in Sept 2010 and retire in Thailand. What I want is a multiple-entry retirement visa. Does such a thing exist? I am being told that you can only get single-entry retirement visa’s BECAUSE if you get a multiple-entry retirement visa you WILL have to make 90-day border runs. I would rather have a multiple-entry retirement visa in the event I should want to return to the US for a month or so, or, to take a trip to Laos, or Cambodia, or…..
I have been to all of the online sites and find that the process is not standardized. I am on the verge of hiring one of the legal services available online, even though friends say not to because it’s a waste of money. “You can do it yourself,” they say. They mean well. But I must be too dense, to stubborn, to confused… I don’t know how to get the retirement visa I want. I don’t know which of the many consulates to use…yada yada yada.
If your answer is right-on then I will come to your city in Thailand and we’ll go out drinking – my treat!

How to retire in Thailand

Skipper asked:


In my continuing effort to acquire a Thai Retirement Visa (O-A visa) I will have to deposit money into a Thai bank. My intention is to just park this money in a bank and not touch it, so that it will always be there when I need to document that I have it. The only reason I would touch it is if I am going to leave the country. What do you think is the best bank and best and safest type of account for me? I’m not concerned about earning interest on this money. I am a simpleton at heart, so simpler is better.

Retiring in Thailand

gkutzgar asked:

Need a retirement visa before I leave in a week for Thailand. I wrote twice to Washington DC Legation, but no answer. I think I can get a 30 or 60 day visa when I land in Bangkok, but can I get a one year visa or retirement visa in Bangkok?

Retirement in Thailand