UK Police report for retirement visa

[Pagey]

Has anyone recently applied for a report from the UK to confirm they do not have a criminal record to substantiate their retirement visa ?

I wondered how easy it is to obtain and how long it takes as I will not be visiting a police station in person. Their application form states they must reply in 40 days and it needs to be less than 3 months old when I apply for the visa.

[littlebird]

You don't need one

[Pagey]

Littlebird : I have application form from the Thai Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a O-A visa and amongst the list of documents required it states 'Verification stating that the applicant has no criminal record issued from the country of his nationality or residence which shall be valid for no more than 3 months'

Is it different rules if you first obtain a 90 day visa and then convert to retirement visa when already in Thailand? I was hoping to enter with my retirement visa straight away.

[Nereus]

This is Lumos job!

It may well be semantics, but there is no such animal as a "retirement visa".

Yes, Pagey, there is a difference. With 0-A you basically have to prove your case with different requirements before you arrive in Thailand, the advantage being that you will get 12 months on arrival if you have one.

With a plain non immigrant "O" visa it can be either multiple entry or single, you get 90 days, after which time you have to either exit, or apply for an extension based on retirement. You will then only have to prove either 800k Baht in a Thai Bank, OR, 65k Baht / month, or a combination of the two that equals 800k. For the first extension the 800k has to be in the Bank for a minimum of 60 days, the next year 90 days.

I am sure Lumo will be along with his good advice soon, but that may help you for now.

[lomuamart]

Nothing really to add except that Nereus has is right. The OA visa - commonly called a retirement visa - does require the police report and health report. There is no such requirement for annual extensions based on retirement obtained within Thailand.
One word of caution though, Pagey, I'm pretty sure that you have to apply for the OA visa at the Embassy in your home country. So, if you're a Brit, Riyadh may well not issue one to you. You'll have to get it from the London Embassy. Viz section 1.4 here:
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493
Maybe you are Saudi or have residence there?

[STEVE G]

If you do need to get a criminal record check, working in aviation I often need them to get airport passes and we always use this Scottish site:
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/apply/

It's a UK record check so it doesn't matter that you're not in Scotland, they just happen to be able to produce one much quicker.
If you have a UK address they can do it in a few days for 25 pounds just by applying online and e-mailing them copies of supporting documents.

[kendo]

Hi Pagey Steve beat me too it, I was just going to recommend Disclosure Scotland basic disclosure £25.00 and you will get this back within 10 days I have one for my courier work airports etc.

Kendo.

[Pagey]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Lomu : Not Saudi or have residence here, I live on a compound provided by my company. I asked a Brit who worked here and left a couple of years ago to buy James Dean bar & GH in Phuket if any of you are familiar with Phuket. Now renamed Sundowners after the bar he ran on our compound here. He got his from the Brit embassy here although he said it was a lot of hassle entailing several trips to the embassy and fees although he is over 60 and had company pension and naval pension to have confirmed by them which I do not require. Not checked your link yet cos nearly bedtime but the Brit embassy here does have all the forms and details of how to apply and documention required. He also got a Saudi Broker to get his police clearance from here as it can be from your country of birth or the country where you apply for your visa. But again he had hassles to obtain prompting him to write to the Brokers Manager thanking him for his efforts so I would rather obtain myself. Our own medical centre provided the health letter which I will check I can obtain also.

Steve/Kendo : I will look into that also. I have not had a UK address for 6 or 7 years though.....................I have the police form from the UK which has a fee of just 10 GBP and I have to provide confirmation of my address here plus all my UK addresses.......................

Just looking at all my options in advance........................

Thanks all

[kendo]

I think all non serious offences after 5 years are considered spent and will not show on a disclosure anyway Google convictions and have a read mate.
Kendo.

[littlebird]

Pagey - you could be right, I came here 4 years ago with a 90 day originally. I then obtained an OA visa when I was here so maybe that is why I was never asked for a police reporh

[chaspul]

Hi Pagey

My Wife and I "retired" after living in Saudi for 13 years, I worked for BAE Systems. Got a 12 month OA visa from the Thai embassy in Riyadh.

Used the company broker to take us both to a police station where fingerprints were taken, women are digital , men are still in ink, a week later you have a police report, which the company translated.

You will need cetified copy of you passport from the UK embassy, which will cost you and takes a couple of days.

Copy of all UK bank accounts, but backed up with a (sort of non commital, due to exchange rates) letter from the bank was sufficient, to show you have enough funds.

Medical again, no problem, print the form with the requirements and take it to the company doctor.

Did not use the visa for a few months bur still managed to stretch it by 12 months by doing a Ranong run.

We did everything in Saudi and like us you could have a 12 month OA visa + 12 month further permission to stay stamp after doing a border run.

Lots of paperwork and you may need a couple of days "holiday" in Riyadh but the actual visit to the Thai embassy only took about 30 mins, its situated just behind the UK embassy on the DQ, email me if you feel that I can help further.

Best of Luck on the visa
Chas

[hhfarang]

Too bad they don't do this criminal background check for all visas entering Thailand... would make it a much nicer place to live for the rest of us.

[Pagey]

Kendo : So you think I was a bad lad 5 years ago but a reformed character now - is that the impression you got.

Chas: Thanks for the input, I am with BAE in Riyadh. I do remember someone moving to HH about 3 years ago but he wasn't called 'Chas' but maybe you anyway ? I don't think my UK bank accounts will mean jot as I am not on any pension and have no regular income which will be paid in LOS. I will have the 800,000 in my Thai bank and a certified letter from them also for the financial side of things. I will see Support Services in that case about the broker and try here instead of UK.

[lomuamart]

Pagey,
The 800k dosn't have to be in a Thai bank account for an OA visa. It can be anywhere as long as you've got access to it when in Thailand - say through ATMs.
It only needs to be in Thailand for annual extensions based on retirement.
EDIT If you're going to transfer the money to Thailand anyway, so much the better, but it dosn't need to be here.

[Pagey]

Lomu : I always thought it had to be in a Thailand bank but reading the requirements from the Saudi Embassy it does state an amount equal to 800,000 etc. with a guarantee letter from the bank.
But you are saying when I need an extension after 1 year it will need to be in a Thai account.
I normally would not have transferred so much to a Thai account if it is not making any interest but Kasikorn are currently doing a step up fixed term account for 16 months which equates to around 3.4% p.a. so if they are still doing that in a few months I will put the money in there. Providing of course immigration accept a fixed deposit account...............