Retirement Visa or Visa Based on Marriage?

[Big Boy]

I retire in 243 days time (not that I'm counting), and intend uping sticks and taking residence in the Hua Hin/Cha-Am area soon after.

I've been reading this forum for years now, and must admit that I've never picked up on the fundamental differences between a Retirement extension or an extension based on Marriage to a Thai. The only difference I've ever really picked up on is the difference in income requirements. My pension will easily cover either requirement.

I'd be grateful if somebody could please run through the pros and cons of both visa extension types, and would appreciate recommendations on which route to take.

[Spitfire]

The retirement visa I'll leave to those who have one, but the Non O (marriage visa as it's called sometimes) is good because it doesn't get screwed around with much, rules/requirements stay the same most of the time so you know where you stand with it without checking up on the latest immigration info all the time. Also, not 100% sure though, that with a Non O you don't have to leave quite so much in the bank doing sweet FA for months. Isn't it only 400k instead of 800k with the OA?

Maybe it's changed.

Also I would guess that the paperwork is less anal with a Non O than a OA.

Would need someone like Lomuamart to confirm but I reckon those are the main advantages to a Non O, plus it's (Non O single entry) more widely available in more places. If you intend to extend anyway then I suppose it's a case of whichever you feel is easy/more mind-resting to have as both will ultimately give you a year's stay here.

I don't see any cons of the Non O really if you are going to extend apart from you've only got 2 months really to get your act together to extend in time, especially when you compare it to most of the rest of the visas available

Sure someone will come on and give the pros of having an OA sometime.

[lomuamart]

BB's talking about annual extensions, not visas.
Both the retirement and marriage extensions can be got off the back of a Non O visa. In terms of what you actually get - a year's stay here - there's no difference. However, what you need to supply to get either does vary.
The finacial requirements are different - 800K savings in Thai bank account or min 65K income, or combination of the two as long as the total is over 800K a year are required for retirement. 400K or 40K a month required for marriage - no combination allowed with this one.
With retirement, you just need yourself, your passport, the relevant pages photocopied, a passport photo, the relevant form filled in and proof of your income (evidenced by a letter from the Brit Emb in BKK. They require original prrof of income, say by pension letter or bank statements). 1,900 THB fee, proof of address and that's it. You can walk out of Imm after 15 mins or so with your extension.
Basically, the same goes for the marriage extension but your wife will have to attend and be subject to an interview, Imm may visit your address to ascertain that you're actually living together - in your absence they'll quiz neighbours. Your marriage certificate. Photos of the two of you from outside your house (showing house address) and inside showing clothes together - that sort of thing. Currently Imm don't ask for a shot of the two of you in bed together!! Basically, more paperwork and interviews.
The other big difference is that you won't get your extension there and then. All marriage extensions have to be approved by BKK so local offices only collect the paperwork and process the application. You'll get a 30 day "under consideration" stamp and on the appointed day you go back to Imm to see if you've been successful. If so, your extension is entered and will be valid from a month before.
As the marriage extension involves Imm in a lot more work, they'll push you towards the retirement extension if you qualify for both. Believe me, I've been there. It's also really a lot more easy for you as well as less flaffing about and you get the extension there and then.
If, in the future, for whatever reason, you want to revert to the marriage extension (say exchange rates go against you and you can't make the 65K a month) there's nothing to stop you going for the marriage option.
My advice would be to go for retirement. You'll keep local Imm happy and it'll be easier for you.
Just to clarify again, both extensions can be obtained from a Non O visa. Spitfire seems to be talking about a Non OA visa (commonly referred to as retirement visa or long stay) but you don't need one of those.

[Spitfire]

Ah....OK.....was a little confused with the thread title, but yes, you appear to be quite right about the inferences of the post of the OP. Oh well, Saturday afternoon posts after a couple for lunch, should know better.

[PeteC]

Lomu, when does the single entry or multiple entry come into it? If the initial visa is multiple entry and the visa is extended year after year per your advice above, I assume everything remains as multiple entry...correct? If the initial visa is single entry, is there a way to change it to multiple entry when doing one of the yearly extensions? Pete

[bapak]

With Marriage Extension, you can get a Work Permit.

[Big Boy]

Thanks for the responses so far - I can now see the advantage of the Retirement extension over the Based on Marriage extension.

My intentions will be to travel a little bit (outside of Thailand) when I get there, so I will also be interested in the answer to Pete's question.

[lomuamart]

The multi-entry visa just gives you more time before it runs out and you have to extend or move on/renew visa. Once you're on an extension that's the expiry date you need to look at. The original visa could have expired 10 years ago but you're always extending off it as long as the chain of extensions isn't broken. Single or multi entry dosn't matter once you've extended.
Extensions can be applied for during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry. Obviously the first and only with a single entry or any entry with multi. Once you've got your extension, that's it. There's no single or multi extension.
But, if you want to travel as BB does, then you need a re-entry permit before you leave Thailand or your extension and original visa that you applied from will be invalidated. They either come in single format (1,000 THB) or multi (3,800 THB) and run concurrently with your extension. Each time you re-enter the country, you're stamped back in in line with your extension expiry date.

[Big Boy]

Thanks lomu, so if I intend leaving Thailand more than 4 times in the first year, it makes economic sense to get a multi re-entry permit, else singles will do. Only 243 days and counting

[migrant]

Thanks lomu, so if I intend leaving Thailand more than 4 times in the first year, it makes economic sense to get a multi re-entry permit, else singles will do. Only 243 days and counting

Other than the ability to come, and go, and it sounds like price, is there any other differences in single vs multiple entry?

Does one simply say I want multiple entry?

It never came up coming from the states, maybe because we always stay under 30 days, but this year we may venture to Cambodia so want to make sure we are covered.

Thanks for the knowledge!!

[lomuamart]

I don't think you live over here yet do you, migrant? BB's preparing ahead of his big move over here so we're talking about re-entry permits that are issued to run concurrently with annual extensions. You get one if you want to travel outside of Thailand to keep the extension and original visa aliveand they're issued in Thailand, not abroad.
If you're just holidaying here there's not so much need for one although if you have a tourist visa and you want to take a trip to Cambodia, it may be worthwhile getting a re-entry permit to keep that visa alive. If you're just here on a 30 day visa exempt stamp, there's probably little point but be aware that if you return to Thailand by land you'll only be given 15 days at the border. If you come in at the airport again you'll be given another 30, so careful planning of your trip is necessary to ensure you end up with enough time to finish your holiday before the entry stamp expires - or else it'll be another border run.

[PeteC]

....... Single or multi entry doesn't matter once you've extended.....

Thanks your advice Lomu. I have a problem with the above though, but who am I in the great scheme of Thai Immigration thinking. Your initial visa remains valid as it's the base credential upon which you receive your yearly extensions. An extension is an extension of the visa itself. In the case of initially having a multi-entry visa, legally there seems to be no grounds for having to get any re-entry permit(s) at all. However, probably no one is going to go to the trouble and expense to test/dispute it, and will simply continue to pay the 1000 or 3800 for the permit. Pete

[dtaai-maai]

No, Pete - this is the old visa v. entry stamp v. extension confusion. You don't extend the visa, you extend the entry stamp.

The visa is issued abroad by an embassy or consulate and gets you to the immigration desk, where the immigration officer endorses your passport with the time period you can stay.
At this point the visa expires as you've used your single entry. Unless you have a double- or multiple-entry visa, which will allow you to enter again before the visa expires (usually 6 months after issue?). When your entry stamp (15 days, 30 days, 90 days, etc) expires you have to leave the country - unless you obtain an extension from immigration.
You then need a re-entry permit if you wish to travel out of Thailand (or rather, if you wish to return without a problem!), which takes the place of the visa.

I think that covers it - does it make sense?

[PeteC]

↑ Thanks, yes, that clarifies it. What I didn't understand or know is that you're extending the entry stamp, not the visa itself. Pete

[migrant]

I don't think you live over here yet do you, migrant? BB's preparing ahead of his big move over here so we're talking about re-entry permits that are issued to run concurrently with annual extensions. You get one if you want to travel outside of Thailand to keep the extension and original visa aliveand they're issued in Thailand, not abroad.
If you're just holidaying here there's not so much need for one although if you have a tourist visa and you want to take a trip to Cambodia, it may be worthwhile getting a re-entry permit to keep that visa alive. If you're just here on a 30 day visa exempt stamp, there's probably little point but be aware that if you return to Thailand by land you'll only be given 15 days at the border. If you come in at the airport again you'll be given another 30, so careful planning of your trip is necessary to ensure you end up with enough time to finish your holiday before the entry stamp expires - or else it'll be another border run.

You're right,unfortunately not there yet!

Thank for the explanation, that helps me understand!