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I was a 2006 applicant and just retired two weeks ago. They stopped stamping the residency application 6 month extension a couple of years ago as was told not necessary whilst have WP. New rule apparently.
Last week I completed my retirement visa and also had my residency extension re started so actually now have both. Seems no problem and I least I keep on the residency application radar.
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In Topic: Camerata'S Guide To The Permanent Residence Process
2012-05-15 20:28:45
Arkady, on 2012-05-09 13:58:03, said:
puyaidon, on 2012-05-08 13:00:48, said:
I had a friend (US) years ago who had a permanent residence visa and after what he went through, he said he would not do it again. He had to hit the police station every year for their clearance and then to immigration for their stamp. It boiled down to either 191,400 baht (if single) or 95,700 baht if the spouse of Thai national or 1,900 baht for a retirement visa. He still had to get a re-entry permit each time he planned on leaving the country. I am an American also and having listened to him, I will stick to the retirement visa option. It is a choice of what you want. $6,000 is not something I like to spend just to apply with a possibility of refusal. Not a good option.
You don't need to go to the police station every year for "clearance". You need to go every five years to renew your alien book which is a simple, routine and inexpensive procedure. You need to go to Immigration once a year for an endorsement in your resident's book, if you wish to travel abroad. If not, you don't need to go to Immigration. That annual endorsement at Immigration is effectively your re-entry permit and there is no need to get it for each trip abroad, unless you choose to pay a one off re-entry fee instead of the one year multi-entry fee. Even so, you can buy several one off re-entry permits at a time, rather than go to Immigration each time but the multi-entry endorsement is what regular travellers are advised by Immigration to get.
You would not risk paying the full fee and losing it if rejected. The full fee is only payable on approval. The non-refundable application fee is Bt 5,000. Since you are on a retirement visa, you are ineligible to apply for PR which requires a job with work permit and salary tax receipts for three complete calendar years. So it is good thing you are satisfied with your lot, even though your reasons for not wanting PR status make no sense.
When I applied in the 90s the cost was Bt 2,000 non-refundable and Bt 50,000 on approval and approval or rejection was guaranteed within 12 months. At the time many expats ridiculed me for going to such a hassle and expense but later had cause to regret not applying themselves when they suddenly lost their jobs and work permits or struggled with the ever changing rules for various types of temporary visa. Some of them changed their minds belatedly and have been in the logjam waiting for PR for several years. These things only ever get more difficult in Thailand.
I applied in 2006. I retired last month after working and paying taxes in Thailand since 1999. Will my application still be valid even though I am now on a retirement visa..
