Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing, it's an ALERT video. Now let me be clear, we're talking about Retirement Visas. I'm sure there is going to be a fair amount of interest in this video. To be clear, this is anecdotal evidence coming from a viewer who sent me an email and let me just quote: Information for Ben for his YouTube channel. “Thai Immigration in Korat and possibly elsewhere have generated a new form for those applying for an extension of their non-O Visa. This form now requires a signature from your neighbour at your registered address and a photocopy of their Thai ID card and an accompanying signature underneath the photocopy of their ID card, both sides of the ID Card. While an email could/should have been sent out to all Non-O holders, this hasn't happened, and after travelling for an hour to Korat Immigration today, I was told that I should have inquired about this new form when I did my last 90-day reporting. What!" It's like, what do you mean? It's your job to tell us you have a new form so, quoting further: "As I wasn't aware that a new form was coming out how could I know to ask?” Yeah, interestingly as I have discussed in other videos on this channel in a more genuine or a more general sense, at the beginning or the turnover of the new year is when we tend to see shifts with regard to immigration generally. And Retirement, this could be viewed as either Retirement or Marriage Visas but yeah; he is just saying non-O so I am presuming Retirement and/or Marriage Visas. Quoting further: "I can imagine this will have an adverse impact on many people going to renew their visas." Yeah, one would think. 

Now bear in mind, this is from Korat; this is also anecdotal. Again I'm making the ALERT just to put people on notice out there that "hey, there could be an issue." I'm not trying to cause consternation. This is just what I've heard from someone. They've been to the Immigration Office, and they are saying "hey there's a new form". That's pretty darn big news. Now again, I'm not quite certain exactly from the context of the email because it's only specifically talking about the non-O - it doesn't say Retirement or Marriage. I'm presuming that if they created a form pertaining to the non-O Visa, it would just pertain to the entire category. Again important to point out, Marriage Visas under the O category operate under a sort of different sub-categorization from Retirement Visas. 

There is one notable difference between the two is if you're utilizing a lump sum amount in a bank account for an O Marriage Visa requires B400,000, and for an O Retirement Visa it requires B800,000 so there are differences. But that said, I would find it pretty unlikely that they would create a whole new form only to deal with one subset of O Visas.  Again, it remains to be seen how all of this will play out. 

Please folks, if you're watching this video and this is causing consternation, take a deep breath. These things have a tendency, they sometimes kind of throw things against the wall to see if they stick. It remains to be seen if this is going to become sort of a main line requirement associated with either the O Marriage or Retirement Visa. Again, it remains to be seen and definitely not a foregone conclusion, but a significant data point. Tip of the hat to the viewer who put me on to this, thank you very much. This is a significant data point, and I think it's definitely one the expat community should be aware of at least in some sense. That being said, we will certainly be keeping you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.