TerraplaneGuy

On 12/1/2020 at 9:14 PM, VocalNeal said:

 

So you are retired and plan to live for the rest of your retirement in a hotel. Ok I know one guy who did for a while but he signed a "long stay" agreement. Which by the way is a lot cheaper. 

They probably assume that if one is going to "retire" here then you need some form of "long stay" agreement. 

Of course what you do is up to you but don't complain if you don't fit their idea of a retireee.

No, I'm not planning to live for the rest of my retirement in a hotel.  I was living for years in a condo in BKK, recently decided to move south but haven't decided where exactly to settle down.  So I'm checking out various places and will probably be in a hotel in either Koh Phangan or Koh Samui when it's time for me to extend (late next month).  Once I find a location I think I can be comfortable in long-term, of course I'll rent something.   But if Immigration requires a lease, the best I might be able to give them  this time is the hotel paper.   Maybe I can get the hotel to give me something that looks more like a lease but I don't know.

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

Surat Thani Immigration, which Samui is a brach of, has their own TM30 page...
http://suratimmigration.go.th/extranet/index.php

 

You need to register first as "house master" in the top link.

If I’m staying at a hotel in Samui at the time (being a nomad with no other residence) how can I show them a “lease”?   Would a hotel check-in receipt and TM30 be enough?

On 11/27/2020 at 10:44 AM, lom said:

No, but be aware that your landlord must have registered you as living on the premises. (TM30)

If you are registered somewhere else then Samui Immigration will not process your application.

If I’m in doubt they’ve filed a TM30 can’t I do it myself online?

On 5/22/2019 at 4:09 PM, PoorSucker said:

Replacement for the old pinned topic that's outdated. 

Samui immigration check list here. 

Is there any rule about how long the term of the lease must be?  Suppose I rent a serviced room or even hotel room in  Samui or Phangan for a month.  If I apply for my extension during that period will it work?  Reason I ask is I’m currently on the move and not sure how long I’ll stay in the area. 

24 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I have seen nothing in the news about it but it has already been posted on some embassy websites plus the online certificate of entry site.

Thanks.  I'm Canadian and I just checked the Thai embassy site in Ottawa and see nothing about extensions, only visas.  And I looked on the COE site where you register and apply, and saw nothing about extensions; they ask you on the 2d page (registration) to enter the "type of permitted person" and there is an option for "long-stay visitor (Non-O)".   That doesn't to my mind include extensions (especially of non-OA which is my category).  I didn't go ahead and register so I don't know whether subsequent pages might say something but I somehow doubt it because this would be the place.  Do you know where it actually refers to extensions?

On 11/14/2020 at 4:41 PM, DogNo1 said:

Sorry about the bad luck with the timing.  It seems that nobody had a clue when the retirement extension and re-entry permit would be accepted for a return to Thailand.  Unfortunately any change in policy is not planned and announced.  That leaves all of us flying by the seat of our pants.

Is there now any official statement that an extension of a non-Imm OA or O for retirement qualifies for a COE, as distinct from the visa itself?  I've heard there are some reports that it worked for some people but I've seen nothing published.  

Are they even issuing SETV (single entry tourist visas) now? I thought the only tourism is the new Special Tourist Visa (STV) for up to 60 days, which can be extended up to 90 days.  As opposed to the long-established SETV which has allowed a 60 day stay with a discretionary extension for another 30.  

51 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Just came back from an island break.

The resort we stayed at is a bit worn, but worn well is the way I would describe it.

It was quiet, maybe average 6 people a night. One night up to 10.

Talking to the owner it seems it is picking up a little bit from a couple of months ago. 

Up until the Wuhuflu about 60% of visitors were expat backpackers who stayed on average 4 or 5 nights and spent a fair bit in the bar at night.

At the moment the owner has a small team working on the resort to do repairs and improvements etc while the visitor numbers are down, the work being done with backpacker money. The owner said they never had any problems with backpackers, the hardest ones to look after were from guess where as they never spent any money in the resort itself and ran the staff ragged.

Just sayin'

Interesting.  You say about 6-10 people/night.   Any idea what normal number would have been at this time of year?  What island or area were you at? 

I agree this is an extreme requirement but now is a good time for the country to figure out a way to restart tourism without returning to the way things were: far too many tourists destroying every inch of the natural environment and local culture that made Thailand attractive in the first place.  We should not be aiming at 40 million visitors a year as we were.  Bhutan is not crazy to impose expensive entry requirements.  I’m not sure that’s the best answer but Thailand has to find a balance and stop feeding its tourism addiction.  There are plenty of other domestic industries with great potential if the government would focus and educate better (I know, not gonna happen overnight ).  Package and cheapo tourism is not going to create a good future for young Thais.  This pandemic, painful as it is, is a useful time-out to rethink.  

4 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi, you can ONLY apply for a new Non Imm O-A Visa at a Thai Embassy/Consulate in your home-country (or in the country where you have legal permanent residency).

But re the issue you mention about applying for a new Visa at the Thai Embassy when the permission to stay (protected by a Re-Entry Permit) of your current Visa is still valid, there have been mixed reports on that issue.

Some applicants were successful doing that, and others have been denied a new Visa because of their present one still valid (although not clear whether they applied with a still valid Visa or with a still valid permission to stay from an extension of their original Visa).

So in order to avoid any problems, it would be recommended to enquire beforehand at the Embassy whether it would create any issues.  And if so, you also have of course the option to first apply for a new passport (which would cover your tracks re that still valid permission to stay).

About your last point, does the Thai Immigration Bureau not keep track of issued visas/extensions by the holder’s name as well as passport number?  I’m a bit surprised that one could “cover one’s tracks” simply by getting a new passport (although I know their systems are not exactly state of the art).  

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

@TerraplaneGuy > John posted in response to your query, but since you are not the OP of this thread, I draw your attention to his worthwhile response.

Peter, thanks.  

2 hours ago, Piscis said:

In my case, i still had a permission to stay and a ME Re-Entry permit in my passport stamped. This was based on my previous issued Non O for reason of retirement. The RTE/RTC in Germany did not have any problems in giving me a new Visa (Non O A in this case), even there was still a valid permission of stay in the passport... So basically, at this time i have a valid Non O A (1 year) and a permission to stay incl. ME Re-Entry permit in my passport. Given the fact that a CoE was only issued because of the new Non O A, the Non O is at this time worthless.

 

If you want to find out if your current permission to stay would be accepted at the RTE in Canada to get a CoE, you may want to try this: 

 

- Visit the MFA website https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/  

- Choose the RTE/RTC you are planning to get the CoE or Visa from once back in Canada.

- Open a new case by using your existing Non OA Visa´s  extension to stay.

- Upload all required documents

- You will get a 6 digit code for future reference

 

It takes a few hours or up to three days for them to reply.

You will be given the information from the relevant RTE/RTC that you have choosen if the information you uploaded makes you eligible for a CoE.

 

The CoE will be issued online. The only problem i see here is that you will get the CoE only if you forward ALL required documents, such us ASQ booking, health insurance and flight details. However, if you only upload your valid Non OA Visa´s extension of stay and Re-Entry permit, they might tell you at this very fist step if you are eligible to apply for a CoE at all... If yes, you can leave TH, go back to Canada and complete the required steps on that same website (using the 6 digit code) to get the CoE (upload health insurance, ASQ and flight details).

 

That´s just an idea and i dont know if it will work out that way, but it might be a way to check prior you leave Thailand and then you can decide what to do...

 

Hope that helped...

 

John

 

 

 

John yes that definitely helped.  Thank you!

17 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Yes, there have been reports of applicants in a similar situation that were able to meet the CoE criterion for entering Thailand when using the still valid permission to stay (protected by a ReEntry Permit) based on the extension of their original Non Imm O-A Visa.

But when that permission to stay expires in February, it would as good as certain be more worthwhile for you to simply apply for a NEW Non Imm O-A Visa when over in Canada.  That way you would not be forced to extend your current permission to stay again when back in Thailand, as that new Non Imm O-A can provide you with almost 2-year of stay in Thailand without need for extensions (nor having to park/transfer funds to a Thai bank-account). 

 

Peter, thanks.  Is there any problem applying (from outside Thailand) for a new Non Imm O-A while my current extension (based on the same kind of visa) is still in effect?  Or do I have to wait until the extension expires before applying?  My plan now is to try to put off visiting Canada until next February, when I can get a further 1 year extension here, and then leave.  When I'm ready to return to Thailand (probably a few months later) I'd apply for the COE based on my extension and re-entry permit.  If that failed, I would apply for a new Non Imm O-A and, once I have it, apply for the COE based on that.    But this fall-back assumes I can get a new visa while my extension is still valid.  I'm guessing I can, and that the extension would simply be over-ridden by the new visa.  Correct?

3 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Yes, when your permission to stay has not expired yet (and when protected by a Re-Entry Permit) it is indeed still valid.

BUT, that in itself is not enough to return to Thailand.  In order to be eligible for the CoE using the above you have to meet one of the following conditions:

- that valid permission to stay based on an extension from an original Non Imm O-A Visa;

- you being married to a Thai national or with Thai dependent children.

I have a retirement extension based on a non-Imm O-A and a multiple re-entry permit.  Both valid til next February.   I am in Thailand and may have to visit Canada.  It doesn’t sound like there’s any assurance I could get back even while those documents are still in effect.  You mentioned reports that some people have got COE’s in my circumstances but if there’s nothing officially published that allows this it seems it would be very risky to leave the country.   Do we have any detail on those reports or any reason to be confident others like me would get a COE?

12 hours ago, radjag said:

I tried to call the Visa Section at the Thai Embassy in Washington DC this morning, several times, did not pick up.

 

Based upon the very helpful advice above I am going to simply apply for a TR visa and try to get back to Thailand in December. Hopefully I can then renew my Non-B Retirement Extension at my local Immigration Department as usual in early January.

 

Fingers crossed!

 Good luck and please let us know what happens.  

On 10/11/2020 at 10:09 AM, Peter Denis said:

When applying for a Non Imm O-A Visa at a Thai Embassy/Consulate in your home-country, that type Visa is sometimes referred to as a 'retirement Visa'.  In several countries (e.g. US and Australia) the Thai Embassy/Consulate does not issue 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement.  And it is thus the only Visa you can apply for for reason of retirement.

Note: The retirement terminology is also somewhat misleading as you do not need to be retired to be eligible for the Visa, you only need to be +50 years of age.

 

When in Thailand (e.g. having arrived Visa Exempt or on a Tourist Visa) you can apply in country at your local IO for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa.  And you can do this for reason of RETIREMENT if you meet the age (+50) and financial requirements.  In the last month of those 90 days you can then apply for a 1-year extension of stay based on that Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement.

 

So it is in fact quite unfair that those who are currently in their home-country having exited Thailand with a re-entry permit that protects the permission to stay of their 1-year permission to stay based on the Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement which they applied for in Thailand, are now blocked from applying for a COE.

And as long as their permission to stay (protected by that re-entry permit) has not expired, they are not even able to apply for the Non Imm O-A Visa or for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of marriage, on which they can apply for the COE to enter Thailand.

 

Imo when they drafted the COE entry options, they have simply forgotten that there are people on a 1-year Non Imm O extension of stay for reason of retirement with a permission to stay protected by a Re-Entry Permit.

Very interesting.   Agreed it is unfair.  Has anyone brought this glitch to the attention of Immigration?  

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You can now apply for the new single entry tourist visa in the US now. You will need the equivalent of 500k baht in the bank for 6 month to apply and the change to a non-o visa. See: https://thaiembdc.org/2020/11/05/trsingle_entry/

Or wait to see if they start allowing those with valid extension and re-entry permit to apply for a certificate of entry.

 

Do I understand correctly that it is now possible for a foreigner to apply for a Non OA retirement visa from outside Thailand and get a COE, but it is not possible for a foreigner who has an extension of stay based on the same category of visa, and is now outside Thailand, to get a COE?  If that’s right, why on earth (other than “TIT”) would that be the case?

On 11/6/2020 at 3:04 PM, ubonjoe said:

It is still done there.

How long has this been the case?  I used to do my 90 day at CW while also doing my retirement extension.

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It applies to everybody if they change their registered address that immigration has. That is the only time it is needed.

Thanks.  I take it we have to go in person, no online filing method?

On 10/22/2020 at 12:44 PM, ubonjoe said:

All of that has been mostly eliminated. That is why they brought the TM27 back to life to report a change of address only.

The TM28 has the reporting if you stayed in another province for more than 24 hours and that was eliminated back in February.

Am I correct that the the TM27 does not apply to those of us on retirement extensions?

9 minutes ago, Bkktodd said:

There you go.  Who is speaking up for retirees /expats  now?  Anyone?  I know my 75,000b plus monthly helps the thai economy and not the USA economy.  Besides we which we dont exploit the tourist site like cheap back packers.  The VAT we pay for our vehicles, home improvement , and monies to help love ones families all benefit THAIS .   Please let us back in

A few times in past years I asked on this forum if there is any organized group to represent retirees to the Immigration Bureau.  Apparently not.  I think it would be a good thing.  In politics it's organized groups that speak up for themselves (politely and strategically, of course) who get results.  In other words a lobbying group.  There are some issues (like this re-entry issue but also ones like the medical insurance requirement for the OA, inconsistent extension requirements at different offices, etc.) that many of us would like to see addressed.

6 hours ago, mlkik said:

As someone who has a non o retirement extention and visited my elderly Mother in the UK early March I have not been allowed to return.

...... 

Some people have said that this new tourist visa will be ideal for people like myself. I dissagree as I have an extention that is valid for another 4 months and a re entry permit. Why should I have to change this and apply for a tourist visa ?

...

 

I understand your anger at not wanting to pay for a new tourist visa.  But you speak of "change this ..." and I wonder if you think you'd have to somehow give up your retirement extension to get the new tourist visa?  I wouldn't have thought so.  I too have a retirement extension and I assumed that if I left Thailand I could return on the new tourist visa but still keep my extension in effect.  I didn't think they would revoke it.  Does anyone know?

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

1. You could enter using your extension if it has not expired if you have a re-entry permit and then apply for your extension.

 

2. You would have to apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) at immigration and then your extension of stay based upon retirement. The only problem you might have is that to apply for the visa you must show proof the 800k baht came from abroad but some offices will waive that if it has been in the bank for a long time.

Ubonjoe thanks for your quick reply!  About #1, my assumption as noted is that they may not let me re-enter using my extension because the news reports I've seen all talk about re-opening for tourists and business travelers, etc. but absolutely no mention of retirees and I'm afraid we may get lost in the shuffle, meaning I show up and they refuse entry based on my extension (even though, yes I have a multiple re-entry permit).  That's why I assumed I'd have to re-enter as a tourist.  Am I missing something?

Hi All,

I am in Thailand on an extension of stay from a non-Imm OA retirement visa (been here many years).  Comes up for renewal next February.  I may have to travel out of the country soon for a few months.  Under current travel restrictions I would not be allowed back into Thailand (not being a citizen, diplomat, etc.).  I have a feeling they may open the door to tourists before people like me (expat retirees).  So I'm thinking I might be in the position of returning as a tourist in early 2021, either a little before or after my current extension expires.  Questions:

1. On the above assumptions, could I re-enter as a tourist and then, if my extension is still valid, renew it as usual in early 2021?  (I'm thinking yes but unsure).

2. If I re-enter as a tourist after my extension has expired, will it be easy to obtain a new O retirement visa?  I have the required B800K in the bank here already.