just plain different

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The 15 days before is for the 90 day non immigrant visa entry application at immigration. You can apply up to 30 days early for the one year extension of stay.

If you go to immigration with less than 15 days remaining on your 60 day entry they will do the 30 day extension and then accept your application for the visa during the same trip to immigration. If you have more than 15 days the extension would not be needed.

 

You can apply for the extension of stay based upon retirement up to 30 day early or 45 days at some offices.

Just do it before Songkran. Immigration will only  be closed  from the 13th to 16th of April for the holiday.

Thanks, again, Ubon Joe. You've been Uber helpful. And I recall you helped me with some information several years ago. You do use all a grand service. Cheers.

8 hours ago, elviajero said:

• No, you need at least 15 days left to apply for the non-immigrant visa.
• A 30 day extension on your tourist visa can be applied for within the last week or so, and right up to and including day 30.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Just what I wanted to hear.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

You can apply for the 30 day extension your 60 day entry to get more time to apply for the 90 day non immigrant visa entry.

It is at least 15 days days remaining on your entry to apply for the visa. It the most days you can have remaining.

There is no requirement to have a ticket out of the country to apply for an extension.

Songkran is not until April.

I see no reason why you could not apply for the visa now and then the extension of stay during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa.

 

Thanks, Joe! Just to clarify, I need at least 15 days left to apply for the Non-Imm O extension, but is it the same for the 30 extension on my tourist visa? Or can that be done days before it's up?

Also, my 90 day visa time will be up around April 20, with extension (not March, my mistake) and that's why I was concerned Songkran might be an issue.

Hi folks. Part one of getting the retirement visa – the affidavit – went without a hitch. Thanks for all your help.

Now it's time for part 2. I have 21 days left on my 60 days visa. It's probably just enough time to apply for the Non-Imm O 3-month deal with intent to retire. However, I can extend my tourist visa (it's a 90 day variety) for another month, I gather, first, and buy myself some more time. Is that right? But with visas nothing every seems simple.

Assuming I can extend and get the Non-Imm-O during the first half of the extension, I just read I may need an onward flight ticket just to get the extension. True or false? And if someone can point me to a link or give me info on what I'll need for the extension, that would be great!

There's one more snafu. My extended visa will end around March 20th, which is just after Songkran. So, I'm concerned that the "at least 15 days before" to apply for the Non-Imm O might not work if there's a whopping holiday in that period. Should I apply further in advance to be safe?

Once again, I appreciate the help I've received here. I do try to look this stuff up first, but I'm never sure about changing rules, and there's conflicting information that drives me batty.

 

15 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Some very incorrect info from those agencies. No need to leave the country.

Only one is needed. Normally when you apply for the visa they keep the original affidavit when you application. Then when you go back for the extension they pull it from your file and use it for the application.

Doing it that way would require 2 income affidavits.

I am certain Chiang Rai can also do the conversion.

That sounds like great news ubonjoe, and much appreciated!

I'm going to assume it doesn't matter what address I'm using for the affadavit, as it is evidence of income.

Still getting wildly conflicting info. A couple popular agencies in CM state that you need to leave the country to transfer the tourist visa to a Non-Imm O visa, but people here are saying it can be done at CM Immigration (I prefer to believe you guys). One agency says one needs to leave the country twice, once for the conversion and once for the extension. I was under the impression, optimally, that I wouldn't need to leave at all for either. Can anyone clarify this or reaffirm what was said here?

Some say I will need ONE affidavit from the consulate, and some say 2 (one original for the conversion and another original for the extension). Has anyone purchased 2? Has anyone used the same for both or copies for both?

Apparently (or not) I can convert my tourist visa to a Non-Imm in CM, and then extend it in CR. Is this really possible? Would I need to leave the country in that case but not if I did it all in CM?

In order to preserve my sanity, I'm  trying to just do one step at a time. So,  the most pressing issue is whether I need one or two affidavits.

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I really wasn't sure how the issue of the two different Immigration processes would work, if the OP had only one income affidavit. I suppose, he could purchase one and use it for the tourist visa to Non-O conversion process.

 

And then at that point, try the approach you suggest. If the IO is willing to do that, then fine and he has an original still to use for his subsequent retirement extension application.

 

But if the IO isn't willing to do that, he'd still have time to make another appointment at ACS after his tourist visa to Non-O conversion and pay for and get a second income affidavit. I'm assuming the appointments backlog at the CM Consulate isn't TOO far delayed. In Bangkok, the first available date is usually a week or so into the future.

 

But for CM, the OP will see what kind of appointments backlog they have when he goes to make his first ACS appointment to get the income affidavit for his tourist visa to Non-O first step. And can plan accordingly based on that.

 

I got an appointment for just a few days later. I think I was lucky, though.

2 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

you cant, ONLY originals accepted, they take it so u will need as many as required...  at $50 ( 1,700 baht) /pop

Fun! But why haven't others mentioned this before?

34 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Re the income affidavit, the U.S. Consulate website has the blank document on their website, one version for BKK and another for CM, that you download and fill out, and then take with you on the day of your Consulate appointment.

 

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/income-affidavit/

 

Take the completed form and your passport. Go for your appointment. Pay the $50 fee. They will take your passport and form, you wait a little while. Then you'll be called to meet with a Consulate officer very briefly who will ask you to attest verbally that the info you submitted is correct and then have you sign the form in his/her presence. The officer will countersign the form, and then you're done.

 

Note, AFAIK, Immigration only will accept original versions of the income affidavit, not photocopies of the original. So if you plan to re-use the same affidavit for your initial non O and then again for your retirement extension, I believe you'll either need to hold onto the original or somehow see that you keep access to your original at Immigration. AFAIK, the officers who handle the Non-Os are not necessarily the same as those who handle retirement extensions.

 

Also, generally, the income affidavits are valid with Immigration anytime from 6 months after their issue date. So you can get it anytime in the process you're envisioning doing and not have to worry about it expiring.

 

As far as I can tell I only need my passport and the document (got it). Anything else? Photos, proof of address…? I tried to look it up but didn't see anything. Thanks for your help :-)

" Note, AFAIK, Immigration only will accept original versions of the income affidavit, not photocopies of the original. So if you plan to re-use the same affidavit for your initial non O and then again for your retirement extension, I believe you'll either need to hold onto the original or somehow see that you keep access to your original at Immigration. AFAIK, the officers who handle the Non-Os are not necessarily the same as those who handle retirement extensions."

That could be a problem. How can I hold on to the original if Immigration takes it? Do they only look at it and then give it back, or do they make a copy, in which case I can ask to get the original back rather than a copy?

15 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Yes they do it. They can make it difficult and want 21 days remaining on your entry. Best to start it well before the 21 days to allow plenty of time to get the application accepted.

Thanks! I've done the trip to the embassy in Laos a few times, and it's not my favorite vacation experience.

I'm wondering if I'd be better off using an agent rather than doing this myself. If it's less risky, but costs a bit, I'd rather fork over some money than run into problems. Y'know, if they "make it difficult" in more way than one.

On 1/30/2018 at 7:42 AM, ubonjoe said:

You will apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry at immigration. In Chiang Mai they want you to have a least 21 days remaining on your 60 day entry or the 30 day extension it.

You can use the same income affidavit from the consulate to apply for the visa and then a one year extension of stay based upon retirement. (not a visa).

After apply for the visa you can apply for the one year extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from it.

General requirements for the visa is here. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80

I suggest you get the income affidavit as soon as possible so you can get things started a Chiang Mai immigration. 

 

A couple more questions/complications have come up.

When applying for the affidavit I can use the current address where I am staying in CM. However, I am planning on moving on to CR. If it is possible for immigration there (much smaller queues) to convert the 60-day tourist visa to a Non-Imm O, and do the extension, that's easier than doing those parts in CM. However, if they don't do it (someone just said not all immigration offices do it), than it would be better to do it in CM.

I'm also wondering if I do the paperwork in CM, and then move to CR, will I have to do my 90 day check ins in CM, or is an address change not a big deal?
 

20 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

???
u need first have a NON o visa for reasons of being over 50,

you than apply for a 1 year EXTENSION.

not all immigration's will convert a visa exempt entry or a tourist visa to a non O>
so its easy to just leave Thailand ,go to a Thai embassy in a nearby country ( Laos,Malaysia, Myanmar etc)an apply for a non O visa.

Going to immigration in Thailand seems a lot easier than going out of country to do it and come back in. I've done the trip to Laos in the past. Does Chiang Mai immigration do it? I'm already here.

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You will apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry at immigration. In Chiang Mai they want you to have a least 21 days remaining on your 60 day entry or the 30 day extension it.

You can use the same income affidavit from the consulate to apply for the visa and then a one year extension of stay based upon retirement. (not a visa).

After apply for the visa you can apply for the one year extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from it.

General requirements for the visa is here. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80

I suggest you get the income affidavit as soon as possible so you can get things started a Chiang Mai immigration. 

 

Thanks, Joe:

That's pretty clear. Now I'll take it one step at a time. Already made an appointment for the consulate. I'll come back and ask questions if I can't figure out the rest myself.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

18 minutes ago, taiwanatoa said:

Right. They don't ask anything. You just show the proof of income and application form for the ret. visa. That's all.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Another member wrote, "You need to either convert your 60 day tourist visa or go to a consulate abroad to get a non immigrant visa first." So, I'm confused about the order of doing things.

I thought I need the non-imm first, before I can go to the consulate and get the affidavit. But you are saying I use the affidavit and application for retirement to get the non-imm. That's the opposite order.

Sorry if my questions seem a little dense, but, the information SEEMS contradictory to me and I'm just trying to figure it out. Is the retirement visa the same thing as the Non-Imm O visa?

2 minutes ago, taiwanatoa said:

What do you think the affidavit is? It's proof of income! Take it to imm. , pay the fee and get your ret. visa and go.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Thanks. I think I got that part. But that's AFTER I convert my 60 day tourist visa to a non-imm O.

I was asking about converting the tourist visa to the non-imm O, and what I need to do for that?  Is it as easy as going to immigration and applying for it, or do I need some special documentation, etc? Do I say I am intending to retire, and then they just give it to me?

6 minutes ago, taiwanatoa said:

Yes you can get the affidavit anytime within a month before. 1 year ret visa fee is 1900 baht


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Thanks, again.

Now I'm wondering about converting the 60 tourist visa to a non-imm O visa. I knew I could extend the tourist visa, but not convert to a non-imm O visa. I once had an non-Imm O when I did TEFL training years ago, and that was good for a year. So, I'm still confused. Am I getting a 30-day non-imm O visa? Do I need special paperwork to get this? It almost sounds like I need proof of income to get the non-imm O to get the affidavit that is proof of income to get the retirement visa.

2 minutes ago, ChouDoufu said:

no need to leave the country.

at immigration in thailand, apply to convert your tourist

visa to a non-immigrant o visa.

later you will apply for a one-year extension of stay.

 

if able to open a bank account, xfer $26k.

no need for income affidavit then.

Thanks!

I'd rather get the affidavit than transfer all that money to a Thai bank account, and I've heard it's easier. This is starting to be more clear.

1) I apply to convert my tourist visa to a non-Imm O for 2,000 baht within the last 30 days of my 60 day tourist visa. I'm assuming that is a 30 day extension?

2) I get an income avidavit from the US consulate in CM for $50. (Can I get that before getting the non-imm visa, or can I at least schedule an appointment ahead of time that falls within the earlier part of that 30 day window so it's not a race against time?)

3) I go back to immigration with my affidavit and whatever other necessary documentation and then I get my one year extension. And I don't need to leave the country! How much is the one year extension?

1 minute ago, PoorSucker said:

Yes, within last 30 days of your tourist visa, costs 2000 baht

So, I can only switch to the non-imm during my last 30 days. Is that the last 30 of the initial 60 day period, or of the extended 90 day period?

Do I need to already be on the non-imm to get the affidavit? This sounds like I have to make an appointment with the consulate (from what I've read) 2-3 weeks in advance, but within a 30 day period.

Once I have the affidavit do I need to do a visa run to Laos (easiest for me) and apply for the retirement visa out of country?

3 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

You need to either covert your 60 day tourist visa or go to a consulate abroad to get a non immigrant visa first.

After that , no problem.

So, I need to be on a non-imm to then convert to a retirement visa. Can I convert my 60 day visa to a non-imm while here?

2 minutes ago, vivid2 said:

Google is your friend. I got the following information in less than 30 seconds from the US Embassy website in Thailand...

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/thai-visas-americans/

Retirement Visas

Retirement visas for Thailand are available to foreigners 50 years of age or older. These visas are valid for only one year and employment of any kind is strictly prohibited. According to Thai immigration, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

Applicant must be able to provide proof of a pension or other regular income from a source outside of Thailand;
Applicant’s pension or other regular income must be no less than the equivalent of 65,000 Baht per month;
Alternatively, the applicant may meet the financial requirement by maintaining a Thai bank account with a minimum amount of 800,000 Baht. (Applicants will need to show that they have 800,000 Baht in savings each year when they renew their visa.)
Any applicant married to a Thai citizen may be able to receive a visa on that basis rather than retirement.
For additional requirements and information, please consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. websites.
 

Thanks.

I've read that as well, and I think it was the first thing I read.

My question was whether the American consulate in Chiang Mai (or the Embassy in Bangkok, but I'm closer to CM) would provide income affidavits to people just over 50. Just because the Thai government considers 50 retirement age doesn't necessarily mean the US consulate or embassy does.

And then my questions were about logistics.

 

I've done research on this forum but there's so much info I'm not fully clear, so asking directly.

I'm in my early 50's and looking to retire in Thailand. I understand I can get a affidavit from the consulate in Chiang Mai to verify my income, and I need to apply for an appointment 2-3 weeks in advance.

I heard you can retire in Thailand if you are over 50, but does this also apply to getting the affidavit if you are American? Am I old enough to get the affidavit?

I came in on a 60 day visa with an option to extend for another 30, and I have at least 45 days left on the first 60 days. Assuming I'm old enough to get the affidavit, what would I do next? You can point me to an existing thread that I might have missed.

I'm not averse to using an agent if it will make the process easier and less risky should I do anything wrong.

thanks.

Thanks!

I see. So, if I don't want to pay the minimum 2,000 baht fine (I don't), than I can go to immigration to chekc in, or try to do it online or through the mail. I'm hoping this means that this time I won't have to pay 2,000 because I'm not extending the visa.

I'm leaving Thailand, but want to stay about as long as I can to wrap things up here. There is a stamp in my passport saying "APPLICATION OF STAY IS PERMITTED UP TO ... 25 JUNE 2015. APPLICANT MUST LEAVE THE KINGDOM WITHIN THE DATE SPECIFIED HEREIN OFFENDERS WILL BE PROSECUTE"

That seems very clear. However, I have the separate piece of paper stapled in my passport that says: THIS IS NOT A NOTIFICATION OF STAY PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR ADDRESS AGAIN ON 06 JUNE 2015"

When I was extending my visa, I was told to go check in before the date on the stapled piece of paper. I've never been able to make sense out of the need of the stapled document, but didn't want to take any risks with immigration. One day late and they might just cancel my visa. But now I'm just leaving.

Forgot to mention, I'm am on the last installment of my Ed visa, after which I'd need to leave the country. I'm not reapplying for another Ed visa, I'm just leaving.

Do I still need to go to immigration on or before 06 JUNE?

Do I need to go to immigration at all?

Do I just need to get out of the country before 25 JUNE?

I'm pretty sure you guys will have a very straightforward answer that will cut through the bullshit.

C'mon folks. I agree with the people that are surprised that we can supposedly now get back-to-back tourist visas again, and only people who are paying a shitload of baht and taking the trouble to learn the language are targeted and extorted. The only possible advantage to doing the Ed visa as of now if that you only have to leave the country every 6 months instead of 3, but even that is not guaranteed. The original post on this forum, titled, " Final crackdown for border runners" was presented with utmost seriousness by a "global moderator" and there are over 40 pages of responses, including over 1,000 comments.

That was NOT a little thing.

There was also a crackdown on people on volunteer visas, and I personally know three people, and head about others, who were kicked out of the country because immigration refused to honor their visas. Naturally, I got the impression that the crackdown was across the board (a weakness I have for seeing logic where there is none in Thailand).

I got on the stinking Ed visa BECAUSE of all the notifications here about the crackdown on tourist visas (though, I also wanted to learn the language, and did). And then, immediately after I got the condemnable Ed-visa, they changed all the rules. And then they changed them again. And again.

Now we hear that it was just low-ranking immigration officers making those claims, and it was really all a ball of fluff?

One thing that ISN'T a ball of fluff is the shit-storm people on Ed visas have to go through, including double the hours of lessons, and double the cost of tuition. On top of that you have to leave the country twice as often (uh, since they made you have to leave after a year early on, instead of just extending in country), and there are a lot of reports here of people being treated poorly by immigration, like criminals because they are trying to learn the language.

As someone said, it just doesn't make sense to go after Ed-visa holders like they are vermin, while letting multiple tourist visa holders slide, especially after all the hard-ass language and announcements about cracking down on tourist visas. I can't imagine why anyone would get an Ed-visa NOW (I got mine BEFORE they changed all the rules), when, if they want to learn the language, they would be better off just studying at the same school on a tourist visa. For example, you only need to do eight hours of rote learning in order to be on the Ed visa, whereas you could study at a reasonable pace if you are on a tourist visa.