Wongkitlo

Thanks @DrJack54 @Rob Browder @Liquorice I was thinking that once the ME expired I could not apply for the new Non O but realize now that is dumb. Have just come off 6 months of work so thinking can be difficult. At least I have several options. Am really grateful for you guys taking the time.

Thanks. Since the ME visa expires on the 21st April I do not think I can use it to get the extension. I thought to apply for the extension I must have a valid non o visa. I am working months of the year so the retirement visa is not an option. Yes. I do not want to speak bad of anyone but the extension desk at Jomtien is a nightmare. I don't want to go there. The last 60 day extension at Trat was very friendly. She even gave my wife her phone number and,a list of papers needed to get the Non o and extension. It is just a long journey from Pattaya so I avoid it in low season. Thanks for your advice

Thank you for the advice. There are other considerations which I did not mention - I am happy to go on a holiday for a few days, I am staying in Pattaya but want to deal with Trat office so I avoid a trip in a van then taxi from Pattaya to Laem Ngop, and I prefer to deal with Thai immigration as little as possible. Regardless the main motivation is getting access to my money within 3 months, rather than waiting till I get back from Australia then 3 months afterwards from the date I arrive back. Again thank you for taking the time.

Thank you. If I take option 2 and get the Non-O from HCMC as soon as possible then re enter Thailand and get the 90 day stamp on entry I can exit Thailand on a re-entry permit and re enter within the first 60 days of the stay. If I then apply for the extension it will hopefully be approved within 30 days and I can access my money again. I understand the Non o and application for extension will take a minimum 3 months. I am just hoping to get the process started ASAP instead of waiting till I return from Australia. I understand the re-entry permit does not affect the length of the visa. I can not see how not being in Thailand while I wait for the last 30 days of the visa to come up, will affect the process of applying for the 1 year extension as soon as I return to Thailand, unless somebody knows otherwise. Thank you again for your help.

Thanks. The dates are pretty flexible. I was just trying to explain how it would save my money being in the bank for a longer time hopefully. Even if I don't return till the 21st July, I can apply for the extension immediately I arrive back and hopefully have it approved by 21st August.

Thank you for the reply. I understand what you are saying but I am trying to avoid having my 400,000 tied up for too long. If I get the 90 day Non O as soon as possible(1st Of May when my current stay expires) then 60 days after the visa is granted(1st July) I can apply for the extension and 30 days later (1st August) have my 400,000 available. If I wait till I arrive back from Australia (1st July) I will need to wait two months to apply for the extension (1st September) then 30 days for approval(1st October). This is on the understanding that the extension can only be applied for in the last 30 days of a 3 month visa. I know 400,000 is probably not a lot to some but I have a small business and having it tied up till October is difficult. I did avoid answering about what immigration office I use because I did not want to complicate things too much but I live 6 months in Pattaya (low season) and 6 months in Trat (High season). My work permit and tm30 is in Trat. I would apply for the extension there but getting the visa out of the country would avoid one trip from Pattaya to Trat. I have also dealt with Jomtien immigration in the past and, unless things have changed, visiting the woman who does the 60 day extension to visit your wife is something that should be avoided.

Sorry. I thought I was following your advice. Go to a neighboring country and get a 90 day non o visa at the embassy and then apply for the extension in the last 30 days of the visa.

Am really grateful to @DrJack54 and @Liquorice for advice. I think my best plan is to leave Thailand before my permission to stay ends on 1st May. By then my visa will have expired (21 April). If I put the 400,000 into my account now I can go to a neighboring country and apply for a non o visa, married to a Thai. If I leave Thailand for Australia on 21 May I can get a reentry permit and then return in time to apply for the 1 year permission to stay. By the time I return my 400,000 will be seasoned and I should be in the required last 30 days of the 90 days of the visa and able to apply for the 1 year extension. After the consideration period my 400,000 will be free to use. I think this is the easiest way without having my money tied up too long. I was hoping just 1 last question. Which neighboring embassy do you think is the friendliest to apply for a non o - Kuala Lumpur, HCMC, Hanoi, Vientiane, Savannakhet or any other suggestions? I did look through the forum but couldn't find much about this. Thanks.

Thanks Liquorice. Just trying to work out what to do😁

Am really grateful for the information. Just trying to work my way through it.

Thanks. I hadn't checked it for a while. The visa expires 22 April. My last entry was 2 Feb so I will leave and enter again before the 22nd April. If I converted the multi entry I would do next week but since I don't have the funds seasoned I will go for either reentry permit or visa free then apply for the non o. Thanks

I am weighing keeping the business open and paying myself an income but the old ME visa made things a lot easier

I actually have a work permit and work for my wife's (read between the lines as Thais own everything) business for high season. I go to Australia for 2 months as the business shuts for 6 months so retirement is not an option. I am mainly trying to avoid having my 400,000 baht tied up for 5 months( now, trip to Australia, 2 months seasoning) but from reading is not an option. Thank you forcall your help.

I was hoping could ask another question. Steve187 suggested another Savannakhet ME Non O but from following the forum I thought that option was no longer available. If possible would consider HCMC also.

Thank you