I just came back from Phuket immigration for my annual retirement extension. The new and improved system is NOT improved. But that is another topic. A few people asked for an update, which I will do after I recover.
Anyway, the topic was, can we switch from me being the primary Retirement visa to my wife and me becoming the dependent.
There were two women IO, one junior and another senior with a lot of medals. We had the junior officer and I asked her about switching. She didn't know and asked the senior officer. They had a very brief conversation, and I heard the word Ma Dai (cannot), and it was explained to me that we would have to get new Non-O visas if we wanted to switch. That my Non-O was dedicated to the retirement visa and my wife's Non-O was dedicated to dependent. Which makes no sense to me, a Non-O is a Non-O ???? Isn't it.
Anyway, that is the answer today. Tomorrow maybe different?
to be continued..... haha
UPDATE: I just got this from Phuket immigration volunteer
It should not be a problem to change over the retirement and dependent applications.
But you can expect some questions from the officer of the reasoning of doing this as in most cases the man will be the retirement extension holder and the wife the dependent.
All the banking papers have to be in the name of the wife off-course. Same as it was for the husband in the past.
So, again, clear as mud. Not going to worry about it right now.