campbell

hope it worked this time, sorry connection problems today

A quick note on my experience this week in extending my non-O visa for retirement at Samut Prakan immigration to warn others who may not be aware of a new regulation. On my initial visit with all the documents I have used without problems in the past, I was informed that I needed to show an up-to-date rental agreement in addition to the TM30. This, I was told, was a new and recently introduced regulation. Duly went back with an updated rental agreement and my visa was extended. I don’t know whether this rule is only for extension of visas for retirement or whether it is needed for all visa extensions but any readers of this thread who use the Samut Prakan immigration office should be aware that they could be asked for their lease/rental agreement.

The move to Thipnimitra market (second floor) is because a new and larger building is being constructed on the riverside site. The officer I spoke too said it would take about two years. And yes, the move comes into effect on Sept 20. 

The new office is on Theparak Road, quite a distance away but looks easy enough to reach.

not sure where to post this so maybe someone can move it to the right place.

A journalist friend of mine just sent me this. Hope it helps.

Dear Members of the Press,

The Consular Affairs Dept has registered 2,661 foreign residents aged 60+ to date.  Bang Sue Grand Station Vaccination Central Station will send them an SMS giving the vac date soonest.

Pls. convey the message to any remaining unregistered foreign residents aged 60+ to register soonest.  The Consular Affairs Dept  and Disease Control Dept will move to other age groups soon.

Thank you for your patience.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

https://forms.gle/ULAqvx8eiDoX3v5Q9

Just now, campbell said:

 

thanks for that. was afraid that might be the case, will just keeping on trying I guess. 

11 hours ago, samtam said:

 

Yes, same problem. No, as to how to get around it. I am wishfully thinking they are working on updating/improving/facilitating the site, but I suspect 2 things:

1) they are annoyed that the faults have been widely published both here and internationally, so are currently in sulk mode;

2) they are aware of the shortage of vaccine, so they cannot schedule booking slots.

 

 

Am over 60, husband aged 83. Have been trying to book an appointment for the best part of two weeks now. Successfully registered but like many have reported this forum, came up against greyed out dates on the appointment section time and time again.  Tried to log on yesrerday day between noon and 3 using the thailandintervac/logout.php address and the opening page is showing my log in email and password with a note in a red box underneath reading 'sorry Temporarily closed'. 

Is anyone else having this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions about how to get around it? Thanks in advance.

4 hours ago, MwwM said:

Please try this link. https://www.thailandintervac.com/logout.php
It is the real URL of their log in page. Seems like they have developed this website without testing before launching. It is not user friendly at all. 

thanks, not getting through to that or even the original website even using Microsoft Edge but will try again tomorrow between 12 and 3. 

I also received the message with the date 1 Jan 1970 when I tried to book appointments for both my husband and myself. Both over the age of 60,  he has diabetes so we certainly qualify.  Have gone back to the website several times to try and continue through to the appointments page but seem to have no option but to go through the process again (is there a place to log in?) but as soon as I enter email and password, it tells me I am already registered and shifts me back to the opening page. I did email the hotline at the address above asking how to do it but received no reply. Does anyone know how I should proceed?.  I see other people mentioning a drop down menu on the Intervac but it's not showing up on my computer. Grateful for any help.

On 6/7/2021 at 9:15 AM, steveb6 said:

There was no booking option and after I completed the application this is what I received. 

VACCINE BOOKING INFORMATION

Date

01 JAN 1970

Place

-

Time

 

I also received this message when I tried to book appointments for both my husband and myself. Both over the age of 60,  he has diabetes so we certainly qualify.  Have gone back to the website several times to try and continue through to the appointments page but seem to have no option but to go through the process again (is there a place to log in?) but as soon as I enter email and password, it tells me I am already registered and shifts me back to the opening page. I did email the hotline at the address above asking how to do it but received no reply. Does anyone know how I should proceed? Thanks in advance. 

thank you, that's exactly what I wanted to know.

sorry, yes you are right, it is an extension of stay based on a media visa, and one of the reasons for going to Chamchuri next week will be to ask exactly what documents they need from my employer to cancel the visa. My question is therefore can I be issued with an extension  of stay without having to leave the country and apply for a new non-immigrant outside Thailand or if I do have to leave the country, can I just fly out and fly back in the same day and ask for an extension of stay to be issued here on that basis? I've lived here legally for more than 35 years  I've been looking at various embassy websites and it seems almost impossible to get a non-immigrant visa without all sorts of documents ( criminal record by my home country, for one, which should be fun, especially as it will only account for 11 years of adulthood!). A former colleague had no problem going from an extension of stay based on a media visa to an extension of stay based on a marriage visa at Chaeng Wattana, so wondering if that also applies to retirement.  

Any idea? 

At the moment I have a valid media visa and work permit but want to retire in August for family reasons. I get my media visa from Chamchuri but live in Samut Prakan, which will issue me with a retirement visa but doesn't seem sure what the procedures are!

I intend to go to Chamchuri to ask but was wondering was other people might have done. And yes, I will be applying for an extension of stay at Samut Prakan.

My apologies, there might well already be a topic for this but I can't find it.

I want to switch from a media visa to a retirement visa but not very sure whether this can be done incountry. I did ask at Samut Prakan immigration who said they thought I had to just cross the border to invalidate my visa and they could then issue a non-immigrant visa for retirement visas then added that I should check. I meet all the other requirements and will take out health insurance if I need to do so.

Does anyone have experience of this with the Samut Prakan office?

Anyone extending a visa at Samut Prakan immigration needs to be aware that they may be asked for a form (I assume it's the TM30 but didn't manage to see the document) completed by the owner of their rented residence. A friend whose company extended his visa based on his work permit as well as his family was not asked for this document, so perhaps it only applies to retirement extensions.

Anyway, best to be aware. Also, I only recognised one or two faces in the ground floor office, seems to have been a complete change of staff. They were as helpful and friendly as the former officers though, so all is well.

especially as there is no question of overstay - mother's visa doesn't expire until July 25!

Visited Samut Prakan immigration this morning to extend my 92-year-old mother's non-O retirement visa (she was there in person too) only to be informed that a document signed by my landlord is now required that declares the names of the people resident in his rental property. This is not a problem as my landlord has agreed to go to the immigration office this afternoon to sign such a document.

He was told it's a new rule. Has anyone heard of it? I can find nothing on the immigration website.

Was also given another document for her to sign detailing reasons for wanting an extension and an acknowledgement of penalties for visa overstay.

There's also a map in English of the new immigration office at the Nation's website - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/11...al_30112035.php

There's also a map in English of the new immigration office at the Nation's website - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/11...al_30112035.php

In respone to "egeefay" ... Never heard of any Thai hospital accepting Western medical benefits, nor do I know of any Thai nursing homes in Bangkok that cater specifically to western people, although I would assume that if you have plenty of money - which we don't - anything is possible

For lopburi3: thanks for the advice re the Hull consulate, I'll suggest she follows that option. Will she need to write to them to ask for the form or can it be downloaded (if so, would you happen to have the website handy??). Thanks again.

Many thanks to all of you for your advice on my mother's pending retirement here. I'll suggest she applies for a Non Imm O visa based on the "wish to retire in Thailand with my son/daughter", which seems to be the consensus, and in the meantime am asking friends if they know bank managers who might be disposed to assisting in opening an account for her as soon as she arrives.

As it seems likely she'll be staying in London for three months before making the move, she'll probably have to apply for the visa through the Thai embassy there. Does anyone see any problems with making the application thru the London embassy, or would she better curtailing her visit to the UK and getting the visa through the consulate in Monaco?

Any ideas?

Also, while I know that the requirement for a medical exam has been dropped, might she be asked for one in view of her advanced age (she is in good health but my health insurance company has refused to take her on)?

Hi, my 85-year-old mother will be coming to live here permanently at the end of this year and I’d love some input, if anyone has any, on the best way – and where – she should go about applying for a retirement visa.

She’s French by birth but a British passport holder who is currently living in Nice, France, so she could apply, I imagine, either through Paris or London, where she intends spending three months before flying to Bangkok. The Bt800,000 equivalent that she’ll also need to show as evidence of the necessary finances is also in a UK bank account, and given that most visas are only valid for use within 90 days of date of issue, I think London may be a better option. I’m assuming that Monaco, which is just the road but only as an honorary consular general status, isn’t able to issue retirement visas????

I know she will need a report from the police stating she has no criminal record as well as a medical certificate, so assuming she is to apply from London, should she get these two from France and have official translations made? Does she also need the same documents issued in England (she lived in Essex from 1946 to 1975?

Sorry for this long post, but all advice would be most welcome, as would any other suggestions as to other documentation she may need.

I would rather she obtained the retirement before coming here as at her age, I’m not sure she’ll want to leave Thailand again within 90 days of arriving here.

Thanks

Does she have more than 65k per month income ? If so she could come on a 30 days stamp or on a tourist visa (much easier to obtain) and do the extension in Thailand without the need to go out of Thailand.

If she wants to go the 800k baht route, she will need to have the 800k in an account in a bank in Thailand for 3 months before applying for the extension which might mean a border run.

She could also as you suggested go for the Non-Immigrant OA visa which will give her a 1 year stamp upon arrival in Thailand.

This visa requires the medical and the police record which is a pain depending which country and where you apply.

If she has not lived in the UK it might be difficult to get a police record from the UK, find out first before deciding on UK for application.

Hi, thanks for the answers. No, her income, from her pension, is lower than Bt65k/month and the problem with the Bt800k is, as you say, the three-month requirement for the bank account, as well as the difficulties in opening a bank account without having a retirement visa in the first place. My bank has already refused to help out, despite my having been a client for the best part of 12 years.

Has anyone had success in opening a savings account with an non imm O visa?

Hi, my 85-year-old mother will be coming to live here permanently at the end of this year and I’d love some input, if anyone has any, on the best way – and where – she should go about applying for a retirement visa.

She’s French by birth but a British passport holder who is currently living in Nice, France, so she could apply, I imagine, either through Paris or London, where she intends spending three months before flying to Bangkok. The Bt800,000 equivalent that she’ll also need to show as evidence of the necessary finances is also in a UK bank account, and given that most visas are only valid for use within 90 days of date of issue, I think London may be a better option. I’m assuming that Monaco, which is just the road but only as an honorary consular general status, isn’t able to issue retirement visas????

I know she will need a report from the police stating she has no criminal record as well as a medical certificate, so assuming she is to apply from London, should she get these two from France and have official translations made? Does she also need the same documents issued in England (she lived in Essex from 1946 to 1975?

Sorry for this long post, but all advice would be most welcome, as would any other suggestions as to other documentation she may need.

I would rather she obtained the retirement before coming here as at her age, I’m not sure she’ll want to leave Thailand again within 90 days of arriving here.

Thanks