Obtaining Non-Imm O Visa from PP + retirement extension (Phuket)

[SE23inPhuket]

Phnom Penh - Non-Immigrant O visa:

In October 2017 I obtained a single-entry non-immigrant O visa (for purpose of obtaining a retirement extension) from the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh. Despite three local travel/visa agents having told me ‘cannot do’, or that the non-immigrant O visa application process was ‘too difficult’ and/or that the PP Embassy very rarely granted these visas, the process was entirely painless.

 

Documents required were:

• A completed visa application form (it was the only application form available at the counter and appeared to be for tourist visa applications);
• A copy of the passport title page;
• One passport photo; and
• Copies of my Thai bank book ‘account details’ page and the last-used page in the book (showing a balance exceeding the required ThB 800,000).

At the time of the application, the funds had been on deposit for less than 2 months. Nobody asked to see the original savings account book, or asked where the funds originated, or asked for a letter from the bank.

 

I had to explain several times that the visa was for a retirement extension (the Khmer counter staff kept asking ‘for business?’). Eventually, they took the application away to be checked while I waited, and before they asked me for the $80 fee. After half an hour, and presumably someone in authority giving the application the nod, they collected the fee from me and told me to come back in two days.

 

Visa granted, no drama.

 

Phuket Town - Retirement extension:

It is worth noting that the Patong office will not process retirement extension applications. Also that both Patong and Phuket Town immigration offices will accept only manually completed versions of forms.

 

I made the mistake of trying to apply for the retirement extension when only around 30 days had elapsed on the 90-day entry permission from my non-immigrant O visa. They told me I was too early, and to come back after 45 days had elapsed.

 

At the same time, they required me to complete form TM30, which my landlord in Phuket had failed to submit when I leased my house. Although the form is intended to be completed by the landlord, the official allowed me to complete and sign the form ‘on the landlord’s behalf’. Even though they could see that the lease was already six months old, and that I had been (on the latest arrival) in Thailand for nearly 5 weeks already, there was no mention of a fine for late notification (i.e. they were commendably pragmatic about it).

 

After 45 days had elapsed (on 46^th day), I went back to immigration. They required the following documents:

• Manually completed form TM7 (application for extension of stay);
• One 4 x 6cm passport photo;
• Single photocopies of passport title page, non-immigrant O visa, arrival stamp (‘admitted until…’, and departure card TM6 (photocopies cost only ThB 3/page from the copy desk in the Phuket Town building);
• A copy of my lease agreement;
• A copy of my landlord’s ID card;
• A copy of the blue book for the house;
• A photo of me standing outside my house, with the house number clearly visible;
• Copies of every used page in my recently updated (the day before the application) bank account book;
• A signed copy of form entitled ‘Acknowledgement of Terms and Conditions for Permit of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand’;
• A letter from Bangkok bank confirming the balance on the account, and reconciling to the account book.

 

N.B. you must sign every copy document.

 

The immigration officer who accepted the papers then asked for a ‘statement’ from my bank, and was on the point of rejecting the application, when his superior (sitting behind him) intervened and said that wouldn’t be necessary.

 

This ‘statement’ wasn’t mentioned to me on my previous (abortive) visit at 30 days when the same official had inspected all my documents (although he did ask for the bank letter confirming the account balance), and I am unsure what he he meant (possibly a statement that the funds originated from overseas?).

 

The fee was ThB 1800 and I had to return to pick up my passport the next day at 13:00.

 

The one-year retirement extension was ‘added on’ to the 44 days remaining on the non-immigrant O visa ‘admitted until’ date i.e. the permission to stay is for one year and 44 days.

 

Phuket Town - multiple re-entry permit:

On the day I picked up my passport and retirement extension, I also obtained a multiple re-entry permit.

 

Documents required were:

• Manually completed form TM8 (re-entry permit application);
• Signed photocopies of passport title page, non-immigrant O visa and retirement extension stamp, TM6 (departure card);
• One 4 x 6cm passport photo;

 

The fee was ThB 3800. There was a 10 minute wait from submitting the application, to getting the stamped passport back.

 

The multiple entry permit was issued for the same period as the permission to stay on the retirement extension (i.e. one year and 44 days).

[BritTim]

7 minutes ago, SE23inPhuket said:

The fee was ThB 1800

Thank you for a good report, but I am pretty sure you will have paid 1,900 baht for the extension of stay.

[SE23inPhuket]

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

Thank you for a good report, but I am pretty sure you will have paid 1,900 baht for the extension of stay.

Yes, thanks, my mistake.