Thailand Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 I believe this can be done in Chiangmai provided certain criteria are met? Chinese friend currently on tourist visa wants to convert to "retirement" status, Is it correct that she would have to convert from tourist to "o" visa before she can convert to extension of stay based on retirement? She has seasoned money in a Thai bank and proof of address etc. What is the procedure and how long should she have remaining on her tourist visa to allow her to apply for the "o" visa, and anything else that would help her application. Thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirmud63 Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 following. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saraphee Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 Thailand - I'm delighted to see that you have taken Cunk as one of your gurus. We can only hope that her influence spreads. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 1 hour ago, Thailand said: Is it correct that she would have to convert from tourist to "o" visa before she can convert to extension of stay based on retirement? She would have to apply for a change of visa status to get a 90 day non immigrant (category O) visa entry. She would need at least 21 days (CM rule at others it is 15) remaining on her current entry or the 30 day extension of it. She will need proof the funds came from abroad to apply. Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry she could apply for a one year extension of stay based upon retirement. The money would need to be in the bank for 60 days on the date of application. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 Go have a chat with the people at OTain in Pramenade mall... They had Visa Change on thier pricelist for 20k baht... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 3 hours ago, ubonjoe said: She would have to apply for a change of visa status to get a 90 day non immigrant (category O) visa entry. She would need at least 21 days (CM rule at others it is 15) remaining on her current entry or the 30 day extension of it. She will need proof the funds came from abroad to apply. Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry she could apply for a one year extension of stay based upon retirement. The money would need to be in the bank for 60 days on the date of application. She will also need to prove that there is a TM30 on file for her. Her landlord, owner of her house/condo or the property manager should have given her a receipt from the TM30 form that they submitted when she moved in and gave them a copy of her passport. Also, she will need to make an appointment at Immigration Promenada for the application of the visa conversion. What she may find is that all the appointment slots are booked and she won't be able to obtain one while she still has at least 21 days remaining on her current entry or even a 30 day extension of her current entry. This is where the agents come in -- somehow they can get priority appointments for their clients. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 Thanks all, very useful, she has more than 60 days if she extends an additional thirty so should get an appointment, with luck! Where would she make the important appointment? Immigration closed tomorrow I believe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimmer Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 A post that was not very much help has been removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 I expect that Immigration would be closed since it is Royal Ploughing Day. Appointments for conversions are made at Immigration Promenada and there is a limited time frame each day that they will accept applications for appointments, so it's advisable to arrive by 8 am so as not to miss the time that they'll accept applications for appointments. (They really do try to make the process of visa conversion difficult for Do-It-Yourselfers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 (edited) 50 minutes ago, NancyL said: I expect that Immigration would be closed since it is Royal Ploughing Day. Appointments for conversions are made at Immigration Promenada and there is a limited time frame each day that they will accept applications for appointments, so it's advisable to arrive by 8 am so as not to miss the time that they'll accept applications for appointments. (They really do try to make the process of visa conversion difficult for Do-It-Yourselfers) Thanks Is there a line queue? Are applicants simply lining up to book an appointment in the future? Edited May 13, 2018 by Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 10 minutes ago, Thailand said: Thanks Is there a line queue? Are applicants simply lining up to book an appointment in the future? No, there isn't a queue to book an appointment, per se, but given the uncertainty about what 1/2 hour time period is the "correct" time to come to book an appointment, it's good to come early. I'm under the impression that if too many people come to book appointments during the window of opportunity, they tell the late comers to come back the next day. In other words, they only book three or four appointments a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 25 minutes ago, NancyL said: No, there isn't a queue to book an appointment, per se, but given the uncertainty about what 1/2 hour time period is the "correct" time to come to book an appointment, it's good to come early. I'm under the impression that if too many people come to book appointments during the window of opportunity, they tell the late comers to come back the next day. In other words, they only book three or four appointments a day. Sorry. Not quite getting this. There is no queue so where would she go to try to book the elusive appointment as immigration does not open until 9am but recommended to be there at 8am? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superoo Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Isn't it good enough that one has seasoned funds in a Thai bank? Are they really going to ask for proof where the money came from in order to apply for a retirement visa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 14, 2018 Author Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Superoo said: Isn't it good enough that one has seasoned funds in a Thai bank? Are they really going to ask for proof where the money came from in order to apply for a retirement visa? It is not required for a "retirement" visa, it is required when changing from tourist visa to "o" visa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverell Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 On 5/13/2018 at 8:51 AM, ubonjoe said: She would have to apply for a change of visa status to get a 90 day non immigrant (category O) visa entry. She would need at least 21 days (CM rule at others it is 15) remaining on her current entry or the 30 day extension of it. She will need proof the funds came from abroad to apply. Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry she could apply for a one year extension of stay based upon retirement. The money would need to be in the bank for 60 days on the date of application. That is exactly what I did - so easy, took about 30 minutes, but at Chiang Rai immigration office at Mae Sai. Then when I got the years extension it took all of 20 minutes at the office near CR airport. I appreciate the OP is talking about CM but someone might read this who wants to do the same in CR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 14, 2018 Author Share Posted May 14, 2018 23 minutes ago, Maverell said: That is exactly what I did - so easy, took about 30 minutes, but at Chiang Rai immigration office at Mae Sai. Then when I got the years extension it took all of 20 minutes at the office near CR airport. I appreciate the OP is talking about CM but someone might read this who wants to do the same in CR. Useful for Chiang Rai but as pointed out earlier Chiangmai Imm is geared towards pushing applicants towards agents and this particular application seems to be one of the more lucrative ones with prices up to 20K. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 13 hours ago, Thailand said: Sorry. Not quite getting this. There is no queue so where would she go to try to book the elusive appointment as immigration does not open until 9am but recommended to be there at 8am? Thanks The Immigration office opens at 8:30 am. She should go to the Info desk in front of the Immigration office and there is a spot for people to queue who have business with the second floor Immigration office. This is where they book the appointments, along with other business like filing TM30s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 14, 2018 Author Share Posted May 14, 2018 3 hours ago, NancyL said: The Immigration office opens at 8:30 am. She should go to the Info desk in front of the Immigration office and there is a spot for people to queue who have business with the second floor Immigration office. This is where they book the appointments, along with other business like filing TM30s. Just to clarify. The desk outside of the immigration office manned by the students or the info desk at the front inside the office? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 Update. The office for making the appointment is the 2nd floor office where the TM30's are submitted but at the rear,there is a sign saying q to make appointment for change of visa 9~10am. Went in at 8.50am this morning,officers very helpful.The lady walked out at 9.10am with an appointment for Friday next week. Thanks for the useful posts,18,000 baht cheaper than Tian! ☺ 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) On 5/14/2018 at 9:40 AM, Thailand said: Useful for Chiang Rai but as pointed out earlier Chiangmai Imm is geared towards pushing applicants towards agents and this particular application seems to be one of the more lucrative ones with prices up to 20K. That is true. The retirement and residence cert queues seem to be connected to the agents. Not sure about education and others. How else can you explain that they only process 25 applicants for the residence certificate daily and you have to go three trips to get the cert? 1. Make appointment to submit documents on week 1 2. Submit documents on week 2 3. Collect cert on week x. Edited May 16, 2018 by EricTh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 On 5/13/2018 at 8:51 AM, ubonjoe said: She would have to apply for a change of visa status to get a 90 day non immigrant (category O) visa entry. She would need at least 21 days (CM rule at others it is 15) remaining on her current entry or the 30 day extension of it. She will need proof the funds came from abroad to apply. Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry she could apply for a one year extension of stay based upon retirement. The money would need to be in the bank for 60 days on the date of application. I didn't need to prove that the money came from abroad when I first applied. After all, it was all cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 On 5/14/2018 at 7:38 AM, Superoo said: Isn't it good enough that one has seasoned funds in a Thai bank? Are they really going to ask for proof where the money came from in order to apply for a retirement visa? Not necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 On 5/13/2018 at 12:12 PM, NancyL said: She will also need to prove that there is a TM30 on file for her. Her landlord, owner of her house/condo or the property manager should have given her a receipt from the TM30 form that they submitted when she moved in and gave them a copy of her passport. Also, she will need to make an appointment at Immigration Promenada for the application of the visa conversion. What she may find is that all the appointment slots are booked and she won't be able to obtain one while she still has at least 21 days remaining on her current entry or even a 30 day extension of her current entry. This is where the agents come in -- somehow they can get priority appointments for their clients. I thought we can't convert from tourist to 'O' while we are in Thailand? We need to apply for 'O' outside the country . Or the rules have been changed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 3 minutes ago, EricTh said: I thought we can't convert from tourist to 'O' while we are in Thailand? We need to apply for 'O' outside the country . Or the rules have been changed? You have been able to convert from a tourist to an O visa within Thailand for quite some time, at least in some provinces. They discontinued it for a time right after the coup but started back up after about six months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 This was the document requirements provided by immigration yesterday. Additional documents now required: Two copies of TM 30 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 “5.3 A document proving foreign remittance”... This seems to run counter to what a number of posters have stated?... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 25 minutes ago, sfokevin said: “5.3 A document proving foreign remittance”... This seems to run counter to what a number of posters have stated?... See post 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, sfokevin said: “5.3 A document proving foreign remittance”... This seems to run counter to what a number of posters have stated?... Maybe it's a new requirement. They really need to have some Thai people write the requirements in proper English instead of having an amateur write in pidgin English. Some of the sentences are just improper English and I don't know what it means. Edited May 16, 2018 by EricTh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 21 minutes ago, EricTh said: Maybe it's a new requirement. They really need to have some Thai people write the requirements in proper English instead of having an amateur write in pidgin English. Some of the sentences are just improper English and I don't know what it means. See post 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 3 hours ago, Thailand said: See post 14 No. It doesn't say that in the photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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