An Idiots Guide to the Retirement Extension process at Samui Immigration Office

[churchill]

3 hours ago, khunPer said:

And you are sure it's not somebody that had booked time in advance..?

Don't know 

 

RE TM30 

 

I filled mine out after my last trip overseas in May and I have been to BKK many times since  - TM30 was accepted without issue .

[TerraplaneGuy]

4 minutes ago, churchill said:

Don't know 

 

RE TM30 

 

I filled mine out after my last trip overseas in May and I have been to BKK many times since  - TM30 was accepted without issue .

Interesting.   Do you mean that after returning from BKK you used the TM30 you filed before you went to BKK?  Did you stay in a hotel there and do you know if they filed one?  If so I wonder why it didn’t eclipse your old filing.  

[churchill]

21 minutes ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

Interesting.   Do you mean that after returning from BKK you used the TM30 you filed before you went to BKK?  Did you stay in a hotel there and do you know if they filed one?  If so I wonder why it didn’t eclipse your old filing.  

 

Yes I use TM30 I filled in on my return from Europe last year - have stayed in a number of hotels in BKK since and I assume all hotels have a standard procedure .

[TerraplaneGuy]

18 minutes ago, churchill said:

 

Yes I use TM30 I filled in on my return from Europe last year - have stayed in a number of hotels in BKK since and I assume all hotels have a standard procedure .

So I guess when you went to Samui Imm they didn’t check your old TM30 that you brought in the system to see if it was still current.  Or maybe they did but realized that your BKK stats were temporary so didn’t matter.   Any idea how this works?

[churchill]

12 minutes ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

So I guess when you went to Samui Imm they didn’t check your old TM30 that you brought in the system to see if it was still current.  Or maybe they did but realized that your BKK stats were temporary so didn’t matter.   Any idea how this works?

I went for proof of address / the TM30 was required .

[TerraplaneGuy]

1 hour ago, churchill said:

I went for proof of address / the TM30 was required .

I see, well I still I wonder why the old one still worked given the more recent BKK filings 

[Tropicalevo]

12 hours ago, churchill said:

 

Yes I use TM30 I filled in on my return from Europe last year - have stayed in a number of hotels in BKK since and I assume all hotels have a standard procedure .

 

There are a number of thoughts on this subject.

All hotels are required by law to register all foreigners upon arrival.

But not all do.

 

I am a solo farang traveller and I have always been asked for my passport.

I give them a photocopy, crossed with 'for hotel use only' written on it.

My friend (farang) is married to a Chinese girl and when they see her at registration, they rarely ask for passports.

They assume that she is Thai.

So, inconsistency rules.

 

Then there is the interpretation of the law.

During Covid, for TM 30 reporting, there was an amendment for foreigners that live in Thailand - long stay.

The law was amended so that long stay foreigners did not have to re-submit a TM 30 when returning to their 'permanent' address.

Your experience would seem to indicate that the IO person that served you are accepts this version.

If you are using the Samui office then I am surprised, because I have always had to re-register my TM 30 when returning home here.

 

I was told that the amendment was only for during Covid, in order to lower the number of foreigners going to immigration.

 

 

[TerraplaneGuy]

Is the Samui Form TM7 the same now as it was last year? I have an extra from then that would save me having to pick up one now if there’s been no changes.  

[churchill]

'The law was amended so that long stay foreigners did not have to re-submit a TM 30 when returning to their 'permanent' address.'

 

I assume this is the case .

 

I stay at Novotel in Bangkok and am sure they would process passports correctly .

[khunPer]

22 hours ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

No

 

but I’m going to try.  Why wouldn’t it work?  They offer the online appointments specifically for “retirement purpose” among other purposes.  Not to actually apply online or upload anything, just to book an appointment.  

Please report back here, if it works...🙏

[TerraplaneGuy]

9 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Please report back here, if it works...🙏

I will!

[khunPer]

20 hours ago, churchill said:

Don't know 

 

RE TM30 

 

I filled mine out after my last trip overseas in May and I have been to BKK many times since  - TM30 was accepted without issue .

Mine was not in 2023, I had to go home a file a new TM30 – I'm "host" of my own house, so I can do it online – and come back, and start all over again. The long time extension-lady specificed said that Samui Immigration don't accept a TM30 if you have been registered for stay outside the province or has left the Thailand. I had a print of the police order to show here, but she didn't care; of course their rules are the rules, it's actually up to an immigration officer to approve entry and stay, but they will normally consult a superior officer.

[TerraplaneGuy]

2 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Mine was not in 2023, I had to go home a file a new TM30 – I'm "host" of my own house, so I can do it online – and come back, and start all over again. The long time extension-lady specificed said that Samui Immigration don't accept a TM30 if you have been registered for stay outside the province or has left the Thailand. I had a print of the police order to show here, but she didn't care; of course their rules are the rules, it's actually up to an immigration officer to approve entry and stay, but they will normally consult a superior officer.

Did she know you had been outside the province because she checked her system and it showed a TM30 registered outside?  Is that why she rejected your old one?

[khunPer]

9 minutes ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

Did she know you had been outside the province because she checked her system and it showed a TM30 registered outside?  Is that why she rejected your old one?

Yes, they seems to check the TM30-system while you are waiting for approval, after having supplied the paperwork. The check downstairs can only see that you have a copy of a TM30 registration, but not that it's still valid.

[frank83628]

On 1/9/2024 at 1:57 PM, TerraplaneGuy said:

Is it correct that you can apply for extension up to 30 days before your current one expires?  Anyone applied even earlier?

45 days I believe

[phetphet]

 

Trying to get all my paperwork ready to go to Immigration tomorrow morning to renew my Non O retirement extension.

The K-Bank branch near Thai International Hospital that used to open early, closed last year and the one in Central doesn't open until 11 am. So I went there this evening around 4:30, and queued for an hour to get my 12 month statement and make a small deposit in passbook. Charged THB300.

 

Just spent over an hour at home getting everything ready, then realised bank statement must be on day of renewal application.

So my statement and letter are a total waste of time.

 

As bank doesn't open until 11am, it's impossible to get to immigration before lunch. It's now a whole day process, and they hold your passport for a week. What a <deleted> palaver.

 

I hope they don't expect me to be smiling in the photo to be taken outside house.

 

Rant over  

 

 

Profane language edited out by a Moderator

[TerraplaneGuy]

10 hours ago, phetphet said:

 

Trying to get all my paperwork ready to go to Immigration tomorrow morning to renew my Non O retirement extension.

The K-Bank branch near Thai International Hospital that used to open early, closed last year and the one in Central doesn't open until 11 am. So I went there this evening around 4:30, and queued for an hour to get my 12 month statement and make a small deposit in passbook. Charged THB300.

 

Just spent over an hour at home getting everything ready, then realised bank statement must be on day of renewal application.

So my statement and letter are a total waste of time.

 

As bank doesn't open until 11am, it's impossible to get to immigration before lunch. It's now a whole day process, and they hold your passport for a week. What a <deleted> palaver.

 

I hope they don't expect me to be smiling in the photo to be taken outside house.

 

Rant over  

 

 

Profane language edited out by a Moderator

The bank letter is good for 7 days.  The statement can be from the day before but you have to update your bank book the day of application with a fresh transaction that day. .   You can make a transaction by phone in the morning or go to an ATM and withdraw something. Then use the update machine if they have one that works. Or wait for the bank to open and have staff update. 

[phetphet]

4 hours ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

The bank letter is good for 7 days.  The statement can be from the day before but you have to update your bank book the day of application with a fresh transaction that day. .   You can make a transaction by phone in the morning or go to an ATM and withdraw something. Then use the update machine if they have one that works. Or wait for the bank to open and have staff update. 

 

14 hours ago, phetphet said:

 

Trying to get all my paperwork ready to go to Immigration tomorrow morning to renew my Non O retirement extension.

The K-Bank branch near Thai International Hospital that used to open early, closed last year and the one in Central doesn't open until 11 am. So I went there this evening around 4:30, and queued for an hour to get my 12 month statement and make a small deposit in passbook. Charged THB300.

 

Just spent over an hour at home getting everything ready, then realised bank statement must be on day of renewal application.

So my statement and letter are a total waste of time.

 

As bank doesn't open until 11am, it's impossible to get to immigration before lunch. It's now a whole day process, and they hold your passport for a week. What a <deleted> palaver.

 

I hope they don't expect me to be smiling in the photo to be taken outside house.

 

Rant over  

 

 

Profane language edited out by a Moderator

I don't know if this has been reported before, but this wasn't necessary last year when I renewed my retirement extension at Maenam Immigration Office.

 

I went this morning, only to be told it is "By appointment only". I presume just for Retirement Extensions, but maybe other services..

An officer told me it had been implemented since Covid, but it is the first time I have heard of it.

Apparently, they are fully booked up until 22nd Jan, but as my visa expires before that, they will squeeze me in on Monday.

They gave me a pile of flyers with QR code to their LINE account to make appointments, and told me to "Give them to all your friends." See attached below:

 

[TerraplaneGuy]

7 minutes ago, phetphet said:

 

I don't know if this has been reported before, but this wasn't necessary last year when I renewed my retirement extension at Maenam Immigration Office.

 

I went this morning, only to be told it is "By appointment only". I presume just for Retirement Extensions, but maybe other services..

An officer told me it had been implemented since Covid, but it is the first time I have heard of it.

Apparently, they are fully booked up until 22nd Jan, but as my visa expires before that, they will squeeze me in on Monday.

They gave me a pile of flyers with QR code to their LINE account to make appointments, and told me to "Give them to all your friends." See attached below:

 

Did they say you can make the appointment using Line rather than showing up in person to make it?   Because people have said recently you have to go in person for that (therefore 3 visits total:  One to book appointment, one to submit documents including bank stuff, and one to pick up your passport with your new extension stamp).  If you can use Line for the first step, it’s only two visits needed, like last year.  

[TerraplaneGuy]

53 minutes ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

Did they say you can make the appointment using Line rather than showing up in person to make it?   Because people have said recently you have to go in person for that (therefore 3 visits total:  One to book appointment, one to submit documents including bank stuff, and one to pick up your passport with your new extension stamp).  If you can use Line for the first step, it’s only two visits needed, like last year.  

I mean can you use Line for appointments specifically for the retirement extension. (For some reason I’m not able to edit my earlier comment.)

[khunPer]

18 hours ago, phetphet said:

Just spent over an hour at home getting everything ready, then realised bank statement must be on day of renewal application.

So my statement and letter are a total waste of time.

No, it's the bank book-update shall shall be same day; statement and letter are valid for 7 days, same with health check

[phetphet]

9 hours ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

I mean can you use Line for appointments specifically for the retirement extension. (For some reason I’m not able to edit my earlier comment.)

They didn't say. They just told me that in future I need to make an appointment, and gave me those flyers to give out.

[phetphet]

Going back to Samui Immigration this afternoon to try again renewing my extension.

 

One thing I found confusing was the wording for how they wanted the papers laid out. Portrait? Vertical?

It turns out it's not the passport or the bank passbook, rather they want all the writing to be as one would read a page. So your Passport itself might need to be in portrait OR landscape, depending on how the stamps were entered. 

 

Anyway. Below is how the lady downstairs at the Imm. Office arranged all my papers for me to go this afternoon. I know that there is a list of these requirements, but this is the order she put mine in.

 

It might prevent some grumpy interactions for others in the future.

 

1. TM.7 with photo + copies of Passport pages.

2. TM.8    "        "            "          "        "            "           for my Mutiple Re-entry Permit.

3. Bank Letter.

4. Bank Statement  (12 months).  (Valid for one week from issue.)

5. Copies all pages of bank Passbook. NOTE: Passbook to be updated on same day as application.

6. Medical Certificate.  (Valid for one week from issue.)

7. Copy of House paper: Blue book, yellow book or rental contract. 

8. Satellite photo with co-ordinates of house.

9. Hand drawn map.

10. Copy of Notification of Address. Mine is stapled in my passport.

11. Photo showing house and number.

12. Copy of form: Amendment to Criteria and Conditions for Consideration of an Alien's Application for a Temporary Stay in Kingdom (3 pages).

 

All documents to be signed.

 

HTH

 

[khunPer]

4 hours ago, phetphet said:

10. Copy of Notification of Address. Mine is stapled in my passport.

It's copy of TM30 registration that is needed, not the 90-days address report receipt ion one's passport.

 

Paper order is the same as in the list of needed documentation.

[phetphet]

7 hours ago, phetphet said:

Going back to Samui Immigration this afternoon to try again renewing my extension.

 

One thing I found confusing was the wording for how they wanted the papers laid out. Portrait? Vertical?

It turns out it's not the passport or the bank passbook, rather they want all the writing to be as one would read a page. So your Passport itself might need to be in portrait OR landscape, depending on how the stamps were entered. 

 

Anyway. Below is how the lady downstairs at the Imm. Office arranged all my papers for me to go this afternoon. I know that there is a list of these requirements, but this is the order she put mine in.

 

It might prevent some grumpy interactions for others in the future.

 

1. TM.7 with photo + copies of Passport pages.

2. TM.8    "        "            "          "        "            "           for my Mutiple Re-entry Permit.

3. Bank Letter.

4. Bank Statement  (12 months).  (Valid for one week from issue.)

5. Copies all pages of bank Passbook. NOTE: Passbook to be updated on same day as application.

6. Medical Certificate.  (Valid for one week from issue.)

7. Copy of House paper: Blue book, yellow book or rental contract. 

8. Satellite photo with co-ordinates of house.

9. Hand drawn map.

10. Copy of Notification of Address. Mine is stapled in my passport.

11. Photo showing house and number.

12. Copy of form: Amendment to Criteria and Conditions for Consideration of an Alien's Application for a Temporary Stay in Kingdom (3 pages).

 

All documents to be signed.

 

HTH

 

Well that turned out to be my longest wait at Immigration ever.

 

Got there at 12:45 for 13:00 opening. Seen pretty quickly and given a queue number for upstairs.

 

Sat down and waited...and waited and waited. Got seen about 16:20 and there was only one person left when I left at 16:50. Supposed to close at 16:35

[Can samui]

Just went today to make an appointment.

Passport and visa...Ok!

All paperwork ??? WTF?

Yep, you need all your paperwork BEFORE they will give you an appointment.

Attached is the new and improved list o' requirements.

[khunPer]

11 hours ago, Can samui said:

Just went today to make an appointment.

Passport and visa...Ok!

All paperwork ??? WTF?

Yep, you need all your paperwork BEFORE they will give you an appointment.

Attached is the new and improved list o' requirements.

Thanks, i.e., everything except health certificate and financial letter/statements, which are valid only 7 days; bank book update same day (if possible, day before was Okay for me in October where I had to come early before bank opens).

[yabbra]

On 2/13/2025 at 4:09 PM, Can samui said:

Just went today to make an appointment.

Passport and visa...Ok!

All paperwork ??? WTF?

Yep, you need all your paperwork BEFORE they will give you an appointment.

Attached is the new and improved list o' requirements.

 

Geez, this new appointment process just keeps changing...Out of interest, do they check through & keep all the documents or give them back for you to bring again on your appointment date?

I'm on a marriage extension & going to assume it's got the same process since it's also a long term extension.

 

[Can samui]

1 hour ago, yabbra said:

 

Geez, this new appointment process just keeps changing...Out of interest, do they check through & keep all the documents or give them back for you to bring again on your appointment date?

I'm on a marriage extension & going to assume it's got the same process since it's also a long term extension.

 

Just check through and hand back, must be resubmitted with all other documents on appointment day.