Never thought I'd even contemplate this, especially since I've put a LOT of effort to set up my own company with WP ++

 

But... When the world economy is collapsing, and I can just about manage the 800.000 baht, changing visa type might be the right move.

 

Would this be possible without leaving the country? No objections agains using agents, whatever gets the job done is OK if I end up going down a completely different route...

I assume what you are actually after is to change the reason for your permit to stay ( 1 year extension).

 

Your local office might let you change using the original Non B visa, but they might (under the rules) send you out to get a Non O visa before you can apply for the 1 year extension based on retirement. It's best to go and ask as you won't get a definitive answer any other way.

 

You would need confirmation that your job has ended so the current extension can be cancelled, and have had 800k in the bank for at least 2 months (maybe 3).

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

I assume what you are actually after is to change the reason for your permit to stay ( 1 year extension).

 

Your local office might let you change using the original Non B visa, but they might (under the rules) send you out to get a Non O visa before you can apply for the 1 year extension based on retirement. It's best to go and ask as you won't get a definitive answer any other way.

 

You would need confirmation that your job has ended so the current extension can be cancelled, and have had 800k in the bank for at least 2 months (maybe 3).

 

I change my Non-B to a "Retirement Extension" (call it a retirement visa if you wish) when the year was up, which was back in late 2006. One of the reasons I did this was that I didn't want to leave the country at that particular time, so I did it - and didn't need to leave the country.

Did just what you're describing in Jan this year; changed reason for extension of stay from work to retirement without leaving the country.

 

Application for the retirement has to be done and approved on the same day you cancel your work permit. Would recommend using a trusted agent for this and perhaps also do a 'testrun' with all the necessary paperwork to get validated some days before together with the agent, since there's not much room for error once the WP is cancelled.

The change from Non-B to the extension based on retirement was one visit at the wonderful and helpful immigration in Hat Yai, with all necessary papers at the ready. That took about 90 minutes, and was back in 2013. No agent necessary.

On 3/24/2020 at 8:12 AM, Khun Yaaai said:

Did just what you're describing in Jan this year; changed reason for extension of stay from work to retirement without leaving the country.

 

Application for the retirement has to be done and approved on the same day you cancel your work permit. Would recommend using a trusted agent for this and perhaps also do a 'testrun' with all the necessary paperwork to get validated some days before together with the agent, since there's not much room for error once the WP is cancelled.

I met a French guy (retiree with fluent English) and we got talking about annual reporting (retirement extension) in Jomtien soi 5. He said he always used an "agent" when he was due to renew it. I told him that I had been doing it for 10 years and never ever used an agent. The next time I ran into him he bought me a drink.