What visa options?

[Ian47]

A friend of mine, on a UK passport, returned to Thailand (from Indonesia) earlier in the year on a single entry tourist visa.

That was due to expire on 11th. April, so, yesterday he paid a visit to Udon Immigration & they gave him a 30 day extension - until 11th. May.

He wants to stay longer in Thailand than early May, so what are his options?

 

He can satisfy all the requirements for a retirement visa extension but when he mentioned this to Udon Immigration they told him that he could not do that from a Tourist Visa.

That I very much knew anyway, however, I thought that it was possible to change a Tourist Visa to a Non 'o' based on Retirement at a local office.

Were Udon Immigration just 'answering the question asked' when they told him that he could not, or is it no longer possible to change a Tourist Visa internally?

 

Second question.. How long before his current extension (to 11th. May) expires should he make the request to change?

 

If that visa route is no longer available to him for some reason, is it possible that he could extend his stay in Thailand after 11th. May under the Covid-19 rules covered in this announcement??

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1211982-foreigners-stranded-in-thailand-due-to-covid-19-can-now-stay-until-end-of-july/?utm_source=newsletter-20210331-0538&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

 

Many thanks, in advance, for any information..

 

[DrJack54]

He can obtain a non O (retirement) UT imm was incorrect.

He can obtain a 60 day covid extension. Prior to his current extension expires May 11 he obtains a covid extension.

That will not prevent him from obtaining a non o retirement after that if he wants.

[ubonjoe]

If he asked about changing to a retirement extension they in away gave him the correct info.

He first needs to apply for a 90 day non-o visa entry. Requirements are here. https://bangkokimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/08-edit_NON-O.pdf

[Ian47]

Many thanks guys.

I have printed off the Requirements & a TM 86 & will give him the details & let him decide which way he wants to go...