Extending My Retirement Visa - My Experience

I thought I had made well laid plans to Extend my Visa and get a Re-entry Permit - BUT!

I had visited the British Embassy to apply for a New Biometric Passport which I was told would be Ready on 29 May

During the week prior to that I sent the Embassy a Fax asking them to have ready for me their usual Immigration Letter when I came to collect my Passport - they phoned back & confirmed

The same day I faxed my Bank and asked them to have their Certificate of my Savings Balance ready for collection on 29th May - they also phoned me and confirmed as they had done in several past years

On 29th May - all went well at the Embassy - I was given New Passport which I had paid for at time of application and Immigration Letter - which I had to explain to the Embassy Officer that I had NOT paid for! And had to cough up Bht 2,500 !!!!

I was also lucky that those Collecting Items were invited to come to the Desk instead of waiting in the Queue

But when I got to my Bank - the Certificate was not ready and I was asked to come back at 2pm - it was then 11.30am - after making suitable comments about my being able to type it in 5 mins - it was given a bit more priority ...

I arrived at Immigration Suan Phlu about 12.40pm and given a Ticket with a number that showed there were 74 applicants ahead of me!

Whereupon I went out for Lunch ...

Upon returning I spoke to another applicant who had just arrived about 1.50 - he also had 74 applicants ahead of him

It was just before 4pm that I was called to see an Immigration Officer

I was treated with the usuall Courtesy and helpfulness

This time the proceedure took a bit longer as she first had to transfer my existing extension and original Visa details into my New Passport - I also had to complete a Form asking her to do this and then I had to get photocopies of these entries to support the New Extension.

The outcome however was by the time she had completed the process - about 4.20pm - the Re-entry Permit counter was long closed - so although I had completed the Application form at home the previous evening - it was to no avail

So be prepared for long Queues and if you intend applying for a Re-entry Permit get to Suan Phlu early

In fact there are notices which say that for next extension application - get there before 12.00 - whether this is by way of advice - or whether you will not be permitted to apply after 12.00 was not clear - but on the day I was there it meant applicants arriving after 12.00 resulted in the Officers working beyond 4pm closing time - so it would be Logical?

Bill