Change of Visa

[canadian]

Hi all,

 

I will be starting work again in Thailand and wanted to ask how to change my current retirement extension into a NON-O based on supporting my Thai child. I've looked at the TM.86 and it does not state everything that would be required for documents to proceed and the seasoning time for 400K in Thai Bank. I've read other places that seasoning of the 400K is not required but wanted to check with everyone here to be sure. Also any guidance on the process to complete so that the company can apply for my WP1.

 

Much appreciated.

 

Canadian

[BritTim]

OK. Let me start by explaining the background to your question.

 

While there are a few exceptions, you can basically be in Thailand on a permission to stay based on a tourist entry or on a non immigrant entry. To convert from the tourist entry to a non immigrant entry, you need a visa first. In most common cases, you can get the necessary non immigrant visa at immigration in Thailand, although in some cases you must leave Thailand and apply for the relevant visa at an embassy/consulate overseas before returning to Thailand. You cannot change from a non immigrant permission to stay to a tourist permission to stay without exiting and re-enter the country.

 

When you are already in Thailand on a non immigrant permission to stay, there is no need to apply for a fresh visa when you want to change to a non immigrant permission to stay based on a different reason. With correct organisation, you simply cancel your current permission to stay, and apply for a (usually one-year) permission to stay based on the new reason.

 

Thus, in your case, forget applying for a visa at immigration. That is not what you need to do. Instead, visit immigration and explain that you want to cancel your retirement permission to stay, and apply for a new extension of your non immigrant entry based on your Thai child. Make sure you know exactly what immigration require before going ahead with this. Although everything is completely legal, this needs to go smoothly as otherwise you can end up wit significant problems. Unless you are 100% confident you can do everything correctly, consider using an agent to facilitate correct execution of this touchy process.

[canadian]

54 minutes ago, BritTim said:

OK. Let me start by explaining the background to your question.

 

While there are a few exceptions, you can basically be in Thailand on a permission to stay based on a tourist entry or on a non immigrant entry. To convert from the tourist entry to a non immigrant entry, you need a visa first. In most common cases, you can get the necessary non immigrant visa at immigration in Thailand, although in some cases you must leave Thailand and apply for the relevant visa at an embassy/consulate overseas before returning to Thailand. You cannot change from a non immigrant permission to stay to a tourist permission to stay without exiting and re-enter the country.

 

When you are already in Thailand on a non immigrant permission to stay, there is no need to apply for a fresh visa when you want to change to a non immigrant permission to stay based on a different reason. With correct organisation, you simply cancel your current permission to stay, and apply for a (usually one-year) permission to stay based on the new reason.

 

Thus, in your case, forget applying for a visa at immigration. That is not what you need to do. Instead, visit immigration and explain that you want to cancel your retirement permission to stay, and apply for a new extension of your non immigrant entry based on your Thai child. Make sure you know exactly what immigration require before going ahead with this. Although everything is completely legal, this needs to go smoothly as otherwise you can end up wit significant problems. Unless you are 100% confident you can do everything correctly, consider using an agent to facilitate correct execution of this touchy process.

 

Thank you for you reply.

 

High, can you suggest an agency that has done this before?

[canadian]

52 minutes ago, canadian said:

 

Thank you for you reply.

 

High, can you suggest an agency that has done this before?

@ubonjoe Any advice you may have on my situation above would be appreciated.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, canadian said:

 

Thank you for you reply.

 

High, can you suggest an agency that has done this before?

Which province are you living in?

[canadian]

10 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Which province are you living in?

I live in Bangkok.

[BritTim]

17 minutes ago, canadian said:

I live in Bangkok.

I sent you a PM.

[Dart12]

17 hours ago, canadian said:

 

Thank you for you reply.

 

High, can you suggest an agency that has done this before?

may I ask what the purpose or benefit of changing yoru visa is?  

I'm just asking so I get a visa education (learn more, not an actual visa).

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, Dart12 said:

may I ask what the purpose or benefit of changing yoru visa is?  

I'm just asking so I get a visa education (learn more, not an actual visa).

He is currently on a extension of stay based upon retirement and want to change the reason for it to one based upon being the parent of Thai.

A extension of based upon being the parent of a Thai allows him to get a work permit and work. It also requires less financial proof than one based upon retirement. 

If you already have a extension of any kind you do not need a different one to attend a school. The only reason to get a non-ed visa or extension based upon attending a school is to stay longer in the country.

[canadian]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

He is currently on a extension of stay based upon retirement and want to change the reason for it to one based upon being the parent of Thai.

A extension of based upon being the parent of a Thai allows him to get a work permit and work. It also requires less financial proof than one based upon retirement. 

If you already have a extension of any kind you do not need a different one to attend a school. The only reason to get a non-ed visa or extension based upon attending a school is to stay longer in the country.

@ubonjoe From my original question, do you know if this is possible to change my visa extension in Bangkok?

 

Canadian

[ubonjoe]

58 minutes ago, canadian said:

From my original question, do you know if this is possible to change my visa extension in Bangkok?

You can change the reason for your extension of stay at any immigration office.

When does your current extension of stay end? Most offices will not do it until your extension is close to expiring.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, Dart12 said:

may I ask what the purpose or benefit of changing yoru visa is?  

In his case, he wants to work. You cannot legally do so on a retirement extension, but can if on an extension based on Thai child.

[canadian]

26 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can change the reason for your extension of stay at any immigration office.

When does your current extension of stay end? Most offices will not do it until your extension is close to expiring.

Hi Joe,

 

My current extension expires in November.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, canadian said:

My current extension expires in November.

They may refuse to cancel your current extension so that you can apply for a new one. All you can do is ask about it.

[canadian]

Just now, ubonjoe said:

They may refuse to cancel your current extension so that you can apply for a new one. All you can do is ask about it.

Thanks, I will check with them.

[canadian]

Hi Everyone,

 

I wanted to update you on my original question regarding changing visa type. I was successful in doing so in April, almost 6 months before my current NON-O Retirement visa expired. I had to write a document that stated why I needed to change early and stated that I was starting a job in Thailand the same month. After that they proceeded to accept the application and it was approved.

 

After that I applied for work permit using form 1 rather than form 3 for work permit issuance and it was approved about 4 days later.

 

In the end the requirement was the reason why documented and signed.

 

The process went well and I am now working in Thailand again.

 

Thank you to everyone that replied to my question and contributed to the process.

 

Regards, canadian