I've read here and elsewhere that you can use any Non-Immigration visa (including a Non-B) to use as the basis for a 1 year extension for retirement, even though this isn't common knowledge.  I'm currently teaching, using a Non-B, but am leaving the school on March 31, which is when my current extension expires. Is it correct that I can just keep my existing Non-B and just do the retirement extension?  Has anyone else done it and found success doing this, or is it too far outside of the norm for the regulars at an Isaan immigration office to handle?  What is the recommended (and simplest) course of action?

Thanks for any advice on this matter.

Here is what immigration says about it, where it doesn't specify which type of NON-IM visa.   https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?p=14714

 

Quote

In the case of retirement:

Criteria for Consideration

1. Must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM).
2. Must be 50 years of age or over.
3. Must have evidence of having income of no less than Baht 65,000 per month; or
4. At least 2 months prior to the filing date and at least 3 month after being granted permission,
   an alien must have a deposit in a commercial bank located in Thailand of no less than 800,000 baht.

 

It will not be a problem to change the reason for your extension from working to retirement.

You will need a termination letter stating the last day you will be working. 

15 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It will not be a problem to change the reason for your extension from working to retirement.

You will need a termination letter stating the last day you will be working. 

Thanks. That's great to hear.

1 hour ago, farawayjay said:

I've read here and elsewhere that you can use any Non-Immigration visa (including a Non-B) to use as the basis for a 1 year extension for retirement, even though this isn't common knowledge. 

The MFA say it shouldn't be done, retirement and marriage extensions should be from a Non O.

Like many things here it will probably depend on the IO at the time.

14 minutes ago, sandyf said:

The MFA say it shouldn't be done, retirement and marriage extensions should be from a Non O.

Like many things here it will probably depend on the IO at the time.

The MFA has nothing to do with extensions of stay. They are immigrations responsibly.

 

20 hours ago, farawayjay said:

I've read here and elsewhere that you can use any Non-Immigration visa (including a Non-B) to use as the basis for a 1 year extension for retirement, even though this isn't common knowledge.  I'm currently teaching, using a Non-B, but am leaving the school on March 31, which is when my current extension expires. Is it correct that I can just keep my existing Non-B and just do the retirement extension?  Has anyone else done it and found success doing this, or is it too far outside of the norm for the regulars at an Isaan immigration office to handle?  What is the recommended (and simplest) course of action?

I did exactly that, apart from the employment termination letter (plus confirmation of termination of WP from labor dept) and the normal pack of papers for retirement, I was asked to write a letter to Immigration stating why I wanted to retire in Thailand, in my case easy - married with 2 kids.

I had also been on a retirement extension prior to the school asking me to work for them.

 

 

On 2/12/2023 at 8:53 PM, BigStar said:

No problem at all. I've been extending my Non-B for many years since I left a Thai company. BTW, if you're covered by Thai SS at your institution, be sure to maintain the health insurance after you leave. 

Removed some off-topic posts and the replies to them.

On 2/13/2023 at 11:25 AM, foreverlomsak said:

I did exactly that, apart from the employment termination letter (plus confirmation of termination of WP from labor dept) and the normal pack of papers for retirement, I was asked to write a letter to Immigration stating why I wanted to retire in Thailand, in my case easy - married with 2 kids.

I had also been on a retirement extension prior to the school asking me to work for them.

 

 

So far it's looking good for me as well. Immigration pointed out when asked that while it's possible to do the retirement extension on a non-b, they suggest the paperwork involved was prohibitive (much more than just a termination letter, apparently), and it would be easier overall to just change my visa type from Non-B to Non-O, which would only require the Termination Letter from my job as the "reason" for the change request, and no other work related documents.  To me a Non-O or a Non-B matters not, to be honest, as long as my retirement extension gets done without me heading to Lao.  Easy is what I'm going for here so if the visa change from B to O, instead of a retirement extension, is what's easier for them then I guess that would make it easier for me too.

In any case, if anyone reads.  Contrary to popular belief, yes, changing from a Non-B to a Non-O without leaving the country is possible, and getting a retirement extension for a Non-B is also possible. Just make sure you contact immigration for the specific documents they in particular require. (My location document requirements are extensive.)