Retirement visa or marriage visa extension at very old age

[DrJack54]

@ThaiVisaCentre do any agents assist with obtaining extensions where travel to immigration not possible due to age, mobility etc 

[Gandtee]

On 2/19/2025 at 10:14 PM, villageidiotY2K said:

Hello as the subject I’m wondering if ur in ur 80s and ur all frail and have difficulty walking without assistance, does one still needs to visit the immigration office, collect all the banking documents etc to apply for an extension even one have all these physical difficulties??

 

Anyone's experience at Jomtien would be enlightening unless I've missed it. At pushing ninety-two, I do tend to do this occasionally. 

[renaissanc]

On 2/20/2025 at 1:30 PM, Moonlover said:

My wife had an extensive discussion on this topic with our friendly and very helpful staff in Sakon Nakhon. I'm 79 now and although I am both physically and mentally in good shape, but one never knows does one. 

 

She asked what would happen if I was unable to attend the office or was unable to complete the required paperwork. They told her not to worry about it. They do have the power of discretion in such cases and will either visit the home or accept evidence of infirmity.

 

Regarding the money, (I use the income method) providing the monthly payments arrive in the bank and she can attest to that, again no problem.

 

The bottom line was 'don't worry about it. We won't come and haul your aging husband off to the IDC!'

I'm 68 now. It's a full hour to drive to the IO. I don't live in a city. I'm hoping that by the time I'm 85 onwards, Immigration will have discovered how to use the internet to enable annual visa extensions to be done online. Or, and this is even less likely to happen, I'm hoping that Immigration will decide to extend the marriage visa for more than one year at a time. I like to dream of impossible things.

[Dickp]

I'm 82 now and not in good health, bad back every hard to walk and me writing anything is not readable. Some years back my wife ( same age as me)  ask IM lady who we seen many times in the last 30+ years, what would happen if I was not physically able to go to CW, her reply don't come, know one is going to come looking for you and you would not be able to cause any trouble that the government would what to any way.

[Confuscious]

I can only answer this question in regard with KORAT immigration last year.

 

On my yearly extension last year, I was already using a walker and had difficulty walking longer trajects.
Nonetheless, the "students" who were doing a preliminary check of the documents had fun in sending me to the copy shop for additional copies (which were in fact not needed).
After 2 hours walking up-and-down and making the queue for photo copies, I was admitted to go the immigration officer at the preliminary check to get a queue number.
This immigration officer (a grumpy old lady) looked at me and asked me "why are you still alone after living so many years in Thailand" and refused my extension because my TM3 was not valid.
That was the point where I decided to use an agent to do the extension and start my exodus of Thailand.
 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, Confuscious said:

That was the point where I decided to use an agent to do the extension and start my exodus of Thailand.

Seems you were not prepared.

Above you mention TM3.

That would be TM30.

The requirements are very straightforward for extensions retirement.

Just be aware of what immigration office requires. 

[Confuscious]

36 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Seems you were not prepared.

Above you mention TM3.

That would be TM30.

The requirements are very straightforward for extensions retirement.

Just be aware of what immigration office requires. 

I went to immmigration for my extension fully prepared.
Just like the other 24 years.
But the new immigration officers were asking for all kind of copies which were not needed.
Many people living in Korat complained about the new immigration officers here and other forums.
Requirements are very straightforward, but the number 1 rule still reigns in Thailand:
"Every officer is allowed to ask for more documents outside the ones listed if he/she deems it necessary".
The TM30 was the same as the years before and had always been accepted by Immigration.

[DrJack54]

48 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

The TM30 was the same as the years before and had always been accepted by Immigration.

Not necessarily anymore as has been reported in many threads.

My own personal experience in Thailand dealing with CW was for first 10+ years I had NEVER done a TM30.

In last two years I provided a TM30 obtained just prior to attending for extension retirement. 

Keep up to date

[Confuscious]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not necessarily anymore as has been reported in many threads.

My own personal experience in Thailand dealing with CW was for first 10+ years I had NEVER done a TM30.

In last two years I provided a TM30 obtained just prior to attending for extension retirement. 

Keep up to date

I lived in KORAT, not CW.
Different Immigration offices and different requirements.
I prepared every year te required documents for an extension according to the rules at that date.
Also, I prepared every year a new 1 year rental contract with a new TM30.
And this was always accepted and the extension was always granted without problems.
But in 2024, with new immigration officers, Korat immigration had become a nightmare for almost everyone.
I will stop this discussion here as it has nothing to do with the original post.

[DrJack54]

21 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

Also, I prepared every year a new 1 year rental contract with a new TM30.

You posted ....

"This immigration officer (a grumpy old lady) looked at me and asked me "why are you still alone after living so many years in Thailand" and refused my extension because my TM3 was not valid"

 

You mean TM30. Why was it not valid if you had a new TM30. 

So why was your extension refused if TM30 in order

 

 

 

 

[mokwit]

If you look at the bottom of the TM7 it says:

 

'must attend in person'

 

'With the exception of handicapped patients or those with disabilities'

 

So, it seems there is some provision for someone to attend on your behalf in the regulations.

 

Of course what we don't know is their definition of handicapped or disabilities is, and what proof they require of this.

 

I note this exception appeared on the revised form shortly after someone was pushed through immigration on a hospital bed complete with drip.

 

 

[Maestro]

On 3/22/2025 at 6:56 AM, mokwit said:

...I note this exception appeared on the revised form shortly after someone was pushed through immigration on a hospital bed complete with drip.

 

Thank you for mentioning this addition to the form TM.7. For anyone interested, this is currently the link to the form on the website of the Immigration Bureau:

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/4.คำขออนุญาตเพื่ออยู่ในราชอาณาจักรเป็นการชั่วคราวต่อไป-ตม.7.pdf

 

[NanLaew]

On 2/25/2025 at 10:21 AM, DrJack54 said:

You posted ....

"This immigration officer (a grumpy old lady) looked at me and asked me "why are you still alone after living so many years in Thailand" and refused my extension because my TM3 was not valid"

 

You mean TM30. Why was it not valid if you had a new TM30. 

So why was your extension refused if TM30 in order

 

 

 

 

 

Because he's talking about Khorat immigration which, in line with many other immigration offices over the years, tend to get arsey under new management.

 

I take it you have limited experience beyond CW and most of that will be, like all other posts on various immigration office experiences from fellow members, mostly anecdotal.

[DrJack54]

9 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

I take it you have limited experience beyond CW and most of that will be, like all other posts on various immigration office experiences from fellow members, mostly anecdotal

Using aseannow it's easy to keep up with the quirks at most officesoffices from first hand reports. 

For example this one re Korat. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1351684-retirement-extension/page/2/#findComment-19592154

 

The guy complaining (off topic) about Korat (i quoted) appears had issue with his TM30. 

As per majority of cases most likely poorly prepared. 

You have first hand knowledge of Korat by all means offer constructive advice. 

[DrJack54]

On 3/24/2025 at 1:56 PM, DrJack54 said:

You have first hand knowledge of Korat by all means offer constructive advice. 

@NanLaew....

Here is quote from current thread poster @Pumpuynarak using Korat...

 

"Well i renew my '0' retirement extension at Korat IO  and never complete a new TM30, the old one is always accepted."

 

And you state a new ....

"Because it's a new extension and it's a Korat immigration requirement to get a new TM30 for a new extension"

[mokwit]

On 2/25/2025 at 7:42 PM, DrJack54 said:

Not necessarily anymore as has been reported in many threads.

My own personal experience in Thailand dealing with CW was for first 10+ years I had NEVER done a TM30.

In last two years I provided a TM30 obtained just prior to attending for extension retirement. 

Keep up to date

Just coming back to this, are CW now demanding a fresh TM30 for each extension or do you just do that anyway?

[DrJack54]

Just now, mokwit said:

Just coming back to this, are CW now demanding a fresh TM30 for each extension or do you just do that anyway?

It's just what I have opted to do. 

Previously I had never done a TM30.

So it's a Me thing. I personally opt to have my condo office provide me one days prior to attending for annual extension. 

Kitchen sink syndrome. 

[mokwit]

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

It's just what I have opted to do. 

Previously I had never done a TM30.

So it's a Me thing. I personally opt to have my condo office provide me one days prior to attending for annual extension. 

Kitchen sink syndrome. 

Thanks. being a bit pedantic here, but for the sake of clarity, you really mean "Apartment office", no? An apartment owner that owns all the units can do TM30 for all, whereas in law, a condo has individual owners and each individual owner has to do a TM30 for their tenants, the Juristic Person cannot, as it is not the owner.

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Thanks. being a bit pedantic here, but for the sake of clarity, you really mean "Apartment office

My Bad. 

Yes I live in apartment. 

I don't like to trouble them however have adopted this M.O in recent years. 

What you outline re condos is correct.

My Thai partner owns condos and yes currently has one farang school teacher and does a TM30 for him when asked. 

He requests it when exits Thailand and returns and when does new contract with school.

It's a pain

 

[NanLaew]

On 3/25/2025 at 4:11 AM, DrJack54 said:

@NanLaew....

Here is quote from current thread poster @Pumpuynarak using Korat...

 

"Well i renew my '0' retirement extension at Korat IO  and never complete a new TM30, the old one is always accepted."

 

And you state a new ....

"Because it's a new extension and it's a Korat immigration requirement to get a new TM30 for a new extension"

Maybe he never "checked out" of Korat the whole year? Another current thread poster said he had to provide a new TM30 because he had been "out and about".

 

Never mind, the constant is there is NO constant so each to their own and good luck, especially with Korat.

[OJAS]

Accessing banks for account confirmation letters and statements needed for extension of stay applications can IMHO prove more problematical for those with limited mobility like myself than accessing immigration offices. For instance, my office (Rayong) is accessible via a ramp with railings to hold on to on either side. No such luck in the case of the Krungsri branch from which I obtain my account confirmation letters and bank statements, though - just a steep flight of steps which I find extremely scary to negotiate.