Retirement visa extension phone call received from immigration

[slsmith38]

Last week I renewed my Non-O yearly retirement extension at Phetchaburi immigration in Cha Am. Service was, as always excellent, and the process was completed without issue in less than an hour. However, a few days later I received a call, supposedly from Phetchaburi immigration, asking if I was at home in Cha Am. I had just left Cha Am to visit friends in Chonburi and will then continue on a trip to Chiang Mai with family, so was not at home when the I/O called. I explained that I have no firm date when I will be back home so after a brief conversation the I/O said "mai pen rai" and the call ended. I can only assume immigration wanted to visit my house, but this seems unusual for a retirement extension. especially as there were no questions asked when I did the renewal. I'm now not sure whether this was a genuine call (it was from a mobile not the immigration office number) or a scam and whether i should expect another call sometime later. Has anybody experienced anything similar for a retirement extension particularly wrt to Phetchaburi immigration?

[DrJack54]

47 minutes ago, slsmith38 said:

I can only assume immigration wanted to visit my house, but this seems unusual for a retirement extension. especially as there were no questions asked when I did the renewal

Immigration can and sometimes do make a home visit for extension retirement. 

Don't concern yourself

[CanadaSam]

Agree with Dr. Jack, especially as the caller signed off by saying "don't worry about it".

[Dah fahrang]

Yes, I have had a phone call, followed by a home visit for an extension based on retirement. Ratchaburi.

It was 18 months ago, following my (successful and no issues) extension for the year 2024-25. The call was from one of the visiting officers mobile number. Two very courteous and friendly officers; a look at my passport, wife's ID card, tabien baan, some paperwork done by the visiting officers, a few jokes, admiration for our well-kept garden and our dogs, a cup of coffee, visit to the loo, some (inevitable) photos of me with the officers, and they were on their way. 

Best part was having a pick-up with Police plastered all over it parked at our front gate. Got the neighbours in a tizzy!

 

April 2025, on doing my most recent extension for the year 2025-26, we (wife and I) asked the officer handling my application if I can expect another home visit following this extension. Answer: "I can't say. The boss decides which applicants get a home visit". 

 

 

 

[OJAS]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:21 PM, slsmith38 said:

Phetchaburi immigration in Cha Am. 

 

22 hours ago, Dah fahrang said:

Ratchaburi.

 

Do these 2 offices specifically require hand-drawn maps to where you live to be provided as part of the retirement extension application process, as Chaengwattana do?

 

[Dah fahrang]

Ratchaburi: No.

They were happy to accept a QR scan which opened a link to "my place" on Google Maps. (Two years running)

 

[slsmith38]

This year, for the first time, Phetchaburi asked for a map of where I lived. The girl who reviews the paperwork said it was new for this year. Luckily, I had one to hand, just in case they ever asked for one. No request for a photo stood outside your house though.

[Expat68]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:21 PM, slsmith38 said:

Last week I renewed my Non-O yearly retirement extension at Phetchaburi immigration in Cha Am. Service was, as always excellent, and the process was completed without issue in less than an hour. However, a few days later I received a call, supposedly from Phetchaburi immigration, asking if I was at home in Cha Am. I had just left Cha Am to visit friends in Chonburi and will then continue on a trip to Chiang Mai with family, so was not at home when the I/O called. I explained that I have no firm date when I will be back home so after a brief conversation the I/O said "mai pen rai" and the call ended. I can only assume immigration wanted to visit my house, but this seems unusual for a retirement extension. especially as there were no questions asked when I did the renewal. I'm now not sure whether this was a genuine call (it was from a mobile not the immigration office number) or a scam and whether i should expect another call sometime later. Has anybody experienced anything similar for a retirement extension particularly wrt to Phetchaburi immigration?

Two years ago about two weeks after my extension immigration wanted to visit my house. They visited and said it was just to check that I was living where I said I was due to many people not living where it was stated on their extension. Very amicable took photos and left 

[alanrchase]

23 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

 

Do these 2 offices specifically require hand-drawn maps to where you live to be provided as part of the retirement extension application process, as Chaengwattana do?

 

Ratchaburi have accepted the GPS coordinates written on the back of the TM7 for my last two extensions. Before that they didn't require anything.

[KhunBENQ]

How much fuel cost would I have to pay if they do the 200 km round trip 

[sandyf]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:21 PM, slsmith38 said:

Has anybody experienced anything similar for a retirement extension particularly wrt to Phetchaburi immigration?

Yes. In the days of UK income letters I was on retirement extension and had home visits from the Sri Ratcha office.

 

[wardje]

1 month ago I made my first annual extension based on retirement and monthly income from pension. Today I had a surprise visit from immigration at home, from the Nakhon Ratchasima Immigration office. No call in advance, I was just 5 minutes back home. After checking my passport and visa, making a couple of photo's and signing a kind of visit report they were off to the next one, they had a list of people to visit.

I heard in before this is a SOP for a extension based on marriage but I never heard of it in before when the extension is based on retirement.

[Liquorice]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

How much fuel cost would I have to pay if they do the 200 km round trip 

Don't be fooled that you have to pay fuel costs.

If they use their own private vehicles, they are paid a travel allowance.

[khunPer]

On 6/11/2025 at 8:21 AM, slsmith38 said:

I can only assume immigration wanted to visit my house, but this seems unusual for a retirement extension. especially as there were no questions asked when I did the renewal. I'm now not sure whether this was a genuine call (it was from a mobile not the immigration office number) or a scam and whether i should expect another call sometime later.

I'm also on extension of stay based on retirement – but in an different province – and had home visit from immigration. However, they didn't call in advance, just showed up and wished a photo of me in front of house number, holding my passport open on name page, stading together witj one of the uniformed police officers. Seems like upcoming that authorities now do more checks on long-stayers.

The bad thing for me was that they didn't inform me in advance... So, there I am standing, at for me utterly earlt morning, with a towel around my waist, no glasses og ugly morning hair... –hope they never shared the photo on SoMe...

[UWEB]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:21 PM, slsmith38 said:

Last week I renewed my Non-O yearly retirement extension at Phetchaburi immigration in Cha Am. Service was, as always excellent, and the process was completed without issue in less than an hour. However, a few days later I received a call, supposedly from Phetchaburi immigration, asking if I was at home in Cha Am. I had just left Cha Am to visit friends in Chonburi and will then continue on a trip to Chiang Mai with family, so was not at home when the I/O called. I explained that I have no firm date when I will be back home so after a brief conversation the I/O said "mai pen rai" and the call ended. I can only assume immigration wanted to visit my house, but this seems unusual for a retirement extension. especially as there were no questions asked when I did the renewal. I'm now not sure whether this was a genuine call (it was from a mobile not the immigration office number) or a scam and whether i should expect another call sometime later. Has anybody experienced anything similar for a retirement extension particularly wrt to Phetchaburi immigration?

Why not let your Wife call back to the number from a different phone, at least she can find out if it was a call from Immigration.

[Liquorice]

1 minute ago, UWEB said:

Why not let your Wife call back to the number from a different phone, at least she can find out if it was a call from Immigration.

Where did the OP mention a wife?

[arick]

Probably the old boss from Jometian immigration has been transfered out to different locations. He won't last long 

[UWEB]

9 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Where did the OP mention a wife?

From the OP

 

I had just left Cha Am to visit friends in Chonburi and will then continue on a trip to Chiang Mai with family, so was not at home when the I/O called.

[OJAS]

On 6/12/2025 at 5:28 PM, Dah fahrang said:

Ratchaburi: No.

They were happy to accept a QR scan which opened a link to "my place" on Google Maps. (Two years running)

 

 

On 6/12/2025 at 5:29 PM, slsmith38 said:

This year, for the first time, Phetchaburi asked for a map of where I lived. The girl who reviews the paperwork said it was new for this year. Luckily, I had one to hand, just in case they ever asked for one. No request for a photo stood outside your house though.

 

3 hours ago, alanrchase said:

Ratchaburi have accepted the GPS coordinates written on the back of the TM7 for my last two extensions. Before that they didn't require anything.

 

Interesting. Suspect that one could be in for a home visit from one's immigration office in connection with a retirement extension if they require directions to one's home (in the form of a hand-drawn map or GPS co-ordinates) where they haven't done so before. So far my local office (Rayong) hasn't required such directions, and I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed that this will still be the case when I apply for my next retirement extension there in a few weeks' time.

 

1 hour ago, wardje said:

1 month ago I made my first annual extension based on retirement and monthly income from pension. Today I had a surprise visit from immigration at home, from the Nakhon Ratchasima Immigration office. No call in advance, I was just 5 minutes back home. After checking my passport and visa, making a couple of photo's and signing a kind of visit report they were off to the next one, they had a list of people to visit.

I heard in before this is a SOP for a extension based on marriage but I never heard of it in before when the extension is based on retirement.

 

Did Nakhon Ratchasima require directions to your home (in the form of a hand-drawn map or GPS co-ordinates) when you applied for your initial retirement extension there?

 

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

I'm also on extension of stay based on retirement – but in an different province – and had home visit from immigration. However, they didn't call in advance, just showed up and wished a photo of me in front of house number, holding my passport open on name page, stading together witj one of the uniformed police officers. Seems like upcoming that authorities now do more checks on long-stayers.

 

So were the officers able to navigate their way from their office to chez vous OK without any prior assistance on your part in the form of a hand-drawn map or GPS co-ordinates?

 

[NoDisplayName]

6 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Interesting. Suspect that one could be in for a home visit from one's immigration office in connection with a retirement extension if they require directions to one's home (in the form of a hand-drawn map or GPS co-ordinates) where they haven't done so before. So far my local office (Rayong) hasn't required such directions, and I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed that this will still be the case when I apply for my next retirement extension there in a few weeks' time.

 

No visit from Korat immigration yet for retirement extension, but we live more'n an hour away.

 

I did provide a hand-drawn map last two extensions, but each time the document checker pulled it out of the pile, gave it back to me, said "no need."

[Carlosm]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:36 PM, DrJack54 said:

Immigration can and sometimes do make a home visit for extension retirement. 

Don't concern yourself

Happened  to me, took me by surprise. Thankfully that was 8 years ago and nothing since though they wanted the usual 2,000 baht.

[KhunLA]

If not having caller ID, I'd ask the IO name & ph #.

 

Call the Imm Office to verify it was actually a call from, and not someone just checking to see if your house was vacant, and primed for a burglary. 

 

Just a thought 😎

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, Carlosm said:

Happened  to me, took me by surprise. Thankfully that was 8 years ago and nothing since though they wanted the usual 2,000 baht.

Which immigration office.

"Usual 2k baht" sounds like bar stool.

Why did you pay it

[NE1]

Also Ratchaburi , never had a visit until the year before last.

The head man of our village phoned the wife and told her the immigration police were on their way to see me.

5 mins later they rolled up.

First thing they did was moan about how far away I lived from their office.

Then check of the passport , photo ,  form signed etc.

When I went to do my next extension they asked for the route to my house , and one of the officers who visited the house jumped in and said something , and that was that.

I think it is too far to come , actually I live nearer to Kanchanaburi's office than Ratchaburi's.

[ronnie50]

I don't typically answer calls from an unknown mobile number. Pretty sure I'm not the only one who doesn't answer.. They should send an email first..

[Liquorice]

2 hours ago, UWEB said:

From the OP

 

I had just left Cha Am to visit friends in Chonburi and will then continue on a trip to Chiang Mai with family, so was not at home when the I/O called.

Did he mention Thai family?

You're jumping to unfounded conclusions.

[SunsetT]

On 6/11/2025 at 7:21 AM, slsmith38 said:

Last week I renewed my Non-O yearly retirement extension at Phetchaburi immigration in Cha Am. Service was, as always excellent, and the process was completed without issue in less than an hour. However, a few days later I received a call, supposedly from Phetchaburi immigration, asking if I was at home in Cha Am. I had just left Cha Am to visit friends in Chonburi and will then continue on a trip to Chiang Mai with family, so was not at home when the I/O called. I explained that I have no firm date when I will be back home so after a brief conversation the I/O said "mai pen rai" and the call ended. I can only assume immigration wanted to visit my house, but this seems unusual for a retirement extension. especially as there were no questions asked when I did the renewal. I'm now not sure whether this was a genuine call (it was from a mobile not the immigration office number) or a scam and whether i should expect another call sometime later. Has anybody experienced anything similar for a retirement extension particularly wrt to Phetchaburi immigration?

Myself and a friend both had this same experience last year in Nakhon Phanom. Both had visits from the Neanderthal Gestapo a couple of weeks after extension. What pissed me off was  they came at 9:15 on a Sunday morning when they said on the phone they'd be there 11: 15. Then they demanded  photocopies of three documents that had just been submitted for the extension! I would have told them I would submit them in the week ahead but my girlfriend who happened to be there scuttled off to get them. They also wanted a neighbor to confirm that I lived in my apartment, but I only have one apartment neighbor and he was gone for the weekend. So they had to be content with my girlfriend who does not live there as witness. And the rest of the block was virtually empty. I don't know any of them anyway. They took photos) video of me giving her son breakfast and went away contented. Although they did phone my girlfriend later that day when we were out cycling asking for a photocopy of her house book. She forgot all about it that day but they called again and she took it into the immigration office on Monday or Tuesday. Not enough work I suppose for all those immigration jobs that have been purchased. Especially with more and more paperwork being done online.

[wardje]

14 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

 

 

Interesting. Suspect that one could be in for a home visit from one's immigration office in connection with a retirement extension if they require directions to one's home (in the form of a hand-drawn map or GPS co-ordinates) where they haven't done so before. So far my local office (Rayong) hasn't required such directions, and I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed that this will still be the case when I apply for my next retirement extension there in a few weeks' time.

 

 

Did Nakhon Ratchasima require directions to your home (in the form of a hand-drawn map or GPS co-ordinates) when you applied for your initial retirement extension there?

 

Immigration didn't ask for a map or coordinates on the moment of the application for the extension but they have the registered address from the TM30 and during the home visit they checked the TM30 slip and made a photo of the slip. 

We live in a moobaan close to a main road so it's easy to find.

I don't see this checking as abnormal, my wife lived for a couple of years with me in my home country and there police also came to check if she was living on the address where she was registered. The check in my home country was a lot more invasive, checking the bedroom and the cabinets if her cloths were there, observing small things to see if she was at home etc.

I don't worry even a bit about this home visit, and it makes me even more comfortable asking for things from authorities like a Certificate of Residence when I need one.

[khunPer]

16 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

So were the officers able to navigate their way from their office to chez vous OK without any prior assistance on your part in the form of a hand-drawn map or GPS co-ordinates?

 

I presume that they could find my house "without any prior assistance", since they showed up without any prior contact. However, the immigration office where I live has always insisted on a hand drawn map in return for an extension of stay – at least during the 18 last years where I got such a service – and the latter about 10 years also a Google-map with co-ordinates of the address. So, it's easy peasy to find my home with a GPS...