Has anyone experienced home visits from immigration after extending their Retirement visa? I thought it was only when extending a spouse visa, but an acquaintance had heard otherwise!

Thanks

Felt

It happens. 

Usually just for first extension. 

 

Not common. Which immigration office. 

It's a thing right now at the Jomtien retirement desk.

It happened to me recently.

It never was before.

Turns out I didn't need to clean my place to impress the Popo as all the officer needed were some photos standing next to him in front of my building and also inside the lobby.

He didn't even go to the front of my actual condo.

Silly but nothing to stress about.

One fun thing he did was call a few minutes before he showed up. Perhaps that's their plan to smoke out people who would be travelling in advance to a place they don't actually live at. 

Off topic post removed

Yes, from Nongkhai immigration.

After second extension based on retirement, 800,000 in bank method.

BMW and two guys. was ok.

No money asked for, I gave ice cold water,  and they did not enter the house.

Just pics out side of me and passport.

They have not been back in 2 years. 

 

If one changes where they live, say to a different condo for a few months, didn't like it, rented a different condo for xxx months etc.. does that cause much trouble in getting extensions? 

3 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

If one changes where they live, say to a different condo for a few months, didn't like it, rented a different condo for xxx months etc.. does that cause much trouble in getting extensions? 

I don't think it would but if you move it's important to keep your TM30 and address reporting updated to reflect your current address. So at extension time you'd have a TM30 reflecting your address at extension time and also be ready to provide any required proof of address documents to them for the extension on top of the TM30.

Just now, Jingthing said:

I don't think it would but if you move it's important to keep your TM30 and address reporting updated to reflect your current address. So at extension time you'd have a TM30 reflecting your address at extension time and also be ready to provide any required proof of address documents to them for the extension on top of the TM30.

Thanks

7 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

If one changes where they live, say to a different condo for a few months, didn't like it, rented a different condo for xxx months etc.. does that cause much trouble in getting extensions? 

Prior to applying for next extension do  TM30 for current address. 

 

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Prior to applying for next extension do  TM30 for current address. 

 

got it. thanks

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It happens. 

Usually just for first extension. 

 

Not common. Which immigration office. 

 

What happens if you live in a hotel? They will visit you there?

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

What happens if you live in a hotel? They will visit you there?

Why not? To check your extention based on marriage! 😂

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

What happens if you live in a hotel? They will visit you there?

The OP question was regarding possible  home visit for extension based on retirement.

Yes they can visit condo.

 

Immigration has right to visit address stated on extension application. 

 

Yup, have had home visits on retirement extensions, seems like it was a thing 3 or 4 years ago, but recently haven’t had any, thankfully.

6 minutes ago, Jethro Tull said:

Yup, have had home visits on retirement extensions, seems like it was a thing 3 or 4 years ago, but recently haven’t had any, thankfully.

Which immigration office?

Note to all:

If you have a question about immigration policy or want to mention your recent experience, it would be helpful if you said which immigration office you are referring to. 👍

Chaengwattana has been doing home visits now for the initial 90 day Non-O visa (retirement, marriage, raising children) 
AND 
often times for the initial marriage/raising children extension as well. 
 

Although it seems that if you got the initial 90 day visa from C/W office sometimes they forgoe the home visit for the year extension 

I have not heard any reports of officers doing home visits for retirement extensions   

It's always best to ask them IF they intend to do a home visit when you get your extension and let them know if you plan on traveling during the under consideration stamp of year extensions so that they can coordinate with you should they do a visit  

No home visits in all the years I've been seeking retirement extensions at Rayong since 2010. And likely none in immediate prospect either: for my latest application there last Tuesday I did come armed with a hand-drawn map plus GPS co-ordinates, but wasn't asked for either in the event.

 

They are welcome to stop by any time they like. I have plenty of lao khao to share.

They call ahead of coming.

I had 2 visits , but not this last time.

Just had my first one in Chanthaburi last Saturday. They tried a surprise visit two years ago but I wasn't home. They made an appointment with me then on the appointed day sent three officers. Two came up to my condo, poked around a little, then took a picture of me holding my passport next to my face both inside and outside the condo. The third officer talked to the gate guard about my character.

As Jomtien is doing this now I wonder if they will do it on subsequent years when the person is living in the same place and has already had the visit.

That wouldn't be logical but that doesn't mean they won't either.

Just now, HappyExpat57 said:

Just had my first one in Chanthaburi last Saturday. They tried a surprise visit two years ago but I wasn't home. They made an appointment with me then on the appointed day sent three officers. Two came up to my condo, poked around a little, then took a picture of me holding my passport next to my face both inside and outside the condo. The third officer talked to the gate guard about my character.

That's interesting. 

I didn't even think to bring my passport down to greet the guy but that would have been a good idea.

19 hours ago, Felt 35 said:

Has anyone experienced home visits from immigration after extending their Retirement visa? I thought it was only when extending a spouse visa, but an acquaintance had heard otherwise!

Thanks

Felt

As @DrJack54 says, it can happen. They have made visits to me, 4 times in the same city during 15 years. really no problem, as they just show up, asking for passport, talking little bit and then just on their way.

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

As Jomtien is doing this now I wonder if they will do it on subsequent years when the person is living in the same place and has already had the visit.

That wouldn't be logical but that doesn't mean they won't either.

Why in the world is it not logical? They are free to make as many home visits as they like. To me it´s perfectly logical to want to check up if anything changed during a period of one year. Normally no hassle either, they just come and go.

3 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Why in the world is it not logical? They are free to make as many home visits as they like. To me it´s perfectly logical to want to check up if anything changed during a period of one year. Normally no hassle either, they just come and go.

Very small chance of the person not still living there, so a waste of their time and resources.

 

But hey hey wink wink some expats may have a touch of the Bangkok-Stockholm syndrome.

 

I think 90 day address resports are stupid to require unless the person has actually moved. 

Our new immigration chief officer is a complete (part of the female anatomy)

Even the staff are fed up with him.

He insists on a home visit for every extension of stay.

He even employs a photographer to take all the pictures.

 

Location not disclosed for obvious reasons. 

38 minutes ago, Jerzy Swirski said:

Our new immigration chief officer is a complete (part of the female anatomy)

Even the staff are fed up with him.

He insists on a home visit for every extension of stay.

He even employs a photographer to take all the pictures.

 

Location not disclosed for obvious reasons. 

 

Every extension??? You must be in a fairly quiet, out of the way location?

 

Ours is quite busy (Chaiyaphum) and we've only ever had one visit in six years.

This is happening folks.

Not in every office but certainly in some offices.

Jomtien is a big urban office so maybe just in the low season, but we'll see.

I can kind of understand doing it once whether a new or long standing expat.

But every year seems nutty.

In my case I don't think the officer did any interviews of neighbors or condo staff.

 

 

On 7/19/2025 at 7:52 PM, quake said:

Yes, from Nongkhai immigration.

After second extension based on retirement, 800,000 in bank method.

BMW and two guys. was ok.

No money asked for, I gave ice cold water,  and they did not enter the house.

Just pics out side of me and passport.

They have not been back in 2 years. 

 

The same for me after my second retirement extension with the Chiang Rai immigration.  Pictures of me, the IO and my passport standing in front of my house number.  That was about 6 years ago.  Nothing since then.

 

They were down the street doing a home visit at my friend’s house for his marriage extension.  They called and asked if I was home and they came over in less than 5 minutes.