'As with everything in Thailand an office may enforce something another office chooses to ignore, it's at their discretion.'

Precisely that's it in a nutshell..... They will mostly do what is based on best for them...

I came in April on a new single non O based on marriage. I had all my paperwork ready and the IO asked why I was not doing retirement. I have several used retirement permissions in my passport. Explaining to her that I did not have the funds anymore, she then asked to see my bankbook and letter. I have the 400k and she could see monthly payments of my two pensions.

Upshot went and got a 12 month bank statement and now getting an extension based on retirement again. Either it was my charming manor, or they couldn't be bothered with that mountain of paperwork I had with me..... IO is one the 3 P's up north

17 minutes ago, Pasak110 said:

I came in April on a new single non O based on marriage. I

For your first extension the io should have made you do for reason of marriage.

As you point out the io was perhaps looking for easy option

42 minutes ago, Pasak110 said:

IO is one the 3 P's up north

Lots of help for us law-abiding and polite foreigners up north.

On 6/18/2026 at 9:47 AM, Liquorice said:

I was applying for my routine annual extension based on Thai spouse with no intention of changing the reason.

The form was simply to advise me that if I intended to change the reason to retirement, I'd be required to obtain a new Non O visa based on retirement.
The exclusion is when on an extension based on retirement and changing the reason to Thai spouse.

Sorry if you've mentioned it already, but which Immigration Office?

It was 2025 I got such a form as well. Cant exactly recall, but see some similarities from out of my memory. My mem dont serve me well with the sign of STM2 on top.

They shoved me 2 papers to sign. Red it in quick way and signed.

And that was for extension 30 days visum "exempt" in Satun then.

As the contents was about acknowledging warnings (situation normal) red and signed.

It did annoy me as I was only doing an 30 day extension, didnt expect, however didnt show. red and signed.

Not when I came in Thailand and also not going out and right back in Thailand Wang Prachan.

However had to do TM 6 then and pay 1900 baht for "free" exempt.

So maybe especially then for an extension at that time?

It costed me, however much better then really going out for 1or 2 days, which was said then.

As then you had to pay for hotel abroad and have other money and would then have gone to Padang with loads of other problems. A Thai car cant go into Malaysia without special license and number plate. Already wondered why in Satun cars were driving with 2 plates.

Informed with 2 Russians about situation before acting at WP. They confirmed out and in again instantly, no problem. But as I mentioned, was begin 2025.

I was just contemplating transferring over a substantial amount of money. But that has changed my mind. Best to leave it where it is me thinks

On 6/17/2026 at 2:36 PM, Bredbury Blue said:

Seems there is the exception if one's Thai Spouse deceased. Whether you could change to Retirement if your Thai Spouse died (and you met the Retirement funds criteria) without leaving the country isn't clear.

One of my expat friends changed from a marriage visa to a Retirement extension in Chiang Mai late last year without any problem after his Thai wife passed away.

20 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

One of my expat friends changed from a marriage visa to a Retirement extension in Chiang Mai late last year without any problem after his Thai wife passed away.

Change of what extension is based on has always been possible..

Commonly retirement to marriage or marriage to retirement.

The form posted by OP that marriage to retirement may now not be possible.

One report at CM supports that.

Watch this space as the saying goes

On 6/17/2026 at 10:55 PM, Liquorice said:

It's fact that the very first extension must be based on the same reason as the original visa application. This has been posted many times on this forum.

My wife (Thai) and I moved to Thailand during COVID lockdown. I could only enter with her and only on a visa based on marriage. On my first extension (Feb '22), I switched to a retirement extension. Nobody at CM Imm. raised any issue about converting to retirement basis for extension.

On 6/18/2026 at 3:51 PM, connda said:

What if you entered on a Non-B Business visa?

I've had extensions based on marriage and retirement issued on that original visa. I went back to the marriage extension after they got stupid about locking up funding levels on the retirement.

Like you, my underlying visa is Non-B. I often wonder if there is or will be some alterations that may or may not affect us separately from the Non-Os and Non-OAs. There are probably a significant number of us who actually did retire from Thai institutions and businesses and remained and extended on retirement as a reason.

Edited June 21Jun 21 by John Drake

On 6/21/2026 at 2:04 PM, DrJack54 said:

The form posted by OP that marriage to retirement may now not be possible.

One report at CM supports that.

Is that 'report' included in a thread on AN?

My friend has just switched from extension based on marriage to 'retirement' using an agent in CM. This is first extension since his wife passed last year. I'm pretty sure he has always been on extensions based on marriage for 10+ years.

He did sign the STMT.2/1 as it was included in a pile of papers the agent had him sign. He has the extension stamp already but is worried that his extension could be revoked because of the STMT.2/1. I don't think he should worry at this point.

Does anyone see any potential problems for him in the future?

10 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

Is that 'report' included in a thread on AN?

My friend has just switched from extension based on marriage to 'retirement' using an agent in CM. This is first extension since his wife passed last year. I'm pretty sure he has always been on extensions based on marriage for 10+ years.

Yes the report was AN.

Your friend situation completely different.

In situation where Thai wife passes then should be allowed to continue with extension to expiry and change to retirement.

The report was changing basis of extension while still married.

14 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

Does anyone see any potential problems for him in the future?

Zero

2 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

My friend has just switched from extension based on marriage to 'retirement' using an agent in CM

It's a different scenario when using an agent.

It's like Exodus 14: 21-22, where Moses can part the waters.