They arrived to check to see if I lived where I said I lived -- for the past 16+ years.

This was their first visit ever to verify anything at my residence -- whether it was with my marriage visa or retirement visa (both Non-O).

It lasted all of 5 minutes. Set up a camera outside the house to take a picture with the house number showing -- me and the agent. Didn't ask to see my passport or yellow book or anything to confirm that it was me.

Asked about the STM 2 form floating around and having to leave Thailand for changing the reason for my Non-O visa from retirement to marriage or marriage to retirement.

Yet another office that does NOT require anyone to leave Thailand to change their reason, status, whatever you want to call it between marriage and regular retirement Non-O.

Good luck to all, and have a great day. 😁

This was in Bangkok ???

These kinds of checks seem to always be linked with marriage visas, am I right?

1 hour ago, JackGats said:

These kinds of checks seem to always be linked with marriage visas, am I right?

Usually, that's been what I have heard.

But I haven't had a marriage visa for at least 5 years.

8 minutes ago, Ricohoc said:

But I haven't had a marriage visa for at least 5 years

So you currently have an extension based on marriage?

When did you obtain the extension.

The norm would be home visit during under consideration period.

In general extensions based on retirement do not have a home visit.

The approval stamp is done on day of application.

For the very first application from a Non O then for based on retirement there could be home visit.

8 hours ago, Ricohoc said:

Yet another office that does NOT require anyone to leave Thailand to change their reason, status, whatever you want to call it between marriage and regular retirement Non-O.

What is your point.

There have been two reports where change of reason for extension from based on marriage to based on retirement has been rejected.

Previously no issue.

As with every change in requirements change can take time.

I have stated that at other offices change of "basis of extension" has been accepted.

Drop the "status" nonsense.

Google will explain that.

Also drop the marriage visa and retirement visa terms.

At best that is Non O visa.

Which is "used" upon entry.

You have a temporary permission of stay that you renew annually.

Status is non immigrant.

Reason for extension is what you state on TM7 form.

10 hours ago, Ricohoc said:

They arrived to check to see if I lived where I said I lived -- for the past 16+ years.

This was their first visit ever to verify anything at my residence -- whether it was with my marriage visa or retirement visa (both Non-O).

It lasted all of 5 minutes. Set up a camera outside the house to take a picture with the house number showing -- me and the agent. Didn't ask to see my passport or yellow book or anything to confirm that it was me.

Asked about the STM 2 form floating around and having to leave Thailand for changing the reason for my Non-O visa from retirement to marriage or marriage to retirement.

Yet another office that does NOT require anyone to leave Thailand to change their reason, status, whatever you want to call it between marriage and regular retirement Non-O.

Good luck to all, and have a great day. 😁

So, you're on an extension based on retirement, and you had a home visit from Immigration to verify you lived at your reported address. Is that correct? Can you think of any reason why they checked up on you? Did they call ahead, or was is a surprise visit?

Edited June 19Jun 19 by JohnnyBD
Typo

9 hours ago, JackGats said:

These kinds of checks seem to always be linked with marriage visas, am I right?

No, not always. There are plenty of reports of people on a marriage extension that received a check-in visit. Especially when the Iran conflict started, many Americans were visited and checked on. But it's not unusual for people to receive random checks on retirement extensions.

15 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

... But it's not unusual for people to receive random checks on retirement extensions.

Wow, I thought the 90-day reporting made such checking unnecessary.

7 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

So, you're on an extension based on retirement, and you had a home visit from Immigration to verify you lived at your reported address. Is that correct? Can you think of any reason why they checked up on you? Did they call ahead, or was is a surprise visit?

Twice in the last 3 years I have had a visit (moved house during this time) both times within two weeks of my extension. The first time I asked the officer in charge the reason, he replied many foreigners give an address but do not actually live at this address

19 hours ago, Ricohoc said:

They arrived to check to see if I lived where I said I lived -- for the past 16+ years.

This was their first visit ever to verify anything at my residence -- whether it was with my marriage visa or retirement visa (both Non-O).

It lasted all of 5 minutes. Set up a camera outside the house to take a picture with the house number showing -- me and the agent. Didn't ask to see my passport or yellow book or anything to confirm that it was me.

Asked about the STM 2 form floating around and having to leave Thailand for changing the reason for my Non-O visa from retirement to marriage or marriage to retirement.

Yet another office that does NOT require anyone to leave Thailand to change their reason, status, whatever you want to call it between marriage and regular retirement Non-O.

Good luck to all, and have a great day. 😁

Lost count of the number of home visits I have had, all different.

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Status is non immigrant.

The term status is arbitrary, needs an adjective, such as "visa status", "financial status" etc.

Routine now post Marriage, Non -O or Non -OA Retirement Visa extension.

Where you state you reside at an address with and owned by a Thai Citizen.

If I use my Condo I tend not to see them.

Normally pre emptied by an unsolicited phone call. 48 hours to 7 days after.

They tend to turn up 30 minutes to an hour later.

I live in Khon Kaen where the local office is superbly helpful and efficient.

However, that means that they are correct.

Done and dusted with a quick chat with my partner and a photo or three.

Nice courteous people.

50 minutes ago, sandyf said:

The term status is arbitrary, needs an adjective, such as "visa status", "financial status" etc.

Throughout the thread and another the OP has refered to "change status" when in reality he means change what the extension is based on. Specifically retirement or marriage. Not changing status.

As AI puts it.... "A Non-Immigrant Status in Thailand refers to a visa category for foreigners who plan to stay in the country temporarily for a specific, non-tourism purpose such as working, studying, retirement, or visiting family"

I probably had around five home visits all on retirement extensions.

1 could be attributed to when I moved house and another to when I dumped my OA and restarted with an O visa ( and subsequent retirement extensions ).

The other 3 came within a year ( every 6 months ), the middle one they just showed up !, no apparent reason for the visits ( well none given to me ) and thankfully haven’t had one for a few years now.

9 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

So, you're on an extension based on retirement, and you had a home visit from Immigration to verify you lived at your reported address. Is that correct? Can you think of any reason why they checked up on you? Did they call ahead, or was is a surprise visit?

None.

My wife is a government employee. They all know each other. I've been at the same address for over 16+ years. No issues with police or neighbors. My Non-O status changed from marriage to retirement at least 5 years ago. Never an issue at immigration with paperwork. All paperwork goes through like a breeze.

They called my wife the day before. Said it was just a random check. Just seemed odd considering my Thai family and residence history over the past 16+ years.

10 minutes ago, Ricohoc said:

They called my wife the day before. Said it was just a random check. Just seemed odd considering my Thai family and residence history over the past 16+ years.

Maybe they just needed to show a call on the record and you and your wife were a 'safe' call. No problems.

Edited June 20Jun 20 by JerryM

6 minutes ago, JerryM said:

Maybe they just needed to show a call on the record and you and your wife were a 'safe' call. No problems.

That's pretty much how I viewed it after it was all over. The agent was very helpful, English excellent.

I am not married and have never had such a high-profile visitor in my 20 years in Thailand.😁

22 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

But it's not unusual for people to receive random checks on retirement extensions.

Presumably the chances of receiving these checks are higher in the case of those whose office requires a hand-drawn map to be provided in support of a retirement extension application, as CW do.

7 hours ago, OJAS said:

Presumably the chances of receiving these checks are higher in the case of those whose office requires a hand-drawn map to be provided in support of a retirement extension application, as CW do.

By coincidence, some Immigration Offices no longer require a map.

2 hours ago, Ricohoc said:

By coincidence, some Immigration Offices no longer require a map.

By coincidence, we still don't know the immigration office you have to deal with.

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

By coincidence, we still don't know the immigration office you have to deal with.

I have dealt with 4 over the 16+ years here in Thailand. One south of Korat and 3 north of Korat.

All great and helpful Immigration Offices.

19 minutes ago, Ricohoc said:

I have dealt with 4 over the 16+ years here in Thailand. One south of Korat and 3 north of Korat.

All great and helpful Immigration Offices.

Message received and understood. Thanks.

5 hours ago, Ricohoc said:

By coincidence, some Immigration Offices no longer require a map.

By coincidence, most immigration offices, like mine (Rayong), have never required a map in the first place.

Out of interest, what happens if you're not staying at the address you gave on your extension application at the time they call on you. There are numerous legitimate reasons for someone to be staying either temporarily or permanently elsewhere. Is this where an up to date TM 30 comes in to play?

4 hours ago, LungLing said:

Out of interest, what happens if you're not staying at the address you gave on your extension application at the time they call on you. There are numerous legitimate reasons for someone to be staying either temporarily or permanently elsewhere. Is this where an up to date TM 30 comes in to play?

I've never heard of them doing completely random visits. They will call first, and at that point you can let them know where you are and why. In the event they cannot reach you, or do actually decide to do a check without any notice, then they would have both the TM30 and the TM47 to reference for address. If you don't have either of these on file and you are not at the address of your extension, I would expect trouble and a much higher barrier to explain yourself once they finally catch up with you.

14 hours ago, LungLing said:

Out of interest, what happens if you're not staying at the address you gave on your extension application at the time they call on you. There are numerous legitimate reasons for someone to be staying either temporarily or permanently elsewhere. Is this where an up to date TM 30 comes in to play?

The first thing they would do is talk to Thai neighbours and ask if they knew you and do you actually live at the address (they require Thai witnesses to confirm that you live there)

15 hours ago, LungLing said:

Out of interest, what happens if you're not staying at the address you gave on your extension application at the time they call on you. There are numerous legitimate reasons for someone to be staying either temporarily or permanently elsewhere. Is this where an up to date TM 30 comes in to play?

Only speaking for myself and what I would do . . .

Once I changed my residence, I'd show up at Immigration before my next 90 Day Report, tell them of the change and ask for something to verify that I've been there to report the change.

2 minutes ago, Ricohoc said:

Once I changed my residence, I'd show up at Immigration before my next 90 Day Report, tell them of the change and ask for something to verify that I've been there to report the change.

That's what the TM28 used to be for, but most immigration offices have stopped using it. Now the TM30 represents that.