Retired Guy's Visa From Udon Extended In Bangkok

[RickFarang]

There have been some pretty scary stories about visas and in particular retirement visa extensions on the web recently. I thought I would post this to bring those who are nearing their extension date up to date. I visited Soi Suan Pluu in August to ask what I would need to extend, and here is what happed when I showed up with those documents:

I renewed my retired guy's visa in Bangkok yesterday (Oct 12th).

I prepared and presented the following documents:

1. The application form with photograph.

2. My passport, along with a photocopy of the relevant pages (see note 1).

3. A letter from my bank, including the bank's stamp stating that I have 800,000 baht in my bank account (see note 2), the bankbook for that account, and a photocopy of that bankbook.

4. A letter from my bank, including the bank's stamp describing deposits from outside of Thailand into another of my bank accounts, the bankbook for that account, and a photocopy of that bankbook (note3).

After paying the 1900 baht fee, I received a 1 year extension to my retired guy's visa (marked "NON-RE" in this passport).

Of note are the facts that I live in Udon Thani, though this was not mentioned (nobody told me to go to Nong Khai), and that in spite of reports of people being asked to draw maps to their homes, and my having observed this activity when I visited Soi Suan Pluu in Bangkok in August, no mention of a map was made to me.

Note 1: Near the end of the process, the immigration officer sent me across the street to make a copy of one passport page that was needed and not included in the documents that I originally handed to her.

Note 2: There was a little discussion between the immigration officer and who was apparently her manager about my 800,000 deposit. This may have been because it was a fixed deposit account, or because the bankbook was not updated since the initial deposit 11 months ago. In any case, she did not mention this to me, and it was not a problem.

Note 3: I was not asked for copies of the passport for the account that had transfers from outside the country, but I thought it was a good idea, and these copies were accepted. Perhaps I should have held onto them until requested.

One other observation: Though I didn't have to go to Nong Khai, I began to wonder if it would have been better to do so. I arrived at Soi Suan Pluu at about 10:00 AM on a Friday morning. Including the lunch break, I sat there for over 4 hours before my number was called. A better approach would be to do as others have, and get there when the doors open.

Personally, I hope that next year, more people take care of their business at their local immigration offices, so I won't have to wait in line in Bangkok for so long!

A polite encounter, a simple process, no hoops to jump through.

[tartempion]

RF,

Living in Udon Thani, why didn't you go to Nong Khai in the first place?

I do have a problem with the man sitting at the window in Nong Khai (and previousely working monday/friday at AEK Udon)

Last time the man got hold of my passport he threw the thing meters away, not a nice attitude and not to speak about the silly questions he asked my gf, next time there she will remain outside.

I always had my extension stuff done Soi Suan Phlu without any hassle but will need to re-apply for a retirement extension (start all over again). Still wonder where to go, I will be in Bangkok when the time is ripe anyway and Nong Khai is a 200km return trip.

[cooL_guY_corY]

the AEK Udon guy.. ugh piece of trash..

[Gary A]

The officer from Chiang Khan? A nice guy but he does it his way regardless of what the rest do. I provide whatever he tells me he needs and he even fills out my form for me. Maybe irritating to some but it works for me. He doesn't like the US Embassy income verification so I now have the 800,000 baht in my Thai bank. I expect next month it will be an in and out in 15 minutes. Well, maybe not 15 minutes, he likes to shoot the breeze with my Thai wife.