Retirement Renewal

[mrjohn]

I am going to renew my retirement visa in Phuket next week.

Last year I used the 800,000 in the bank method but this year I have a pension income. I have just received the letter of confirmation of that income from my embassy by e-mail and hopefully a hard copy will arrive tomorrow.

Just want to make absolutely certain I have all the forms and papers in place when I go in on Monday. As far as I can see, all I really need is my passport and copy thereof and the letter from the embassy.

Is there anything else I should take with me?

Also my visa expires on the 23rd January so I will be going for the renewal the day before which is why I want to make sure I have all the necessary documentation in place.

Thanks for any advice.

[lopburi3]

You should really do three or four week before expiration but definitely before it expires. You should have passport/copies, arrival card/copy, and Embassy letter. They may like a bank letter of account balance and passbook/copies for there file (but may not be required). You will need a new 4x6cm photo for the application.

[mrjohn]

You should really do three or four week before expiration but definitely before it expires. You should have passport/copies, arrival card/copy, and Embassy letter. They may like a bank letter of account balance and passbook/copies for there file (but may not be required). You will need a new 4x6cm photo for the application.

Thanks for that, but my pension only matured about six weeks ago so what with xmas etc it has taken this long to get the embassy letter. So I know I am cutting it a bit fine but will it really be a problem if I have all the documentation in place?

[lopburi3]

Should not be a problem.

[WilliamIV]

Please let us know what happens

Bill

[marshbags]

I,ve just done my 90 day notification visit and asked about the yearly renewal in case of any changes.

( 800,000 baht method. )

Was told to take a photo copy of my wifes I.D. card and copies of all info in the house papers / book.

A p.copy of my bank acccount and all pages, plus a letter to certify the contents therein.

Usual copies of all relevant p. port pages and current T.M. card.

This was at N.Khai and while i appreciate it isn,t Phuket or anywhere else, thought it may be worthwhile checking the latest info in your respective offices before making the journey.

I always go one month before the renewal date and if i could, i,d try sooner to enable me to go back to the U.K. earlier.

marshbags

[WeeGB]

Marshbags, Hope you don't mind me asking, how long do you usually stay in the UK? I am planning to go back there, to sell up my house and other stuff, after I hopefully get my retirement and re-entry visas, and I'm hoping to be away from LOS for under six months, do you anticipate me having any problems when I come back here? Thanks

[marshbags]

Marshbags, Hope you don't mind me asking, how long do you usually stay in the UK? I am planning to go back there, to sell up my house and other stuff, after I hopefully get my retirement and re-entry visas, and I'm hoping to be away from LOS for under six months, do you anticipate me having any problems when I come back here? Thanks

Personally i never have any problems as i make sure i have a re entry stamp and come back within the validity period in relation to my visa.

I stay for differing periods depending on my personal needs ect, and try to stay in Thailand for as much of the colder periods back home as is possible.

Perhaps lopburi or someone of a similiar status / experience can be more specific from an official perspective.

I think that so long as your re entry is used before your yearly visa runs out, you should be o.k.

Don,t forget to base it on a month before you are due for renewal if possible of course.

marshbags

Edited January 19, 2008 by marshbags

[phutoie2]

Just a quick pointer on this please. I am going to renew my retirement extension on my non O immigrant visa at Suan Plu in February. Surely you do not have to be married for retirement extensions?? . I am married to a Thai national but was not planning to take her down to immigration, as I wanted to do a quick one day raid down to BK on the bus on my own.

I can get my bank letter at the local branch of Bangkok Bank up here and this year I have managed to put away the 800k, as last year I only had a mix of 500k and letter of proof of income (pension ex - HM Forces) from Brit embassy.

Incidentally I live in a rented house so will take a copy of rental agreement which is in my wifes name plus now I will take copies of her ID card & her family home book page. Obviously also with new TM7 + new photo/ copies of passport pages/TM6 and 1900 baht . Anything I missed?? - 90 day report slip/ maps/photo's/ATM slips/UK bank statements.

I ask that because a neighbour did his retirement extension recently and despite having the 800k in his account the immigration officer still asked how he lived month to month in Thailand?

[lopburi3]

I expect the bank account did not show normal activity? If you show activity do not believe that will be asked.

Normally wife does not have to visit - although when change from married to retirement is made they do want her to sign off on it (that she knows you have changed your extension of stay status).

[mrjohn]

Well there I was perfectly happy with Lopburi’s reply and suddenly someone sows seeds of doubt and this thread seems to go off on a slightly different track.

Getting back to my situation I have a letter from my embassy (presumably the letter which they write all the time) stating that I have more than sufficient funds from my pension.

I shall also be taking my bank book (which is up to date) and shows that I have drawn out money for living expenses over the year from the 800,000 baht that I moved here last time. I asked in the bank for a letter to verify the bankbook. The official refused, saying that they only do that when you've got 800,000 in the bank. I am currently quite ill with a shingles, a condition which I don't recommend to anyone, so I could not be bothered to argue.

I just want to make sure I have all the documents in place as per Lopburi’s original reply! I am not well enough to cope with any unnecessary hassle from some power crazed jobsworth in immigration.

One further question:

There are two immigration offices here, one in the City and one in Patong. I have always used the City branch where they often seem to bend over backwards to find a reason not to issue a visa.

Has anybody any real experience of the two? Which one is better?

Any recommendations on this one please???

[lopburi3]

I do not believe you will have a problem. But I would be looking for a new bank. There is no requirement for any set amount to obtain a letter from your bank of account balance. It is a standard bank function and has a form to fill out and a set service charge. Those of use using accounts for partial or marriage would never have "over 800k" in the account. If you have an immigration problem explain what happened and ask if they will call bank; or contact head office for the letter and next year use another bank.

But I really don't believe it will be a problem.

[Guest]

While agreeing with the ever wise Lopburi, a quick fix would be to get a bank statement to cover the last year. I recently got one from the Bangkok Bank for 200 baht, but it took 2 days. You'll still need the normal bank letter...

Edited January 19, 2008 by Guest

[fishhooks]

I notice in some of the advice given for various reasons, mention is made of "A copy of the Arrival Card"

As this is filled in on the plane and kept by Immigration (leaving you with the Departure portion), how does one arrange a copy of this?

[lopburi3]

It is called a TM.6 Arrival Card and you copy the portion (receipt/departure) that you have in your passport.

[mrjohn]

New development.

I have already received a copy of the Embassy letter by e-mail. They assured me that they would post it to me by EMS on Friday. The postman has just been at about 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon and no letter from my Embassy.

It had been my intention to go into the office first thing on Monday morning. Are they likely to issue me with the visa on the strength of the printed the e-mail? Will they insist on the original Hard Copy? Can I get them to phone Embassy for confirmation?

I live about 15 kilometres from the immigration office. The letter will probably arrive on Monday in the early afternoon so it will be cutting it a bit fine to get into the office before they close. Just in case it didn't mention it before my current visa expires on 23rd!

What would you do?

Any tips here will be truly and very gratefully received

[lopburi3]

You may still get it this weekend - EMS, at least here in Bangkok, is delivered by special delivery and not tied to daily mail run. I would wait until Tuesday if you do not have the original (as I am sure it will be required). If you still do not have it Tuesday visit immigration with what you have and request a 7 day extension of stay.

[haybilly]

I,ve just done my 90 day notification visit and asked about the yearly renewal in case of any changes.

( 800,000 baht method. )

Was told to take a photo copy of my wifes I.D. card and copies of all info in the house papers / book.

A p.copy of my bank acccount and all pages, plus a letter to certify the contents therein.

Usual copies of all relevant p. port pages and current T.M. card.

This was at N.Khai and while i appreciate it isn,t Phuket or anywhere else, thought it may be worthwhile checking the latest info in your respective offices before making the journey.

I always go one month before the renewal date and if i could, i,d try sooner to enable me to go back to the U.K. earlier.

marshbags

QUESTION about the above---I recently came to my 90 day limit, I went to/from UK in Setember 2007 and 90 days was up mid December--I then trawled up to Mae Sot Immigration where I presented my passport--the 'nice' lady looked at my stamps and saw the one issued at Suvannarbhumi Airport which stated that I could remain in country until March 2008--a period of 6 months and the expiry date of my Retirement Visa--she then asked why I had come to which I replied to update my Retirement Visa after 90 days--she seemed to think I was some sort of idiot and pointed at the date stamp for March 2008 saying I did not need to do anything until then--I drove back home but still wasn't convinced so I phoned Chiang Mai Immigration, who issued the Visa, having explained the situ the 'nice' lady on the phone said that as far as she could tell I had done what was needed by going to Mae Sot--I said " but I don't have any stamp in my passport"--and she said that I would not have got a stamp--this seems like nonsense to me and I have been worrying ever since that I am going to get a massive fine soon--more and more by the day--can anyone help--I am going up to Chiang Mai at end of Jan. and will rock up in person to Immigration with passport but in the meantime.....??? Please advise--confused!

[Guest]

If you are talking about a non-o visa with retirement extension, then you have to report to immigration every 90 days. There is a form to fill in and the bottom half is stamped with your next reporting date, and given back to you. If you fail to do so there is a fine of 2000 baht (I think) and a nasty stamp in your passport. The 90 day reporting is nothing to do with extensions of stay.

[haybilly]

If you are talking about a non-o visa with retirement extension, then you have to report to immigration every 90 days. There is a form to fill in and the bottom half is stamped with your next reporting date, and given back to you. If you fail to do so there is a fine of 2000 baht (I think) and a nasty stamp in your passport. The 90 day reporting is nothing to do with extensions of stay.

Many thanks 'pauln'--it looks pretty much like I have been misinformed by the 'authorities' and, as usual, there's only going to be one loser--yours truly.I can handle a 2000 Bht fine--nasty stamps don't sound too good, though--you don't reckon it's likely to be the 500 Bht per day as in overstay?? Don't know why they can't advise correctly when you present yourself in front of them,with passport and ask about the 'report every 90 days' rule--Amazing Thailand, again.

[lopburi3]

You fill out a TM.47 Address Report every 90 days when on extensions of stay. They will cut off the bottom part and you keep that in your passport until the next report. There is no stamp placed into your passport.

[haybilly]

You fill out a TM.47 Address Report every 90 days when on extensions of stay. They will cut off the bottom part and you keep that in your passport until the next report. There is no stamp placed into your passport.

Thanks to you too, lopburi3, it looks more and more like I have a problem-I was issued the original 90 day extension to report before 08 Aug., however I left the country early July and got appropriate Re-entry Permit and duly re-entered end of July--then left Thailand again early September to take daughter to UK having got Re-entry Permit again--it was on this re-entry that the date of March 2008 [expiry of Retirement Visa] was stamped in my passport as when I could stay in Kingdom until--it was within this 90 day period, around mid-December that I went to Mae Sot to report for my 90 days to be told that I did not need to, therefore nothing was done--guess I've got a big problem??

[lopburi3]

It should not be that big a problem. They normally only charge 2,000 baht for late reporting - but there is a 200 baht a day possibility in the regulations. It appears the office did not understand what you wanted when you visited them.

[haybilly]

It should not be that big a problem. They normally only charge 2,000 baht for late reporting - but there is a 200 baht a day possibility in the regulations. It appears the office did not understand what you wanted when you visited them.

Yes, I guess that would be the case--I was rather puzzled and followed up with a phone call to Chiang Mai Imm. Off. and again was told that all was in order--it comes down to a lack of understanding and probably my inability to convey my concerns adequately--I must admit to being still rather confused about the regulations in my case with regard to the entry/exits from Thailand within the 90 day periods--which I, mistakenly, it appears, assumed negated my need to report every 90 days--still don't fully understand my responsibilities in this regard?

Your input is much appreciated, by the way.

[lopburi3]

You need to report 90 days from your last entry - that appears to be what you tried to do in December if I follow right so now it has been more than 90 + 7 that is allowed so you will likely be hit with the 2,000 baht late charge. You need to say "90 day address report" if you do not have the TM.47 or receipt to show them.

[haybilly]

You need to report 90 days from your last entry - that appears to be what you tried to do in December if I follow right so now it has been more than 90 + 7 that is allowed so you will likely be hit with the 2,000 baht late charge. You need to say "90 day address report" if you do not have the TM.47 or receipt to show them.

Yes, you are correct-- that is what I tried to do; I think I shall go to Mae Sot tomorrow/tuesday, and not wait until my trip to Chiang Mai at end of month and try to see the same young lady and attempt to correct my mistake--not her mistake, note--maybe, with appropriate amount of grovelling and self-effacement I might get away with 2000 Bht only-I must try to make her feel as if she was correct all along. Do I need to take any photos along?

[lopburi3]

No photos required.

[haybilly]

OK, thanks again--I know better now--and, with respect to the situation of someone who leaves and re-enters Thailand, on a re-entry permit, this effectively negates the need to make a 90 day report should that 90 days expire whilst one is out of the country-i.e. just start counting again from the date of re-entry? I think that you already answered that in a previous posting but being somewhat confused I am just trying to be 100%.

[lopburi3]

You only need to report being here 90 days when you actually have been here 90 days. So if you leave before a report the next report will be do 90 days after your return.

[Guderian]

I was also confused by Jomtien Immigration on the 90-day reporting issue. I got my retirement extension in mid-December and a notice to report 90 days later (early March) was stapled in the front of my passport. When I got the multi-entry permit, I asked the guy who issued it if the date on the reporting slip was valid as I was going back to the UK for 4 weeks over Christmas and New Year. He seemed to say that yes, I still must report on that date.

So I've done my trip to the frost and the fog and just got back to the Land Of Visa Concerns (and bloody good it is to be back!). But I will still go to Jomtien Immigration on the date in early March that is on the slip in my passport. Soi 5 is walking distance from my condo, so why not? At worst they will tell me to come back a month later - which may be a new problem, as I plan to be in The Philippines around then!

Either the Immigration guy I asked didn't speak very good English, or else I failed miserably to make my question clear. It's easy to see how these problems can occur.