Need Exact Instructions On Yearly Retirement Visa Extension

[buzzer]

Hi,

I need to perform my yearly retirement visa renewal tomorrow. I've been on ThaiVisa for the last hour and haven't found a clear answer stating exactly what I need to bring for the Retirement Visa Extension (or Renewal). I'm sure all the information is available on Thaivisa somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it all in one place. I think I know some of the answers, but would like someone better informed than myself to check the facts for me - if you would be so kind. Plus, as the laws are always changing, I prefer to be better safe than sorry. Feel free to answer by sending links to pages that address these questions. I won't mind.

1. What is the yearly renewal fee? 1900 Baht?

2. Photos - How large and how many? 2 color photos 4 X 6 cm.?

3. The medical certificate is no longer required, right?

4. Which Passport pages do I copy? 1 copy right?

5. I know I need to get a letter from the bank and take that to immigration along with my bank books.

I'm not sure if this situation will give me a problem - I topped up my bank account to over 800,000 3 months ago, but an emergency cost a lot and my balance today is about 440,000. There will be no problem transferring money from my US bank to show a balance over 800,000 tomorrow. What do the laws say? Will this be a problem?

6. Off Topic - Every 90 days when I check in I loose some days. I entered Thailand August 23, but now the paper they attach every 90 days says I have to check in on the 5th of August. I was a couple days late last cycle, but the woman at Immigration (Samui) seemed to be going by the August 23 date. This is a minor point, but can I 'stretch' it back to the 23rd?

7. Is there anything I'm forgetting? I am retired, after all!

Thanks for your help!

Buzzer

[Lite Beer]

Hi,

I need to perform my yearly retirement visa renewal tomorrow. I've been on ThaiVisa for the last hour and haven't found a clear answer stating exactly what I need to bring for the Retirement Visa Extension (or Renewal). I'm sure all the information is available on Thaivisa somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it all in one place. I think I know some of the answers, but would like someone better informed than myself to check the facts for me - if you would be so kind. Plus, as the laws are always changing, I prefer to be better safe than sorry. Feel free to answer by sending links to pages that address these questions. I won't mind.

1. What is the yearly renewal fee? 1900 Baht?

2. Photos - How large and how many? 2 color photos 4 X 6 cm.?

3. The medical certificate is no longer required, right?

4. Which Passport pages do I copy? 1 copy right?

5. I know I need to get a letter from the bank and take that to immigration along with my bank books.

I'm not sure if this situation will give me a problem - I topped up my bank account to over 800,000 3 months ago, but an emergency cost a lot and my balance today is about 440,000. There will be no problem transferring money from my US bank to show a balance over 800,000 tomorrow. What do the laws say? Will this be a problem?

6. Off Topic - Every 90 days when I check in I loose some days. I entered Thailand August 23, but now the paper they attach every 90 days says I have to check in on the 5th of August. I was a couple days late last cycle, but the woman at Immigration (Samui) seemed to be going by the August 23 date. This is a minor point, but can I 'stretch' it back to the 23rd?

7. Is there anything I'm forgetting? I am retired, after all!

Thanks for your help!

Buzzer

1. Correct.... but in In Samui ?

2. Correct. I still work in inches. Passport size photos.

3. Correct.

4. Photo page, Non O Visa page, Entry/Exit Card, Current permission to stay stamp. 2 copies.

5. This could be a problem. Up to the individual officer. The law states 3 months.

6. No

[buzzer]

This is what I provided when I checked in today (6 Aug, 2008). Everything went smoothly. Thanks to Lite Beer for your input, I was only slightly over-prepared.

First - Remember to take your passport

1. Renewal fee is 1900 Baht.

2. Photos - How large and how many? 2 color photos 4 X 6 cm.?

1 photo passport size - 4 X 6 cm

3. Medical certificate is no longer required.

4. Which Passport pages do I copy? 1 copy right?

They only used 1 copy of Photo page, Non O Visa page, Entry/Exit Card, but not the Current permission to stay stamp.

But I'd include the Current permission stamp (or paper) what can it hurt?

If they made any copies while they had my passport, I can't say. I doubt it.

5. Get a letter of guarantee from the bank and take that to immigration along with savings books.

(Additionally I furnished them copies of my savings books)

I was worried that the following problem would arise, but it turned out to be a non issue: I topped up my bank account to over 800,000 3 months ago, but an emergency cost a lot and my balance today is about 440,000. There will be no problem transferring money from my US bank to show a balance over 800,000 tomorrow.

6. I didn't press my luck with the following: Off Topic - Every 90 days when I check in I loose some days. I entered Thailand August 23, but now the paper they attach every 90 days says I have to check in on the 5th of August. I was a couple days late last cycle, but the woman at Immigration (Samui) seemed to be going by the August 23 date. This is a minor point, but can I 'stretch' it back to the 23rd?

Hope this helps those searching for an answer, and I hope that your immigration office has the same requirements.

Buzzer

[dotcom]

I have never gotten a bank letter the same day I requested it.

Suggest some of you had better get prepared in advance of the last day.

As far as "What do I need?" Immigration will be only too happy to furnish you a paper stating the requirements.

You case would have been interesting since the required money hasn't been in the account according to the rules but you tell us nothing about this most interesting subject.

Did all this happen in Samui?

[mahjongguy]

Did my renewal yesterday in Jomtien.

2. Photos - How large and how many? 2 color photos 4 X 6 cm.?

*** 1 photo for the visa and a second photo for the Re-Entry Permit, if you intend to get one.

4. Which Passport pages do I copy? 1 copy right?

*** 1 copy for the visa, 1 copy for the Re-Entry Permit, if desired.

*** Like a dummy I relied on the kid at the copy shop to copy the correct pages. Ended up running back over there. You should have the following, some of which might or might not be on the same copier page:

photo page

signature page

visa page

last year's renewal stamp

most recent entry stamp

arrival card

5. Bank letter

*** I went and got my bank letter after I got my queue number. Took about 30 minutes. I also had the bank copy all pages of my bankbook and sign/stamp every copied page. I also provided signed/stamped copies of my last two wire transfer detail reports. This may seem like overkill but I have been required in the past (at Suan Phlu) to provide all this, so this time I took no chances.

As it turned out, Desk #8 was already two numbers past my queue ticket when I got back from the bank. Twenty minutes later I was completely done. The only imperfection was that due to a computer malfunction I had to take a yellow card and go back for my passport the following afternoon.

This was my first time at Jomtien. Overall a much better experience than any of my three renewals at Suan Phlu.

[Mosha]

It must depend where you are. A quiet place like Ranong, and I get a letter from Kasikorn while i wait for them to check the coount and type/copy the letter. Less than 1 hour.

[buzzer]

I have never gotten a bank letter the same day I requested it.

I never got it the day before, always on the day of renewal - 5 times now. Never any problems doing that. Once they told me it would take days, I said "No way!", so they did it then.

You case would have been interesting since the required money hasn't been in the account according to the rules but you tell us nothing about this most interesting subject.

It was off topic for "Need Exact Instructions On Yearly Retirement Visa Extension" So, as I realize it's a topic of interest, I made a new topic last night after my trip to immigration. For the link to the other topic go: HERE

Did all this happen in Samui?

Yes, my last 2 extensions have been in Samui.

Buzzer