hi there.

i am 56 years old ,hold an irish passport,and at present living in bangkok,have a retirement visa which expires on 29th june '09.

i am not sure if i will be in thailand durind the june to renew this visa,or if i will have matured funds (800,000 thai baht's) in my bank for 3 months at this time.

i will be in the uk during may /june.

can i just apply for a non-immigrant multi entry visa,and re apply for retirement status once i return and have the funds in the thai bank for at least 2 months.

very grateful for any help and advice,many thanks,patrick.

hi there.

i am 56 years old ,hold an irish passport,and at present living in bangkok,have a retirement visa which expires on 29th june '09.

i am not sure if i will be in thailand durind the june to renew this visa,or if i will have matured funds (800,000 thai baht's) in my bank for 3 months at this time.

i will be in the uk during may /june.

can i just apply for a non-immigrant multi entry visa,and re apply for retirement status once i return and have the funds in the thai bank for at least 2 months.

very grateful for any help and advice,many thanks,patrick.

If you leave and come back before 29th june there will be no problem extending, as long as you have a re-entry permit.

Also no problem applying earlier, (before you go) but the money in the bank has to be there 3 months before applying. Only the first time can the money be there for ony 2 months.

If you can't make all of this you have to get a new visa while your out of the country.

can i just apply for a non-immigrant multi entry visa,and re apply for retirement status once i return and have the funds in the thai bank for at least 2 months.

Sure. My only concern would be some Immigrant officer saying the '2 month' rule only applies to newbies -- and since you've been here before on a 12-month retirement gig (either O-A or extension off a Non Imm visa), then you'll need to have 3 months in the bank. Yeah, it's a brand new Non Imm O you're extending off of -- but still, he might question your newbie virginity....

Just a guess -- and a heads-up.

And, if for sure you're going for the extension (and qualify) during your first 90-day return to Thailand, no need to waste the extra money for a multi entry Non Imm O visa -- single will do. (Unless you're uncertain of your return date, as a single entry is only valid for 3-months, vice the one year for the multi entry variant.)