Renewing Retirement Visa Without A Permanent Place Of Residence

[LastSamurai]

Good day,

In March 2008, I entered Thailand without visa and was given 30 day stay permit at airport. I then applied for retirement visa furnishing affidavit from Canadian Embassy of monthly pension income sufficient to meet requirements for retirement visa. My stay permit was changed to 90 day "O" visa plus one year retirement visa, valid until June 2, 2009. A week later, I left Thailand on a re-entry permit --- stamps in current passport verify this. I never filed any 90 day address reports since I was NOT living in the Kingdom.

For personal reasons, my plans changed and I was unable to return to Thailand until April 10, 2009 on that re-entry permit. I am now staying in a guest house until I leave Thailand again on May 8.

I would like to renew my retirement visa so that I may return to Thailand in October 2009 and stay for 4 to 6 months continuously without leaving the Kingdom. I plan to rent a condo by the month for that duration.

My host tells me that Immigration may require a "residence certificate" and staying in a guesthouse for a few weeks may not meet that requirement. Is this correct?

In order to renew a retirement visa is there any requirement concerning minimal number of days of presence in the Kingdom during the past year?

Any advice will be most appreciated.

Thank you.

[Maestro]

I am unaware of any minimum stay requirement and have not seen any posts by ThaiVisa members to that effect.

On your application form for the new retirement extension, simply indicate the address of the guest house where you are staying at present. I think you will have no problem getting the new extension.

Some immigration offices reportedly have sometimes asked for some kind of proof of residence. In your case, the report that the guest house made to the immigration office of your arrival should make it unnecessary for you to supply any additional proof but if it should be required the guest house manager could give you a letter confirming that your are staying at that address.

--

Maestro

[harrry]

As you now have to use the Immigration office where you are registered for all further dealings I would suggest if you do use a Guest House make sure it is in an area where it is easy to reach Immigration each time you need an extension or re-entry visa.

[lopburi3]

You can move and move your immigration office at a later date. It is not a marriage.

[LastSamurai]

THANK YOU Maestro, harrry, and lopburi3 for your replies to my concerns.

Any suggestions as to what I might state on the TM 7 application form as "reasons for extension" that might allay any suspicions over my prolonged absence from Thailand over the past year despite holding the "retirement visa"???

Also, qualifying solely on basis of sufficient monthly income, do I still have to provide BOTH a photocopy of my bankbook AND a letter from the bank, not more than one day old, stating my balance??

Many thanks

[ubonjoe]

You reason for an extension is still retirement you can't put anything else.

tt depends upon what immigration office you use as to whether or not you need to show a bank book when you apply for your extension using income. If it's Pattaya then the anwer would be yes.

[lopburi3]

As said you should not have to even show bankbook. But if requested do not believe they would also require the bank letter (as there is no requirement for any set amount).

[LastSamurai]

A brief update for anyone interested in this thread:

Day 1 Went to Pattaya Immigration Bureau to renew "retirement visa" with bank passbook and copy of same. Rejected -- letter from bank, not more than 24 hours old, AND bank passbood required!!! (BTW, I had letter from Embassy attesting to apx B 115,000/mo income).

Day 2 Returned to Bureau with letter --- interviewd as to prersent address --- fact that it is no more permanent than a "guesthouse" didn't seem to be a problem, but surprised that I was asked what I was paying as monthly rent --- B 15,000 was acceptable response. Passport stamped; charged B 1,900.

Day 3 Returned to Bureau; picked up passport with one full year extension (though I was applying a bit early). Applied for re-entry permit; granted on the spot.

THANK YOU for all your help.

[Lite Beer]

Day 1 Went to Pattaya Immigration Bureau to renew "retirement visa" with bank passbook and copy of same. Rejected -- letter from bank, not more than 24 hours old, AND bank passbood required!!! (BTW, I had letter from Embassy attesting to apx B 115,000/mo income).

The bank letter should not have been needed if you had the Embassy letter. But as we all know.........

[ubonjoe]

Thats a Pattaya rule. Seen it sevarl times in reports. But I think the bank letter is new.

[alstaxi]

Thats a Pattaya rule. Seen it sevarl times in reports. But I think the bank letter is new.

I have been asked for a letter from bank, in addition to embassy letter, 3 years running.