Can 30 Day Stamp Be Converted To Retirement Visa?

[Lance_A_Lot]

A friend recently flew back to the States. He thought he could get a re-entry permit at the airport but could not. When he returned all he got was a 30 day stamp into LOS.

Can this be converted into a retirement visa?? He is under the impression it can be.

[lopburi3]

Only when 21 days or more are remaining on permitted to stay. He needs to apply at Immigration with proof of income/funds in bank and pay 2,000 baht for the visa - then it will be the normal 1,900 baht for extension of stay (which may or may not be done at same time). Often you are told to come back with new documentation after 60 days for the one year extension of stay.

[ubonjoe]

He can if he has 21 or more days left on his permit to stay. It is called a change of visa status.

If he does not have the the 21 days left then the best thing to do is go to a embassy or consulate in one of the nearby countries and get a single entry non-o. These are easy to get if you are over 50.

[santol]

Only when 21 days or more are remaining on permitted to stay. He needs to apply at Immigration with proof of income/funds in bank and pay 2,000 baht for the visa - then it will be the normal 1,900 baht for extension of stay (which may or may not be done at same time).

That's not quite the case. I was with a friend who did this and saw for myself. What they did was first convert the 30-day entry to a Type O visa. Then they converted the Type O visa to the retirement visa. They did that on the spot, so there was no waiting, but he had to pay 1900 baht for the conversion to the Type O visa, then pay another 1900 baht for the conversion to the retirement visa.

In other words, to do this it's going to cost 3800 baht.

[ubonjoe]

Only when 21 days or more are remaining on permitted to stay. He needs to apply at Immigration with proof of income/funds in bank and pay 2,000 baht for the visa - then it will be the normal 1,900 baht for extension of stay (which may or may not be done at same time).

That's not quite the case. I was with a friend who did this and saw for myself. What they did was first convert the 30-day entry to a Type O visa. Then they converted the Type O visa to the retirement visa. They did that on the spot, so there was no waiting, but he had to pay 1900 baht for the conversion to the Type O visa, then pay another 1900 baht for the conversion to the retirement visa.

In other words, to do this it's going to cost 3800 baht.

Some immigration offices wil do it but not all. Most reports of this being done has been for Pattaya. But in Bangkok it is not done that way.

The fee's are 2000 and 1900 baht.

[Lite Beer]

Yes. Sometimes you will have to wait 2 months before applying for the 12 month extension.

[loong]

Only when 21 days or more are remaining on permitted to stay. He needs to apply at Immigration with proof of income/funds in bank and pay 2,000 baht for the visa - then it will be the normal 1,900 baht for extension of stay (which may or may not be done at same time).

That's not quite the case. I was with a friend who did this and saw for myself. What they did was first convert the 30-day entry to a Type O visa. Then they converted the Type O visa to the retirement visa. They did that on the spot, so there was no waiting, but he had to pay 1900 baht for the conversion to the Type O visa, then pay another 1900 baht for the conversion to the retirement visa.

In other words, to do this it's going to cost 3800 baht.

You've more or less just repeated what Lopburi said. He says the charge to convert to a non immigrant "O" is 2000 baht, you say 1,900.

But You don't usually convert a non "O" to a retirement visa, you get a 1 year extension to your permission to stay.

I think that you are maybe confused, but you could be confusing the issue for the OP.

[Mario2008]

Lopburi3 is right, it is 2,000 for the conversion and 1,900 for the extension of stay.

From a visa exepmt entry you first have to convert before yoiu can get an extension.

[merijn]

What is also possible and cheaper for him.

Get a one year retirement visa from a Thai Embassy outside Thailand. ( Which is normally not difficult )

When you enter Thailand you will get a one year stay stamp in your passport.

This will happen every time you enter Thailand within that year.

So for example you enter Thailand on Jan 1 you can stay for one year.

Do a visa run on +/- 25 December and you will recieve again a one year stay stamp.

No you can stay until 25 December next year.

So for one retirement visa application ( which you received from outside Thailand ) you can stay almost two year inside Thailand.

Before the end of those two year you can apply for a one extension in Thailand when you have the money or pension etc off-course.

[Lite Beer]

You are talking about a Multi Entry Non O-A Visa that can only be got in your own country.

If still talking about the States not all Consulates will issue a Multi Entry.

Details here. http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/Non-Imglong.aspx

[kudroz]

Since they are giving only 15-day on land border crossing, is it possible to change the 30-days entry stamp into a Non-O? With the 15-day stamps, it's impossible to have 21 days left.

[lopburi3]

If there are 21 days remaining and if done at an office that provides the change of status service (not all do). In some cases it may be easier for all to just get a new non immigrant visa prior to entry.

[GrahamF]

I know this is a little off topic but I do have a question about the 30 day stamps. I am planning on being in Thailand from late July to mid September for a total of 56 days. In the past when I have wanted to stay longer than 30 days I have always taken a trip somewhere and gotten another 30 days stamp when I get back. Not this year though, is it possible to apply for an extension on a 30 day stamp? If so it's got to be chaeper than taking a flight somewhere or doing two land runs?

Sorry for the off topic post!

Thanks!

[ubonjoe]

I know this is a little off topic but I do have a question about the 30 day stamps. I am planning on being in Thailand from late July to mid September for a total of 56 days. In the past when I have wanted to stay longer than 30 days I have always taken a trip somewhere and gotten another 30 days stamp when I get back. Not this year though, is it possible to apply for an extension on a 30 day stamp? If so it's got to be chaeper than taking a flight somewhere or doing two land runs?

Sorry for the off topic post!

Thanks!

You should get a tourist vsia before you leave. That way you don't have to worry about leaving.

A single entry tourist visa would give you 60 days on entry and can be extended for 30 days at immigration. They are easy to get and it only takes a few days. A single entry will only cost 1000 baht.

I think you are in the US. Contact an honorary consulate they all accept mail in applications. You will find a list of them on this webpage by using the pulldown menu at top of page. http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

The most you can extend a 30 day entry is 7 days and costs 1900 baht.

[ubonjoe]

A flame post deleted.

[jwisland]

This may help "some" people, depending on the bank and immigration office you are using. I have deposits in Bangkok Bank, and I went to the main BKK immigration office. The bank generated statement that I provided was not acceptable. It was simply a printout of my deposit book and signed by a bank official. When I presented it to immigration to change from "entry stamp" to Non Imm O", I was asked, VERY politely, to ask the bank for "Credit Advice/Receipt" statements. I grabbed a taxi back to my "home bank", in this case the Emporium branch, and within 15 minutes I had 3 statements indicating those deposits that totaled 800K baht. Each statement indicated the amount in foreign currency deposited by wire, the exchange rate at the time and the resulting deposit in Thai baht.

The lady at immigration was really apologetic about the need for these, and thanked me several times for my troubles attaining the documents. ?????? My passport was then held 3 days. I returned to pick it up and spent 5 minutes in a chair before my name was called. Done.....90 day Non Imm O visa. Yes, I will need to return in 60 days to apply for a one year extension, plus the multi-entry. I will bring the same documents I provided this time, INCLUDING newly generated "Credit Advice/Receipt" statements.

I have been here since Dec. 15, 2008, on "entry stamp" extensions.....twice....90 days each extension.....(last bank deposit was delayed, so I wanted to ensure that I had the money in a Thai bank for the requisite time). I have NO problem following their "rules". I've spent around 4 hours total at immigration since my arrival.......and I'm legal. Not a problem for me....beats having to leave the country.....and I just pretend I'm headed out to see the sights each time. Beautiful architecture at that office! <grin>

[RoueLeJour]

Key point about this post is the reminder that you can no longer get the re-entry permit at the airport on your way out like you could in the old days at Don Muang. If you don't get a re-entry you have to start again.

It says "Please contact the Immigration Office for a RE-ENTRY PERMIT before leaving Thailand" in my passport. It's not like they're trying to catch you out.