Anyone Renewed Retirement Visa At Phuket Immi Lately?

[chickencurry]

Has anyone renewed/extended their retirement visa lately at Phuket Immigration? Any new rules/changes/surprises? Yeh I've checked on the visa forum but, as we all know, you do get some little variations around the country

[pagallim]

Has anyone renewed/extended their retirement visa lately at Phuket Immigration? Any new rules/changes/surprises? Yeh I've checked on the visa forum but, as we all know, you do get some little variations around the country

Mine renewed 3rd August, no differences from last year. One thing that I do know has changed, is the Residency Certificate (obtaining a driving licence etc). Before, all that was required was proof of accommodation, copy of passport, and photographs (before done in an upstairs office in Phuket Immigration). Now (apparently from some 2 weeks ago), a copy of the property owner's ID card, along with the owner's signature is needed, and the process is done at the usual desks on the main floor. I believe that in some cases this has caused severe grief to applicants, as it's not unusual for the land registration documents to be out of date, and the 'registered' owner might even be dead! If you need one of these (for driving licence renewal etc), best to allow plenty of time, and speak to one of the volunteers in the Immigration Office first.

[chickencurry]

thanks for the prompt reply - cheers!

[petercallen]

I renewed in may same requirements as last year.

[bellachg]

I renewed in may same requirements as last year.

Same here, I renewed 2 weeks ago. But beware of the new guy at the desk. He is still learning the job. He wanted 2 photocopies of everything, while when I returned with 2 copies I dealt with one of the older guys and he did not want the second set!! Go figure this out. When part or all of your 800,000 baht bank balance is in a joint account with your wife, you need to show your marriage license, and, I think, your wife also has to be there, so they can check you are still married to her and living with her. The money has to have been there for at least 3 months, according to the latest "Questions amd Answers" of the Gazette, but the new lady boss made the point to me verbally that it has to be there all year. Otherwise it went pretty fast, was out of there in half an hour.

Good luck

[LivinLOS]

Mine renewed 3rd August, no differences from last year. One thing that I do know has changed, is the Residency Certificate (obtaining a driving licence etc). Before, all that was required was proof of accommodation, copy of passport, and photographs (before done in an upstairs office in Phuket Immigration). Now (apparently from some 2 weeks ago), a copy of the property owner's ID card, along with the owner's signature is needed, and the process is done at the usual desks on the main floor. I believe that in some cases this has caused severe grief to applicants, as it's not unusual for the land registration documents to be out of date, and the 'registered' owner might even be dead! If you need one of these (for driving licence renewal etc), best to allow plenty of time, and speak to one of the volunteers in the Immigration Office first.

Yeah I rent from a farang whose not in the country.. What now ??

Luckily it was 'solved' for me..

[pagallim]

Yeah I rent from a farang whose not in the country.. What now ??

Luckily it was 'solved' for me..

Just felt that maybe it was worth mentioning. Probably only affects circumstances where 'Residency Certificates' are required, but it's starting to become far more complicated than before. Maybe because last month (July) I needed to get Residence Certificates on three occasions, driving licence, boat licence, boat registration. Just putting it in the air for people to consider and be aware of.

[chickencurry]

Just felt that maybe it was worth mentioning. Probably only affects circumstances where 'Residency Certificates' are required, but it's starting to become far more complicated than before. Maybe because last month (July) I needed to get Residence Certificates on three occasions, driving licence, boat licence, boat registration. Just putting it in the air for people to consider and be aware of.

Good to mention that pagallim - thanks.

We also tried to get a letter confirming our address about 3 weeks ago from Immigration. We showed housebook, house ownership doc in Thai and what they gave us were slips of paper (bit like the 90 day slips) saying that our address had been noted BUT it didn't actually mention our address on the slip of paper. We wanted the letters for visas for another country - as it turned out, we didn't need the letters but concerned as we have a boat licence to renew shortly too.

[LivinLOS]

We also tried to get a letter confirming our address about 3 weeks ago from Immigration. We showed housebook, house ownership doc in Thai and what they gave us were slips of paper (bit like the 90 day slips) saying that our address had been noted BUT it didn't actually mention our address on the slip of paper. We wanted the letters for visas for another country - as it turned out, we didn't need the letters but concerned as we have a boat licence to renew shortly too.

They did exactly the same thing to me.. Didnt bother writing the address down on it.. I actually spotted it and asked him to put it on there and he scribbled it (unreadable) in the top left corner not in the dotted spaces for it. I managed to swing it because the numbers were readable and I then rewrote the address out at the motor vehicle place.

On the same issue the sole reason I was getting new 5 year licenses was to get the new style ones with the address on them.. Reason I needed it was an offshore banker needs multiple government issued address confirms (in english script, not easy). So I explain to the women in the DMV that I REALLY need the address put in english script, yes sure yes no problem, yes can.. It was 2 mins before they finished for the day at 3:30 so they tore through the processing I go take picture they print up card and there on the back, in Thai script is the address, the whole process is a waste of time. I go back to the senior woman who had promised it in english script who then changed her mind and said that it was impossible, the computer system only took Thai script, so I came away. Since then I see my mates license is in English script just what I was trying to do. Whenever admitting a mistake comes up against deceit you know which one trumps !!

[chickencurry]

Well we went up to Phuket Immigration this morning and there were changes, albeit minor ones for the Retirement Visa extension.

1. Photocopies of ALL pages of bank book (going back years). Sure we never did this last year.

2. Photocopies of ALL Thai visa stamps in passport. My passport is getting quite old and therefore quite a few in there. They even wanted a copy of an old Thai Tourist Visa I had stamped in there from years ago. Why? Don't ask me.

I said to the Immigration guy Not same-same as last year. He said Different every year. Think I detected an exasperated look.

At least it was all quick - in 40 minutes got Retirement Visa extension, 90 day renewal, and Multiple Entry Permit. Not many people in there.

[starkey_rich]

Did mine last week.As you say the only thing different was the copy of all visa stamps.I think the photo copy lady must be struggling and they are helping her out.

I went at at 9.00am and I was the only person in there,another guy came in when I was leaving 30 mins later.The place was full when I renewed last year.