Non-immigrant 'o' Extension

[PETERTHEEATER]

I went to the Immigration Division today (Friday 22 APR 05) to extend my Non-Immigrant ‘O’ visa for the first time. Got through the front door just after 10am after one of the worst taxi rides in 35 years of BKK taxiing – but that’s another story.

First impression of the Immigration Bureau was chaos and I anticipated a long wait. However, read the big sign, picked up the application form from the desk, filled it in (or out if you are an American reader), paid the fee (1900 THB) showed the deskman my mountain of carefully photocopied support docs all signed and dated. He was amused, shrugged and returned them with the cash receipt and a numbered ‘queuing’ tag.

At this stage I should explain that although 65 years old, UK PP holder, I was applying for an extension to support my Thai wife (35 years married) who, of course, was with me.

Waited a few minutes ‘til my number was called, my application form, now endorsed, was returned to me and we were directed to Room 102 where we picked up another ‘queuing’ tag and sat down to wait. The room was about three quarters full but my number was called by a middle-aged female immigration officer within five minutes.

She was very pleasant and scanned my application, asked for the PP copies and chuckled that I had copied every page in duplicate, as was the stated requirement in various responses in Thai Visa Forum. She extracted only the photo ID/Signature pages and the ‘O’ Visa and TM 7 pages; said that she wanted only one copy. She then showed me the docs requirement list (seen it before) and asked for a medical certificate which I did not have. I politely pointed out that it was not a requirement for a ‘support Thai wife’ application at which point she looked directly at me and said ‘I’m going to give you a retirement visa but you still require a medical letter whether it’s ‘support Thai wife or retirement’ At this point, she had not asked for or sighted any other of the support docs I had with me.

I repeated that I did not have a medical letter because it was my understanding (confirmed twice in this forum) that it was not required. She shrugged and said ‘ please bring one next year’

She then asked for the Bank letter - but returned the copies saying she required only the original, my wife’s Thai ID card – again returning the copies as not required, the domicile booklet (keeping only one copy of the relevant pages – returned all others as not required. Ignored two ‘change of name’ certificates and copies; stamped my PP with the extension to take it to the full year from date of entry, explained the 90 day reporting rule (picked up a Form from Room 401) and requirement for exit/re-entry permit if international travel was required. She wished us good luck and said ‘see you next year’. I got the extension signed by her superior (male) at the adjacent desk and that was that. Thirty-eight minutes door to door!

So, what’s the point of this story? Only to suggest that you always take a medical letter and no need for photocopies of every page of every document, only the relevant pages. If ‘your’ examining officer wants more copies then you can grab another ‘queuing’ tag and nip over the road to the copy shop and get them done.

The requirement for two copies of everything would be relevant for applications submitted through provincial Immigration Offices since they would keep one and send the other to HQ BKK.

Good luck to other first timers.

[lopburi3]

I believe you received a retirement extension of stay and that is why she said to bring a medical certificate next year. Check your passport and see if "Thai Wife" is stamped next to extension.

You are right that only one copy of paperwork is required at Bangkok - upcountry they have to keep another copy for there files.

At any rate glad everything went well.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Hello Lop,

Nope, I specifically requested a 'support Thai wife' extension simply because it was slightly easier even though I qualify for the 'retirement visa' and could meet the higher financial requirement. The Immigration Officer simply decided that 'retirement was what I should have and that is what is stamped in the PP

Either way it satisfies my requirement.

Peter

I believe you received a retirement extension of stay and that is why she said to bring a medical certificate next year.  Check your passport and see if "Thai Wife" is stamped next to extension.

You are right that only one copy of paperwork is required at Bangkok - upcountry they have to keep another copy for there files.

At any rate glad everything went well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[sriracha john]

I went to the Immigration Division today (Friday 22 APR 05) to extend my Non-Immigrant ‘O’ visa for the first time. Got through the front door just after 10am after one of the worst taxi rides in 35 years of BKK taxiing – but that’s another story.

First impression of the Immigration Bureau was chaos and I anticipated a long wait. However, read the big sign, picked up the application form from the desk, filled it in (or out if you are an American reader), paid the fee (1900 THB) showed the deskman my mountain of carefully photocopied support docs all signed and dated. He was amused, shrugged and returned them with the cash receipt and a numbered ‘queuing’ tag.

At this stage I should explain that although 65 years old, UK PP holder, I was applying for an extension to support my Thai wife (35 years married) who, of course, was with me.

Waited a few minutes ‘til my number was called, my application form, now endorsed, was returned to me and we were directed to Room 102 where we picked up another ‘queuing’ tag and sat down to wait. The room was about three quarters full but my number was called by a middle-aged female immigration officer within five minutes.

She was very pleasant and scanned my application, asked for the PP copies and chuckled that I had copied every page in duplicate, as was the stated requirement in various responses in Thai Visa Forum. She extracted only the photo ID/Signature pages and the ‘O’ Visa and TM 7 pages; said that she wanted only one copy. She then showed me the docs requirement list (seen it before) and asked for a medical certificate which I did not have. I politely pointed out that it was not a requirement for a ‘support Thai wife’ application at which point she looked directly at me and said ‘I’m going to give you a retirement visa but you still require a medical letter whether it’s ‘support Thai wife or retirement’ At this point, she had not asked for or sighted any other of the support docs I had with me.

I repeated that I did not have a medical letter because it was my understanding (confirmed twice in this forum) that it was not required. She shrugged and said ‘ please bring one next year’

She then asked for the Bank letter - but returned the copies saying she required only the original, my wife’s Thai ID card – again returning the copies as not required, the domicile booklet (keeping only one copy of the relevant pages – returned all others as not required. Ignored two ‘change of name’ certificates and copies; stamped my PP with the extension to take it to the full year from date of entry, explained the 90 day reporting rule (picked up a Form from Room 401) and requirement for exit/re-entry permit if international travel was required. She wished us good luck and said ‘see you next year’. I got the extension signed by her superior (male) at the adjacent desk and that was that. Thirty-eight minutes door to door!

So, what’s the point of this story? Only to suggest that you always take a medical letter and no need for photocopies of every page of every document, only the relevant pages. If ‘your’ examining officer wants more copies then you can grab another ‘queuing’ tag and nip over the road to the copy shop and get them done.

The requirement for two copies of everything would be relevant for applications submitted through provincial Immigration Offices since they would keep one and send the other to HQ BKK.

Good luck to other first timers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you for a very well-written report. Glad everything went smoothly and quickly for you.

Look forward to reading the taxi ride story....

Edited April 23, 2005 by sriracha john