Tourist Visa Or Retirement Extension?

[jas007]

Hi all. I'm just looking for a bit of advice.

I haven't been in Thailand in a few years, but will be returning in a few weeks on a double entry tourist visa. I'll be staying for a little less than six months total.

If I simply keep the tourist visa, I'll have to take a weekend trip to Kuala Lumpur or someplace before my 60+30 day extension runs out. I assume I'll then be able to get another extension at the end of the 60 days, and that should cover me while I'm in Thailand.

However, I can always convert the tourist visa to an O visa and then get an extension based on retirement, as I'm over 50 and have the necessary income. I've done this before, and can do it again with a little work, but I'm not quite sure about the 90 day reporting requirements.

Suppose I do the retirement conversion at Jomtien. Do I have to do all the 90 day reports at Jomtien, or, for example, If I was in Phuket at the 90 day mark, could I do my report there? If so, that would greatly simplify matters. If not, that's another story and I might as well just keep my tourist visa.

Thanks

[jas007]

I guess after 69 views and no answer, I must have asked a stupid question.

I realize I can supposedly do my 90 day report by mail. But let's say I don't trust the mail. Then what? Can I report at ANY immigration office, or do I have to report to the office where my files are located?

Maybe I'm being paranoid about the mail. Maybe not.

[Sophon]

I guess after 69 views and no answer, I must have asked a stupid question.

I realize I can supposedly do my 90 day report by mail. But let's say I don't trust the mail. Then what? Can I report at ANY immigration office, or do I have to report to the office where my files are located?

Maybe I'm being paranoid about the mail. Maybe not.

It's nighttime now in Thailand, so not so many people to read your post.

If you decide to do the retirement extension, you will have to do your 90 day report at the same place were you got your extension. Report by mail would also have to be sent to that immigration office, but note that not all immigration offices accept 90 day reports by mail.

Sophon

[Jingthing]

I use the Jomtien office (now called Chonburi immigration). I am not aware that they support mail in 90 day reports. In any case, you could just skip the report, the only consequence is a fine (2000 baht I think). If you leave the country with an overdue report, my understanding is that nothing would happen. I certainly isn't the same thing as an overstay. Overall, it does sound like overkill to get a retirement extension for a six month stay.

Edited December 26, 2009 by Jingthing

[beechguy]

No, you didn't ask a stupid question. Under the current regulations, you are to report to the area where you reside. So, if you process your extension in Jomtien, you should report there.

[jas007]

So, not all offices support the mail-in 90 day report. My alternative, then, if I'm traveling, is to hire a law firm to do the report for me.

[beechguy]

I'll let others with more experience give the details, but yes, I think you can appoint a representative. Also, I suppose you are aware, that if you exit Thailand, the re-entry would start a new 90 day period.

[Jingthing]

A representative can do a report without holding your physical passport? Why not just pay the overdue report fine? Its not a serious offense and you will have a great excuse as well.

Edited December 26, 2009 by Jingthing

[thaiphoon]

Am not aware that Chonburi (Jomtiem) office accepts 90 day mail-ins, so your options would appear to be limited to either applying in person or using a representative to report for you. Whoever does the reporting will need to be in possession of your passport (containing previous notification of staying over 90 days, if not first application) and completed/signed Form TM47. An alternative is to do a border run which would reset the 90 day count, with the day of re-entry counting as Day 1.

Failure to report on time will attract a 2,000 fine (unless not noticed by immigration on exiting the country) or 4,000 if arrested.

[Jingthing]

Right, and traveling to Phuket without a passport would be much more problematic than being late for a 90 day report.

[jas007]

Oh well, I guess it goes without saying that it seems silly, having to report to the same place that issued the visa extension in the first place. Imagine how easy it would be to set up online reporting, or, for the Thai Immigration to set up some sort of intranet, connecting all the immigration offices. That way a person could report at any office.

It looks like I keep my tourist visa and take a visa run sometime in April. When I come back to Thailand next fall, I do the retirement visa then.

Thanks again for the replies.

[Maestro]

…I realize I can supposedly do my 90 day report by mail. But let's say I don't trust the mail…

What is there not to trust about sending a form, a passport photograph and photocopies of some passport pages by registered mail and getting a postal receipt for it?

--

Maestro

[jas007]

…I realize I can supposedly do my 90 day report by mail. But let's say I don't trust the mail…

What is there not to trust about sending a form, a passport photograph and photocopies of some passport pages by registered mail and getting a postal receipt for it?

--

Maestro

I guess I'm just used to things being FUBAR. Anyway, not every office allows for mail reporting, or some people seem to think.

[cougar52]

I am confused, when you are talking about a 60 day tourist visa then a 30 day extension. Why not get a 180 day ( 6 month ) Non O visa at your home country before coming to Thailand. In the early 90's I did this several times. The six month visa is good for two 3 month sections, requiring you to exit the country and return. Which could be done at any land border or you could make a quick flight to Singapore for about the same cost of a land border run. Plus you already have the Non O in place incase you decide to stay and get a retirement visa.

[chuckd]

I hate to disagree with a few folks here but the information they have provided is incorrect.

I processed my original retirement extension in Pattaya in June, although I spend most of my time up-country. In November I was in Pattaya and, looking at another three month extension in December, went to Immigration in Jomtien.

Before taking any action I asked if I could process a 90 day extension in Udorn when it was due in December. The nice young lady in front told me I could process a 90 day extension at ANY Immigration office in Thailand.

I then processed my 90 day extension in Udorn in December.

It can be done at any Immigration office, according to both Udorn and Jomtien offices.

[Mario2008]

I am confused, when you are talking about a 60 day tourist visa then a 30 day extension. Why not get a 180 day ( 6 month ) Non O visa at your home country before coming to Thailand. In the early 90's I did this several times. The six month visa is good for two 3 month sections, requiring you to exit the country and return. Which could be done at any land border or you could make a quick flight to Singapore for about the same cost of a land border run. Plus you already have the Non O in place incase you decide to stay and get a retirement visa.

There is no 180 day non-O visa. You either get a single entry or a multiple entry non-O. The single is only good for 1 entry into Thailand and the multiple for an unlimited number of entries in Thailand during one year from date of issue.

So if the Op plans his trips very carefully, it will still be valid when he next time comes to Thailand and apply for an extension then. On his current trip he would only have to make 1 border hop, but not go to an embassy to apply for another visa.

[Lite Beer]

I then processed my 90 day extension in Udorn in December.

It can be done at any Immigration office, according to both Udorn and Jomtien offices.

There is no 90 day extension.

I think you are talking about a 90 day address report.

The official Immigration stance is that you have to report to the office where you got your original 12 month extension.

As usual individual Offices will have their own views on this.

[chuckd]

I then processed my 90 day extension in Udorn in December.

It can be done at any Immigration office, according to both Udorn and Jomtien offices.

There is no 90 day extension.

I think you are talking about a 90 day address report.

The official Immigration stance is that you have to report to the office where you got your original 12 month extension.

As usual individual Offices will have their own views on this.

You are aboslutely, pedantically correct. It is a "report" rather than an "extension".

I am only reporting what I did. I first went to Pattaya (Jomtien) Immigration and asked where I had to "report" They said ANY IMMIGRATION OFFICE.

I then went to Udorn the following month and "reported".

I was in and out in 10 minutes.

Up to you folks what you want to do. I choose to do what I did and it worked. I suspect it would work in Phuket as well.

[slim]

I then processed my 90 day extension in Udorn in December.

It can be done at any Immigration office, according to both Udorn and Jomtien offices.

There is no 90 day extension.

I think you are talking about a 90 day address report.

The official Immigration stance is that you have to report to the office where you got your original 12 month extension.

As usual individual Offices will have their own views on this.

You are aboslutely, pedantically correct. It is a "report" rather than an "extension".

I am only reporting what I did. I first went to Pattaya (Jomtien) Immigration and asked where I had to "report" They said ANY IMMIGRATION OFFICE.

I then went to Udorn the following month and "reported".

I was in and out in 10 minutes.

Up to you folks what you want to do. I choose to do what I did and it worked. I suspect it would work in Phuket as well.

Lite Beer isn't being pedantic here - 90 day address reporting is 90 day address reporting. An extension to a visa is a completely different issue and to suggest anything else is misleading. Lite Beer is correct to point this out.

That said.

I'm on a retirement visa issued at Nong Khai. A new Immigration office has recently been opened at Khon Kaen (where I live). I went there a couple of weeks ago to do my 90 day address reporting.

I was in and out in 5 minutes - no questions asked.

[chuckd]

I then processed my 90 day extension in Udorn in December.

It can be done at any Immigration office, according to both Udorn and Jomtien offices.

There is no 90 day extension.

I think you are talking about a 90 day address report.

The official Immigration stance is that you have to report to the office where you got your original 12 month extension.

As usual individual Offices will have their own views on this.

You are aboslutely, pedantically correct. It is a "report" rather than an "extension".

I am only reporting what I did. I first went to Pattaya (Jomtien) Immigration and asked where I had to "report" They said ANY IMMIGRATION OFFICE.

I then went to Udorn the following month and "reported".

I was in and out in 10 minutes.

Up to you folks what you want to do. I choose to do what I did and it worked. I suspect it would work in Phuket as well.

Lite Beer isn't being pedantic here - 90 day address reporting is 90 day address reporting. An extension to a visa is a completely different issue and to suggest anything else is misleading. Lite Beer is correct to point this out.

That said.

I'm on a retirement visa issued at Nong Khai. A new Immigration office has recently been opened at Khon Kaen (where I live). I went there a couple of weeks ago to do my 90 day address reporting.

I was in and out in 5 minutes - no questions asked.

Did I not state Lite Beer was pedantically correct? I doubt seriously if my mis-statement misled any of our members, with the possible exception of you and Lite Beer

Definition of "Pedantic".

pe⋅dan⋅tic  /pəˈdæntɪk/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [puh-dan-tik] Show IPA

–adjective

1. ostentatious in one's learning.

2. overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.

Origin:

1590–1600; pedant + -ic

pe·dan·tic (pə-dān'tĭk)

adj. Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules: a pedantic attention to details.

pe·dan'ti·cal·ly adv.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean marked by a narrow, often tiresome focus on or display of learning and especially its trivial aspects: a pedantic writing style; an academic insistence on precision; a bookish vocabulary; donnish refinement of speech; scholastic and excessively subtle reasoning.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pedantic

[jas007]

So perhaps a person can do the 90 day report at any office? Perhaps what I'll do is to go to Jomtien immigration and just ask them.

Again, thanks. I have no real problem, as my double entry tourist visa, with appropriate extensions, will cover my trip. I was just trying to think ahead a bit, as I'll likely be returning in the fall. If I had the one year retirement extension, I'd be set to go for a while until the next yearly renewal.