A bright red stamp in Vientiane on my latest Thai tourist visa finally convinced me it was time to get a retirement visa.

On Dec 30, I went to Chaing Wattana and applied for a "Change in visa status" from tourist to "O" for retirement. I am an American so I had obtained the notarized income statement from the US Embassy.

I completed the application and was directed to the Red Area; office C-2, where I turned in the application, the income statement, copies of my passport and entry card, one photo and B1900. I was given a receipt and told to return on Jan 13.

On January 13, I returned and went back to office C-2. The Immigration Officer took my passport and after a twenty minute wait, a different officer returned it to me with a 90 day "O" stamped in.

She tried to explain something to me about dates but I couldn't really understand her.

At that point, I returned to "Information" and asked if I could then extend the visa to one year. They said "No", that I would need another original statement of income and that it was "Too Early."

My question is; do I have to wait until a certain number of days before my 90 day visa expires before I can apply for the one year extension or can I apply for that now, as soon as I get the new statement of income? Also, how long from date of issue is an income statement valid in the eyes of Thai Immigration?

Believe you paid 2,000 baht. The extension of stay will be 1,900 baht and you should apply with less than 30 days remaining on your permitted to stay stamp (so about 60 days later). So make appointment for new income letter late February and make application early March. At least 3 months would likely be accepted; probably more. But they normally keep original so you have to get a new one each year.