Retirement Visa

[WilliamIV]

Hi Guys

Does anyone know if it is acceptable to apply for extension / renewal

of Retirement visa say three or four weeks prior to expiry?

Is there a Norm of say one week?

I know it should be possible to phone Immigration

but I find they do not understand my accent.

I have always found the Immigration Officers very helpful

and able to speak adequate English in telling me what to do.

But asking questions - in English - does not usually - for me

- extract the answers ...

Thanks

Bill

[RDN]

Hi Guys

Does anyone know if it is acceptable to apply for extension / renewal

of Retirement visa say three or four weeks prior to expiry?

Is there a Norm of say one week?

I know it should be possible to phone Immigration

but I find they do not understand my accent.

I have always found the Immigration Officers very helpful

and able to speak adequate English in telling me what to do.

But asking questions - in English - does not usually - for me

- extract the answers ...

Thanks

Bill

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I usually go a few days inside the last month of the previous extension. In other words, you can apply up to one month in advance, but the new extension still expires one year after the last one - you don't lose days by going early. I was quite late this year, going three weeks before expiry, so my new extension was for 1 year, and 3 weeks, but still expiring on the same day of the year as it always has done.

For the 90 day reports, I usually go 6 days before the date. I just like to get these things over and done with ASAP.

[sua yai]

I was in Ranong on Monday and looked at their notice board where it stated that extensions to visas had to be made at least 30 days before the visa expired.

Now, this sign could have been up for ages and I've just never noticed it before. It could also relate to an old regulation that is never enforced.

Still it confused me - which isn't difficult - and I thougth this thread was as good a place as any to ask people for clarification.

[jef]

Interesting question, since I will be away from Thailand (in my home country) for around one month around the expirement date of my extension.

I should go to imm before leaving then, if that is around 1 month before the expiration?

Do I also need a new income statement from my embassy (i don't think I will have 800k baht in my thai bank account but rather 500k) and a new med certificate I guess.

Thanks for clarifying.

[astral]

I was in Ranong on Monday and looked at their notice board where it stated that extensions to visas had to be made at least 30 days before the visa expired.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My understanding is "Not More than 30 days before"

If you go too early they will simply send you away.

It can be less, as long as you do not let the current extension expire.

[sua yai]

OK. That makes more sense, Astral.

I'll look more closely next time.

[mike100]

Last year I applied 6 weeks before expiry at Pattaya, Soi 8, and picked it up the next day.

Was surprised to see I had the extra 45 days granted.

Found the staff very helpful and polite.

Edited May 6, 2005 by mike100

[RDN]

Last year I applied 6 weeks before expiry at Pattaya, Soi 8, and picked it up the next day.

Was surprised to see I had the extra 45 days granted.

Found the staff very helpful and polite.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe they had a slack day? TIT

[RDN]

Interesting question, since I will be away from Thailand (in my home country) for around one month around the expirement date of my extension.

I should go to imm before leaving then, if that is around 1 month before the expiration?

Do I also need a new income statement from my embassy (i don't think I will have 800k baht in my thai bank account but rather 500k) and a new med certificate I guess.

Thanks for clarifying.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I will give the same response that I gave someone else about this: it is absolutely NOT a good idea to be away for that month! If the extension process gets screwed, you may have to start again with the whole visa application process, or cancel your flight to sort out the new extension.

I guess it also depends on the type of visa you had that got extended. If it is one that is easy to get, it may be worth taking the risk. But if it is a more complicated one - like an O-A - it would be much better to make sure your extension is granted before booking a flight home.

It sounds like you are extending a retirement type visa, and if you have 500,000 in the bank, your income statement should show enough to make up an additional 300,000 for the year. You should go to Immigration and get the TM7 form to complete. For my extension - of an original O-A visa - I have to present the TM7, doctors certificate, bank statement (printout), bank letter, copy of passport pages and even copy of bank book (just in case).