I am in the last month of my 90 day Non-O visa. I have all the paperwork now for the extension. I will be applying for the long stay (retirement) visa here in Jomtien.

Can you tell me how long that process will take? I would like to wait as long as possible, but don't want to get too close to my expire date on 9-March. If it only takes a day, then I will do it 2 weeks before.

I appreciate your help!

Craig

You do not apply for a OA-longstay visa, what you will be doing is applying for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement.

The process is painless and doesn't take that long, maybe you will have to pick up the extension the next day but applying should not take longer than 1 hour. Doing it 2 weeks in advance is advised in case immigration wants some extra documents.

The extension always starts from the date your current permission to stay ends, so you wont lose any days by extending early. You can go as early as 30 days in advance.

You can get a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement in one day at Chonburi/Pattaya immigration, provided all your documents are in order. In by 0830, pick up passport in the afternoon. As said, you do not get a long-stay visa issued, only an extension of stay of your non-immigrant "O".

Edited February 11, 201016 yr by InterestedObserver

You can get a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement in one day at Chonburi/Pattaya immigration, provided all your documents are in order. In by 0830, pick up passport in the afternoon.

Stand to be corrected, but believe Chonburi immigration hold overnight and you collect passport/extension of stay based on retirement next day.

Perfect. That is what I was thinking...or at least hoping! I will go there next week just to get this going. I was delaying it as I thought it started the day I applied. As an extension to my existing visa, it is good to start now.

Thanks!!!!

Craig

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the proverbial re-entry permit. If you plan to travel outside Thailand you'll need one to cover your extension of stay.

Yes, if the Op plans to travel abroad during the period of his extension he will need to obtain a re-entry permit from immigration to keep his permission to stay alive. Fee 1000 baht single entry, 3800 baht multi entry.

Yeah, from what I have read, if I leave WITHOUT a rentry permit, I have to start the process all over. No good. So I will definitely get the multi entry permit. Just to be safe!

Edited February 11, 201016 yr by craigt3365