Renewing Retirement Visa

[LastSamurai]

Hello

I hold a one year retirement visa, currently valid until early June.

I have two issues today:

# 1 I must leave the country on March 10 and will probably be unable to return until November 2010. Am I likely to have any difficulty at the Pattaya bureau in renewing my visa so EARLY?

# 2 For personal reasons, I cannot live in Thailand year-round. I would like to soujourn between 90 and 120 CONTINUOUS DAYS without leaving the Kingdom from November until March each year. Is the retirement visa my best option? Or is there another category, perhaps cheaper and easier to obtain, that would meet my requirements?

Thank you for any useful information any reader may provide me.

[Jingthing]

The latest reports are that Pattaya immigration welcomes retirement extensions as early as two months before expiry of permission to stay. Before, they were welcoming them three months early. In your case, if you arrive with proof of travel dates I think your chances are fairly good they will accept your application. Can you please report back here whether they accept this or not? You will not get a definitive answer here; only going in will get you your actual answer. By going in, I mean actually applying and actually having the proof of travel. Going in and just asking I think will more likely result in a negative answer. Most immigration offices don't like to do these earlier than 30 days, but Pattaya is an exception.

There is no restriction on how many days you have to be in Thailand during an annual retirement extension period. Of course you need to be in Thailand to do the extensions though.

[chiang mai]

As Jingthing says, you should be OK with that, take along the proof of travel and all should be OK. Yes, I do think that a retirement visa is the best option because it gives you the flexibility to be here or not be here without restrictions of 90 days renewals.

[thaiphoon]

Most immigration offices generally work to renewal of extensions within last 30 days of permission to stay, but Pattaya does however allow 60 days early. That said, immigration offices are flexible if there is a genuine reason for earlier renewal. As Jingthing says, you will have to go and ask them, but take with you travel itinerary/proof of tickets.

[lopburi3]

I see no reason for you to even try and renew now as you will not be using the time and I expect they will not be happy to do this early. Jinthing called it a toss up in my reading and I would agree. And you will have the issue every year.

While you are gone obtain a new non immigrant O single entry visa and use that for entry in November. 60 days later extend for retirement. Each year thereafter you will extend in January/February while you intend to be here and not have further issues with timing.

[ignis]

Last year renewed my extension 11 weeks early in BKK, No question were ask as to why

Edit: On the other hand would a simple + easy to get 1 year Multi '0' be better? [good for almost 15months] yes you would have to make a boarder run on day 89. see many adverts for a day trip for 2,000 baht. If you got an '0' then fine for November 2010 - March 2011 + November 2011 - Feb 2012 + get a 30day extension to go to March 2012 1,900 baht at Immigration.. No need for any proof of money in a Thai Bank or Pension.

[LastSamurai]

Now,l I'm more confused than when I started although I appreciate all of you who have replied are trying to be as helpful as you can -- thank you.

Two things on my mind right now;

#1 I would hate to spend an estimated 2,500 baht on a trip up to Bangkok from Pattaya to obtain an affidavit of income from my Consulate ---- nice little racket going on here since Consulate really doesn't scrutinize; they don't have time for anything but to type up the form and collect their hefty fee for doing so --- IF the Pattaya Immigration Bureau then rules that beginning of March is too early to apply for renewal of retirement visa (or extension of stay, if you will!) that expires in June --- waste of my time and money.

But, I think I read somewhere on this forum that Immigration would accept a consular affidavit of income date UP TO ONE YEAR prior to the date I apply for renewal. That way, obtaining the affidavit now, I could still use it in November, 2010. Anybody know if this is true? I'm a bit skeptical, since Immigration will not accept the also required letter from the bank if it is MORE THAN 24 HOURS old, in my experience. But, this is Thailand....

#2 I originally entered the country on a "30 day without visa" and then obtained at Pattaya Immigration a 3 month "O" visa and a 1 year retirement visa at the very same time. Thus far, I have done one renewal/extension of stay which I found no easier or less time consuming than my original application (new documents required), except that I thought I sort of knew the ropes by then.

My question is: what are the consequences of my just vacating my permit to stay by departing the country early March WITHOUT a re-entry permit (presumably my permit to stay until June will be stamped CANCELLED or USED) and then re-entering the country in November on "30 day without visa" basis and starting all over again as though I never had a retirement visa before? Is this what "lopburi 3" is suggesting. By starting all over again, it would put my renewals on a schedule compatible with my intended future winter stays in the country. IIRC, when I obtained the original 3 month + 1 year visas at Pattaya, the Immigration officer (female) looked through my passport an not finding any prior visa stamps asked me "Is this your first time?" Now in my mid-60s, I got to say, it's been quite a while since a woman asked me that question! Felt really rejuvenated.

Thank you so much for your advice.

[JimGant]

A lot of folks on this forum have missed their extension renewal window and have had to start over. Have never seen this to be a difficulty. As long as this doesn't become an annual event, it wouldn't make a lot of sense for Immigration to raise a fuss, as there are a lot of honest reasons for being out of the country at renewal time.

That you successfully converted a 30-day stamp to a Non O and a retirement extension on the same day is nice to hear. Pattaya seems to be good in this department, as others have reported this same-day service. But why push your luck the second time? That this will be your second time doing this just might trigger a "come back for the extension" mentality -- thus possibly requiring a second income affidavit (which has been the case with Bangkok Immigration). Thus Lopburi's advice to get a Non Imm O while back home is sound -- you'll certainly have plenty of time to do it. Just remember a single entry Non Imm is valid for only 3 months, so check your timing. Also, some consulates, at least in the US, may not issue a Non Imm O on the basis of "I want to go to Thailand to retire." So, if you're from the US, you might have to shop around. Other countries seem less sticky on this.

And while you apparently didn't have a problem with the airline last time you traveled to Thailand without a visa, I wouldn't push your luck a second time without an onward ticket.

I would hate to spend an estimated 2,500 baht on a trip up to Bangkok from Pattaya to obtain an affidavit of income

Presumably, you'll have to come thru Bangkok on your way back to Pattaya. Why not just give yourself some extra time to pick-up your income afidivit.? To get it now -- and hope it will still be valid way down the road -- doesn't seem too prudent, as this would probably be a judgement call by the Immigration Officer.