Extension Of Retirement Visa O-A From Outside Thailand

[Petrus]

I hold a Retirement visa but I do some work outside Thailand each year to maintain myself in the Kingdom.

This year I am further afield than usual and the job is taking longer than I expected.

It definitely will not be completed before my Retirement O-A visa expires next month.

I have my 800K bank deposit in place, so my question is:

Must I travel back to Thailand and apply for the extension of stay in person,

or can I somehow arrange the extension from outside Thailand?

If anyone out there has any experience with this, your advice will be much appreciated.

Petrus

[lopburi3]

You must do yourself inside Thailand. Only visas are available outside the country and long stay OA would only be issued in a country of residence.

So best you plan to obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa to return to Thailand with and after 2 months here you can then extend for retirement.

[Jingthing]

If your 800K will be seasoned two months at the time of your application for extension in Thailand, you won't even need a single entry O visa. You can enter Thailand on a 30 day stamp and then do the "two step" process: first apply for a change of visa status IN Thailand, and then the extension (usually in the same day). Caveat, not all offices will do change of visa status. If your doesn't, that can be done in Bangkok.

[Antaro]

<br>You must do yourself inside Thailand.  Only visas are available outside the country and long stay OA would only be issued in a country of residence.<br><br>So best you plan to obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa to return to Thailand with and after 2 months here you can then extend for retirement.<br><br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>hi,</div><div>can i extend my retirement visa (after one year of use) in thailand or do i have to leave the country first and come in with a non immigrant 0 visa and change to retirement visa etc. etc.</div><div>thx<br><br><br>

</div>

[lopburi3]

A long stay non immigrant OA visa entry (or any non immigrant visa entry) can be extended in Thailand and that is the normal procedure. Other types of visa entry would require obtaining or change to non immigrant entry to be allowed to extend for retirement.

[Petrus]

If your 800K will be seasoned two months at the time of your application for extension in Thailand, you won't even need a single entry O visa. You can enter Thailand on a 30 day stamp and then do the "two step" process: first apply for a change of visa status IN Thailand, and then the extension (usually in the same day). Caveat, not all offices will do change of visa status. If your doesn't, that can be done in Bangkok.

Thanks Jingthing -

Yes my money will be well 'seasoned' by the time I am free to return.

So the 2 step sounds like the dance for me.

I wonder if anyone has had experience doing the 2 step in Chiang Mai?

[Jingthing]

If your 800K will be seasoned two months at the time of your application for extension in Thailand, you won't even need a single entry O visa. You can enter Thailand on a 30 day stamp and then do the "two step" process: first apply for a change of visa status IN Thailand, and then the extension (usually in the same day). Caveat, not all offices will do change of visa status. If your doesn't, that can be done in Bangkok.

Thanks Jingthing -

Yes my money will be well 'seasoned' by the time I am free to return.

So the 2 step sounds like the dance for me.

I wonder if anyone has had experience doing the 2 step in Chiang Mai?

I think I recall people saying CM processes these. Best to confirm of course. One very important detail you need to follow though. You MUST do step 1 with at least 21 days left on your current extension of stay. What this means is that if you enter on a 30 day stamp, you only have 9 days to apply for step 1 (change of visa status). Otherwise, you will have to leave Thailand and reenter.

[Mario2008]

Chiang Mai immigration will not convert from a visa expemt entry or tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa. You will have to apply in Bangkok.

Best is to just apply for a non-O visa while abroad. Many consulates allow applying by mail.

[Jingthing]

Oh! Thanks for the correction. So there you have it. Get a single entry O outside Thailand, or do the change of visa status in Bangkok first. Best of luck.

[JimGant]

Chiang Mai immigration will not convert from a visa exempt entry or tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa. You will have to apply in Bangkok.

This must be a new wrinkle since Feb of this year...

From:

post number 32:

I have just been to Chiang Mai immigration - 2 weeks ago I changed visas there - tourist for "O"........

Now, this was a conversion leading to a retirement extension. However, I have seen where Chiang Mai Immigration will NOT do conversions leading to marriage extensions, referring the applicant to Bangkok.

Also, assuming Chiang Mai DOES do conversions leading to a retirement extension, it's still questionable (per the referenced post, above) whether or not you can do the conversion *and* extension same-day.....

[Mario2008]

You're right. It seems they did do it in the case of retirement, so maybe they will do it in case of retirmement. I have seen reports it being denied for marriage and volunteering. Most immigration offices will not convert nowadays.

[PFV]

I converted a 30 day entry stamp (Maesai) to retirement in Chiang Mai two years ago, but things may have changed in the meantime.