Changing Ed Visa To Retirement

[inu]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone had experience changing from an ED visa to a retirement visa? My wife and I, both Australians, are in our second year on an ED Visa and have decided we want to live here long term. A couple of questions:

1. Can we convert from an ED to a retirement visa without leaving Thailand?

2. Are there any links we can go to to find out the procedure?

I checked the immi site but couldn't find anything specific to our situation.

Kind Regards,

Richard

[Mario2008]

You can always try, but normally immigration will want you to get a non-immigrant visa from abroad, such as Laos.

[inu]

You can always try, but normally immigration will want you to get a non-immigrant visa from abroad, such as Laos.

Thanks for your advice Mario.

R

[lopburi3]

Also are you each going to obtain a retirement extension of stay or just use one and the other obtains a dependent extension of stay? Procedures and financial requirements would be different (only one needs to meet for dependent option).

[inu]

Also are you each going to obtain a retirement extension of stay or just use one and the other obtains a dependent extension of stay? Procedures and financial requirements would be different (only one needs to meet for dependent option).

Hi Lopburi,

I will be applying for the visa with my wife and child as dependents.

Kind Regards,

R

[lopburi3]

You need to take action first. You are over age 50? That will be your extension of stay for one year. Once you have that wife/child can obtain non immigrant O visas with proof of your extension of stay and then extend. Child can only use this to age 20 and must be living with you and wife.

[inu]

You need to take action first. You are over age 50? That will be your extension of stay for one year. Once you have that wife/child can obtain non immigrant O visas with proof of your extension of stay and then extend. Child can only use this to age 20 and must be living with you and wife.

Thanks Lopburi,

Yes- I'm well past 50! I'm assuming from Mario's post that the extension of stay can only be obtained outside of Thailand? Our child is 5-weeks old.

R

[lopburi3]

The extension of stay is always inside Thailand. But to obtain the visa entry required will likely require a trip outside.

[inu]

The extension of stay is always inside Thailand. But to obtain the visa entry required will likely require a trip outside.

Thanks Lopburi,

R

[Tod Daniels]

FWIW; when I had an ED visa and tried to convert it to a Non-Immigrant Type O based on retirement the immigrations officer at Suan Plu told me I couldn't do it . I didn't believe him and went 'further up the food chain' , but was still told I couldn't do it inside the country.

I ended up going to Vientiane Lao PDR and obtaining a single entry Non-O visa based on retirement. Then when there was about a month left on it I went to Suan Plu and applied for the yearly extension of stay.