Retirement Visa In Less Than 1 Hour

[roadschooler]

Amazing and efficient are the two words that come to mind after my experiences with the Thai Immigration at their new offices. The last time I asked for a visa was at the old branch off Sathon (I think was the location). It was crowded, a pain, and overall a miserable experience. But this new place is beyond comparison. It's like a 5 star hotel. There's easy parking, it's clean, cheerful, and the officials are helpful.

The whole process for a retirement visa took less than an hour. I later picked up a multiple re-entry visa and it took less than 30 minutes. Unbelievable! I have to give big kudos for the Thai officials. The whole process was so incredibly smooth. My wife had inadvertently cut off part of my TM card on a copy she made at home and when my wife asked the Thai official change for a 1,000 baht bank note, guess what happened? She gave a couple of baht to my wife to go and make a copy!

This sort of professionalism simply does not happen at the immigration offices in the West. I am still in awe and relieved how easy the whole process has become.

Anyway, here is what you need for the retirement visa before you go to the immigration.

1. Letter from the Embassy verifying income. The US Embassy requires $50.00 or 1500 baht. You fill in the amount of your retirement on the document, go to the cashier to pay, and wait to sign the document before the official. You only need your US Passport. It is best to schedule an appointment online with the US Embassy at their website. This saves considerable time if there is a line.

2. Make a copy of the front page of your passport and a copy of the Thai visa in your passport.

3. Take a photo 2 x 2 inches. You will need 2 if you plan an purchasing a single or multiple exit visa. They have a place downstairs at immigration if you want to do this there.

4. Bring all paperwork and photos to immigration on the 2nd floor of Building "B". Grab a TM-7 form to fill out or print one up at home and fill out before coming.

5. Show your passport, TM-7 form to Thai official and get a number.

6. You are called, in our case it took 20 minutes waiting for our turn. Pay 1,800 baht, official takes a photo, issues you a receipt, and sends you to the next cubicle. The official stamps a retirement visa in you passport (5 minutes or less).

7. Get another form for the multiple re-entry visa, fill out, glue your photo to the back, and get a number.

8. Turn in your paperwork, pay the fee, and wait for them to stamp your passport. The whole time took me 25 minutes.

It turns out that the retirement visa was much easier to obtain than the "married to a Thai". I will certainly take this visa route in the future.

I hope I remembered everything that was required. Thank you Thai VIsa members for suggesting the retirement visa route. It was great advice.

[Pib]

Expect you are talking about Chaeng Wattana (Bangkok) Immigration. Yeap, their new offices are indeed nice compared to their old offices on Soi Suan Plu just off Sathorn Rd....their old offices were like a country bus or train station. And the building they are located in is definitely HUGE, but with plenty of free parking and shopping. Those who show up prepared with all their documents in a row normally get in and out fast.

[thaiphoon]

Thanks for your report and good to hear all went well.

What you actually obtained was an extension of stay based on retirement and a re-entry permit. Neither is a visa. Remember you will need to do 90 day reporting if in the country for more than 90 days at a time. For Chaeng Wattana that can be done by post.

[gamini]

No big deal. My friends and I (retired) get ours in less than 10 minutes at Hua Hin Immigration and in the past I used to get mine in Chiangmai always in less than an hour.

[lopburi3]

As said a good report and agree with the service/building being a total improvement. The extension of stay cost is 1,900 baht and the floor is the access level from driving ramps (ground floor below is a huge banking/shopping/dinning area).