Retirement Renewal -90 Day Optimum Date

[WeeGB]

Hi Can you please confirm that I've worked this out right?

My 90 day report renewal is due on 24th April. My retirement stamp renewal is due on 27th May. If I go to my local immigration office on 29th April, I will be within the law for the 90 day report (7 days before or after), and I will be able to renew my retirement stamp as it will be 28 days before the old one expires, and it is again within the law to apply early, I need to book a car to drive us there, so I need to check my assumptions are correct. Also I usually get a multiple entry re-entry visa, at the same time as I renew my retirement stamp, but as I have no plans to leave Thailand over the next few years, would I be better getting the single entry re-entry visa, which is a lot cheaper?

Thanks for your help in this matter.

[lopburi3]

You should be OK and yes a single entry would fit your requirements better than multi - you can always get another if you use it.

[meatboy]

i have already posted what imm.told me[korat] my diff.between dates was 26days.

[WeeGB]

Hi again, can you please clarify for me how soon I can apply for the renewal of the retirement stamp, is it 28 or 30 days before it's due? I'm thinking I may be better going 4 days late for the 90 day report, rather than 5 days late. Thanks again.

[Lite Beer]

Any time within the final 30 days.

[mahtin]

Why get a re-entry visa if no plans to leave?

I haven't and didn't.

[WeeGB]

Why get a re-entry visa if no plans to leave?

I haven't and didn't.

For any unforeseen emergencies. I had serious medical problems last year, so I try to cover all options.

[WeeGB]

Follow up to original query.

The office in Phitsanulok had moved since we were there last year. There was a note on the door, in English giving the new address. Has this been posted on here? If not I have a card with the new address on it, which I can post later, when my wife wakes up, it's in her handbag!

Very positive experience at the office, immigration officer even remembered us from last year, ( at that time I was due to have a kidney removed in early May). No problems at all with 90 day report being 4 days past the due date (but within the specified 7 days before or after period). In fact the young lady at the reception desk had this completed and returned to me, before I'd finished sorting out all the papers and photos for the retirement renewal. Renewed my retirement "stamp", with no problems, even though it was a full 30 days before the old one expired. The officer even explained to me that I'd have to get a new UK passport before my next renewal (the present passport runs out in Dec 2012), and that they would transfer the visa stamps for me when the new passport arrived. Very helpful and efficient staff at the office, a pleasure to renew!!

Wish I could say the same about the Bangkok Bank staff at my local branch in Phetchabun, getting a letter from them for immigration is a nightmare, but I'll be posting a topic about that later, when I've calmed down!!

Thanks again to all for help and advice.

[Mario2008]

Thanks for your report.

Yes, it has been posted already that the office moved to a new location. The new location shows on the list of addresses of immigration offices and their location on google maps.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=214923170432669428134.000465f03d84d91df360b&t=h&z=6

[kerryk]

Follow up to original query.

The office in Phitsanulok had moved since we were there last year. There was a note on the door, in English giving the new address. Has this been posted on here? If not I have a card with the new address on it, which I can post later, when my wife wakes up, it's in her handbag!

Very positive experience at the office, immigration officer even remembered us from last year, ( at that time I was due to have a kidney removed in early May). No problems at all with 90 day report being 4 days past the due date (but within the specified 7 days before or after period). In fact the young lady at the reception desk had this completed and returned to me, before I'd finished sorting out all the papers and photos for the retirement renewal. Renewed my retirement "stamp", with no problems, even though it was a full 30 days before the old one expired. The officer even explained to me that I'd have to get a new UK passport before my next renewal (the present passport runs out in Dec 2012), and that they would transfer the visa stamps for me when the new passport arrived. Very helpful and efficient staff at the office, a pleasure to renew!!

Wish I could say the same about the Bangkok Bank staff at my local branch in Phetchabun, getting a letter from them for immigration is a nightmare, but I'll be posting a topic about that later, when I've calmed down!!

Thanks again to all for help and advice.

Please do post about the bank in Phetchabun as I am planning on opening an account there. Do you have an account at that bank? I have gotten letters from 6 different Bangkok Banks in the past 6 years no problem. I would like to be aware of any potential problems I may run into.

[phutoie2]

WeeGB you can do 90 day reports by mail with Phitsanulok, quick return service too, much better than Suan Plu days.(Not as many farangs I guess).

My Bangkok Bank in south Phetchabun province never had a problem with Bank letter, same day service and no fee.

Pays to open a few extra accounts/life insurance etc!!

[WeeGB]

WeeGB you can do 90 day reports by mail with Phitsanulok, quick return service too, much better than Suan Plu days.(Not as many farangs I guess).

My Bangkok Bank in south Phetchabun province never had a problem with Bank letter, same day service and no fee.

Pays to open a few extra accounts/life insurance etc!!

We did open an insurance / savings package for my wife.....last year.....sadly made no difference, this branch of bangkok bank is the worst I've ever had to deal with, (worse even than Barclays in the UK!!), and the woman on the foreign exchange counter is without doubt the nastiest, most incompetent person I've met in 12 years of being in Thailand. After 4 years of asking for these letters, we've always been messed around, but this year was the worst. Thankfully the helpful and efficient service at Phitsanulok immigration made me feel better, I was spitting blood after dealing with the b*tch at Bangkok bank Phetchabun!!

[BrianBkyn]

So I guess I can't renew my Retirement Visa before the 30-day mark it seems. I unfortunately have to leave the country and go home to the States mid-May (my retirement visa expires June 30th) and will not likely be able to return till after the expiration date. Does this mean that when I return I will have to start from scratch like I did the first time when I had to apply and then wait 30-days to first get a Non-Immigrant visa (as I only had a two month visa) and then after that I was able to apply for a Retirement Visa? Or am I an some way Grandfathered in and so will just need to go through the normal process to renew my Retirement Visa. Thanks.

[Mario2008]

On proof of travel (ticket) immigration will often allow you to extend earlier than 30 days. It shouldn't be a problem. Don't forget the re-entry permit.

[lopburi3]

And if not you should just obtain a single entry non immigrant O visa prior to return and then after 60 days extend for retirement in the normal manner.

[BrianBkyn]

Thanks for the info. I booked it over the internet so all I have is the itinerary that Expedia sent me and it's a one way ticket since I have no idea when I will be returning - hopefully that won't be a deal killer with Immigration.

[BrianBkyn]

Thanks for the info. I booked it over the internet so all I have is the itinerary that Expedia sent me and it's a one way ticket since I have no idea when I will be returning - hopefully that won't be a deal killer with Immigration.

Just to finish this up. I went to Immigration today in hopes of being able to renew my retirement visa pre-the 30 day rule. From reading other posts it seems some fellows have had no problem doing this as long as they could prove they would be out of the country on the expiration date. Well, they must either have been more charming than me or had a nicer immigration officer. I got nowhere. I explained that I had to go home to take care of my sick mother for a while but did not know for how long and had an airline ticket to show that I was leaving the country. "No". "No" No" "Get in America". But I have my ticket. "Not matter". "No". End of conversation and with a smile she shooed me out the door.

[wpcoe]

BrianBkyn: Which Immigrations office was this?

[lopburi3]

I suspect the non approval had a lot to do with the no set plans to return to Thailand aspect (which is the purpose of the extension).

Normally to obtain earlier than 30 days you have to show tickets out/back showing the need to do early. In his case it makes sense to obtain a new retirement visa or extension of stay when needed as he currently has no idea when he will be returning it appears.

[wpcoe]

And to keep things in perspective, it can be as little as B2000 extra to start the process all over again with extensions in Thailand, assuming the he can arrive on a 30-day visa-exempt stamp (if not, need to factor in cost/hassle of getting a visa while still in home country) and he reports to immigration within ten days of arrival. He can obtain a special Non-Immigrant O visa for B2000 and then apply for the retirement extension on that. In Cholburi (Pattaya/Jomtien) Immigrations, they often will do the entire process in the same visit, though I think I've heard of folks being told to come back in two months to finish the whole transaction.

I understand the procedure varies in other Immigrations offices. Some upcountry locations apparently send applicants to Bangkok to get the Non Immigrant O, and some routinely make the applicant return in two months to get the retirement extension. Cholburi does it on site and maybe a 50/50 chance of completing the process on the initial visit.

Just trying to reassure the OP that "all is not lost," if he needs to start all over again with a new extension.

[Mario2008]

Don't forget that without a visa a ticket out of the country within 30 days might be required or the airline will not take him.

Best is always to arrive with the proper visa.

[BrianBkyn]

"BrianBkyn: Which Immigrations office was this?"

In Bangkok.

"I suspect the non approval had a lot to do with the no set plans to return to Thailand aspect (which is the purpose of the extension)."

That would have probably turned out to be the case but I never even got that far - never had a chance to show her my one-way ticket or even mentioned that I had one. It was No from the get-go.

"Just trying to reassure the OP that "all is not lost," if he needs to start all over again with a new extension."

True and I am back in the States now so I have no choice. I had just hoped that I would get lucky and get this as other people seem to have done. I have other things to worry about back here and didn't want to really think about this. Now I will try and get a two month visa in NYC, then get my Non-Immigrant O in Bangkok in which I will need a statement of income from the US Embassy and then after waiting 21 days I can apply for the Retirement visa (and get another statement of Income from the US Embassy) - just a lot more hassle and expense than I wanted right now. Thanks to everyone for their responses.

[lopburi3]

Actually you may have to wait 60 days but the process seems to vary from person to person. Some have been allowed to do both the conversion and extension at the same time.

As you need a visa why not try for a single entry non immigrant O in the US before you return. I believe the honorary Consulates will issue them since they lost the ability to provide long stay OA.