I am British and married to a Thai live in Nonthaburi, been on extensions for 4 years now, 3 of which are based on Thai Wife.

Last time I did my extension I used the letter of Income from the Embassy, the Immigration officer at Nonthaburi, who has seen me many times, commented that I should apply for a retirement extension, this seemed strange to me being that I am only 44.

Although the marriage extension is better suited for my needs and my wallet, could a retirement extension be applied for if I was only 44? Maybe he saw the letter of income and thought it is from another country and not from Thailand, so maybe he thinks I am on early retirement or something.

But could it be done?

BTW I am relying on the translation given to me by my wife, but her English is pretty dam_n good as she speaks to foreigners everyday, so am sure she has translated it perfectly.

addtional info - maybe he looked in my passport and saw that I had not left Thailand for a long time, and having the letter from the embassy made him think I am on early retirement

Yeah,you have to be over 50 for an extension based on retirement so you are too young at 44,beano.

Do you look a lot older than you are ? Had a hard life ?

thanks Mac, I realise you have to be over 50, but why would an Immigration Officer who knows me suggest it?

Probably suggested it becuase the paperwork for him is easier. Less of it and dont need the wife.

They dont have to send anything to Bangkok, they can do it there and then.

thanks Charlie, I did not think of it like that. So the decision is made there and then? Well since I know all of them in the office I think that would be a foregone conclusion.

They can not provide extension of stay for retirement if you are below age 50. But as you said it was suggested when they observed your pay amount would qualify. He likely focused on that and felt the easy path is retirement without even thinking of you being too young. There are a lot of us seniors and income letter is likely usually one of them. If the money is from Thailand with you working that would also rule out a retirement extension of stay.

I remember the first time I wanted to extend my Non-O by means of marriage to a Thai national.

A couple of months beforehand I was on holiday in Jomtien so thought I would pop into the Immigration Office on Soi 5 to find out what the requirements were.

I told the officer I was hoping to extend my visa as I had been married to a Thai girl for 3 years.(lived in the UK for a while)

He asked me if I was working to which I replied "no." He then said "you not working,you retire.you have to get extension by retirement."

I said "but I'm married.cant I extend through that ?" He said "no,you not working.you retired.extension through retirement only."

I left somewhat bemused.A couple of weeks later I went to my local Immigration Office and got the requirements for extension by marriage.

It was later I found out that the extension by retirement is the easy route for Immigration to take.Extension by marriage means a lot of extra work and paperwork for them so they try to usher you down the retirement route if you have the income to qualify.

The 'retirement' rules are quite clear and v easy to check online, what you are saying clearly doesn't fit but great if you get away with it I guess. Let us all know how you get on.