My Type "O" non-immigrant retirement visa expires on Sept. 06/2011

I expect to leave Thailand for several months around Oct 15/2011 with a unknown

return date which means a 30 day extension is not a option (or is it?).

Is there any way that I can get any type of extension to my current visa without having to

leave the country for a visa run or is my best option just to renew the "retirement visa"

for another year and loose the months that I am away from Thailand?

do the Thai Immigration officials consider a retirement visa has "expired" if I was away for

say 6 months or more and didn't use it or is it good until the date shown on the visa????

something like a 60 or 90 day extension to my current visa would be preferred but after

living here in Pattaya for so long, i'm not really expecting that to happen.

so any advice in extending my visa for another 6 or 7 weeks would be appreciated. I went

to the Jomtien Immigration Dept today about this and even though they were very 'nice',

sadly they weren't much help.......as soon as they heard the word 'extension' they just

focused on extending my retirement visa and nothing else.

if anybody knows, the Thai Visa people do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Two general options based on what I think you're asking,

1. Get a retirement extension before you leave and be sure to get a REENTRY PERMIT.

2. Leave without one and return on a 30 day stamp and then do a change of visa status to at Jomtien, then a retirement extension (in other words starting over but no need to visit an embassy/consulate abroad)

What you seem to want to do, extend your current O visa with a less than one year retirement extension so that you can apply for a full year later, is in my view NOT POSSIBLE.

Edited May 25, 201115 yr by Jingthing

"1. Get a retirement extension before you leave"

If you do this, don't forget to get a re-entry permit prior to leaving.

"I went to the Jomtien Immigration Dept today about this and even though they were very 'nice', sadly they weren't much help.......as soon as they heard the word 'extension' they just focused on extending my retirement visa and nothing else."

It sounds like they were very helpful, 'focusing' on what you asked about.

Save yourself the hassel and just get the retirement extension of stay. You seem to be causing a problem over a few months being out of the country.

Just go back and get a re-entry permit before you leave.

1. There is no 30 day extension available - only tourist visas get that.

2. A one year retirement extension costs 1,900 baht. But you must meet the financial requirements (in Thailand).

3. Exit after being on extension requires a re-entry permit at 1,000 baht in order to keep it alive.

4. The long stay OA visa is only available in home country and requires medical/police report as well as financials - that is what is called a retirement visa. Not sure if that is what you have or not.

1. There is no 30 day extension available - only tourist visas get that.

2. A one year retirement extension costs 1,900 baht. But you must meet the financial requirements (in Thailand).

3. Exit after being on extension requires a re-entry permit at 1,000 baht in order to keep it alive.

4. The long stay OA visa is only available in home country and requires medical/police report as well as financials - that is what is called a retirement visa. Not sure if that is what you have or not.

I've got a similar situation, but have basically decided that it's easiest, and probably cheaper, to let my permit to stay expire and apply for a new O-A visa.

My current multiple entry O-A visa was issued Sept 3 2009 and I arrived on it Sept 28 2009.

I left for a few weeks in August, and returned August 28 2010. My initial visa expired Sept 2 2010 (last year). But of course, I have permission to stay until august 27 2011, this year.

I plan to leave in June and return at the end of October.

I could apply for a new permit to stay and re-entry permit. Cost 2900 baht plus the embassy affidavit of income. And then I'd need to do the same thing with the same costs next year.

But I think it's just easier for me, while away in my home country over the June~October period, to apply for a new O-A multiple entry visa and use it for the two years by returning again before it expires. Costs would be similar or cheaper, and process is easier without trips to the embassy and extra papers.

Yes, but if you go for the OA that way, IF the financial requirements are increased during the two years you are using that option, you will NOT be in the retirement system in Thailand, and you will not be grandfathered. Then, you will be stuck with the new higher level, should that occur.