Applying For Retirement Visa On Behalf Of Mother And Need To Know Details Of The 1Yr Visa She Has

[cmsally]

Just a couple of visa questions . My elderly mother has come to live with us and at the moment has a one year multiple entry visa (cat O) valid until May 2013. (From Thai consulate Hull UK)

Friends of mine have had these before and I seem to remember should leave the country after 3 months and reenter. Is this correct or have I remembered wrongly. It was just that one friend was fined when she had this visa before a retirement and I seem to remember it was because she should have left the country instead of reporting 90 days..

Its a bit confusing because on the visa it just says good for multiple entries.

Does anyone know the answer?

Have prepared everything to do her retirement visa , but CM Immigration run out of queue slots so am looking to postpone until after the first 3 months.

Thank you for anyone with info on this.

Would ask immigration on this but that's what happened to my friend - wrong info from imm. and large fine!

[NancyL]

Your Mom's going to need to do a border run shortly before her 90-day "permission to stay" expires. You don't do 90-day reports with this type of visa -- you do 90-day reports with a 12-month O-A visa (either single or multi-entry) and you do 90 day reports once you have a 12-month extension to an O visa. But, your Mom has to leave every 90 days until she gets that 12-month extension.

Maybe Mom would like a nice little shopping trip to Mae Sai. It's fun to go once! That would give you time to get everything sorted to apply for a 12-month extension due to retirement.

You can do the extension "early", i.e. she doesn't have to wait a full year until the visa is set to expire.

[lopburi3]

She must leave every 90 days or less on current visa - all she really required as a single entry non immigrant O visa or if she had funds available in UK she could have obtained a one year stay on entry with a non immigrant O-A visa from Thai Embassy (Hull can not issue).

So now it appears she will have to make an exit and return for a new 90 day stay if no time to do prior to expiration of current stay. Make an appointment for about 2-3 week prior to expiration of the new permitted to stay date and be sure she has the financials required for 2 months at that time (if using bank account). She will not need to do any address reporting until 90 days after application for retirement extension of stay.

[lopburi3]

One post of nonsense removed.

[cmsally]

Wow, super quick replies, thank you.

Unfortunately she is unable to travel as is quite frail and has dementia, so I would guess in that case need to apply for retirement visa before the 30 days expires. Have the necessary money in bank acct in her name and has been there 2 months. So are we good to go? That is with a long wait at immigration and a doctor's letter/ power of attorney etc.

[ubonjoe]

You should have no problem getting her extension.

If you plan on doing extension yourself be sure and leave enough time to get additional documents if they don't accept what you have.

[lopburi3]

You specifically said you would not do extension during the first 90 days so we have based our response on that.

Have prepared everything to do her retirement visa , but CM Immigration run out of queue slots so am looking to postpone until after the first 3 months.

[cmsally]

You specifically said you would not do extension during the first 90 days so we have based our response on that.

Have prepared everything to do her retirement visa , but CM Immigration run out of queue slots so am looking to postpone until after the first 3 months.

Sorry about confusion, but wasn't actually sure if exit/entry from the country was the requirement on this type of visa. If it is then probably not much choice but to wait out the lines at immigration before the 3 months expires.

[lopburi3]

It sounds as if the immigration wait may be better than a long trip to border and having to cross/return. They might be able to find an appointment if really ill/and/or let you take care of it. A doctors note might help in that regard.

[beano2274]

I thought the applicant had to go to Immigration themselves, if you go then you will probably need a doctors letter confirming that your mother cannot attend.

[NancyL]

A third party can obtain a visa extension due to retirement for an elderly, ill person at CM Immigration. You'll need to have her sign a letter that she's giving you permission to do the extension for her. There's no "form" for this, just make up something that sounds reasonable. I always have a couple people witness and get a stamp from the hospital or doctor's office. They'll want a letter from a doctor that she isn't capable of making the trip to Immigration. Also, bring photos of Mom, looking frail and elderly, maybe with her doctor or some nurses.

This is in addition to the normal requirements for a retirement extension. In this case, that would be a "fresh" letter from the bank verifying the bank account details, the actual bank book and copies of the bank book, passport photo page, visa, entry stamp, arrival card. Make these copies in advance so Mom can sign and date them prior to going to Immigration.

Another option (if you can't get a doctor's letter) is to go early in the day with her passport, get the queue ticket and have someone bring Mom to Immigration shortly before it looks like they'll call her number. She can remain in the aircon car/taxi and the Immigration people can come out to the parking lot to see that, yes indeed, she exists and she really is too frail to come into the office.

I've done both methods and find the CM Immigration people to be very good about helping frail, elderly people. Just don't wait until the last day in case you need to get some additional documents.

Whatever you do, you don't want them to "sell" you on the idea of a visa extension due to medical reason. The maximum length of time for a medical extension is 90 days and many doctors will date the form for just 30 days. Each extension costs 1900 baht -- same price as a one-year retirement extension.

Unfortunately, if you simply go to CM Immigration and say Mom is too ill to do a border run, then they'll push you into getting a medical extension. There's no way they'll accept a 90-day report instead of a border run with this visa. Be sure to tell Immigration up front that you want to get a 12-month retirement extension for Mom.

[cmsally]

Thank you for the replies, very helpful! I think we'll have to bite the bullet and go for the 1 year extension. Was hoping to postpone it due to no online queue for the next couple of months available and was hoping therefore to use some more of her 1yr visa. But taking her over the border isn't an option. Was aware of the doctors letter. But wasn't sure if power of attorney needed. But looks like a letter might do instead.

One other thing I see listed is a verification from consul/embassy that there is no criminal record. Is this a necessity ?? Slightly amusing at her age!

[Lite Beer]

One other thing I see listed is a verification from consul/embassy that there is no criminal record. Is this a necessity ?? Slightly amusing at her age!

There is no requirement for that.

As said she should have obtained a Non O-A Visa instead but should have little trouble applying for the 12 month extension.