Been in Thailand for 7 months on a multiple entry ED visa -- extended 2 times. Will depart in Dec for 3 weeks and want to get a non-o for the purpose of retirement will back in the US.

Question: do I have to cancel my extension before I depart Thailand or will applying for new visa in the US accomplish this requirement? Old visa valid until Feb 2013 but for a number of reasons would like to go ahead and make the transition to non-o while out of the country.

No need to cancel your ED visa. Just make sure that you that immigration at the airport uses your new non-immigrant O visa upon arrival.

If you have a valid ED visa entry or extension of stay for study you do not need an O visa to get your extension based upon retirement. All that is required is a non immigrant visa which is an ED visa is.

If you are on an extension stay you should get a re-entry permit to keep it valid. If you have multiple entry visa just return using it and then get your retirement extension during the last 30 days of that entry.

Actually went through similar... ED to Thai wife

Part of the process to switch requires you to present a letter from your school confirming that you are still a student

As from immigration perspective your extension for studying ends the day you are no longer a student with the school

So if you are on extension for ED and then finish with school and then go to US and then later plan to come back , technically your ED extension would no longer be valid so not possible to change

Can you change over before up finish with your school?

Alternatively recommend getting new visa while in US

Just noticed you mentioned multiple entry extended 2 times...

So not sure if you are on original visa or on visa extension? A normally multiple entry visa is valid for 1 yr?

If on visa extension, then above is accurate, but if still using actual visa, then no problem to come back before it expires and extend visa for retirement regardless of your student status

Word I received from multiple old hands at TV was that an ED visa cannot be converted to an non-O in country -- and after 90 days extended for 1 year based on retirement. Although I will continue to study, the non-o that is extended for a year based on retirement (easily can meet all the age and financial requirements) looks to be the best option for my circumstances. My original question was prompted by some comments in other posts about a requirement to cancel extensions before a new/different visa would be issued back in the US.

Thanks for all the comments and advice!

You do not do a conversion of visas.

You just change from study to retirement as the reason for your extension.

Have a look at CWMcMurray's post where he changed from study to an extension based upon marriage.