Retirement Extension And Medical Certificate

[Bengt]

I just want to inform that Sriracha immigration now demands medical certificate for retirement extension, almost all my friends also have the same conclusion thats must me a new rule at Sriracha Immigration.

We was 2 applicants today that renewed our extension with another year but we was well prepared and visit a hospital last week to get a certificate from a doctor and the officer again asked for the medical certificate and we was happy that we already have it so our extension was granted without problems.

I know common immigration offices that they dont demand such certificate except Sriracha,

If other have some experiences with some other offices in other places, pls inform.

Greetings.

Bengt!!

[NancyL]

Oh wow! Hope this doesn't become the standard in Chiang Mai. I know of retired expats who are housebound and have put in place limited power of attorney so a third party can handle the annual retirement extension. Much easier and cheaper than a medical extension, which is valid for just 90 days and requires convincing a doctor to supply the correct paperwork, updated with every extension.

Did the doctor writing the medical certificate do anything more than verify that he saw you in person and you were able to pay his fee? Any tests or physical exam? Were you able to walk into his office on your own?

[ubonjoe]

Don't worry Nancy it is not an official immigration requirement.

Sriracha immigration has been asking for medical for years.

[Jingthing]

Don't worry Nancy it is not an official immigration requirement.

Sriracha immigration has been asking for medical for years.

Agreed. Good to spread the word for people using Sri Racha, but this is NOT news. Just another case of an outlier immigration office being creative with the rules.

[aarn]

Maybe this could be subverted by becoming a blood donor in Thailand! It doesn't hurt, you'd be doing something (very) good, and get issued with a blood donor record card from your local public hospital, which I reckon might call the bluff of an Immi officer demanding a medical report.

I am no angel, gave plenty shots of red gravy in home country (and voluntarily ceased donating for periods, after my personal conduct had been non-hazardous but non-monogamous), and Thailand needs the stuff as much as elsewhere.

If you are up for it (ie. practicing 'safe sex'), stay off the grog for 24hr (once every 90 days doesn't hurt me [too much]), donate and enjoy the privileges.

Err, gone a bit off topic here, into me cups, cheers AA

[Gary A]

There have been heated arguments with know it alls saying what the legal requirements are. The fact is that there are NO rules that apply to every office. It appears to me that individual offices and officers make their own rules. At one time, I made the mistake of telling an immigration officer that medical statements were no longer needed. He replied that HE wanted one and for me not to come back until I had one. You don't want to argue with that type of officer because he will remember you and you will get a hard time each time you go in. I KNOW!

[Jingthing]

There have been heated arguments with know it alls saying what the legal requirements are. The fact is that there are NO rules that apply to every office. It appears to me that individual offices and officers make their own rules. At one time, I made the mistake of telling an immigration officer that medical statements were no longer needed. He replied that HE wanted one and for me not to come back until I had one. You don't want to argue with that type of officer because he will remember you and you will get a hard time each time you go in. I KNOW!

So WHICH office enforces the medical certificate requirement on SOME retirement applicants and not others (during the same time period, office policies change over time)?

[Lancelot]

There have been heated arguments with know it alls saying what the legal requirements are. The fact is that there are NO rules that apply to every office. It appears to me that individual offices and officers make their own rules. At one time, I made the mistake of telling an immigration officer that medical statements were no longer needed. He replied that HE wanted one and for me not to come back until I had one. You don't want to argue with that type of officer because he will remember you and you will get a hard time each time you go in. I KNOW!

Agree, don't argue with folks showing their authority; make 'em think it's their idea

[Gary A]

There have been heated arguments with know it alls saying what the legal requirements are. The fact is that there are NO rules that apply to every office. It appears to me that individual offices and officers make their own rules. At one time, I made the mistake of telling an immigration officer that medical statements were no longer needed. He replied that HE wanted one and for me not to come back until I had one. You don't want to argue with that type of officer because he will remember you and you will get a hard time each time you go in. I KNOW!

So WHICH office enforces the medical certificate requirement on SOME retirement applicants and not others (during the same time period, office policies change over time)?

I use the Loei (Chiang Khan) office. The guy who always hassled me was replaced and the new staff are polite, efficient and helpful. I have no idea what happened to him but I will say that I was quite happy to see him gone. There has been no mention of any medical paper.

[NancyL]

Here in Chiang Mai, I was asked to organize a blood drive by some expats interested in donating. I was told by two local hospitals that the upper age limit for donating blood is age 60, which pretty much wiped out everyone in the group I was representing. I suspect they'd waive the rules for someone who seemed healthy and robust for an emergency situation with a rare blood type, say, A negative, but they weren't interested in having a group of older expats donating blood just to be banked. So, I don't see where aarn's plan of donating blood is a substitute for getting a medical certificate.

It's good to know this "rule" about medical certificates for retirees is limited to certain remote provinces and is in no danger of becoming the rule in retiree-heaven (aka Chiang Mai). But, I'd still like to know what the medical "exam" consisted of and what they do in that province if a long-time Thailand retiree can't make it into the office under his own steam. Here in Chiang Mai, there have been reports of CM Immigration officials actually coming to see long-term foreign residents at home, mainly to pay respects and to handle their retirement extension in person.

[lopburi3]

It was the basic chronic illness list as for employment that normally only required a sight exam by doctor, even at a hospital (as used for non immigrant O-A visa application).

[NancyL]

When we applied for O-A visas in the U.S., our doctor had left the practice and the new guy insisted on testing us for anything that can be tested on the above list (cha-ching!).

Fortunately, even if they start asking for this testing in Chiang Mai, the housebound retirement visa holders that I know shouldn't have any problems passing the tests. They're not housebound for any of the reasons listed above, but it could be a hassle if they actually have to be testing for everything on the list.