What happens if you are too sick or old to go to immigration office?

[Estrada]

Yes it is possible to have someone accompany you if you are unable to do it yourself.

There are even agencies who will do this the whole thing for you ..... although I would expect you might need some kind of letter or power of attorney (I would think in Thai or at lest a Thai translation signed by you) politely requesting that due to your physical problems could your Thai agent please conduct the process for you.

In fact, I once saw a quite elderly foreign man with a cane at Chaengwattana who was escorted by a young Thai woman. The immigration officer (a woman as it happened) immediately simply sat him down and conducted all her immigration business through the Thai woman agent.

All the elderly foreigner had to do was to sign the forms where indicated.

At least at Chaengwattana they are used to retirement visas and 90 day reporting by people in their late 60;s or even early 70's.

OMG!

Early 70's is really that old? Guess it depends on the person. I'm 72 and feel like 50.

Don't expect to need this kind of help for at least 15-20 years. But, it is good info to have.

im 41 and feel like 50 (on a bad day) most of the time i feel like 25

Confucius he say " You're only as old as the woman you feel"

[Bagwan]

There are many lawyers come immigration agents who for a fee, will do most,

if not all, of the visa extensions requirements, you can find them advertising

in local news papers, websites, etc., etc.,

That may be so but I wonder how much they would charge for providing such a service. It comes acros as a tax on the sick and infirm elderly.

Playing the devil's advocate, maybe the Immigration Police would be wary of a scheme that could be exploited by the criminal element. When one year I decided to get a marriage visa rather than a straight forward retirement visa extension, I had to provided a map showing exactly where my house was, and I understand that this was because the Immigration Police might well call round to confirm that my wife and I were actually living together in harmony. That being so, why can't they call round unannounced to see for themselves just how incapacitated the extension applicant might be?

[tango]

#11 'And anyway in a few years time I might not have Bt800,000 to put in my bank account. Any ideas on this situation?'

As you have the 800K now, then put it in the bank now, and seed it. 500B here and a 1000B there soon will deplete your balance if you fail to adequately control it. Do not fritter it away on wild nights on the town.

There are ambulatory services no doubt available, an aide to wheel you about in a wheelchair is not all that expensive.

Chokdi...gamini

[gamini]

Here is what Bangkok immigration told my elderly friends wife when she went to Immigration to renew his retirement visa. My friend at the time was 82 y/o. He had a stroke when he was 79 but recovered enough to get around and was able with the aid of his wife to go to Immigration and renew his retirement visa. He got progressively worse and at 82 he was bedridden and couldn't even sit up. Come time to renew his visa his wife went to Immigration to try to do the renewal telling the officer that her husband was bedridden. She was told that he must report in person and told her to bring him to Immigration in a ambulance! When she told me this I told her to just forget about getting the visa renewal, which she did. He remained bedridden for about 18 months then passed away in 2009. She never bothered with the visa or 90 day reporting.

I wish someone would bring an elderly person to immigration in an ambulance with plenty of newspaper reporters and TV stations. The immigration officer who suggested it is a disgrace and should have been reported and dismissed.

[dighambara]

Provisions can be made for a family member or a close friend to do it for you.

It probably would require a letter from doctor saying you are unable to travel and power of attorney authorizing a person to do it for you.

One retiree in UdonThani, brought his ailing Mother with him. She was completely incapicated, so lived at the Catholic old folks home and he did all the paperwork for her

[hellodolly]

These replies are not quite correct. I went to immigration helped to walk in by a friend. And simply told them that I was 83 and that I could not sit or stand for very long and they processed my retirement visa straight away. There were a lot of people waiting and instead of smiles there were sour looks perhaps typical of the younger generation who have no respect for the elderly. The officer told me that i can send someone else to do my extension next time. I asked about a medical certificate and they said none is necessary since they will always accept someone else if the applicant is elderly.

I am just wondering if I really need to get any more extensions. I am forbidden to travel and I can hardy walk. I can't believe they would forcibly remove me from my bed if I did not renew my visa. And anyway in a few years time I might not have Bt800,000 to put in my bank account. Any ideas on this situation?

My reply wasn't incorrect, it happened as stated.

Perhaps they might've accepted my wife's assertion that I couldn't attend, without sighting a medical form, but it made things easier for her.

As far as your question goes, I think you know the answer.

Lie low and see what happens!

There is no correct answer. It would seem that different offices have different procedures. Also the officers with in each office can vary in there handling of the matter.

I think the only fool proof way to handle it would to be have a doctors certificate written in Thai as well as English and if possible in your area a company that does 90 day and other type immigration things handle it. Here in Chiang Mai I have talked to one of these companies and they say they can do it for me. I might have to come in for 5 minutes to sign a paper. I am healthy if I was infirm I am very sure they would have it done for me.

If you are bed bound and your resources are no longer there I would say don't worry about it. What are they going to do to you if they catch you. No Airline would except you.

[NancyL]

As others have said, practices vary from province-to-province. The best thing is for someone to go ask. Here in CM, they can be very helpful to people in this situation, especially if they have been here for years. But, it does seem that the practices vary. Sometimes they'll accept a an old photo -- even a copy of the passport photo -- for the TM7 form. Other times they want a recent photo, even if the applicant looks close to death. Here in CM, they always want another photo of the applicant looking very ill, ideally with nurses in uniform nearby. Of course, a doctor's letter -- English is OK. Some doctors have a reputation for abusing the medical visa system and a doctor with a major hospital is always preferable, not someone with a local clinic.

The American consulate has a little-known service where they'll make housecalls to notarize an income letter. They do charge for this service, but it's possible the fees could be negotiated depending upon the applicant's situation The British consular officials are specifically prohibited from doing home visits. Don't know about other nationalities.

Edited July 13, 2013 by NancyL

[ableguy]

For your 90 day anyone can take it for you, download the form its on line.

[stoli]

Provisions can be made for a family member or a close friend to do it for you.

It probably would require a letter from doctor saying you are unable to travel and power of attorney authorizing a person to do it for you.

I have been told by many attorneys here in Thailand, and by my bankers here, that Power Of Attorneys have no standing in Thailand. Were they wrong in stating that?

[lopburi3]

Relive it would be the same type of document as required for a parent not visiting with child for passport - issued by District Office.

A parental consent letter and a letter of Authorization must be notarized by the Thai district registration office or the Thai embassy / consulate–general abroad.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/1415/21479-Requirements-for-the-Ordinary-e-Passports-Applicat.html

[zxray]

I simply stopped worrying about it years ago!

[NancyL]

Provisions can be made for a family member or a close friend to do it for you.

It probably would require a letter from doctor saying you are unable to travel and power of attorney authorizing a person to do it for you.

I have been told by many attorneys here in Thailand, and by my bankers here, that Power Of Attorneys have no standing in Thailand. Were they wrong in stating that?

A general, blanket POA may not have standing here, but I've used limited POAs many times to assist people in hospital who needed to take care of business with Immigration and even business with banks.

Perhaps they mean a POA drafted outside Thailand may not have standing. I've always used ones drafted and witnessed in Thailand; POAs that have very limited, specified powers and short validity period.

Just out of curiosity -- what do the attorneys and bankers propose that you use instead of a POA to have a third party take care of business for you if you're unable?

[Issangeorge]

To all the young ones who think it does not apply to them it may pay them to remember:

 

One motorcycle ride can put you in this situation.

Yes I had that ride in March, I was bed ridden for two months. Thank god it was March and not this month. I just did my retirement extension and thankfully recovered enough from my accident to go by myself.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app