Renewing retirement extension after move from Chonburi to Bangkok

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

The following might make your head spin but my new extension based on retirement had two wrinkles: I changed addresses and therefore immigration districts, Chonburi to Bangkok, and I had to get a new passport mid-extension.

What was odd to me was having to sign a couple of single sheet papers that essentially said the same thing at Chang Wattana.

Anyway, my extension expired Aug 22, 2013, so to renew, I needed to show . . .

Original of pension income statement notarized by Canadian embassy

TM7 (application for extension of temporary stay) filled out with one 4x6 cm photo attached

Copies of:

--Passport info page

--Pages with transfer of last extension from old passport to new (January 2013 at Jomtien)

--Pages with last entry stamp (July 27) and Departure card (TM8)

--Page with last (single) re-entry permit (used July 27, 2013 with expiry date of Aug 22, as per extension)

--Page of old passport with original O-A visa (expired in Sept. 2011)

In the first-stage inspection of documents, I was asked go and copy:

--Info page of the old passport (should have done so anyway)

--Page with stamp showing I re-entered Thailand Aug. 23, 2011 with Permission to Stay stamp till Aug. 22 2012

Am so glad I brought old passport! My memory is a little fuzzy here partly because the lady officer spoke very softly and I didn't understand about the two sheets she was about to hand me to sign:

--A faded sheet with no title asking for basic personal info (name, age, country) and reason for extension (which was already covered on the TM7!)

--A sheet asking for similar info, which I then signed swearing that I know it is a crime to give false info.

I asked her about some blanks but she said not to worry. OK. Then the officer sent me next door. I hung around until an officer became available. It was here I was asked to give proof of my Bangkok address. I was prepared. I had:

--Copy of recent True mobile bill

--Copy of front page of my apartment lease

The second officer very politely asked if I'd registered my new address. Long story short, I explained I was living between two apartments but still registered with Jomtien until end of July. This seemed to satisfy her and noted what my new 90-day reporting date would be.

She signed the extension the first lady stamped into the passport and away I went to the re-entry permit desk via the photocopy shop because of the fresh extension.

Arrived at 9:15 am and finished extension about 11 after a very slow start with only two officers handling them. But things picked up after about 45 minutes. Had 13 people in front of me for re-entry permits and sure enough, lunch break caught me out. Went back in at 1:05 and out in a couple of minutes.