Always the way of things - Retirement Visa.

[factseeker]

Hi,

My wife and I currently hold 12 month O Visa purposes retirement - we went via the 30 day - 90 day - 12 month route - all very smooth with the guys at Immi being very helpful.

We were settling down nicely - really enjoying our time in Thailand - gym every other day etc - healthy food - life as good as it gets.

However a family problem then arrived and we have had to get back to Europe to deal with it.

Our departure just avoided the 90 day reporting on the 0 Visa.

Our Visas actually run out next February.

If we get back before then - likely later this year - has anyone any idea if that will all be OK and we can pick up where we left off.

Just wait until next February - obviously observing any 90 day reporting that comes around and then just renew our 12 month O Visa purposes retirement.

Best Rgds to all.

FS.

[jrtmedic]

Do you have re-entry permits ?

[factseeker]

Do you have re-entry permits ?

HI,

That was quick - yes we made sure we got those - with all the scramble I forgot we did that.

Rgds.

FS.

[jrtmedic]

Come back before your extension expires no problem !

90 day report clock commences on the day you return.

In Feb reapply for your extension with the same paperwork !

[Lite Beer]

You actually have 12 month extensions of stay. Not Visas.

When you return you will get permission to stay until February 2014 sometime.

[Suradit69]

"Just wait until next February - obviously observing any 90 day reporting that comes around and then just renew our 12 month O Visa purposes retirement."

Assuming "we went via the 30 day - 90 day - 12 month route" means you obtained your first annual extension of stay (for 12 months) and obtained a re-entry permit, then ...

You're not renewing a visa, you would be applying for another extension of stay. As long as you have a valid re-entry permit, return before your current extension of stay has ended and resume reporting every 90 days starting from when you re-enter, there should be no problem.

[nycjoe]

i believe you have 6 months after your first retirement visa where you get a break on duty, bringing your things from home, anyone know ?

[ubonjoe]

i believe you have 6 months after your first retirement visa where you get a break on duty, bringing your things from home, anyone know  ?

There is no duty free allowance for retirement based visas or extensions.

[BlackJack]

You actually have 12 month extensions of stay. Not Visas.

When you return you will get permission to stay until February 2014 sometime.

I must be lucky

they always stamp in my passport Retirement Visa

[lopburi3]

I suspect it is not immigration that puts that stamp in your passport. If it is would really like a post of it (edit out personal information).

[Maestro]

You actually have 12 month extensions of stay. Not Visas.

When you return you will get permission to stay until February 2014 sometime.

I must be lucky

they always stamp in my passport Retirement Visa

BlackJack, could you please scan and post this extension stamp for my reference album?

[jrtmedic]

Strange!

My passport has a "Retirement" stamp underneath which is a stamp with the name of the immigration office followed by a statement to the effect that an "extension of stay is granted until .........)

No mention of a Visa !

[AVOMan]

Strange!

My passport has a "Retirement" stamp underneath which is a stamp with the name of the immigration office followed by a statement to the effect that an "extension of stay is granted until .........)

No mention of a Visa !

Your Non O is your Visa. The Retirement stamp is an Extension Of Stay.

[Torrens54]

I like all of the above comments but there is ONE extra precaution I would take.

As soon as possible after you arrive back, I'd take the trouble of fronting Immigration and double checking the situation....just to be on the safe side. If you do and they tell you that all is okay but don't add anything to your Passport, make sure you get the name of the Officer who provides the advice. Call me "over-cautious" but.......

[ubonjoe]

They will be doing that when they arrive and get a permit to stay stamp equal to whats on their re-entry permit. There is no need to do anything until 90 days after arrival to make their reports.

[factseeker]

Come back before your extension expires no problem !

90 day report clock commences on the day you return.

In Feb reapply for your extension with the same paperwork !

Thnxs everyone - great information as usual.

One last point as it is first 12 month renewal - I am not sure.

How long before expirey date is it possible to renew?

1 week before? - 1 month before? - would not like to leave it until very last day for example.

Rgds.

FS.

[ubonjoe]

You can do it 30 days early or possibly earlier at some immigration offices.

Remember if doing money in bank option it has to be there for 90 days this time.

[poohy]

Just get a multiple non o and do whatever you please

I have lived and worked here since 2000 mostly on non b s and never read anything so confusing in my life

I was based here and flew out every few weeks so it was ideal

NB... now I have a multiple non o retirement visa and still leave more or less every 90 days on business or trips and it works perfectly

why make life difficult dealing with the ******* for gods sake

[Lite Beer]

Just get a multiple non o and do whatever you please

I have lived and worked here since 2000 mostly on non b s and never read anything so confusing in my life

I was based here and flew out every few weeks so it was ideal

NB... now I have a multiple non o retirement visa and still leave more or less every 90 days on business or trips and it works perfectly

why make life difficult dealing with the ******* for gods sake

1. It's more expensive.

2. You have to leave the country every 90 days meaning more time and expense.

[jrtmedic]

"now I have a multiple non o retirement visa"

​A new category of visa ?

[thailand49]

Come back before your extension expires no problem !

90 day report clock commences on the day you return.

In Feb reapply for your extension with the same paperwork !

This is the closest 99.9% simple without all the discussion mumble jumble stuff as long as you come back before your expiration date in Feb of 2014.

As noted: the day you return which is stamped on your new departure card, If you renewal your 1 year again before the 90 days you can renewal your stamp too regardless of the expiration.

My date is also in Feb of each year and I leave in January each year and return just before my date in Feb..

[OJAS]

"now I have a multiple non o retirement visa"

​A new category of visa ?

And one which allows retirees to work here, perhaps, if his reference to leaving "more or less every 90 days on business or trips" means what I think it might??

[factseeker]

Just get a multiple non o and do whatever you please

I have lived and worked here since 2000 mostly on non b s and never read anything so confusing in my life

I was based here and flew out every few weeks so it was ideal

NB... now I have a multiple non o retirement visa and still leave more or less every 90 days on business or trips and it works perfectly

why make life difficult dealing with the ******* for gods sake

Hi,

No idea ref your suggestion - but once I had gone through the mill on the 30 - 90 - 12 months - really easy now - no real worries at all.

In fact looking back it was all a doddle - apart from one guy who was a bit grumpy they were pretty helpful at immi - just as first time and no idea what to expect it did seem a little complicated at the time.

Rgds.

FS

[factseeker]

Come back before your extension expires no problem !

90 day report clock commences on the day you return.

In Feb reapply for your extension with the same paperwork !

This is the closest 99.9% simple without all the discussion mumble jumble stuff as long as you come back before your expiration date in Feb of 2014.

As noted: the day you return which is stamped on your new departure card, If you renewal your 1 year again before the 90 days you can renewal your stamp too regardless of the expiration.

My date is also in Feb of each year and I leave in January each year and return just before my date in Feb..

Good stuff - just wanted to clarify last bit ref renewal.

No probs at all now - very straightforward - be back tomorrow if I could be. ;0))

Best Rgds.

FS.

[jrtmedic]

Strange!

My passport has a "Retirement" stamp underneath which is a stamp with the name of the immigration office followed by a statement to the effect that an "extension of stay is granted until .........)

No mention of a Visa !

Your Non O is your Visa. The Retirement stamp is an Extension Of Stay.

Yes I know !

The "Visa" expired long ago

[ubonjoe]

Come back before your extension expires no problem ! 

 

90 day report clock commences on the day you return. 

 

In Feb reapply for your extension with the same paperwork !

This is the closest 99.9% simple without all the discussion mumble jumble stuff as long as you come back before your expiration date in Feb of 2014. 

 

As noted:  the day you return which is stamped on your new departure card, If you renewal your 1 year again before the 90 days you can renewal your stamp too regardless of the expiration.

 

My date is also in Feb of each year and I leave in January each year and return just before my date in Feb..

Wrong Info about doing 90 day report for most immigration offices.

The majority of immigration will not allow you to do 90 day report when you get a new extension unless it is within the 15 days before or 7 after rule.

The stamp on the departure card means very little it is the one in your passport that is important.

[IMA_FARANG]

Do you have re-entry permits ?

HI,

That was quick - yes we made sure we got those - with all the scramble I forgot we did that.

Rgds.

FS.

---------------------

Good, because that's important regarding your visa.

Firstly, as I understand it what you got was actually an EXTENSION until February.

The exit re-entry permit actually stops your 90 day reporting clock .... you do not have to do 90 reporting except when you are actually residing in Thailand.

If your visa is extended until February 2014 (one year from your original visa was issued?) it will stay valid because of the exit re-entry permits you got even though you left Thailand.

Now when you return to Thailand to live here again, your 90 day reporting will start again.

The date that is stamped in your passport on your reentry will restart your 90 day reporting .... you will need to do your next 90 day report 90 days after that return date.

So if you reenter before that extension expires, you will simply restart your 90 day reporting clock from that day you reenter Thailand.

Hopefully you showed that exit re-entry permit on exit from Thailand and to the immigration on departure from the airport at immigration,

In the same way be sure to show it ... point it out if you need to .... to immigration at the airport when you do return. They will stamp it with a return date, and your 90 day reporting must be done not more than 90 days from your return date stamped there.

If you do not return before your visa extension in February 2014, your visa will expire. Your exit re-entry permits are keyed to that expiration date.

So when your visa extension expires, so does any exit re-entry permits you have on that visa extension.

Bottom line .... if you stay out of Thailand until the visa extension expires, you will need a new visa to reenter Thailand, you lose all you've already done to get the retirement visa/extension.

If that happens you'll have to start over again and redo everything you did.

So, unless there is some pressing reason why you can't return before that extensions expiration, I would make sure to return before it happens.

[Naam]

Strange!

My passport has a "Retirement" stamp underneath which is a stamp with the name of the immigration office followed by a statement to the effect that an "extension of stay is granted until .........)

No mention of a Visa !

same same!

[lopburi3]

A re-entry permit has no effect on 90 day reporting - actual exit of country is required and new 90 day counts on day of return.

You do not use re-entry permit to exit.

On return you put the re-entry permit number in the visa area of arrival card and use that for entry and return stamp should have that re-entry date on it.

[ozyjon]

Same thing happened to me, had to leave LOS to take care of my sick mum in Sydney, my retirement visa ran out, have to get a tourist visa to stay there 3 months and try to re-activate my retirement visa again,, if it wasn't for the cost of getting it in the first place i wouldn't worry about it but i will be out of pocket about $2000 usd, that's a lot of money in anyone's book,,, i have to renew it back in LOS so here i go,, i hope it's OK because i can't stay there for the whole year i have to go back and forth to take care of my mum and i'm doing shifts with my sister but she has to work,,, i hope i don't lose my retirement visa....