Changing from Tourist Visa to Non-Imm O Visa

[NavaJauvana]

A friend of mine from Germany is here on a Double Entry Tourist Visa. He is 59 years old and wants to convert his tourist visa to a Non-Imm O visa so that he can then apply for a one year extension on the basis of retirement. He deposited his 800K into a thai bank account recently and went to Chaeng Wattana to try to convert from Tourist to Non Imm O. The immigration officer handed him a xeroxed Form with the rules for conversion, stating that he needed a letter from the Bank where his funds are deposited, PLUS proof that the money came from outside Thailand. He got the bank letter but it is a standard Form Letter, simply stating that this is is his account at the bank and the money is there. It says nothing about where the money came from. He cannot get the bank to put that the money came from outside Thailand in their letter. And in fact, he brought the euros to Thailand and converted them here so he has no wire transfer record. Now he thinks that his only option is to make a visa run to Laos to get a 90 Day Non Imm Visa there. He has heard on this Forum that it is a simple procedure there, without any prerequisites. Any suggestions on how he could avoid going to Laos to convert to the Non-Imm O visa within Thailand, or any suggestions/updates on where to get the Non Imm O visa in Laos? Thanks to all.

[Mario2008]

Bangkok insists on the proof of bringing in the money, without it he can try his luck at Pattaya immigration with proof of address or apply for a non-O visa in Laos.

[ubonjoe]

Does he have the receipt from when he changed the money to baht. That might be enough.

Not sure Pattaya would be any different for the visa or if they would let him do it without proof of address in Pattaya.

Vientiane would be good location to get his single entry non-o.

[lopburi3]

As said just get a copy of that euro to baht conversion - if lost visit location doing it and request a copy, perhaps paying a small fee. Am sure that would be accepted. The advantage of the wire transfer is that it is directly entered in savings passbook as foreign source by the code used so normally the same bank passbook copy covers the foreign question.

[kentrot]

Slightly off topic but here is a cautionary tale for you about retirement & work visas :

* I finished teaching at an international school in Bangkok the first week of June.

* The work permit expired July 31.

* But my multiple re-entry was good till mid October.

* I went to immigration in Jomtien in mid June . A British guy in an Immigration uniform was at the front desk. I explained that I wanted to change from a work permit to a retirement visa.

He looked at my passport and said, you're good till October. But come in early Sept. to get the process started.

* I showed up Sept. 4 with all the forms, paperwork, photo etc etc. They asked to see my work contract.

THEN it got nasty.

Apparently I was 34 days overstay (from when the Work Permit ended till Sept. 4) x 500 baht a day.

I had to cough up 17.000 baht because that Brit at the front desk gave me wrong info.

I told the head honcho of retirement visas the story and he smiled but took no responsibility that someone in his office gave me wrong info that cost me a bundle.

BE WARNED - if you switch from a work to retirement visa ... do it on the date or before the work permit expires.

[lopburi3]

Sorry for the issue and it appears you were provided bad advice but all extensions of stay for employment end when that employment ends - regardless of work permit status. Did you not sign your understanding of that rule when you extended your stay? At least in Bangkok it has been a special form we sign each time but maybe don't read.