I'm in Chiangmai on a retirement visa that has an annual renewal in March. I'd like to move this to, say October or November. I'd appreciate suggestions on the easiest way to go about doing this. I have no problem travelling briefly abroad if this would be a requisite part of the solution.

The only way to do it is to leave without a re-entry permit and start over again by getting a new non-o visa.

Might not a possibility for the OP be to apply for a shorter-than-normal extension next March, through entering, say, 230 (rather than 365) days as the extension period in his completed TM7 - which would then take him through to October/November 2015? I distinctly recall another thread some time ago in which a poster was proposing to do something along similar lines.

In any event, it would definitely be prudent for him to check first with Chiang Mai Immigration whether they would see any difficulties with such a course of action.

Might not a possibility for the OP be to apply for a shorter-than-normal extension next March, through entering, say, 230 (rather than 365) days as the extension period in his completed TM7 - which would then take him through to October/November 2015? I distinctly recall another thread some time ago in which a poster was proposing to do something along similar lines.

In any event, it would definitely be prudent for him to check first with Chiang Mai Immigration whether they would see any difficulties with such a course of action.

This for me would be a good solution and I will make inquiries about it at Chiangmai Immigration. Thanks.

The only way to do it is to leave without a re-entry permit and start over again by getting a new non-o visa.

I'm not sure how this would work.

My current extension expires in March 2015. Presumably you are not suggesting that I leave just before it expires and stay abroad until October 2015 and apply then at a consulate abroad. Or if I leave this year say in October and apply afresh at a thai consulate in asap wouldn't the consulate say no, on the basis that I already have an extant visa until march 2015? Also do the consulates abroad issue non 'o' retirement visa without a hassle?

Leave around the time you want to change to. Laos would be a good place to go.

Don't have a re-entry permit. The old extension will be cancelled.

Go to the consulate and get a new single entry Non O.

Re-enter Thailand.

You should be set.

Might not a possibility for the OP be to apply for a shorter-than-normal extension next March, through entering, say, 230 (rather than 365) days as the extension period in his completed TM7 - which would then take him through to October/November 2015? I distinctly recall another thread some time ago in which a poster was proposing to do something along similar lines.

In any event, it would definitely be prudent for him to check first with Chiang Mai Immigration whether they would see any difficulties with such a course of action.

I would be very surprised if immigration would ever entertain such a creative request. Personally, I wouldn't even ask. It's an ANNUAL extension.

Leave around the time you want to change to. Laos would be a good place to go.

Don't have a re-entry permit. The old extension will be cancelled.

Go to the consulate and get a new single entry Non O.

Re-enter Thailand.

You should be set.

Unfortunately I have a multiple re-entry which expires simultaneously with the visa in March 2015. Since I do travel a few times a year I routinely do a multiple alongside the annual renewal. Does this mean that I have to now wait to do the March 2015 renewal but this time without the multiple re-entry, and then go do the (Laos) trip in October 2015 without the re-entry visa?

You apply for a 1 year extension in March 2015 and you leave without a reentry permit in October 2015 and the extension is cancelled.

annual renewal of non 'O' visa

The only way to do it is to leave without a re-entry permit and start over again by getting a new non-o visa.

I'm not sure how this would work.

My current extension expires in March 2015. Presumably you are not suggesting that I leave just before it expires and stay abroad until October 2015 and apply then at a consulate abroad. Or if I leave this year say in October and apply afresh at a thai consulate in asap wouldn't the consulate say no, on the basis that I already have an extant visa until march 2015? Also do the consulates abroad issue non 'o' retirement visa without a hassle?

You're not renewing a visa, it's an annual extension of stay. You used the visa to enter the country and since then you've been extending your permission to stay, not the visa.

What people are suggesting is that you start all over again with a new Non-Imm O visa from a neighboring country and after entering Thailand and waiting until the last 30 days of your permission to stay, you would apply for a new extension of stay ... having carefully timed all this so that your permission to stay on the visa ends (and therefore your new extension of stay would start) in the month you want to renew each year. Remember the extension starts when your permission to stay from the Non-Imm O ends, not when you apply for the extension.

All of this means you have to kill the current extension which, if you have a multi-re-entry permit is going to difficult, but it could be done next year if you renew your current extension, but don't get a new re-entry permit.

Do you really want to go through all this hassle?

"I already have an extant visa until march 2015?"

You don't have an "extant" visa. It expired a long time ago. You are here on an "extant" extension of stay. If you left the country without a re-entry permit, it would expire as well.

"not suggesting that I leave just before it expires and stay abroad until October 2015 "

No you would get a new extension in March and do not get a re-entry permit. Leave the country in August/September. Your extension would die because you don't have a re-entry permit. Get a new Non-Imm O and come back to Thailand. In the last 30 days of your permission to stay granted when you entered on the visa, apply for a new extension of stay based on retirement which will renew annually from the date it kicks in ... which EXTENDS the permission of stay granted when you entered on the visa. It does NOT extend the Visa. Visas cannot be extended.

If all of this is meant to make you annual renewal more convenient, it may cost you more inconvenience than it's worth.

Edited June 27, 201412 yr by Suradit69

Might not a possibility for the OP be to apply for a shorter-than-normal extension next March, through entering, say, 230 (rather than 365) days as the extension period in his completed TM7 - which would then take him through to October/November 2015? I distinctly recall another thread some time ago in which a poster was proposing to do something along similar lines.

In any event, it would definitely be prudent for him to check first with Chiang Mai Immigration whether they would see any difficulties with such a course of action.

That has been tried and immigration said no. They will only do the one year extension.

Thanks everyone; and suradit for taking the time to spell out what's going on with the visa and extensions.

So I get the annual extension in March 2015 (but not the multi re-entry). In september/october I go abroad and return on a non 'o' from their consulate. Upon my return I apply for an annual extension

I want to be out of Chiangmai during February/March when the air is heavily polluted and make that my annual break in Europe - not be forced to be around here for the extension. That's the reason I want the change.

That will work. You can purchase a reentry permit at departure if you want to travel and return during the March - October time frame.