Enter On 30 Day Visa Exempt and Apply For Retirement Extension

[dsfbrit]

A friend of mine visited a Visa shop the other day. He was told that you cannot arrive in Thailand on a visa exempt 30 day exempt stamp and convert to an extension based on retirement. Is that correct?

[ubonjoe]

You cannot convert directly to a retirement extension. You have to first convert to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry within 15 days of arrival on a 30 day visa exempt entry. And then apply for the extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry.

The conversion can only be done a a few immigration offices.

[KhnomKhnom]

I did just that with no problems but four years ago. American.

If in USA, just go to one of these offices.......

Other Thai representations in the United States

» Washington, Embassy

» Atlanta, Consulate General

» Chicago, Consulate General

» Honolulu, Consulate General

» Houston, Consulate General

» Los Angeles, Consulate General

» New York, Consulate General

» Portland, OR, Consula

and Dallas

[ubonjoe]

I did just that with no problems but four years ago. American.

If in USA, just go to one of these offices.......

<snip>

The topic is about doing a conversion here at immigration not getting a visa at an embassy or consulate.

[NeverSure]

You cannot convert directly to a retirement extension. You have to first convert to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry within 15 days of arrival on a 30 day visa exempt entry. And then apply for the extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry.

The conversion can only be done a a few immigration offices.

Could you please check and see if that's "when not more than 30 days but not less that 15 days are left on the 90 non?

[dsfbrit]

Thanks UbonJoe for the quick response. I thought you had to convert to a non immigrant visa, but the point is that the retirement extension can be achieved after arriving on a 30 day exempt stamp.

The conversation with my friend went like this:-

He told me had visited a Visa shop and had been told there had/or is it to be a change in the rules that means he cannot do this. I mean he would no longer be able to do a 30 day exempt entry and then apply for an extension based on retirement. Albeit by having to do the 90 day non immigration conversion first.

I said he should go to ThaiVisa and ask here - he would get much better advice that he could trust.

So is there any truth in this Visa shop 'experts' comments???

Thanks for your help.

[ubonjoe]

You cannot convert directly to a retirement extension. You have to first convert to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry within 15 days of arrival on a 30 day visa exempt entry. And then apply for the extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry.

The conversion can only be done a a few immigration offices.

Could you please check and see if that's "when not more than 30 days but not less that 15 days are left on the 90 non?

Not sure what you saying. I think you need to read my post again.

Within 15 days of arrival on a exempt entry.

Then during the last 30 days of the 90 entry from the conversion.

[ubonjoe]

So is there any truth in this Visa shop 'experts' comments???

In general there is no truth to what they said, It is still possible to do a conversion.

But without knowing where he is at or if he had 15 days remaining on his entry they could of been correct.

[dsfbrit]

Thanks Ubonjoe for you prompt feedback and helpful advice. I will pass this thread onto him and let him decide if he wants to ask some more questions on ThaiVisa or not.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I believe, the Immigration offices that will do the kind of process the OP is asking about include the main Immigration office in Bangkok and a few others. But supposedly, it can't be done at a lot of the other various upcountry Immigration offices.

So depending on where the visa shop visited by the friend was located, they might have been right to the extent that the Immigration office there wouldn't do that kind of conversion. But it certainly can be done.

Or, of course, the other scenario is that particular visa shop simply was giving out bad advice.

[ubonjoe]

I believe, the Immigration offices that will do the kind of process the OP is asking about include the main Immigration office in Bangkok and a few others. But supposedly, it can't be done at a lot of the other various upcountry Immigration offices.

So depending on where the visa shop visited by the friend was located, they might have been right to the extent that the Immigration office there wouldn't do that kind of conversion. But it certainly can be done.

Or, of course, the other scenario is that particular visa shop simply was giving out bad advice.

It cannot be done at many down country offices also.

[IMA_FARANG]

Ubonjoe has it correct.

What you're not getting is that it is a two step process.

First you convert to a 90 day Non O visa.

Then you apply for a retirement extension from that Non O visa.

You will need 60 days to open and extablish a bank account in Thailand to do that application.

Exactly as ubonjoe said.

Not all the immigration offices in country will do the entire process.

Some may send you to Bangkok to complete the process.

[burgdawg]

...to stir this topic further...let's say the punter-in-question HAS a Tai bank account (greater than 7 days) and the proper Proof Of Income/Affidavit from his respective Embassy showing financial means. Also called a "Notarial Letter."

All can be done at the same time. Not in ONE day, but within a very tight framework.

I shepherded a buddy through this very process. Once you deplane, you have to move fast, no messing around, time is of utmost importance.

To convert from an Entry Stamp to Non-Immigrant "O" is 1900b. Visa stamp is issued in passport.

Come back the next day and apply for a Long Term Retirement. Make sure you Xerox your new Non-Immigrant "O" Visa along with face page and other documents, like a Residency Letter, proof of bank account, photos, etc.

Pay another 1900b (this is the 2nd step referred to by other posts) and leave passport at Immigration. Return the next day to pick up passport with new Long Term Retirement Visa (extension of the Non-Immigrant "O") visa.

I advised buddy to pay the 3800b for a M/E or "Multiple Entry" Stamp. Another application, photos, etc.

A single Entry stamp is 1,000b.

If you obtain a M/E stamp within 48 hours of issuance of your Long Term Retirement Visa, you are granted a 15 month visa. This is really the 90 days of the Non-Immigrant "O" rolled into one.

The process sounds convoluted, but isn't. Several tips: wear a good shirt, be polite. Bring a book or Kindle in case of a wait. No meltdowns. No raised voices. Be polite. Others might freak out, you are calm. Smile.

If you ask 10 folks for advice, you'll get many different answers.

The Notarial Letter from your Embassy runs about 1500b ($50 USD) and is good for 6 months.

Hope this helps. My friend was exhausted, but he did all the steps.

PS This was at Soi 5 Immigration in Jomtien/Pattaya

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I was hoping Joe above was going to fill in the blanks of my marginal memory.

But as regards which Immigration offices will handle these conversions, Bangkok will, I remembered that Jomtien-Pattaya supposedly would, and i thought the third location was Chiang Mai. Perhaps someone can confirm about that.... I'm strictly going from memory here.