Hi guys,

There has been a lot of doom and gloom around on various expat forums regarding the current visa situation, so I thought I would post something perhaps a little more positive and share my experiences of going to the immigration office today - at least in terms of applying for and obtaining a one-year extension based on retirement. Plus I've got one or two bits of advice that were passed on to me in a chat with the very friendly and helpful immigration captain.

Firstly, because I live in Samut Prakarn, I'm obliged to use the local immigration office there. While I would never refer to it as a 'sleepy outpost', it's clearly not as busy or chaotic as the main office at Chaeng Wattana. I've always found the staff great to deal with.

Secondly, I've become something of a veteran of the non-immigrant visa one year extension. I've been doing them for 12 years based on marriage to a Thai and it's fair to say that over the years, my wife and I had got the application process down to a fine art. OK, some years have been a little more painful than others (a forgotten document, a large queue at the photocopying machine, etc) but generally the job has got done and I've been in and out in less than an hour.

I'm also one of those people you would describe as 'painfully organised' - every document signed and photocopied and all stapled and neatly arranged in plastic folders. My God, I even take my own stick of glue in case I need to attach a photograph to a last-minute document.

Anyway, this year I reached the grand old age of 50. So I wanted to change from a one year extension based on marriage to a one-year extension based on retirement. As it would happen, I went to immigration to do my 90-day reporting last week. I usually do it by post (and the system works extremely well) but this time I decided to go in person to chat with an officer and find out exactly what I needed for the upcoming (and first) extension based on retirement.

Funny, but as soon as I mentioned that I wanted to 'change visas' the officer's face lit up and it was almost like the red carpet was rolled out. The officer stopped short of saying "oh we love retirees" but that was the message I got.

The retirement extension is a far easier process than the marriage extension and immigration officers are as human as the rest of us - we all love people who make our jobs easier!

OK, the financial requirement for a retirement extension goes up from 400K to 800K but that is absolutely the only downside. What else is there not to love?

No more having to drag my wife down there with me and being interviewed about where we met and how we fell in love, etc.

No more photocopies of wife's ID, marriage certificate, etc, etc.

No more of those 'slightly demeaning' photographs of wifey and I holding hands on the conjugal bed and me pointing at a closet full of clothing.

And absolutely no more of those home visits from immigration officers (just for the record I was visited twice in 12 years in both year 1 and year 5)

Instead, all I needed for the one-year retirement extension was a bank letter and the various photocopies of the passport and bank-book and an application form (and only one set of everything I might add) - and that was it!

The whole process today of getting a one-year extension based on retirement took about 90 minutes. The only reason that it took that long is because the two people in front of me took almost an hour to process. One was an American guy with his Thai wife, the other a Chinese national. It's worth taking each of those people in turn.

Seven times! seven times, the American guy (or his wife) needed to leave the counter and go and get photocopies of something. Their application was clearly very unprepared. I realise I may be going off on a dangerous tangent here but come on people! you're holding us all up. There is a wealth of information on sites like this about what documentation you need for the various visa processes. Read it. Digest it. And like the boy scouts motto - be prepared. The officer who dealt with me today actually made a point of saying to me (in Thai) that it was so refreshing to see someone that prepares their applications so well. That isn't me gloating. It's me passing on advice. Immigration officers really do appreciate it when you make an effort. I noticed that a long, long time ago. And when you are appreciated, you'll find the level of service goes up ten-fold and the whole trip to immigration becomes less of an ordeal.

I don't know what the problem was with the Chinese guy but I think it was something to do with a company tax issue. Anyway, the Chinese guy thought he knew Thai law back to front and the immigration officer had learned an entirely different version. Neither of them were backing down and it became quite a slanging match. The rest of us in the room - both officers and customers alike - all sat cringing in our seats as the argument became louder and more aggressive. What planet do these people live on? It's one of the golden rules of life - never ever get aggressive towards an immigration officer.

OK, I'm almost at the end (thanks for sticking with me) so I'll finish with a few quick observations or bits of advice.

1) My previous one-year extension actually expired on the 24th July, so in effect I was applying for the next extension a day early (the 23rd). The officer told me "don't cut it so fine next time - just in case there's some problem we need to rectify. I'm not saying that wlll happen but better to be safe than sorry" I asked the officer how I should do things next year. "I recommend that you come at the beginning of July" he said, " Don't worry that your extension expires on the 23rd. I will give you an extension until the 23rd AND another 12 months on top" (this certainly surprised me)

2) The officer was quite surprised that I knew so much about the new overstay laws. He had a look of shock horror on his face when I told him that it was all over the internet and he really didn't need to explain things to me. In fact, we had quite a long chat about the new regulations, and there were even a few things I knew but he didn't seem to be totally clear on. I don't know what conclusion to draw from that.

OK. The End. I just felt it was quite a positive experience today so I thought I would bore you all with it.

At no time did I ever feel like I was unwanted or unwelcome. I found the staff helpful and friendly, not only towards me, but every other foreigner who came into the office to ask for help. That Chinese chap might disagree though.

Great trip report and a model for others to follow.

By the way, I think NancyL and Ubon Joe might have something to say about the pros and cons of marriage versus retirement extensions....

"OK, the financial requirement for a retirement extension goes up from 400K to 800K but that is absolutely the only downside."

Another downside would be for people who want to work, or continue working. No WP on a retirement extension.

Tip #1

It has often been suggested that people extend early. Normally up to 30 days at most offices, with some allowing 45 days. The new extension starts at the end, so you don't lose time by going in early.

Nice report. Always good to remind us when something works so well, as expected. At least some expect it to work well.

Not accurate about needing 800,000, in all cases, however.

A letter from the Embassy and/or having an income of 65000 a month is ok.

Or Combination of money in bank, together with monthly income.

It is possible to convert a Tourist Visa (if you have more than 21 days left on it), to a 90 Day Non O, but not at all Immigration Offices. This is useful information for those that do not currently have a 90 Day Non O. I already tried to convert at Udon, and they pointed me to Bangkok. I am in now Chiang Mai, and heard it might be possible here. Once you convert, you get your stamp later, and then do the retirement extension....from what I understand.

I realize the poster already had his.

Edited July 23, 201411 yr by slipperylobster