Koh Samui Retirement Visa Extension Renewal

[hoxman]

Wanted to share my recent experience with others on TV. I am a US Citizen living on Koh Samui, who did the monthly income verification instead of the 800K BT in the bank. Two weeks earlier while in Bangkok, I received my Income Verification letter using my pension as my income source. That was painless, in and out in less than a hour.

Yesterday, 10 March at 10am I showed up at the Nathon immigration office. After getting up to the door, where the young lady checks your paperwork, she shooed me inside, after a quick glance at my paperwork. After getting inside and to the front desk they checked my paperwork again and pointed to the "conference room". My paperwork consisted of the completed TM47 with photo affixed, copies out of my passport (front page, last retirement extension stamp, my last entry into BKK with departure card), Income letter notarized from US Embassy, and a google map that showed my home's location with latitude and longitude. Thanks to others on TV, I brought a print out from the internet from my US bank that shows my monthly deposit of pension and the ATM withdrawals here in Thailand. I had that for backup, and was asked for it. I had signed and completed everything in blue ink, another requirement.

The young girl in the conference room checked my paperwork, and she asked for the bank statement. Good that I had it. There was a couple in front of me doing the marriage visa extension, that was taking sometime. The man grumbled to the girl to have me come back the next day. So after 1 hour, I was out the door and told to come the next day in the afternoon.

So today, 11 March, at 1pm returned to the same room where he was completing other paperwork. She gave him my package and within 30 minutes I was back out the door, good for another year.

Can't wait until the Maenam office opens up, it is such a mess there with all the others getting 30 day visa extensions. The staff do a pretty good job, considering all of the 'tourists' who try to push themselves to the front.

Cheers

[evadgib]

A few points to add for anyone using the same office:

1. Retirees can go straight in, bypassing the girl/desk outside,

2. Redact a/c no etc from your bank statement as a precaution against fraud,

3. Lets hope the sign (prices) moves when they move to Maenam, otherwise it'll be 'business as usual' for the unwary!

[thuisinthailand]

Did the OP also had to show:

- copy of rental agreement and copy of house book

- health certificate

or are these documents no longer required on Samui?

And I suppose OP is referring to the TM.7, not the TM.47

[hoxman]

Did the OP also had to show:

- copy of rental agreement and copy of house book - I brought my Thai GF who I live with, and she had her housebook with her. He talked to her about me, but didn't make a copy of the housebook. Just a month and a half ago she reported me living there.

- health certificate - I had seen others say this was a requirement, but was not asked for.

or are these documents no longer required on Samui?

And I suppose OP is referring to the TM.7, not the TM.47

Yes, that is correct TM7, not the TM47 - 90 Day notification

[OJAS]

"...it is such a mess there with all the others getting 30 day visa extensions. The staff do a pretty good job, considering all of the 'tourists' who try to push themselves to the front."

Did wonder whether things at Samui might be smoother during the low season, but the following thread originated last August would appear to indicate that this is not the case:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/750044-koh-samui-immigration-my-experience-on-extension-of-stay-and-re-entry-permit-august-2014/