Could someone tell me where I could get a change from a Tourist Visa (on my second of a Double 60-day right now) to a Retirement Visa? I am told that the "only" place is BKK but I find that strange as I have also heard from different people that there are other locations one can do this. My local Imm office (Mae Sot) says that only BKK does it now... but they are a bit put off if you are not Burmese anyway as they are the people that this office here usually deals with.

I am 57, US passport holder, no multiple Visa runs (just one other Double 60-Day from September gotten from LA Thai Consulate. The second one from Laos....Savan... something). I have financial from my embassy, health certificate, rental property form, do not need to work. Many friends here (Thai) that can vouch for me.

Let me know please. I know I may have asked this before, but for the life of me I cannot find any answers that you all may have posted. Sorry about that by the way.

Thank you

You would be better obtaining a "NON O" visa outside Thailand rather than attempting to convert the tourist visa which will involve two trips to Bangkok.

Once you have the "NON O" visa you can apply for an extension of stay based on retirement (not a visa) duing the last 30 days of the 90 stay the visa will provide.

Edited April 21, 201511 yr by nzexpat

Visas need to be obtained from a country outside Thailand.

"Let me know please. I know I may have asked this before, but for the life of me I cannot find any answers that you all may have posted. Sorry about that by the way."

Here you go......http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/816115-where-to-change-tourist-visa-to-retirement/

Mae Sot immigration was correct and you might indeed be better of getting the non-O abroad if you live in the Mae Sot/Tak area.

Rather than make two trips to Bangkok it would be best for you to make a trip to Vientiane for a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over.

All you would need to get it would be your passport to prove you age and financial proof. If you have an income letter from the embassy they will accept a copy attached to the application and show them them the original if asked. Then you could use the original income letter when you apply for the extension.

It can be done at Nong Khai immigration, I asked this question today about converting tourist to retirement.

The first immigration officer told me it cannot be done but an older immigration officer informed me it is possible.

Visas need to be obtained from a country outside Thailand.

He was actually asking about getting a conversion to a Non-Imm O visa entry, which can be done under certain circumstances at Immigrations in Bangkok. I believe there are a few regional offices that will also accept applications, but they will still send it on to Bangkok for processing.

As NZExpat said, it's often easier just to get a Non-Imm O at an embassy or consulate in a neighboring country and then apply for the extension of stay based on retirement (not a visa) at your local immigrations office. It is important to understand that the extension of stay is not a visa, so if you plan to travel out of the country, you will need a re-entry permit to be able to return to Thailand without losing the extension.

Edited April 21, 201511 yr by Suradit69

It can be done at Nong Khai immigration, I asked this question today about converting tourist to retirement.

The first immigration officer told me it cannot be done but an older immigration officer informed me it is possible.

Perhaps he said it could be done but did not say where. At the moment Bangkok is the only location.

If in Nong Khai it would be better cross the bridge and get a single entry non-o visa at the embassy.