Popular Post Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted October 11, 2015 I just came back from getting my first O-retirement visa in Vientiane. It was pretty quick and easy. I have been there several times before for other visas, but this was my first O-retirement visa, as I had just turned 50 a few days before.The big changes I noticed were another new version of the queuing system, a new rule that applicants fill out their application themselves and do it inside the compound, and a new rule requiring a street address in Thailand on the application. All this new to me who was last there almost exactly one year ago.The queuing system seemed weird at first, but I have to say it was the most efficient system they have had there yet. In the morning, when dropping off my application, I came in the gate and was directed to a stack of forms next to the work tables. After I had filled in the application, I made copies of my Laos visa and entry stamp at the copiers. Copiers are by the entrance to the big air-conned building now.I then joined everyone else queued up in the seats, with the queue snaking us back and forth like amusement park patrons waiting for a roller coaster. We sat down for a while, then got up and shuffled down the row now and then as everyone snaked up to the desk at the head of the line. No queue number yet.Eventually I got to the head of the line and there was a lady at the desk looking over applications, with another lady assisting. The first lady looked over my papers, handed them to the assistant, telling her something I did not catch. The assistant gave me my application back, a half page info sheet, with a queue number stapled to it. Assistant directed me to window 1 right behind her.From my observations it seemed tourist visas were getting queue numbers and going in a stack n the first desk, everyone else was going to window 1.Another queue to window 1, a man behind that window looked at my papers, felt the seal on my income affidavit, gave me the original back and kept the copy. He handed me the sheet with my queue number and told me to come back the next day. I asked about paying and he said, "Pay tomorrow". OK.The next day, they started letting people in pretty early, maybe because it was raining hard off and on. We all sat around in the seats out in the courtyard, waiting. A few minutes after 1pm the workers started hauling boxes of passports into the room back behind windows 1 & 2 there in the courtyard. About 1:40pm window 2 opened and the queue number machine started calling out numbers. I waited for my number, got to the window, paid my 2000 baht, got my passport and a receipt. I stepped 2 steps to the side and double checked the visa, all good. A taxi ride to the bridge, some stamps at at passport control and a shuttle bus ride later, I was back in Thailand on my first O-retirement visa. I have some pictures I'll have to post from my phone in an edit or a new post. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Oops, need to resize, will post pics soon Edited October 11, 2015 by Furryman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonray Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I hope you grabbed one of those great Lao Baguette sandwiches that the lady sells as you queue up waiting for the gate to open. I will go back just for that ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksam Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Thanks for report. Mine exactly same few months back. This next bit is not meant to be pedantic, but just in case you assist friends. There is no such thing as a retirement visa. You obtained a non imm O based on retirement. Befor that expires in 90 days you will apply for a 12 month extension. You do that where you live. Then you no longer have a visa. You have an extension of stay for 12 months that you can extent for further 12 months upon meeting imm requirements. Happy days. BTW if you wish to exit los in that extension period don't forget your reentry permit. Single or multiple. Also your 90 day report Edited October 11, 2015 by jacksam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 I hope you grabbed one of those great Lao Baguette sandwiches that the lady sells as you queue up waiting for the gate to open. I will go back just for that ! I grabbed one right after I was done turning my papers in. Ate in the thatched roof place across the road the next day. With the rain they were super busy that day. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Thanks for report. Mine exactly same few months back. This next bit is not meant to be pedantic, but just in case you assist friends. There is no such thing as a retirement visa. You obtained a non imm O based on retirement. Befor that expires in 90 days you will apply for a 12 month extension. You do that where you live. Then you no longer have a visa. You have an extension of stay for 12 months that you can extent for further 12 months upon meeting imm requirements. Happy days Mostly true. One still has an O visa after the initial 90 days, so long as one obtains extensions to that initial visa. It's the same visa, only it gets extensions to it's validity. I figured 'O-retirement' was sufficient shorthand to make it clear what I was talking about. Edited October 11, 2015 by Furryman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oncearugge Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Thanks for report. Mine exactly same few months back. This next bit is not meant to be pedantic, but just in case you assist friends. There is no such thing as a retirement visa. You obtained a non imm O based on retirement. Befor that expires in 90 days you will apply for a 12 month extension. You do that where you live. Then you no longer have a visa. You have an extension of stay for 12 months that you can extent for further 12 months upon meeting imm requirements. Happy days Mostly true. One still has an O visa after the initial 90 days, so long as one obtains extensions to that initial visa. It's the same visa, only it gets extensions to it's validity. I figured 'O-retirement' was sufficient shorthand to make it clear what I was talking about. Sorry but "Visas" never have Validity extended. Your visa has now been stamped "Used" ! What is extended is the "permission to stay" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Thanks for report. Mine exactly same few months back. This next bit is not meant to be pedantic, but just in case you assist friends. There is no such thing as a retirement visa. You obtained a non imm O based on retirement. Befor that expires in 90 days you will apply for a 12 month extension. You do that where you live. Then you no longer have a visa. You have an extension of stay for 12 months that you can extent for further 12 months upon meeting imm requirements. Happy days Mostly true. One still has an O visa after the initial 90 days, so long as one obtains extensions to that initial visa. It's the same visa, only it gets extensions to it's validity. I figured 'O-retirement' was sufficient shorthand to make it clear what I was talking about. Sorry but "Visas" never have Validity extended. Your visa has now been stamped "Used" ! What is extended is the "permission to stay" While it is still a bit of a distinction without a difference, I believe you are wrong on that point. While I was recently on an ED visa and had it extended 3 times, they certainly kept track of what visa it was that they had allowed me into the country on. They even made sure I did some paperwork to get permission to leave Thailand, because of the visa type I was here under. Right on the form for applying for an extension it asks what kind of visa you have. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oncearugge Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Thanks for report. Mine exactly same few months back. This next bit is not meant to be pedantic, but just in case you assist friends. There is no such thing as a retirement visa. You obtained a non imm O based on retirement. Befor that expires in 90 days you will apply for a 12 month extension. You do that where you live. Then you no longer have a visa. You have an extension of stay for 12 months that you can extent for further 12 months upon meeting imm requirements. Happy days Mostly true. One still has an O visa after the initial 90 days, so long as one obtains extensions to that initial visa. It's the same visa, only it gets extensions to it's validity. I figured 'O-retirement' was sufficient shorthand to make it clear what I was talking about. Sorry but "Visas" never have Validity extended. Your visa has now been stamped "Used" ! What is extended is the "permission to stay" While it is still a bit of a distinction without a difference, I believe you are wrong on that point. While I was recently on an ED visa and had it extended 3 times, they certainly kept track of what visa it was that they had allowed me into the country on. They even made sure I did some paperwork to get permission to leave Thailand, because of the visa type I was here under. Right on the form for applying for an extension it asks what kind of visa you have. This issue has been discussed many times. You had "extensions of stay" NOT extensions of a Visa. The visa is what allows a person to legally enter the country. Reference is made to the original (expired) visa which allowed entry when an "Extension of Stay" is applied for 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 OK, here are the signage pics. I figure since the website is in such a shambles, this stuff might be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksam Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 OP the advice given already by experienced members (not me) . Is correct. You are well advised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksam Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 In simple terms as already pointed out. Your visa is stamped used. You have an extension of stay in the kingdom. Welcome 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 In simple terms as already pointed out. Your visa is stamped used. You have an extension of stay in the kingdom. WelcomeThe entry is used, I'm in country on permission to stay based on my visa. Talk about nitpicking... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) You didn't get a retirement visa. You got a non-immigrant O visa based on your intention to apply for an annual retirement extension in Thailand. The only visa that can really be called a retirement visa are O-A visas obtained from your home country. Edited October 11, 2015 by Jingthing 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oncearugge Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 In simple terms as already pointed out. Your visa is stamped used. You have an extension of stay in the kingdom. WelcomeThe entry is used, I'm in country on permission to stay based on my visa. Talk about nitpicking... Wrong! Your extension is based on a Reason other than that you once had a visa. " Could be your "Extension of stay" is based on marriage,working, education, retirement ect. it is not based on a "visa"! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 You didn't get a retirement visa. You got an O visa with intention to apply retirement extensions in Thailand. The only visa that can really be called a retirement visa are O-A visas obtained from your home country. I got a non immigrant O (for Other) visa. The specific type of 'Other' is retirement. If my 'Other' had been marriage, or having a Thai kid, I would have had different paperwork requirements. Therefore the name Non-immigrant O-retirement visa is an accurate description. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 In simple terms as already pointed out. Your visa is stamped used. You have an extension of stay in the kingdom. WelcomeThe entry is used, I'm in country on permission to stay based on my visa. Talk about nitpicking... Wrong! Your extension is based on a Reason other than that you once had a visa. " Could be your "Extension of stay" is based on marriage,working, education, retirement ect. it is not based on a "visa"! But you cannot get a retirement extension on a tourist visa, or an ED visa, or a visa exempt entry. You would have to get your visa converted to an O visa first. The kinds of extension you can get is based on what kind of visa you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oncearugge Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 You didn't get a retirement visa. You got an O visa with intention to apply retirement extensions in Thailand. The only visa that can really be called a retirement visa are O-A visas obtained from your home country. I got a non immigrant O (for Other) visa. The specific type of 'Other' is retirement. If my 'Other' had been marriage, or having a Thai kid, I would have had different paperwork requirements. Therefore the name Non-immigrant O-retirement visa is an accurate description. Here is a picture of a single entry Non Immigrant "O" visa. For what reason was it issued and for what reason was an "extension of stay" subsequently obtained. Please explain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Interesting. The first time I got a single entry O visa I wasn't required to provide any evidence or qualifications that I was actually going to retire in Thailand with extensions. A long time ago, yes. At my first application for my first retirement extension, I simply has an O VISA in my passport. Nothing about retirement indicated whatsoever. It was EXACTLY THE SAME as any O visa would have looked for ANY of the reasons people get them. OP -- Is there anything written on your O visa that has the word RETIREMENT on it? Cheers. Edited October 11, 2015 by Jingthing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 You didn't get a retirement visa. You got an O visa with intention to apply retirement extensions in Thailand. The only visa that can really be called a retirement visa are O-A visas obtained from your home country. I got a non immigrant O (for Other) visa. The specific type of 'Other' is retirement. If my 'Other' had been marriage, or having a Thai kid, I would have had different paperwork requirements. Therefore the name Non-immigrant O-retirement visa is an accurate description. Here is a picture of a single entry Non Immigrant "O" visa. Ovisa.jpg For what reason was it issued and for what reason was an "extension of stay" subsequently obtained. Please explain It says right on the visa that it is a single entry visa. The one entry is used. The entry granted you a 90 day stay, later you could do an extension of that stay, the original stay granted by the visa. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) So it doesn't say retirement, correct?, so in that case functionally it is exactly the same as any O visa obtained for any or the reasons they are granted. The extension stamps are usually stamped RETIREMENT (not retirement visa) ... but that's on extensions, not on the O visa. Anyway, thanks for the report from Vientiane. I'm sure many people will indeed find it of use. Edited October 11, 2015 by Jingthing 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Interesting. The first time I got a single entry O visa I wasn't required to provide any evidence or qualifications that I was actually going to retire in Thailand with extensions. A long time ago, yes. At my first application for my first retirement extension, I simply has an O VISA in my passport. Nothing about retirement indicated whatsoever. It was EXACTLY THE SAME as any O visa would have looked for ANY of the reasons people get them. OP -- Is there anything written on your O visa that has the word RETIREMENT on it? Cheers. No, but it was on the forms I turned in, it affected what papers I needed for my type of Other application. I have no doubt it is in the computer system. Tell me does your one year extension based on retirement stamp state it is for retirement on the stamp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oncearugge Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 You didn't get a retirement visa. You got an O visa with intention to apply retirement extensions in Thailand. The only visa that can really be called a retirement visa are O-A visas obtained from your home country. I got a non immigrant O (for Other) visa. The specific type of 'Other' is retirement. If my 'Other' had been marriage, or having a Thai kid, I would have had different paperwork requirements. Therefore the name Non-immigrant O-retirement visa is an accurate description. Here is a picture of a single entry Non Immigrant "O" visa. Ovisa.jpg For what reason was it issued and for what reason was an "extension of stay" subsequently obtained. Please explain It says right on the visa that it is a single entry visa. The one entry is used. The entry granted you a 90 day stay, later you could do an extension of that stay, the original stay granted by the visa. Ok I understand that you do not know why it was issued and have no idea as to why an "extension of stay" was granted ! The extension of stay was NOT "granted" by the visa or the 90 day entry it allowed. End of discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 I got a non immigrant O (for Other) visa. The specific type of 'Other' is retirement. If my 'Other' had been marriage, or having a Thai kid, I would have had different paperwork requirements. Therefore the name Non-immigrant O-retirement visa is an accurate description. Here is a picture of a single entry Non Immigrant "O" visa. Ovisa.jpg For what reason was it issued and for what reason was an "extension of stay" subsequently obtained. Please explain It says right on the visa that it is a single entry visa. The one entry is used. The entry granted you a 90 day stay, later you could do an extension of that stay, the original stay granted by the visa. Ok I understand that you do not know why it was issued and have no idea as to why an "extension of stay" was granted ! The extension of stay was NOT "granted" by the visa or the 90 day entry it allowed. End of discussion. I don't have an extension, I am currently on the 90 days that comes with the O visa, the visa which was granted because I met the requirements for "Other-Retirement", not "Other-Marriage" or any of the other "Other" types that each have different requirements. Just because the visa does not display that one O visa is different from another O visa, does not mean the distinction is not real, or that Thai Immigration is not keeping track of that. Take for example, Franky Falang, who gets a 3 entry tourist visa in his home country. He comes to Thailand, gets extensions and uses his 3 entries and stays close to 9 months. Say Franky wants to get a retirement extension now. Well, he cannot, so long as he is on a Tourist visa. Despite using all the entries and getting all the extensions, his permission to stay is still under the rules for a Tourist visa. Tourist visa holders cannot get retirement or marriage extensions. Franky can, however, CONVERT his Tourist visa to an O retirement visa, so long as he can turn up with the right papers for an O retirement visa. Or an O-Marriage visa if he has the right papers for that. Then AFTER the conversion, he can apply for the extension based on retirement, The visa does not magically stop existing when all the entries are used. Why would they call it a conversion if they are not converting one thing into a different thing? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oncearugge Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Furryman Here is a picture of a "conversion" For what reason was it issued? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd8800 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 @OP... thanks for posting a detailed account of how the system works in Vientiane. Much appreciated. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 Furryman Here is a picture of a "conversion" For what reason was it issued? ovisaextensiontostay.jpg I have no idea. I'm sure the Thai immigration computers know however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 @OP... thanks for posting a detailed account of how the system works in Vientiane. Much appreciated. Thanks, just trying to pass on my observations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksam Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 OP you franky are all over the shop. The members posting are EXPERTS . My self excluded . Your last post stated you are here on 90 day non imm O. That visa is USED. You have 90 day permission to stay in the kingdom. Befor that expires you need to apply for 12 month permission to stay. There are requirements for that. From then on you do not have a visa. You have an extension of stay. Stamp on my passport states Retirement. I do NOT have a retirement visa because there is no such thing. In fact I no longer have a visa. I have 12 month permission to stay "based on retirement" Got it? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furryman Posted October 11, 2015 Author Share Posted October 11, 2015 OP you franky are all over the shop. The members posting are EXPERTS . My self excluded . Your last post stated you are here on 90 day non imm O. That visa is USED. You have 90 day permission to stay in the kingdom. Befor that expires you need to apply for 12 month permission to stay. There are requirements for that. From then on you do not have a visa. You have an extension of stay. Stamp on my passport states Retirement. I do NOT have a retirement visa because there is no such thing. In fact I no longer have a visa. I have 12 month permission to stay "based on retirement" Got it? I've 'got it' for a long time. Only there is this movement of posters who are nitpicking on an incredibly minor point upon which they are wrong. Your permission to stay is linked to your visa, the visa does not cease to exist, nor does your visa type cease to matter as to which sorts of extensions you are eligible to get. You can't get a 30 day tourist extension when you are on an O visa or extension... . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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