What immigration offices do visa conversion?. This with regards to conversion from exempt/tourist to non O visa for retirement. Bangkok is one office that does. Any up north?

Bangkok only.

A few offices will accept paperwork for onward transmission to Bangkok.

Only Bangkok immigration can approve a conversion. The have authorized a few nearby offices to accept the application and forward it to them for approval.

There are none in the north. south or northeast that can do them.

Thanks for your quick answers!

I converted from a multi-entry tourist visa to a non-O retirement visa at Phuket without a problem, but this was 17 years ago, so maybe things have changed since then.

OP , one thing to note about the conversion in regards to money in thai bank (if your using that method) . From advice I received from the experts on thaivisa I discovered that I needed to demonstrate that these funds came from abroad. I could not. So rather than the conversion I went to Vientiane for the non o. That requirement is not needed there

fussing

I am planing to enter Thailand on the 30 days visa exempt at the end of the year and have been looking at my options.

my base is Chiang Mai.

my goal: Convert Visa on arrival (30days) to a Non-immigrate visa

The way i see it, we have two options, Bangkok or Vientiane.

Bangkok, you need to apply for your Non-immigrant visa 21 days before your current visa expires and then a return visit after a couple of weeks to pick it up.

Vientiane, Exit Thailand before your current visa runs out and head over to Vientiane and apply for your Non-immagrant visa, received the next day.

generally the paperwork is the same, but jacksam, pointed out a good point I didn't know about, (demonstrate that these funds came from abroad)

depending on the Visa as well the (new) rules.

Easiest way is go abroad to an embassy and change the visa to the kind you need.

Embassy or consulate abroad will cancel the old visa if that is needed.

the money issue will then be at the next extension of the new visa you got form abroad.

800.000 or 400.000 or 40.000 depending on the visa and the personal situation.

Edited October 29, 201510 yr by Autonuaq