Non-B extension to retirement visa?

[ricklev]

Anybody know if I can change a non-b extension to a non-o retirement visa at Chang Wattana? My work permit will be cancelled in a couple of months.

800K in the bank for a year so no problem there.

I really don't want to do a visa run.

But if I have to, is it possible to get multiple entry retirement visa anywhere other than my home country (USA)?

Thanks!

[heretostay]

I've done this without much of a hassle. There is no need to leave Thailand for this transaction. At CW, I got a list of documents to provide.
Be sure that you have a confirmation letter from your employer that you've left their employ as of the day that you apply for the switch from B to O. Such a letter was not in the list of documents that Immigration had provided me. Plus deposit 100 baht into your bank account the day before your application (and update and photocopy the bank-book) and have the bank issue a letter confirming your bank balance. Check the letter carefully to be sure your account number and balance are correct.

Good luck!

[ricklev]

Thank you.

[ricklev]

So I go to the immigration office on the same day that my employer is cancelling my work permit?

Documents needed?

1. Letter from employer

2. Bank book and letter from bank.

3. Anything from the work permit office required?

4.

[ubonjoe]

The will only want the termination letter from your employer so they can cancel your extension.

[IMA_FARANG]

Regarding the Bank letter. For most Banks a Bank account letter can be done down on the ground floor (first floor) at Chang Wattana.

All you need is your passbook for that account and your passport (for I.D. purposes).

Takes between 5 and 15 minutes (depending on the number of people waiting in the queue for teller services), the fee is 100 Baht, and the letter is a form letter done by computer dated that same day.

Been there.

[ricklev]

Useful information! Thanks.

[heretostay]

Fished out the document I got from Immigration two years ago entitled, "Requirements and documentations (sic) when applying for extension of temporary stay in case of retirement"

The "documentations" section lists the following:

1) application form TM7 with a photo of the applicant

2) Passport

3) evidence of financial support (they then describe the 800K option and the 65K option and the combination option); you'll need the updated bank book and the letter from the bank.

4) application fee is 1,900 baht

As I mentioned earlier, you will also need a letter from your employer saying you have left their employ. If at all possible, have everything dated on the day of your application - this is my personal advice; nothing official about it.

As for the bank letter, I always prefer to have things ready in advance, before going to CW. Whatever can go wrong does go wrong. The day I did my extension this year happened to be the annual "half-year holiday" for civil servants and banks, so my bank was closed in CW and I had to taxi to Central CW and back to get the letter. Not fun. I should have done it in advance. Just saying.

As for the work permit, I would suggest giving it back to your employer and letting them bring it back to the Labor Ministry. (Mine did it this way; in fact, mine never let me hold the permit myself!) If they refuse, then you may want to do it after your "retirement extension" has been completed.

Good luck.

[ricklev]

Thanks. I think I read here that we can keep the work permit now even after it's cancelled but there is probably a cancellation letter from the work permit office? The employer doesn't need the work permit to cancel it, I believe.

[ubonjoe]

A receipt for the work permit cancellation is given. The old work permit will be returned when it is cancelled.

I think the work permit office will want the old one so they can stamp it as cancelled. Not clear in the instructions where it states "1.2 Work Permit (if any)" in the work permit cancellation form package here. http://wp.doe.go.th/wp/images/form/form_Return.pdf