Confined to Hospital - Change from B to Retirement.

[Evilbaz]

My friend has fallen through a roof and requires plates and screws in his heel bone and ankle joint - he's being operated on tonight.
His B visa is about to expire in a couple of days and he now wants to change to a Retirement extension as he won't be able to work for a year or more.
He can meet the requirements except for seasoning.
How does he change from B to R if he can't attend the immigration dept. in Phuket?
He'll be convalescent on bed rest for a few weeks after he gets home.
I'm not sure the "visa assist officer" at Phuket International hospital can do this?

Any suggestions welcomed.

[ubonjoe]

He could get an extension for medical treatment. He would need documents from the hospital and doctor stating he cannot travel.

Then sort out the the extension or go out for a single entry non-o visa that he could use to apply for an extension based upon retirement..

[Evilbaz]

Thanks Ubonjoe.

Just to clarify:

- someone else can go to Phuket Immi for him and with a medical letter he can get a 30 day extension.?

- can he convert from B to retirement extension then at Phuket Immi without leaving the country? (even though his B visa has expired?)

(I can teach him to go up the Phuket Immi stairs on his bum, just to emphasize their lack of access).

[ubonjoe]

Extensions for medical treatment can be done for up to 90 days. Some offices will not do it for the full 90 days but will do another one if the supporting documents still state he cannot travel. Many hospitals have staff that can handle getting the extension for him. If not he can desi gnate somebody to do it for him.

The medical extension would be an extension of his current extended non immigrant visa entry If Phuket immigration is cooperative he could apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement when the extension for medical treatment ends if he has financial proof to get it.

[Eclipse]

The hospital should be able to sort out medical extensions on his behalf.

Better to worry about the rest when he is well enough.