Hello,
I am holding a U.S. passport. My (first-time) O-A retirement visa permits stay until July 2. I last arrived in Thailand on Dec. 18. I plan to apply for a 1-year extension and a multiple-entry permit at Chaeng Wattana. I found info in bits and pieces on this forum, and would appreciate if you could let me know if I put it all together correctly:
I do 90-day reporting on March 18.
At least 2 months before my visa stay expires – by May 2 – I transfer 800,000 baht into my Thai bank account.
No more than 45 days before my current stay expires – starting in mid-May – I go to CW with:
For the extension:
TM.7
1 4X6cm photo
1,900 b application fee
Passport and photocopies of main ID page, O-A visa page, last stamp into Thailand, departure card.
Photocopy of bank ID page and pages showing 800,000 b
Letter from the bank certifying my account and balance
For the re-entry permit:
TM.8
1 2” photo
Photocopy passport main ID page, O-A visa page, last stamp into Thailand.
3,800 b application fee

Is it a requirement that I get the bank letter the day before I go to CW, or can it be some days before that? The bank (mine is Bangkok Bank) normally gives you the letter on the spot, right away? Is there a template for what the letter should say?

Will I be able to get my extension and the multiple entry permit right after that, on the same day?

After I receive the extension, am I free to spend down the 800,000 baht, at least until the following year’s extension?

Thank you.

If you just entered the country on December 18th of 2015 and got a got a new one year entry you will not need to worry about an extension of stay (visas are not extended) until near the end of that entry.

You can do do a border hop for another entry prior to May 2nd if that is the enter before date on your visa and get another one year year entry. After that you would need to get a re-entry permit to keep that entry valid.

And when ready to extend the money needs to be in account the required time at date of application of extension. There is a large branch of Bangkok Bank one floor below Chiang Watanna immigration where bank letter can be obtained on day of extension.

By my reckoning you are good to stay until December 2016.

You can probably get another 12 months by doing a border run before July 2nd 2016 or maybe May 2nd.

Check your dates again as your post is all rather confusing.

Edited January 19, 201610 yr by Eclipse

a. Based upon the OP, it would appear the enter before date on your first time visa is 2 July 2016.

b. You entered the country on 18 December 2015. Check the immigration stamp in your passport - it should say that you are permitted to stay until 17 December 2016 (you get a one year permission to stay upon entry.) If so, you do not need to apply for an extension until then.

c. Further, if you leave and re-enter Thailand again just before 2 July 2016....you'll be stamped back in for another year. So then your permission to stay would be good until July 2017.

d. If you decide to leave and re-enter Thailand to obtain that extra year until July 2017, you'll need to get (only) a re-entry permit for the period 3 July 2016 - 2 July 2017.

The 'enter before' date printed on your visa (July 2nd) is the last date you can enter the country using the visa and not the last day you can stay. Your current permission to stay is until the 'admitted until' date (Dec 17th) stamped in your passport. With an 'O-A' visa you are always granted a 1 year stay even if arriving on the 'enter before' date.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

Actually, the "enter before" date of the visa is Nov. 11, 2015. The last time I entered Thailand before the "enter before" date was July 3, 2015, so I was stamped to stay until July 2, 2016. So I would need to get the 1-year extension of stay before July 2, correct?

I traveled abroad a couple of times after the "enter before" date. I had mentioned Dec 18, 2015 as the date of my last arrival because that starts the clock ticking on the 90-day reporting requirement.

I apologize for my confusingly written original post.

If you could let me know whether my procedure/document list is complete and on my other questions, I'd appreciate it.

CW wants the letter from the bank to be no older than the day before the date you apply and the bank book updated on that date. There is a Bangkok Bank branch on the ground floor at CW. You could get the letter and bank book update and copies there just before you apply for your extension of stay.

You will need make a copy of your extension stamp before applying for the re-entry permit. As soon as you have your extension done you could get a number for the re-entry permit and go downstairs to get a copy done.

OK if you used a re-entry permit for the Dec 18 return you should have received the same July 2 permitted to stay date and will need to extend during the period up to 45 days before that date.

maybe it would make sense to get to CW early, cue up, go in get your number, THEN, go to the BKK branch and get the book updated(which i think you can also do at some ATMs), and the letter, while your waiting for your number to be called ?

The bank (mine is Bangkok Bank) normally gives you the letter on the spot, right away? Is there a template for what the letter should say?

Will I be able to get my extension and the multiple entry permit right after that, on the same day?

After I receive the extension, am I free to spend down the 800,000 baht, at least until the following year’s extension?

Yes, the BKK Bank branch one level down from Immigration at CW will issue the letter on demand.

No, you don't need to worry about the form of the letter. They have their own format, and know what to do for Immigration.

Yes, as long as you start in the morning, you should be able to finish everything in the same day.

And yes, after you've received your extension of stay, you can do as you wish with the bank funds, until 3 months prior to your next extension application.

And follow Joe's advice in post #8 above. Update your bank passbook first, then get a copy of the updated info.