Annual Extension for Retirement at Chaeng Wattana - No Surprises

[mojaco]

Extension for Retirement at Chaeng Wattana, Bangkok, Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

This was a renewal of our extensions (not our first extension), husband and wife both USA citizens, husband as the "retiree" and wife as the "dependent". Income affidavit from the USA embassy was used. The husband had a new passport and information from the old passport to the new one had to be transferred also. We had prepared all of the usual forms, photos and copies before going to Immigration. We took backup information for address, map, and income but it was not asked for.

We arrived at CW by taxi 45 minutes before they opened, and about 50-60 were in line already. Everyone was sitting in the seating area inside the building and had put a personal article to denote their place in line. When the doors opened there were about 200 waiting.

We got queue numbers at the "Queue Desk" for extensions (the transfer was included) of L-13 and L-14. We waited about 50 minutes before our numbers were called. Only the standard paperwork was required. Photos taken, 1,900 Baht each paid and receipts obtained. Seated again outside the officer's cubicle about 15 minutes or so and called back to another reviewing officer and our extensions were done. Finished about 10 AM.

Went downstairs for copies for re-entry permits. Back to the Queue Desk for queue numbers for re-entry. And were done with the re-entry process at 10:30 AM. Cost 3,800 Baht each for multiple re-entry permits. Took a taxi from the taxi queue outside back to the city center area.

Officers friendly, professional, and it seemed that all the foreigners were dressed pretty conservatively. It was one of our quicker experiences, perhaps because we were so early. It was nice that there were no "surprises".

Edited January 20, 2016 by mojaco

[DogNo1]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to do my extension soon and it's nice to know the process and requirements have not changed.

[TKDfella]

My extension is due in April so things could change I suppose but at least Mojaco confirms the present requirements are the same as last year. Thank you for the info.

[razer]

Good news

[Coota]

I'm jealous, it's a nightmare at Kap Choeng in Surin. Under consideration stamp for 30 days, home visits...............

[mydee]

Thank you Mojaco

That is a really helpful post. We may be doing our first extension this year and it is nice to no that we will be dealing with professional government officials. Some of the posts here had me fearing the worst.

[oobar]

My wife and I are both Americans and follow exactly the same procedure as you at CW for our retirement extension, which is coming up again in a couple of weeks. You said you had everything ready in advance. Did that also include the form for the "dependent?" In the past, we have been given this form only after arriving at CW and presenting everything else, then had to exit the booth to fill it out and wait (not so long) to return. If you had it in advance, where did you get it? (They wouldn't let us take a blank one for next time.) Is it available on line?

Ubonjoe, do you know?

[ubonjoe]

Not sure what form you are asking about (dependent?).. Many immigration offices have there own forms.

The only form other than the TM7 that can be downloaded is this one. acknow_con2stay.pdf which is the newest one and my immigration office had me sign the old version which is here on immigration website. http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/pdf/form_acknow_con2stay.pdf

[mojaco]

My wife and I are both Americans and follow exactly the same procedure as you at CW for our retirement extension, which is coming up again in a couple of weeks. You said you had everything ready in advance. Did that also include the form for the "dependent?" In the past, we have been given this form only after arriving at CW and presenting everything else, then had to exit the booth to fill it out and wait (not so long) to return. If you had it in advance, where did you get it? (They wouldn't let us take a blank one for next time.) Is it available on line?

Ubonjoe, do you know?

Both I, as the husband "retiree", and my wife, as the "dependent" used the same downloaded form TM7 which we had filled out in advance of going to Immigration. On mine, as the "retiree" I put for the line "Reason(s) for extension" the sentence "To retire in Thailand". For my wife's as the "dependent" she put the reason as "To stay with husband". No special form was required. She probably should have put more fully for the reason "To stay with husband as his dependent" but no question was asked.

While at the officer's desk she gave us that form " acknow_con2stay.pdf" Ubonjoe gave the link for (the newest version) and had me fill mine out and just had my wife simply sign her copy without filling it out. There was another form she gave us to sign about the new overstay regulations. We did all of that at her desk.

As a side note, we went to Chaeng Wattana Immigration 44 days before our previous extension was up (43 days if the end date isn't counted). They allow up to 45 days there.

Edited January 22, 2016 by mojaco