I'm asking about this for one of my friends. He is not long divorced, still lives in the same house as his wife.

He went to an Immigration office, not the one for his province, this one is much nearer his home, and told them

he is now divorced, and wants to apply for the retirement extensions.

His marriage extensions are still ongoing, and he was told to wait until they finished, then go to the IO for where he lives.

That is his intention, but he is worried that he will be on overstay when he goes to his IO to apply for the retirement extensions.

As each IO make up their own rules, will he have anything to worry about?

He could probably get away with changing to a retirement extension when his extension is due if not a word was said about getting a divorce. Some offices want approval from the wife to do the change.

With a bit of planning he could of changed to retirement as soon as his divorce was finalized. Divorces are not something that are done fast.

• The extension of stay based on marriage become invalid the day his divorce was finalised. So technically he is here without permission (overstay).
• He can only apply at the office that cover the address he gives on the application which is probably why they fobbed him off.
• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

p.s. He would have no problem leaving the country as Immigration would have no knowledge of the divorce. If he wants to get legal he could go to Vientiane and get a non 'O' based on retirement, get a 90 day stay on re-entery and apply for the extension of stay within the last 30 days.

Edited March 21, 201610 yr by elviajero

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

I agree.

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

The divorce is only recent, he went to the IO nearer his home, just to ask about changing, and they got on the phone, he assumes they were talking to the IO that handled

his marriage extensions application, then they told him to wait until they were finished, then go and apply for the retirement extensions.

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

The divorce is only recent, he went to the IO nearer his home, just to ask about changing, and they got on the phone, he assumes they were talking to the IO that handled

his marriage extensions application, then they told him to wait until they were finished, then go and apply for the retirement extensions.

He should of went to his assigned office with the divorce papers and applied for the retirement extension by showing the required financial proof needed instead of only asking or gone before the divorce and asked.

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

The divorce is only recent, he went to the IO nearer his home, just to ask about changing, and they got on the phone, he assumes they were talking to the IO that handled

his marriage extensions application, then they told him to wait until they were finished, then go and apply for the retirement extensions.

As said, although the extension of stay is invalid Immigration have no way of knowing about the divorce unless he (or someone else) tells them. So there shouldn't be a problem doing what has been advised by Immigration, but he needs to be aware that he is technically on overstay.

The office nearer his home should be the office he uses for all extensions.

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

The divorce is only recent, he went to the IO nearer his home, just to ask about changing, and they got on the phone, he assumes they were talking to the IO that handled

his marriage extensions application, then they told him to wait until they were finished, then go and apply for the retirement extensions.

As said, although the extension of stay is invalid Immigration have no way of knowing about the divorce unless he (or someone else) tells them. So there shouldn't be a problem doing what has been advised by Immigration, but he needs to be aware that he is technically on overstay.

The office nearer his home should be the office he uses for all extensions.

The office nearer his home should be the office he uses for all extensions.

No, the same as me, Nakhon Sawan IO is about 60Ks from his home but in a different province, Phitsanulok IO, is about 90 Ks, but he must use that one. TiT.

I tried to use Nakhon Sawan IO one time, and they told me I must go to Phitsanulok IO.

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

The divorce is only recent, he went to the IO nearer his home, just to ask about changing, and they got on the phone, he assumes they were talking to the IO that handled

his marriage extensions application, then they told him to wait until they were finished, then go and apply for the retirement extensions.

As said, although the extension of stay is invalid Immigration have no way of knowing about the divorce unless he (or someone else) tells them. So there shouldn't be a problem doing what has been advised by Immigration, but he needs to be aware that he is technically on overstay.

The office nearer his home should be the office he uses for all extensions.

Unfortunately by remaining on "overstay" the OP runs a considerable risk.

It is not inconceivable that detail of the divorce will emerge. For example an IO may require the wife to affirm she is agreeable to the change to a retirement extension.

As we all know the "overstay" rules are now much tougher.

• If he goes to the correct office with proof of the divorce they should process a new extension of stay based on retirement as long as long as he can meet the requirements. Although he might be on dodgy ground if the divorce wasn't recent.

He would certainly have problems if he did that now. Chances are they would fine him for every day from the date of divorce to the day he goes to immigration.

The divorce is only recent, he went to the IO nearer his home, just to ask about changing, and they got on the phone, he assumes they were talking to the IO that handled

his marriage extensions application, then they told him to wait until they were finished, then go and apply for the retirement extensions.

He should of went to his assigned office with the divorce papers and applied for the retirement extension by showing the required financial proof needed instead of only asking or gone before the divorce and asked.

I know Joe, but I'm not sure if he said he is actually divorced, although I know he is.

The office nearer his home should be the office he uses for all extensions.

No, the same as me, Nakhon Sawan IO is about 60Ks from his home but in a different province, Phitsanulok IO, is about 90 Ks, but he must use that one. TiT.

I tried to use Nakhon Sawan IO one time, and they told me I must go to Phitsanulok IO.

Ok, fair enough.

The office nearer his home should be the office he uses for all extensions.

No, the same as me, Nakhon Sawan IO is about 60Ks from his home but in a different province, Phitsanulok IO, is about 90 Ks, but he must use that one. TiT.

I tried to use Nakhon Sawan IO one time, and they told me I must go to Phitsanulok IO.

Ok, fair enough.

Immigration offices are assigned by province not being nearer. There are places where the closest office is not the correct office.

Even here in Ubon some people live closer to the offices in Amnat Charon or Sisaket but have to go the one here in Sirindhorn.

Sunny Jim. Yes your right, but the IO in NS seems to have been in touch with Phitsanulok, so we will just have to wait and see.