Hi,

I've been in Thailand since 2009 on a marriage extension (UK/Thai wife), always extended on schedule each year and would like to continue this but now my work is rotation overseas and it looks likely I cannot fit the time off dates to match the usual visit to immigration (CW) to apply then get approved/pick up extension 4/5 weeks later.

I understand if doing the retirement extension I can just go along myself without wife, apply and get the extension all in one day? Is this a viable alternative and method to continue my Non Imm status stay in Thailand as it only needs one immigration trip and what time window should I apply if say my current wife extension ran out 2-Dec? How many weeks can I apply before, sometimes my work schedule might be 7-8 weeks out of country so I might not be in Thailand up to 8 weeks prior my wife extension expiry in worse case scenario.

Appreciate any help thanks.

• Either extension of stay can be applied for within the last 30 (maybe 45) days.

You can change to retirement as the reason for the extension, however, a few offices also put retirement extensions under 30 day consideration so you should check the procedure for your office. Also, as you're changing from marriage they might want your wife to be with you when you make the change.

Not sure if it helps with your work schedule, but you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife instead of the 1 year and then apply for the 1 year extension towards the end of the 60 days.

I have been permanently in Thailand since 2006 on an extension based on marriage. Last month I decided to renew extension based on retirement. Went along on my own to imm. with p/p photos, bank letter and bank book copies, utility bill in my name and copy of house book. Took about 10 minutes, Much easier than marriage ext. Drawbacks seem to be you need to have Bt800K in bank instead of Bt400K and I understand difficulties could arise if you wished to work in Thailand.

• Not sure if it helps with your work schedule, but you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife instead of the 1 year and then apply for the 1 year extension towards the end of the 60 days.

This would be very helpful if we can do it? Can anyone tell me if the 60 day extension to visit wife could be applied and got up to 2 months before I needed it and run on after the immigration 1 yr extension expires should I be out of country during that period?

I have been permanently in Thailand since 2006 on an extension based on marriage. Last month I decided to renew extension based on retirement. Went along on my own to imm. with p/p photos, bank letter and bank book copies, utility bill in my name and copy of house book. Took about 10 minutes, Much easier than marriage ext. Drawbacks seem to be you need to have Bt800K in bank instead of Bt400K and I understand difficulties could arise if you wished to work in Thailand.

Hi thanks for that. Did you do this at Chaeng Wattana CW in Bangkok by chance? Sounds so easy - but I guess not as my experience of CW has never involved just 10 minutes;-).

• Not sure if it helps with your work schedule, but you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife instead of the 1 year and then apply for the 1 year extension towards the end of the 60 days.

This would be very helpful if we can do it? Can anyone tell me if the 60 day extension to visit wife could be applied and got up to 2 months before I needed it and run on after the immigration 1 yr extension expires should I be out of country during that period?

• Yes, the 60 day extension will start when your existing 1 year extensions ends regardless of how early you apply.
• Probably the earliest you'll be able to apply is 45 days.

• Not sure if it helps with your work schedule, but you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife instead of the 1 year and then apply for the 1 year extension towards the end of the 60 days.

This would be very helpful if we can do it? Can anyone tell me if the 60 day extension to visit wife could be applied and got up to 2 months before I needed it and run on after the immigration 1 yr extension expires should I be out of country during that period?

• Yes, the 60 day extension will start when your existing 1 year extensions ends regardless of how early you apply.
• Probably the earliest you'll be able to apply is 45 days.

Very helpful info thnx. So with 45 days upfront limit I should be able to swing it one way or another with the extension.

Hi thanks for that. Did you do this at Chaeng Wattana CW in Bangkok by chance? Sounds so easy - but I guess not as my experience of CW has never involved just 10 minutes;-).

No, it was in Sisaket, but you should find the process easier and quicker anywhere.

• Not sure if it helps with your work schedule, but you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your wife instead of the 1 year and then apply for the 1 year extension towards the end of the 60 days.

This would be very helpful if we can do it? Can anyone tell me if the 60 day extension to visit wife could be applied and got up to 2 months before I needed it and run on after the immigration 1 yr extension expires should I be out of country during that period?

• Yes, the 60 day extension will start when your existing 1 year extensions ends regardless of how early you apply.
• Probably the earliest you'll be able to apply is 45 days.

Very helpful info thnx. So with 45 days upfront limit I should be able to swing it one way or another with the extension.

But you should know that the 60 day extension cannot be repeated. So if you get a 60 day extension this year to move your permission to stay date to a time that suits your work schedule, then you won't be able to do the same next year.

Sophon

But you should know that the 60 day extension cannot be repeated. So if you get a 60 day extension this year to move your permission to stay date to a time that suits your work schedule, then you won't be able to do the same next year.

Sophon

Thanks - good to know. It seems like the one trip (if they allow) only Non Imm retirement extension method maybe better way over a few years? Can this be applied for and got in one day up to 30 days or better still 45 days before expiry of current extension at Chaeng Wattana Immigration perhaps?

But you should know that the 60 day extension cannot be repeated. So if you get a 60 day extension this year to move your permission to stay date to a time that suits your work schedule, then you won't be able to do the same next year.

Sophon

Thanks - good to know. It seems like the one trip (if they allow) only Non Imm retirement extension method maybe better way over a few years? Can this be applied for and got in one day up to 30 days or better still 45 days before expiry of current extension at Chaeng Wattana Immigration perhaps?

You can apply for the extension 45 day early at CW immigration. The extension will be approved while you wait.

Yes you can, as last year I changed my extension from based on marriage to retirement with no hassle, all you need is the 800,00 or income verification from your Embassy, maybe proof of residence, photos etc.

One other thing, when you switch, it becomes valid the day that you changed it, As my extension based on Marriage was suppose to expire December 12, 2015, but I did the change to retirement on November 12, 2015 and it's up for renewal on November 11th, 2016, so I lost a month.

it is easy that way but remember you can`t go back to marriage visa again

it is easy that way but remember you can`t go back to marriage visa again

Yes you can and it's not a visa.

You can apply for an extension of stay for any reason you qualify for.

Yes , changed my 1st request from ext. on base marriage to retirement.

the officers appreciated that very much as it is less work for them,

it is also less paper work for you, and the ext. on retirement is done quicker(within the hour) in one visit to the office.

On 7/2/2016 at 7:41 PM, elviajero said:

Yes you can and it's not a visa.

You can apply for an extension of stay for any reason you qualify for.

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but in addition to all the useful answers previous can someone please advise if above statement is correct and if I can change from Non Imm O marriage extension to retirement extension then back to marriage extension on a later year? I need to do this at CW immigration. Will wife be needed at all times inc times I change from marriage to retirement? Just trying to schedule things with wife, kids and work commitments overseas.

16 minutes ago, WorriedNoodle said:

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but in addition to all the useful answers previous can someone please advise if above statement is correct and if I can change from Non Imm O marriage extension to retirement extension then back to marriage extension on a later year? I need to do this at CW immigration. Will wife be needed at all times inc times I change from marriage to retirement? Just trying to schedule things with wife, kids and work commitments overseas.

You can change the reason for a an extension of stay from marriage to retirement and vice versa at you local immigration office it does not have to be done at CW. You can only do the change when your current extension is ending unless you get divorced.