Renewal of retirement visa - can I do this in the UK?

[stooshie]

My retirement visa is due for renewal on September 1st. My annual summer trip to the UK had me on a return flight to arrive back in Thailand on the 17th July. A minor crisis occurred and I have had to delay my return until 8th September.

This will mean that I will have to go through the process of re-applying for a new retirement visa from scratch.

When I first obtained my retirement visa in the UK 10 or more years ago, I had to jump through many hoops - police background check taking 40 days, letter from my doctor saying that I had no prohibited diseases etc. I have been told that it is much more straightforward at the Thai immigration office.

Is there any way that I can renew my visa online or through a local Thai consulate in the UK, or obtain an extension on my renewal date? I really would prefer a straightforward renewal than making a new application.

Thanks for any help/advice.

[Maestro]

You can get a new visa from a Thai embassy or consulate, but not an extension of stay.

[Jip99]

No.

No, if you are referring to an extension of stay (which I think you are).

You can get a single entry visa in the UK and then apply for a 12m extension when you get back - usually in the last 30 days of your 90 days stamp.

[steve187]

start from scratch with a non imm 'o' visa obtained from a Thai consulate or embassy

[NancyL]

In many provinces you can apply for your 12 month retirement extension up to 45 days before the expiration of your previous one. You certainly can in Chiang Mai. So, it might be a good idea to go to your local immigration office next week, take evidence of your flights to and from the U.K. to explain how you'll be absent from the country on Sept 1st. and ask if you can apply for your retirement extension early. They might let you do so.

[Jip99]

In many provinces you can apply for your 12 month retirement extension up to 45 days before the expiration of your previous one. You certainly can in Chiang Mai. So, it might be a good idea to go to your local immigration office next week, take evidence of your flights to and from the U.K. to explain how you'll be absent from the country on Sept 1st. and ask if you can apply for your retirement extension early. They might let you do so.

I think you will find that the OP is in the UK.

[OJAS]

If the OP is in receipt of the UK State Pension he can apply for a single-entry non-O at the London Embassy on this basis - http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/49. He can then apply for an annual extension of stay in the normal way at his local immigration office within 30 days (or 45 days at certain offices) of the permission to stay granted under this visa expiring.

He can then avoid all the hoops he had to go through when obtaining his original (presumably non-OA) visa 10+ years ago.

[hobobo]

In many provinces you can apply for your 12 month retirement extension up to 45 days before the expiration of your previous one. You certainly can in Chiang Mai. So, it might be a good idea to go to your local immigration office next week, take evidence of your flights to and from the U.K. to explain how you'll be absent from the country on Sept 1st. and ask if you can apply for your retirement extension early. They might let you do so.

He's in the UK until 8 September!!

[CG705]

I think you will find it much easier to apply for a new retirement visa once you get back to Thailand. Just come in on the 30 day stamp but start the process immediately. If you are in Pattaya I can recommend the visa service in the Queen Vic in Soi 6.

[Jip99]

OP gone walkabout ? ?

[OJAS]

I think you will find it much easier to apply for a new retirement visa once you get back to Thailand. Just come in on the 30 day stamp but start the process immediately. If you are in Pattaya I can recommend the visa service in the Queen Vic in Soi 6.

But if relying on a 30-day stamp on arrival he would then run the risk of being denied boarding his return flight unless he can provide evidence of a confirmed onward flight booking out of Thailand within these 30 days at check-in.

To avoid this possibility arising he needs to obtain some sort of visa while in the UK - if not a non-O then a tourist one.

[novo58]

again with this ...." refuse boarding " crap .

Show the check in staff your previous permission to stay and advise them that it has expired due to an unforseen delay in your returning to Thailand. TELL them that you will obtain a NEW permission to stay upon your return to Thailand.

I can understand all this talk about " refuse boarding " IF the traveller is going to a country with strict immigration rules such as USA , Australia etc. But Thailand offers visa exempt entry so NO AIRLINE should refuse boarding to this destination. It should not be an issue for the airline, they DO NOT make or enforce Thailand's immigration laws.

How many people that you know have EVER been refused entry to Thailand?

Of course ....if his current permission to stay has expired he SHOULD get a new visa ( non imm "o" to help later application for new permission to stay based on retirement) whilst still in UK but he doesnt have to.

[CG705]

I think you will find it much easier to apply for a new retirement visa once you get back to Thailand. Just come in on the 30 day stamp but start the process immediately. If you are in Pattaya I can recommend the visa service in the Queen Vic in Soi 6.

But if relying on a 30-day stamp on arrival he would then run the risk of being denied boarding his return flight unless he can provide evidence of a confirmed onward flight booking out of Thailand within these 30 days at check-in.

To avoid this possibility arising he needs to obtain some sort of visa while in the UK - if not a non-O then a tourist one.

That is how I got mine. (No return ticket at check-in)

[keithathome]

Easier to get a non imm O in the UK on the grounds of retirement, then apply for permission to stay on the grounds of retirement when here. No need to have health check, police check etc.

[wpcoe]

again with this ...." refuse boarding " crap .

Show the check in staff your previous permission to stay and advise them that it has expired due to an unforseen delay in your returning to Thailand. TELL them that you will obtain a NEW permission to stay upon your return to Thailand.

I can understand all this talk about " refuse boarding " IF the traveller is going to a country with strict immigration rules such as USA , Australia etc. But Thailand offers visa exempt entry so NO AIRLINE should refuse boarding to this destination. It should not be an issue for the airline, they DO NOT make or enforce Thailand's immigration laws.

How many people that you know have EVER been refused entry to Thailand?

Of course ....if his current permission to stay has expired he SHOULD get a new visa ( non imm "o" to help later application for new permission to stay based on retirement) whilst still in UK but he doesnt have to.

The requirement for an onward ticket within 30 days is a Thai Immigrations requirement. Should the airline accept a passenger without such a ticket, if Immigrations checks upon arrival the airline can be (and have been in the past) fined for the violation and are responsible for detaining such passenger and returning them to their point of origin.

Granted, it's not common these days for Immigrations to check for the onward ticket (or the cash requirement -- B20,000 I believe?) but in these wondrous days it wouldn't be so surprising for them to begin checking again.