Greetings, I currently have a non-immigrant B visa with a work permit, and I am planning on retiring in Thailand (age 53). Proof of funds is not a problem as I have been living, working, and saving in Thailand for 15 years.  Here are some possible procedures I have seen searching through the Internet.

 

1. Go to CW immigration office in Bangkok and switch B visa to O visa, then apply for retirement extension the same day, so first scenario will provide 15 months. Note: this process is outlined as a possibility on some visa assistance websites.

 

2. Same scenario as above except take a visa run to Poipet, Cambodia to get tourist visa first, then go to CW in Bangkok to apply for a switch to type O the next day, then apply for retirement extension the same day (15 months possible).

 

Note: I know of a colleague who retired last year who paid 26K baht to a Thai visa service company to do #1 - he accomplished everything in one day.

 

Questions:

 

1. Are the above scenarios possible if you are a free agent?

2. If not, what is the quickest and least expensive process to move forward from a non-immigrant B visa to retirement extension status?

 

Cheers...

 

 

Quote

Note: I know of a colleague who retired last year who paid 26K baht to a Thai visa service company to do #1 - he accomplished everything in one day

 

I also have friend who did this using a well known legal firm, who charged 42,000 baht.

His extension of stay was dated one day after the Non Imm O date.

 

He then returned to his permanent address in a different Province where the Immigration refused to do his 90 day reports.

They could clearly see the 'extension' had been issued without the required rule of the funds being seasoned for two months prior to the extension.

 

The correct method is to apply for the Non Imm O conversion, then within the last 30 days of that Visa, return and apply for the 'extension'.

 

Edited October 25, 20169 yr by Faz

1. You cannot change from a non-b visa to a non-o visa. If you had a valid multiple entry non-b visa you could apply for an extension based upon retirement during the last 30 days of a 90 day entry form it.

But I think you actually have an extension of stay based upon working you obtained at immigration. You can change the reason for your extension to one based upon retirement.

You would need a letter from your employer stating the last day you will be working for them to have your current extension cancelled so that you could then apply for an extension based upon retirement.

2. Not needed if you do number one.

No need for an agent.

This comment is coming from someone who was unsuccessful in doing a one-day conversion from an Extension of Stay (Non-immigrant "B" Visa" in 2010. I was unsuccessful because my employer was disorganized and did not provide the required co-operation within the required deadline. I concur with paragraphs 2 and 3 of Ubonjoe's comment in Post 3 above.

To the OP: My fallback position was essentially the same as your #2.

                     Regarding the funds you have saved- I was required to provide documentation, to show where the funds had come from.  I gave Bangkok Immigration copies of my income tax returns for the previous 5 years. This was enough to satisfy them that I could have saved the B 800,000 from my employment in Thailand.

Edited October 25, 20169 yr by allane
I did it all myself. You don't need an agent.