Prev Page 3 of 3 1 2 3 Please log in to reply 67 replies to this topic

[lopburi3]

1.  There is no such thing as a 10 day extension - 7 days for packout is the most you can get if not an authorized reason for extension.

2.  Conversion is just that - for conversion.  You can not obtain another 90 day visa entry from immigration (unless from a new entry/application) - this is designed to be a start of one year retirement extensions of stay (which are not visas if that may be what you are thinking).  You can continue to obtain new one year extensions of stay without leaving.

[ermooney]

Thanks for your input, lopburi3.  I was misinformed about the possibility of a ten-day extension.  From what you say, if I am not able to return to Thailand in time to extend my 90-day "O" visa, I assume that it will expire but that I will be able to submit a new application and obtain a new non-immigrant "O" visa, either from the Thai Embassy in Tokyo or by applying for a new conversion from  a thirty-day entry stamp the next time I enter the country.  My university in Tokyo has asked me to come back in April for one last year but I am hanging it up for good on April 1, 2013 after which I hope to spend a lot of time in Thailand.  I hope that Thai immigration does not take a dim view of repeated requests for non-immigrant "O" visas for retirement.

I noticed that the OP, daxbr, reported getting a one-year extension just days after getting his non-immigrant "O" visa back in 2008.  His recent post must refer to a more recent experience since he mentions getting a one-year retirement extension sixty days after getting his ninety-day "O" visa.  I would appear that he has done the "O" visa and retirement extension more than once!   I will try to clarify the issue when I visit Cheng Wattana on Feb. 28, but I wonder how it is possible to have 800,000 baht mature in a bank account for three months before applying for the retirement extension?  Should I get the money deposited pronto in order to make the deadline?

[lopburi3]

First application for retirement extension of stay only requires 60 days in bank account.  Three months is required to extend each time after that if continuing from same entry visa.

Quote

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than  
800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months
at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant
should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60
days or

[noodle]

I have a visa exempt 30 day entry stamp, no onward ticket, I'm way past 50yo.
Today I went to Jontiem Immigration and asked for a 90 day non imm O visa with a view to retirement.
Both the girl at the 'reception' desk and the falang adviser said that they could only issue it together with the 12 month extension. That is you complete forms TM87 and TM7 together. They said I should go to Kbank on beach road where they have an arrangement. After opening a bank ac and depositing the 800k and getting a note from the bank manager that says that the money is there I should go back with passport copy and letter headed rent receipt. No min seasoning time for deposit, no mention of min days for application before entry stamp expires.

[lopburi3]

There is the normal deposit in account period requirement of 60 days but they can issue the visa portion immediately to allow 90 day stay and then after 60 days do the one year extension of stay.

[consigliere]

Yesterday I went to immigration at Chaengwattana to change my visa exemption status to a non-immigrant O. First, because I was on my last day of the 30 days, I neeeded an extension. They gave me  60 day extension for 1900 baht. Then I went over to C1 and gave my application for the "O" based on marriage to a Thai. I provided all the necessary paperwork, a couple of photos of my wife and kids in front of our house, an an income verification from the US Embassy.

The officer informed me that had I brought a bank book in showing 400K or 40K a month instead of the income verification from the Embassy, I would have received the 1 year extension and not a 90 day extension. Now I need to go back to immigration in two weeks to find out the result of my change of visa - which I'm assuming will be no problem - and then after 60 days apply for the 1 year extension. What struck me as strange was that he said I needed the 400k/40k to get the one year immediately however if I got my 90 days and then applied for the 1 year extension, the income verification from the embassy would suffice. It seems to me that immigration ought to make their rules and regulations uniform but then that would be too easy and after all, This is Thailand!

[lopburi3]

I believe there was a misunderstanding as you can never immediately receive a one year extension of stay for Thai wife extension.  It always involves an under review period.  Suspect they were saying that the non immigrant 90 day entry would have been accepted without first obtaining the 60 day extension of stay (and if you had applied with 15 days or more remaining on permitted to stay it would also have been unneeded).  But it does indicate they would accept bank proof on sight and that Embassy letter requires verification (perhaps of signature) taking extra time?  Interesting.

[lopburi3]

One off-topic post removed.

[consigliere]

lopburi3, on 2012-02-25 10:05:46, said:

I believe there was a misunderstanding as you can never immediately receive a one year extension of stay for Thai wife extension.  It always involves an under review period.  Suspect they were saying that the non immigrant 90 day entry would have been accepted without first obtaining the 60 day extension of stay (and if you had applied with 15 days or more remaining on permitted to stay it would also have been unneeded).  But it does indicate they would accept bank proof on sight and that Embassy letter requires verification (perhaps of signature) taking extra time?  Interesting.

First I got the extension. There was a miserable trainee working there and when I asked about the "O" she just said, I don't know, I don't know anything other than extensions, you go to C1." She was one of those "non-smiling Thais."

Then I went to C1 and when I asked why the income verification wasn't acceptable, "Anyone can put anything on this form," he said. Well, I know this but then why does HIS IMMIGRATION department state that it's allowable?!

I can easily provide a bank statement that shows I make enough money but not seasoned. I've got two kids who are in international school, a wife I've been married to for nearly 11 years and have had a marriage visa and non-M in the past. You would think that with the kids in school and the length of time I've been here they would be a little more reasonable but it just seems like they want farang to fly by and drop the bags of cash but not set foot on their land. A bit frustrating at times, for sure, and I may well one day get out of here but for now I will bite my tongue and just say, "Khup, khup." After we got home my wife asked why they were so rude to me and so polite to her. "Why do they have to be like that to you?" were her exact words. If I had the financial means and didn't have two young kids, I would be gone. Where I'm not sure, but it seems that the attitude towards foreigners gets worse and worse.

Edited by consigliere, 2012-02-25 10:24:50.

[Jayman]

Personally I would much rather show a copy of my bank book that has deposits into Thailand for more than 40k a month over going to BKK and paying my Embassy $50 to issue a letter.  It has not been made clear to me that this would be acceptable at Jomtien immigration.  I go back in another week or so to get my 11 month stamp and I will be sure to take my updated bank book with me so I can ask them if I can use that instead of the letter for next years extension.

I also agree, it would be nice if they made things more clear and uniform for us so we could just have 1 set of regs to follow.  I do understand that TIT and they sometimes make it up as they go along.  Also, even if they are wrong they don't like to admit it so rules get changed (informally) just cause they can't remember or don't understand the written rules.  I think we call this "interpretation".

EDIT: How many months of bank deposits (income) do they need to see I wonder?  I'm guessing just bring in your original most recent and updated bank book as well as a copy of all the pages in it?  Does anyone have experience with using this method over the letter or the seasoned deposits?

Edited by Jayman, 2012-02-25 11:32:17.

[ermooney]

I have written a similar post on another board, but this board seems to be more appropriate for my question, so please excuse the redundancy.  Today I received the change of my thirty-day waiver stamp to a non-immigrant "O" visa at Cheng Wattana.  I asked whether I could apply for my one-year retirement extension right away but was told that I must wait for sixty days.  It seems that some people have gotten their ninety-day "O" visas and one-year retirement extensions at the same time.  I must return to Tokyo on March 17th and will find it difficult to get back to Bangkok before the ninety-day "O" visa expires on May 13th.  I wonder if there is any appeal process to request the granting of the one-year extension before the sixty-day waiting period is up.  I meet all of the quaalifications for the retirement extension and would be happy to go back to Cheng Wattana with all of the necessary paperwork if there were a possibility of getting the retirement extension.  Any opinions or advice will be much appreciated.

[Mario2008]

If you have proof of need to travel, sometimes immigration will relent and do the extension early. But that also depends on how far in advance you apply and there is no guarantee. Go back in two weeks time, with ticket and ask nicely.

[noodle]

noodle, on 2012-02-24 16:35:26, said:

I have a visa exempt 30 day entry stamp, no onward ticket, I'm way past 50yo.
Today I went to Jontiem Immigration and asked for a 90 day non imm O visa with a view to retirement.
Both the girl at the 'reception' desk and the falang adviser said that they could only issue it together with the 12 month extension. That is you complete forms TM87 and TM7 together. They said I should go to Kbank on beach road where they have an arrangement. After opening a bank ac and depositing the 800k and getting a note from the bank manager that says that the money is there I should go back with passport copy and letter headed rent receipt. No min seasoning time for deposit, no mention of min days for application before entry stamp expires.

Follow up.
I opened the bank a/c put in the 800k, filled out the forms and photocopies, and returned to Jontiem Immigration.

They refused the 90 day visa (TM87) because the 800k hadn't been in the a/c for 2 months!!

[ermooney]

Mario2008, thanks for your suggestion.  Yesterday I went back to Chaeng Wattana and, after putting their heads together, the two lady officers kindly decided that if I return on the day before my departure on March 17th with a copy of my airline ticket and a letter of explanation concerning why I need to receive my one-year extension early, they will grant it on that day.  I will be sure to obtain a multiple reentry permit at the same time.  It seems as though my problem is solved and since I retire permanently on April 1, 2013, I hope to enjoy many more one-year extensions in the LOS.

[lopburi3]

noodle, on 2012-03-01 10:56:14, said:

noodle, on 2012-02-24 16:35:26, said:

I have a visa exempt 30 day entry stamp, no onward ticket, I'm way past 50yo.
Today I went to Jontiem Immigration and asked for a 90 day non imm O visa with a view to retirement.
Both the girl at the 'reception' desk and the falang adviser said that they could only issue it together with the 12 month extension. That is you complete forms TM87 and TM7 together. They said I should go to Kbank on beach road where they have an arrangement. After opening a bank ac and depositing the 800k and getting a note from the bank manager that says that the money is there I should go back with passport copy and letter headed rent receipt. No min seasoning time for deposit, no mention of min days for application before entry stamp expires.

Follow up.
I opened the bank a/c put in the 800k, filled out the forms and photocopies, and returned to Jontiem Immigration.

They refused the 90 day visa (TM87) because the 800k hadn't been in the a/c for 2 months!!

I sounds like one hand does not know that the other is doing.  They should provide the conversion and then 60 days later allow the extension of stay but if they will only do both at the same time you indeed would not qualify (nor would most applicants).  I would suggest you visit Chiang Watanna and explain why you are making application there (they should allow as they do make the conversion even if you are not living in Bangkok).

[ermooney]

I got the one-year retirement extension and a multiple re-entry permit on March 16th so now I'm good until May 13, 2013.  Does anyone have customs information regarding the shipping of personal effects to Bangkok?  Thanks.

[Mario2008]

See here: http://www.customs.g...ouseholdeffects

Unless you are married to a Thai national, who imports the goods under her name, you do not seem to qualify for duty free import

[TerryLH]

"Also, maybe proof that you're over 50......(?)."

Like what, a passport, perhaps?