ProThaiExpat

Obtained my non-immO visa from tourist visa based on retirement in September 2010 and must now go to get one year extension.

Do I need another pension letter from Consulate, Immigration CM kept original pension letter when I changed from Tourist to non-immO????

Arrived at line along three walls inside waiting room at 8:10 am on Wednesday Dec 15th. Received number 227 from line controller after examining my passport at 8:30.  Lite on desk #2 indicated serving number 201, remained that way without serving anyone until 8:45 at which time it moved to #201 and remained that way until first customer finished at 09:10.  Allowing for 10-15 minutes for each visa extension based on retirement, there was no chance I would be served today so I left.

Passport holder behind me in line had only two days to extend and he was not given preference number.  Guy who was not serviced yesterday was there again and received a new waiting line number, no carry over from the day before.

Front counter desks were very busy but second and third row desks did not have occupants until 9:00 and then when I left at 9:15 two desks in row three were not occupied.

Two months ago when I got my non-immO from tourist visa, I was number 508 at desk number 7, and finished processing by 11:00 am, however, I did have to go back two days later to pick up passport.

I allowed two weeks before my expiration to get my extension, if I was like the guy behind me I would still be camped out at immigration and he had to drive for an hour and a half to get there just behind me. He was obviously pleased with my departure.

Would sure like to hear from someone who got better service this week and that I just had a bad day???

I was just able to transfer my SSA Direct Deposit from an Australian Bank to BKK Bank NY in one day.  SSA Manila can do it for any bank in the world if you live in Thailand with a telephone call and fax of Form 1199 available at your branch of BKK Bank, after your set up your Direct Deposit Account with BKK Bank.

Details are contained in this parallel thread:    "Social Security Benefits - Direct Deposit Or Check?"

As I have posted, the new office and procedures were a bit intimidating to  this "oldie" who remembers the old log books and un-air-conditioned waiting.

Today was my second visit and left within 45 minutes with my non-immO in hand.  Once I learned the new system of digital numbering and call boards, things went much smother.  For those who are similarly challenged, I offer my moments of empowerment.

1.  The machine you get your number from can be read in English by pushing the British Flag, if the immigration officer is not there to help, but when he is away, he turns off the machine so I didn't see any customers use it.

2.  The call boards display the number now being served on top and the last number served below it.  Three numbers for customers on the left, on the right is the counter number.  Today I learned that the call board over the front counter in the middle, really just to the left of the swinging door leading to the desk area displays the number being paged at the moment by flashing.  However, the guy who handed me my passport with my new visa in it and who did all the processing for me on both days, didn't bother with the paging system or the flashing number method I had just learned, but beckoned me over to pick it up.  He ever gave me the next two forms I would need to get my one year extension.

3. I learned on Wednesday that staff are allocated as to the numbers of applicants there are, so visas get the most staff and extensions and visa changes get one or two people.  I waited an hour and a half Wednesday and just 45 minutes today, and they really didn't start processing till shortly before nine.

4. Clearly with 90 day reporting and Residence Certificates being added to the visa office since I was last here, there are many more people to be processed with very little increase in staff that I could see.

5. By having you return, they have eliminated the step where you are sitting in front of the higher ranking officers who must check every detail and check them off before signing. May be different for long term extensions, time will tell.

Having never entered Thailand without a Visa, my question is: regarding the 30 day permission to stay stamp issued to those holders of passports from visa exempt countries, will I be required to have a round trip ticket?

My round trip ticket is BKK to SYD to BKK on Quantas. I am returning to Thailand with years of yearly extensions of Non-O visas in my passport, but my last one has expired so I will be arriving without a current re-entry permit, nor a current extension of my non-immigrant O.

Will I get in without a ticket showing a departure???

Would any documents showing I retired in Thailand 10 years ago help? Are they needed.

Sure would appreciate information from someone who has done this recently. I have read the regulations but they are couched in terms of Tourists and not those returning to Thailand from an overseas trip. Most suggest a departure ticket is needed!!!  Many thanks for your help.