Guest buckeroo2 Posted December 13, 2007 Posted December 13, 2007 Today I went to Pattaya Immigration to get my retirement visa. I entered Thailand this past week-end with only a 30 day visa but I had no trouble getting a retirement visa after applying for a Non- Immigration "O" visa and retirement visa together - 3900 baht total. Now some of the particulars - they accepted my 1 yr old US Embassy notarized income letter but they kept it. I asked if I could have the original back and they replied in the negative and told me they now need the original on file with the appication and also an original would be needed for the annual renewal. They said this was a new regulation and that I could get more originals at the same time from the US Embassy if I did not want to go there every year- I would just have to pay for them individually. Also, after waiting an hour for my # to be called, the lady immigratiom officer told me that I was dressed inappropriately and that I would need to go home and put on a proper shirt before she would serve me. I politely asked for some clarification and she told me I needed to respect their office by wearing a shirt with sleeves. I was wearing a Claiborne sleeveless silk shirt and linen trousers. I asked about others there in tank tops/singlets and muscle shirts and she told me that no one dressed in such a manner would be served at her counter. As I understand, the bank paperwork has to be dated on the same day as I submit my application and it was already mid -afternoon, so I walked down the street to a 711 and bought a 79 baht white T-shirt and put it on over my silk shirt. The immigration lady saw me re-enter and motioned for me to come to her desk and she thanked me for changing my shirt. She was very nice after that point and she reminded me that when I pick up my retirement visa tomorrow I need to mind the dress code again. There were also farang woman there with sleeveless blouses and even tube and halter tops - maybe it is just the guys who need to have sleeves on their shirts. One thing I cannot explain is that they told me they were giving me a retirement visa that would not need to be renewed until March 2009 - 15 months from this month. I tried to get an explanation but this was at another desk and this lady immigration officer could not explain the reason and told me that they are giving me 3 extra months and I should be appreciative - I was worried that I would have to be here in March to renew. but I was told I could renew anytime before that if I was leaving Thailand and would not be here in March. - That is my update :-) Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 13, 2007 Posted December 13, 2007 Thank you for your post. The way I see it, if they are giving you 15 months instead of 12, the last thing I would do would be to question it. While it is best to get the bank passbook update and letter from the bank on the same day you apply, that's not a requirement. They'll accept it as long as it's not more than a few days old. Your story about the dress code enforcement shows that it's hard to know what is a matter of policy or a matter of personal whim of the officer who happens to be on duty when you are there. I've seen plenty of people show up at the immigration office dressed in all kinds of bizarre outfits, but yours is the first time I've heard of anyone actually being refused service. Next time wear a tuxedo. I'm also wondering about the officer's suggestion about getting multiple proof-of-income statements from the embassy. That's a new one. Would the embassy even cooperate with something like that? Today, the US embassy is having an outreach session at the Amari Dusit. I'm not going, but if anyone who happens to read this message in time and is also planning to go, maybe you could ask them if they can do multiple proof-of-income statements and then let us know what they say. Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 I also received a 15 month retirement visa in September, good through December of 2008. The reason for this is that I started with a 60 day visitors visa (like you with 30). They give you 90 days on the non-immigrant visa, and then one year from that visa on your retirement visa. Gives you three extra months. Quote
Guest buckeroo2 Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 I also received a 15 month retirement visa in September, good through December of 2008. The reason for this is that I started with a 60 day visitors visa (like you with 30). They give you 90 days on the non-immigrant visa, and then one year from that visa on your retirement visa. Gives you three extra months. Thanks for that explanation of the 15 month expiration. I wish they had done that last year. I actually got a retiemnet visa last November - and it was good for one yr. But I decided that November did not work for me and so I began my winter here this yr in December. If they had given me 15 months last yr I would not have to reapply for a new retirement visa - the one from last November would still be in effect. Also, I forgot to add that they did require a front and back copy of my ATM card linked to my Thai bank account. They said this was also a new rule. Quote
Guest wowpow Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 Culture Shock! Thais are very conscious of grooming and personal appearance and find it insulting when people go to an official office wearing short shorts and a top that does not cover. Pattaya Immigration actually has a notice up saying please wear appropriate dress at this office. I am surprised to hear that you were able to apply for a Non-Immigrant visa when you entered Thailand on a 30 days permission to stay for touristic purposes (not technically a Visa). This used to be a big no-no and I had to fly to Penang to get a Non Immigrant Visa and then apply during the last week of it's 3 month validity. I heard that a friend in Chiang Mai had changed from the 30 days permission to a Non Immigrant so it seems that the rules have been relaxed - a rare event. An extra 3 months free of charge! Wow - maybe it's a Christmas present. Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 An extra 3 months free of charge! Wow - maybe it's a Christmas present. Whatever it is, it must be something fairly new. I had the same kind of visa when I first applied for the retirement visa, but they dated the expiration date for the retirement visa 12 months after the date I first entered Thailand, and not a a year from the expiration date of the Type "O" visa. Ok, great! I'm glad you gents are getting lucky with this. Quote
Guest Hedda Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 so I walked down the street to a 711 and bought a 79 baht white T-shirt and put it on over my silk shirt. Who knows how many extra months you might have gotten if that shirt you bought was yellow. I'm curious. When you say you entered Thailand "on a 30 day visa", do you mean you got a 30 day visa at a Thai embassy or consul outside Thailand or do you mean that you got a pro forma automatic 30 day stamp at the airport when you landed ? Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 pro forma Hmmmm, wasn't he the Secretary of State for War in the UK during the early 60's . . . ? Quote
Guest buckeroo2 Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 Who knows how many extra months you might have gotten if that shirt you bought was yellow. I'm curious. When you say you entered Thailand "on a 30 day visa", do you mean you got a 30 day visa at a Thai embassy or consul outside Thailand or do you mean that you got a pro forma automatic 30 day stamp at the airport when you landed ? I got the automatic 30 day that is received when arriving at the BKK airport. Last year when I got my first retirmenet visa I obtained a 60 day tourist visa through a Thai consulate in the US. At Pattaya Immigration I inquired and they told me the 60 day tourist visa was not necessary in order to get the "O" visa conversion so this time I just opted for the airport stamp for my 30 day visa. BTW, I went to Immigration today, properly dressed, of course, and my retirmenet visa was waiting and it is indeed valid until March 9, 2009 - 15 months from the day of my entry into the Kingdom. Quote
Gaybutton Posted December 14, 2007 Posted December 14, 2007 BTW, I went to Immigration today, properly dressed, of course, and my retirement visa was waiting and it is indeed valid until March 9, 2009 - 15 months from the day of my entry into the Kingdom. Thank you again for these posts. I think many have learned quite a bit from it, including me. If nothing else, we now know they give you a dressing down for not dressing up . . . Quote
