Application Documents Required To Extend Visa For Senior Citizens Over 50

[Guest Astrrro]

1) Application form TM7 duly completed

 

2) 1 photograph (passport size)

 

3) Passport and copy of passport (must have obtained a non-immigrant visa prior to submitting application)

 

4) Either Letter from embassy showing pension income of at least 65,000 baht per month equivalent with documentary proff (eg bank statements from home country or letter from pension provider) plus letter from Thai bank showing a minimum of 2,000 baht

 

Or Letter from Thai bank with current account balance of at least 800,000 baht which has been there for a minimum of 60 days prior to application. In this case no letter from the embassy is required.

 

Or A combination of the alternatives above, that is eveidence from thye embassy showing proof of income less than 65,000 baht per month equivalent, plus letter from bank showing enough money to make up a total of 800,000 baht altogether.

 

5) A copy f your Thai bank account, with account holder page and Page(s) showing transactions for the past three months must accompany all applications.

 

6) Application fee of 1,900 baht.

[Guest Astrrro]

Or Letter from Thai bank with current account balance of at least 800,000 baht which has been there for a minimum of 60 days prior to application.

 

At immigration today they gave me the above handout. Unless they misunderstood my situation it appears the renewal process is the same as the initial application for a retirement visa.

 

The 60 day provison seems to have been changed from 90. This would give new arrivals on a 90 day visa a chance to open up an account, wire money in, and be within the regulations.

[Guest fountainhall]

The 60 day provison seems to have been changed from 90.

 

It is definitely 90 days and not 60. This provision has been in force now for more than a year.

[Gaybutton]

Unless they misunderstood my situation it appears the renewal process is the same as the initial application for a retirement visa.

They didn't misunderstand. The application and process is the same. That's why I said, on another thread, the worst that can happen if you lose your retirement visa if it expires before you get a chance to renew it will be that you simply apply for a new one.

[Guest Astrrro]

It is definitely 90 days and not 60. This provision has been in force now for more than a year.

 

Either the provision has recently changed or it's a typo on the document.

 

[mahjongguy]

Since November, it's 60 days for the first extension and 90 days for subsequent extensions.

[2lz2p]

Prior to the most recent Police order, the requirement was 800k had to be on deposit 90 days prior to application -- Pattaya Immigration apparently interpreted that to mean only for initial application and was not requiring any "seasoning" period for renewals. The latest Police order changed the time before the initial application to 60 days and to 90 days for renewals -- so, since it is now spelled out in the latest Police order, I'm sure Pattaya Immigration will follow the new requirement of 90 days for renewal.

 

4) Either Letter from embassy showing pension income of at least 65,000 baht per month equivalent with documentary proff (eg bank statements from home country or letter from pension provider) plus letter from Thai bank showing a minimum of 2,000 baht

 

5) A copy f your Thai bank account, with account holder page and Page(s) showing transactions for the past three months must accompany all applications.

 

The underlined (my emphasis) appear to be new. Someone at a recent Pattaya City Expats Club meeting announced during the Open Forum that he was asked for documentary evidence of pension in addition to the Embassy letter -- this has not been required in the past as far as I know and my own experiences.

 

Also, in my previous renewals, they only wanted to see the face page and balance ending page of my Bank passbook, but others I have talked to were required to provide copies of additional pages of their passbook (Immigration Officer discretion apparently). Also, I have heard from a few folks that they had to deposit more funds in their bank - apparently had only a small amount - before Immigration would approve their application. It now appears that the new Pattaya Immigration chief has established a written policy for that aspect - past 3 months activity and a balance of at least 2,000 Baht. So that is probably a plus since the number of pages and balance are no longer at the whim of the total whim of the Immigration Officer.

 

As to letting your retirement visa lapse, I generally agree with GB that in order to reinstate it, you basically go through the same process (especially if using 800k, now that 90 days on deposit is required for renewals). However, there is a possible (vs. probable) risk that Thai Immigration could change the requirements for a retirement visa during the period of lapse. If so, then you would not be grandfathered in. Also, I keep dreaming that one day Thailand might actually decide to allow longer extensions (e.g., 2 or 3 years) if you have lived here on a continuous retirement visa "x" years without causing any problems -- I know, I know, but I used to keep thinking that one day I would win the lottery.

 

 

[Gaybutton]

Also, I keep dreaming that one day Thailand might actually decide to allow longer extensions (e.g., 2 or 3 years) if you have lived here on a continuous retirement visa "x" years without causing any problems

That may not be so far fetched. Every so often I hear rumblings that once you have lived in Thailand on a retirement visa for 5 years, they might allow renewals of up to five years. The trouble is, those rumors started even before the promises of online address reporting and submitting. Neither has happened (although you can download the address report online, but you still have to take it to Immigration to submit it, which kind of makes the convenience of it superfluous.)

[Guest Astrrro]

It turns out they would not let me renew 6 months early.

 

Even though I was told by two people at the info desk that I could.

 

So a wasted trip to Bangkok though the captain was told I could use that same notarized letter wthen I renew. I suppose if they remember me at Jomtien.

 

But she said I would need a new letter from the bank, no big deal.

 

She said I could get a new O Visa and then a new retirement visa total cost being 3800 or 3900 baht.

Still, things change and I would have rather gotten the extension.

 

So I'll try getting it renewed at New York consulate.

 

If they say no then I guess I could get the 90 day O at either New York or Jomtien. I would think it'd be better to get it in New York, bird in hand. Or is here some reason I might be better off in Jomtien.

 

I also spoke with Barry Kenyon, British Consul, that day and he said Immigration's policy was to renew up to 90 days in advance.

[Gaybutton]

I also spoke with Barry Kenyon, British Consul, that day and he said Immigration's policy was to renew up to 90 days in advance.

I didn't realize you wanted to renew 6 months in advance. I thought you were talking about two or three months. I'm not really surprised they refused you at six months, although I'm wondering why the information desk would say you can, but the involved officers said you couldn't. Did you check into why you were being told two opposite things at the very same immigration office? That part is a little strange.

 

Your trip to Bangkok was really not wasted. Hold on to that notarized statement. Yes, it definitely will be honored and you would need it in any case.

 

You still don't really have a problem. You will have to pay the additional 1900 baht or the 'O' visa, but now you won't have to pay for a re-entry permit, so it all comes out in the wash.

[Guest Astrrro]

I didn't realize you wanted to renew 6 months in advance. I thought you were talking about two or three months. I'm not really surprised they refused you at six months, although I'm wondering why the information desk would say you can, but the involved officers said you couldn't. Did you check into why you were being told two opposite things at the very same immigration office? That part is a little strange.

 

I think part of it is that I don't speak Thai.

 

Complicated English questions such as "can I renew A even though B" may get interpreted as "can I renew B". And the people at the info desk are also the most junior people. And perhaps Thais tell you what they think you want to hear.

 

When speaking to the captain, I did not think that mentioning that I was told the prior at the info desk that I could would actually get the desired result. So I figured best to keep a good relationship with the captain rather than complaining.