Can I extend my retirement visa in Thailand before it expires if I show travel plans?

Oct 4, 2017
7 years ago
Stephen ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
My one year visa (retirement) expires 1 May, I want to fly out of Chiang mai 28th Feb and return maybe mid April or May.

I've heard that if I show my travel plans to immigration, I can extend my visa ahead of time.

Is this correct?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks clarification on whether they can extend their retirement visa before its expiration by showing travel plans to immigration. Responses indicate that it is possible to request an extension before the visa expires, but experiences vary by individual cases. One user shared that while typically officers might suggest letting a visa expire and starting anew, escalating the request may yield a favorable outcome. Another comment confirmed that an application for an extension can be made 30 to 45 days prior to the visa's expiration.
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Nick *******
My " retirement visa " expired on September 21st, I renewed it on July 30th and new one expires Sep 21st 2018
Tod *********
@Ni**
, there is no rule that the money hasta be in a thai baht account,

I know friends who have UK Pound, Euro USD, even AUD accounts here and they're accepted as long as it equals 800K baht

(y)
Nick *******
all my cash is in $USD albeit in a thai foreign currency bank account and they accepted that which was handy ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘
Tod *********
@Ni**
, (y) Those agents, can sure pull strings ;)
Nick *******
@Tod ********
chonburi through an agency
Tod *********
what immigration office did you use to do that? The earliest they'll do it at most offices is 45 days early.

Your new extension ALWAYS expires on the same day as your old one. My date has been April 5th for 8 years now no matter when I apply for a new extension. They add a year onto the original date.
Tod *********
I can relate an experience that happened with a friend of mine. She was going to be out of the country almost 3 months before her retirement extension expired. We went out and asked showing the confirmation of her tickets out and back in, showing she was leaving 86 days before the extension expired and not returning until 30 some days after it would have expired. The officer said, let it expire start over again new.

I disagreed and pushed it to the section head telling here it was a valid reason and it didn't make any sense to start all over when she came back. I told her I wanted to file an appeal on the denial.

The officer had us write a letter asking for special consideration. It went upstairs to the big-wigs out at chaengwattana for consideration. They said they'd let her know within 3 days. They called me two days later saying the request had been approved and to go out and get the yearly extension done.

So yes it can be done, but a low to mid level passport stamping officer is gonna tell you to let it expire and start again. That's what they told us when we tried. If I hadn't pushed it up the chain of command to a section head, who in turn had to kick it even further up the food chain it would have never gotten done.
Tod *********
@Ste****
, Just so you know, it was not an easy task :/ ,

Two officers denied it outright, stating to start over when she got back. It was only when I saw the section head, and told her I wanted to file a written appeal of the denial that got it kicked upstairs and approved a couple days later. It can be done but I'd say if you're gonna hafta "hammer them" into doing it for you.
Stephen ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
That's good news, that's exactly what i was hoping for. many thanks for the information
Robert *******
You can apply for an Extension of Stay at local Immigration 30 or 45 days before the last day of your permitted to stay date.
Amornrat **********
@David ***********
some agencies can apply up to three month prior. But this is not the answer to OP question.
David ************
Hope you get an answer. I was always curious what I would need to do if I left country a month or two before my annual extension renewal date and returned maybe a month after. Would hate to start the process all over from scratch.
Stephen ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yep, just hoping to see if someone else had the same situation. (Currently overseas)
David ************
@Stephen ***********
sounds like a good idea to me going directly to the source.
Stephen ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
And probable depend on the individual as well, I guess my best approach is to go and ask
Amornrat **********
that would depend on the office itself.
Stephen ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Robert for the feed back, that part i understand and have done so in the past.

What I was after was if anyone has heard of getting special allowance such as extending their stay , let's say 60 days ahead of the permitted time
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