How can I maintain my Non-O Retirement Visa while living abroad for a few years?

Question

Question for the group… Im a US citizen and have been here in Thailand on a non￼ O Retirement Visa for the last couple of years .. I am thinking of possibly going to live in another Asian country for a year or two .. ￼not back in my home country.. however I definitely want to keep my Thailand retirement visa “intact” as it were, since my plan is to return full-time in maybe three years, and do not want to have to restart everything with visa and associated initial costs .. if I want to accomplish this, will it be a problem? Also, what about when my yearly renewal comes up- I do not mind paying the yearly visa renewal cost (i utilize a visa agent, not looking for opinions on that ) but will ￼I need to have a permanent address in Thailand, or does it not matter?  Will I need to plan a trip back to Thailand each year when my renewal comes up, or can my renewal will be done from outside of Thailand  ? ￼What other complications might arise that have not occurred to me? Thanks ￼

Ask Thailand · Answer

A US citizen on a Non-O Retirement Visa in Thailand is considering living in another Asian country for a year or two while keeping the visa intact. Concerns include how to manage yearly renewals, whether a permanent address in Thailand is required, and complications that might arise from this arrangement. Comments from other users suggest consulting legal advice, visiting local immigration offices for clarity, and understanding embassy procedures for visa maintenance.

Angelo *********** · Answer

Unless you are in BKK, I would simply go to your local immigration office and ask there. Either they can do it right away, or some people are right and it only works in the issuing embassy (which I find odd, but could be). In BKK the drawback is that the place is extremely crowded and you have likely to spent all day there.

I got my ED <- note ED in BKK, and hence canceled it there. What definitely does not work is canceling it at the border when you leave the country!!

I got my ED <- note ED in BKK, and hence canceled it there. What definitely does not work is canceling it at the border when you leave the country!!

Jason ******** · Answer

If you really want to just go to immigration it will be done in a few minutes plus wait time

John ********** · Answer

Why cancel the DTV. Visit your local immigration office with all the paperwork you require for the new visa and ask them to convert from the DTV to the new visa

Sefton ******** · Answer

You need to contact the embassy that issued the visa. Local immigration cannot cancel the visa only the permission of stay / entry stamp. Its the division between min of foreign affairs and min of interior.

Some embassy's respond well, others dont.

Some embassy's respond well, others dont.

Daryl ****** · Answer

Why?

DTV > Education if you ask me

If you cancel or switch visas. It might be harder for you to get DTV in the future

Wannikea ********* · Answer

Why do you think you need an ED visa?

Kool ******* · Answer

You can go to school on any visa, or extension. You don't need an ED visa to go to school. You can go to school on your dtv. The only exception I have heard of is for children at some international schools.

Dylan ****** · Answer

I recommend speaking with a lawyer for actual active legal issues. I personally can recommend [mention redacted], as they have been a key legal resource during my many stays in the Kingdom.

How can I maintain my Non-O Retirement Visa while living abroad for a few years?

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