Sorry for the long post but hope it at least helps someone.
I have lived in Thailand 7 years mainly on Thailand Elite and was originally due to change over to a retirement visa in July that can't be issued inside the country unless on a tourist visa so a border bounce was due.
Unfortunately I ended up in Amnesty but I eventually got a letter from the British Embassy that allowed me to be stamped in until 26th October. I did this on 3rd September and got the stamp on the 17th.
When the new current amnesty was announced they stated that those who got the stamp like myself could be stamped in for free until 30th November. Unfortunately I went three days ago to be told by local immigration that it wasn't possible as I applied too early but could apply for 60 days before the current amnesty ended on the 31st October without the need for a further embassy letter.
I was so frustrated but as they have known me many years I remained courteous and polite throughout and left leaving my phone number in case anything changed.
The next day they phoned me at home to say they have reviewed my request at a special meeting and if I came in the next day they would change my stamp to November 30th and allow me to apply for another 60 days taking me until the end of January.
I guess the moral of the story no matter how frustrating it can be dealing any kind of government department in any country my polite and calm demeanor paid off.
Ironically that same day there was a foreigner in there being angry and rude and they eventually asked him to leave.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A resident of Thailand for 7 years shares their experience with the visa extension process during the amnesty period. They initially faced difficulties transitioning from a Thailand Elite Visa to a Retirement Visa, requiring a border exit. After receiving a stamp from the British Embassy and later being informed by local immigration about the correct procedure for extending their stay, their polite approach led to a favorable outcome where they were able to extend their visa until the end of January. The post emphasizes the importance of maintaining a courteous demeanor when dealing with immigration officials.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
