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What are the best visa options for extending my stay in Thailand after my non-immigrant visa expires?
Visa extension optionsNon-Immigrant VisaRetirement VisaTourist VisaVisa regulationsImmigration adviceExpat visas in Thailand
Jul 7, 2023
3 years ago
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTERNew post with clarification
My current annual non-imm (I don’t know what letter it is?) visa runs out end of August. My illegibility to continue on same visa is none. So please don’t tell me to apply for same visa again.
What is my easiest and cheapest visa option to give me at least 3 months beyond my current expiry date of August 31st? I need a new visa beyond that. Retirement visa is not going to work now, as I’ve run out of time for the minimum 2 months at required balance. I totally stuffed that up with one press of a button. Insanity.
My current annual non-imm (I don’t know what letter it is?) visa runs out end of August. My illegibility to continue on same visa is none. So please don’t tell me to apply for same visa again.
What is my easiest and cheapest visa option to give me at least 3 months beyond my current expiry date of August 31st? I need a new visa beyond that. Retirement visa is not going to work now, as I’ve run out of time for the minimum 2 months at required balance. I totally stuffed that up with one press of a button. Insanity.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on extending their stay in Thailand after their non-immigrant visa expires at the end of August, but they are not eligible for an extension of the same visa. Suggestions from commenters include obtaining a tourist visa with a 60+30 day extension, applying for a Non-O visa from a neighboring country, doing a border run, or consulting a visa agent. Various opinions are shared regarding eligibility and additional requirements for different types of visas.
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.
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Keef ********
There's multiple versions of that retirement visa. And you don't state where your residence is. So for instance if it were BKK you could leave the country get the tourist visa come back stamped in then apply for retirement that would give you another 90 then apply for the extension for 1 year. So august plus 60 plus 90 plus 1 year. There is no 3 month waiting for retirement to qualify unless places like Chonburi.
Thomas *******
Go home and wait ✋️
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTERReply to
Rachel ***************
Reply
THAI ******************************
We regularly assist with similar cases like this.
As mentioned some provinces are more strict than others. Bangkok is one of the less lenient offices.
But it doesn't hurt to try as every situation is unique.
You can always message our team via line :
As mentioned some provinces are more strict than others. Bangkok is one of the less lenient offices.
But it doesn't hurt to try as every situation is unique.
You can always message our team via line :
**********************
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Thai *****************************
thanks. Another contributor just said CW one of the more lenient… Confusing info.Reply to
Rachel ***************
Reply
John ********
Get married to a Thai
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *******
not helpful.Reply to
Rachel ***************
Reply
Bob **********
Leave get a tourist visa 60+30 day extension your done simple
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
might just do thatReply to
Rachel ***************
Reply
Roy *********
You can go to Savannaket and get a new Non O.
I just did myself.
I just did myself.
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Roy ********
what are talking about? As I said I’m not married to a Thai or have Thai children. I’m not illegible. I’ve just researched non-o. I do not qualify.Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Roy ********
but how? I’m not meeting the criteria after August 31.David **********
@Rachel **************
you're not reading the right information It is confusing.You need a non O-A visa. You meet the requirements.
**********************************************************************************
Steve *******
@David *********
The OP would have to return to her home Country to apply for the OA visa, much easier to get the O visa in Thailand or a neighbouring Country.Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Steve *******
@Rachel **************
There's no 2 months seasoning required for a non imm O visa, it's only required for the 1 year extention of stay.Just show 800k and get the visa in a neighbouring country.
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
can you provide link to details of the visa you speak about?Steve *******
Rachel Wilson Mills Non Immigrant type O visa
Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Todd *********
@Thai *****************************
can sort it out for you.Andy ********
Come on
@Todd ********
, you are slipping, post had been open 5 minutes before you gave your standard advice. This time you named a particular agent, I wonder why??? 🤔🤔🤔Vic *********
@Andy *******
It is certainly a viable option, why not offer it to someone who obviously wants to find a way. I use an agent.Steve ********
@Vic ********
Not everyone is comfortable paying bribes to government officials.Vic *********
@St***
, so every agent pays bribes?Steve ********
@Vic ********
To avoid the financial requirement of 800k in a Thai bank account a bribe is paid, more often than not in a province far away from where the applicant actually lives!Vic *********
@Steve *******
... so, what you are saying is that every agent does not pay bribes in every case?Steve ********
@Vic ********
Depends on the service being offered.Vic *********
@Steve *******
That means that sometimes an agent can be a good option for certain people in certain circumstances. Thanks for clearing that up.Steve ********
@Vic ********
Yes absolutely, but not in the case being discussed in this thread.Reply to
Steve ********
Reply
Alistair **********
@Andy *******
it's a large and well known agent that is often recommended. You'll also see Siam Legal often recommended here, no one's getting paid to recommend these companies and no ones getting paid to give free advice on here.Todd *********
@Andy *******
it’s an obvious option isn’t it? I wonder why you wonder why??? Not the sharpest tack I suppose... If you stay at a good hotel, do you recommend it to people? If you make money investing in a great stock, do you let others know? No rule against applying critical thinking here man. Do you have anything helpful to offer? Or just the usual 💩? I can appreciate you depend on your wife to stay in country, but not everyone needs to. Cretin
Reply to
Todd *********
Reply
Steve ********
Just do a border bounce giving you 30 days, extend for another 30, that will give you the time to get the money in the bank up to scratch
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
yeah but the pathway to getting retirement visa after existing visa runs out is not so straightforward I heard, more hoops to jump through. Ie if I’m just getting tourist visa in the meantime… I don’t think I can apply for retirement visa as easily.Richard *********
@Rachel **************
leave, enter with a visa exempt<IF you have the 800,000
convert to NON O, than 1 year> IF Necessary send the 800,000 out using dee money and send back via Wise .
NO 800,000 ,contact thai visa centre
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Richard ********
thanks Richard. So you mean leave country, apply for retirement non-o after entry on tourist visa when I return to bkk in August?Richard *********
NON O visa is for over 50, there is NO retirement visa
if u have the 800,000 come to phuket, i'll hold ur hand an walk you thru it for 2,000 baht :-)
if u have the 800,000 come to phuket, i'll hold ur hand an walk you thru it for 2,000 baht :-)
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Richard ********
haha, thanks might take you up on that LOL. Where is the list of criteria for the non-o visa you speak of? Link? I’m under the understanding that there are two pathways, the 800 k for minimum two months in your account before applying along with rental agreement or proof of pension. And even harder if you are applying fresh after current annual non-imm visa expires.Richard *********
sure or fly , up to you
as soon as u arrive go to immigration and request the non o visa.
if u have the 800,000 its a piece of cake
as soon as u arrive go to immigration and request the non o visa.
if u have the 800,000 its a piece of cake
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Richard ********
but what visa is this? What non-O visa is it? I have looked at the types of visas and pretty sure I will only qualify for retirement visa. I’m not married to a Thai.Steve ********
@Rachel **************
It's proper title is non-O (over 50 years of age). Although it's colloquially referred to as a retirement visa, there's no actual requirement that you must be retired. You must however be over 50 years of ageRichard *********
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Richard ********
just land and get automatic 30 days you mean?Reply to
Rachel ***************
Reply
John **********
@Rachel **************
as long as you can get 800k transferred into a Thai account from overseas it's straightforward.Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
has to be from overseas? I already have the funds here.John **********
@Rachel **************
can you show the funds originated from overseas? If not you might have to transfer out and then backRachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
oh bugger it!Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for your help though. I’m so annoyed at myself and the situation I’ve now got myself into when it could have been so easy.
Steve ********
@Rachel **************
John could be right, but I know CW is not always as anal as some other immigration offices when it comes to the 800k. My suggestion is go to CW, go straight to Section C, don't bother with the queue ticket. Just ask the lady in the cubicle marked "C" (there's no number), she speaks English and just explain to her what has happened and she'll give you the lowdown on whether the money has to be shown to be coming from overseas. They were good there for me when I switched from OA to O with an exempt in between. They accepted my 65k/month transfers instead of the 800k lump sum. You have nothing to lose except the train/taxi fare.Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
CW?Steve ********
@Rachel **************
Chaengwattana. It's the Immigration Office for Bangkok. *****************************************
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
that’s what I thought but I’d thought they’d be one of the strictest!Steve ********
@Rachel **************
Beware of people pushing the agent who owns this group. You have the funds, you do not have to pay a *****
baht bribe to get your visa. My advice is do it legallySteve ********
@Rachel **************
Not at all. To my knowledge both Jomtien and Samut Prakan are stricter. I've used CW for years, and never encountered any major problemsSteve ********
@John *********
I think she's already got the 800k. My understanding is she's allowed it to drop below, but if she's already topped it up again she should be ok if she's doing the business at CWReply to
Steve ********
Reply
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
is there a link to website so I can print and read it. Thanks very muchSteve ********
Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
I don’t have pension from overseas so I can’t provide that.Steve ********
@Rachel **************
You don't need a pension if you have the 800k lump sumRachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTERSteve Smythe seems I do if I don’t meet listed criteria for the retirement visa I was applying for which was the two months of funds sitting there. Right? I was looking at criteria from number form 9 of visa type link you kindly attached.
Steve ********
@Rachel **************
I believe CW does not enforce the two month waiting time for the initial 90-day non-O visa. You will only find this out if you visit the immigration office, as I explained. Every immigration office sets its own local policies.Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
I’m going to need an agent. All of this just absolutely baffles me.Rachel ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
thanks Steve.Reply to
Rachel ***************
Reply
Steve ********
@Rachel **************
You can. You get a 90-day non-O. In Bangkok you need to apply minimum 15 days before your current stamp/extension expires. At the end of the 90, you go back and get the 12-montherReply to
Steve ********
Reply
Brandon ************
Unless you're married to a Thai or have a half Thai child, you don't have any options to get an extension. You need to leave the country and return if you want more time in Thailand.
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
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