What is the process for applying for a Non-O retirement visa in Chiang Mai?

* Chiang Mai Immigration Non-O (over 50) application report *

I read a useful post ([members only]/) in this group and thought I would add my own report as well. I arrived on 14-01-2024 (two days ago) on a 30-day visa exempt entry and went to Chiang Mai immigration at the airport today to apply for an in-country Non-O based on being over 50 ("retirement visa").

After all was settled, I was told to come back on Feb 6 (I guess that works out to 15 working days from today) but the lady did mention that it might not actually be ready then and I might need to come back the next day instead. Not sure what that's all about but it's no big deal either way for me. I was told to go to counter 3 between 13:00 and 16:00 on that date and there was no need to get a queue.

Here are a few potentially useful details.

(1) I mostly knew what documents I needed thanks to that post I referenced so my first order of business was to go the bank to get the account statement and get my bankbook updated. I asked for two copies but was told each copy is 100 THB and I wasn't sure that I needed two original copies so I just had one original made plus a photocopy, which seemed to be just fine in the end.

(2) My bank didn't open until 10:00 so I guess it isn't possible to get an early start if you are so inclined unless it's possible to get your passbook updated via ATM (maybe someone who knows can comment on that). If that is possible, I guess you could go 1-6 days early for the bank statement and then hit an ATM in the morning to update your passbook and get to immigration early.

(3) After the bank I went to a copy shop to print out copies of my TM30 and make copies of my passport data page and visa/entry page. I should have made copies of the bankbook but forgot so I had to do that at immigration (they have a copy center there which is 2 THB per copy; you can also get photos made there if needed). A volunteer told me I only needed copies of my first and last bankbook page and that passed muster with the official document check people as well, but after I officially submitted everything to the processing counter they asked me to go make copies of the missing pages as well.

(3.5) You generally need to sign your name to every page you end up copying/printing (TM30, bankbook, passport pages) so don't forget to do that. You also need to add your phone number under your signature on the main visa application (there is no field requesting it though).

(4) Speaking of volunteers and document checks... when you first arrive you pass a small booth, tell the attendant what you are there for and you receive a queue number. Then you go to an outdoor (but shaded) area to fill out and organize all your documents. There are a few volunteers on duty there to help you out and it's a wise idea to show one of them all your documents after you finish to make sure you have everything in order. They helped me catch a few things I missed. Once cleared with a volunteer, you wait for your queue number to be called. You then go to the relevant counter and an official immigration employee will check that everything is in order and give you a new queue number. You then go into the main building to counter 7 to submit your documents.

(5) I had zero wait inside the main building to submit my documents. Then, as I mentioned, I had to make some extra copies and then given my instructions to come back on Feb 6. I think that all took 15-20 minutes. The longer wait was for document organization/check, especially as I arrived around 10:45 and they take their lunch break from noon (?) until 13:00. It actually wasn't bad though as I just walked the short distance to Central Airport and got some lunch and walked around. When I got back around 13:00 I had to wait about an hour before my queue number was called so I guess in all I waited about 3 hours from arrival to the point of submitting my documents and then another 15-20 minutes, so probably 3.5 hours in total.

(6) After submitting my documents inside the main building, I was asked to state what my occupation was prior to retirement. I was also asked to provide a Thai person's name and phone number as a reference. I hadn't read about this before (and nobody in the document control area asked me to do that either) so I don't know if everyone gets asked that or only some people. That can actually be a bit tricky as I almost exclusively communicate with my Thai friends via Line. Luckily I knew the phone number of one friend and used it.

(7) I am attaching a photo I took of the Non-O requirements posted on the wall. The post I reference also attached a similar photo but it wasn't the same (his looks like a photo of a paper whereas mine is of a sign hanging on the wall). The main difference is that the prior poster's information does not say you need a copy of a house or rental agreement whereas the one I saw posted does. For the record, I did NOT need to submit that so I guess the original poster's attachment is more accurate.

Finally, as the admins here often point out, different offices have different requirements so this report should only be considered applicable to Chiang Mai.