Answered2 years ago

What is the process for obtaining a one-year retirement extension at the Samut Prakan immigration office without an agent?

Retirement Visa Thai Immigration Samut Prakan Immigration Office TM30 Form Re-entry Permit Visa Extension Process

Phil **********

asked Jul 5, 2024

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Hi, this might help anyone going to the Samut Prakan immigration office for a one-year extension based on retirement (probably an extension based on marriage too)

Without using an agent, which I never do, I got the one year retirement extension plus multiple re-entry permit in about 80 minutes yesterday. The process was very smooth and would've been even quicker had I not had to validate a screenshot of the TM30 on the second floor. The TM30 screenshot (from the online website) is important to the Samut Prakan office and you also need it for the re-entry permit, so make TWO copies. When you order your bank letter, get the bank to give you a 12-month printout of all your transactions (that was 20 pages for me) The Samut Prakan office really like those printouts and I got a thumbs up from the officer yesterday. The office wasn't that busy on a Thursday morning either.

Answer summary

A user shares their experience of successfully obtaining a one-year retirement extension and a multiple re-entry permit at the Samut Prakan immigration office in about 80 minutes without using an agent. They highlight the importance of having a TM30 screenshot and recommend preparing multiple copies and obtaining a comprehensive 12-month bank transaction printout. Other comments discuss personal experiences with retirement extensions at different offices and varying requirements for bank statements.

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Gray ******

About the bank statements, I use a bank account just for immigration. It has a monthly foreign deposit and a single monthly withdrawal. My immigration printout might be 2 pages. Immigration doesn’t need to see all my purchases or other deposits for the year.

2 years ago

Phil **********

@Gray *****

I would update my bank book every month if my branch wasn't so inconvenient and difficult to get to. It's just too much hassle to go there 12 times a year. If I had a monthly updated bank book, there would probably be no need to have the printouts at all.

2 years ago

Gray ******

@Phil *********

The printout is still necessary, at the immigration I use.

2 years ago

Mikkel *******

@Phil *********

that's my usual method too. Just have several copies of whatever you can think of that they might ask for.

One year, after several years of the same document required, in two sets, they suddenly wanted 3 sets 😂.

And the photos had to be real photos, like the original, on set#3, but on set#2 copies were acceptable. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Now I just always have extra photos, extra copies etc.

It's not like it costs a fortune to do that either, or take lots of time.

Bank papers, 200 baht, and usually not more than 30 minutes spent.

Photos, a couple hundred baht if needing the family/address photos. Any photo shop can print out those in minutes.

If for marriage, 20 baht at the ampur (city hall) to get an updated marriage certificate, and in our local one, that is 10 minutes on average.

Then for all the copies of everything, well, copy that at home, or pay 50 baht or something like that in a copy shop. Again a few minutes.

2 years ago

Phil **********

@Gray *****

As you say, you can never have too many documents, even if it means keeping half of them in your 'keep back' folder as I call it and pulling them out like rabbits from a hat if required.

2 years ago

Mikkel *******

@Gray *****

that is a good point. I also use a separate account just for immigration. But you could also just blank out whatever you don't want them to see. Leaving only the amounts visible there. Because they do need to be able to see that it didn't go below a certain something, or was seasoned for long enough, etc.

2 years ago

Jim ********

Good stuff! I do my retirement extension at CW, and I'm in and out in an hour no problem. I don't know how some people make a big song and dance about a straightforward process

2 years ago

Phil **********

@Jim *******

Hi Jim, it's all about getting your ducks in a row regarding the paperwork. If you know EXACTLY what's required, it's very rare to have a curve ball thrown at you. Yes, it's not the most pleasant hour or two and neither is it a day I look forward to, but once again, when I left the building with a new one-year extension and a re-entry permit, I thought 'what were you getting stressed out about?'

2 years ago

Mikkel *******

@Phil *********

it really is that simple if you just take the time beforehand to find out what your specific office requires.

An extra set of copies.

A specific document, that you could usually just easily get if you don't have it already.

Some specific photos.

Extra bank documents.

Whatever.

It's by far the most effective and cheap agent available. Your local immigration office. You just have to find out what they require specifically.

After doing it a few times you know the drill. You just always have extra copies/and the original maybe, of whatever they have ever asked for, as that might have been slightly different from one year to the next.

For 100% success rate, just ask them a few weeks before, to have time to make those extra copies, or get that extra whatever, with zero hassle.

2 years ago

Jim ********

@Phil *********

And just think what you can do with the 15-20 thousand baht you just saved yourself by not using an agent. Just think that you're paying yourself that money. It's the easiest money you'll ever make in your life. 20k for a couple of hours work? Little wonder there's so many "agents" out there scamming the frightened expats!

2 years ago