What steps should I take before transitioning from an ED visa to a Non Immigrant O visa in Thailand?

Feb 28, 2024
8 months ago
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi. I’ve been here for 2 years on an ED visa. In April I am planning to go to Laos with a bus company and return back to Chiang Mai on the same day with a tourist visa. Then apply for a Non imm O and then a year extension for retirement. Read a post earlier suggesting that after 2 years this can be problematic, even though my circumstances sound different.

I’m wondering if it might be wise to take my belongings with me just in case?

Will my bank book be helpful showing funds?

Also, after taking much heart from the posts here I plan to take responsibility of all my own visa and immigration affairs myself, bypassing an agent. As always, very grateful for your replies.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is planning to transition from an ED visa to a Non Immigrant O (Retirement) visa by traveling to Laos. Concerns have been raised about the feasibility of returning the same day with a tourist visa and the importance of properly canceling the current ED extension. It is advised that applying for the Non Immigrant O visa directly in Laos may be more efficient. Additionally, it's suggested to take belongings for safety and show sufficient funds upon re-entry into Thailand.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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Frank *****************
Theoretically, there is the possibility to convert a Non Immigrant Visa ED into a Non Immigrant O (Retirement) by using form TM86 together with the necessary documents, but the Immigration Bureau usually wants you to leave Thailand and then return with a 90 day Non Immigrant Visa O (Retirement) and then extend this visa by 1 year in the usual way.

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Steve *******
Frank Edvin Johansen You can't convert the Non Imm ED visa to Non Imm O but you may be able to change the reason for your extention of stay, if you're on one, providing you meet all the requirements
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Pertti *************
You can do border run and come back in exemption and apply non o retirement visa. It's good move look few days Laos and come back. Take cash because my friend were asked some lubrication maybe 1000baht when he did same day border run without agent. There's no problems if you can show money when you come back. I did border run between non o to non b and I just went desk to desk and back home and pile of cash save that trip. I didn't pay any tee money but they were interested about financial side and money was pouring out everywhere and the customs officers had a smile on their faces🙏🇹🇭
Bart **************
Why the detour? Why not just apply for non-O in Laos?
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
yeah….someone else just said that. Gotta stop asking for advice outside the forum.
John **********
First off you can't go to Laos and return same day with a visa. That implies you want to enter visa exempt. It will depend upon your history and the immigration officer you stand in front of
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
thanks John. Maybe take my things. I get so anxious about this stuff.
Alessandro **********
Isn't it quicker to apply for non imm straight in Laos? You need to spend at least a couple of days there anyway
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alessandro *********
didn’t know I could? I’ll look into it
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I will. Do you think I’ll have a problem being here 2 years already? ED visa
Brandon ************
@Eamonn ********
the embassy won't care how long you've been in Thailand since you're applying for a long term visa to live in Thailand
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Alessandro **********
@Eamonn ********
yes you can. Make online booking as walk ins are not accepted in Vientiane. Allow 2 processing days and then go back to collect the stamped passport
Steve *******
You won't return the same day with a tourist visa from Vientiane. It's at least an overnight stay, possibly 2.
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
yeah…oh well… a couple of nights in Vientiane it is
Marianne ********
@Steve ******
It is two working days in Vientiane. Pickup is after noon.

If you apply on a Monday, you go get your passport and visa on the Wednesday after.

If you apply a Thursday or Friday it will be on the following Monday or Tuesday accordingly.
Steve *******
@Marianne *******
Its definitely 1 working day, drop off am, pick up next working day pm. I'm sure I read somewhere it had changed to two working days.
Marianne ********
@Steve ******
The Embassy itself states 2 working days.

And this is the same as my experience in early January this year.

I applied on a tuesday, and got told to pick up my passport with the visa on thursday.

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3
Brandon ************
Laos is the easiest border to return through so I doubt you'll have any issues.

There are a couple of things though:

1) You cannot go to Laos and return the same day with a tourist visa. Both of the embassies in Laos require multiple days to process a tourist visa application.

2) You need to cancel your ED extension before you leave. Get a letter from your school stating the last day of your studies and then take that letter to immigration about a week before that date and cancel your extension. They will cancel it and give you a stamp that lets you stay in Thailand until the date on the letter.

If you do not cancel your extension, even if it was going to run out, you will not be able to get a new long-term visa until you do so, and you may be charged 500 baht per day for failing to notify immigration of your change in status, even if you left the country.
Tom *********
Brandon Thurkettle there's a 15 day visa on arrival at several land borders. Chiang Khong to Huau Xai is convenient to Chiang Mai and Rai.

https:
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Brandon ************
@Tom ********
very few land borders offer it. Many land borders won't even let someone who entered Thailand visa on arrival leave
Tom *********
@Brandon ***********
Thailand will not stamp you out because some countries won't let you in at the corresponding border checkpoint.
Tom *********
@Brandon ***********
you're incorrect. I use the crossing quite regularly.

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Brandon ************
@Tom ********
I was referring to Thailand. You cannot get visa on arrival at land borders, only at the airport.
Tom *********
You can get a visa on arrival at Friendship Bridge #1@Nong Khai, or you can get a Lao evisa online. Turn arounds have been no problem for me. My last 2 carrying no luggage because I had a room in Nong Khai. Next week I go again, but will spend a day or 2 in Vientiane.

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Brandon ************
@Tom ********
you cannot get Visa on arrival at a land border. You can get Visa exempt though.
Graham ******
@Brandon ***********
He's talking about entering Laos ;)
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
thanks. That’s good to know. I was sure I could do it in one day?
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ultimately I want to have a retirement visa. Research tells me it’s tourist, non imm O and then the year extension. Not easy this stuff is it?
Bart **************
@Eamonn ********
it is as easy as you make it. I don't understand why you'd get a tourist visa first if it is actually non-O that you need. Then you should apply for non-O in Laos.

By the way, can't you switch to the retirement year extension in country from your current ED extension? Maybe go to your local immigrations office and ask them that. Saves you a bunch of hassle. Because what you're planning now makes very little sense - you want to use the new feature to switch in country, but from tourist, which requires doing the non-immigrant version first, then to get tourist you need to go abroad, all while the feature to switch may be available to you right now with your current extension (and skipping the non-o).
Eamonn *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bart *************
this is new information. I’m in Chiang Mai. They seem quite helpful I think. I’ll go tomorrow.
Brandon ************
@Eamonn ********
not if you want a tourist visa. If you're just trying to return without a visa on a visa exempt stamp, you can do that on the same day. But you said tourist visa in your post. That requires going to the Thai embassy Savannakhet or Vientiane and paying for and applying for a tourist visa.
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