@Dennis *********

easy now, the immigration officers call the yearly extension a "retirement visa" so, so much for your "educate yourself and show respect" mantra😕

The 90 day Non-O visa issued based on being over 50 IS for all practical purposes the "retirement visa" because that's what starts the whole process of getting a yearly extension of stay based on 'being over 50 (retirement).

@Matthew ********

you WILL get the documents from them but they have implemented a new policy where you need to sign a paper stating you'll leave the funds in the bank for 4 months or they won't give you the documents you need. It's a bangkok bank policy not an immigration one.

Not much you can really do if you need the paperwork from them 😕

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐧𝐨𝐧-𝐎 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚?

NO you cannot 😕 🙁

It works like this;

You got a 90 day entry stamp when you came into the country with that visa

You can apply for a yearly extension at MOST offices when you have 30 days or less left on that 90 day stamp.

You need to meet the financial and documentation requirements at your immigration office and apply for the year extension for 1900baht.

Once the extension is granted you could apply for a multiple re-entry permit 3800baht (the extension and the re-entry permit are two completely different things) <- after you do that then you can exit/re-enter the country the whole year and get stamped in until the yearly extension expires every time

The real question is,

Can you time it so you're IN thailand when your 90 day stamp runs down enough so you can apply for the year extension?

You'd probably have to get a single re-entry permit (which would keep this 90 day stamp valid when you exit) and then 6 weeks later when you come back you'd get stamped in for the same expiration date (the date you got when you entered the country on the 90 day Non-O visa)

then you could apply for the extension at your immigration office

@Honza *******

The latest update from the Lao border (at least the one in Chiang Rai at Chiang Khong) is that they ARE indeed letting people with valid visas out & back

I would imagine they will also be doing it at Nong Khai as well

@Brett *****

yep, doesn't fit the "profile" of a serial abuser of the visa exempt entry program,..

@Stéfan *******

I'm saying as of last week they weren't letting people out, although I'm sure if you say you're going TO lao to tour around you'd most likely get out

For in person reporting you can do it from 2 weeks before the due date down until 7 days after the due date without a fine <- so you have a 3 week window to file

No issue at all doing your 90 day report the same day you do your retirement extension.

Just realize the 90 day reporting room at the government complex Building B moved from the main immigration room on the 2nd floor (where you'll apply for your retirement extension) to it's own room on the 3rd floor.

@Andrew ******

have proof of onward travel (that you're leaving within the 60 days you'll get stamped in for) and hope for the best.. Your history doesn't seem like a serial abuser of the visa exempt entry program though

ok you win

@Greg **********

although we're just splitting hares 😛

@Greg **********

actually BOTH stamps are the same size, although you are correct the 7 day stamp they're giving on visa exempt entries IS an extension of stay stamp

the 7 day 'application for extension of stay not approved' stamp and the "extension of stay permitted until" stamp are both almost half page stamps

you have to read the first line under the immigration office location to see what's what