'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

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StevePIraq
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by StevePIraq »

MrPlum wrote:
hhfarang wrote:As stated on another thread I don't understand all the problems people seem to have at the immigration office.
Likewise. I think if you look presentable and are polite and don't blow a gasket, you will sail through the process.

Ta very much for the post. A useful reminder.
It is easy to understand why people have problems, they go unprepared or feel they do not have to provide the documentation required, they throw a tantrum when told they MUST provide something. Immigration process is very easy in HH, go with the correct documents, look decent, show respect and you sail threw.

Thai immigration compared to some other countries is a piece of cake.
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by Huahinian »

Yet another change!
I renewed my annual visa this morning without any hassle. However, my passport expires in June 2014. The new regulation that came into effect on 28th August this year, only allowed my extension to the date my passport expires i.e. approx 9 months and then, AND BEFORE THE EXPIRY DATE, I must apply for another year's extension in my new passport. The transfer of the visa from old to new passport is no longer applied.
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by sargeant »

I have never had any problems with my visa renewals however today for the first time i was complemented on how my paperwork was presented.

I took what HHFarang had posted and did it exactly as he said
1. One 4x6 cm photo (blue background)
2. One TM7 fully filled out at home before I went
3. One copy of the ID page of my passport and every other page that has any visas or stamps with my signature written at the bottom of every copied page.
4. An (original, no copy) affidavit from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok stating the amount of my monthly pension.
5. One copy of my house rental agreement with my signature at the bottom of the copied pages.
6. A hand drawn map showing where my rental house is located with my signature at the bottom of the page.
7. 1900 baht.
plus i was in out done and dusted in 15 mins including short wait for my number to be called

so thanks HHF

edited to add
the stamp now in my passport for the first time ever has the word RETIREMENT in capital letters right at the top of it.
so i guess they do have a retirement visa now
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by hhfarang »

Sarge; I am happy to be of help! :cheers: :cheers:
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by richard »

sargeant wrote:
1. One 4x6 cm photo (blue background)
2. One TM7 fully filled out at home before I went
3. One copy of the ID page of my passport and every other page that has any visas or stamps with my signature written at the bottom of every copied page.
4. An (original, no copy) affidavit from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok stating the amount of my monthly pension.
5. One copy of my house rental agreement with my signature at the bottom of the copied pages.
6. A hand drawn map showing where my rental house is located with my signature at the bottom of the page.
7. 1900 baht.
plus i was in out done and dusted in 15 mins including short wait for my number to be called


the stamp now in my passport for the first time ever has the word RETIREMENT in capital letters right at the top of it.
so i guess they do have a retirement visa now
I always take the above completed

I have had the stamp RETIREMENT used since 2005
RICHARD OF LOXLEY

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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by Big Boy »

richard wrote:I have had the stamp RETIREMENT used since 2005
I've only had 2 extensions so far, but RETIREMENT does not appear anywhere in my passport :cry: .
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by hhfarang »

I've looked and it does say "Retirement" in English on my last extension stamp. I believe that several before that also say it but in Thai language but will have to verify that with the missus when she is back from an extended Issan visit but the last one obtained in September definitely says "Retirement" in English at the very top of the stamped page next to the Thai date.
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by lomuamart »

For the first time in August, mine had "retirement" stamped above it as well. However, this is just to differentiate it from the marriage (and other) types. Could be that some people have changed from retirement to marriage because of the different financial requirements and it makes it easier for Imm to see straight off what their previous status was - although it would be noted on the file.
These stamps are not visas though as has been explained before on other threads. They are annual extensions to a visa. Two separate and different animals.
Up until last year the stamp said "Application of stay is permitted up to..." For the past two years, it says "Extension of stay is permitted up to....." as opposed to a visa which is applied for and granted outside of Thailand which will state "utilise before..." or "enter before..."
About the only time a visa will be granted in country is when someone upgrades their status from a visa exempt stamp or tourist visa to a Non O and this is done as part of the retirement or marriage extension process as annual extensions can only be granted off an O or OA visa.
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by fft100 »

Immigration was busy today as I changed my O to a retirement visa. All I had was originals, no copies and hadn't filled in TM7 or TM8. One of the girls outside filled it all in, and got the photocopies in about 20 minutes very professional. I then got my number and estimated at least 40 minutes waiting time, so went next door with my book for a very reasonably priced cup of coffee. When I got back to immigration, there was still more than 10 numbers to go, but, over half of those had gone early, so only 15 minutes and I was being dealt with. The man checked all the documents, discovered a page from the bank book had not been copied and did it himself. 10 minutes or so, money handed over and then a sit down for less than 5 minutes before it all came back. Very very efficient and professional. If only all private companies and govt agencies worked the same way.

only small confusion was when they saw prachuab as my last entry point in my passport and wanted to write 'car' down. I pointed out I had flown into HH from KL and that caused much looking at the entry stamp. Since the plane has now been cancelled, I guess they wont see many more :-(

All I had was blue book, passport, bank book, letter from bank confirming money. No map was asked for.

BTW, Nowhere in the passport does it say retirement. re-entry multiple until jan 2015.
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by hhfarang »

I went for my annual O-A (retirement) extension this morning and the immigration office and I set yet a new personal best for time. Last year as posted earlier I had beat my previous record by only being inside the office for 20 minutes. Today it was 10 minutes exactly for both 90 day reporting plus annual O-A Non Imm (retirement) extension together! I walked in the door at 10:45 and walked out the door done and dusted at 10:55. In fact it took me less than an hour total for the entire trip counting the drive to and from my home on west Soi 94 including a stop at a copy shop for a few copies.

I must admit that when I pulled into a near full parking lot and saw approximately 100 people crowded onto the front porch of the office, I was crestfallen and even afraid that I wouldn't get processed before their lunch break and have to return in the afternoon. It turned out that crowd was either just loitering, waiting on the lady who gives advice, or waiting on copies (glad I stopped at a copy shop on Phetkasem to get mine). I had to actually squeeze and push my way through the crowd to get to the office door and once inside, there were only about 3 customers. I took a number and it was two away from the one being serviced at the moment. I waited about 2 minutes until my number was called, was at the desk 4 or 5 minutes, then had to wait only a couple of more minutes until my package was ready, passport returned and and I was headed for the door. I didn't even have time to play one game of backgammon against the computer in my phone during the wait (and I play pretty fast).

Here is exactly all I took for the extension, along with my passport of course:

1. One 4x6 cm photo (blue background)
2. One TM7 fully filled out at home before I went (write your phone number on the back of the form just below your signature. Even though there is not a space provided for this they will ask you to do it)
3. One copy of the ID page of my passport, and every other page (*see note below) that has any visas or stamps with my signature written at the bottom of every copied page.
4. One copy of the Departure Card that is stapled in my passport from my last entry into Thailand with my signature at the bottom of the page.
5. An (original, no copy) affidavit from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok stating the amount of my monthly pension.
6. One copy of my house rental agreement with my signature at the bottom of the copied pages.
7. A hand drawn map showing where my rental house is located with my signature at the bottom of the page.
8. 1900 baht.

*The only difference from previous years extensions was that he did not want a copy of every page of my passport. He looked through them and immediately gave me back the copies of pages 10 through 17 which contain my extension stamps for the years 2005 to 2012 saying he didn't need them. I don't really understand why those particular pages were not needed so I will continue to take copies of every page and let them sort out what they don't want. What he kept was the copies of the ID page, the first page with the original visa (handwritten because it was carried over from a previous passport), the page containing my extension stamps for 2012 and 2013, and the page that has the re-entry stamp from my trip to the U.S. earlier this year.

In previous years they have kept every page so I'm a bit confused by this, but maybe it has to do with my leaving the country earlier this year so they only needed the original visa page, my last extension (2013), and the re-entry permit.
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by lomuamart »

I always think it's best to photocopy every extension I've had since the original O visa from Penang (and a copy of that as well).
I always reckon that they're looking for history and continuity - ie you havn't missed an extension date and had to start all over again with a visa.
It's only a few bits of paper. Must admit that I've never copied all pages, just the ones relevant to my extensions.
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by hhfarang »

^All the pages in my passport are extensions save the one this year for the re-entry visa. Since I never travel and I got a new passport in 2005, it's only Thai stamps in there all "relevant to my extensions".
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by Chazz14 »

As my Retirement Visa is due for renewal soon, so I found hhfarang's posts very interesting - thanks for the details!

I didn't realise that I can renew in HH, (although I will still have to visit the UK Embassy in BKK to obtain my pension letter).
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by richard »

Chazz14 wrote:As my Retirement Visa is due for renewal soon, so I found hhfarang's posts very interesting - thanks for the details!

I didn't realise that I can renew in HH, (although I will still have to visit the UK Embassy in BKK to obtain my pension letter).
You can get your pension letter by post. No need to go to BK
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Re: 'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

Post by musungu »

hhfarang wrote:^All the pages in my passport are extensions save the one this year for the re-entry visa. Since I never travel and I got a new passport in 2005, it's only Thai stamps in there all "relevant to my extensions".
HHF
Are you saying that the photo needs to have a 'blue background' because in previous years and when I had my re-entry visa this year my photos had a white background?
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