Extending Stay on O-A

[reispr01]

Hi.

I'm going to be applying for an application for extension of stay on an existing O-A.

But THIS time, I'm re-entering on a permit with only a few days left before expiration, and I have not yet found a permanent residence. (I've never had to report residence previously because I come and go frequently, and have never remained inside Thailand for more than 90 days).

Does anybody know if I can use the street address of the hotel I'll be staying at temporarily as my residence address for the purpose of the extension?

And one other, somewhat trivial question, I suppose - do the good folks at Thai Immigration in Chaengwattana Immigration in Bangkok take credit cards for the various fees? OK...maybe it's funny. But just wondering.

[david44]

Never tried a card doubt it, and bungs my office prefer single malts free meals or cash, they get pineapples from me in small denominations
Tod will confirm but with a few days you may have to fork oit for a shorter extension while under consideration.

While loathe to recommend for any other purpose there is an entire web site specializing in visas if you google

Also handy tips on waste disposal

Thai Visa moderator jailed for murdering Thai girlfriend
6 Feb 2015 - Thai Visa moderator jailed for murdering Thai girlfriend ... arrest in 2012 jailed for 9 years for murdering his Thai girlfriend and concealing her body ... they found her mostly decomposed remains in a trash bin in the basement.

[Loy Toy]

Just got my 12 month parental visa extended which is quite easy if you have all the documents and bank balance in place.

Now for the work permit which I have found in the past to be very complicated with heaps of documents which could choke a water buffalo.

As farangs here we are always under the microscope.

I suppose the same exists for Thais when trying to gain the same in our own countries so no challenge from me.

[toddaniels]

So let me get this straight; you bought a year-long multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type-OA visa from a thai embassy, the one that requires the police back ground check and the medical clearance right.

That visa if used correctly is good for TWO years of stay inside the country. Every time you enter thailand you're stamped in for another calendar year for the validity of the visa itself. Which means if you exited and re-entered just before the visa expired (NOT the permission to stay stamp) you would have been stamped in for a whole new calendar year. However, for the second year (after the visa itself expires) you'd have needed a re-entry permit to keep your stay stamp alive if you needed to exit/re-enter thailand..

Whether you managed to wring two years out of that visa makes no difference when applying for a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement).

You can apply for the extension out at Chaengwattana when there are 45 days or less left on your current permission to stay stamp.

There is no problem using a hotel as your place of residence. Heck I know a whole lotta old guys who live at the Nana Hotel (for the ambiance) and they use that address without a problem on their extension application.

Yes Chaengwattana does accept credit cards (something they started about 6months ago), but I'm pretty sure there's a fee to use one.

As long as you meet the financial criteria of either 800K baht banked in a thai bank for 60 days before your application, OR supply a letter from your embassy stating you get 65K baht a month OR use a combination of the two you'll be fine.

Oh and extensions of stay based on being over 50 don't go under consideration in Bangkok like they do in some backwater immigration offices.

[birding]

A Question Todd, well 2.

Would he need to take along a 'Notification from housemaster form' from the hotel he plans to stay in ?

And how would he get on with the copies of paperwork such a rental contract, owners ID etc ?

[toddaniels]

Would he need to take along a 'Notification from housemaster form' from the hotel he plans to stay in ?

Hotels & guest houses do those TM.30 notifications online, and they have an ability to print the receipt that they reported you. At this time Chaengwattana doesn't seem to care if you've filed a TM.30 or not.

And how would he get on with the copies of paperwork such a rental contract, owners ID etc ?

In Bangkok they usually don't ask for a lease or rental contract on extensions based on retirement.. I have seen them ask for it pretty consistently on marriage extensions and raising kids, but only once in a blue moon based on retirement. I'm pretty sure a hotel booking would suffice.

[OhOh]

Just applied for an extension based on marriage to a Thai lady. All seems OK, well I have satisfied the local immigration office anyway, it's been sent off to Bangkok for stamps etc. One thing new to me was the requirement for a form to be completed and signed from the original marriage office.

I am told that it is to ensure one is still married to the person named on the marriage certificate. Is this a new item to be gathered every year or was my local immigration officer just covering every eventuality?

[toddaniels]

OhOh;
When you originally registered your marriage you got two documents from the Amphur. One, the suitable for framing nicely printed one with the roses around the border, the other one is just all in thai and looks like a filled in form.

Sometimes immigration offices make you get that second one again, because if you've already legally divorced the local Amphur can't issue one.

I read that a b/s immigration office in Nakhon Nowhere was making people get a new one every year! Even for people who'd been getting yearly extensions of stay based on marriage there for many many years already.. That's just plain and simple thais tryin' to make us "hoop jump"...

So I take it you got the 30 day under-consideration stamp and go back in a month to get the extension stamped into your passport?

[OhOh]

Yes. This is my first in country extension so maybe it will get easier. I think they add additional requirements just wind the felangs up personally.

Next year I'll get my act together and ensure there is the correct amount of cash "showing" in my bank book.

I received a call this afternoon a call from the immigration office manager - he wants to to visit us at our home at 7am tomorrow for a sniff around.

Some tea and toast or a bottle of whisky, what's the crack?

[Dillinger]

^ get him some pics ready of you nobbing the wife.

PM some to me as well if you like

[OhOh]

My wife cleaned the house as never before !

The officer arrived at 8am took some more photos and left with a bag of Longon. He seemed happy.

[Norton]

what's the crack?

a bag of Longon

Mango works as well.

[Mr Earl]

Jeezer peezeers...the op is deep doodoo with this question..

Probably because he mentioned credit cards.

Anyway Thailand is not America, or Britland, euroland or any resemblance of ...whatever...

Anyway just a cheerfull word of encouragement, what nationality you are makes a significant difference.
Americans have it much easier that the rest of the poor sods.

Mind ya we gotta put up with all the hate form lesser nations.

[terry57]

I'm off home to Perth in two weeks time to get a new O-A long term visa.

I sucked the guts out of my last one and made it work for the full two years.

A sensational Visa is the O-A and anyone who returns back home would be mad not to get one.

Totally Bi-passes all the Immigration shite in Thailand.

All to easy.

[toddaniels]

Americans have it much easier that the rest of the poor sods.

I don't know where you're getting your information, BUT americans don't have it ANY easier than most other nationalities when using the embassy letter to show proof of funds for extensions of stays..

I don't have the exact count, but I know for a fact at least 15 different embassies crank out "stat-dec" or "verification of funds from abroad" notary letters without ANY proof what so ever that the information on the letter is backed up by anything.

Canada and the UK demand proof via bank statements, year end pension receipts or tax documents BEFORE they'll write the letter for you.. But those are the only ones I can think of that require it..

FYI: you can't even use the "combination method" (where you bank some money and use an embassy letter for the balance) on extensions based on marriage. You can only use the combination method on extensions of stay based on being over 50 (retirement). . .

For marriage extensions you either bank the full 400K for 60 days before the extension OR you show an embassy letter stating you get 40K baht a month income..

FWIW: The Immigration office out at Chaengwattana in Bangkok has BIG signs up all over stating they now accept credit cards.

terry57 - good on you for wringing the full 2 years out of that type of visa.. So many people get the second year BUT forget to buy a re-entry permit so when they leave it cancels..

[Mr Earl]

Just extended my non-OA retirement visa, in Phuket.
Not much new, except they now want a picture of you in front of your house or condo.
Now they want a copy of the front page of the bank book instead of a copy of the bank card.
And now it'an over night pick it up the next day deal. Before it was all done that day.

None of the intrusive questionaires I'd read about on TV!

[toddaniels]

Just extended my non-OA retirement visa

Not to be pedantic (or maybe just to be) BUT you most definitely didn't extend your Non O-A retirement visa ANYWHERE inside this country..

If indeed you originally held a Non-Immigrant Type O-A (longstay visa) when you went to an immigration office you applied for a "yearly extension of stay based on being over 50" (retirement).

You NEVER extend visas, they expire, period, end of story. Extensions of stays based on marriage, being over 50, raising kids, are issued for a year at a time. Then you go apply for a new one. They are not renewed..

Yeah that division down in Fuck-et are a kingdom unto their own. They seem to pride themselves on making up hare-brained rules and policies.

Still, glad you got your yearly extension of stay.