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A few days ago started the ball rolling to change non-o visa to a retirement extension of stay.
The first step was to make an appointment with the US Embassy to recieve the notarized statement of income. This complete proceedure from making the appointment and downloading the form is done on line. You will be shown a calender with you availiable dates, select one and you are good to go. The website could use some improvement to become a bit more user friendly but not impossible.
Upon arrival, about 15 to 20 min early to navigate security, go to window a in citizen services room and let them know you are there. You will then be given a slip of paper for the cashier. Go to cashier and pay fee $50.00 or about 1500baht drop off everthing at window c and have a seat. Twenty minutes later called to window swore that the income was correct signed the form in front of officer and left.
The following day went out to Immigration at 12pm. I took the skytrain to Mor chit and took a taxi from there to Cheang Watthana arriving a few minutes before 1pm.
A nice Thai lady showed me where the copy center located in the basement, told the lady at copy center applying for retirement extension she took passport and made the approiate copies about 10 baht later out the door and up to immigration on second floor southend of building. Got a laff out of the people explaing what they wanted copied from thier passport when these women know what is necessary for each visa process.
Went back to Immigration went to information desk and they checked paper work and said go get Q number. Went thru double doors and showed paper work to Qnumber dispenser and recieved number for non-o extension. It took about 2 and a half hours before my number was called. There was a constant stream of Q jumpers who had agents and these folks would just walk into the office of the officer, even when they were helping someone. These people were helped in front of the people who had Qed up. I didn't see money exchange hands but the agents were known by the immigration officers.
Immigration officer checked my paper work, forgot to write down phone number. She did the stamps I paid the money and was given everything and was directed to another office were it was all double checked by a very cute officer.
After this walked out with a one year extension of stay for retirement. I went back to the Q line and recieved a number for permission to re-enter. This process took about 15 to 20 minutes and cost 3800 baht for a multi entry.
The whole process took about 4 hours with travel time, office crowded, but overall painless to do and it cost me for the extension of stay 1900baht and re-entry permit 3600baht and Embassy letter 1500 baht.
All of this and now good to go for one year, can come and go and no visa concerns.
The first step was to make an appointment with the US Embassy to recieve the notarized statement of income. This complete proceedure from making the appointment and downloading the form is done on line. You will be shown a calender with you availiable dates, select one and you are good to go. The website could use some improvement to become a bit more user friendly but not impossible.
Upon arrival, about 15 to 20 min early to navigate security, go to window a in citizen services room and let them know you are there. You will then be given a slip of paper for the cashier. Go to cashier and pay fee $50.00 or about 1500baht drop off everthing at window c and have a seat. Twenty minutes later called to window swore that the income was correct signed the form in front of officer and left.
The following day went out to Immigration at 12pm. I took the skytrain to Mor chit and took a taxi from there to Cheang Watthana arriving a few minutes before 1pm.
A nice Thai lady showed me where the copy center located in the basement, told the lady at copy center applying for retirement extension she took passport and made the approiate copies about 10 baht later out the door and up to immigration on second floor southend of building. Got a laff out of the people explaing what they wanted copied from thier passport when these women know what is necessary for each visa process.
Went back to Immigration went to information desk and they checked paper work and said go get Q number. Went thru double doors and showed paper work to Qnumber dispenser and recieved number for non-o extension. It took about 2 and a half hours before my number was called. There was a constant stream of Q jumpers who had agents and these folks would just walk into the office of the officer, even when they were helping someone. These people were helped in front of the people who had Qed up. I didn't see money exchange hands but the agents were known by the immigration officers.
Immigration officer checked my paper work, forgot to write down phone number. She did the stamps I paid the money and was given everything and was directed to another office were it was all double checked by a very cute officer.
After this walked out with a one year extension of stay for retirement. I went back to the Q line and recieved a number for permission to re-enter. This process took about 15 to 20 minutes and cost 3800 baht for a multi entry.
The whole process took about 4 hours with travel time, office crowded, but overall painless to do and it cost me for the extension of stay 1900baht and re-entry permit 3600baht and Embassy letter 1500 baht.
All of this and now good to go for one year, can come and go and no visa concerns.
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