Thailand Visa question No. 424/22: From Tourist to Non-immigrant for long stay through an agency or do it yourself?
Questioner: Hank
I am now staying in Thailand and am going to arrange a long term visa. After each visit to collect more information, I get responses from agencies that they can arrange the application for 40.000 thb or higher.
Can't do that myself, because that's a lot of money. Can I do that at immigration or the Thai embassy?
They talk about opening a bank account and costs every time. Is that necessary because my pension is sufficient. Or why is that necessary? Do I really need 4 weeks?
Tomorrow I will apply for an extension for 30 days and 1.900 thb at immigration. Then I should probably make a border run to Vietnam or Malaysia and find out if a visa is needed.
Reaction RonnyLatYa
I assume that the intention is to stay in Thailand for a longer period of time and this on a Retirement basis. Apparently you are now staying in Thailand on a Tourist basis (Visa Exemption or Tourist visa). To obtain that year extension as Retired, it is necessary to first obtain the status of Non-immigrant. After all, you cannot obtain a year extension on a Tourist status. You can convert your Tourist status to a Non-immigrant and you can request this at immigration. Costs 2.000 Baht. Please note that there are at least 15 days left when submitting the application, because you will not receive it immediately. You will therefore need that 30-day extension that you will get tomorrow.
Financially, your income is sufficient if this is at least 65 Baht per month, although you will also have to request a visa support letter from the embassy as proof. You can find exactly what you need to convert from Tourist to Non-immigrant here: https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022C1_09.pdf
Upon approval, you will obtain the status of Non-immigrant O and as a result you will first obtain a residence period of 90 days. You can then extend it for a year 30 days before the end date. Here too, your income will suffice if it is at least 65.000 Baht. A visa support letter is also required here. Such an annual extension costs 1.900 Baht. You can find the correct requirements for an annual extension at your immigration office. You can then repeat this extension annually. Make sure you are in Thailand then.
If you want to leave Thailand during the annual extension, it is necessary to request a re-entry before you leave Thailand. Do not forget, otherwise you will lose the annual extension when you leave Thailand. Furthermore, every 90 days of uninterrupted residence in Thailand, report the 90 days address.
It's not that complicated and do something fun later with those 40 000 Baht or more they ask…. 😉
Success.
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