Questioner: Graham
Currently I am staying in Thailand and want to stay longer. I now have a tourist visa with a 30 day extension until May 19. My KLM flight is scheduled for May 16, but it will probably not take place due to the restrictions of the Thai government. I also intend to stay longer in Thailand because I have a son here in another province with a Dutch and a Thai passport.
I am 50 years old. I have my own company in the Netherlands that I can manage online in Thailand via an internet connection and my laptop.
Can someone advise me to obtain the correct visa that I am thinking about is there an extension of 90 days or possibly a year.
Reaction RonnyLatYa
There may be some options.
1. If you want a year extension, you must first have the status of Non-immigrant. You don't have that now. You can ask immigration to convert your Tourist status to a Non-immigrant status. Normally, however, there must be a minimum of 15 days of stay left when you submit the application, but you can try. But don't wait any longer than that.
The conditions are about the same as if you were to apply for an annual extension based on “Retirement”, but check the details just to be sure. Costs 2000 Baht. When allowed, you will receive a 90-day residence period. Just as if you would have entered Thailand with a Non-immigrant O. You can then extend those 90 days later by a year on the basis of “Retirement” in the usual way. Then costs 1900 Baht.
2. Since you have a period of stay based on a Tourist visa, you can stay until July 31. Then you will have to leave Thailand. I don't think you can extend that period anymore. Whether you can go back in afterwards is the question. Will depend on the conditions that are set, but if so you can re-enter on the basis of “Visa Exemption”. You will then receive a 30-day stay. If you also want to extend it by a year, you will have to follow the same procedure as above, ie you will first have to convert your Tourist status to a Non-immigrant status.
3. As mentioned, you can stay until July 31 without being in danger of Overstay. Afterwards you will have to go outside. You can get a Non-immigrant O visa somewhere. Upon re-entry, conditions permitting, you will then be granted a 90-day residence period. You can then extend it for another year in the usual way.
4. I don't immediately see other possibilities. It is not possible to extend for 90 days. Only a year extension is possible, if you have the status of Non-immigrant.
As you can read in 2 and 3, there is always a risk that you cannot immediately return after 31 July. So I would try to go for option 1, but certainly don't wait days with that. It may already be on the verge if not too late.
5. I don't know what your son's age is, but I don't think he will really have an impact on getting a residence period since he already lives in another province. To stay here for your son's sake he must be under 20 and you must live under the same roof.
Good luck. Let us know how it went.
Regards,
RonnyLatYa