Dear Editor/Ronny,
I have a question regarding my visa. I have a tourist single visa. I entered on January 28 and have to report back before March 28, although I had requested non-immigrant. My intention is to stay in Thailand, I am 65 years old, have a good pension and 50.000 Euros in an account, all passed on to the embassy in Belgium.
I also had to book a return flight, this was mandatory, so I have a return flight June 4, to arrange a few things.
My question what steps should I take?
Regards,
Patrick
Dear Patrick,
Too bad they didn't give you a Non-immigrant "O" Single entry in the Embassy in Brussels, because then it would have been solved faster.
You now have the status of “Tourist” in Thailand and you can only get an extension for 30 days. Nothing left.
To obtain a longer period of residence, you must first obtain a Non-immigrant status. You can do that through immigration. You must have at least 14 days left of your stay, because it can take a while before that permission is received. You also have to be 50+, but that's not a problem given your age.
You go to your immigration office and ask to convert your Tourist status to a Non-immigrant for the sake of “Retirement”. This can be done with form TM 86 – Application for change of visa: www.immigration.go.th/download/ see No. 30
The forms you will have to submit will be about the same as if you go for a year extension. It is best to first ask your immigration office what you need to hand in, but this will be roughly:
– TM86 – Application for change of visa
– Passport photos
- Passport
– Copy of passport page personal data
– Copy of passport page last entry stamp
– Copy of passport page visa
– Copy of TM6 (Departure Card)
– Copy proof of address
– The financial requirement you are going to use
– An Affidavit of income for at least 65 000 Baht per month
– A bank account of at least 800 000 Baht.
– A combination of income and a bank account that together must be 800 Baht on an annual basis.
– The cost to go from Tourist to Non-immigrant is 2000 Baht.
If accepted, you will first be granted a 90-day residence period, just like someone who would enter on a Non-immigrant “O” visa. You can then extend those 90 days for another year at the end. You will then have to meet the requirements for an annual extension based on “Retirement”.
You can probably use your pension to prove your income, but with your bank account in Belgium you are nothing in Thailand. However high the amount may be. Here only bank accounts in a Thai bank count.
I'd say don't wait too long and good luck.
Let us know how it turned out.
Regards,
RonnyLatYa