Visa Extension Experience Today

[Flutterby]

I got my retirement (non-immigrant O-A) visa extension today (January 22, 2019) at Chaeng Wattana in Bangkok. Here are some thoughts.

 

1. Based on everything I have read here and other places, your experience may be different.
2. I arrived at about 9:45am and got number 108 and they were at 30. They were taking about 20 numbers per hour. I estimated my number to come up around 3:00pm. I went to lunch at 11:00 and came back at 1:30 and they were already at 121 so I had to get a new number (182) and start the wait again. My fault but I don't know why they had skipped so many numbers. Maybe people decided not to wait. My number was called at about 3:30pm so not long after I had originally predicted.
3. I had a letter from Bangkok Bank from the day before stating that I had more than the required balance to get a visa. Nonetheless, I was told my passbook had to be updated TODAY! I had to go downstairs, pay 100 Baht and get it updated. I could have accomplished this as well by either depositing or withdrawing 1000 Baht (or whatever) and avoid paying a stupid 100 Baht fee because the transaction would have caused them to update my bank book.
4. A friend I met by chance at immigration said that they asked him for a TM30 for the first time and he has lived in Bangkok for 20 years. They didn't ask me for this form or even for my lease agreement.
5. I had photocopies of my passport including the photo page, my last Visa page (issued in the USA), the last page with stamps, and a short visa extension (until February 2, 2019) issued at the airport due to a misunderstanding about expirations when I left on my last trip out of the country. What I didn't have was a photocopy of my departure card stub. Fortunately, the immigration agent made the copy for me right there.
6. I tried to give him the TM08 form to get a multi-entry visa but he waved it away. I learned at the end that I got only the single-entry visa. A friend told me I had to go to another window and another line to get the multi-entry visa. I am still not clear about that.
7. I was pretty anxious about the whole process but he granted the visa extension without a problem. It took about 25 minutes with the agent then had to wait for someone to bring me my passport.
8. I think it would have been harder if I had not had my Thai girlfriend with me. The immigration agent pretty much talked only to her and she told me what to do at each step.
9. We walked out at about 4:45pm.

 

What I still need to know is how do I get a re-entry permit when I fly out of the country. If anyone can tell me, I would appreciate it.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

18 minutes ago, Flutterby said:

I tried to give him the TM08 form to get a multi-entry visa but he waved it away. I learned at the end that I got only the single-entry visa. A friend told me I had to go to another window and another line to get the multi-entry visa. I am still not clear about that.

 

What form did you actually use/submit to get your "extension"?

 

TM7 is the normal form for extensions of stay (1 year based on retirement or marriage)

TM8 is the normal form for re-entry permits (covering either single or multiple entries)

 

With an extension of stay, once issued, if you want to travel outside Thailand, you need to also get a re-entry permit or your extension will be canceled upon your departure and won't be valid upon your return. That's what the reentry permit is for -- 1 entry for single entry version, or unlimited entries for the year for the multiple entry version.

 

Normally, once you get a new extension of stay, you just go and line up in a different queue to get an updated/new reentry permit to match your new extension of stay.

 

TM7 for the extension application,.then

TM8 for the reentry permit application.

 

At least at CW BKK, those are handled by different units in the Immigration office there and you have to get different queue tickets for each item.  Same with 90-day reporting if you needed to do it in person there, different unit and different queue required.

 

About the bank paperwork, for Thai bank deposits, BKK CW usually wants to see your bank book updated the SAME day as you apply, though the separate bank letter can be dated a day or so earlier.

 

 

Edited January 22, 2019 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The retirement extension stamp from Immigration should look like this:

 

 

[DrJack54]

Umm, glad you got the extension however few things were your own fault. Some io at CW wish to see a bank activity on the day of application. Strange will accept bank letter day or 2 prior. As for reentry permit. They are done different area. Anyway your best to obtain at airport tm8 download fill in and do at airport. Quick and easy. The tm30 must be very new. I did my extension November CW, and used lease as per every other extension. However they wanted map location of condo. Bit confused about some of your other comments

[joevanwyck]

Thank you for posting your experience extending your visa.????

[Tanoshi]

11 hours ago, Flutterby said:

I tried to give him the TM08 form to get a multi-entry visa but he waved it away. I learned at the end that I got only the single-entry visa. A friend told me I had to go to another window and another line to get the multi-entry visa. I am still not clear about that.

It isn't a Visa, it's a permit and doesn't allow any entries.

You've extended your permission to stay from an O-A Visa. Your Visa has expired.

 

You have to purchase either a single (1000BHT) or multiple (3800BHT) re-entry permit if you want to exit/re-enter during the 1 year extension. A separate desk at CW.

[OJAS]

11 hours ago, Flutterby said:

A friend I met by chance at immigration said that they asked him for a TM30 for the first time and he has lived in Bangkok for 20 years. They didn't ask me for this form or even for my lease agreement.

Looks like it's luck of the draw regarding enforcement of the TM30 requirement at CW these days then - depending, presumably, on which particular officer you deal with and, more importantly, which side of the bed he/she had got out of that morning.

Edited January 23, 2019 by OJAS

[Flutterby]

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Umm, glad you got the extension however few things were your own fault. Some io at CW wish to see a bank activity on the day of application. Strange will accept bank letter day or 2 prior. As for reentry permit. They are done different area. Anyway your best to obtain at airport tm8 download fill in and do at airport. Quick and easy. The tm30 must be very new. I did my extension November CW, and used lease as per every other extension. However they wanted map location of condo. Bit confused about some of your other comments

Thanks, DrJack54. I have the TM8 download, filled, and printed. Is there somewhere special at the airport or just any one of the departure immigration booths?

[Flutterby]

10 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

It isn't a Visa, it's a permit and doesn't allow any entries.

You've extended your permission to stay from an O-A Visa. Your Visa has expired.

 

You have to purchase either a single (1000BHT) or multiple (3800BHT) re-entry permit if you want to exit/re-enter during the 1 year extension. A separate desk at CW.

So basically, if I plan to travel out of Thailand fewer than 4 times, it is less expensive to do the single re-entry permit.

[Caldera]

13 minutes ago, Flutterby said:

So basically, if I plan to travel out of Thailand fewer than 4 times, it is less expensive to do the single re-entry permit.

Yes. But if you get let's say 3 single re-entry permits, you've wasted quite a bit of space in your passport, so you might also want to take that into account.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Flutterby said:

Thanks, DrJack54. I have the TM8 download, filled, and printed. Is there somewhere special at the airport or just any one of the departure immigration booths?

As for reentry permit its an absolute breeze. Just one thing to note, which is important. The reentry office at don mueang is just on other side of pp control. Mention to io that your obtaining reentry permit. Have your TM8 filled in with photo attached. Takes about 10 mins. 

At swampy reentry permit is prior to pp control so don't stuff up. Some folk will talk about 200baht fee. That's charged if you bring nothing and let them do it . photo included. 200 baht. Up to you if you want that service.

[Tanoshi]

4 hours ago, Flutterby said:

So basically, if I plan to travel out of Thailand fewer than 4 times, it is less expensive to do the single re-entry permit.

Correct, but you have to consider the time or inconvenience to obtain each single entry permit and as @Caldera mentioned, the extra space taken up in your passport.

A multi re-entry stamp will take up 1/2 page of a passport, whereas 4 x singles will require 2 pages.

[jacko45k]

15 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

At swampy reentry permit is prior to pp control so don't stuff up. Some folk will talk about 200baht fee. That's charged if you bring nothing and let them do it . photo included. 200 baht. Up to you if you want that service.

Can you still get to the permit at the airport if you go through the priority security? I didn't notice anywhere last time I did that.

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Can you still get to the permit at the airport if you go through the priority security? I didn't notice anywhere last time I did that.

You mean DM or swampy. Think swampy its just before passport control immigration zone 2. 

DM is immediately other side of pp control next door to overstay fines.

 

[farangx]

17 hours ago, Flutterby said:

So basically, if I plan to travel out of Thailand fewer than 4 times, it is less expensive to do the single re-entry permit.

Yes, just make sure you remember to get one before you fly out.

 

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You mean DM or swampy. Think swampy its just before passport control immigration zone 2. 

DM is immediately other side of pp control next door to overstay fines.

 

Well I did quote your reference to swampy, I have been avoiding DM for many years now. Particularly if I am using Priority lane security and passport control, as I said, didn't notice anywhere to do it when I went through. May have to join all the other oinks I guess! ????

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Particularly if I am using Priority lane security and passport control, as I said, didn't notice anywhere to do it when I went through. May have to join all the other oinks I guess! ????

There is not re-entry permit disk in the zone for priority security and immigration. It is either use the normal lane or get one before you leave.

Or get a multiple re-entry permit so you don't need another one for a year.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Or get a multiple re-entry permit so you don't need another one for a year

Thanks, although I balk at the 3800 cost, yet spend a lot on a Biz Class tickets! Don't fly in and out so much these days.

[dddave]

You must have an active international boarding pass to get a Re-Entry permit at the airport. At Suvarnabhumi, you can only do the re-entry at Immigration zone 2, not 1.  When I used the priority lane, I told them I needed a re-entry permit and they escorted me to the desk.  The form was automatically filled out for me from information on my passport, all I had to do was sign the application.  I was not given the option of using the photo I had brought, they used their own photo and I was charged an additional B200.

At the airport, the process takes about 15-20 minutes, at CW up to two hours+.

The Don Muang Re-Entry office shares space with the overstay department. There are often a number of people waiting.  Make sure to tell them you are there for the re-entry permit and they will usually process you right through.

Edited January 24, 2019 by dddave

[DrJack54]

57 minutes ago, dddave said:

You must have an active international boarding pass to get a Re-Entry permit at the airport. At Suvarnabhumi, you can only do the re-entry at Immigration zone 2, not 1.  When I used the priority lane, I told them I needed a re-entry permit and they escorted me to the desk.  The form was automatically filled out for me from information on my passport, all I had to do was sign the application.  I was not given the option of using the photo I had brought, they used their own photo and I was charged an additional B200.

At the airport, the process takes about 15-20 minutes, at CW up to two hours+.

The Don Muang Re-Entry office shares space with the overstay department. There are often a number of people waiting.  Make sure to tell them you are there for the re-entry permit and they will usually process you right through.

At DM the reentry office is clearly marked. When enter the reentry is issued to your immediate right. Not sure about your reference to overstay office. I thought that was one office next door to right. Anyway whatever it is I do reentry every yr at DM last 7 yr. Have me tm8 all filled in with 3800 in my sky rocket. 10 mins. I would never even bother obtain at CW even when I'm there for 12 month extension. Yes I mentioned zone 2 location for swampy earlier. Also if you bring everything with you form photo etc to swampy there is no 200baht service charge

Edited January 24, 2019 by DrJack54
Error

[JohnC]

I am going on holiday later this year and have a TM8 filled out ready , the one section that confuses me is the one that asks" My previous visa for Thailand is of the category of" 

Now do I put my Non O from 2006 or my retirement extension from 2019? 

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Now do I put my Non O from 2006

You put that visa.

[JohnC]

Thanks Ubonjoe