how many days before visa expires should i do retirement extension?

[steve2112]

my current extension expires on dec 16th, can i go to renew on monday 8th, 8 days early?

 

thx

[sometimewoodworker]

16 minutes ago, steve2112 said:

my current extension expires on dec 16th, can i go to renew on monday 8th, 8 days early?

 

thx

30 days before is guaranteed to be OK everywhere.

[Peter Denis]

You can apply again for a 1-year extension in the 30 days before till actual permission to stay expiry date (16 Dec).  But best to do it somewhat earlier than expiry date, in case your application is incomplete, so that you can get hold of the required IO documentation.

There is no need to wait till the actual expiry date as the new extension will start from the date your current one expires.  There are only two exceptions to the above:

1 - If you change the REASON for your new 1-year extension application (e.g. from retirement to marriage), because then the new extension will start from the date of application;

2 - It might be necessary to wait till your permission to stay almost expires if that enables you to meet the 'seasoning requirement' of the funds kept in your personal thai bank-account.

[fishtank]

30 days before or even 45 days at some offices.

[Pi Tao]

2 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

30 jours avant, c'est garanti partout.

 

No Samui, only 2 weeks.

[Lacessit]

I'd recommend doing it about two weeks prior, in case there are any glitches. Has worked for me in my last two extensions.

[Fat George]

A word of warning. Chaeng Wattana immigration are currently issuing extensions that begin on the day you  arrive there. Not the day the previous extension ends. There is another thread on this topic. 

[ThailandRyan]

37 minutes ago, Fat George said:

A word of warning. Chaeng Wattana immigration are currently issuing extensions that begin on the day you  arrive there. Not the day the previous extension ends. There is another thread on this topic. 

Unless that has changed very recently, I have to disagree with you.  I went to CW just a little over a month ago as I had an O-A Visa which was stamped valid until November 20, 2020, as I arrived on the 21st of November 2019.  In September, I made an on-line appointment for October 20th, which was 30 days prior to my Visa expiring just in case I had some missing items and had to return.  Everything went smoothly and all paperwork was accepted even the Health Insurance was of no problem as it was in the system already for the next year.  The I/O stamped me in with an extension of stay Until November 20, 2021, with the date I applied as October 20, 2020 stamped underneath. 

 

[steve187]

46 minutes ago, Fat George said:

A word of warning. Chaeng Wattana immigration are currently issuing extensions that begin on the day you  arrive there. Not the day the previous extension ends. There is another thread on this topic. 

normal when changing reason for extension, 

[muffy]

8 hours ago, steve187 said:

normal when changing reason for extension, 

I go  2 months prior at CW ,keep the original date .Just  did it .

[jacko45k]

Anyone using income should consider going a few weeks early as I would worry a statement from the bank showing 12 months of deposits might be asked for. 

Even with money on deposit, the requirement is they need to look back 12 months now. 

[mtls2005]

12 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I'd recommend doing it about two weeks prior, in case there are any glitches. Has worked for me in my last two extensions.

 

Agreed. Gives you time in case there are any issues.

 

12 hours ago, Fat George said:

A word of warning. Chaeng Wattana immigration are currently issuing extensions that begin on the day you  arrive there. Not the day the previous extension ends. There is another thread on this topic. 

 

Not in my recent experience. Nor do I recall any posts mentioning this here or on various FB groups.

 

I went ~ 17 days prior to my then current permission to stay date, which was perserved. 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

12 hours ago, Fat George said:

A word of warning. Chaeng Wattana immigration are currently issuing extensions that begin on the day you  arrive there. Not the day the previous extension ends. There is another thread on this topic. 

Those reports were for the 60 day covid 19 extensions not normal one year extensions and etc.

[tonray]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Anyone using income should consider going a few weeks early as I would worry a statement from the bank showing 12 months of deposits might be asked for. 

Even with money on deposit, the requirement is they need to look back 12 months now. 

In addition, a concern for those extending OA visa permissions, is you need to time the insurance coverage as many offices want the coverage to be in effect the date you apply. Going early will cut off some of your potential year permission granted. 

[ThailandRyan]

30 minutes ago, tonray said:

In addition, a concern for those extending OA visa permissions, is you need to time the insurance coverage as many offices want the coverage to be in effect the date you apply. Going early will cut off some of your potential year permission granted. 

In my case I had an overlapping policy with my current policy ending the day my stamped in date was to end with the next year starting on that same date, albeit at 4:30 pm.  This was a minor issue as they had to confirm both of the certificates I had in my hand along with what PCH had put in the database which showed both policies, once confirmed it was no issue and they as I indicated in a previous post put the extension into my passport for the entire year until the date of the new years policy ending.  If you already have a policy for your current year it should not be a problem, but if you are just now obtaining the HI policy for the first time, I agree with Tonray.  Please ensure the policy start and end dates and try and get the insurance company to ensure it is in the system, as a few people have had some issues with the HI Company not getting it into the database.

[tonray]

11 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

In my case I had an overlapping policy with my current policy ending the day my stamped in date was to end with the next year starting on that same date, albeit at 4:30 pm.  This was a minor issue as they had to confirm both of the certificates I had in my hand along with what PCH had put in the database which showed both policies, once confirmed it was no issue and they as I indicated in a previous post put the extension into my passport for the entire year until the date of the new years policy ending.  If you already have a policy for your current year it should not be a problem, but if you are just now obtaining the HI policy for the first time, I agree with Tonray.  Please ensure the policy start and end dates and try and get the insurance company to ensure it is in the system, as a few people have had some issues with the HI Company not getting it into the database.

yeah...the whole nonsense is a logistical mightmare....of course there was little thought when the Ministerial order was written and even les thought as to why OA extensions require coverage and O extensions do not. But...Jai Yen...or else my left Aorta will blow a gasket

[ThailandRyan]

10 minutes ago, tonray said:

yeah...the whole nonsense is a logistical mightmare....of course there was little thought when the Ministerial order was written and even les thought as to why OA extensions require coverage and O extensions do not. But...Jai Yen...or else my left Aorta will blow a gasket

I agree, its only a matter of time before it will happen according to my contact at the Consulate Generals office in Los Angeles.  The other item that has always left me scratching my head was the difference in the annual money in the bank between a married O extension and a retirement extension either O or O-A.  Doesn't a married couple need more money?, or do they expect the Thai wife to have that amount in the bank without checking and be working as well.  One of the mysteries of the Thai Immigration law. Built in inequality.

 

30 to 45 days prior is when most people start the process depending on the IO office, some as I have read can only do it 2 weeks before.  Then there is the issue of IO visits to those who have been married either newly or for ages.

[cmarshall]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Anyone using income should consider going a few weeks early as I would worry a statement from the bank showing 12 months of deposits might be asked for. 

Even with money on deposit, the requirement is they need to look back 12 months now. 

 

And some banks, like Bangkok Bank, require a week or so to prepare the 12 month statement of deposits.  So, you have to plan in advance.

[mtls2005]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

its only a matter of time before it will happen according to my contact at the Consulate Generals office in Los Angeles.

 

Has your contact revealed an implementation date?

 

Often see posts like yours, all with "contacts" (usually "high level"), but rarely hear any details.

 

 

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Doesn't a married couple need more money?

 

When I've asked this question here I've received a couple of answers:

 

1. The foreigner can work on this type of ext., but may only be able to earn 40,000.

2. The wife may work.

 

Neither seem logical.

 

 

 

[Peter Denis]

21 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

I agree, its only a matter of time before it will happen according to my contact at the Consulate Generals office in Los Angeles.  ...

It is indeed well possible that there are plans to extend the mandatory 400K/40K in/out-patient insurance also to other categories of retirees, e.g. those on a Non Imm O Visa/extension for reason of retirement and maybe even expand it to those that got such extension for reason of marriage.

Obviously this would be the Wet Dream of the Thai insurance-lobby TGIA to extend that requirement from the current 'niche' of Non Imm O-A Visa holders to ALL Non Imm O Visa holders.

There are of course some hurdles to overcome to realize that TGIA objective, but with sufficient pressure/grease it would be achievable, after all this is Thailand.

 

Imo there are 4 main main hurdles that will hopefully prevent the TGIA from expanding the insurance scheme to Non Imm O Visa/extension holders:

 

1 - The current mandatory 400K/40K health-insurance was introduced on the argument that elder farang retirees were a burden for Thai hospitals because of non-paid bills.

> This myth has been debunked from the beginning as it was based on sloppy data-analysis.  On top of that how would an insurance with a deductible of 200K and capped till 400K, be of any benefit in addressing that non-paid hospital bill story.

 

2 - When extending the Non Imm O-A Visa in-country Immigration ONLY allows TGIA-approved policies offered by accepted Thai insurers.  As it currently only addresses the 'niche' of Non Imm O-A Visa holders, foreign/international insurers have not (yet) challenged that discrimination which excludes them from this market, but it would probably invoke a reaction from them when that practice would be further extended.   

 

3 - Those TGIA-approved policies (the only ones accepted by IO) do NOT allow subscribing to them when over 75 years of age.  As a result for those over 75 years of age it is simply impossible to meet the requirement, and their only options left were to marry a Thai national or to switch to a Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement.  But when also those routes would be blocked by expanding the health-insurance requirement to all Non Imm O and O-A Visa/extension holders, a solution must be foreseen for those unable to meet the requirement.

Note: And then there is of course the annual premium which when over +85 years of age (having subscribed to the policy before the 75 year old cut-off date) is almost as high as the coverage it provides.

 

4 - Not sure whether the Thai Embassies/Consulates and Thai border and in-country Immigration would be so keen on all the extra paper-work associated with such a mandatory insurance-requirement.  And the argument of the unpaid hospital-bills (see #1) by Non Imm O-A Visa holders without funds on a personal Thai bank-account does not hold when extending a Non Imm O or O-A permission to stay, as that requires meeting the financial requirements which for retirees are higher than the minimum 400K/40K insurance coverage.

[spetersen]

19 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

30 days before is guaranteed to be OK everywhere.

45 Days in Jomtien 

[AlfHuy]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I agree, its only a matter of time before it will happen according to my contact at the Consulate Generals office in Los Angeles.  The other item that has always left me scratching my head was the difference in the annual money in the bank between a married O extension and a retirement extension either O or O-A.  Doesn't a married couple need more money?, or do they expect the Thai wife to have that amount in the bank without checking and be working as well.  One of the mysteries of the Thai Immigration law. Built in inequality.

 

30 to 45 days prior is when most people start the process depending on the IO office, some as I have read can only do it 2 weeks before.  Then there is the issue of IO visits to those who have been married either newly or for ages.

You probably are supposed to live in the village with the in-laws who then take care of YOU, hence the 400k in bank.????

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, spetersen said:

 

21 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

30 days before is guaranteed to be OK everywhere.

45 Days in Jomtien 

 

So as I said 30 days is sure!!!

[katatonic]

21 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

30 days before is guaranteed to be OK everywhere.

I went in 6 days early and was told I was too late, must be at least 2 weeks (Phuket) so although it does state 30 days on the list of docs required form, don't take it literally. I'm. now on the standard covid 60 days and was told by more than one official that I now cannot apply for the O-A even if I keep the money in the bank for another 2 months.

[Peter Denis]

23 minutes ago, katatonic said:

I went in 6 days early and was told I was too late, must be at least 2 weeks (Phuket) so although it does state 30 days on the list of docs required form, don't take it literally. I'm. now on the standard covid 60 days and was told by more than one official that I now cannot apply for the O-A even if I keep the money in the bank for another 2 months.

I went in 6 days early and was told I was too late ???

Did Phuket IO deny your application for a 1-year extension of stay based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa, while you applied during the 30-day till permission to stay expiry date window? 

Or am I missing something...

 

[katatonic]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

I went in 6 days early and was told I was too late ???

Did Phuket IO deny your application for a 1-year extension of stay based on your original Non Imm O-A Visa, while you applied during the 30-day till permission to stay expiry date window? 

Or am I missing something...

 

No, I was applying for the O-A from a 60-day extension based on marriage as advised by the IO when I got it, transferring the funds to my Thai A/C in front of them and went in 6 days before the extension expiry.

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, katatonic said:

No, I was applying for the O-A from a 60-day extension based on marriage and went in 6 days before the end.

You cannot apply for OA visa at immigration. I assume you were trying to apply for a extension of stay based upon retirement.

What type of visa did you use for entry to the country.

 

[katatonic]

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You cannot apply for OA visa at immigration. I assume you were trying to apply for a extension of stay based upon retirement.

What type of visa did you use for entry to the country.

 

Okay, may be a bit confused by the terminology - was trying to convert my 60 day extension by reason of marriage into a 3 month then 12 month visa, marriage actually not retirement (but still relevant to the OP I think). You advised me to do this on a previous thread, immigration concurring when I attended the first time. I entered on a tourist visa as usual as I did spend a lot more time elsewhere in SE Asia than here before C-19.

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, katatonic said:

Okay, may be a bit confused by the terminology - was trying to convert my 60 day extension by reason of marriage into a 3 month then 12 month visa, marriage actually not retirement (but still relevant to the OP I think). You advised me to do this on a previous thread, immigration concurring when I attended the first time. I entered on a tourist visa as usual as I did spend a lot more time elsewhere in SE Asia than here before C-19.

if you entered on a tourist visa you must have at least 15 day remaining on your permit to stay to apply for a non-o visa at immigration. Requirements for a non-o visa application based upon marriage at immigration is here.

https://bangkokimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/06-edit_NON-O.pdf

[katatonic]

57 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

if you entered on a tourist visa you must have at least 15 day remaining on your permit to stay to apply for a non-o visa at immigration. Requirements for a non-o visa application based upon marriage at immigration is here.

https://bangkokimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/06-edit_NON-O.pdf

Okay, thanks, makes sense now but unfortunately I wasn't aware of that at the time. I'm off to work elsewhere for quite a while soon, since getting a new job yesterday, so luckily it won't affect me though.