Renew retirement Visa

[Ray.H]

Can anyone tell me what forms, i.e. (tm7 / tm8) and any other documentation I need to complete and take to immigration to renew my yearly non immigration O retirement visa? Due for renewal end December.

[lomuamart]

Yourself
Your passport
TM7 duly completed
Photocopies of your passport details page, your original Non O visa (I'm assuming a non O), the entry stamp, the previous extension and the departure card. I always take 2 copies of everything and they only ask for 1.
Details of your finances - either in the form of a letter from your Thai bank stating how much you have in your account and your passbook. The figures should be the same and the letter dated as close to your application date as possible. OR, a letter from your Embassy in BKK confirming your average monthly income.
Quite possibly a rental or ownership document confirming your address and a hand drawn map of where you live. I'd err on the side of caution and be prepared for those requirements although they may not be asked for.
Fee - 1,900 THB.
That should do it. I don't think I've forgotten anything.

Edit If you've had more than one extension before, copy all of them.
PPS Be careful of all the holidays (Xmas and NY) coming up. Imm will be closed. You can apply for the new extension within the last 30 days of your current one. If you apply early, you won't "lose" lose any time. Your next year will always run from when the current extension expires regardless of when you apply. If you miss the date, you'll have to start at square one again and that means getting a new visa.

[Ray.H]

Thats great, thanks for your help.

[hhfarang]

I did it in September using monthly income. This is what I needed (I think the same as Lomu wrote):

For the Retirement renewal using monthly pension income:

1) TM7 form filled out
2) 1 copy of my passport - photo page, every stamped page, and the attached immigration departure card.
3) 1 4x6 photo
4) Certificate letter from the U.S. Embassy stating the amount of my monthly pension.
5) A copy of my Yellow Book (house registration)
6) A hand drawn map of where my house is located
7) 1,900 Baht fee

If doing it by money on deposit here you need 800k baht in the bank 3 months before renewal.

[lomuamart]

I forgot forgot about the photo, hhfarang.
Thanks.

[ric]

Is it a 4x6 photo of yourself or a 2x2 (normal passport photo) that is needed for an o-a retirement visa annual extension ? Also, does Thai Immigration require a photo copy of every single page of your passport ? One more, if you lease an apartment, do they require a hand drawn map of its location ?

[advocate]

You need 2 passport sized photos.
Don't need photocopy of every passport page, only photocopy of page of your passport that has your name and photo and photocopy of the page with your last entry stamp. I think they need 2 copies of each? They want a handrawn map regardless of whether you rent or own.

I previously had to give a family photo but perhaps this is bc I was relying on the fact I have Thai dependants to obtain my renewal.

[lomuamart]

I've only ever needed one copy of the documents and one photo but it's best to have more in case they ask for two. As advocate says, there's no need for copies of all your passport pages. If you look at hhfarang's and my posts above, you'll see the pages/stamps that do need to be provided.
A rudimentary drawing of directions to your house will suffice and it's best to take your ownership or rental agreement along as well.
No need for family photos if you're applying for the extension on the basis of retirement.

[advocate]

My understanding is that certain types of applications must be approved by an office in Bangkok and in those cases they require one set of documents for the Hua Hin office and another set for Bangkok.

This is so in my case, as I have a non-immigrant O visa, granted bc I have Thai dependants.

[lomuamart]

Yes, an extension based on marriage to a Thai needs to be granted at BKK. Local/provincial offices only process the application, give you a 30 day under consideration extension and wait for BKK's approval or otherwise.
As I said, there should only be the need for one copy of everything if applying for reasons of retirement. That application can be granted by local offices. ric is asking about the retirement extension.

[ric]

Anyone know if the tm7 and tm8 forms are available on-line to be downloaded ??

[Big Boy]

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en ... e=download

[ric]

Thanks Big Boy.

[pitsch]

Made it yesterday. Went to Bangkok Bank (about 10 a.m.) to get the letter confirming the 800 000 Baht. They said I should come one day before I go to immigration (I have to drive from Sam Roi Yod 50 km), but finally I got it after 20 minutes. Immigration was completely full with farangs at 10:30.
At 11:30 I came to the officer with all my copies as mentioned above. But she wanted to have a copy of the bank book (which I could not make before, because it was not updated). Copy room full of people, so had my copy at 12:00. Now there was a sign on the door "closed from 12 to 13". But at least they let me in again and I was finished at 12:30. Last year it took me 20 minutes instead of 2 hours.

[easyas]

Made it yesterday. Went to Bangkok Bank (about 10 a.m.) to get the letter confirming the 800 000 Baht. They said I should come one day before I go to immigration (I have to drive from Sam Roi Yod 50 km), but finally I got it after 20 minutes. Immigration was completely full with farangs at 10:30.
At 11:30 I came to the officer with all my copies as mentioned above. But she wanted to have a copy of the bank book (which I could not make before, because it was not updated). Copy room full of people, so had my copy at 12:00. Now there was a sign on the door "closed from 12 to 13". But at least they let me in again and I was finished at 12:30. Last year it took me 20 minutes instead of 2 hours.

I was told "to get a letter from my bank" - is there a standard format? If so, is it downloadable from Immigration? Do all the banks know what to put in the letter? Are they issued at branch level?