New to retirement visa

[expatsally]

Has anyone out there turned an ED visa into a retirement visa? My passport expires at the end of January 2015 and need to know if I need to return to the U.S. and apply for an OA based on retirement or can I get a few months ED visa on the new passport and turn it into a retirement visa when I turn 50 in July?
After ten years of living in Thailand I never thought I'd be so happy to turn the big 5 0!
Thanks all....cheers!

[jingjoe]

Im pretty sure you are eligible for retirement visa in the year you turn 50...so if you turn 50 in july you can apply 1st january even though you are 49..

[lomuamart]

I'm not too sure of that. Imm may play it by the book and tell you to wait until you're actually 50. That's what happened to me a number of years ago. Had to wait till August of that year.
Still, there's no harm in popping up to Imm and asking the question. Let us know how you get on.
You'll need to ask about upgrading your visa from Ed to Non Imm O. The O visa lets you get the retirement extension as well. There's no need for the OA. If Imm won't upgrade, then a trip to Penang or Savannaket should get you a single entry O visa (as you're over 50 and looking to retire) and you can apply for the extension within the last 30 days of your 90 days permitted to stay.

[dtaai-maai]

If your passport expires next Jan, can I also suggest you ask Imm if you need to renew it before you apply for the extension.

EDIT: Even if you don't have to, doing so will save you the expense and hassle of transferring the extension into your new ppt a few months later.

[expatsally]

I did ask imm if i could get the full 12 months ED until April 2015, but no way....ends when passport expires end of Jan. 2015 no transfer so I've lost those months ;(
So I was trying to figure out the best and cheapest option for some sort of visa until I turn 50 in July to be able to turn it into a retirement visa.
Thanks for all your help guys!