I am currently on an ED visa which is due to expire on the 1st of April. As I am now 50 I would like to change this to a retirement visa, I also have to go back to the UK next month and I intend not to get a re-entry permit but instead come back in with another 30 days from the 16th of March.
I understand the financial requirements of the visa and I'm married to a Thai but I'm not sure if I can do everything in Hua Hin do I have to go to BKK, leave the Country etc etc?
Any help from the resident visa experts would be greatly appreciated
Retirement visa question
Re: Retirement visa question
To extend a visa on the basis of retirement, you basically need a Non Immigrant O visa.
You can return from the UK, get a 30 day visa exempt stamp and then upgrade that to to Non O visa within country as long as you have at least 15 days left out of your 30.
You'll need to prove the financial requirements to upgrade. Once that is done, you'll be given another 90 days - without leaving the country - and within the last 30 days of those you can apply for a year's extension on the basis of retirement. Same financial stuff.
So, you'll have to do things twice and run around quickly to get the upgrade but it's quite possible to end up, visa wise, where you want to be.
Alternatively, consider just getting the Non O visa back in the UK. You'll qualify for that, hopefully. You'll arrive here, get a 90 day entry and have that amount of time to sort out your extension.
No need to exit the country under either option.
Marriage extension should be a possibility as well and financial requirements are less than for retirement. Again Non O visa necessary,
You can return from the UK, get a 30 day visa exempt stamp and then upgrade that to to Non O visa within country as long as you have at least 15 days left out of your 30.
You'll need to prove the financial requirements to upgrade. Once that is done, you'll be given another 90 days - without leaving the country - and within the last 30 days of those you can apply for a year's extension on the basis of retirement. Same financial stuff.
So, you'll have to do things twice and run around quickly to get the upgrade but it's quite possible to end up, visa wise, where you want to be.
Alternatively, consider just getting the Non O visa back in the UK. You'll qualify for that, hopefully. You'll arrive here, get a 90 day entry and have that amount of time to sort out your extension.
No need to exit the country under either option.
Marriage extension should be a possibility as well and financial requirements are less than for retirement. Again Non O visa necessary,
Re: Retirement visa question
Thanks very much very helpful makes far more sense than what they told me at immigration today
Re: Retirement visa question
Depends on what they told you.
Without that info, we can't really advise.
Without that info, we can't really advise.
Re: Retirement visa question
To be fair we got a little bogged down on the need for a re-entry permit they were adamant I needed one and I couldn't see the point as I would have only 15 days left on my ED visa on my return. Probably got a bit confused as well as to how to get a non O my Thai is not that great, think I will apply for one by post in the UK next month following your suggestion.