“Visa extensions’ for dependents allowed – for now

PHUKET: Following news reports last month that the Immigration Bureau will no longer issue “permit to stay” extensions for spouses and families of holders of retirement visas, Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO) Superintendent Pol Col Ittipon Atchariyapradit has told the Gazette he will will continue issuing such extensions until he receives an order to stop doing so.

“We are still issuing permits to stay to the families of retirees as before, but I cannot confirm when this will stop as it depends on when we receive the order [from Bangkok],” he said.

Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen of Phuket Immigration Office explained that the Immigration regulations currently stipulate that the dependents of any foreigner who has been granted permission to stay on a retirement visa can be granted extension to stay as per article 7.19 of the Royal Police Office Order 606/2006.

However, widespread reports have suggested that from September 1, extensions to stay for dependents would no longer be granted.

“I have heard that the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok has stopped issuing extensions to dependents of people on retirement visas, but we haven’t been informed of any changes by any informal document or any official order,” said Capt Krissarat.