4evermaat

@Cyclenshaven It will be a lot less painful if you apply for ME non-o now.  Any of the 90 day entries you can apply for the 1 year extension.  This gives you maximum flexibility.  The only thing you "lose" is a few extra bucks on the visa fee (single vs multiple non-imm).  Other than that, you are golden.

Especially in light of the recent issues at immigration (TM 30, extra money seasoning in bank, et al) that could possibly delay your application, the ME will give you more options until you get settled.

4 hours ago, smedly said:

This now needs to linked to a general lazada thread so that everyone is aware of were they stand if they return a product

That was apparently tried a few months ago and it was deleted.   

Caveat Emptor

But I don't think the new changes are insurmountable.  And maybe you can still use a wallet if you attach significant other's id card #.  But particularly for high ticket items or items that are easily "faked" (like SD cards, thumb drives, et al) you should buy from LazMall or official stores (official brand or trusted stores with offline presence and use Lazada as additional sales channel).

I've had my fair share of fake goods sold, but the refund was always processed.  Even if it took a little bit longer than expected.   Next time I shop, I'll look at the wallet situation.

Actually, those personal details are in immigration office fairly open.  Sometimes immigration officials will use another person's application/passport to show a new applicant a live example of the paperwork requirement (they just grab a related packet from the stack)

Apparently privacy isn't a big deal for them.

41 minutes ago, Cyclenshaven said:

I guess the process is similar to my current NON-IMM B visa, which I have to extend every year too.

As I moved here with the intention of staying here permanently I would be applying for the 1 year extension. The money isn't that big of a deal, I use it in Thailand anyway and have some extra in a fixed deposit account as well, that counts too right? Or does it have to be a savings/checking account?

 

 

You are confusing an extension of stay with the non-imm B (or O) visa.  Different consulates have different requirements for whether they will issue non-imm visas and whether they can issue multiple entry or only single entry visas.   You never mentioned which consulate (city, country) you were asking about visa options in the OP.

Extensions of stay do not have any additional entries attached to them.  you must obtain a separate re-entry permit (single or multiple) and attach it to each extension.

5 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Did I read that right? KL demands proof of 400,000 just for a one-entry (three month stay) visa?

Probably.  Not many people report from KL here.  

Penang might be better option if you have a little time.  There are regular buses, etc between the two cities, correct?

Married to Thai national?  Savannakhet Laos and Vietnam consulates let you obtain ME non-o without financial proof.

12 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You don't need a Thai bank account. The financial proof the embassy and consulates in Malaysia want can be be in any bank if if is at least the equivalent of 200k or 400k baht dependent upon where you apply.

I know that Penang the sign on the door specifically said bank statement must be in THB, USD, EUR, or MYR.  If it is in another currency, you must write the current conversion rate.  Maybe printing one out from xe.com would be helpful also.

So just to be clear, the re-entry will clear the 90 day requirement.

฿1,000 + the cost of border hop = an expensive 90 day report.  But if OP is willing to just get it out of the way for now (assuming online method doesn't work).

Or just don't do the report.  People have been doing that since forever.   You're going to have to take a risk one way or the other.

41 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

You could do a quick hop out and back in to clear the 90 days that way if you can't clear it up with them. Just creates more hassle though, even if it isn't required for monthly income.

@ubonjoe and others, does a border hop clear 90 day reporting requirement for extension of stay??    

wouldn't OP need to get re-entry permit before leaving to preserve his existing extension?

12 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

do your 90day online or by mail

if your not in the 8-14 day window, do a border hop which resets your 90-day count

i was thinking something similar about the online 90 day report.

see above about the border hop question

5 hours ago, tcp7 said:

I am in the same situation as you and would love to get a Multi Non-O from Penang, the only thing I am missing at the moment is the Bank Statement showing the 400k. I simply don't have the money or the financial resources at the moment.

......

Are you married on paper?  Savannakhet, Laos is one of the main places with no financial proof.

Now HCMC I am not 100% sure if you must be married or if having a Thai kid is enough.

Penang the money does not have to be seasoned.  It can either be monthly 40k for 10-12 months or 400k at once.  The passbook or the statement just has to show it in there as the final balance.

5 hours ago, tcp7 said:

Can Jim arrange things or is there any agent that can "facilitate" things? I could pay for said "arrangements".

Nothing is impossible.  But it has tightened up and  im is unlikely to do that.     

Assuming you are referring to having a single/multiple entry non-immigrant visa that may still be valid.

From my experience dealing with a similar situation, when you receive new passport, you will also receive a letter in English that tells immigration to transfer stamps into new passport.  You bring the old passport (if you have it), new passport, and the letter that come from the new passport.

Your visa will stay in the old passport.   It is the exit stamp that will go in the new passport.

If you need to still use the valid, non-immigrant visa in the old passport to enter, my understanding is that you would need to show the visa from old passport.  And you will receive all new stamps in the new passport.

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

...Keep working until you can either afford elite visa or get married....

1 hour ago, watcharacters said:

The folly of youth.

I agree with @Sheryl here.  If you are under 50, Marriage and/or having actual Thai family (biological/adopted) is probably the best option.  Runners up:  Working /obtain work permit or starting a business that would allow you to obtain non-B.  

Even if you are over 50,  marriage to a Thai (if you don't already have kids) isn't such a bad option if you can tolerate your partner's expectations.  Once you realize you are not getting any younger, the option becomes more attractive.

20 minutes ago, HampiK said:

...The future for you in Thailand will become more difficult! Why not secure your money first in your homecountry and then when you have enough funds move and have a good life?...

Also agree here.  If you don't have any roots, this isn't a bad way to do it.  In fact, several expats do the split year route.  Spend x months at home, and x months in Thailand.  It will put you in a better position financially, and you still get to relax along the way.

Can you elaborate on who or what "Ja new" is?

42 minutes ago, Djw6 said:

This will be my second 30 day entry in a row,

I assume this means Visa Exempt VE entry?  Was the first entry via air or land?

In any case, you should not have a problem if you are doing two land VE entries within the same calendar year.   

If you try to do a 3rd VE within the same calendar year, you may need an onwards air ticket.  But you could get that at Kiwi Guesthouse if needed.  And if you go early enough, you'd have time to get the ticket if needed and have someone shuttle it there for you.  (Andaman club)

31 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

......

No problem to leave and re-enter the country. Immigration at a airport on checks to see if you are on an overstay.

A lot of people who read such sensational thread titles will miss this part....so worth restating:  just do a border hop before your permission to stay expires.

Us lowly ME non-O holders have to do 4 border hops per year (every 89-90 days).  NonO/A, TE/PE, etc multiple entry visas you do one border hop per year.    PE/TE et al member just need do one border hop (land/plane) before your permission to stay ends, which will give you another 1 year permission to stay stamp. and get on with your life.   

12 hours ago, wonderboy54 said:

I was thinking to apply for thai elite visa program so they could tell me if i can enter or not.

Apply for it.  Mention on the application that you have had an overstay.   See if you still get approved.

Has anyone applied for TE/EV visa after an overstay (and mentioning the overstay at time of application) and still got rejected at the airport (after TE application was approved in advance)?

6 hours ago, 4evermaat said:

 

Actually, all of the articles made it quite clear that it only affected those wanting to obtain a non O-A visa based on retirement only.   The latest article says that the changes may take effect in July.  Nothing to do with yearly extensions and such.  I think even @ubonjoe has clarified this.  

 

The confusion comes when these news/announcement threads come with 100+ subsequent pages of replies spewing panic, speculation, etc as to what changes may be next.

5 hours ago, 4evermaat said:

 

 

A distinction is made between extensions of stay (occurring within Thailand at a local immigration) vs a non OA,OX visa (issued at embassy/consulate outside Thailand and gives the holder permission to stay stamps > 90 days (1 year in these cases).

 

 

But some still say it is confusing.  I admit there are several options to keep up with.  But if you look at each option objectively, the requirements for each path are pretty clear. 

 

Oh yeah, IMHO.

4 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Nothing to do with yearly extensions. . . 

 

Hopefully, this is correct. But it would be helpful get a simple, clear statement to this effect from Thai Immigration. They must be aware of the confusion and alarm in the expat ranks.

 

Well, would you look at that.....  TVF actually seemed to have already seen the numerous amount of panic that ensued since the first article on the subject and wrote an article to explain what many tried to do so individually but are routinely drowned out by speculation and superstition:

I know, I know.  It's confusing.  It's misworded.  Thailand hates western expats. Et. al 

I didn't even know this article existed until a few minutes ago.  Yet several of us were able to draw the same conclusion.  Anyway, good luck.

9 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

15 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Because OA and OX visas are long-stay visas. O visas are not.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

The O retirement year extension isn't long stay?

7 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

An Extension is not a visa. The insurance requirement is for long-stay visas.

A distinction is made between extensions of stay (occurring within Thailand at a local immigration) vs a non OA,OX visa (issued at embassy/consulate outside Thailand and gives the holder permission to stay stamps > 90 days (1 year in these cases).

But some still say it is confusing.  I admit there are several options to keep up with.  But if you look at each option objectively, the requirements for each path are pretty clear. 

Oh yeah, IMHO.

There is a blog posted over a year go that addressed this. https://www.thethailandlife.com/international-health-insurance 

I think there will be another update given the recent news about non O-A requirement (not to be confused with non - O).

A big problem that the article tries to address is the trust factor in picking an insurance company that will actually honor their coverage.   It's all on paper until you actually have an issue (need to make a claim).  It will be open season on older expats in a panic to obtain coverage over the next several months

21 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Same as talked about before. It is only needed to apply for a OA long stay visa the embassy in your home country and my be months until it implemented. Same insurance required to apply for the non-ox visa at a embassy.

I see you replying to a lot of posts like this for the next 2 months.  Interesting that it only applies to non-OA, but not non-O, Thai Elite memberships, etc.

9 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

There has been not mention of CW telling people to  do another TM30 report after a trip out of the country.

You may only need to be sure the at least one TM30 form is submitted. They accept TM30 reports by mail.

....

Can't you do the TM30 online now (and possibly TM 28)?  I was looking and saw that foreigners could register.

Although I do think people are over-reacting a bit.

3 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Since the minimum was always in baht exchange rates don't enter into it but taxes and health insurance deductions do. Americans for example often have medicare premium of about 5000 baht deducted at the source.

Hmmm.   The exchange rate would only count once a year (at the time of obtaining the affidavit).  But now if immigration want to see net 40/65k each month in a Thai bank account, any significant change in rates could bring one or more months below the minimum.   Doesn't one month below the minimum invalidate all the months before it?  (meaning the applicant must start over from the next good month forward)?

What would be nice is if they used an AVERAGE of the last 12 months (or whatever 12 months are used to prove monthly income method); a mean average would give the extension applicant more flexibility.  Especially those with investments and such that may only be able to pull funds a few times per year. 

Whether Thai logic would allow a mean average to be used....I wouldn't hold my breath.

33 minutes ago, CMNightRider said:

I would like to know the real story behind some of the embassies not issuing income letters anymore.  There are a lot of retirees in Thailand that are in the same situation as "icedoctor."  It is too bad these few embassy officials decided to abandon their citizens.  

......

21 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

It would appear to be an Embassy decision that likely was prompted by immigration asking them to truly verify the 'income' their letters were attesting to.

The Embassies decided this was beyond their capabilities and withdrew the service. 

Jacko45k is spot on.  But there are also some political and monetary policy reasons for it.  

41 minutes ago, CMNightRider said:

.....

 

As to the few smug posters who are amused by their fellow westerners being forced to leave Thailand, please leave you lame comments to yourself. ????    

 

 

The Western expat is still valuable, but just not as novel as 20, 10, even 5 years ago.  The majority of the basic infrastructure has been built.  China is chipping in with high speed rails and a huge middle class that needs somewhere to vacation.

Every country has a right to protect their own interests.  If you really look at the overall situation, did they really change the law or just how they change how they enforced existing policies?  I don't think that is being smug; it is being honest about the immigration policy.  How many retirees were playing the loophole hoping it would never be closed??

With that said, @Sheryl made a good point in another thread that the 40k/65k in the embassy letter could be Gross income (pre-taxed et al).  But if thai immigration want to see those monthly 40/65k receipts as a net deposit with monthly method, then that can significantly affect some expat's ability to qualify, especially taking into account exchange rates + taxes.

To reiterate @MJCM you just use the nearest crossing, with perhaps the exception being Aranyaprathet / Poipet.  In Chumphon, either pier in Ranong is popular.   Some borders like Danok (Sadao) might require you stay overnight (no same day out-in, this may have changed)

But you must post where you are crossing from to get specifics on that area.   I assume you are referring to the border hopper having a ME non-immigrant visa as you said "every 90 days"

28 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The is only one type of VOA and that is the one for 15 days for those from 20 countries and one territory. It would have to be a very short trip to justify getting a re-entry permit for those 15 days. ..............

It's a 6 day trip.....not my trip thankfully.

39 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Since there is no fee now for a VOA it would make more sense to get another one instead of a 1000 baht re-entry permit.

When does this VoA "promotion" expire?  Can you link to/attach the relevant news?