soisanuk

Wise is connected to my US Bank.  When I initiate a transfer, it usually takes only a few seconds before Wise has the funds, no delay at that end.

When I order a transfer on a weekday before 9am, the funds arrive in my Bangkok Bank account around 2pm the same day.  If after 9am, it usually arrives the following weekday (M-F) around 2pm.  If that weekday is a Thai holiday, then it will arrive the weekday following.

As mentioned, it will depend on the Immigration Office for your location.

If it is Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration, then a new TM.30 will be required as for the past several months they are no longer following the "rule" that permits non-filing if using a Re-Entry permit and returning to the same address. 

20 hours ago, Jaymatheson said:

Hi,

 

Savannakhet doesn't seem to give Multiple Entry Non-Imm O based on Retirement.

 

If I get a 90-day Single Entry Retirement, can I return to Savannakhet 3 months later and apply / receive another one?

 

Thanks

The usual expectation is that after entering Thailand and getting the 90 day permission to stay, the individual would apply for a one year extension at Thai Immigration for purpose of "retirement"  which was the purpose stated for getting the Non-O Visa in the first place.  If the individual planned to retire here, then why would they want a multiple entry Non-O?

If you wish to enter and then travel outside of Thailand rather than remain continuously, you can always get a single or multiple Re-entry permit which will permit such travel and keep your retirement extension of stay valid.

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Secondly, you'll need to transfer the equivalent of 800K THB funds from overseas and deposit in a Thai bank account, your sole name, so you'll need to open a Thai Savings account. . .

 

Probably easier to enter from S Korea visa exempt, which will grant a stay of 30 days and can be extended for a further 30 days, then follow the above procedure to obtain Non O.

When the Non O is granted you'll be granted a further stay of 90 days. Within the last 30 days of that 90 days, you may apply for the 1-year extension of stay based on retirement.

Each Immigration Office may have their own requirements, which can differ from the main Immigration Rules.

If you will be using Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration, they currently require that the 800k be on deposit in a Thai bank in your name at least 2 months before you apply for the Non-Immigrant O Visa (the "Immigration Rule" does not require this 2 month period, only that it be on deposit on the day of application).

Also, the Application has to be approved by Immigration HQ in Bangkok and they require at least 15 days to process it. So, you will need at least 15 days remaining on your initial Permission to Stay at the time of application (best to check with the Immigration Office where yo will apply as there have been reports that some require at least 21 days be remaining).  If you enter Visa Exempt and receive the initial 30 day stay, you can extend it another 30 days at an Immigration Office in Thailand if needed to allow enough time for for processing the Application for the Non-O Visa.

After receiving the Non-O Visa, continue to keep the 800k on deposit as it is required to be on deposit at least 2 months before applying for the Extension of Stay (this is the "Immigration Rule," and is followed by Pattaya Immigration, but there reports that a few Immigration Offices will require 3 months on deposit beforehand). 

14 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Last year I remember clearly the 20th April was the big day in Pattaya. Was last year an exception to the norm?

The 18th (Naklua) & 19th (Pattaya) have been the big days for many years now (the water throwing was stopped during the Covid pandemic shutdown). 

4 hours ago, ThirdRock said:

I have read mixed comments about the online appointment application being used again at Jomtien.  And based on the appointments booked on the site for the next week, it seems pople are using it.  One reader was kind enough to relate his eperience several weeks ago but at that point he  ran into some confusion on what to do upon arrival. 

 

For a Non-O [Ret.] annual renewal, does anyone have recent experience with the process?  Do you still go to Reception in Bldg A, or do you proceed directly to the main building with you appointment printout?

The Pattaya City Expats Club note on their website that they have received 3  very recent reports that Desk 8 (retirement) is honoring the online appointments, but they also have 1 recent report that the person having an appointment for 30 day extension of visa exempt entry was told to get in line and get a queue number.  They have no reports as yet on the experience of anyone using the other reasons for an appointment.

17 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

You would be on the safe side with an IDP based on your Thai driving license (5 year regular one).

Australia seems to acknowledge the one year IDP (1949 convention) only.

This was the rule in Thailand for decades, so no problem.

You go to your nearest DLT and ask about a one year IDP.

DLT: Departement of Land Traffic ("traffic office"/"motor office").

Which region are you living?

There is a very recent thread about the IDP:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1319103-international-driving-license-for-thai-local-licence/#comment-18674767

 

Before the nitpickers wake up:

it's an "International Driving Permit" (IDP) not "license".

License from issuing country (in your case Thailand) has to be shown together.

If you opt to get an IDP, they are not available at all DLT locations, e.g., Banglamung (serves Pattaya area) does not issue them and will direct you to apply at DLT Office in Chonburi which does.

2 hours ago, Lantern said:

^ Wow that's $500AUD

I'm sure I saw a group of them last time I went to the tip shop over here.

Will have to have a look next time I'm there.

As mentioned in my previous post, most are from 3,000 baht on up - and as mentioned in the later post, someone bought one for around 2,000 baht.   Like most things, you get what you pay for and as they say here: "Up to you".  

I chose one in the much higher price range to get what I wanted, but most importantly, to be one that would stand up over time with an acceptable weight capacity.  The one I chose (up to 130kg) was more than I needed, but having the higher capacity, would be more durable over time - I have had it for 10 years and it still works fine. There are many available in the Pattaya pharmacies (Fascino, D Pharmacy, and others) as well as other cities in a much lower price range. 

I also have mobility problems. I can walk short distances unaided, but use a cane for balance especially if steps/stairs are involved.

If I am traveling a longer distance, especially if shopping in a store with limited places to sit, I use my Rollater (walker with wheels).  It has a seat, so when necessary, I can sit and rest without concern of there being no place sit down.  But, it is not good if stairs are involved - I can do short steps (2 or 3) as I can lift the front to the a higher step, push it forward a bit, hold the hand brakes (there is one on each handle that brakes to two rear wheels) and then step up. The hand brake is lockable to hold the Rollater to keep it from rolling when I start to sit down.

There are many on the market - some pharmacies have them and many are listed on Lazada. I bought mine a few years ago on Lazada. The price varies from around 3,000 baht up.  The one I chose cost 12,600 baht (more sturdy, large wheels for outside use, & most importantly, rated for a heavy weight - be sure to check the rated weight capacity for being able to handle your weight).  It has held up very well. It is also folds up, so it can fit in a car trunk (USA) or boot (UK) or back seat, etc.

Here is a link to Lazada for that Rollater https://www.lazada.co.th/products/0-10-wheelchair-rollator-circlife-2-in-1-alp3300-1-bcosmo-the-pharmacy-i173724234.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.26.74f515f8Vt5jBm - Using Google Translate for the Thai description, it shows: The vehicle weighs 7.6 kilograms and can support a weight of 135 kilograms. 

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

IMO  the OP is a victim of what is called Dynamic Currency Conversion, which is the polite term for daylight robbery.

As another poster has said, deposit into  a US bank, and use WISE to transfer.

An alternative is to open a virtual account with Wise which will give you an ACH (Automated Clearing House) number to use for directing Social Security deposits to that account.  When the funds are received in the Wise account (in dollars), you can choose the time you want to have them convert the funds to Thai baht and send to your Thai bank account.

If you have a Bangkok Bank account, use the reason - long stay in Thailand - when asked for the reason for the transfer - currently it is the last item in the drop down menu showing the reasons.  This should ensure they use Bangkok Bank as the recipient bank for the transfer rather than sending it through one of their other partner banks (usually Kasikorn).  Bangkok Bank will record it with the FTT code which is used for deposits from a foreign source - beneficial if you are using the 65k+ baht per month method for Retirement Extensions at Thai Immigration.

4 hours ago, BenStark said:

Wise uses OTP for quite some time already, and now recently it asks me to open the app and confirm it's me.

 

Not a problem as it only adds to the security, which we should applaud instead of criticize.

Not always, but sometimes Wise has used a OTP when I log in.  When they do, they it to me by text message to my Thai telephone number. 

As mentioned by others, I use Wise and have now for several years- in my case from my USA bank to Bangkok Bank. I make regular monthly transfers.  Wise does the conversion to baht, but at an exchange rate near that charged by Bangkok Bank if sent in US dollars. I have found Wise to be reliable with reasonable fees.

32 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

 

Though one must wonder whether this will come back and bite the people who don't do it at their next extension ?

 

In all the time that Jomtien has been requiring a report back with bank book 90 days after extension, they have not set up any system to track whether a person does or does not report back.  From reports of those that do report back, they make no record of the visit.

Also, I have seen several reports from those that did not report back with bank book that there were nothing said by Immigration Officer(s) when they did their next extension. I have yet to see any report that a person had a problem because they didn't report back.

3 hours ago, AAArdvark said:

apparently not if it is an online transaction. Also, some of this got confusing with the new tm 30 system and Immigration requiring new tm 30s for no real reason other than the existing one was old. 

When a member at a Pattaya City Expat Club mentioned the new procedure, he said he asked the Jomtien Immigration Officer if he could do it online and was told no. HOWEVER, that is not the case. The PCEC has received many subsequent reports of those that did it online with no problem.  I did mine Last Monday and had the approval the next day.  So if you do it online, you can avoid the hassle of completing a new form TM.47, passport copies, proof of residence, & proof of TM.30 filing.

Although unofficial but usually up to date, at least for practices at the Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration Office, the Pattaya City Expats Club website has a section devoted to Thai Immigration issues including links to English translations of the Immigration Rules for extending one's stay. 

Go to their home page - https://pcec.club/.  

One of the topics listed along the top is THAI IMMIGRATION.  Clicking on that will bring up the main page.  If you are using a mouse, you can navigate direct to a sub page with more specific information on types of services/requirements by hovering the mouse cursor over the sub topic and then clicking on the sub topic to go direct to that web page.

As many know, each Immigration Office impose their own requirements.  Further, these requirements can change, often without notice.

As mentioned by some, Thai Immigration some time ago did relax the TM.30 reporting requirements saying if you traveled outside of Thailand, returned using a Re-Entry permit and to the same previously reported address, no new TM.30 was required.

That may still be the case at some Immigration Offices, but as noted by several posters, it is no longer the case at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration [Jomtien Beach Soi 5]. They recently (within at least the past 2 months) are now requiring a new TM.30 be filed in all cases.  Further, if you go there for services (90 day reporting, residency certificate, extension of stay, etc.), they are wanting to see evidence that you timely filed the TM.30 when you returned (the requirement to report is supposed to be within 24 hours, but they are apparently allowing a few extra days - in a previous post, someone said it was 72 hours).

If you didn't file a new TM.30 upon return, they will require you do so before providing any services and will also impose a fine - from reports I have seen, it is 1,600 baht.

Under the provisions of both paragraph 2.18 and 2.19, if the relationship is to a Thai child (be it their own, adopted, or their spouse's), the child must not be over the age of 20 unless they are disabled as noted below:

2.18 In the case of being a family member of a Thai national (applicable only to parents, spouse, children, adopted children, or spouse’s children):
4) In the case of children, adopted children, or spouse's children, said children, adopted children, or spouse's children must not be married, must live with the alien as part of the family, and must not be over 20 years of age except in case of the person hereof is of illness or disability and cannot live without support of father or mother

2.19 In the case of being a family member of a Thai resident (applicable only to parents, spouse, children, adopted children, or spouse’s children):
(4) In the case of children, adopted children, or spouse’s children, said children, adopted
children, or spouse's children must not be married, must live with the alien as part of the
family, and must not be over 20 years of age except in case of the person hereof is of illness
or disability and cannot live without support of father or mother.

14 hours ago, charleskerins said:

Help me out here  and gee American Embassy makes it hard 

 

I have looked over the settlement papers .  There is no place on the papers for witnesses to sign. The Embassy website states that they will not provide witnesses  and you should check the paperwork to see if you need witnesses and how many.  I checked the paperwork I don't appear to need any witnesses.     As an added obstacle if you need witnesses you must MAKE a separate appointment for them. WTH?  Also someone told me Thai citizens are not allowed at the Consulate ?   

 

Weigh in Folks weigh in.

 

The Embassy staff will notarize signatures. If your document has no requirement for witnesses to sign, then there would be no signatures of witnesses to notarize.  If you documents only require your signature one time, then the fee will only be $50 - if more than one time, then it will be $50 times the number of times you have to sign a document.

20 hours ago, charleskerins said:

Anyone ever sell a house in America while in Thailand or overseas?  Did you have to go to the Embassy to get papers notarized?  TIA

Yes as the documents sent to me to sign  had to be notarized. But, that was almost 20 years ago The fee then was US$50 for first document and US$25 for each additional document.  Now their notary fee is US$50 for each document.

I was bitten by a cat and went to Jomtien Hospital in Pattaya 5 days later (puncture wounds were not healing).  They injected Berirab P inj. (300 Iu/2 ml) (Hrig)..Dose 20 IU/Kg direct into the wound area. The price was 3,978 baht - this was on 5 September this year.

They also injected the first dose of SPEEDA  which was followed later by the required dosage at specified intervals.

This link brings up a pdf document showing the Restive Care offered by Jomtien Hospital (Pattaya) including price list.  It notes that dementia patients are treated under this program (Jomtien Hospital is owned by the same parent company as Bangkok Hospital Pattaya).

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwij3ayjh8CCAxWLTmwGHSckCfoQFnoECBkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fvfw12146.org%2Fuploads%2Fdocuments%2FRespitecare_JomtienHospital2022-ENversion.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0_MIv8TskC82R0Rd_jMUKN&opi=89978449

1 hour ago, Jaxxper said:

The Pattaya City Expat club web site has an area where some assisted living places have been listed.( I think with pricing schedules also). It’s worth a visit to the site, just to see what’s available around the Pattaya area.

Here is the link to the PCEC webpage showing assisted living facilities:

https://pcec.club/HEALTH-CARE

It provide links to the facilities, but does not show prices as such will vary depending on the type of unit and level of care selected.