soisanuk

As mentioned by Dr Jack 54, a dependent spouse or child must have entered Thailand on a Non-Immigrant Visa in order to be granted an extension of stay based on your having a retirement extension. It is my understanding that the dependent cannot apply for the Non Immigrant Visa within Thailand.

I use Turbo Tax and, as mentioned, they advised me I needed to file a FBAR report when I answered "yes" to having had more than the US$10,000 threshold for such reports. However, when I answered "no" to having foreign financial assets of more than US$50,000 they said no report was necessary - that threshold applies to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) - a different law from the one that requires the FBAR report - the $50k is the lowest of several thresholds that vary depending on filing status and how long you have been outside the USA during the calendar year. The FBAR report is done online and filed with Fincen (a part of the Dept of Treasury, but separate from the IRS). If required to report under FATCA, it is done on a form included with the Form 1040 income tax report, which I presume would be incorporated into the Turbo Tax filing.

As others have mentioned, if extension is based on retirement, work is not permitted - thus no work permit. As to the American Treaty of Amity, there are special rules. I know one person who obtained a work permit under its terms and didn't have any Thai employees. He did need a Thai lawyer to assist in setting everything up as he said the rules were a bit complicated, but it can be done.

Someone I know that is usually knowledgeable about Jomtien Immigration requirements a few weeks ago told me they were going to start requiring a map from those getting retirement extensions. HOWEVER, a friend of mine went to renew his retirement extensions a few days later and said no map was required - I have not received or seen any reports of a map being required when renewing a retirement extension. As to TM.30, I have seen at least 3 recent reports, but none were firsthand experiences, saying they are now requiring a new one even if returning to the same address. They now have 3 desks outside - to the right of the parking lot entry gate for (1) retirement extensions, (2) 90 day address reporting, and (3) TM.30 address reporting. If going for any of those services, you can avoid the long lines to the entry door. So, you should be able to check at the TM.30 desk to see if a new one is required before going to the retirement extension desk next to it.

About 8 years ago, I bought a rollator through lazada and it still works fine. The advantages to a rollator is that unlike a walker, it has a seat where you can sit if you get too tired when walking with it. There are many choices with low to high price. The one I bought, link below, was a more expensive kind but had the features I wanted - higher weight capacity for sitting, large wheels for using outside, and lockable hand brakes. It was worth the price as it has held up well - it also folds to a more compact size for transporting. https://www.lazada.co.th/products/0-10-wheelchair-rollator-circlife-2-in-1-alp3300-1-bcosmo-the-pharmacy-i173724234-s217577069.html?clickTrackInfo=query%3Arollator%3Bnid%3A173724234%3Bsrc%3ALazadaMainSrp%3Brn%3A77327aed2e477d53a9f98a21c888952a%3Bregion%3Ath%3Bsku%3AAL676HBABMNLVVANTH%3Bprice%3A11190%3Bclient%3Adesktop%3Bsupplier_id%3A100049194%3Basc_category_id%3A4794%3Bitem_id%3A173724234%3Bsku_id%3A217577069%3Bshop_id%3A5737&fastshipping=0&freeshipping=1&fs_ab=1&fuse_fs=1&lang=th&location=กรุงเทพมหานคร&price=1.119E 4&priceCompare=&ratingscore=3.0&request_id=77327aed2e477d53a9f98a21c888952a&review=1&sale=12&search=1&source=search&spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.i120.2f452c9a4n4ghC&stock=1

With those documents, you shouldn't have a problem at any of the Bangkok Bank branches. For convenience, you may want to open the account at one close to where you live OR the Branch on Jomtien 2 Road near Soi 5 which would be convenient near to Pattaya Immigration.

If you are renewing your retirement extension at Jomtien, you do not have to join the queue. They now have a desk outside - to the right of the entry gate - where you can obtain a queue number for Desk 8 then bypass line to enter when number is called. Apparently you have to look for it as the sign is small. I have had a couple of folks tell me they were not aware of it, but they just went to the exit door and told the Immigration person they were there for retirement extension and were admitted. Jomtien Immigration also has an outside desk for 90 day & TM.30 reporting where you turn in your passport, get a claim number, and wait while an Immigration Officer takes them inside for processing and brings them back. There are chairs available to sit in while you wait.

The Pattaya City Expat has posted the following on their website:

The Pattaya City Expats Club website notes the requirements for the first (initial) report requires the following documents at Jomtien Immigration: For subsequent reports, all you need is your passport and the receipt with bar code. You can also use online reporting - the PCEC page describing the online reporting is at: https://pcec.club/online-90-day

Now that the latest online reporting appears to be working fine, there is no need to go to Immigration at all. I have now been using the online system for my past 3 reports. With this latest system, they send me an email reminder when the next report is due.

Each Immigration office may have different documentary requirements for the extension. Also, sometimes it may depend on the IO processing the extension. At Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration, they require some form of proof of residence. I use my lease, but I know some that have used their Thai driving license (showed their current address on the reverse side).

Using the Long term stay option works provided you are sending funds to a Bangkok Bank account (a Wise partner) so that Wise will send the funds through them rather than another partner bank - it is also my understanding if you have a Kasikorn Bank account (another partner) it will also be the same for their account holders. However, if you have an account at another Thai bank, it will not result in it being shown as international as the funds going to that account will be from one of their partner banks and be coded as a domestic transfer.

Pepper and Salt & Suggestions are good restaurants. Another I like is Vespresso - it is opposite the Tara Pattana International School ( Thung Klom-Tan Man 9 Road)

Based on this message, I contacted the PCEC and they have now updated the page to clearly show a 5 year Thai driving license is required.

That link is supposed to automatically send you to their new website URL, which is: https://pcec.club/ The link for IDP information is: https://pcec.club/Thailand-IDP

The Pattaya City Expat's Club has a webpage with information about getting an International Driving Permit (it not a driving license) based on your Thai 5 year license(s). The nearest location for those in Pattaya is at the Chonburi DLT (the Banglamung DLT near the Regent's School does not provide them). Visit the PCEC's website at www.pcec.club - across the top hover your mouse over the Living in Thailand topic, then hover it over Driving Vehicles in the drop down menu - and another drop down menu will have the link to the IDP page - it is the second item listed.

For a booster, you will most likely need to have evidence of your previous vaccinations. If they were in Thailand, they should be shown on the Mor Prom app. I obtained my 4th booster at Jomtien Hospital (it is part of the Bangkok Hospital Group) located on Sukhumvit Road.

When I order from Amazon and pay the shipping/customs fee added, I consider it to be the cost of the item without expectation of any return. I am satisfied that I will get delivery without any hassles regarding customs duties. But sometimes Amazon notifies me of a refund because the duties were less than they collected. The last time was a couple o months ago. Over the years, I have never had them come back to ask for more because they didn't collect enough.

Go to www.pcec.club (Pattaya City Expats Club website), across the top hover your mouse over Thai Immigration topic - near the bottom of the drop down menu is "Checklists" - click on that and in the page that comes up, you can select their documents checklist for those obtaining a marriage visa at the Immigration Office in Jomtien. It is based on reports they receive from expats doing their extension renewals at Jomtien Immigration and should be up to date.

I just did my 4th online report - no problems with approval email arriving within hours of getting "successful" message when sending the report.

For Wealthy Pensioner: