khunPer

Please report back here, if it works...🙏

Have you used the online-system for extension of stay?

You need to ask the Immigration Office, to get an answer of that. Surat Thani-immigration can, just like other immigration offices, make their own rules, like the need of medical statement (I wonder what happens if I don't pass my check as "healthy"...). And by the way, now you need to go there three times: 1) To make an appointment and get the documents; 2) To have the documents checked and wait upstairs for a number; 3) Which number you shall use about a week later to be handed over your passport. Last time I did my extension (October 2024) they took my photo with a smartphone when my paperwork was accepted, instead of when I collected my passport with the extension-stamp. In a way, it's a benefit to get an appointment, rather than coming early in the morning, get a number way down in the queue-line and wait for hours upstairs, not knowing if the numbers before you are finished quickly, or takes long time because something is not in the expected perfect order. For example, if you have been outside the province, you need a new TM30-registration, which the lady downstair cannot see, when you have a copy of an older one. Samui Immigration don't follow the police order earlier mention in AN-news, but checks the TM30-status while you are waiting for your passport-pickup-number. Apart from all that, I totally agree in that the authorities are making it too difficult – more and more each year – for expats to extend stay in the country. At same time they wish more people to stay here and spend money. Retirees are actually good business, as they in average spend at least 65k baht a month – some less, and some much more – and furthermore many hold quite a nice sum in bank deposits. A news-story a few years ago stated that here are at least 80,000 retirees. If half of them keep 800k baht in the bank it's 32 billion baht in deposits, and the double of that amount in their spendings.

And you are sure it's not somebody that had booked time in advance..?

Sounds right – about a month before – even the lady said "one month before"; which might also be a reply to @TerraplaneGuy. I asked specific about, if it could be done online – around a year ago there were posters downstairs about booking time online and upload paperwork, which I presumed was for 30-days tourist-extension; no one ever mentioned it here, about using it – but it is not possible to her knowledge. She said, that when booking time, you are handed this year's "menu" and various documents – including the office's own application form, which need to be used, I was not allowed to hand-write "Email:" and "Phone:" with a blue pen, it had to be their be their blue rubber stamp – handing over papers is not easily done via phone-booking. She also mentioned that you don't need to show your paperwork, when booking time; which was self understood for me. I luckily live nearby Samui Immigration – a few minutes drive – so, therefore I decided to check if something was changed since last October; now ,when the question were raised. Photo from October 2023...

When was that? It couldn't be done in October 2024 – the year before they advised me to come next day, as there were already a long queue, if I didn't want to wait about two hours, which I decided to do.

The law says: "Chapter IV Extinction of Contract of Hire+ Section 564. A contract of hire is extinguished at the end of the agreed period without notice. Section 566. If no period is agreed upon or presumed, either party may terminate the contract of hire at the end of each period for the payment of rent, provided that notice of at least one rent period is given, but no more than two months notice need be given." Link to translation Thailand Lease Law (tenancy): https://www.samuiforsale.com/other-miscellaneous/translation-thailand-lease-law.html

I asked specific about that the day before in October 2024, as same day update is a problem if you have a fixed term-account, which might need to be updated by a bank assistant. My 12-month fixed bank book updated the date before was accepted. If you have a normal savings account, you can update by the a machine same morning, I was told. If the machine don't update, then you can deposit 100 baht in the cash deposit machine and then update the bank book. Alternatively, I was told by a high level assistant upstairs, that you can get your queue number and then go to a bank when they open to get the bank book updated and come back to the immigration office. However, now when you have to book time in advance, you might be able to get appointment late enough to update your bank book in the morning.

You cannot come in the afternoon and apply for long term extension of stay; it's however okay for 90-days address report, which only takes a few minutes in the late afternoon.

I've visited the immigration office today. New rule: You need to go there one month before your extended stay expires and book time for your next extension. At same time you will be handed the menu, the form and other other documents to sign. I asked if you can book online, but the usual long stay-assistent on the ground floor had no knowledge about that possibility, instead she showed me her handwritten pile of papers with daily bookings for extension of stay.

It's not all projects that are able to pay the expected or promised gain – investment is business and speculation – it's not (yet) proven to be a scam, if the project is under construction. It can just be a different result than expected, as Covid-19 came unplanned in between... "The project involved the construction of an apartment complex named Layan Green Park, which required an investment of 300 million baht. The project began in 2019, before the pandemic, and the first phase was already completed. The Ukrainian man and his Thai business partner proceeded with the second phase of the project, which is a hotel. The hotel is currently under construction."

To my knowledge they accept 30 days now – before you couldn't come more two weeks before the present extension ended – I've been advised, about two years ago, to come earlier up to 30 days before, because I waited till less than two weeks. If you don't live too far from the immigration office, then do as I do, get there an afternoon when no queue-line downstairs and ask for this years "menu", TM7-form and other documents to sign, so you can prepare everything from home. Then you can also get confirmed if 30 days before is accepted. Samui Immigration only eccept their own TM7-form with stamp on the back for e-maill address and mobile phone number, not a downloaded vertsion. Even that they state that bankbook shall be updated same day as application for extension of stay – which can be quite difficult with a fixed account when you need to queue up early morning – they accepted my update from the day before. This is the "menu" from October 2024 (please note that the insurance for non-OA officially is back to 400k + 40k baht; I got no idea if Samui Immigration accepts that)...

Best way to kill early morning boredom is to become a B-human; i.e., stay up late, enjoy the nightlife and the benefit of sleeping long time in mornings...

When I needed storage for my moved items from Europe until my house was finished, I rented a shop unit in second line from the Ring Road for 3,000 baht per month. I paid the neighbour that lived in her laundry-shop, 500 baht a month to look after my unit. A shop-unit might be a better place for storage than a small bungalow. There are still many available shop-units, while the cheap bungalows are often fully booked. The ones I know and mentioned as example, are at the moment full of longer-term budget-staying foreigners.

They did the same in October, when I renewed my extension of stay. You might need to show up at opening time and stand in the queue-line. I came some 10 minutes before opening with a dream of being number one in the line. In real life I ended up long way down, but luckily got a number for same day. I had to wait some hours upstairs till my number was called. It was getting threatening close to lunch-time, but I was let out before lunch without my passport, replaced by a small number-sticker, and asked to come back a week later and exchange the number to an extension of stay stamped in my travel-document.

Back in Yingluck's administration the government gave each shool-child a tablet. She showed a "vote buying" iPad when promising it during her election campaign, the kids got some cheap Chinese stuff without any useable software. My daughter was in primary in an EP-school at that time. They never used the tablet, as it was useless. It lived in a drawer in our house, and after some years it left the premises together with other electronic-garbage for recycling. In high school – which was international here in Thailand for my daughter – they used their smartphones in education, which worked very well. Same now, where she is in final IB-year in Europe. However, pen and paper are in some level on it's way back into schools. Any smart device is of no real value, if there is no equally smart and useable software following it...

Both my savins accounts in Bangkok Bank and SCB pays interest.

In Maenam soi 3 on the land side. Price is for one year rent; i.e., 60,000 baht.

Not many condos on Samui, normally you rent a bungalow, which is possible for long term agreement from around 5,000 baht per month depending of size, fittings and location. For 20,000 baht per month you have plenty of possibilities. There are many places on Samui where you can walk to both 7-Eleven and 24 hour open super markets; and with affordable restaurants in the neighbourhood. Lamui, which has been mentioned, is one option. Others are Ban Rak-area; Bo Phut beah-area and Maenam. Also Bang Por begins to be of interest. The main tourist destination Chaweng Beach is mainly hotels and resorts, shopping and some nightlife; while the southern part and Chaweng Noi-area might be interesting also to check out. Google Maps' Street View is an excellent help to get a visual impression. Then, when checking the island out, try to live for some days or a weeks time in areas of prior interest, and feel what its like in real life. A benefit on Samui is that you easily can find accommodation in walking distance to a beach – and for up to 30,000 baht a month you can actually live very near – however, there are not many guarded accommodation available; probably because we don't have much crime on the island. I've been living permanent on the island since 2006. I stay in Maenam, where you can find bungalows or other accommodation within your budget between 100 meters and a few hundred meters from the beach. Also within a few hundred meters you can find numerous 7-Eleven stores; a variety of super markets like Lotus's Fresh, Mini BigC and Tops Daily; plenty of (affordable) restaurants; some few pubs and bars; and lots of other shops, laundry and local markets. You can easily do both daily shopping and dining out without need of your own transportation. Other areas are close to the same. In Lamai you'll find both a Lotus's shopping mall and a nice large Makro hyper mart close by – Makro on Samui is orientated into good food and catering, supplier to the many, of not most, of the many-star hotels; there is also a similar Makro hyper mart in Bo Phut – however, the Lamai beach-road-area is quite touristed and can be a bit noisy, but have plenty of restaurants and numerous bars. There are ATM – sometimes more than one brand – by most convenience stores. If buying a car, your have further options for nice areas to live in. For me, Samui is as the sign by the ferry harbour, Paradise. My best choice ever was to settle here – and I did check Hua Hin, Phuket and Pattaya-area before making my decision...

First and most important thing to consider is that you cannot own the land under your house. Your status in US, green cards and citizenships have no value in Thailand, only your Thai wife can own the land. Secondly, you shall remember the good old advice: "Never invest more money in Thailand than you can afford to lose". Thirdly, if it is your money flowing into land and future house, you might need some level of protection. Be aware of that any agreement between husband and wife can be terminated. So, if you need any protection – like a usufruct registration on the land title deed – it shall be done before the land is transferred into your wife's name. You can also protect yourself with a registered loan, but again, it shall be before the deed is transferred to a spuse. That brings up "title deed". The 10 rai land you buy shall be of "Nor soor 4" title, often named as "Chanote", eventual "Nor Sor 3" title, which can be upgraded to Nor Sor 4 title. Only Nor Sor 4 title is full ownership. If it's a lower title deed, you need to be sure that the land cannot only be used for farming. You need a building permission – however, in some rural areas houses might be build without one, but I'll not recomment to build without one – and an architect will normally be able to clear all the legal stuff for you. You can be owner of a new built house – but as said earlier, not the land under it – for which you need to begin with a permission from the land owner, which could be a superficies-agreement. It's the "tessa ban" local office that issue building permission, and later gives you a house number and a "blue house book" in which Thai-residents are registered. All architect drawings, construction contracts and payments need to be in your name, as theese documents are you proof of ownership. Costs for a house depends of choice of materials and escpecially finish. As a hand rule you can count around 15,000 baht per square meter (10 square feet). A house in Western-level quality would rather be around 30,000 baht or little more per square meter. Luxury costs more than the double of that. A pool is often calculated as 1 million baht, but depends of size and finish (tiles). For solar panel, check other threads in AN-forums, there are numerous about solar panel, installation, benefits and costs. So, 150 square meters house with a pool might cost from a level around 3 million baht and up. A few advices from my experience with building a house in Thailand: Use areated congrete for walls for better insulation and lower power costs for aircon. Preferabkly double walls, which also will cover any visual parts of posts. The extra cost for this is easily earned back by lower power expenses and better indoor climate. Use "water proof" concrete to avoid cracks in posts, decks and plaster. The surcharge for water proof additive is only a few hundred baht per cubic meter. Get a separate quote from SCG/HomeMart's "roof experts" for roof construction. The will make a detailed drawing and give you quotes for free. They use galnanized steel construction, which means both a lighter roof and better rust protection. A water-proof roof is a must for a good house, and doing so requires more than placing some plates or tiles on a steel construction. Get a heat insulation foil under the roof tiles. Furthermore, avoid cement on a roof, cement cracks and water runs down. Preferably select "Neu Style" or similar roof tiles for best water protection. SCG's team will do it all and give you a 5-year warranty – a local building construction might have disappeared when you new roof leaks after one year – SCG/HomeMart is most likely still around. Make sure that sewers-pipes are big enough and have no 90° angles – only 45° – and correct fall to a drain well. Normally you will get 2" pipes for kitchen and shower, but 3" would be preferred for kitchen where Thai food with lots of oil is made. If you get longer stretch of sewer-pipes, make an 45° opening with a scew-cover, so you can mechanically clean the pipe with a spring, instead of banging a cement deck up to find where the pipe is blocked. Remember, in Thailand, you are a certified plumber, when you can cut and glue two blue pipes together...👍 Let (water proof) wall-plaster cure (dry) for at least one month – preferably three – before painting. Use sandpaper to remove looser particles off the surface before start painting: it's actually an easy job with great benefit. Make sure you get a good quality primer painted twice, before color. Preferabky use three colordecks outdoor. Don't save on paint, if you do will need to repaint the outside of the house after a few years. Use semi-gloss outdoor paint, it will fade in gloss after a year or even a few month, but gives you a long-term better surface protection. Don't make any too advanced stuff in house design, build a house in Thai-way-of-building. As my Thai architect said: "We can draw anything, but that doesn't mean you can built it!" Construction workers are uneducated – however, many have some experience from construction jobs – so, it basically up to a good forman to get a good built house. Therefore, make sure the foreman understand and know what he is doing. Aluminum window frames are good; if you choose wood it has to be very hard wood, which is expensice but worth the costs instead of doors and windows that cannot open in the wet-season and cannot close in the dry-season. It also counts for internal doors. If you wish to save money, than indoor plstic-doors are an alternative. Aluminum has the advantage that many locals can make them so the fit the holes in your house. Bying vinyl doors and windows on steel-frame are limited to the size from factories. If you are considering a European-style kitchen, then be aware of both humidity and termites – the latter loves the European gormet-dish – and if you are expecting to make Thai food, consider an outdorr or semi-open kitchan for that; i.e., you might wish two kichens. For pool, make sure you have easy access to pump(s) and sand filter. You will need to both maintain and exchange the stuff. You don't need to buy the most expensive imported pump, a cheap one can do the job and might even last longer than the three times more expensive imported. In general, think of maintenance and service. It's you that are going to do it – or find some that can do it for you – so make your life easy. I wish you good luck with your project...

Wow, I didn't even know that my government offers interest free loans... Many thanks for the tip, it's worth using...

You need the green book to register owner, pay tax and mandatory insurance. Without green book the scooter is both worthless and illegal. So, don't buy it.

So, can we presume that "elite tourists" is a now replacement of the former expression "quality tourists"... It's excellent business to focus on guests that can both afford and are willing to pay a high price for outstanding service, but you must also supply "outstanding service" to get the price, which includes that infrastructure etc. also are in the higher "elite quality" level.

I use coconut oil, healthy and fat as ghee. Don't need much oil for frying vegetables. You can steam them instead, or just put them in boiling water till the water boild again, if you like them crispy.

If you girlfriend use a public hospital, then it's free when being a Thai citizen. Some medicine might be extra at a low price. You can a most places rent a VIP-room for an extra fee. It's a private en-suite room, often with space where a relative can stay. There might be more than one VIP-level. It will cost from around 1,000 baht per day for the cheapest level and up to a around 5,000 baht per day; the latter is for the most expensive where I stay. If your girlfriend pays social security at her work, she might have a registered hospital. She will also be eligible for some pregnancy-care. You can read more in the English language leaflet HERE (pdf). [Edit: Seems like ASEAN NOW won't accept the link, so I give it here without ht...:// prefix and with spaces to be removed: ohrm. au. edu/ images/ service/ WelfareBenefits/ SSO_English. pdf ] When my girlfriend was pregnant we used a private clinic for monthly check-ups, it was quite affordable. If you opt for a private hospital, childbirth can be quite expensive.