KayCee

Nonthaburi immigration just started requiring a house book from our landlord when we took my mother-in-law for her retirement visa last May. They warned us then they would require it for our caretaker visa as well when it came due.

Also was in Vientiane today - the payment wasn't clear at the outset, but at least many of us were told to pay when we came back to get our passports/visas this afternoon and that worked fine for everyone around me going up to the window to get theirs.

A little note for this office - even though the form doesn't say it's required, they want, even for tourist visa, a copy of not just the main page of your passport which the form says, but also your entry card page for Thailand, and also, for whatever reason, a copy of the page with the Laos entry stamp and visa. I had to go get it and return to the officer at the desk for the Lao one, that hadn't occurred to me as possible, no harm done, but after a few hours in the heat it's nicer to have already had it done.

Thanks Ubonjoe. The MoFA thing came literally out of left field for us - we've had four prior extensions with no problem, and had the affidavit notarized by the embassy and copy of the birth certificate as before, and never expected this new demand. He likes us generally and likes to banter with my kids in Japanese when we go in for 90 days' or whatever, and he was nice about it all, and quite apologetic, since because our extension expires today I now have no choice but to fly to Laos and start over again, which is expensive, inconvenient, and particularly frustrating when we just got back from the US two days ago and are tired and jetlagged, and with school starting it's not the best time for parents to have to scoot out for a few days.

I asked the officer if they needed the MoFA stamp only on the affadavit, (the self certification), and he said it had to be on the copy of the birth certificate too. I asked him if the MoFA could stamp the B/C without the embassy signature (notarizing it), and he said no, the embassy had to stamp the copy of the birth certificate too, in addition to the affidavit. There's no way the US embassy will do that, I'm guessing, so I'm stumped.

We were going to do as you suggested - one of us get the retirement visa, one of us get the extension as a dependent. But if he insists on an embassy stamp on our marriage certificate I'm in the same problem. After sitting there literally from 9 am to 5 pm yesterday, I'm feeling pretty unwilling to go try it again without the MoFA stamp on both, but I guess I can try!

Thanks for the confirmation though that this is a new one - we try to pay attention and have our documents in perfect order before we go in, so I felt stupid if I'd missed something we should have known about.

For the first time this year when we tried to do our one-year extension, we've run into a new problem. Our son is on an education visa studying at an int'l school here - his extension went through with no problem. But for his parents, who had been here on an extension as his guardian/caretakers, we were told that now only one parent for each child - as our daughter as graduated, and he's the last one at home, only one of us can have this caretaker extension. Fortunately we're both over 50 and can use retirement as the purpose instead.

But a new requirement came up when we planned to have just one of us as caretaker - they were insisting that our affidavit stating that he was our son and we were married, and his parents, now needed not only the US embassy notarization, but a stamp certifying that embassy stamp by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I suppose it would be possible to have that stamp on the affidavit itself, but they were asking for the US Embassy to stamp the birth certificate itself (our our marriage certificate if we go the retirement option and have one of us as the following dependent spouse). I'm not sure how to do that, because the US Embassy is only notarizing a document that we are signing - like the affidavit - just attesting that the person who signed it proved they were that person - they're not technically certifying the statement is true. Thus I can't see them stamping a birth or marriage certificate.

Has anyone else run into this requirement for these documents to be stamped by the MoFA? Nonthaburi immigration says quite apologetically it is a new requirement. And if so, will MoFA stamp something without an embassy stamp on it (like the B/C)?

Our experience from today - we currently have 4 different accounts between us at a Bangkok Bank branch in Bangkok - 2 fixed accounts for our visa extension funds to just sit in - one for me, one for my husband. And one joint savings account without an ATM card, and one joint savings account with an ATM card that we can use for daily needs without risking all our money if someone skimmed our card. We have online banking for all four accounts. This hasn't been a problem.

So today we go in and want to open a new savings account in my name alone for the purpose of a visa - we are willing to either bring in new money from the US for that account, or close my fixed account, if they don't want me to have a "new" account. They initially declined - no work permit. Showed them my one year extension on Non-immig. O visa (caretaker). Didn't care, still didn't want to do it. Long, polite conversation ensued about existing accounts, four years in Thailand, etc,. etc., ,manager was asked, they finally agreed to open it.

But, in addition to wanting a copy of my passport and visa (same as other times), they also wanted a copy of my Thai drivers license (probably for address -no problem). New one was they wanted a copy of my original US Social Security Card. I can only assume this is because of the annoying FACTA law, but they didn't ask for it a year ago when we opened the latest joint account. And they wouldn't accept a copy of the card, or the number being rattled off to them, they needed the original card - something I'm not sure many Americans tend to carry about with them. We had it in the safe at home, went to get it, and with that they opened it, but that was a new one for me.

When we got our first 1-year extension (not retirement, but as caretakers for our children who were students) in CM we were required to show a copy of the homeowner's book and rental agreement. But for the next two 1-year extensions of that we were not asked for that by the Nonthaburi office where we live now.

But, when we just took our elderly mother in for her retirement 1 year extension they did ask us for that (not the rental agreement, just us listed on the paper the landlord signs, and copies of his documents). We asked about it, and they said it was new that they required it. They told us to be sure we got the landlord to do a new one for us as well (they keep the original unlike for some things), since our extension is coming up in a few months and we'll need it every time now. They helpfully pointed out the forms, smiled, and were very nice about it and wanted to be sure we wouldn't have trouble when we came back, and so we were grateful, and we'll get it done.

I've heard good things about KLM.

We brought our elderly dogs here, because who leaves family members behind. We keep them in the A/C except for when they want to be in the garden. They're well and happy. The import procedures here were easy, and the dogs (and cat) were cleared and out of the airport in no time.

I agree that being on the same plane as the animals is best. You don't want them to go to the cargo terminal and wait in the heat. If they are on the same plane as you they're offloaded with luggage, and into the cool main terminal for clearance by the animal control folks. It was a simple form filled out in advance, and a five minute look over of documents.

Lots of people with more recent experiences here can help steer you. Good luck!

Disappointing to read that even for volunteer work they wouldn't typically accept a WP application for anyone with a retirement extension. Many people who are retired would like to continue to do things to be active and contribute, and don't care about being paid for it, but may want to comply with the letter of the law that requires WP for even non-paid, volunteer work.

We really loved this place for the food. Stayed in a charming room once when we were back for a visit.

http://www.ruencomein.com/restaurant.html

there are supplements you have to feed cats to keep them neurologically healthy if they aren't eating prepared cat food (google taurine for cats - I learned this when I lived in a country with no prepared cat food available). I had the same problem as you when we first moved here. I finally found that some specialty pet stores around various Central or Robinsons malls often sell more (and more expensive) brands of cat food, some of which are chicken flavored, not fish. My cat also liked the Royal Canin pouches that you can buy at those stores, or at a vet shop typically. Of course, now that I found all that, my silly cat has decided she really prefers tuna! Best of luck!

Thank you UbonJoe. We will get right on this then. Interestingly though, we asked twice, but the immigration officer at C-W insisted the 60 days was not necessary, and we could even go right downstairs and open the account and get the letter that very day, and then come back. I think we won't risk it, given we have two more visits ahead of us, and she finds these things quite tiring.

Really appreciate the advice!

We took my Mother-in-law to CW Immigration today to try to convert her 60 day tourist visa to a non-immigrant O. We thought we understood that this was the first step, and that then we would have to set up a bank account for her, and, before the end of the 90 day non-immigr O, we would then go and do the retirement 1 year extension at our local office in Nonthaburi.

We hit a snag however - and perhaps I just misunderstood the process, since we we got our non-imm. Os from the US before coming here, we didn't have to have any funds in the bank in Thailand first - we did that after arriving, and before requesting the extension of stay.

After waiting a couple of hours - not easy on an 88 year old - we were told that it was not possible to convert her visa from tourist to non-immigrant O because she hadn't yet opened the bank account or had the proof of income, etc., met. We said we thought you converted the visa first, adn that it could be hard to get a bank account on a tourist visa. The immigration officer said Bangkok Bank right downstairs in Government Complex would be happy to open that account on a tourist visa, and that they could not do any conversion of the visa until we had done that. She also said though, that they could do the conversion and the extension of stay in one appointment once we have the money deposited. And that it doesn't have to be aged (which I thought it did?).

I'm newly confused. Can anyone confirm if what we're being told is correct, because I don't want to bring her back for another few hours at Nonthaburi immigration (hope they can do the conversion!, but have to use them for the extension and reentry permits) and then find out we're screwed because the money hasn't aged for 60 days (which would be hard to do given she only has a 60 day tourist visa which has already started running by a few days.

thanks so much for any help!

We did an extension of stay for our daughter who was visiting from university on a 30 day visa exempt. We needed an additional week or so, and went to Nonthaburi and got the 30-day extension quite easily. We provided the required photo with the form, but they still called her up and took a digital photo with a new camera that had been set up on the counter where the 90 day reports are processed. Lots of people were being called up to have photos taken. I had the impression it was something new being done for extensions, and possibly for 90 days reports only since some people being called up were sitting on that side of the room, but that's just a guess. I've never seen that camera there before though, and we've been in that office countless times for 90 day reports, extensions, etc.

Does anyone know if this extension is available at Nonthaburi immigration, and failing that, the Chaengwattana office? Our daughter arrived on her college break, and is planning to be here for 35 days, so we'd like to try to get the extension for her, to get as long with her as possible.

I'm sure there's a link in the forum somewhere for the exact form that's needed. You need proof of vaccinations, and a certificate of health from a vet. It's really probably the easiest move we made with our pets to come here. Going back, I believe the pet will need a microchip to leave, but as I haven't done it yet, I can't swear to that, but it's not required to come in to Bangkok, or at least wasn't a couple of years ago. The process on arrival at the airport here took us less than 30 minutes, and was friendly and efficient. I would strongly recommend if possible any pet come here on the same plane as their owner to avoid the heat and delays of arrival at the cargo terminal if they come in separately. And truly as easy as the process was, I don't think spending a fortune on a pet shipping service is necessary.

Our dogs had to fly in the hold of the plane because they were big, but our cat flew in the cabin with us in a soft-sided carrier. Many airlines will permit that. It costs very little that way, so I would hate someone to feel forced to give up their pet because of that sort of concern. Our pets are family. They move where we move, or we don't go (and I know we're lucky to be able to take that position).

Best of luck to your friend!

Thanks so much UbonJoe and others. This gives us a lot to go on to get this rolling and get her here the easiest way without too much stress and exhaustion for her (or us!). Appreciate it very much!

This is sounding very encouraging. Thank you so much. So a little more detail.

Both her son (my husband) and I are here on a Non-o with yearly extensions. But the way we did it was not for the purpose of retirement (though we're both over 50). Instead, since our kids are studying at ISB, we got them Non-Os for the purposes of education, and we got ours as their guardian (or caretaker). We both have a non-O on our own, and both have the required 500k THB in our own individual accounts in the bank here, so in those circumstances, would she be able to come as his dependent? Of course this is depending on whether the embassy in Japan issues Non-Os.

Our immigration office is in Nonthaburi. Does that office do the conversion to Non-O? If not, we could still use the office on Chaengwattana to do the conversion to Non-O without having to leave the country, and then do the extension at our own office in Nonthaburi once we've had her 800k in her name in the bank account here for 60 days?

thanks so much again!

My apologies for asking a question that I'm sure has been answered many times, but given all the recent changes, and the age of my mother-in-law and difficulties for her if we do it incorrectly, I was hoping to get some definitive guidance...

My mother-in-law is an 88 year old Japanese woman in good health. She has been staying with us for a month or two at a time (with a visit to another country for a few days in between the couple of times she was here longer than 30 days). But as she gets less able to travel independently, she is asking to come and stay with us for 6 months at a time, which we would be delighted to have her do.

My brother-in-law looked into this at the Thai embassy in Tokyo and was told she would need to apply for a retirement visa from there. This would require a slew of documents in English, including medical check from a public (not private) hospital, a certification that she has no criminal record (also in English), etc. - none of this being easy to accomplish in rural Japan, and making multiple trips, possibly overnight, into Tokyo to get all of this done would be difficult for her.

If that's the only way to do this, then perhaps my husband will fly there and help her do it over the course of a couple of weeks. But I had thought it might be possible to bring her here on a 90-day tourist visa, and then convert it to an OA visa after she's been here long enough to age her 800k THB int eh bank, etc. It would be much easier to help her with all these things from here, we thought. But is this possible? Or is the embassy in Tokyo corrrect that we need to start everything from there?

Thanks so much in advance for your guidance and advice!

Please do what Sheryl suggests and get to the doctor as soon as humanly possible. A pulmonary embolism can strike at any moment. My children lost their father to one that came from a blood clot in his leg.

Limit exercise, do nothing that would encourage a clot to potentially dislodge, and go and have a doctor see it asap. It may be nothing, and you may be cleared to exercise or given medication for some other condition, but far, far, better safe than sorry with something this potentially serious.

Not all cases of Parkinson's Disease are the same. My grandmother had Parkinson's for 10 years before her death at 83, and was terribly debilitated for most of that time. By contrast, my father has had Parkinson's disease for the last 25 years (since he was 55) and until a car accident last year shattered his pelvis was still walking with only the help of a cane, and except on very bad days had little in the way of tremors - his manifested more as stiffness. Even now that he's in a wheelchair his speech is normal, his mental faculties fantastic for an 80 year old, and his neurologist has said he'll die from something someday, but not from Parkinson's. You just never know. That being said, I think that depression has been linked to the disease in many people, and I've read that at least one of the medications for it can tip you into dementia sorts of thinking if your dosage is too high.

It's a horrible, awful, and devastating disease, but we can't assume at his early stages that it necessarily meant he wouldn't have had many more years of relative health. It's hard to know without his family or doctor saying more. It's still terribly sad. He was such a gifted and compassionate man whose death leaves a large hole.

We've been shopping for a good home printer that can do wireless networking, print two-sided copies automatically, print from devices such as ipads, etc. After struggling with a cheaper and not very good printer we bought in Chiang Mai 3 years ago or so, we'd like something better, similar to this:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Printers/HP-Officejet-Pro/A7F65A?HP-Officejet-Pro-8620-e-All-in-One-Printer

We're having a hard time always getting a good sense about what the various models do in the stores in Bangkok. Does anyone know where is the best place to shop for this sort of HP printer?

If something like this is hard to get in Bangkok, do you know if we would face any charges at the airport if we brought one back with us from our summer holiday?

We did exactly this OP. My husband was over 50, but I was only 49 my first year in Thailand. Our two kids were going to attend an international school in BKK. Our school did require them to have a proper visa for admittance. We had two options - to do exactly what Ubonjoe suggested, or to have the kids on ED visas. Either approach starts with the first step of getting the 3 month non-immigrant O visa in your home country. When you get to Thailand you have to get a bank account and deposit the required amount in it, and have it age for 60 days. With 30 days left, you can get your extension of stay based on retirement, and get a multiple entry status at that time if you want (which is what we did).

We chose to put the kids on ED visas (our int'l school had to write a letter to immigration stating the period they're in school, and we had a slight glitch when the period of school year didn't perfectly overlap the year we were asking for, and that required a new letter but it all worked out) and we got ours as their caretakers. That way required us to tie up only 500k apiece in the bank. We could have done it as Ubonjoe suggested and have my husband on retirement visa and the three of us as his dependents. Our understanding is that would have required 800k x 2, but we didn't go that route so I'm not certain. We've just done our extension for our 4th year here, and have never had a problem.

Best of luck!

Me and my spouse, neither of us Thai, have a joint account, but while we don't have a WP, we do have valid 1 year visas and extensions of stay. Without it, I'm not sure we would have been able to do it. The Central Chaengwattana branch of Bangkok Bank in our case - though even with the 1 yr visa, the SCB branch there turned us down - despite us already having had money in their Chiang Mai branch (which did agree to open it for us, on our arrival with tourist visa before we converted to non-imm O after aging the funds the requisite months). It does seem random across branches, so you may just have to keep trying, unfortunately.

I agree you should try different branches and also would note different banks are different in their willingness depending on where you are. When we lived in Chiang Mai, Bangkok Bank was unwilling to open an account for us, which we needed in order to apply for the non-immigrant O visa, because we didn't have the visa yet - which we couldn't get until we had the cash deposited - Catch 22. But Siam Commercial Bank was quite helpful and did it with no problem. After a year we moved to Bangkok, and when we tried to have our funds transferred to a local branch of SCB here (across provinces they were charging us fees for every ATM withdrawal or electronic transfer to pay bills, very annoying), but the local SCB refused to open an account for us because we didn't have a work permit - which we couldn't have on retirement visa. But here, Bangkok Bank was completely fine with opening it for us and transferring the funds from SCB in Chiang Mai.

I'm an American, husband is not, we have individual and joint accounts, and made this switch in December, so at least as of then, this particular branch of Bangkok Bank had no problem with a new American accountholder.

We plan to leave for the summer holiday before June 30, because that's when our daughter's extension ends, since she graduates high school in June. Given how hectic the summer will be with settling her in university, perhaps an earlier extension for the son would be easiest. It's good to know they would allow a one day delay since they're closed on the 7th, but I'd be sort of scared he'd be coming through immigration alone on the 6th and might hit a snag, even if we'd asked earlier. Do they ever refuse entry with a multiple entry visa if the validity period ends so soon?

Thanks so much for the advise!

I'd love some advice. My school aged son holds a Non-Immigrant O Visa, and has an extension of stay that is valid until Aug. 7 (a Sunday). We typically would leave Thailand for a summer holiday and be back in time to do an extension of stay before the previous one is up. But, this year, he's invited to go to a special sports camp in Europe with a buddy, that will only end on the day before his extension expires, and he would be back only on the night of the 6th, or morning of the 7th, when immigration is closed.

I'm assuming this is an enormous problem, and that there isn't any 1 week grace period or anything that would allow him to enter on the 6th late or 7th, and only turn up to Immigration on Monday, the 8th?

Since he was to fly with a friend from the US to Europe, he would be out of Thailand more than the 30 days before the end of his extension date that I think is allowable? Are there any other workable options short of bringing him back from camp early (only a problem in terms of his traveling alone from places where he doesn't speak the language, etc). Even if we did that, would immigration balk at him arriving on, say, the 5th, when his extension is only valid until the 7th?