bangkokgalaxy

Hello Everyone,

I will renew my Non O Retirement Visa next week.

Problem: I missed my 90-day report, which was due on Dec. 2, because my passport was at the US embassy for one month being renewed and I only got it back a few days ago.

The reentry stamp in my passport from September 2, 2022, says good until Jan. 1, 2023. Does that mean I did not have to do a 90-day report? Or, If I did miss the 90-day reporting requirement, will I just pay a 2000 baht penalty the day I go to Wattana and extend my visa another year?

Also, when I flew out of the country in late August (and returned to Thailand) in early September of this year, I was not given a TM6 card on my flight, and didn't see any at the airport immigration counter. 

Can anyone confirm that TM 6 cards are now suspended? And, that this will NOT be an issue when I renew my retirement visa next week?

Thanks in advance!

Hello Everyone,

I am shopping for a used van. I have never purchased a vehicle in Thailand. Can a retiree put a used

vehicle in their name? Also, are there any mechanics or services that will inspect a used vehicle before

you purchase it? (to avoid buying a car with mechanical issues)? 

I plan on avoiding dealers and looking at individual sellers. Any comments on this?

Thanks

My passport expires in Aug. 2023. I have a Non O retirement visa that expires on Jan. 1, 2023. 

I need to renew my passport by mail with the US Embassy. When they receive, renew and send

me back my passport, what happens to my active retirement visa? do they move it into the

new passport, or do I need to go to immigration after receiving the new passport? (and is there a fee?)

I have not found much commentary (in this forum, or elsewhere) from American entrepreneurs who have set up Amity Treaty companies.

Interested in learning about startup experiences, such as working with legal firms, and clarification on the requirements for documentation

for 2 million in minimum capital (which I've heard can we avoided until 2024 or beyond)

Once established, what has been your experience in maintaining your Amity Company status (e.g accounting and reporting, hiring employees,

working with CPAs, etc)

Thank you in advance.

Hello everyone.

I am a US citizen retired in Thailand. I have a global health insurance policy with limited USA coverage (100k).

I need to travel to the USA for 2 weeks.

For peace of mind, I'm looking for a short-term USA medical health insurance policy to extend my coverage to 1 million USA.

I've checked with my primary insurer and they can't add coverage limits. I can't find any international insurers for US citizens

who are traveling back to the USA for short periods.

Any suggestions?

Thanks ubonjoe.

Thanks all for your responses. 

Someone told me that getting a re-entry permit at the airport is for emergency only. I would prefer to do it at the airport. But I'm afraid of losing my retirement visa if something goes wrong at the airport. My flight is at 1am on the 15th.

An agent quoted me multi-entry + his fees= 8k baht. 

Can my g/f (non Thai) get my re-entry permit for me at the Chaengwattana IO? Will an immigration officer be ok with this?

Or do I have to do it? When should I/gf go to the IO to get a re-entry permit?

Thank you again.

Hello,

I have to leave Thailand for business in the US in mid-August 2022 and then return to Thailand on Sept 01.

My retirement visa ends on Jan 1, 2023. 

In order not to have my retirement visa cancel, I need a re-entry permit, correct? Do I need an agent to get a re-entry permit?

I have not asked the agent who usually renews my retirement visa on how much he charges. What's a reasonable fee if an agent does it for me?

Thanks in advance.

I am renewing my retirement visa next month. I have been doing 65k via international transfers each month.

I have one glitch: my November transfer was not properly "coded" because Transferwise unexpectedly 

sent the money from the USA to a third party bank, then onward to my Thai bank, which reflects as an

"Interbank transfer" not "International Bank Transfer." I have already gotten a credit advice from the third

party bank to verify that it was indeed an international transfer.

That being said, has anyone had any issues representing themselves at Bangkok Immigration to renew

their retirement visas using the 65k method? Is it better to pay an agent 15k to do it for you? And given

my one small glitch (described above), will immigration cause any issues that would be more easily 

handled by a Thai visa agent?

At immigration, are the monthly bank statements, landlord ID, and passport all I need at immigration

to ensure I can renew without any hassles?

I've received a full 2-dose Pfizer vaccine in Thailand. I need to travel to France, Germany and Italy and (possibly) the UK

in early 2022. Does anyone know how to covert or register with my Thai vaccine certificate to ensure easy and universal

access while entering these countries, eating out, going to museums, flying regionally, etc? 

Did US donate vaccine with short shelve life? I am inclined to think so. Saying that, it worked out well for me, I am happy and I am under 60.

Good news. As a US citizen, it would be great some of my own vaccine (short shelf life or not). How did you book with Bangkok Hospital being under 60? I assumed ExpatVac only scheduled vaccines to those over 60 or with special health conditions. 

I am a foreigner in good health. I have good insurance. It covers Covid treatment, and stays in private hospitals.

However, I want to ensure - If I ever contract Covid - I will not be "forced" into a government facility

I worry that  - in a rush - an uninformed bureaucrat might insist I am required go to a state facility (football stadium) for treatment.

I want to ensure I go to a private hospital like Bumrungrad, who partners with Anantara Hotel for Covid positive patient stays.

Anyone know about this?

I got first year visa myself (Dec. 2018), using the US embassy income verification method. Easy and straightforward.

Last year, Dec. 2019, things were complicated. I had bank statement issues (Transferwise did not properly code 4 months as FFT, I didn't catch it, and had to go to another bank, get income advice letters, etc. A real pain. On top of that, I only had 11 months of transfers - I was missing 1 month (the first in my 12 past month period), because everything changed in early 2019 and my bookkeeper missed a transfer.

So, long story, I used the agent because of documentation issues, and for 30k I got my visa despite many people warning m that me I may have had problems with only 11 months of statements (luckily, the officer showed "leniency" given the situation, and I'm sure the agent helped).

This year I have everything right. 12 months of bank statements with 65k+ and FFT coding. The only issue is that 13th month detail my agent told me about.

I'm concerned about what mtls2005 mentioned above, that "someone in the Imm CoC is still working with that agent (and) you may be 'forced/encouraged' to re-employ them."

Obviously, agent has a friend in high places in Wattana. And I really don't want ANY issues this year, given where we find ourselves with Covid.

Should I just bite the bullet and use the agent? Advice appreciated.

Thanks everyone for your help and input. 

I will most likely go to Wattana and try myself. If they give me a hard time and I can't get approved, will that create issues using the agent to back to immigration again on my behalf? For example, will they stamp my denied in my passport? Or keep my bank letters, etc?

To clarify, I'm based in Bangkok.

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to review my retirement visa next week (it expires Jan 1) using the 65k method. I assumed it would be easy, I have been diligently transferring money from abroad, all statements show as FFT. Assumed I could do it myself.

But...after talking with the legal firm agent who helped me last year, he told me the officer will ask for 13 months of statements and credit advice letters...starting November 2019-November 2020. Why not 12? He couldn't say, but insisted that's what he has experienced. 

The problem: in November 2019 I had a Transferwise glitch that showed that month's transfer as SMART (in-country transfer). I provided documentation to immigration last year (2019) for that month by getting a credit advice letter from the local processing bank showing that, indeed, this was an overseas transfer. No issues.

Now, the agent insists I'll again need an agent to avoid problems (because officers are looking for reasons to reject 65k method retirees, he says). It will cost 20k for agent services. 

Before I write this off as advice from a self interested agent, can anyone provide recent feedback on using the 65k method at BKK immigration? Do they ask for 13 months of documentation? Did you have any issues?

Thanks in advance.

I use the 65k method and use Transferwise to bring monthly funds into Thailand. I choose the option in Transferwise that says "For Retirement" that is "supposed" to ensure your funds are coded correctly as FFT (foreign funds transfer) or "International" on your bank statements. 

However, they've made mistakes. I had several bank statements that did not say FFT and instead said "SMART" or something that indicates they first passed through another bank on the way to my bank and look to immigration like domestic transfers, which will cause problems.

Check your statements/bank book closely. If any transfers are not properly coded as foreign transfers, call your bank and ask them which third party Thai bank was involved in moving the money between Transferwise and your own bank.

Then, go to that bank and get a letter and/or a credit advice saying that these were received from outside Thailand via Transferwise.

Last year, I had four months that were not properly coded as FFT. I had to combine a letter from my bank confirming all FFT transfers they received, and more documentation from a third party Thai bank to confirm the other months.

PM me if you have any questions.

The remaining question is what happens when people use agents. Does anyone have first-hand experience with FBAR after using an agent?  Are their tax implications?

Has anyone had to deal with this when keeping 800k in a Thai bank, or when using visa agents for financial requirements? 

Has anything changed recently for new retirement extensions using the 65k international bank transfer method?

Last year, I only needed 12 months bank statements, showing monthly international wire transfers, and a letter from the

bank confirming all information.

Anyone know if US citizens working for US companies overseas (who've laid them off because of corona situation) are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits?

I have not been to the US for 9 months. Can I enter Cambodia? The government's notice "seems" to say it's only an issue if one has been in the US in the past 14 days. Can anyone clarify or provide first-hand experience?

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

So the question is:

>> Will IO at CW accept a record of at least 1 monthly-income transfer of at least 65K with foreign origins proven, as sufficient for meeting the financial requirement when applying for the 90-day Non Imm O - retirement Visa?  Or do they also require that the source of that foreign income, comes from pension, and/or that it backed-up by an embassy-issued income-letter?

Anybody willing to share experience on the above?

Thanks, everyone, for your help.

My top option, if possible, is still getting an O (vs an OA) without returning back to the USA.

If anyone has experience applying for a first time Non Imm O in Bangkok (or anywhere else in the Thailand or SE Asia), using Thai bank statements only showing international transfers, no proof of pension, and no embassy letter or income affidavit, feedback would be most appreciated.

12 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

2. Apply for the cheapest possible thai IO-approved health-insurance policy (6.000 THB premium from LGM Insurance), which will be good for 1 year stay, and might be extended for a 2nd year so that you can benefit from the OA Visa benefits (no need for money in a thai bank-account) also during the 2nd year

....and, keep my current Cigna plan to ensure I have sufficient coverage. BTW, I've checked with Cigna, and there's no issue having 2 insurance policies as long as you only make claims on one policy at a time. 

6 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

b) Just recently - andfinally - a somewhat affordable thai IO-approved health-insurance policy is on offer which only costs 6.000 THB for people in the 51-60 age bracket.  Content-wise that policy is worthless, but you could consider it simply as an entrance-ticket to meet the OA health-insurance requirement.

Thank you. I hadn't heard about that.

But, I did get a quote for good coverage from Luma that meets the immigration long-stay requirements. An Aetna Platinum Plan with

THB 30,000,000 per injury/ illness and 40k Outpatient runs 110,00 Baht a year (which is about 25% more than the expat plan we currently have with Cigna).