IMA_FARANG

You were trying to "jump the queue " by going directly from a Tourist visa to a non O visa.

As Ubinjoe said above the usual process is to go somewhere and get a 90 day Non O Visa, and use that time to establish your financial requirements and then EXTEND that 90 day Non O for one year for a retirement visa/extension.

It is a two step process at least, and it can be done that way.

By trying to "jump the queue" as described  above you raised suspicions at immigration

Just  read an article on this in the Guardian, and there may be over 60 tower blocks that use or used the same type of cladding.

This is a developing story and there most certainly will be more buildings around England that use this type of cladding material improperly because the cladding was cheaper than other certified fire  retardant cladding.

This story will not just "go away",  or so I hope,  as it shows the actual value of human lives to builders  who place cost first over safety.

The "rules and requirements" are not that difficult for a normal person to understand.

I am just an old farm boy from he U.S. and if I did it without the "help" of an agent, I'll bet you can.

Certainly not if you don't  try.

I remember the "honey wagons" that hauled the sewage from the private  "septic tanks" in Bangkok when there was basically no public sewage system in many parts of Bangkok.

They used to haul the sewage out to the outskirts of Bangkok and spread it as "fertilizer" on the fields.

The "honey wagons" traveled out to the outskirts of Bangkok early in the morning before most of the other  traffic was moving.

the "honey wagons" were still being used in 1977 or so when I first came to Bangkok.

Much of the original series of posts seems to have been from 2014.

I don't believe they are still relevant in 2017.

You do not NEED to have a Social Security "proof of income" as currently the immigration will accept the U.S. embassy income statement.

However, there are ways to have proof of your monthly Social security pension from the U.S. if you are willing to do a little work.

You CAN get a yearly notification, even here in Thailand mailed to your Thai address, as the Social Security will provide  you a form stating your monthly pension  statement either online if you have a on-line Social security account, or they will provide you with a yearly form intended for you to file with your yearly income tax return.

you can even have such a form that states your monthly pension sent to a family member in the U.S. and have that family member forward it to you in Thailand.

In short, if you are cautious you can provide documentation of your monthly Social Security Pension  here in Thailand that you can photocopy here and provide to Thai immigration if they ask for  it.

I know, as I have a direct deposit Social Security pension  direct deposited to My Bangkok bank account monthly, and I receive an annual summary of those deposits  and amount of Social Security Pension by international mail direct form the Social Security Administration in Baltimore each year.

My Bangkok Bank passbook also shows my monthly deposit of pension coming in each month.

That also will be accepted by immigration as Proof if they question me.

as I  said you do Not NEED this proof at present, but if you want to there are a number of ways to show evidence of your monthly income if you are a cautious person and willing to do a little work to get that proof.

IIt can be done

I have never done a disabled run to CW in Bangkok, but I have been their in a (supplied) wheelchair from the entrance for a visa extension while recuperating form an operation.

You CAN get a wheelchair at the entrance to CW if you need one, but you will need a helper to push you around immigration.

Not sure about other offices throughout the country, but I know that at CW wheelchair access is possible.

Been there, and done that.

I have 2 Bangkok Bank accounts and I have seen my money counted  by the bank counting machine every time  I deposited my money.

it was always done right in front of me so I could see the results.

In addition, all deposits are always credited by the bank computer and the results printed out in my bankbook.

Human errors are always possible, so I never leave the counter until I verify the bankbook tally.

Once I asked for withdrawal of 4000 Baht and the bank teller accidentally withdrew 40,000 Baht.

Of curse I pointed out the error and returned the extra money.

Anyone would be very popular among long term prisoners in a women's prison.

Whether male of female, probably.

In a pinch with not much choice, what ever does the job is fine.

No comment required.

Retirement visa/extension annually?

Been there and done that.

Income declaration at U.S embassy and U.S. Social Security pension, but never asked for Proof.

That is not only a racist remark but stupid also.

Although I am now separated  from my Thai girlfriend I can assure you for nearly 30  years we were together.

And I am a white guy from a dairy farm background in the U.S.

In case anyone wonders, not that I have to explain, we separated when we both reached our 65th year, when  we both wanted to go our own ways after close to 30 years together.

No other comments  needed.

You will need to marry your "common law wife" as the rules in Thailand to get your marriage recognized as your legal wife and to get her to share your life with you are that  your marriage must be " de Jure and de facto".

Which means  in law and in fact.

To get her to Thailand as your wife you will need to prove that she is your wife in fact and in the eyes of the law.

You will also have a financial requirement (funds in Thai Bank in your name or a income pension) to qualify for that retirement visa/extension for YOU.

All this is possible and can be done with  time if you work for that goal.

But first you need a marriage lscense to make your marriage legal here in Thailand. 

She needs a passport from her own country and they are VERY strict about young women leaving the Phillipines  to avoid the problem of young women being taken out of the Phillipines  and abandoned later in another country.

It happens all over the world and the Phillipine government is very strict about that not happening.

Good luck, but you face a long and hard process.....just so you understand at the start what the problems will be.

Just my opinion, but I could never see the value in either Permanent  R residence or Thai citizenship.

I was born  in the U.S, , but I have lived and worked in various countries around the world in my 70 years on this Earth.

Now I am here in Thailand as a retiree, and for the time being that is all I want or need.

Others may disagree, but that is my opinion.

What currency are you referring to?

The English pound is being affected downward by BREXIT worries and now Mays governmental problems. as the Tory government flounders in it's self-generated stupidity

The U.S. dollar is suffering from Donald Trumps engrained stupidity as the U.S. President and fool in charge.

All that is a short term stuff. but internationally foreign exchange "experts" are all spineless cowards and are deliberately bidding and talking down those currencies against the Baht. 

Anyone who doesn't see the short term "bad news" is a temporary thing does not understand that in the long run both the English pound and the U.S. dollar are long term winners is a fool.

The Baht although in the long run a weaker currency is because of the above making short term gains against the Pound, the Dollar, and the Euro.

That is just a temporary fluctuation.....the basic fundamentals in the long term will bring the Pound and the Dollar back to its proper position.

Even the Euro will in the long term come back to its correct balance as the fundamentals are there for its long term..

You need to think "long term" , and look past the temporary gloom and doom of the so called "experts".

As I said above they are all cowards anyway.

That at least s my opinion.

The first thought would be for the mandatory retro-fitting of fire suppression   sprinkler systems in ALL high rise blocks of flats at the expense of the buildings owners.

And secondly LOUD fire alarm warning  bells as many residents in Grenfell Tower said they did not hear fire alarms ringing.

Here in Thailand , has anyone ever checked the fire alarms in your Condo?

Smoke detectors? 

Just for record.....when I did my first retirement visa/extension I was asked to show my Thai bank passbook.

I was then getting a monthly income from the U.S. which showed as a Foreign Funds Transfer to my Thai bank account. (code FFT)

The immigrations officer (a female) asked to show her my Thai Bankbook which she then photocopied.

She went through the photocopied pages and with a yellow marker  she underlined each monthly FFT incoming funds transfer.

She was satisfied that I was making regular incoming  funds transfers. and she wrote O.K. on the  top of the photocopies and put a big checkmark next to that O.K.

She then staples the photocopies to rest of my retirement application and then told me to see her supervisor at the next desk for final approval.

I remember that quite clearly, as it was a tense moment for me being my first  retirement approval, and I was nervous.

I was approved for a one year retirement visa/extension.

She is the Asian version of Donald Trump.

She wants us to believe everybody is picking on HER.

She knows how to look pretty and all the old men can still believe they will get a chance to get her middle aged body if they just don't say  naughty things about her.

Boo Hoo, I am still a good looking woman, please don't pick on me.

No we are not fooled.

Which consulate and what nationality?

I am a U.S.national, and when I received my new passport a couple of months back, they also handed me a form letter asking Bangkok immigration to transfer my current visa from my old passport to my new passport.

I went to CW in Bangkok and presented this form letter where they transferred the old current visa info to my new passport.

if you are NOT a U.S. citizen, then this info may not apply to your particular case however.

Not to be rude,, but if you ask a clear and specific question, I will try to give the best clear and specific answer I can to that question.

I don't honestly know your specific answer, but I myself have applied in person for re-entry permits previously in Bangkok at CW immigration office.

As I recall there is or at least was a special office cubicle for that.

Took only a couple of minutes, and can be done at the same time as you get your extension..

Just for the record I went today 21 June 2017 and got a 30 day extension on my visa exempt entry from Malaysia on 27 May 2017.

The fee is still 1900 Baht for the 30 day extension

I did this at CW immigration in Bangkok. and I am now here until 21 June 2017.

The only reason I  posted this is to show everyone it is STILL POSSIBLE  to do it legally

As I I just said I did it today.

For the record I entered by AIR from Malaysia and this was my FIRST visa exempt entry in 2017 that I extended today.

Will Trump "Fire him" from His job as he did on the show "The Apprentice"?

Not sure about  your country, but for  Americans you will be given a form letter along with your new passport when it is given (at least at the embassy in  Bangkok).

Probably does not pertain to your question, but just for info to Americans here in Bangkok.

You take that form letter to CW immigration and they either transfer your visas or make a notation in your new passport that their is an active visa in your old (canceled) passport that is still valid.

I have done it before.

tHave you ever been in a situation where you can't raise enough money to buy a decent meal, and you are hungry.

Or worse, when it is a holiday and you don't have the money to buy a present fer someone in your family.

I have been there.

By God's   grace those days were long ago.

However, I can  remember a day many years ago when I cold not spend the 100 Baht to go to a Christmas dinner at the place I was then staying in Thailand.

At that time it was either a Christmas dinner for me, or food for my Thai girlfriend;s family.

That;s a true story. and shortly after that day I got a job in Saudi Arabia which started the solution to my financial problems.

Unless you have been here you can't know what I am talking about.

I didn't eat that Christmas day dinner so others who depended on me could eat that day.

Looking back it was worth it.

It is a joke, but it is not funny.

I am a 70 year old man, and in the U.S. it is now nearly impossible to get health insurance at that age for a reasonable price.

Since Donald and his fools canceled "Obamacare"" as they call it that is out too.

Not that it ever would pay outside the U.S. anyway.

I just had a operation in February in Thailand to repair a broken bone in my left arm caused by a fall, and it cost me 200K Baht for the  operation and roughly another 100K for other associated medical and hospital expenses. I had the funds in my Thai Bank and paid the hospital In Thai Baht

I still get a U.S. Social Security pension which keeps me here in Thailand for the time being.and pays my living expenses.

How long is not known.

A couple of years ago I suggested that certain high income foreign expats be allowed to establish businesses on-line in Thailand.

As long as their business was conducted ONLY on the internet from Thailand, they would be allowed to live in Thailand.

The "quid-pro-quo" for that was that these foreigners be required to pay Thai taxes at a preferential  rate to the Thai government on that part of their on-line income that was transferred to Thailand for their use to live in Thailand.

I was thinking of such people as writers, movie producers, artists, and such that may earn a high salary.....professionals in their chosen fields.

This could be done WITHOUT them working for a Thai company and therefore NOT NEEDING a Thai work permit.

The benefit to the Thai government would be that they would have access to these highly paid professionals and their money that was transferred into Thailand in tax revenue.

The advantage to these highly paid  foreign professionals would be that Thai tax rates are lower than tax rates in Europe or the U.S.A.

As they would only be taxed on the income they actually brought into Thailand they would generally pay tax at preferable rates by moving to Thailand to live.

I saw this as a win-win situation both for Thailand who would get  apart of their on-line income as tax revenue for Thailand, and the high paid foreign workers would for their tax revenue be given the right to live in Thailand if they ONLY earned their income on the internet.

Of course, no one ever listened to me.

It never happened, probably because the idea was to new and officials, in Thailand and elsewhere, are scared of new ideas and innovation.

I should have known better.