rethaier

My YouTube channel

Videos of life as it really is in Chiang Rai.  These are chats with expats, locals, eateries, coffee shops and more.

A Chinese Cremation

The Nest is a quiet place with great staff and fantastic meals and desserts. Joseph is the head chef, pastry cook, and chief bottle washer at The Nest, and he is going to show us around.  Soon we will do another video focused on the food.

https://youtu.be/uuUK6Q-q3wc

In this video, Life In The Rai, is chatting with Rob about his life in Chiang Rai.

VIDEO

5 common problems faced by expats

VIDEO

Please allow me to introduce you to Life In The Rai.  It’s a new YouTube channel that will show you the reality of life in Chiang Rai, Thailand. 

Our future videos will be chats with local residents and ex-pats who tell you about their life in the Rai, and we will visit businesses and they will tell what they do, why they do it, and what they sell.

You can find our channel here:  

3 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Don't disagree with what you are saying. People all over the world have 4 or more kids. Maybe the OP already has four kids from a previous life - I really don't know. I'm the second of four kids and Mum and Dad worked hard to raise us all. Mum was 26 when I was born, Dad thirty.

Not many start a large family in the latter part of their life, in a foreign country, with little certainty of ongoing residence while in receipt of a pension.

I married a lady with 3 children then her sister died and we got one more.  Call me stupid if you wish but at the time it was no problem.

35 minutes ago, billd766 said:

I did my retirement planning back in 2002 on 70 THB/GBP. Now can you honestly predict the forex in the next week/ month/year.

 

In 2002 NOBODY knew or could predict about the financial crash of 2008, Brexit and its fallout from 2016 or the strength of the Thai baht.

 

So was I wrong 17 years ago. I have no idea nor do any other financial "experts" in real life and certainly any of the ones on TVF.

correct.

Just now, KhunFred said:

All these problems disappear if you get your extension at Chonburi Immigration by paying a fee and showing evidence of enough income. I was never asked where the income is deposited. You call it "bribery", they call it "business".

Not so easy if one lives in chiang rai.  but still, as you say, one needs evidence of income just the same.

6 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

No, you can extend each 90 day entry by 60 days (1,900 baht) at your local IO, which is cheaper than doing a border run.

 

How to use a Non Imm O multi entry Visa to it's full potential of staying almost 17 months with only 3 border runs.

 

Visa validity 1 year. Each entry valid 90 days.

Example of Visa issued on 31^st April 2019, Enter before date 30^th April 2020. (Visa validity)

 

Enter Thailand 1^st May 2019.

Permitted to stay until 29^th August (90 days)

60 Day extension (1,900 baht) from local Imm office

Permitted to stay until Oct 27^th.

 

Border run Oct 27^tth re-enter. (1^st Border run).

 

Permitted to stay until Jan 24^th 2020. (90 days)

60 day extension (1,900 baht) from local Imm office.

Permitted to stay until Mar 23^rd.

 

Border run Mar 23^rd re-enter (2^nd Border run)

 

Permitted to stay until June 20^th

However as the Visa expires on the Enter before date of 30^th April 2020, it's necessary to do a further border run no later than 30^th April 2020.

 

Border run 30^th April 2020 re-enter (3^rd Border run)

Permitted to stay until July 27^th (90 days)

60 day extension (1,900 baht) from local Imm office.

Permitted to stay until Sept 25^th.2020.

 

Total length of stay almost 17 months, 3 border runs, 3 x 60 day extensions.

May 1^st 2019 – Sept 25^th 2020.

Renew Visa - repeat.

That sounds quite complicated.  I think I can get 15 months on 4 border runs without the 60 day extensions and save 4000 baht on extensions.  3 runs during the 12 months then a final run on the last day gets me another 90 days.  The 4000 baht only gains me 2 months.  What am I missing.

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

Keep it in mind as an option, especially if your IO start to question the source of your income, as some have this year due to cessation of Embassy Income letters for certain nationalities.

 

If you use the Non Imm O ME to it's potential, you can stay in Thailand for almost 17 months, before renewing the Visa and with only 3 border run in-between.

Wouldn't that be 4 border runs?

3 during the year and one at the end of 12 months.

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

Because had you been transferring funds, rather than them being paid directly as you've now explained, then my suggestion would have been helpful.

 

Quite a lot of expats in a similar position to yourself, have opted to obtain the Non Imm O multi entry Visa based on marriage from the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet, with no financial proof required, this year.

Perhaps not ideal, but if/when exchange rates are better then the option of obtaining an extension again are still open.

Yes, I have considered Savanakhet but it is far less expensive to have money transferred than to go there.  Transferring costs about 3500 baht per year and my visa is 2000, that totals 5500.  Whereas, I figure after fuel, hotels, meals and visa it would cost about 20,000 to go through Savanakhet.

3 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

In theory the daughters deposits could be income. It would come down to the individual immigration office, some are happy with just money into a Thai account, others may want a corresponding pension letter for the amount.

Thanks

1 minute ago, otherstuff1957 said:

Are you on a Thai Wife Visa extension or a Retirement extension?  

 

It won't count towards a Retirement extension.  

Thai wife.

3 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I can't see any reason why not, its money being transferred into Thailand for living expenses irrespective of the source, but i could be wrong.....

 

 

thanks

With the exchange rate being so bad, and a wife and 4 kids, it is difficult to make ends meet so my daughter in the united states helps me out by depositing money into my Thai bank account each month.  If the baht continues to strengthen I may also have trouble qualifying for my visa, so I am wondering if the money she sends me monthly will be considered when assessing my monthly income to qualify for my visa?

If this confuses people they are not very intelligent.  But then who ever accused Thai Visa members of being intelligent.  It really is quite simple.

Hi I am collecting information to write a comedic book about the silly, strange, frustrating or even stupid things that have happened to people in Thailand. If you can provide an anecdote, it would be appreciated greatly.  I will not use your name without explicit consent nor will I use the real names of people or businesses you may write about. Thanks for any help.