JimMorris

I have two side-by-side windows, approximately 70 by 120 centimeters each, and I am looking to have some reflective window tinting film installed. My goal is to reflect the morning sun and make it difficult for anyone outside to see in. Essentially, I want a mirror effect from the outside that also reduces heat and sunlight penetration. Most window tinting I have seen is the standard black type with different levels like 20, 40, 60, 80 percent. However, I am specifically looking for a mirrored reflective type that still allows around 35 to 40 percent of light to pass through or provides at least 35 to 40 percent visibility when looking out. From what I understand, the mirrored type also helps reduce heat better than standard black tints. I contacted a shop in my general area that usually does car tinting but also works on home windows. They quoted ฿2500 in total for both windows, which seems high for such a small job. I’ve seen that the materials themselves cost less than 200 baht on Lazada, and the shop said installation would take less than an hour. Paying over ฿2000 for an hour of relatively simple labor feels rather steep, but I could be mistaken. The building technician where I live offered to install it if I supply the materials, and I am confident he would do an adequate job. He’s a general handyman who can fix things pretty well, including air-conditioning so I assume this kind of job would be within his level of capabilities. It would likely only require me paying him a small tip, so it would be much less costly. I am wondering whether it is worth paying a professional to do this, or if the difference in quality of the work would likely be minimal. I would appreciate any advice from people who have experience with this, including typical costs or recommendations for reasonably priced companies in Bangkok that could handle a small job like this of tinting just two windows in the home.

Surprised the even asked that question. I would say at least 50% of retirees put the 800K in an account and never touch it, based on what I have read from others on this forum. So what you are doing is quite normal and shouldn't raise any red flags.

I have now changed my fixed deposit account to pay monthly interest instead of paying only once at the end of the term. The interest payments will now be automatically deposited each month into my linked savings account. I can update the fixed deposit passbook each month to show the monthly interest entries, but it will likely not change the displayed account balance in the fixed deposit account since the interest is not deposited back into that account and goes into the savings account instead. Therefore, it probably cannot be used for immigration purposes to show a recent account balance update on the fixed deposit passbook. Since the minimum deposit for adding money to the fixed deposit account is 5,000 Baht, I also deposited an extra 5,000 Baht into the account as a test to see how that works. It appears on a separate page in the fixed deposit passbook without affecting the main deposit balance, so it is like having two separate balances in the passbook, although the mobile app still shows a combined total balance for all deposits in the account. This means that even depositing more money into the account on the day I extend my visa would not allow me to show an updated account balance in the passbook. I suppose one could withdraw some money from the fixed deposit on the date of the visa extension to update the passbook balance that way, but I believe that withdrawing any money voids the fixed deposit interest rate. The funds would remain there in the account, but the interest rate would drop to the regular savings account rate, which defeats the whole purpose of having a fixed deposit account.

Thanks for that. I actually caught that on the website myself after I had already made my post above. The bank also told me that at maturity the fixed deposit auto renews for the same term period but at the prevailing rate. You can withdraw anytime after maturity. Withdrawing within three months of the new term earns no interest, but after three months you will at least get the savings account interest rate on the accrued amount. Anyway, that is one problem solved. I had been worried that the money would be withdrawn from the fixed deposit account upon maturity, sent back to my savings account, and cause all the money to leave the fixed deposit account, thus causing a disruption with my visa. This was based on what the other guy at the UOB branch had told me. Thankfully, that is not the case. I normally also supply an updated passbook, bank statement, and letter with my savings account. With the fixed deposit account though, it seems an updated passbook will not be possible.

Thanks. Yes, I would make an online appointment in advance, as I usually do. I was thinking the same about the 5K. Since it would not be added to the 800K balance or allow me to update the balance on the 800K fixed deposit portion, there seems like no good reason to even bother with it. By receipt of deposit, do you mean the original deposit slip for the 800K that I used to open the fixed deposit with? If so, yes I still have that deposit slip copy from the bank, but it will not be recent in 2027 when I plan to use this account for my visa extension. I am not sure how it could be useful? The bank also once told me that when the fixed deposit matures, the funds automatically move back to my savings account. I could move them back into a new fixed deposit term at that time, but even a one-day transfer out of the fixed deposit account would require me to show multiple account statements to prove I kept 800K in the bank, which is something I would also want to avoid. At the time, when they told me this, I wasn't even thinking this might cause me problems too, but in hindsight it could be an issue. Overall, this fixed deposit seems like it could be more trouble than it is worth. Since I cannot update the passbook balance for the fixed deposit on the visa extension day, immigration might reject it as we discussed. I could also run into problems if the maturity of the funds in the fixed deposit automatically transfers the funds back to savings and cannot be rolled over directly. In the end, the savings account method may still be the better and safest option. Less hassle and more of a sure thing. Of course I would have to sacrifice earning some higher interest, but maybe worth it for the peace of mind.

Not in the CW government complex. Closest one is about a mile away on CW road close to the Laksi intersection.

It is UOB. The issue with them is that if I deposit another 5K or more into the account on the day of the extension, it does get added to the passbook, but on a separate page as I mentioned earlier, and it does not get included in the original 800K balance. As the bank explained, it is like having two different balances in one account, both running for different fixed time periods, and at different interest rates, I believe. They can presumably list both amounts in the account in the official bank balance letter, but there is no way to update the passbook so that it shows the 800K balance portion updated with the date of the visa extension. In any case, I still plan to use my savings account for the next renewal next year, and then in 2027 I hope to switch to using the fixed deposit passbook, if I can confirm that CW Immigration will accept this account with only the bank letter and the 12 months of statements.

Thanks, I am hoping that is the case because there is no way for me to really update the 800K balance on the day of the extension. I would like to find that out before possibly having a problem with my visa extension when not being able to update the passbook balance on the day of the extension.

I think the reason they do not accept locked accounts, such as those where the money has been set aside for something like a secured credit card, is because you no longer have access to that money if you need it. The assumption is that the 800K can be partly used for expenses during the year if necessary. With a locked account, you cannot do that. However, with a fixed deposit you can withdraw the money at any time if needed. You would only lose the interest, but the funds are never truly locked. This means the money can be used for living expenses if required. That is why I believe a fixed deposit account is accepted by immigration.

With my bank, the minimum deposit amount for adding to a fixed deposit is 5,000 Baht. But that is not the main problem. The bank explained that when I add to a fixed deposit, it is recorded as a separate entry and appears on a different page from the original deposit in the passbook. This means that even if I add money to the account, it will not trigger an updated passbook entry showing a change to the original fixed deposit balance. The bank can give me the 12 months of statements and the official letter, but there is no way to have the passbook balance of 800K updated on the same day when extending the visa. I am not sure if this will be acceptable by CW immigration or not.

If you want to use a fixed deposit instead of a normal savings account to meet the 800K financial requirement at CW immigration then what are you expected to show when you do the retirement extension? A bank letter and the original fixed deposit passbook with a photocopy? Or is some kind of 12 month historical statement required as well? And does the passbook need to have the balance updated somehow on the day too?

Land of Shwings

Great suggestion. You can do SIM card top ups for as little as 20 Baht.

As long as you keep a 2,000 Baht balance you will be fine as many have already said. The only possible issue is that some Thai banks will automatically lock the account as being "dormant" if there are no deposits or withdrawals on the account for a consecutive 12 month period. If an account goes into dormant status then it might require a visit to the bank in person to get the account unlocked before you can use the account again or get access to your money. Best to do any small transaction in the account at least once every 6 months and you'll avoid any of these possible problems.

Is there anywhere in Bangkok to find a good selection of reasonably priced custom/after market rims for an older 2011 CBR250R? Online would be fine too. Thank you.