HalC

13 hours ago, kotsak said:

 

Not for renewals of the 5 year driving license.

I just did a 5 year renewal and I had to supply the medical certificate.

On 12/7/2018 at 8:20 PM, DUNROAMIN said:

I just posted what happened to me, I turned up with cash and could pay the exact amount, and I got the response from the thai woman working behind the counter, can you pay by card as we do not except cash anymore, what more can I say, not ill-informed , actual fact. I think as per usual one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing. Go figure, I personally don't give a shit about the Embassy anymore, as they do next to nothing for you and rip you off with outrageous costs. Hopefully that was my last visit. That's my vent for the day, cheers.

What's wrong with you blokes, can't you read English - this is not about anything other then this - if you DO NOT HAVE A CREDIT CARD I have been informed both verbally and by email from consular services at the embassy that they WILL INFACT TAKE CASH - If you DO HAVE a credit card then they want you to use it - do you get it yet ? 

If you ain't got a credit card then you can't use a credit card can you ?

I actually thought they would have instructed me to raise a Thai Bank Cheque made out to the Australian Embassy but NO - they said exact cash will be OK. 

I am going there this week and I will pay cash and I will post again to confirm that. I posted what I did for those blokes that do not have a credit card so these individuals need to take the exact cash amount. Please don't confuse this anymore - no card = exact cash. 

13 hours ago, DUNROAMIN said:

Visited the Oz embassy 3 December for stat dec to be signed, definitely no cash transactions now, sign up in foyer clearly states payment must by credit or debit card with thai bank card.

 

Geezus dunroamin,

I posted the information in my post a few days ago in good faith after phoning and emailing the Consular Service area of the Australian Embassy late last week and being informed both verbally and with written confirmation that the EXACT amount of cash WILL BE accepted if you DO NOT have a credit card. 

If you want a copy of the email just PM me your email address and I'll send it to you.

I will post confirmation of the cash payment later next week after I go for my appointment.

The amount of ill-informed comments presented by some on these forums is simply staggering

As a point of fact - I called and emailed the Embassy yesterday (3/12/18) to discuss this issue as I do not have a credit card in Thailand and I was clearly advised both verbally and later by email that if I bought the exact amount of Thai Baht cash with me for a Stat Dec signature (tbh1620) that would be OK - it seems like the issue of them having to give out change is the problem - correct cash amount was definitely OK.

Keep hoping!

Well I am not too sure just yet who I could recommend but I can tell you one company to avoid and that is A+ International Insurance. Last year I was 60 when I took out a policy with them (through Pacific Prime brokers) and the 1st years Policy was around TB25,000 and after a full year of no claim I hoped for at least no rise in the cost of the policy or even a minimal rise - WRONG - a fraction under NINETY PERCENT was the increase for the second year. I thought it must be a mistake and Pacific Prime went back to A+ for confirmation but I was told to pay up or leave and that's exactly what I did so AVOID A+ like the proverbial plague.

For the US Embassy affidavit you make a sworn statement that that is what you receive every month without any mention of word 'average'. Regardless of the various Immigration Police Orders, if an Immigration official wants to see corroboration that that is in fact what you receive every month, then it would be up to that 'competent' official as to what he or she feels is is sufficient corroboration of the words 'every month' that you have sworn to in your affidavit.

In theory, even if your monthly transfers were greater than the minimum 65K per month, an Immigration officer might say that a fluctuating amount does not correspond to the every month statement you made and have sworn to on your US income affidavit. A few years back I tried to have the US Consular Officer notarize a modified version of the US Affidavit that would better correspond to my financial posture at the time . The US Consular said that they will in fact notarize it, but that various Thai Immigration officials have refused to accept amended US Affidavits that vary from the standard form they see every day.

... and you still have to be able to prove that such funds of 65K per month have been transferred from outside the Kingdom. BTW I also have never been asked for backup proof but it took a lot of effort to be able to provide a consistent dollar amount per month (as is sworn on the US affidavit) to meet the 65K amount per moth without fluctuations of Baht to dollar rates. Also that some offices insist on using the US$1 note exchange rate instead of the US$100 note rate.

I don't agree with your interpretation of what the affidavit says.

It really boils down to being able to honestly sign the affidavit. I don't think they could charge you for making a false statement if you have the potential to have the sworn income.

As far as back up proof I don't believe immigration would care if it is the exact amount shown on affidavit or not.

There is no requirement that you bring all money into the country.

And by the way I only have to show 40k not the excessive 65k.

Now my bank book shows the full amount of my SS payments because I use direct deposit to Bangkok Bank NY. I do have assets/funds I could use on affidavit for 65k but why would I.

Hi Everyone, I have read all the comments and appreciate the helpful info but I am still a bit unclear about one particular point. When I arrive permanently in Thailand shortly with my Retirement 'o' Visa, do I have to physically go each and every 90 day's to the Embassy in BKK to obtain my income statement or ( as I assume and hope) can I have the local immigration office in Korat City sight/accept my local Kasikorn Bank managers confirmation letter plus my printed internet banking statement and that will be sufficient. I realise that it can depend a lot on what regional office and who interviews you but I do hope that I don't have to make that trek into BKK 4 times a year. Many thanks in advance.

Thanks for the posts. I got an Iweld 185 amp mma/tig welder and it seems to be just what I needed.

2 year warranty and the shop has parts on hand.

Hi canuck, just wondering where you sourced your welder from and the cost ? Are you using it for alloy/steel? I am a novice at all things involving welding so I would appreciate any imput you could give me. I am in the Korat area and I will go into Global House to check out their range shortly.

Thanks in advance.