skatewash

True, but for the no tax withholding you need to register your Thai Tax ID with the account. Easiest to do when opening the account but can be done afterward.

While there are certainly national laws that govern immigration in Thailand, that does not mean that individual immigration offices can't have differing policies on how that law should be implemented. For example, the national law may say that a foreigner must demonstrate that he has a balance of at least 800,000 baht in a Thai bank for two (2) months before he makes an application for an extension of stay for reason of retirement. One immigration office may want to see a passbook for that account and copies of the relevant pages of that passbook. Other immigration offices may want to see a bank statement issued, signed and/or stamped by the bank. Other immigration offices may want to see both. For example, in Phuket, one must show a bank letter (attesting to your ownership of the account and balance on date of letter), a bank statement signed and/or stamped by the bank, a bank passbook, and copies of relevant pages from that bank passbook. http://piv-phuket.com/long-stay-extensions/retirement/ I provide what Phuket Immigration requires and I always have gotten my retirement extension. That is my goal every year, get my retirement extension with the least possibility of any problems. I'm not Rosa Parks. I'm not trying to "fix" the immigration process or make it "better." It's possible for me to follow the current process, so I do, and I don't have any problem getting my yearly retirement extensions. I use and have used for several years Krungsri Bank's Mee Tae Dai savings account, which pays currently 1 % APR. I registered my Thai Tax ID when I opened that account so Krungsri Bank does not withhold taxes (at a rate of 15%) from the first baht of interest earned. They only withhold tax when the interest earned exceeds 20,000 baht, which it doesn't in my case. I have a passbook for the account. I would like to use my SCB EZ Savings account, which pays currently 1.5% APR interest, but it does not come with a passbook. So I don't use it. Because it would unnecessarily complicate my retirement extension. As much as I would like the extra 0.5% APR interest, I'm not willing to complicate my retirement extension in order to get it. If you use a different immigration office than Phuket, you may well find that not having a passbook is not a problem. Or you could decide to use an account that does have a passbook and avoid the potential problem altogether. Up to you. ????

The vast majority of visas are obtained from a Thai embassy or consulate outside of Thailand, but one can obtain a Non-O Visa at an immigration office in Thailand having entered the country on a visa-exempt entry or Tourist Visa. For example, at Phuket Immigration: http://piv-phuket.com/long-stay-extensions/non-o-visa/

Reply removed. Quoted the wrong poster.

I've no doubt an agent could fix it for the OP without him needing to leave the country. On the other hand for 2,000 baht (Non-O visa obtained from immigration) and 1,900 baht (1 year retirement extension) or 3,900 baht he can fix it for himself without needing to leave the country as UbonJoe explains. Somehow I think the agent is going to want more than 3,900 baht.

Regarding obtaining Permanent Residency: since you are married to a Thai you can apply for Thai citizenship after three (3) years. You must be working legally in Thailand and earning sufficient salary based on your nationality with a work permit and paying Thai taxes and social security for at least 3 years (something you can do on a marriage extension). Advise looking at Chris Larkin's website when convenient, lots of good information (something that cannot be said of some other sites on citizenship/permanent residency): https://www.thaicitizenship.com/

Not sure I know what a cash card is? The Mee Tae Dae account comes with an ATM/Debit card, am expecting to get the same for my new SCB EZ Savings account but hasn't arrived yet.

Good point, about SCB's EZ Savings. Personally, I wouldn't use it for immigration purposes for that reason, not having a passbook. The Krungsri Bank Mee Tae Dai account does have a passbook, so no potential problem with that one (have gotten retirement extension several times using that account),

I think Dr. Jack and others have given you the correct answer, the fixed deposit account rolls over in most cases to a new term. Here's something you might consider for next time though. Put the money in SCB's EZ Savings account (paying 1.5% APR interest). Or put the money in Krungsri Bank's Mee Tae Dai Savings account (paying 1.0% APR interest). The reason is that since they are regular savings accounts and not fixed deposit accounts you never have to be concerned with what happens when the term expires because there is no term. Of course, the rate is also not fixed. Also, because these are regular savings accounts and not fixed deposit accounts if you give the bank your Thai Tax ID when opening one of the suggested accounts there will be no automatic tax withholding (15%) from the first baht of interest earned in the account (as is the case with a fixed deposit account). In fact, interest will only be withheld when you have earned more than 20,000 baht in interest. Since in many cases no tax will be withheld if your only income in Thailand is from interest earned you will not even need to file a Thai Personal Income Tax Return (for example PIT-90) to get your tax withheld returned. I gave up chasing higher returns for my immigration account with fixed deposit accounts because I didn't want the hassle of keeping track of maturation dates. Not only that but at 1.5% APR the EZ Savings account is better than some fixed deposit accounts.

As stated previously an American can renew their passport entirely by mail using US Embassy Bangkok and the good news is the processing time is something like 2 weeks. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/adult-passport-renew/ When your new US passport arrives you should also receive a letter from the US Embassy Bangkok requesting the assistance of Thai Immigration to transfer information from your lost passport to your new passport. Visit your local immigration office to have that done. It should be a free service.

If you think you made a mistake when making the appointment at Saphan Hin (for example, by mistakenly clicking on the wrong passport country) then you might try canceling your appointment and making a new appointment clicking on the correct passport country this time. However, if it was some sort of database error I don't see a way for you to correct it other than to ask at the vaccination center how to correct it. I don't think it would prevent you from getting the vaccine. They don't seem to be particularly fussy about who gets the vaccine now. I wouldn't bring it up before getting the vaccination but after you have the vaccination when you are dealing with the staff to get your documentation updated.

I don't know the answer regarding Saphan Hin vaccination center. I haven't used that one. Can only give my experience at Patong Hospital. I have a new passport now so I will need to update my vaccination records with the Ministry of Public Health. I think I will try first at Chalong Hospital since it is closer to me, but I may have to go to Phuket Provincial Public Health Office in Phuket Town to ask for my passport number to be updated. Possibly you may be able to have your passport country error corrected at one of those places, too.

The passport country error shouldn't be a problem if you were issued an appointment (although you might try to get it corrected when you get your booster jab). I've heard of someone who is Irish but their passport country is Iceland in the database. ???? I don't know where your appointment is (maybe Saphan Hin?) but at least at Patong Hospital they updated the yellow vaccine passport with the details for the 3rd booster shot while you waited. A day or so later this update was reflected on the Ministry of Public Health database in Mor Prom app. If you wanted your Thailand Vaccination Certificate updated you might be able to get at your vaccination center for which you have an appointment or you could go back to Chalong Hospital (a few days after your jab) and get a new one for 50 baht that reflected all three of your shots.

Thanks for this report. I think at this point it's clear that the back-end has been changed to allow 3rd shot boosters for people who have previously had 2 AstraZeneca jabs, while the front-end instructions have not been updated to reflect that it applies to people who have received two jabs of any manufacturer not only two jabs of SinoVac specifically.

I believe it is a case of the text not being updated to reflect a relaxation of the requirements for a 3rd Pfizer booster shot. There have been reports of some actually receiving the 3rd booster jab after getting an appointment via the bottom-most yellow option ("3rd booster shots for foreigners") from the Phuket.win site after having received 2 AstraZeneca jabs previously (which would not have been allowed according to the text). Also, the Phuket.win website is aware of your previous covid vaccination record based upon your Country and Passport Number (assuming you received the jabs in Thailand). I would assume the offer of an appointment is not a mistake and book the appointment. At some point they may get around to updating the text for that option, but at the moment the text seems to be have been overcome by events. They appear to be giving a 3rd booster shot to anyone who has received two (2) previous shots (regardless of what manufacturer) as long as it's been three (3) months since receiving your last (2nd) jab.

At least in Phuket the requirements/qualifications for getting a 3rd booster jab are pretty relaxed. You don't have to be in a risk group. You don't even have to have received your previous 2 jabs in Thailand (as long as you can document having received the vaccinations). You don't even have to prove you are resident in Phuket. But doses are limited to maybe 50 per day.

The guidance has been changed regarding the time between your last AstraZeneca jab and a 3rd booster jab from six (6) months to three (3) months. I have received a 3rd booster jab of Moderna in Phuket at a walk-in clinic at Patong Hospital (something they are doing every Wednesday morning, what is available changes but can be AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna). In Phuket it is possible also to register at Phuket.win for a 3rd booster jab appointment. I don't know what's available outside Phuket.

I would be interested in more information about a medical insurance policy that covers you for one year with coverage of 400k inpatient and 40k outpatient that is available for a cost of 3,000 baht.

A negative RT-PCR test result within 72 hours of departure to Thailand is required. It will be checked at boarding. Airlines have access to these sort of requirements via the TIMATIC system and they do enforce them rigorously because the airline can be fined otherwise and be responsible for flying back passengers at the airline's expense that are rejected by immigration in Thailand. No one has ever gotten into the Phuket Sandbox without presenting a negative RT-PCR test taken within the allowed timeframe. Every one of the tens of thousands of people who have participated in the Phuket Sandbox since it started in July 1, 2021 have managed to obtain a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure to Thailand. Good luck.

There are three immigration offices that can give you the 30-day extension of stay: The main office in Phuket Town: http://www.phuketimmigration.go.th/index.php Map: https://goo.gl/maps/zwxtiNDA3sXnzb2A7 The satellite office in Patong: https://www.phuket.net/directory/profile/phuket-immigration-office-patong/ Map: https://goo.gl/maps/niytPqmTDmxnfkMw5 The satellite office in Blue Tree (Thalang): https://bluetree.fun/immigration-office/ Map: https://goo.gl/maps/vreoKZuqa1DBuiGu7

I would expect the supply to vary day by day, hour by hour, and therefore not surprising you might see different results when checking that site. There was a news article that Thailand had received over 1 million doses of Moderna on Thursday and expected 3.7 million in January. In a few days that may start to be administered in Phuket, so may pay to check Phuket.win on a daily basis. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/over-one-million-doses-of-moderna-vaccine-arrive-in-thailand-on-thursday/

Intramuscular injection is the usual/normal/traditional vaccination method for covid vaccinations, in which the vaccine is injected into the muscular tissue of the upper arm. Subcutaneous injection is a somewhat controversial alternative, in which the vaccine is injected under the skin but not into the muscular tissue. Tuesdays are AstraZeneca days at Patong Hospital where you can get a 3rd booster shot at their walk-in clinic. Wednesdays are Pfizer (possibly Moderna) days at Patong Hospital where you can get a 3rd booster shot at their walk-in clinic.

Phuket Sandbox is get a covid test at the airport, quarantine at hotel until results come back (approximately 6 hours), then you have to remain in Phuket for seven days, sleeping at the hotel, but allowed to visit everywhere in Phuket.

scubascuba3: Where was this? Karon, Phuket is where the SCB branch is located where I opened the EZ Savings account today.

Opened an SCB EZ Savings Account today. Was a good experience even though it took about an hour. Lots of laughs and chuckles. I would say about 95% of the work was due to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) outsourcing their work to foreign banks all over the world. ???? Lots of FATCA compliance documentation and other US-required folderol. In particular one document, think it was a W8-BEN, had as its second instruction that the form was NOT to be filled out by a US citizen. That occasioned a lengthy telephone call. Didn't end up needing to fill that one in. We all laughed about that one! Got the dreaded "Do you have a work permit?" question but my answer of "No" was satisfactory as another SCB staff member said he doesn't need one as he's on a retirement extension. Lots of staff members were involved in the show, and several telephone calls were made (perhaps to SCB headquarters?). But all went well in the end. Things that seem to be needed: Passport Yellow House Registration Book (tabian bahn) Things they made copies of because I waived them around as if they were important: Pink ID card Thai Tax ID card (actually had to encourage them to accept this one as I wanted to short-circuit the automatic withholding of tax on interest earned). I just realized that I didn't get a Debit/ATM card at the bank, but upon playing with the EASY SCB app it appears I can request one using the app for a one-time 100 baht issue fee and 200 baht yearly maintenance fee. All-in-all it was a painless experience. Probably would have only taken 20 minutes if the US would confine its regulatory oversight to business entities actually doing business within the US. ???? Thanks to all the responders to my OP. It was very helpful.