Confuscious

I took already the decision and will travel back to my country soon. Free healthcare and no more P.I.T.A with the ever changing VISA requirements. If I would like to travel to Thailand, I will benefit from a FREE travel insurance and enter Thailand with a VOA.

I had the same problem in Korat. This year, they wanted to see a proof of income and the source of the income. I have been told by somebody at Immigration that this was to proof that I had declard my income to the tax department.

Chasing foreigners seems to be more important now.

The main difference was that the woman was a simple citizen, maybe a farmer, with no school background. The post office employee was a state official who had at least an university degree and took care of his customers.

Thailand has always been ANTI-Foreigner. I remember when I came first to Korat, on a day begin December, I was going to send the "Season Greetings" cards to my family and friends abroad. At the Post Office, I took a queu number and lined up with the queu. Suddenly a Thai woman came into the Post Office and skipped the queu right in front of me. She stated to shout loudly that I was a filthy foreigner and I had to let Thai people go first. You are here in MY country and you should respect Thai people. The officers at the Post Office took the woman outside and warned her to not comeback to THEIR office. But nonetheless, the message was clear.

When I came to Thailand, more than 2 decades ago, I went to The Mall to buy some mfurniture and home utensils. Paid my bill with my Visa card on a "swiping" device and all was settled. Until I received my monthly statement of VISA and several amounts were listed to be baught in Russia and other contries I never visited. Wrote a complaint to VISA and the OmbudsMan and had the odd payments fully returned without discussion.

Many people don't seem to understand that we live in the 21st century. The people who can influence what we think or what their version of the truth is are the "Influencers" on Social Media (read my treath about that). If you look at the numbers of "Followers", "Likes" and "Comments", you will see that these influencers reach more people that anyone in the politics or real life. Thai people have always been ANTI-fahrang and have always been showing their dislike about foreigners seddle in their country/ But in a few weeks, this sentiment has hit an all high. Those who can not see that are blinded by the Rose cloud of Thai life.

There is a huge ANTI-FOREIGNER sentiment at this moment going trough the Thai people and every foreigner is EQUAL to the Swedish guy or the Brit who maimed an old lady at the supermarket. Not only in Phuket but I can see the same feeling in Korat too. Social Media is tarnishing all the foreigners with the same brush and the Thai people are hooked on their phones reading the influencers (my post a few days ago). So, the policeman pointing a gun to this 2 guys would not be strange.

21 pages, but nobody know what really happened yet. Most of the replies to the OP are from the "Hang 'em high" league, while EVERY FOREIGNER is seen as a "Bad Apple" now and every Thai looking for a way to discredit you now. Yes, it can be your turn to make the Newspaper headers tomorrow.

This Thai Instagram "Influencer" posted a video blaming the foreigners for "Maffia". What do you think of his opinion? https://www.instagram.com/tomkrues/reel/C4W2qIboh24/ 431959094_1770616993449724_3905553706355391923_n.mp4

This is a copy of the letter I received 2 days ago from Immigration Korat. If any of the presented documents is not accepted by immigration and it can not be resolved in the same day, the applicant is required to get a new statement of the bank(s). I am too old for that sh.t.

Another reason is that when I am back in Europe and I would want to visit Thailand, I can benefit from the FREE TOURIST HEALTH INSURANCE (Europ Assistance) which will REPATRIATE me for free if it's possible (only available for TOURISTS). If I can not be repatriated, the insurance will pay my hospitalisation expenses in Thailand. No need to start a GoFund.me page. https://www.europ-assistance.com/

I am lucky that I never gave up my foreign citizenship and could travel back to Europe when I needed it. In 2018, I was diagnosed with a severe Aortic Aneurysm. Surgery prices were extimated at 1,8 million baht. I took the airplane back to Europe and had the surgery done for (almost) free. In 2022, I needed to change my PM Price estimates were around 250,000 baht. Fly to Europe and got a new PM for free. But at 70, health care prices are getting high and there is no guarantee that I will be able to fly if I need a surgery again or expensive hospital care. So, better to go back when I still can.

I fail to see how a border run can extend my Retirement Visa. When my Visa expires, on 2 April, it can not be extended with a Border Run as far as I know.

Who is talking about the UK? I guess you assume that everybody is a Brit?

This has been explained already in other threads. I am 70 years old and will need to go on Kidney Dialyses soon which is a very huge expense for me. On top of that, there will be other surgeries required (replacement of the hips) in the near future which are very expensive in Thailand. Best choice for me is to move back to Europe where medical interventions are free.

Where are you located?

What about the TM30 if contract/lease is short term?

Korat immigration asks on each Visa Extension for a new TM30 and a new Rental Contract. Has been already many years like this.

Looking for renting another house/apartment and all the hassles involved (Deposit, new contract, etc.) is not a viable option. Booking a hotel/condo for a few weeks is an (easy and cheap) option. Lots of condos to rent starting at 2,500 Baht/month. But will Immigration accept staying at a hotel/condo for the TM30?

I am in the process of leaving Thailand, probably forever. I have currently a Retirement Visa, NON-O, which expires on 2 April. I fear that there will be not enough time to have everything ready before that date. I would need a few weeks more. I could ask for a Visa Extension, but I would like to avoid to go trough the whole process of getting my Visa extension. I have the money in the bank and all the necessary documents for an extension. But getting a TM30 is a PITA as my landlord lives in Hong-Kong and is not very cooperative in making a new TM30 and a new rental contract. It has been every year the same story with my landlord and I wish to avoid this as I would need only a few weeks more. A possible solution would be to hire the services of a Visa agency. But I don't know of any Visa Agency in Korat that can get a TM30/Rental Contract without the usual hassles and how much this will cost. Any possible options?

The TM30 seems to be a recurring thread that is abused by Immigration and the Landlords. It is not possible to fulfill the TM30 requirements when the Landlord is not cooperating or unlawful owner of the property. Thus jeopardising the Visa extension of the foreigner. The TM30 shall be a requirement of the Landlord and the Tenant shall only need to report his stay at property "x". Eventually showing a rental agreement.

In most countries, the foreigner need to report within a given time frame (24/48 hours) that he stays at address "x". If the foreigner rents a house/apartment, he is required to show the rental contract. The tenant is required within a given time frame (24/48 hours) that he allows/rent the foreigner to stay at his property for a given time. In the case the tenant has rented his property to the foreigner, he need to show a rental contract to the police. That's the way a TM30 should work and the Thai interpretation. It is worth to hire a lawyer and defend this in court. Getting rid of a pesky requirement for the foreigners.

FWIW, Thaivisa.com/AseanNow.com has many members. It would be worth to take a "donation" from all members (free will) and hire a Lawyer to investigate the TM30 requirement. The tenant can not meet the requirements if the Landlord does not cooperate or is not complete legal and thus it should not be a burden to the tenant. TM30 shall be a task for the Landlord, just like a Hotel is required to report your stay at their promises. Just my 2 cents.

Why are we required to bleed for something that is not our business? The TM30 is a requirement to fullfil by the owner of the property that is rented by the foreigner and it's the task of the owner to see that he is doing this according to the law Not the task of the renter. If you rent a hotel room, the hotel will copy your passport and follow the immigration procedures. The same apply when the foreigner rent a property.