MeowBundit

I had the same issue with Krungsri fixed, Immigration accept book dated 22th and letter dated 25th, but asking to update book at date of pick-up extension (now I under consideration). The stamp in Passport says I need contact Immigration again on 27th this month, and monthly update is 22th. Can I go Immigration on 22th, or must to go strictly on 27th, and ask bank staff to do zero transfer? Thanks for advice

I obtain my NON-O from KL and must tell, the only reason why I apply in KL, because my wife never been in Malaysia, then I want show her some country abroad.

I strongly NOT recommend KL, because they want for example 100.000 thb deposit in thai bank for O visa to be issued. Laos is hassle-free. HK also if we speak about NON-O, especially if your wife British citizen.

Emirates Air now promote BKK-HK roundtrip for 6000 THB.

So, if you just look where to take O, I think Laos or HK better. Both are next-day, apply morning, get afternoon next day.

Some people retired at age 45.

Great for young retirees like myself who don't want to take the ED route.

This is really great option and personally I not understand visa runners from US or EU or UK. This is only 60k USD which is for some professions is only several months of salary payment in the US, where good pro can earn 120k per year.

If someone want to divide 20 years to months, this will be about 260-280 USD per month. No hassles, no runs, etc.

I not say, sometimes Elite plans can be purchased second hand, this legit in program. Last year friend of mine bought for 1.5M old membership with lifetime (not 20 years) validity. Friend happy, because for next 10 years he want to stay here and 150k thb/year is a perfect option for retired airline pilot, who just want to hassle-free relaxation.

After deposit, update your passbook immediately. The clerk is (impolite word self-moderated) must to do this for you! They have book printers.

according to your goals - Vientiane only. Friends visit + VISA. If you not on hurry, then Fly n ride is perfect. There is also direct bus from Bell Travel Service to DMK Airport in Bangkok to NOK Air flight. On the way back, you can use free shuttle from DMK to Mor Chit Bus station then hop to Pattaya bus.

Yesterday my friend sold some condo units in Pattaya to Russian buyer. Final price agreed with developer is 60.000.000 THB, which is nearly 2M USD. This was one-time payment by cashier cheque.

While a lot of cheap tourists can stop their "invasion" because currency fluctuation, a lot of investors will continue to withdraw money from Russia and invest here, and in anther countries too.

One man's investor may be another man's money-launderer or mafia refugee.

Of course, but LD do not ask sources of origin in FET from Western clients too. When I move out of Russia, I sold all my assets. A lot of, if not almost all businessman's, regardless of wealth size and just a good well-payed employees, they all do not believe in the future and do not intend to keep money in Russia. Last year when I travel to HK, I saw nice lightbox in HK CBD, big enough and not cheap regarding cost of advertising in HK... This is about law firm who is help to open accounts and transfer money, all in Russian language. And this is HK, where rules are strict, in Thailand almost everyone can easily open account and transfer millions. A lot of ordinary tourists bought "shoeboxes" for 999.999 THB, just to save money. Nowadays real estate companies in Pattaya sells to Russians most of new projects, regardless of cost.

Russia like China is communist. In those countries there are the privileged few, and the poor masses.

When Russia was part of the USSR but that was more than 20 years ago. Today it is a Constitutional Republic.

Exacly a one Great Ruler domain with his subordinates. All others just eat near table what falling from this table.

Most people do not wish to pay for good quality cables. Anything with "lights" and colourful ones just a trash.

The most reputable brands on the market here is:

BELKIN - US Supplier

Elecom - Japanese supplier

Their cables are expensive, but top quality. BELKIN can be found in IT-CITY and other chains, like BANANA IT, however Elecom is a BANGKOK - only and I saw in Fortune IT, Emporium and Siam Paragon.

Expect about 450 THB for one cable.

Yesterday my friend sold some condo units in Pattaya to Russian buyer. Final price agreed with developer is 60.000.000 THB, which is nearly 2M USD. This was one-time payment by cashier cheque.

While a lot of cheap tourists can stop their "invasion" because currency fluctuation, a lot of investors will continue to withdraw money from Russia and invest here, and in anther countries too.

Even I personally dislike cheap tourists, I must to say they are one and only tourism-drivers especially in Pattaya. Mass market, nothing more than. And worries about currency is nothing, really. Anything determined by oil prices, so, exchange rate increased last year from 28 rub / usd to 40 rub /usd will be compensated by printing more russian banknotes... There is no any real problem until West need russian oil...

The only one real problem can be a progressing mental illness of Putin, who is trying to restore USSR at all cost. Steel curtain and no-travel for Russians still possible. But I hope he will go away soon to Hell. war with Ukraine is pointless suicide.

Things are incredible simple. Their (Thais) way of goal for longstayer is a Thai Elite or Investment Visa. 2M THB payment OR 10M investment. This is a way for not retired, not married to Thai, young Westerner, who not intend to work in the Kingdom.

Anything else is abuse and play.

Just to compare, not so long time ago, to be able to obtain US Green Card, foreigner must to invest $0.5 M into US economy. This is 16M THB.

Kingdom had it's own 63M citizens and don't need more.

Do you qualify for a retirement extension. If you do, go for it and leave the wife back home.

Fortunately not, I think to work next 20 years, and this year after Thai language exam @ MOE will go to work, so I need to have NON-B or NON-A marriage to be able obtain WP.

It has been reported before that Bangkok immigration will want the affirmation of permit to marry for first extension or when doing a conversion to non immigrant visa entry.

I assume when you say you have to go back in a month that is a report back date on a under consideration stamp.

If it was your first extension it is considered doing a 90 day report and you will need to do a report 90 days from when you did the application.

Yes, this is a first extension, unfortunately I don't know this fact about affirmation, this can save us one visit for sure

Yes, under consideration now, so must visit in the end of this month again, hope this will be at CW already...

The one good point, we don't need any witnesses to be with us, because we both able to pass interview in Thai...

ubonjoe,

Please advice, this visit from BKK Immigration, do we need to be at home together with wife at visit time? Wife working and come late evening or can visit her Mom. I can spend a lot of time outside home. But condo office girls knows us with wife long time already. Is this enough? I don't know when they visit and I will be at home or not... Thanks!

Just to share my experience with Ladprao Immigration office:

1. You can't be sure your documents will be enough, even if they pre-checked by employee

2. Be patient, but not all the time

First, I carefully collected all documents in need, and I went on this Tuesday with wife to Ladprao. Our documents not accepted, because I need to produce copy of chanote and buying contract. My own home registration book was not enough. We trust guy, who checked documents first time before we go to counter and come back home.

Wednesday we come again, anything checked again, but when we apply to counter, I need to produce... Letter from Embassy, stated I not married in home country. Yes, this "egg" I prepared before obtain "chicken" e.g. Marriage Certificate Kor 2 and 3. To my luck I keep copy at home.

Thursday... 3rd attempt. This time guys at check trying to tell, we need to update our bank book to date, which is not possible, because fix accounts updated once per month, and we come to Immigration first time ON the day of update. And I obtain letter from bank, which is statement of account one day before, because Krungsri gives statement for previous banking day. I can't simply add 500 thb to account to update it to current, and keeping 400k at savings just not a good Idea, this is about 800 thb loss every month instead of profit at fix account...

Bored much, need come another time next month for extension. I also noticed, TM7 form considered as 90 days notification, even if I stay only 60 days from border crossing date. So, I need to report 90 days not at the end of March, but April. Will do this by mail definitely.

IMM Building itself dirty and noisy, also far away from normal transport, at least 10 min drive from MRT Ladprao.

I would book in TH (and I would have booked in TH in the past, too), but I didn't know! Agoda is just trying to make more money off foreigners. Farang prices, doesn't even stop with large companies like Agoda

So sad, poor foreigners ripped off all the time. They even not attend schools and not able to read simple texts. Can you consider this difference as change for english translation of their website. Do not forget also, hotel operators must report to police about every alien stayed in hotels, but thais.

Avoid Ladprao, really nightmare. Just do my NON-O extension today.

This really seems like a very stupid setup to me. So if my sister needs emergency money back home and I want to send money to help her, I can't?

Yes, because you earn this money while working here illegally The question is source of your money. This is unclear for bank and even more, they must to follow BOT regulations.

To be able send money back, you need to have salary and legally work here OR you can use FET form, if you transfer money from abroad before. Just use Western Union now and next time ask bank for proof of your funds source. You can transfer FET-ed money back with no problem. Some banks give FET-s for 20k USD or more, but BBL can give FET for any amount, even for 5000 THB....

AFAIK not.

If you go through a head-hunter for the job, most likely just trying to get the commission due to the current turmoil here.

Nothing out of the ordinary. I'd say stick it out for a while and research the market.

Like you, I came here looking for a job but in the oil & gas sector (already been living here for 5 years)

First recruiter/head-hunter offered me slightly less than 80k.

I had only 12 years experience onshore.

Leisurely took 2 months looking around and was able to conjure up 2 prospective jobs.

One was offering 145k and the other 180k excluding housing, medical etc which are all extra.

Now tell me, where's 80k, 145k and 180k?

No prizes for which offer i took.

Whatever it is, never ever sell yourself short! If you think you're worth the 70k then stick to it but don't shoot yourself in the foot a few years later!

PS none of the expats I know draw anything less than 100k & they are not much older than you.

somtam palah

Oil and Gas is another story. This must me one of the highest - payed engineering jobs in the world. I also know Thais, who work in this industry for something like 120k. OP should spend some time for looking, and if after 6 month of this he still have offers around 50k - this is real cost of this particular job here.

Your account must be activated at ATM first. No problem at all with BBL internet-banking, except fact it very poor functionality and design and not improved past 4 years or more.

Almost all of Russian "tagil" tourists before going to Egypt, where they live in closed all-inclusive hotels, famous for unlimited alcohol ands food. In Thailand they can't be isolated from others so easily.

Chinese ones not so bad, because they move in groups and almost all the time controlled by guides.

Cheers

As we say, drunken russian will survive any road accident intact...

There is nothing to do with this right now, until bike owners will be banned from renting to people without A type driving licenses (one in 1000 tourists have it).

Driving drunk in Russia starts from 30k to 60k baht penalty, then a lot of another things. But here they are tourists, and this happen because Thailand now easily accessible to low-class tourists, we call them "Tagil", famous for their rude noisy behaviour, not respectful to anyone, etc...

I personally must explain a lot of people, not all Russians like this, but MOST of tourists in Pattaya and Phuket now is a low-class cheap tourists, who bought a 10-days tour for USD 500...

Most banks in Thailand are fairly incompetent.

They don't even know their own rules for foreigners opening bank accounts.

Amazing Thailand.

If you were to complain they were the worst banks in the world (barring Cyprus), I don't think you would be far wrong.

And what about Suthep threatening to close any bank that loans to the government, and the banks going along with him?

"Their own rules" can vary from brunch to brunch. I never had a problem to opening account in almost every Thai bank.

Giving heated emotional and blaming info about oldest bank in the Kingdom is a great idea. Situation must be explained.

Personally, I client of 3 banks here and my wife is a corporate client of SCB. 95% of my problems in communication disappear when I stop using English language and speak Thai with bank staff. This is true, a lot of bank staff have a problem to explain in foreign language some complicated products and services. So, please explain what product you use now, maybe I can help...

If you speak Thai (and I'm assuming fluent Thai here), why would you ever bother speaking English with a Thai person to begin with (unless you are teaching English)? That's just bizarre...I speak fluent Thai and never speak English with Thais, knowing that by doing so at some point confusion and misunderstandings would occur and also, maybe because living in Thailand and being able to speak the local lingo it makes sense to use it?

Because I able to communicate in Thai now. Answer is simple.