bbi1

Yes, I'm certain. I've asked Jomtien Immigration two times already each time I've gone to do a TM30 and they've said the exact same thing.

Roughly how many hours to reach there from Pattaya?

In Pattaya, you see all these Visa Run companies & travel agencies advertising Cambodian Visa Runs. Which border do these companies go to? We read on this forum to avoid the Poipet border but isn't the Poipet / Sa Kaeo border the closest one?

A TM30 needs to be lodged within 72 hours of arriving in Thailand. No TM30, no extension of stay. A late TM30 = a nice fine from immigration for the renter.

No, nothing is convenient with them at Jomtien. They make it as painful and inconvenient as possible.

Not exactly 100% correct. You can only go and extend one business day prior to your stamp expiry at Jomtien.

There are loads of stupid farangs like that on Soi Buakhao. Stupid <deleted> crossing without looking or just strolling casually on the road without looking.

You always get idiots every day who cross the road without looking or look the wrong way when crossing the road. I'm convinced they must be Yanks if they look the wrong way. Happens so many times on Soi Buakhao and occasionally on Beach Rd.

If you are using Jomtien, you must register again each and every time you come back into Thailand, even if it's the same address and you're on the same visa. If it's Jomtien you deal with, you're up for a 1,600 baht fine the next time you go there to deal with them.

Why don't you pop into your local immigration office and question them to get the correct answer? Surely asking some randoms on this forum, we won't know where it all goes. Time for you to take a trip to immigration to satisfy your curiosity.

What a stupid BS rule. Is that only for Penang?

Business class, you are going straight to fast track my rich friend. Business class is always fast track for everything.

Plus you won't be able to do an extension either because no TM30 done.

Your landlord is a lying piece of scum.

Is this the same with the Nong Khai border too?

I don't pay anything for a retirement visa. I'm wayyyyyyyyy off from getting to anywhere near that age to qualify for a retirement visa. That's why I said, people on retirement visas should have no problems with 800k in savings as people wayyyyyyyy younger than them have so much more in savings than only 800k. People in their 20's and 30's have that type of savings. If they can't afford 800k in savings they don't qualify and shouldn't be here. Some people have morals, ethics and follow the law. Others like to break the law, pay bribes and do dodgy stuff. There are tons of dodgy foreigners here in Thailand. Anyway, this will be my last post on this subject here.

Yes, you'd be getting higher interest having your funds overseas but then you are doing the dodgy dodgy by not having your funds in Thailand as per the terms and conditions of a retirement extension and paying bribes to agents and immigration officers.

I was never heated up. I'm cool, calm and collected. Your reply posts started to get heated up since the top of this page in this thread because you have to bribe your way to stay on an retirement extension as you don't legally qualify and weren't happy with myself and others calling a spade a spade. A bribe is a bribe. The law is the law. Older folks who don't qualify have the exact same options as younger folks to "obtain a different kind of visa and as long as they don’t cause any trouble". But many like yourself choose not to do this.

But you still need to do a completed Laos arrival and departure card is still needed, correct?

They charge a $1 extra fee only.

Is that the same with the Nong Khai border (Friendship Bridge 1)? A completed Laos arrival and departure card is still needed, correct?

Yeah, now it's a BS system where you can only extend one business day prior to stamp expiry, and you have to leave your passport and pick it up the next business day. If it's a Friday then you come back on Monday. Stupid as hell.

Compassion, ok, maybe they should be compassionate and accept 30 year olds for a retirement visa too even though the legal requirement is 50 years old. There are a ton of younger folks who would love to have some "compassion" and have a retirement visa in their 30's to stay here easily who have way more than 800k in the bank. Why isn't there any compassion shown to younger folks and discrimination that under 50's can't get a retirement visa? The law is the law. Since you didn't answer my question, I now 100% know you are on a retirement visa and don't legally qualify so you are doing the dodgy dodgy with agents and bribes. Don't get your panties in a twist because you don't qualify to stay here legally and need to do the dodgy game. A quick Google search shows that the financial requirements are below, which I now know you don't have, that's why you are getting so heated and upset. It's not my fault if you don't legally qualify: 4. Letter from Thai Bank certified money in Thai account more than 800,000 Baht 3 months before and ATM slip on date of application OR 5. Income or Pension have to certified by The Embassy or Consulate in Thailand and show income more than 65,000 Baht/month

If they don't meet the threshold requirements legitimately, they shouldn't be here on a retirement extension. Plain and simple. Go back home or somewhere else, or use a different type of visa to stay here. If I were to take a guess, you are on a retirement extension & don't meed the threshold requirements legitimately so you use an agent to do the dodgy dodgy so you can stay here. Would I be correct, based on how hard you are trying to justify this?

As far as there was nothing dodgy and all above board then I find using an agent perfectly acceptable, but not for those that don't follow the law to legally stay here, which is 800k in their bank account for retirement extensions. Problem are all these dodgy folks who don't do that and pay agents to bribe immigration officers because they don't have the 800k in savings. Same with those folks that were on volunteering visas in the past doing the dodgy dodgy. Same with those people who bribe cops to get out of fines and other type of trouble. Thailand doesn't need all those dodgy type of foreigners here.