Liquorice

Never heard of this 'common occurrence' before. Over the years I've known a few enter VE, get married, then apply for the Non O at various Immigration offices without any such requirement being mentioned. This must be specific to CW. Isn't the purpose of the home visit to ensure the marriage is demure and defacto.

Ridiculous, no such official requirement to be married for a set period of time. https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/issuing-and-changing-type-of-visa/ Item 6 on the list. Requirements for Non O based on Thai spouse. 6.1.3 Is a copy of your freedom to marry affidavit from your Embassy, translated and legalised by the MFA that you produced to the Amphoe in order to register your marriage.

Vientiane is in Lao! I'm calling BS on that. There is no way the entry clearance officer would have had already that info on his computer. Although you didn't print a copy, I'm assuming it was on your phone.

Yes, that is no longer the case for UK passports. You'll have wasted 10 months of a 10-year passport. Renew every 9 years unless you can move your extension renewal date.

Renewing a Passport is more expensive compared to the cost of an extension. When to renew a passport is an individual choice - too soon, and you've wasted part of its validity. In your situation, which I was some years ago, I opted to renew my extension for just 10 months, then renew the passport. More cost-effective to lose 2 months permission of stay, than 10 months validity of a passport. Each to their own.

Your visa expired a long time ago, but your permission of stay (a permit) remains valid.

It's a case of understanding how the systems work in Thailand and supplying sufficient documents to connect the dots. Every property has a Blue house book, but Thais can only register their names in one house book. It's common to rent a property from a Thai who is registered in a Blue house book where they actually reside and not in the house book of the property you rent. In this scenario, all you need is a copy of the owner's house book (in which they are not named, but you reside) and ID card + a copy of the Chanote, which will confirm the ID holder of owning the rented residence.

As previously stated, when considering renting, ensure the owner will supply copies of their House book and ID, otherwise don't rent as it will cause issues down the line.

You need a copy of the owners House book and ID card to file the address. The landladies documents will be for a different address - hers!

Incorrect assumption discussed many times on this forum. It's the responsibility of the Housemaster, owner or possessor of the premises to file the TM30 as defined by section 38 of the Immigration Act. Section 4 of the Act defines the Housemaster as any persons who is the chief possessor of a house, whether in the capacity of owner, tenant, or in any other capacity whatsoever. That's why the registration offers the option to register as a Thai, or in English as the 'foreigner'. You just need to upload the House book and ID card of the owner as proof of address.

It was an IOU for 20,000 BHT, but you failed to read it.

Not necessarily. The criteria to obtain a visa from a Thai Embassy, and the criteria to extend your permission of stay from that visa at Immigration, can differ. I could give examples, but would be going off-topic.

Well, you certainly didn't have the correct documents to satisfy Immigration. Obtaining the visa from a Thai Embassy is a different matter.

Because they know you couldn't extend your stay, so you're held to ransom for a border bounce. So happy I stuck with the 1-year extension, less hassle and more cost-effective.

Amazed you were granted a DTV in the first place.

You can download and complete these forms prior to a visit to Immigration. I've been completing these for a number of years, they are not new. Perhaps it's the fact that you use an agent, you were previously unaware of these forms.

STM2 form is the 'Acknowledgement of terms and conditions for permit of temporary stay in the Kingdom'. STM9 form is the 'Acknowledgement of penalties for visa overstay'. These are standard forms that I've been completing for years, nothing new, and can be downloaded from Immigration websites. STM11 ? The 'S' prefix denotes it's a form of 'statement', which you should read, acknowledge and sign.

You'll require the same documentation for both steps, the only difference being for the Non O application the 400K is only required to be in the bank on the day of submitting the application, whereas for step 2, applying for the 1-year extension the 400K must have been deposited for 2 months prior to the date of submitting the application. Standard to request a 3 month statement for step 2, which can be issued on the day from the branch. For subsequent further extension applications, the 400K funds only need to be in the bank account for 2 months prior to the date of submission. 12 month statements are only required for extensions based on retirement, not Thai spouse. Sent a PM.

Interest earned on bank funds are automatically taxed @15% which goes to the TRD. (Same as a 7% tax is applied to all goods and services). You can reclaim this tax deduction each year between Jan - March, at which point you will be issued a TIN.

Why do you want/need a TIN for?

You can only obtain services from the Immigration office where you file a TM30 as residing.

The period of stay starts from the day the application is approved, when apply for the Non O, or when changing the reason for an extension.

Yeah, but with the greatest of respect, it's been pointed out before your IO is somewhat of a rogue office. A 3-month statement does not comply with the written orders which requires the 800K funds to remain for 3 months after the extension is granted, then 400K for 7 months. Just 3 months prior to submission was the old-written requirement. Don't they also still request a 'Health Certificate' which was dropped by almost all IO's several years ago.

Only for the very first extension application based on retirement. Thereafter, 12 month statements are requested to prove you met the financial requirements since the previous extension was approved.

There have been reports of successfully opening an account at Bangkok Bank head office with a visa exempt entry. If you explain you intend to apply to stay long term at Thai Immigration but a condition is that you must transfer and deposit 800K in a Thai Savings account, they may oblige. Call them on 02-230-1022, 02-230-1016, 02-230-2519, 02-230-1940, 02-230-2085. You will need a Certificate of residence issued by Hua Hin Immigration as proof of your registered address. I assume you've filed a TM30 and registered your residential address at HH Immigration? A bank statement from your Aus bank showing the availability to transfer the said funds also wouldn't go amiss.