Liquorice

Well, just from those locals I do know, two who obtain extensions based on Thai spouse live separately. Marriages of convenience - pay the wife 10K to attend Immigration at that time of year. Only home visit is for the very first extension application, non thereafter. No agents up this next of the woods.

I believe each Immigration office has its own set of particular issues with tourists and Non Immigrants based on their location, and adjust at their discretion requirements in order to combat the particular problems in that area. I posted the new forms and our experience as a heads-up, but suspect many will have a totally different experience. The new forms we were advised are 'recent', although again some may have already been presented with them. It's the wives that are being asked to sign an affidavit, with a witnesses ID and signature, that the marriage is de jure and defacto. In the event of the marriage not being so, it's the wife and witness that can be now be prosecuted for the crime of perjury.

It is the forum software that 'clouds' the text. Clear as a bell on my PC saved as jpeg. Roi Et Immigration.

Roi Et. Only 2 months seasoning of 400K using the fund's method, but I always request a 3 month statement - same cost, 100 BHT.

The problem with section 2.24 is that it has always left the statement "Permission shall be granted for one time and no more than 60 days", open to interpretation. It was always instigated as 'one time per entry' as UJ always stated My IO are only a 90 minute drive from the Lao border so have seen a significant increase in 60 day extension applications particularly since Embassies ceased the Non Imm O ME visa, and many have resorted to using the 60 day VE entry + 60 day extensions as an alternative to staying long term in Thailand. Other inland IO's may still offer unlimited 60 day extensions per entry.

As an aside, also on our visit, I witnessed another foreigner sat at the front desk next to me having a heated argument with an IO. He was applying for a 60-day extension to visit a Thai spouse, which Immigration were refusing to approve. Previously, you could apply for a 60 day extension for each entry. The IO argued that since 60 day VE border entries were unlimited, they had now been instructed to only issue a single 60-day extension per annum, rather than per entry, as the system was being widely abused and foreigners were attempting to remain in Thailand throughout the year without obtaining the correct visa/ extension.

Today, we revisited the office to return the witnessed 'affidavit' and 2 signed copies of their ID card. I requested copies of the new forms (posted above) which the girls duly obliged. We've known the 2 girls in the back office for a few years, the wife being quite friendly with one who frequents the wife's business shop. They advised not to prefill any of the above forms in for the next visit as many changes were currently underway and forms could change again. Without going into great detail, they did state they were encountering many problems with so called 'de jure' and 'defacto' marriages. (I read into that 'arranged' or 'sham' marriages, for the purpose of a foreigner remaining in Thailand).

So yesterday I submitted my usual annual extension application based on Thai spouse. I'm well-organised, have my ducks in a row and like to complete as much as I can, including the STM2 (Acknowledgement of terms and conditions, and the STM9 (Acknowledgement of Overstay Rules) before visiting my local Immigration office. The wife obtained a new Kor Ror 2 from the Amphur, whilst I went to the bank to update my passbook, obtain the standard letter for Immigration and obtain a 3-month statement. (700K + funds in bank all year) Usually, we're in and out within 30 minutes, then the application is pending approval. It's not a particularly busy office, with 3 officers servicing the front desk and if as many as 6 foreigners are in attendance, it's unusual. It was busy by their standards, but today 4 officers manned the front desks, one of whom I wasn't familiar with. So we submit two sets of identical documents, and I'm expecting it to go without any problems. Changes. They inform me the STM2 and STM9 have recently been changed/updated and worded differently, so I'll have to complete the new forms. Just a minor delay to the normal process. New STM 2 form. New STM 9 form. New. I was presented with and asked to sign a form I've never before been given. Form STM 11 (Consent for Fact Checking). For the last couple of years, the wife has been handed an 'affidavit' to complete, which again she duly completed. Form STM 10 (Affidavit). All forms stamped, signed and completed, we waited 5 minutes as usual before being called into the back office where they take a photograph and then pay the fee. It's at this point and absolutely new to the previous procedures we've had to follow, they hand me another document to sign which is a double-sided form completely written in Thai, other than the fact I can observe my name in English, DOB, nationality and passport number which I'm asked to sign. I hesitate to sign, as I have no idea what this form states. The wife looks and tells me it's giving my consent for the Police to do a full Thai criminal record check on myself. The consent form I'd previously signed (STM 11) is a prelude to them then printing a request to the Thai Police for background checks. The real 'ball-breaker' though was the fact they handed the completed STM 10 (Affidavit) form back to the wife and told her it must now be signed by a witness along with 2 signed copies of the witnesses ID card. Fortunately, we live a 10-minute drive from the Immigration office, but for anyone living on the boundary of the Province, it could be a 90-minute drive to the office.

Way back in 2014 when I first filed a TM30 as the 'possessor' of a private residence, Immigration informed me the attachment (page 2) was for hotels, guest houses to complete and not for a foreign individual living in a private residence. Since that time I've filed 2 further TM30 forms (not the attachment) as the 'possessor', without my passport number, and all were approved. My last TM30 (and hopefully last) was filed 8 years ago. The only consistency with Immigration, is the inconsistency.

The online version must be different from the paper version then.

Where exactly does it request your passport number on a TM30 form?

Correct - Google needs a maths overhaul. 😁

That is airing on caution with particular reference to entering VE and spending longer than 90 'consecutive' days in Thailand. I foresee two problems with your plan. If you arrive on Oct 20th, then 60 days would be Dec 19th. The day of arrival counts as day 1. Departing any later than Dec 19th, you'd either need a 30 day extension or be on overstay. You'll be entering by air on both occasions, and Immigration could question your intentions with just such a short break of two weeks before reentering VE again. Probably not a problem by land, but by air it's completely at the discretion of the entry clearance officer. I'd be tempted to apply for and enter with a valid tourist visa for the second trip. There is no rule on such types and numbers of entries within a given period of time, it's more guidance the Embassies note.

Any organised person would have changed his address with his UK bank (online) and driving licence, which it's an offence not to do so. Both are proof of your UK address.

Yes, it's the Non Imm O visa that you should apply for. No requirement for Health Insurance or criminal record check. Takes 4-7 days from reports provided all the supplied documents are in order. Valid for 90 days to enter Thailand. On entry, you'll receive permission of stay for 90 days. After 60 days, you can apply for the 1 year extension based on retirement. https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/retirement-visa NON-IMMIGRANT VISA TYPE O Retirement (Single entry) Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days) Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document Photograph taken within the last six months - If the photograph does not reflect your current appearance you may be refused to enter the Kingdom of Thailand. Document indicating current location - Applicant’s local utility bills (shows your name and address) e.g. electricity bill/ gas / mobile phone / rental agreement. Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB (£1,500) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (£18,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings - Applicant’s recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address (Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,500/ month.

It appears he intends to apply for a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement, but will off course require a Non Immigrant type visa first. It also appears his intention is to enter Visa exempt, apply for the Non Imm O at Phetchabun Immigration, then the 1 year extension. The advice though was to obtain the Non Imm O prior to entry ............ but none of the above has any compulsory Health Insurance requirement. Probably a red herring and just looking for some voluntary Health Insurance policy. He may well be aware of his intentions, but doesn't explain it very well.

I'm guessing you're from the UK ? I'm also guessing you're applying for a visa to enter Thailand from a Thai Embassy ? Which type of visa are you applying for ?

Strange, as the TM30 form is just a report of your place of residence and doesn't even request your passport number.

My Immigration accept the combo method, but their interpretation of the orders are that a minimum of 400K deposited funds in a Thai bank must be maintained throughout the year, the remainder of the required 800K to be provided by proof of 12 x monthly overseas transfers. 12 x 35K monthly transfers would be enough. If you haven't already started making monthly transfer to your Thai bank account, I suggest you start. When the UK, US and Australian Embassies stopped issuing income letters, Immigration sent an instruction to all offices to show leniency to those affected.

As described above by @treetops The first email which you have received is merely a detailed copy of the TM47 you submitted online. Once accepted, you'll receive a further email with the TM47 fully completed and notifying your next 90-day report date. I print that, tear off the bottom section which is the receipt and notifies the next due report date and staple it in the rear of my passport. Alternatively make a note on a calendar or on your phone of the next due report date.

Bangkok Bank can update your book to the current date without the need of a deposit.

On entry, you are granted a period of stay, often referred to as an 'entry stamp', but is a permit allowing temporary permission of stay. The visa is either 'used' on entry and therefore invalid, or in the case of multiple entry it has an 'expiry' date, after which that is also invalid. The only relevance of that now invalid visa is it denotes your Immigration status in Thailand, as in 'Tourist' or 'Non Immigrant' and the category for the reason of entry. This is explained by Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/general-information?menu=5e1ff6d057b01e00a6391dc5 7. Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay. Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be issued to be valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years. The validity of a visa is granted with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and is displayed on the visa sticker. 8. On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa. For example, the period of stay for a transit visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60 days and for a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date. The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on the arrival stamp. Travellers who wish to stay longer than such period may apply for extension of stay at offices of the Immigration Bureau To extend your stay, you must meet any requirements and complete form TM7, which should be self-explanatory by its title. APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY STAY IN THE KINGDOM. That should make it evident you are applying to extend your period of stay, but granted subject to the type of visa originally obtained and meeting any financial criteria. When you submit an application to 'extend your period/permission of stay' you are also required to submit and complete form SMT2, which is an 'ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PERMIT OF TEMPORARY STAY IN THAILAND', which you are duly requested to sign acknowledging the terms and conditions. It's clear from the opening paragraph you are applying for a 'permit to temporary to stay in the Kingdom'. Under 3) you then sign acknowledging the terms and conditions applicable to this permit (for which you are applying). Entry stamps and extension stamps are 'permits' allowing a period of temporary stay. You don't have to be a Guru, if you have the ability to read and understand what you've read. Now who's talking garbage and in denial of the facts.

Well, I certainly haven't read of different policies throughout Immigration offices with regard to transferring stamps to a new passport. At the same time, they'll update your details with your new passport number.

No idea what is meant by 'things being how they are' and 'what the situation is NOW'. It's your local IO in the Province where you register as residing that will process/approve a TM30 or 90 day report. Provided you update your office with any changes, such as a new passport, then you won't have any problems. In the case of a new passport, they will transfer the stamps from the old passport and change the details on their system.

Provided you've taken the new passport to your IO to have the stamps transferred, then your new passport number will be changed on the system. No need to file a new TM30 and no issue with further 90 day online reports. However, if you haven't transferred the stamps to a new passport, then the 90-day online will not work.