Chaspul

This morning downloaded and filled the new format TM 7 from Immigration area 1, Bangkok.

This new format is filled in blue as standard, opening up the old argument as Blue or Black on TM7?

Last year I changed all the text from blue to Black,  It was accepted by Hua Hin Immigration as were all other document copies in color.(I now have copies of the new format this year in both colors)

IMHO a copy of a document is not a true copy unless reproduced in its entirety in original format. After all you have to sign/initial every copy as a true copy.

However, my Thai wife disagrees  for instance she insists on black and white for copies of ID and only relevant page of blue book with her name on it for children school and college registration she still has to sign that it is a true copy. TIT.

I intend to go to Hua Hin Immigration beginning of next month with intent to clarify a previous poster. " that witness does not have to attend, only house book and ID copy". Will report back with any info gleaned, hopefully this will not change before my appointment  for extension on the 18th. 

Chas

I have my Uk pensions paid into HSBC UK, transferred to Bangkok Bank London and then onto BKB Hua Hin. sometimes this may show as interbranch transfer.

Last year got 12 month statement and asked for a separate letter detailing monthly inputs. Also visited bank to update book on day of application.

I also included 12 month of PDF from HSBC showing transfer to BKB London.

Lots of paper but no problems at Prachaub Imm.

The attached reference is an instruction to ALL immigration offices, this is pinned to this site also in Thai.

Phetaburi Cha am office to note (I did not have to use at Hua Hin.)

Chas

452721024_ImmigrationMemoForIncomeProof(ENG).pdf

All to do with refrigeration.

As kids we were taught "Never eat pork unless there is an R in the month " my younger days only saw a larder in the house. 

Having lived for many years in Saudi I understand  why the Muslim clerics ban pork completely-just to save lives of the uneducated population.

Chas

I understand that if they die in hospital, medical history is known, no autopsy required.

I am British. However,  my wife (Canadian) died September  2021 in bed at home. We were visited by first response RTP and later a fairly senior officer from Hua Hin Station.

It was obvious from oxygen machine by bed what ailed my wife.

Later at RTP station she asked for inclusion in report If we wanted autopsy or not. Anwer was no.

Died Monday, cremated Friday. 

Chas

I have been using  Bangkok  bank London for years.

I transfer from HSBC to bkb London. Then to Hua Hin.

Do a search there are 2 accounts numbers ending in 100 or 200. One sends in GBP to Thailand the other use UK exchange rate.

You will have to supply Thai bkb account number and they will issue code with this number plus in my case my initials.

Never had problem money in Thailand  next  day holidays excepted. 

Chas

Received form 12 May dated as sent 8th Jan.

Phoned 08.00 UK time Monday.

Informed them it had taken 18 weeks to arrive. I got My Pharmasist to sign and in post.

Asked a few security questions including marriage  date to late wife?

He has amended file that I am still alive, and could take up to 3 weeks standard airmail (48Baht).

I forcefully suggested that no one in Thailand should have pensions stopped as some cheapskate officials sent the forms Netherlands mail, which has been on strike since January.  He will inform  supervisor.

Recorded telecom for any further action.

Chas

The only time money must be shown from overseas is when applying for " O" visa. 

I fell foul when changing from OA as BKB cannot show back 12 years where I transfer 800,000 for OA. Having the 8000,00 in Fixed account not showing from overseas. does not cover the requirement.

7 thousand in brown envelope sorted it,

I have my pensions paid into HSBC UK and transfer to BKB London who ship to BKB Hua Hin.

This used to show as FTT but now shows as Transfer.

Recently did my marriage extension and only have to show transfer into Thai bank of at least 40,000 monthly.

1. Applied for 12-month statement one week before.

2. Asked Bank for letter itemizing monthly transfers, letter dated for application date. Bank manager ask head office, but no reply so she did it anyway. copy of bank book on date of application, first page and last entry,

3. Initially for information only, I Downloaded PDF files from HSBC for 12 months showing transfer to BKB London. had to copy again at Imm for attachment to second pile of paper. 24 more signatures.

4, Took copy of memo dated December 2018 issued when Embassies refused income letter. Copy In Thai and English as ammunition which state that money have to be paid into Thai bank account, no mention of foreign transfer, Did not have to use this. I have tried to attach to this mail but will find pinned on this site.

Note: According to immigration head office all papers must be single sided. Chop down another tree.

Chas

1706381069_ImmigrationMemoForIncomeProof.pdf 452721024_ImmigrationMemoForIncomeProof(ENG).pdf

More than 30 years ago the only carry on checks were at the gate LHR to Northern Ireland. 

Had a rush job as a GPMG had fallen on the pan from a Wessex helicopter. RAF didn't  want the IRA to have one.

Travelled in civies and went straight to boarding.

Got to x-ray and asked for supervisor as my test equipment  was Dangerous Air Cargo. This put security in panic mode A potential bomb? (6 aerosols of flammable liquid and magnets ???? of various  power.)

Went to a private room and convinced the supervisor that I had followed all safety  precautions and the urgency of task, he allowed my equipment to travel in hold.

My test equipment  remained at Ballykelly  on my return to base, to avoid any extra hassle. 

Chas

Did my second marriage extension at Hua Hin 21st March. Used last years pictures 4 6x4 double sided.  IO had his pictures from his visit last year that he substituted, 4 small pictures on one side. As new address you may get visit remember to include TM 30.

Much changed from last year so Mods if you feel it needs re-location please do so.

1. Last year everything back-to-back copy. However, now every page of documents must be single sided, passport, house book. map, bank statements.

No problem if Kor Ror 2 or 3 and change of name as these are stand alone and have/may have information on back. Kor Ror 2 original and copy OK.

This I was told is a recent instruction from big Imm boss.

2, This year decided to use monthly income method. I use Bangkok Bank Hua Hin. 

My pensions are deposited In HSBC UK,

On 24th of each month I transfer to Bangkok Bank London, 2 days later they appear in Hua Hin. There the problems have started. Bangkok bank no longer use FTT only TRF.

Got 12 month statement and requested letter detailing a list of monthly deposits and grand total similar in format to letter to Pattaya Imm found on this site, they asked permission from head office but no reply, they did at my request anyway. This must be issued and signed on the day of application.

Luckily I printed 12 month PDFs from HSBC to take as evidence that my pensions were paid into BKB London and HH BKB 2 days later. They wanted 2 full copies (another 24 signatures).

I know from the 2018 pinned Imm memo that I only have to show money in bank account monthly not from overseas as this is for original O visa requirement not for extension. However, did not have to use the memo as this would have resulted in their Loss of Face.

This is a true account of my experience which may be helpful to others. Altogether a pleasant experience All Hail HH Immigration. (Remember each office makes up its own rules.)

Therefore, my story does not require comment from the Trolls that only think they may know better.

This process took nearly 3 hours so have booked appointment for 20 Apr on net for call back. Confirmation of appointment took 30 mins and should save waiting. 

Chas

Colemans powder mix with milk will make it twice as strong, but only mix for one day as it will not keep.

Chas

Pats place Hua Hin.

On menu as English/American, Large or small.

I have small, fried egg, beans, mushrooms,black pudding,or hash browns, fried tomato 1/2, back bacon and decent sausage. Thick slice of toast butter and jam.

If I were younger the large doubles the amount of food.

All for a very reasonable price..

Maybe once a week when we go down town as they also do good choices for my Thai wife.

For the idiots that insist on knocking most posts. My rice cooker is always on, my Thai family eat Thai as I do (only one chili for me). They are also becoming accustomed to European cusine as I like cooking.

Paid Canadian cheque into BB this year. Baht account.

Required international clearing,cost 100 baht.

Could be 21 days but only took 14.

There is another system for clearing cheques I found during research, not sure if UK qualify,Canada didn't, Google it.

Chas

Got exchange rate for day I paid in cheque. 

It is ñot the lock but a thinned metal connecting between handle and tapered flange that fit in door jambe. 

This break and you are locked in.

Seen 3 cases  in past 14 years.

Only way to free is to force and prise from door jambe.

Have written to company (no name) that lock should be fitted from outside using key they provide. So can be disassembled from outside.

No response from company.

Invite Jamie Oliver,  world class Chef to Thailand.

He would reform meals for Thai school children  as he has done around the world. 

He uses TV and media, visiting school kitchens  and broadcast the results both good and bad

I have direct debit with BB for electricity and Pranburi water here in Hua Hin. 

The water more difficult as payments come through different bank and require attending water office  in Pranburi, BB and back Pranburi with DD form.

Now no worries about missing payment and getting cut off.

Chas

Write aThi will passing on assets here and abroad. Otherwise assets will be divided Thai way, 50% to wife rest to children 

Any will that post dates an original will in any country is now the current will. You can only have one current will. 

Any will that post dates an original will in any country is now the current will. For a will to be recognised in Thailand it must be written here and witnessed. My wife and I wrote ours in English in line with those written in Canada. Had Thai translation but not certified as costs mega bucks. 

For those that have will in home country note that you can only have one current will. 

Chas

Do not buy Huawei, recently purchased mate pad t 8 inch. EMUI 10 now bars anything Google, due apparently to the fight between USA and Huawei. 

I have spent hours installing a second boot system best one so far is VMOS PRO. 

Brought an Acer Swift 3 at Bannana Hua Hin 2 weeks ago. 15 inch screen, 8GB ram 516 ssd. Bit heavier on the lap than my 14 inch Acer, which was steam driven. Compares with my android phone which has 4GB ram. Boot time less than 10 seconds. Falls in your price range. 

Never going back to HDD and when my HP all in one desktop HDD fails again will fit SSD. Test drive at Bannana if there one near you. 

You people worry too much the police order says a bank account in Thailand.  Read my previous post, IO will accept 2 accounts as long as one is closed and another opened on the same day. When you close account it only shows as closed and transferred.

Regards Chas

My experience  with Bangkok Bank and Immigration.

On my last 90 day asked Hua Hin Immigration about my 2 year fixed account (orange book) maturing 1st July 1.75%. I understand that after this date it reverts to 0.5% the same as blue book savings account.

IO told me that as long as I had both the old and new fixed account books there would be no problem. 

Silly me went into Hua Hin 2 (next to Market Village) on the 1st and told to come back the next day.

The manager was manning one of the admin desks. Told him that when I was in yesterday and after many phone call was offered 2 year fixed at 1.5%.  Asked to have the past 2 years interest transferred into my blue book keeping 800,000 in fixed account.

To my surprise he did not open a new account all transactions appear in original book, so will be able to show money in same account.

He also provided forms to reclaim tax for the past 2 years as it falls below the 20,000 on interest threshold.  Haven't tried it yet seems like a lot of hassle.

In my experience when it comes to extension time there is never a problem updating the books with the date on the letter.

Regards Chas

Slightly off the tax subject but still relevant as our pensions monies matter!

Monies can be paid direct to Thailand by Canada and my UK pension funds but why would you want to be subject to enforced monthly currency fluctuations?

When we first thought of retiring to Thailand I set up bank accounts with HSBC in Canada, UK and Thailand, I thought for ease of shifting money at no cost.

Thai HSBC personal banking is now defunct and has left the country, as a foreign bank it was tied to many extra Thai rules. Also I could not set up direct debits for paying utility bills unless living in Bangkok. Hua Hin is only 240 Km away!

Now we wait until currency rates are favorable to transfer money from HSBC Canada, my wife's pension bank to HSBC UK, my pension bank, at no cost.

Again waiting for good rates before transferring to Bangkok Bank London for conveyance to our Bangkok Bank account in Hua Hin.

Flat rate of 15 GBP for up to 10,000 GBP per day, this cap is set by the UK government to avoid money laundering.

Best rate is when sent to Thailand in GBP, not Thai Baht. This process takes 1 to 2 days via internet to arrive in Thailand.

I understand that there is a branch of Bangkok Bank in New York which may be advantageous for our Canadian readers.

As a post script I used to use ATM withdrawals from the UK but find that I am Pounds in now by transferring large amounts into a local account with no Thai ATM charges, unless I am out of my local area, then it is only 10 or 20 Baht.

To reply to another posters concern over world income between married couples of different nationalities. My Canadian wife's tax return has always included my name as spouse but British Citizen taxed at source. Therefore my income is not part of her world income, this is accepted by the tax authorities.

Chas

Seems to be a lot of confusion over Canadian tax rules.

Yes the old rules still apply, it used to be, you were considered a Canadian resident if you had five ties ie: house, bank account, library ticket etc. You had to file a tax form every year.

My wife rid herself of these ties many years ago and became completely non resident for tax purposes. On receiving her CPP at age 60 she was taxed at 25%. Until the laws changed and she was allowed to have the full personal Tax allowance ($11000)by filing a form NR5 which lasts 5 years, as long as a tax return is filed every year.

So Canadian expats overseas on CPP and OAS should see the bulk of monies tax free. Any monies above your personal allowance is subject to normal rates of tax.

Must stress the use of Form NR5 for expats to save up to a quarter of your pensions.

Chas