ozfarang

9 minutes ago, skatewash said:

I friend of mine used an agent in Phuket because he'd heard it was the "smart" thing to do.  He didn't get his passport back for over 100 days, during which time he went on overstay.  Turns out his passport was sent to some immigration office in isaan and there was a problem with the "friendly" immigration agents in that office as they had been transferred to another office.  It took some time for "friendly" immigration officers to get back into business at that immigration office.

If you are using an agent to circumvent immigration rules it's you who should be worried.  I get my retirement extension from immigration myself for which I pay 1,900 baht.  

A related story:

https://www.thephuketnews.com/expats-caught-up-in-phuket-visa-scams-face-being-forced-to-leave-the-country-84812.php

Thanks for your advice.

14 hours ago, skatewash said:

Unless something goes wrong and then it can become a nightmare.  If their passport is lost, or it takes much longer than promised, I doubt those people think the process was "simple."

Why would someone give their valuable passport to someone for weeks who very possibly mails it out to some other province in Thailand, when they can hang on to their own passport and get an immediate decision on getting their extension in person at the immigration office?  For 1,900 baht.

You haven't use an agent obviously as you comments in your post are wrong. My agent had my passport for 2 days, not weeks. 

The cost is worth it as it saves being stuffed around by immigration, that I've put up with for over 40 years, and have had enough.

As you were and continue on with what you do for extensions

3 hours ago, billd766 said:

 

 

'It looks like a nice puddle jumper but with only room for 9 pax, a fixed undercarriage (lots of drag) and a relatively short range, there is certainly room to do better.'

 

 

The production version being ordered has retractable gear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eviation_Alice

1 minute ago, Norlund said:

At my Immigration Office NO ONES is f..... with you.

Is that quote in english?

Not sure what you are trying to tell me regarding 'your' immigration office

2 minutes ago, Norlund said:

I have lived i Thailand for 22 years and I have had a Non Immigrant Visa for the same period of time. It takes me 30-40 min. at my local Immigration Office to extend my visa and the fee is 1900 baht. There is NO NEED for a visa agent. If you have a problem with filling in form TM7 the Immigration Office even do that for you. 

I'm literate and can read and write english so no need for help filling in forms.

Just don't need to be stuffed around with the forever changing requirements for visa extensions and dealing with non english speaking immigration officers. After 42 years being stuffed around at various immigration officers around Thailand I've had enough.

My agent handles all my visa, 90 day reporting and extensions.

Thanks for your advice regarding the use of an agent

2 minutes ago, Norlund said:

When you have had a tourist visa changed to a Non Immigrant Visa at the Immigration Office, you get a stamp in your passport that says "Non Immigrant".

 

If you do not have a visa during your stay in Thailand, but you have a "Permision To Stay", then the natural question is when will you lose this Non Immigrant Visa. Do you get a USED stamp in your passport before you go out the door to the Immigration Office or is this something that happens automatically? 

I use and agent so I don't have your problems with Immigration.

In fact I don't need to go to Immigration at all

10 minutes ago, Norlund said:

You DO NOT have a "permission to stay". What you have is a VISA. That is why you can change a Tourist Viso to a Non Immigrant Visa at the Immigration Office. Please read what the Immigration Office says on their website. 

if you are confused just visit an Immigration office and they will give you the correct form you need to fill in for a change of stay in Thailand.

How hard could that be?

If you want to continue to argue over technicalities then keep going.......

1 hour ago, SenorTashi said:

Can you say who and where? I don't know why all my quotes are high 

I live in Ratchaburi and the agent is in Bangkok.

Go to this URL for all the info of the agent I use

https://thaivisacentre.com

33 minutes ago, SenorTashi said:

Thanks to everyone's tips on here, I'm currently chatting with 4 different agents and they're all quoting me 34-36k for 3 months o visa plus 12 months retirement. 

The agent i use charges 19K for Non-Imm O retirement (initial 12 month extension), then 14K 12 month extension renewal

5 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

What's your definition of a "rush?" 

 

Do you think I mean millions of pensioners?  Of course not.  As with everything, if new restrictive, costly, prohibitive laws are coming in, people submit their application, for example, before the laws come in.

 

Example, you have a 65 year old single Aussie guy who has recent retired and who has had two holidays to Thailand a year, for the last several years, except for covid.  He has always wanted to retire in Thailand, but isn't quite ready yet.  He is then informed that "grandfathering" is only on offer to those outside of Australia for 3 months or more, and receiving a pension, as of 1st July 2023.  He then leaves Australia in February 2023 in order to qualify.  Wouldn't you? 

 

Then there are the guys who are 62, 63, 64 who can survive on savings until 65, who might also jump to set up the "grandfathering" for the future.  Wouldn't you consider doing the same, especially as people are living longer, and non-resident tax rates are so high?

 

Can you see how grandfathering, in this instance, makes an incentive for people to leave Australia? 

 

Perhaps your definition of a few more is my definition of a rush. 

KH, you have to be 66 years and 6 months to qualify for the OAP at the moment and 67 after 1 July 2023.

Your argument is not correct. Go to the link below and become familiar with the age requirements for the OAP.

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/who-can-get-age-pension?context=22526

@steve73 you friend needs to send Centrelink a 'Proof of Life' certificate.

All the details are here

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/proof-life-compliance-reviews-if-youre-older-80-and-live-overseas?context=22526

18 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

If you are using Edge copy the URL to a New InPrivate Window. But I suggest there is nothing in the article to warrant any interest in users of this forum, as is the case for most of the previous trolling posts.

I use Safari and have read the article.

Was interested if KH, the continuous stirrer on this tread had read it.

It has nothing to do with the OAP. He'll be back with his warped reasons why it will affect people living in Thailand receiving the OAP

34 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Posted the same link on another thread, but it's more on topic in this one.

 

The new Labor government will continue on with the proposed changes, but will review the amount of days. 

 

https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/assistant-treasurer-flags-new-tax-residency-rules-20220826-p5bd1v

 

It's more focused on how long you are inside Australia, but the flip side for many expats is how long you are outside Australia.

Are you a subscriber to AFR?

The article is behind a pay wall

1 minute ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

You wouldn't have noticed the weighing machines in front of the check-in desks then

Can't say I have noticed something that is not there.

35 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Was you working as a check-in person ?

No

8 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

You don't often notice it , there are weighing machines built into the floor and it looks just like a normal floor .

   All the peoples weights are added together at the end of the check-ins , that's why fat people are sometimes removed from the flights before take-off

Having worked in the aviation industry for over 35 years, you comment is total bullsh!t.

Standard weights are use for pax on all/most airlines around the world. 

I transferred a large amount to my wife's account the other day on my banking app, from K Bank to Gov Savings Bank. My limit in one transfer is ฿5M.

I'm sure Bangkok Bank would have similar facilities on internet banking or their Mobile App for large local transfers.

If I transferred the money at the branch it would have cost over ฿500