bigt3116

"As of the latest regulations, travelers can bring up to 50,000 Thai Baht (or its equivalent in foreign currency) into Thailand without declaring it. However, if you're carrying more than this amount, you are required to declare it to customs upon arrival." Surely they would have a copy of the declaration that they brought in over 50k from overseas and that would satisfy the "funds from abroad"?

Very true, it does not equate to illegal entry. Surely both are illegal?

Just semantics, but anyone is entitled to apply for an extension, they are not entitled to the extension itself. 🙂

Reports say that there are about 400,000 from western and developed nations. Let's say half of those are married = 200,000 Let's say immigration works 340 days a year, that equates to 588 applications a day. That is a far cry from your hundreds of thousands per day.

Can you switch from an extension based on work to one based on marriage (income), if you have had well over 12 months of payments going in from your home country?

totally possible, people do it all the time. Schools don't like it because it is a lot more paperwork.

Ah ok, my thought was book a return ticket to Thailand, and just transit at Malaysia.

Also from AI Malaysians generally do not prohibit Israeli citizens from transiting through the country if they remain in the international zone of the airport. However, advance confirmation is advised. If you transited through an airport in another country and remained in the international zone without passing through immigration, you won't have an entry or exit stamp for that transit country. This is typically not an issue for Thai immigration. So maybe it is possible for the OP to use Malaysia?

Get the school to prepare the paperwork for an in-country Non-B

Does not sound like you actually like being here? If the immigration rules are too onerous, try somewhere like Saudi, then you will know real pain in the a..

Agents only use a very few of the over 90 offices, so your statement is totally untrue.

Nope, they deal with extensions only for patients and close family. The 90 day reports is for anyone. (It does say that if you open the link)

Do they still do the 90 day reporting in Bumrumgrad ? I can't remember if it was everyday or timings, but it was something like a few hundred baht for the convenience. A quick search brought this up; https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/patient-services/business-center So it seems you can do your 90 day reports at Bumrumgrad, albeit for a 650 baht fee.

In other words not "unlimited" The problem with somebody from the MFA saying that, is that the MFA have nothing to do with visa exempt entries, they are solely the remit of Immigration. The MFA should not be commenting on visa exempt entries, that should be left to the head honcho of the Immigration police.

Proof of onward travel, not a flight to your home country.

Were there not reports that some offices made you get the 30 day normal extension first and then the 60 day? (as they are classified differently).

Section 12 of the Immigration act does not mention proof of onward travel, so if you were denied entry due to that, it would indeed be illegal. Also, it is the airlines that ask for proof of onward travel, not immigration.

Seriously it is not 'point scoring', it is all about giving the correct advice, I am sure you agree with that. "Changing from money in bank method to income you will need to maintain the 800k in bank for 3 months after current extension and simultaneously commence the monthly transfers of 65k. This is to show 12 monthly transfers at time of next extension." You wrote that, which was wrong for the OP (he had already changed), maybe because you did not understand the OP, who knows. All I know is that the advice I gave was correct. Cool, yes, will help other members, but certainly does not excuse your incorrect advice.

Maybe try reading the OP again. He already has an extension based on income Therefore your advice about the 800k is wrong. Once your extension based on monthly income is approved, the 800k is yours to do with as you please. As you correctly stated, the requirements are retrospective, the OP has fulfilled those, that is how he got an extension based on income this time. So I say again to you and the OP, the 800k is yours. He has already done what you are planning to do. Therefore again, your advice was wrong. PS The OP expressed it just fine, I certainly understood it.

Are you sure? The OP has just got his extension based on income, so he has showed 12 months of transfers and kept the 800k in the bank for the requisite time. As his extension is now based on income, the 800k is now his to withdraw at any time, no need to keep any of it in the bank. As for the OP's question about maintaining any balance, no, as you are income based now, you can withdraw all the transfer every month, there is no minimum balance requirement for income based extensions.

The Thailand Elite Visa program is managed by Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. (TPC), a state-owned enterprise under the supervision of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Sorry, but back peddling now is of no use. You know what you wrote, and you also know it was wrong. That is why I reported it.

It's important to note that, as of the change, the 1 million baht coverage per depositor per institution still protected approximately 98.03% of all account holders in the Thai banking system

The article does say "covering 94 Thai embassies and consulates globally. ", so it is safe to say that you won't be applying from inside Thailand as there is no Thai embassy or consulate there. As for Laos, a simple search brings this up; Making online payments from a foreign bank in Laos can be challenging due to a combination of factors, including regulatory, technological, and financial infrastructure limitations. Here's an overview of the main reasons: 1. Regulatory Restrictions Currency Control Laws: Laos has strict currency control regulations to protect its economy. These laws can make it difficult to process cross-border transactions smoothly. Foreign Exchange Limits: Banks in Laos often have restrictions on how much money can be exchanged or transferred abroad. Compliance and Documentation: Payments from foreign banks may require additional documentation to comply with Lao government and banking regulations. 2. Limited International Payment Gateways Many online platforms in Laos don't have full integration with widely-used global payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, or Apple Pay. This limits the options for making international payments. Local e-commerce sites and services often rely on cash-on-delivery or domestic bank transfers. 3. Banking System Challenges Slow or Outdated Systems: The banking infrastructure in Laos is less advanced compared to many other countries, leading to delays in processing international transactions. Lack of SWIFT Integration: Not all banks in Laos are fully integrated into the SWIFT network for seamless international transactions. High Fees: Cross-border payments often involve high fees, making them less appealing for routine online transactions. 4. Currency and Exchange Rate Issues Lao Kip (LAK) Volatility: The local currency is not widely traded internationally, and fluctuating exchange rates can complicate online transactions. Limited Support for LAK: Many foreign banks and payment platforms do not support Lao Kip, requiring currency conversion that can add complexity and cost. 5. Fraud Prevention Measures Foreign banks often flag transactions originating from less familiar regions like Laos as high-risk, leading to frequent declines or extra verification requirements. Payment systems may block transactions to prevent fraud, especially if the foreign bank does not recognize the recipient's country or payment processor.

Actually the exact opposite. There is no fee at all to be in IDC, and for every day that you are there, (if you have not paid your fine), your fine is reduced by 200 baht.