khunjeff

Not to mention the time and cost to get back and forth to Chaeng Watthana at least once a year for those of us living in Bangkok, and the pages and pages of annual stamps gradually filling up your passport... But yes, it's really the mental stress that I'm most glad to get rid of - no more worrying about my bank balance, or 90 day report schedules, or remembering to get a reentry permit. And for those among us who travel regularly, the LTR also has airport Fast Track access. To me, it was a no-brainer, but of course everyone's situation is different, so not everyone will reach the same conclusion.

The headline is extremely misleading. The requirement is for all passengers flying from Thailand to India, not for "Thai tourists". In practice, the vast majority of those needing to test will be Indian nationals returning from holidays in Thailand.

A Canadian woman reported on Facebook today that she and her husband don't have pensions, but obtained LTR-WP visas this week solely on the basis of dividend and capital gains income, documented on their tax returns. So it definitely seems to be possible. The situation you're describing is a bit different, though, in that you wouldn't be receiving dividends from shares in a brokerage account, but essentially paying them to yourself from your own company. I would guess that BoI's willingness to accept that will depend on how the arrangement is documented, and whether it seems legitimate to them.

As @Pibhinted at in a recent post, I did indeed get the LTR-WP visa stamped into my passport on Tuesday, two days ago. Here's how the process unfolded (it's long, so I won't be offended if you skip around): Oct 7: uploaded my initial application, with a pension letter, 12 monthly pension statements, five years of income tax transcripts (only showing gross income and tax owed), and a letter from my insurer (a group policy under the US Government's Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB)) Nov 11: having heard nothing after 22 workdays, I called BoI, and finally got through on the 8th try over two days. The woman who answered said she would check with the person handling my case, and came back to say that there were questions about my pension, and it came to $75k, right? Since that was completely wrong, I assume that no one had ever set eyes on my case until I called, and had misread the numbers. She asked if I could provide a tax return, and I said yes, but I had already done so. She asked if I had a version that showed all income categories so that they could see I wasn't including wage income (which was weird, since my pension already exceeded 80k), and I said yes, I can upload that. She only wanted the most recent year. A few minutes later, I received the document request for the tax return, but they had also included the medical insurance boilerplate that Pib quoted above - again, with no explanation of why my lifetime policy with unlimited coverage wasn't unacceptable. That same day, I uploaded my full 2021 tax return along with the last 12 bank statements showing a cash balance of over $100k every month. (I just happened to have kept that high balance for reasons unrelated to the LTR, which was lucky.) *** Time passes...and passes...*** Dec 23: To my surprise, I suddenly received an email with my "Qualification Endorsement" (that's what I posted a few days ago). It asked me to upload all of my passport pages with Thai stamps (I had traveled three times since the initial application, so these were actually different from what I originally provided), along with any TM-6 (I don't have one) and 90 day report receipt. I did have a receipt from May, the last time I spent 90 days in Thailand, so I included that in my submission. Based on Pib's experience, I bundled the passport pages and receipt into one PDF. Bizarrely, there was also a note in red on the documents page on the website saying to submit health insurance. Pib had seen an identical note on his page, so I decided that it was probably just an artifact of the November request - otherwise, why would they have approved my case? - and just ignored that section. Dec 26: Now things are speeding up! At 9:30 Monday morning, I received the final approval email that told me to print out the various forms and letters and make an appointment. I ran out to get photos taken (I hadn't done that earlier for fear of jinxing the process!), and when they said the pictures would be ready at 2pm, I made an appointment for the next day at 11am (not wanting to get up early). BTW, I'm not sure why they even ask us to print the documents, since they could just provide all of them at BoI, but it wasn't a big deal. One thing I noticed was that on the TM-94 form, the pre-populated data was all correct except for the last part of my address, which was shown (in Thai only) as Amphoe Muang, Krabi, instead of Watthana, Bangkok! I know I didn't make an error, since you have to choose the province first before the other drop down menus activate, so I can only think it's a software bug. I corrected it with a PDF editing app and attached the photo. Dec 27: I took the MRT to Chamchuri, since the station feeds directly into the building and I live only a short walk from Sukhumvit station - the trip was under 30 minutes door to door and cost less than a buck. At the BoI office, I waited about five minutes for someone to come take care of me. Unlike the experience that seemingly everyone else had, the young lady assigned to me had pretty poor English, and didn't seem to know quite what she was doing. After she came back and had me sign on the various rubber stamps and (inexplicably) write my phone number and email address on the approval letter, she led me off to get my photo taken. While we were crossing the hall to immigration, I heard someone giving her instructions in Thai. I looked around and there was a young Muslim woman following her and telling her what to do, which cemented my feeling that "my" minder was either a trainee or an intern. The "trainer" did speak excellent English, and clearly knew what she was doing. She asked how long I had been in Thailand, and when I told her I had been here on and off for 30 years, she asked if I spoke any Thai, so I started speaking to both of them in Thai instead, which delighted her. Got the photo taken, and signed on an electronic pad at the photographer's desk (why? No idea), then was told to go chill out on the nice leather sofas at BoI while they submitted my papers and got a queue number. (Oh, I also had to stop before the photo to download and fill out a bizarre immigration "survey", which somehow prevented international crime and human trafficking - that's really what they said! - by asking me for the exact same biographic and address info that I had already provided multiple times - there were no "survey" questions at all. It also asked for the GPS coordinates of my apartment, which I was trying unsuccessfully to search for on Google Maps when I found out that the trainee actually had written them down, but hadn't told me.) I played with my phone on the comfy sofa for more than half an hour, and was beginning to wonder whether I would finish before the lunch break. Eventually, at maybe 11:40 or so, the trainee came back to take me to the immigration window, where the officer kind of threw my papers at her. From there to the cashier (why do they have a uniformed police captain acting as cashier rather than hiring a clerk? No idea), where I paid by bank app and got a receipt (hand written, unlike the machine printed one that the person ahead of me got). Back to the immigration window, where the trainee handed in the papers and the officer photographed me with her cell phone (why? No idea - maybe as evidence that I really came in person, rather than having some Chinese agent go in my place?). The trainee then sat down with me in front of the window, until another obviously experienced BoI woman came to drop off papers and addressed her like she was an idiot, telling her to go back to the office and wait for me to come back with the visa. So I stayed, and a few minutes later I was called up by a very nice immigration officer who showed me the visa and explained about the one year reporting. Back to the BoI side, where the reception desk told me to sit down again. Just a few minutes later the trainer and trainee were both back. They didn't make a copy of the visa, or even look at it very carefully (which is what the website instructions said would happen), but just repeated the information about the one year thing and confirmed that the count starts again every time I leave the country - they also said they would be in touch two months before the five year anniversary with instructions on what to do. (I hope they've figured out group insurance by then, because I don't want to put $100k back in the bank, or buy a Thai policy.) As they walked away, the trainer turned around and said (in Thai), "oh, and happy new year!" The whole thing took just short of 90 minutes from arrival to departure, but most of that time was spent just hanging out in the nice BoI waiting room. I had been fearing/expecting the usual immigration "gotcha" where I would be scolded for some invented problem, but I never even spoke to the immigration folks, other than to ask the photographer if I should take off my glasses, and to say thank you to the nice woman who returned my visaed passport. My "handling" may not have been quite up to the level that other folks experienced, but it still totally insulated me from the madness of the immigration side of the floor - I was just a piece of meat being carted from place to place, which was fine with me. Oh, and they had no interest in the TM-30 I had brought along (afraid of that gotcha!), didn't want the English version of the approval letter, and didn't ask me for any marriage documents (they clarified that those are only for people changing from marriage-based visas or extensions). There was also no need for the additional photos I had brought along - only the one I had already glued to the form. It still hasn't quite sunk in that I've reached the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but I'm sure it will eventually. For now, I'm grateful that I have the visa, grateful that the ordeal is over, and very grateful for the assistance and encouragement that all of you have provided - especially the hard-working Pib, who made all those phone calls to BoI, nagging them so that the rest of us didn't have to! Many, many thanks. Happy New Year to all from this newly minted Wealthy Pensioner!

I think it mostly comes down to a matter of choice versus compulsion. I keep a lot more than 800k in cash in US accounts, but I do that because I want to, and because it makes me feel safe to have that money readily available, even if it's not the best use of those funds by any reasonable financial standard. The 800k in a Thai bank, by contrast, is there only because it's required to be there - and it isn't even readily available, because drawing on it (other than during the middle part of your extension year) would result in losing my right to keep living in Thailand. Is being forced into maintaining the 800k deposit a big deal in the grand scheme of things? No, but it is a mild irritation that I'll be glad to be rid of when I finally get my LTR...even if all I do is keep the same money in the same bank, but with total freedom to use it as and when I wish.

I see in step 3 that they're still maintaining the fiction that decisions are made within 20 working days. In my case, and most others that I've read about on this forum, they didn't even look at the case within that time period, let alone make a decision. They can of course take as long as they want to examine each case (and we can argue over whether that time period is reasonable or not), but I would really just like to see them give a more honest estimate of the time required so that applicants don't freak out when their cases take months to be completed. Managing expectations is important.

As long as they do "enforcement by checkpoint", the problems will never go away, even during these "seven days" exercises. How do you crack down on speeding, erratic and dangerous driving, etc, when you crowd 20+ people into a tent with a snack table, and only look at drivers when they've slowed to a halt to pass through the gauntlet? It's probably the least effective use of traffic enforcement personnel possible, which is why it isn't used in other countries. Scatter the officers out all over the roads in ones or twos, and you might actually have a chance of reducing the mayhem.

My original application was on October 7. I called BoI on November 11 after hearing nothing, and submitted additional documents the same day. So, it's been 47 work days since my first submission, and 25 workdays since uploading the extra documents. I won't start celebrating until I actually have the final approval, and the visa in my passport...

The wording has changed somewhat, but the timeframe for getting the visa is still 60 days from the day they give the "endorsement of qualifications" (I just received this today): 2. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR LTR VISA ISSUANCE If the information and documents submitted in step 1. are considered complete and valid, applicants will receive an email informing you that your application has been approved for LTR Visa issuance. Then please make an appointment for LTR visa issuance in Thailand or make an arrangement for LTR visa issuance overseas by following the instructions below. 1. In case of LTR visa issuance at OSS in Bangkok, your status now will be changed to Status: Visa/ WP Issuance Pre-approved. You can make an appointment for the LTR Visa issuance via LTR Visa application system and then print out the Notification of qualification endorsement for Long-Term Resident Visa, TM.94 form, STM.8 form and the appointment confirmation document / processing fee payment form from the system. Please note that the result of the qualifications endorsement for LTR Visa is valid for a period of 60 days after the Notification of qualification endorsement for Long-Term Resident Visa is issued. Therefore, please make an appointment and collect the visa before the result expires, otherwise you must apply for the qualifications endorsement again. 2. In case of LTR visa issuance at Thai embassies or consulate generals overseas, your status now will be changed to Status: Final approval. You can contact the Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General or visit e-Visa* website to make an arrangement for visa issuance overseas* *Note: 1. Please follow the instructions in No.4 COLLECT YOUR LTR VISA AT ROYAL THAI EMBASSY/CONSULATE-GENERAL FOR VISA ISSUANCE OVERSEAS 2. E-Visa is available only in some Embassies/Consulates. To check if it's available in your area of residency, please go to www.thaievisa.go.th . Moreover applicant must apply for e-Visa via a specific Embassy/Consulate conforming with his/her consular jurisdiction and residency. The applicant is required to upload documents that can verify his/her current residency. 3. COLLECT YOUR LTR VISA AT ONE STOP CENTER FOR VISA AND WORK PERMIT (BANGKOK) Once the appointment for visa issuance at OSS has been made, the status will be changed to Status: Appointment. Please prepare ALL the following required documents and fee prior to the appointment date to present to the immigration and the Department of Employment and bring them with you on the appointment date*. 1) Documents to be retrieved and printed out from LTR Visa application system A. Application Form for LTR Visa (TM.94 Form) – must be printed double-sided and signed B. Appointment confirmation document and LTR Visa processing fee payment form and Digital Work Permit fee payment form (in case you applied for the Digital Work Permit) C. Criteria and Conditions Acknowledgement Form for a Temporary Stay Permit in the Kingdom (LTR Visa) (STM.8 Form) – must be print double-sided and signed D. The Notification of qualification endorsement for Long-Term Resident Visa (valid within 60 days from the issuance date of the letter) 2) Other required documents and fee E. Original and photocopy of passport pages (biodata page and pages with visas and stamps) of yourself and your dependents* who wish to receive the visa on the same appointment date - Biodata page showing name / surname / Passport No., ect. - Current visa which has been terminated with the remaining permission to stay sufficient for LTR Visa issuance - Last entry stamp of immigration - Last extension of visa - E-Visa (if any) - The initial Thai visa used to enter Thailand (in case you have changed a visa type in Thailand before changing to the current visa type) F. Photocopy of documents proving relationship such as a marriage certificate AND the original and photocopy of Kor.Ror. 2 form (in case of a foreigner married to a Thai citizen), registration of child legitimization, household registration certificate or child adoption registration certificate, or other evidence from the government or relevant agency (for dependants) (in case of a Thai spouse G. One passport size photo (4 cm x 6 cm) (white background, dressed in business attire (t-shirt is not allowed) without wearing glasses or headgear, taken within 6 months (a photocopy or poor quality photos will not be accepted) H. Original and photocopy of TM.6* (front of your arrival/departure card) (in case you have entered Thailand before July 1st, 2022 or entered through the immigration control at land border checkpoints and have received TM. 6 card) I. Original and photocopy of TM.47*’s receipt of notification (previous notifications of staying over 90 days) (if any) J. The LTR Visa processing fee of 50,000 THB per person per 10 years and the Digital Work Permit processing fee (for applicants who applied for Digital Work Permit only). The total work permit fee can be seen on the work permit payment form. The total fee is calculated base on the annual fee of 3,000 THB per person per 1 year) – Acceptable and preferred payment option is Thai mobile banking (QR code scanning). Cash is only acceptable if the foreigner does not have a Thai bank account *Note: 1. For the visa issuance steps at OSS, click here 2. Dependents who receive the visa on a different date, must also bring the original passport of the main LTR visa holder 3. If you have lost TM6 or TM.47’s receipt or you have passed the 90 days limit without making the 90-day reporting, you must get a police notice from any police station before the appointment and pay fine 2,000 Baht (fine applies only in case of failing to make the 90-day report) to the immigration on the appointment date 4. COLLECT YOUR LTR VISA AT ROYAL THAI EMBASSY/CONSULATE-GENERAL For Visa Sticker 1. Kindly contact Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General of your choice to make an appointment for visa issuance 2. Please prepare the documents including the Notification of qualification endorsement for Long-Term Resident Visa, print out and fill in the forms as follows and bring them with you on the appointment date. Passport with the remaining validity of no less than 6 months Notification Letter for Qualifications Endorsement from BOI with has been issued for no more than 60 days Copy of documents proving relationship such as a marriage certificate, registration of child legitimization (for dependents) Visa application form 3. Follow the guidance of a consular officer at each Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General to receive your LTR Visa on your passport. Visa Fee : LTR visa processing fee at each Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General is based on the fee in Thailand (50,000 THB per person per 10 years), but may vary and considerably be more expensive than the fee of 50,000 THB per person per 10 years, depending on the currency rate and the additional fee which might be applied in some countries. For e-Visa 1. Please submit the following documents via www.thaievisa.go.th Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document Declaration 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 the Notification of qualification endorsement for Long-Term Resident Visa Other documents as required 2. E-visa will be issued and be notified via email and your e-Visa account Visa Fee : LTR visa processing fee at each Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General is based on the fee in Thailand (50,000 THB per person per 10 years), but may vary and considerably be more expensive than the fee of 50,000 THB per person per 10 years, depending on the currency rate and the additional fee which might be applied in some countries. For more information, please visit https://ltr.boi.go.th/index.html or email: [email protected] or call 0 2 209 1109-1110

Since when did the Office of Quackery and Jungle Witchcraft become a police agency that raids parties? Or is this guy just drunk - oops, I mean high - with power?

They really need some new graphic designers - these display boards they come up with are unreadable and visually appalling. The entire Thai government also needs a refresher course to understand that mnemonics are only useful when they spell real words that people can remember - nonsense strings of letters are, well, nonsense.

So which is correct?

Every year they announce these "gifts" from the benevolent leaders that are actually paid for by the taxpayer. I have no opinion on whether these measures are wise or not, but please stop calling them "gifts"....

As others have noted, it varies a lot based on how many other flights have landed at the same time. After people complained online a few months ago about long immigration queues, though, they do seem to be trying to keep the waits down to below 20 minutes by opening more counters when the crowd starts to grow. I arrived last night at about 630pm, and was very lucky - a two minute wait at immigration, and bag on the belt less than ten minutes later (the previous month I waited about 16 minutes). If you want live information on queues at Suvarnabhumi, it's available on the "Sawasdee by AOT" app. The app is large and intrusive, but I've found the estimates of wait times to be pretty accurate. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.AOT

I believe you're thinking of Nichada Thani in Nonthaburi. Yes, it's rather like an American suburb, but the children mostly go to the very expensive ISB - proximity to the school is the main reason that people live out there - rather than any public school. One problem with the OP's dream of "a place sizable enough to have a local public high school with a nationally ranked debate team" (other than the fact that I don't think debate teams really exist in Thailand) is that the very concept doesn't really apply here. Since schools aren't locally funded, and the lack of zoning means that rich and poor usually live very close to each other, you're not likely to find one local school that's substantially better than others nearby. (Of course, any such school would teach in Thai in any case.) Just my opinion.

Of course, it also says "multiple entry" on the rubber stamp visa issued at the One Stop Center, and yet Immigration somehow still finds it necessary to fill up two pages of the passport with additional stamps...!

The headline implies that it's closing forever, and then we quickly learn that it's just shutting down temporarily for renovations...

Yet another reminder that the parties don't actually stand for much of anything.

There have been a handful of similar reports over the last couple of years, but it's clearly far from universal - a friend and I both did the Non-O retirement conversion at CW during the same time period, and neither of us received a visit.

I have no idea what this word salad is supposed to mean, but the jingoism of asserting a connection between TM-30 violations and "crime" is impressive.

"the Bhumjaithai Party, which is the main supporter of the bill, insisted that cannabis would not be re-listed as a narcrotic drug" "vendors’ and buyers’ information will be sent to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)." So, it is not and will not be listed as a narcotic, but information on all buyers will be sent to the Narcotics Control Board? Makes perfect sense ????

That announcement certainly required a fresh flower arrangement on the podium.

I sent them my 401 k details before 3 week . so I called them thinking give it a last try to see if i can get any alternative choice with my 401 k . and the officer was so nice she immediately look into the past emails and told that she will check it and work on approving my application This is interesting, because a friend of mine received a request for insurance info last week, despite having already uploaded it with his initial application. He submitted a letter explaining further that his group health insurance as a retired US Government employee has unlimited coverage and is valid for life - something that BoI could easily verify with a simple internet search - along with brokerage statements showing over $800k in liquid investments. Almost immediately, they sent back the exact same request, but with the additional sentence "Please note investment account could not considered instead of health insurance document."

Congratulations! Others in this thread have reported getting an LTR e-visa, so it should be possible if the Thai embassy in your country is part of the e-visa program.

Back to normal for the company owner, while the lives of the poor cleaners are upended and ruined.