SHA 2 BKK

The bank statement stuff must be new.    I got my LTR in 2023.   Only my Tax return in Australia, two pension payslips, purchase of my condo and Thai Health Insurance Certificate shown.  Done and dusted in three weeks.  

My Thai friends are horrified when I put Penang or Massaman on a couple of pieces of heavily buttered toast and scoff it down.   My explanation that this is the way Stew is supposed to be consumed meets with vacant stares.   

19 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

In 'developed' nations, there are also various types and styles of crossings...     thus, whilst lack of consistence could be used as an excuse I doubt that it would make any difference as the underlying cultural trait of 'do anything but slow or stop' and 'only slow & stop as a last resort' will not change'  until a cultural shift towards road safety itself and pedestrian safety is 'forced'....    and I mean forced because its ingrained in the Thai culture not to be considerate of anyone outside of the primary *circles of influence then I expect little will change...  

At least until huge fines and effective policing is enforced at every crossing.

 

*the circules of influence have been discussed before.

1) - Inner Circle - Family and closest friends and loved ones - Thais are extremely giving

2) - Second Circle - Acquaintances and colleagues - Thais are polite and somewhat considerate

3) - Outer Circle - Everyone else - Complete indifference, don't care as if they don't exist

 

This explains why Thai's can be so kind and polite face to face as we enter the 'second circle' yet can be treated with complete indifference and disregard when in the outer circulce - i.e. such as crossing a road and someone driving and it does not enter their consciousness to be careful about us.

 

 

Perhaps this method of crossing the road (below) would force us into the second circle of drivers who'd otherwise not see us.

 

 

I mentioned this Brick Idea to my Thai friend who said good in theory but many drivers in Thailand carry a gun or baseball bat and they may seek retribution for losing face to a pedestrian.  

We travel on this road regularly to Cha Am.  Apart from the uneven road surfaces, construction traffic etc the contractors still insist on closing certain lanes on weekends or during peak traffic to move machinery - this despite promises that work would only happen during night hours and not during peak - from recollection.

I take 10mg Zolpidem most nights.  I have a condition which causes me to wake 20-30 times a night if not.  
 

I Have done sleep tests and it’s not sleep apnea.  The Thai Zolpidem is manufactured in India under the Brand name Zydus.  As Cheryl mentioned distribution is strictly controlled.  
 

I do see a neurologist at Bangkok Hospital every two months for this prescription and other meds that help me sleep.  
 

It is quite expensive but the product is available through the hospital but most health funds won’t cover so it’s an out of pocket expense. 
 

I do buy over the counter in Hong Kong through a Pharmacist I’ve known for years. It is much cheaper and I carry my prescription with me in case I am pulled up at customs - fortunately this has never happened.  
 

Insomnia is terrible.   I’ve tried everything else from total exhaustion through exercise to meditation and diet. Even Ganja!   But it’s only the Zolpidem and some other medicines that allow me a decent sleep. 

Those who don’t suffer this affliction, like many maladies of the mind, are often quick to judge we who depend on medicine for rest.  After feeling guilty for taking Zolpidem I have listened to my neurologist who tells me sleep is as important as exercise and eating so I take my medicine and sleep

some. 
 

Good luck to you friend.  I hope you find the land of Morpheus.  
 

1 minute ago, SHA 2 BKK said:

And no stupid 90 day reports!     Quick access through airports.  Just keep earnings offshore for 12 months (I get 6% on these deposits) and bring in the following year “TAX FREE”.  All the way with LTR!  

I must admit though, I got my LTR in 2022 when the old tax rules still applied.   Anyone getting their LTR this year needs to make sure they remit income from previous years as I did when I first got my LTR.  

1 hour ago, JimGant said:

Sure it does -- it grandfathers you into the old rules, so that you can remit all your 2024 income into Thailand on Jan 1 2025, without incurring a tax situation. That option's gone for non LTR visa holders. But, need to await further info from BoI.

And no stupid 90 day reports!     Quick access through airports.  Just keep earnings offshore for 12 months (I get 6% on these deposits) and bring in the following year “TAX FREE”.  All the way with LTR!  

4 hours ago, Pib said:

 

A LTR visa cannot be issued if you currently have a visa/extension of stay.   So, what must happen is your current visa must be cancelled and then the LTR visa can be issued.   

 

For an extension of stay the BOI immigration can cancel the extension (or at less they use to like when I got my LTR visa issued in late 2022) like say you are currently on a Non O or OA Retirement extension of stay the BOI Immigration office will/can cancel that extension and then they issue/stamp in the LTR visa.  If you are currently on say a Non O or OA "Marriage" extension of stay the BOI immigration office can also cancel that also "but will require a copy of your Thai spouse ID (signed by wife) can and a fresh KorRor 2 just like you would provide if you were renewing a Marriage Extension of Stay....basically the BOI immigration office wants to ensure the Thai spouse is aware you are switching visa types.  

 

Now regarding the cancellation of a visa (not an extension of say but a visa which has had no extensions) I'm not sure if the BOI immigration can cancel that....you would need to ask them.

 

When I got my LTR Pensioner visa issued in late 2022 I was on a Non OA Marriage Extension of Stay.  Before going to BOI to have the LTR issued/stamped into my passport I made copies of the wife's Thai ID, Thai passport, and got a fresh KorRor 2....had the spouse self-certify (i.e, sign) the Thai ID/passport.  The wife also went along since we live in Bangkok.  BOI Immigration cancelled my extension of stay and issued the LTR visa in a combo action...that is, Non O extension of stay cancelled....and then a few minutes later the LTR visa issued/stamped into my passport.

 

I expect BOI immigration prefers an current visa/extension of stay to be cancelled "before" you arrive to have the LTR visa issued....just less work for them.  And I expect there may be some types of visa (as there are many types of visas) they require the issuing IO to cancel.    

 

HOWEVER, BUT, maybe things have changed since late 2022 when I got my LTR visa issued in regards to if BOI immigration will cancel a visa/extension of stay issued by another immigration office.   Maybe BOI immigration now absolutely require the "issuing IO" to cancel the current visa/extension of stay but I expect it really just a preference and BOI immigration will still cancel a visa/extension of stay at their office and then a minute later issue the LTR visa.

 

What kind of visa/extension are you currently on?

 

 

Edit:  After posting above I found my LTR approval notification instructions from late 2022 and below is a partial quote regarding the cancellation of a visa I might currently be on.  You could arrange to have the BOI immigration office to cancel your current visa an issue the LTR visa same day/same time of LTR visa issuance.   As mentioned above I just had BOI immigration cancel my current visa extension of stay during my same visit to get the LTR visa issued.    I can't say for sure BOI immigration will still cancel a visa/extension issued by another immigration office....before they would prefer the issuing office did it but the BOI immigration office would still do it when required....my gut tells me they will still do it when you request in advance that's what you want to do.   

 

Partial Quote from my LTR Approval Notice

IMPORTANT:
If you are currently on a Thai visa category which needs to be cancelled before
receiving LTR such as Non-B, Non-O (spouse visa), Smart Visa, Non-O (except for
Non-O Retirement visa), please terminate the current visa while asking the
immigration officer to allow extra days of permission to stay after the cancellation or
arrange for the visa cancellation on the same day as the appointment date at the
immigration office where you got your current visa from.

For further information about current visa termination, please contact the immigration
office where you got the current visa from or contact the LTR Screen staff in-charge
for guidance if you wish to get the LTR visa and terminate the current visa on the
same day

End Quote.

 

Like Pib I got my LTR P at the end of 2022.  However Immigration at Chamchuri Square were able to cancel my Visa (Expiring Elite) and then stamp the LTR.  I don’t know if things have changed but my was a one stop and done and dusted in an hour.   
 

Sorry I can’t give further advice but maybe you can advise your current visa etc and a wiser head than mine can lend a hand.  Good luck.  

A lot of Ganja stores around Nana.  Maybe the big fellas first time seeing Puff the Magic Dragon. 

12 hours ago, kwilco said:

Ah - the morons' cliche

If you are going to quote me cobber don't take the half arsed approach and do it selectively - I said "Some" at the beginning of my sentence - intimating that "some" not "all" Thais are waiting for that lottery win as my old man says "they wouldn't work in an iron lung".  But then that's unique and is also the case back in Oz.  

2 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Today I have received a letter from UBS requesting a [Thai] TIN.

 

I was about to send them my PIN but got second thoughts. Since I have the so called LTR/WP visa, can I tell them that not of money transiting through UBS is assessable in Thailand and that therefore I have no TIN to provide? 

 

I am not sure I want to do that, because I wouldn't like it if they closed my accounts. But their letter was threatening at all, a reminder might be though..

I have told my bank (ANZ Australia) that as I have an LTR I am not required to have a TIN.  So far so good. Australian Banks seem to understand that some jurisdictions don’t require a TIN.   But every three months or so I get a call from one of their Due Diligence teams. 

5 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

It will vary from person to person, depending on whether or not you are tax resident (180+days per calendar year) and on how much assessible income you transfer into the country. You may wish to read the Simple Tax Guide to understand your own situation.

Further LTR Visa (excluding those earning a Thai income) have been advised there is no need to lodge a Tax Return and therefore no need for a TIN, but as Mike says circumstances will differ and best read the Guide.

I’m getting 6% back home in Australia.  I will only bring in pre January 1 savings into Thailand when needed.   

I have a mate who built a house inland at Cha Am through a Company and Thai partner.  Go there quite regularly with him.  Rama II is terrible - especially on a Friday, end of a holiday, raining etc. It’s congested and dangerous.  

I read somewhere that around 36 workers had lost their lives so far building the thing.   Not to mention motorists who are at mercy of pile ups and falling construction equipment.   

51 minutes ago, Misty said:

 

I've heard it's the way the law was written that is the problem.  The BoI is stuck with following the law, such as it is. But would hope that at some point the law could be amended to be made more reasonable.

When I applied I showed one month of my pension pay slips and a letter from my Pension Fund outlining my yearly income (it was in $AUD but met the $USD threshold).   I also own property here which put me well over the $80k level.  I didn’t have show my Australian Tax return.  Fortunately I found the whole process very easy and the BOI quite flexible.  But that’s my two bobs worth.  

1 hour ago, Yumthai said:

OK, so what does BOI mean when they mention capital gain as unearned income?

Could you make few examples of an asset capital gain that will be accepted by BOI?

Just ask the BOI they are very friendly.   

46 minutes ago, MPoll said:

Regarding the new tax rules and the LTR visa

 

There is another chat threat in the Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits area titled, "Taxation of Ex-Pats pensions etc." There is a nice summary of the tax rules by Mike Lister on page 7. His #4 point is that the LTR visa holders are exempt from paying tax on funds they transfer into the country. I decided double check this and sent an email to a Thai Tax firm named Sherrings (referenced in the chat thread). They responded confirming the LTR visa holders don't pay tax on money transferred into Thailand nor do they have to file a tax return. The exception is Highly Skilled Professionals category of LTR.  

Great update and much appreciated. 

2 hours ago, Berti said:

Can someone help me with these questions regarding the "Wealthy Pensioner" USD 80,000.- per year income LTR?

 

- What timeframe is considered? I know that in the two years before the year of the application the pension income must be 80,000.- per year. But are there no more checks later on?

 

- 80,000.- before or after tax?

 

- The 80,000.- must be sent to Thailand? Or is it ok if received outside of Thailand?

 

- Yearly means it does not have to be distributed to 12 month of the year. One time payment of 80,000.- per year is ok?

Hope this helps. I only showed one Australian Tax Return.  $US80k before tax.  My pension money is deposited outside Thailand in Australia.  This checked 5 years after the initial issuance of the Visa so that you can get another 5 years.  
 

I would imagine a yearly payment of $US 80k is ok. 
 

The team at the LTR BOI are great and I would suggest you email them or if in BKK pay them at visit at Chamchuri Square. 

Here was I thinking that there would be no firecrackers this year given the spate of unfortunate events that have surrounded their manufacture as of late.  

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Next day after your birthday. 

Same as the OP , I waited till after my birthday.

My license was 2 months expired when I went to DLT to renew.

 

My understanding is license can be up to one year expired and can still renew.

Don't take that as definitive 

Thannks DrJack54 and Sjoerd for the information.  I shall celebrate my aging and then renew my licence!!!

My licence expires on my birthday.   Question- how long after your birthday can you go an renew?   So I can get the longer period of time on it? 
 

Any guidance appreciated.