Presnock

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

Agree 2011 was horrible - one of the klongs used to speed up flood waters moving out of BKK was right next to daughter's school and not too far from our townhouse so we evacuated to Kanchanaburi for several months.  Fortunately the school and our abode did not flood.  It definitely was a living nightmare at times and wouldn't want to repeat that.  The year following that, we moved out of BKK to CM.  Now, guess we will have to plan on evacuating out of CM during the "burning season".  Can hardly wait this year for the rains.

last week, the weather bureau exec mentioned on the local morning news that they expected the rainy season to start near the end of this month.  This morning that same exec indicated that they rainy season may not start until the first or second week of NEXT month, and that the first couple of months the rains may be lighter (than what I don't know)but then from August on to the end of the season there might even be a couple of strong storms.  

4 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

 

Yes - that response of SHA 22 BKK is relevant for reporting if after 1 year, one has still not left the country.  Then one must fill in those appropriate forms as the 1-year reporting "counter" was never reset.

 

However if one exits and returns, as has been noted, the clock/clock for 1 year restarts counting from the beginning again.

 

Still, my understanding, and I would be happy to be proven wrong with a pointer to an official document, NONE OF THAT exempts an LTR visa holder from having to complete a TM-30.  TM-30s are still, as far as I can determine required when one re-enters the country. And that TM-30 lists where one is staying.

 

The confusing aspect for many of us with regard to TM-30s, is each immigration office appears to interpret the TM-30 requirement differently.  Since as LTR visa holders, we have much less interaction with immigration, it is likely (?) this "TM-30" aspect is not a big thing and will never arise as an issue if not completed.   In my case, I am very conservative, so I did (have my Thai wife for me) fill in an online TM-30 when I returned to Thailand a couple of weeks ago.

4 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

 

Yes - that response of SHA 22 BKK is relevant for reporting if after 1 year, one has still not left the country.  Then one must fill in those appropriate forms as the 1-year reporting "counter" was never reset.

 

However if one exits and returns, as has been noted, the clock/clock for 1 year restarts counting from the beginning again.

 

Still, my understanding, and I would be happy to be proven wrong with a pointer to an official document, NONE OF THAT exempts an LTR visa holder from having to complete a TM-30.  TM-30s are still, as far as I can determine required when one re-enters the country. And that TM-30 lists where one is staying.

 

The confusing aspect for many of us with regard to TM-30s, is each immigration office appears to interpret the TM-30 requirement differently.  Since as LTR visa holders, we have much less interaction with immigration, it is likely (?) this "TM-30" aspect is not a big thing and will never arise as an issue if not completed.   In my case, I am very conservative, so I did (have my Thai wife for me) fill in an online TM-30 when I returned to Thailand a couple of weeks ago.

The response was a BOI explanation of the yearly report and included in the first sentence that one was to do the TM.30 at the BOI immigration office or I guess who ever is doing the report pluse the

other requirements.  Yes I think that 99.9% of the forum users don't have a very good opinion of the TM30 reporting and I am included in that too but since I will go my yearly report at the BOI office, they have their own immigration office there and they so far took good care of us without any problems.  The requirement of the BOI was to report one's current local address with the other documentation and 

that was also how it was explained to me when I received the stamps in March of this year.  But, I only pass on MY experience in these issues since I am only responsible for myself and no one else.  

take care, enjoy the heat!

6 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

 

As has been pointed out , when one exits and re-enters Thailand, that resets the 1 year clock.

 

As for reporting where you live once per year, when you re-enter Thailand, you still must do an online TM-30 which indicates to immigration where you are staying. 

 

There is nothing new there.

if you check out the response of SHA 22 BKK, where there is included the info in the BOI website about this subject - includes reporting to the BOI immigration the tm.30  info plu plus plus.

for @jcates29

contact info for Board of Investment Thailand is

ltr(at)boi.go.th

tel: +66(0)22091109

      +66(0) 22091110

As I mentioned b4 - goodluck

I have an LTR and found the Board of Investment to be very helpful.  I suggest you should contact the BOI and ask them by when you should use your LTR.  They have a website and also have phone numbers there available.  Just remember their hours are almost 12 hours depending on where you are in the US so you will have to contact them during their normal daytime working hours, not lunch time either and be aware of any Thai official holidays when you want to contact them.  Good luck

12 hours ago, JackGats said:

I am 99% sure the 1-year reporting requirement works like the 90-day reporting, only with 1 year instead of 90 days. Every time you come back to Thailand the clock gets reset. It would make little sense if it were otherwise.

that is correct based on what others have also noted and one from the website of the BOI.  Good luck, take care, stay safe.  BE HAPPY.

9 hours ago, Pib said:

 

If you are talking this post there is nothing special there....standard stuff of the TM95 1 year address reporting form, a TM6 "if" you have one, the 1 year notification card/slip you get when initially receiving your LTR or doing a 1 year report, and if having someone else doing the reporting for you an authorization form from you saying it OK.  Standard issue stuff....pretty much the same stuff for people doing an in person 90 day address report in Bangkok.  And I've already done my first 1 year LTR address report in-person and have done 90 day address reports in person when I was on a Non O type visa/extension.  Yeap...nothing special here....just standard forms immigration wants.

Well it is only once a year so even if it is like a "90-day report" is only has to be done once a year versus many times if one remains in country all year.  This visa is just another visa so what is the problem?   I am happier with this visa than the retirement O and in the 10 year period, the cost is actually cheaper for me.  No one is forcing anyone to get any particular visa except the Thai immigration and meeting certain requirements to enter and stay in Thailand.

On 4/21/2024 at 3:32 PM, sandyf said:

Not quite as bad as 2011, when supermarket shelves became empty and DM had to close.

 

In 2011, heavy rain combined with multiple tropical storms throughout the extended rainy season led to severe, record-high flooding across 66 provinces in Thailand, including the Bangkok metropolitan area and its surrounding areas. Overall, the floods affected more than 13 million people and resulted in more than 680 deaths. The total damage and losses from the 2011 floods in Thailand amounted to THB 1.43 trillion (around USD 46.5 billion). The manufacturing sector bore roughly 70 percent of the total damage and losses due to the flooding of six industrial estates in Ayuthaya and Pathum Thani from mid-October to November 2011. Overall, approximately 90 percent of the damage and losses from the 2011 floods were borne by the private sector.

https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/2011-thailand-floods-rapid-assessment-resilient-recovery-and-reconstruction-planning#:~:text=Overall%2C the floods affected more,(around USD 46.5 billion).

Agree 2011 was horrible - one of the klongs used to speed up flood waters moving out of BKK was right next to daughter's school and not too far from our townhouse so we evacuated to Kanchanaburi for several months.  Fortunately the school and our abode did not flood.  It definitely was a living nightmare at times and wouldn't want to repeat that.  The year following that, we moved out of BKK to CM.  Now, guess we will have to plan on evacuating out of CM during the "burning season".  Can hardly wait this year for the rains.

7 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Seems to me capitalism gone mad is part of unhappiness. 

well I see that in China folks are unhappy too even held a march against the CCP.  Look at all the Russians pouring into Thailand they must be unhappy too.  Finland closed their border crossings with Russia to stem the outward flow of unhappy Russians.  The whole world is still reeling from the COVID pandemic.  Very few economies seem to be doing okay and inflation still running around in many places.  But, I am still happy and have no violent aspirations.  Although the heat is oppressive at times, A/C works well, familiy now in Seoul for a concert, finals just about over in college so life goes on.  BUT, looking at the daily news locally and world wide, weather controllers seem to be concerned with violent conditions too. US elections and world weather - harbingers of the future?  Take care, eat well, stay safe BE HAPPY!

4 hours ago, sabaiguy said:

My understanding is that if you leave the country within the year, return get new one year stamp. No need for reporting.  Wrong?

I think that is correct...I chatted with the BOI officials after getting my stamps...I indicated that I would not be leaving the country so that issure didn't come up.  There is a note done 18 hrs ago by SHA 2 BKK that appears from the BOI about yearly reports, exiting the country and returning, etc plus what documents have to be filed with the yearly report - form 95 has to be filled in and blv that indicates pension and health insurance info and signed by the ltr holder.  This was reportedly from the BOI website.

7 hours ago, Pib said:

Not sure what posts you are talking about other than maybe my earlier post of a BOI webpage notice basically saying your LTR visa can be cancelled if you fail to maintain visa requirements.  Really zero news there as that immigration policy applies to "any" type of visa issued even Non O/OA type visas.   It's not like you can qualify for a visa and once it's stamped into your passport that you can discard all/any of the requirements the next day such as not having the required income, not having medical coverage, etc., if the visa had such requirements. 

 

HOWEVER, BUT, if a person was dumb enough to fail to maintain visa compliance requirements, it's not like Immigration is constantly watching/checking to ensure you maintain visa requirements....like checking once a year to ensure you still have medical coverage for  your LTR visa, whether you still meeting the income requirements, etc.   Just like Immigration don't run checks like maybe every 3 months that person still meets 1 year Non O/OA visa requirements for income, etc.   Now if a person ended-up running up a hospital bill say for $50K USD, couldn't pay it due to no health insurance polciy or self-insure capability (i.e., didn't have $100K USD in a bank) and Immigration Police got involved in trying to assist the hospital in getting you to pay your bill, well, Immigration now has justification to cancel your visa since obviously you didn't maintain one of the LTR visa requirements.

 

Now how many years BOI/Immigration will want to look back come the mid term 5 year renewal/extension point is really an unknown as the first batch of LTR issued visa will not come due their midterm extension until Sep 2027.    My gut feel is they will only look back one or two years maximum which is identical to the lookback period for some visa requirements when initially applying for an LTR visa.  However, just like when initially applying BOI/immigration can ask for additional documentation if they have concerns about your application....that is, want some additional proof beyond what is typically required.  No real news there either as that pretty much standard Immigration procedures.

 

The only annual requirement for an LTR visa is the annual address reporting where no checks of income/medical/etc., are done....you are only reporting your current address....identical to how people on a 1 year Non-O/OA type visa must do 90 days address reports.

 

If you have creditable posts saying otherwise please provide some links to them.  

 

 

read the previous post several conversations prior to this - it specifies that one on the one-year report of address must also provide certain documents or the agent one sends to do the report.

6 hours ago, andux said:

Not too many years ago, whenever I interacted with a stranger at a 7-11, pharmacy, or similar, people were almost always friendly, smiled a lot, etc. I remember that sometimes I left my house in a bad mood, but a quick stop to buy something at any store put me in a great mood almost instantly because store clerks were happy, smiling, friendly, etc.

 

Nowadays, I don't get too many smiles from strangers anymore, especially from store clerks, even if I'm being friendly and smiling myself. Most don't reciprocate anymore and work silently and without showing any expression. Many don't even bother to talk at all and don't tell me the price anymore (I'm supposed to read it on the screen, I guess). I speak Thai, by the way, so it's not a language issue.

 

This doesn't apply to everyone, of course, but I noticed that I don't receive even basic politeness in at least half of my interactions.

 

The land of smiles seem to be a thing of the past in my experience, except from those who are trying to sell me something. Now, when someone approaches with a smile, I know they are coming to sell me insurance or are looking for donations.

 

I don't seem to have changed much myself. I dress the same, I weigh the same. But maybe I'm just a few years older and uglier and people want to avoid me? But the thing is that I was in Europe recently and people seemed much happier and polite, when in the past I always perceived this as being the other way around (Thai people being more friendly and polite).

 

Could it be that people in Thailand nowadays are generally less happy than before? Inflation, low salaries, debt, the political situation... I wonder if these things have erased the smiles from a lot of people's faces.

 

Anyways, interested to know about others' experiences.

 

 

 

In my opinion based on communicating with friends in the US, and seeing news articles from around the world and my experiences here in Thailand over the last 50 years - yes I do think that almost everywhere the general public is not very happy.  This also seems to be why violence seems to be the reaction of way too many people nowadays.  Scary but maybe life will get better and society will come around again to the more pleasant reactions.  I try to chat with salespeople who seem down and usually that ends up with them smiling but not always.

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

Where did I write that I was from the US?

Just now, Presnock said:

I am only telling you my experience and meetings with the BOI reps.  In my passport is a note indicating that I am to report where I am living once a year.  If it does not apply to you, I am not concerned, just wanted you to know what I have been instructed by the BOI folks.  good luck stay safe as for US citizen, my wrong on that ...sorry

36 minutes ago, SHA 2 BKK said:

Only if you don't leave Thailand during that time.  Once you leave the clock resets.  I've had my LTR since 2023 - never been back to BOI or Immigration (apart from airport stamps) since.  

I am only telling you my experience and meetings with the BOI reps.  In my passport is a note indicating that I am to report where I am living once a year.  If it does not apply to you, I am not concerned, just wanted you to know what I have been instructed by the BOI folks.  good luck stay safe

5 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

My statement was about not having a pre-existing condition at all, as was the OP's. Non-disclosure and being unaware of an existing condition are another matter entirely.

one would nnormally need to get a check up if one wanted to be insured to find out if there are any pre-existing conditions.  As for how much one needs to put aside, an example is the requirement to obtain an LTR visa, one needs to have health insurance guaranteeing 50K USD for hospitalization or a bank account holding 100K USD for the last 12 months.  The amount needed though could vary greatly upwards depending on health and disease issues.

I personally feel that one should be aware of the benefits as well as the requirements for the LTR.  I am not going to go through them for anyone as they are easily available online.  As for the the BOI LTR that I received in March 2024, it very clearly explained to me that I need to report my residence once a year to the BOI or the local immigration office.  All you need to do to confirm this is call the BOI or wherever you obtained your LTR and ask them or read the documentation on that particular visa.  Ignorance of the reporting requirements will not excuse one and might be a cause for withdrawal of that visa.

3 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

look above 🤞

once a year you must notify your place of residence to the BOI or local immigration.

On 5/1/2024 at 3:45 PM, Ben Zioner said:

I don't think that's right, BOI know when a tax return should be available. For instance when you apply while living in your home country, or a US citizen. In my case, where I applied after living 7 years in Thailand and as a non US citizen, they understood that I couldn't show a tax return. 

How did you avoid paying US taxes - as a US citizen you can't escape paying their taxes no matter where you reside?  Just wondering

6 hours ago, stat said:

So what is the internal rate of return for your pension AFTER costs, which actuarial tables did you use? Did you buy a 30 year CDS option to cover the risk that the insurance company goes bankrupt?

 

Those pensions never make any sense to a person that is attached to his money like I am. 😉Why should I pay a company for a sub par performance result?

 

BTW if you move to another country they will likely tax your self created pension. But to each their own .

smart thinking for sure - just like in the US, many companies have or used to have pension programs for their employees.  Thing is a lot of companies go bankrupt due to many reasons and what happens to those employee pension funds.  The US govt does have a program to take on those pensions but not at the same monetary level - sometimes less than half that originally promised.  And in today's world it is becoming more and more difficult in my opinion to "trust" govt, businesses, individuals, et al.  Good luck, I do truly hope that everyone reading this is more optimistic than I am.

9 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

After all the hassle and red tape asking for extra documents, let's assume one gets the LTR P visa retiree.

 

But despite the 10 yr LTR stamp given on passport, it seems that the length of stay is to the discretion of the immigration boy on arrival who is free to put what he feels is an acceptable period of stay per trip. Read of reports in AN from LTR visa holders  being asked to produce this or that document on arrival at the airport and given duration of stay only during the validity say of the health insurance produced. (that is for those who did have it). What if one only wants to say say 4 to 5 months per yer and already has a return ticket date reserved, Obviously more cost as one will have to keep the ticket open to change dates if on arrival the immigration fellow makes a fuss and puts some absurd period of stay stamp.

 

 

At the end of the day it's not worth the hassle for the winter birds as one remains at the mercy of the immigration staff on arrival at BKK airport. Not to mention that the process to get the visa is a long journey of hassles, extra documentation, fuss made on details...totally absurd as most of the candidates for retirement own property and do bring in money and spend in Thailand. Better of to spend elsewhere.

 

For the winter birds, far better to either go elsewhere in Asia or to choose another type of visa. LTR makes one feel that one may be above the hassle, but ultimately it's just a huge amount they take and not worth it.

As for the LTR you can check with immigratioon or better yet whereever you got that LTR  be it the Board of Investment or wherever, but I believe that it is necessary that one meet the requirements obtain the LTR throughout the period of the LTR (ie 5 or 10 consecutive years that you must meet the financial and health insurance rerquirements)  that was the impression I received when I was stamped in March 2024.

On 4/25/2024 at 2:32 PM, White Rabbit said:

 

That makes sense to me. Another type of visa would collide of course and not "re-newing" the visa after the first 5year have expired would make the existing LTR visa void. No surprises or opaque moments here. One could read into the wording that there's the usual competition between gov agencies going on (immi and BOI in this case but it really is a worldwide phenomenon) but I once was told by a wise woman not to assume... and she was right as usual. 

I blv maintaining the requirements for the original LTR (income, health insurance coverage) will be checked and if you do not then the LTR may be cancelled!

On 4/24/2024 at 11:12 PM, Schorsch0815 said:

 

I entered Thailand with a  Non-O Retiree visa (60 days I think) two years ago and I have had two annual extension of stay since. 
 

It’s my understanding that the extension of stay doesn’t affect the visa. So the visa itself is expired, it is just the basis on which the extension of stay was/is granted. Hence there is no visa that can be cancelled. 
 

My LTR got approved today. In the email BOI informs:

 

: If you are currently on a Thai visa category which needs to be cancelled before receiving LTR such as Non-B, Non-IB, Non-F, Smart Visa, Non-O (except for Non-O Retirement visa, Thai Spouse, Guardian), 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. 
 

 

So it’s my understanding that Non-O retirement and / or extension of stay don’t need cancellation. 
 

If anyone here has different information please let me know. I would hate to make the trip to Bangkok twice …

 

 

just talk with the BOI and when you go in for ltr stamps, they will have the immigration office within the BOI cancel your retirement O - mine was done that way in March 2024

On 4/20/2024 at 6:42 AM, Richard007 said:

Hello everyone, I have read all 100 pages of this very interesting thread, so thanks to all of the contributors!

 

I just applied this week for the LTR WP visa.  I assume that all of my documents look good to BOI, since my status changed from “Pending” to “Consideration by Government Agencies” less than two days after submitting my application and I did not receive any requests for more documents / information.

 

To those of you who have received LTR WP approval recently (within the last 6 months), how long did it take you to go from “Consideration by Government Agencies” (Step 4) to visa approval (Step 8)?  Also, please note if your process was delayed at any point by requests for additional documents that you then had to gather and submit.  This information will be very helpful to us "newbies".  Thank you!

 

while under consideration by Govt agencies, they might request additional documentation - as mine did totatl time 3 wqeeks from start to finish with stamps.  BOI veryu helpful