Ronuk

1 hour ago, ruby1 said:

I have flight out of Thailand and a house rental contract.

It makes no difference. As has been mentioned, they don't like issuing Tourist visas in KL.

I think you would need to visit a good few times in order to know in your own heart which area you would like to settle in. Thailand is very diverse in areas if you travel around. Wherever you choose to want to stay long term, it's all pretty much doable regarding visas etc.

You will also at 36, need some sort of decent independent income unless you are considering working here. You also need to consider if you want to buy or rent a home.

I won't bog the thread down in the rules of buying property as I think you are a long way from that decision just yet.

Just remember though at 36yrs old, you have a lot of years in front of you to survive here. Don't Burn all your bridges and have a plan that let's you return to the UK for work and living etc should you need too.

1 minute ago, elviajero said:

People always resort to personal jibes!

 

The Thai government (Thaksin) proposed the scheme in 2003 and gave the scheme the go ahead. The TAT own the company (TE) and promote the scheme, and as the owner of the company and government agency in charge of the scheme they must have a say in how the company/scheme is run. The TE directors and it's employees run the business and deal with the day to day running. Immigration just issue the visas.

 

What is your problem with those simple facts, and please enlighten us with what more you know as I'm sure it would be helpful for anyone interested in the scheme.

 

No personal jibes from me at all. If you want to know more, take a trip to the TE office and ask the question. Do your history of those at the top of the organisation and see who they are and what they do.

As I have said, it's very much government run and then fronted and promoted by TAT.

Fees are paid up front and immediately and directly to the immigration account. Members have paid up front for 5, 10 or 20 years for there visa. That's what you will get. Nobody can say if the car service etc would be there forever but certainly the visas have been paid for.

3 minutes ago, ukrules said:

You absolutely 100% don't need to leave the country after 1 year. I've been here for over 2 years on my TE visa without leaving once so I've extended it by 1 year twice since it was issued to me, the third extension for me will be next June.

 

Just go to your normal local immigration office and fill out the regular extension of stay form, in the part of the form which asks how many days put 365.

 

Take your membership card with you, they will probably ask to see it.

 

If they give you any hassle at all don't stand up and walk away, phone the number on the back of the membership card in the top right hand corner, explain the situation to them and then ask them to fix the issue.

 

I queried doing the yearly extension of stay last year when I did my first one and they told me that there is no problem using a provincial office to do a full year extension but once you have extended it at a provincial office you need to continue using the same immigration office for subsequent extensions if you don't leave.

 

With this visa you can stay for the full 5 years without leaving.

I was under the impression he wanted a few days or so away. Your absolutely right though and TE have an office in Phuket who could probably do it for him mostly. I've never done an extension as I am always in and out of the country so not sure how much of the leg work TE could do for you. I suspect he could go to there office, pay the 1900 bht and get a stamp in less than 5 minutes.

12 minutes ago, elviajero said:

For someone that is a member you don't seem to have done your research. 

 

Of course immigration are involved at the airport because they police everyone that enters the country, even PE holders.

 

What am I assuming? I know for a fact that the TAT run the TE program and that the Thaksin government introduced it.

 

TAT promote it and deal with the day to day running.  That's all you know. I happen to know a little more than your expert opinion thinks. 

Like the majority of stuff you think you know about, it's just your opinion and not fact.

11 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Do not worry. Your nationality wouldn't be an issue even if you didn't have ILR.

 

Resigning from your job before applying for the METV will likely cause problems as having a job/work is one of the main criteria The Thai Embassy in London are looking for.

 

If you have a problem with the METV you could still get one for your wife and children and get a SETV for yourself. When you do the border run after 90 days (60+30 extension) days you should have no problem getting a second SETV during your 5-6 day trip. 

Do not assume getting METV'S in London isn't going to be a problem, particularly multiple applications involving children.

They do not just issue them like postage stamps.

1 minute ago, elviajero said:

It is nothing to do with TIB. The scheme was proposed and implemented by Thaksin and his government and is run by the TAT. TIB just issue the visa. 

How do you know who it's actually run by. Have you actually been in there office at the airport which is actually the immigration office with immigration sitting at the same desks? Again you are assuming and like to put doubt in the minds of those thinking of using the program. 

Post of the week award!^^^^^

22 minutes ago, bangkoklasse said:

89 days after re-entering is too late when asking about on-line reporting

If you want to argue or know the answer why bother asking? 

Do it however you like.

41 minutes ago, bangkoklasse said:

I know that I can do my reporting 15 days before or 7 days after my date. But that was not the question. I asked if I can continue to do my on-line reporting without any problem when I come back and have a new number on my departure card, and a new arrival date ....

Carry on as before. Nothing changes.

42 minutes ago, bangkoklasse said:

I have a re-entry permit. But that was not the question. It was about continuing to do on-line reporting when I come back.........and what have I got wrong? I asked a question!!

Your 90 day clock resets to zero or day 1 if you like. Basically you need to report 89 days after re-entering. 

5,10, 20 years. Not everyone wants to commit to 10 or 20 years. 5 years at a time suits me just fine. 1 million baht extra spread over 20 years by paying 500,000bht every 5 years hardly breaks the bank.

If you or anybody are staying a night in Ranong, I can recommend a hotel called The 'b' Ranong. Nice food, around 800bt a night for a very nice double  room inc breakfast and has a superb roof top infinity pool. It also has loads of parking.

You will need to call them direct because although the hotel booking sites such as expedia were listing them, it also shows as not available as I believe the b is no longer using them due to the rates expedia etc are paying them.

I regularly fish in Myanmar using immigration at kawthaung. There is no problem using your PE visa there. I too have a TE visa. There is some great shopping to be had 50 yards from immigration. Cigarettes and alcohol amongst other things are very cheap. Cigarettes can be bought for 200bht a carton. They will take all currencies. They are not fussy 

4 minutes ago, simon43 said:

 

Ranong would be my first choice.  But Thailand Elite would not guarantee to me that Ranong immigration would actually allow me to do and 'out and back' on this type of visa, (I seem to recall that Ranong stopped/restricted visa-runners last year or so).

 

So I don't want to waste time driving up to Ranong, only to have the immigration guys say 'no can do'

You have a PE multiple entry visa. You can come and go as you please. You will get a 12 month stamp on your reentry to Thailand.

The people at TE are very good but sometimes the newer staff get confused.

Ranong is an easy drive from Phuket. There are also a couple of nice hotels in Ranong if you want to stop the night and cheap. Around 800bht a night for 4 star accommodation. Worth staying the night for the night market.

2 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

your kidding right to charge 1900 Bht for extension Wow

Yes. It's very cheap isn't it? 

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You don't have to return to the UK after doing 2 border runs for a new entry. There is no requirement to do that.

 

Why? If you look at the requirements on the embassy website it does not mention only those from the UK can get the visa. http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/45

The OP has now posted they have ILR for the UK which means they are legal residents there.

Sorry. I Should of elaborated that the Thai Embassy in London are very difficult to deal with for anything other than SETV even for UK citizens. They stick ridgedly to the rules and seem to have no Leeway regarding anything. As Greek citizens, I think you will encounter issues, particularly with Brexit and Article 50 about to be implemented at anytime but until you apply, then nobody will know for sure. I would certainly have a plan B just in case.

If you can avoid London, I would do so.

Good luck as Greek Nationals getting METV's from London.

I believe TE  is actually part of the Thai immigration department.

No idea why people keep on and on about whether the TE program could fail. Not a chance after it has been promoted throughout Asia.

It would be the biggest PR disaster ever to hit TAT. No a hope of it being allowed to fold with the high profile businesses and people on board.

2 minutes ago, Scotwight said:

Seems to me having lived here more than a decade I'd have seen or met someone who paid that much money for an extension or someone on Thai Visa like one of the mods would have heard of such a service in Pattaya.  I think you are way out of line and imagining things.  You are suggesting a mass exodus that would involve thousands of people - you are blowing smoke.  Someone would have posted it here before now.  

You seem to want to argue with everything. Quite honestly, I cannot even be bothered with answering you anymore. Believe anything you want. I really couldn't care any less.

23 minutes ago, ukrules said:

If you want to be sure just get a new passport. The UK and Thailand don't share anything as far as we know - it would breach many privacy laws.

 

However the British (UK) Government have been known to ignore these regulations as and when it suits them - this means all the time.

 

Would sharing information regarding an Alien entering a country illegally by deception of obtaining a Visa be a breach of Privacy laws?

18 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

For many of us, your opinions on the always changing retirement extension procedures, at the Phuket Immigration Office, are of little value knowing you sail through the country on an Elite card. Correct me if I'm wrong, but all Immigration paperwork and reporting is handled for you. You don't actually front Immigration yourself.

 

A bit of background:  Phuket Immigration Offices generally used to charge for the "free" proof of residence documents, keep the 100 baht change from the retirement application, and they set up a little money earner at the airport by charging for a fast processing lane. (something you get with your Elite card!)  Extensions then were always processed with little fuss.

 

A few years ago a small, but very vocal, group of westerners started to complain about these little perks. Their complaints to media, the ombudsman, and others had the effect of getting a number of Officers transferred off the Island, and a crackdown on processing and money collection procedures which made it impossible for them to benefit from their rorts. 

 

It seems they have reacted by making life difficult for their clients. Every time you go there it seems a different piece of paper or requirement is asked for. I've seen elderly retirees, who have lived here for 30+ years nearly in tears after being sent for more and more paperwork, from their banks and others, resulting in four trips to Immigration before being granted their extension..

It's generally believed the officers want as many as possible to use agents who pay commissions.

This not about a brave group of front line officers fighting to rid the country of "Bad Guys" and tax cheats. It's about a group of office workers behind a desk wearing uniforms and boasting titles and powers that are totally inappropriate for the tasks they are supposed to be doing, who are pissed off at losing their little piece of the corrupt system.

I just wish the whingers, who thought it was their job to fight greed and corruption wherever they find it, had a look around at all the good things here, and left their PC values back where they came from! 

 

 

 

 

Do you think I haven't been dealing with immigration over the last 30+ years? As I keep saying but it never sinks in. There is another option if you don't like the rules in the country you chose to live in. Nobody forces anybody to stay and put up with it or change the way you do things. Do you really think it is going to get easier? I will tell you now, it isn't. Thailand is what it is. Live with it or live without it because 100% they will change you before you change them.

1 minute ago, dick dasterdly said:

A while ago on some thread, I mentioned that the lawyer that sorted out retirement extensions and 90 day reports on my behalf told me that a copy of my ATM card was required (along with the normal copy of bank book).

 

Numerous posters said this is not required etc. etc., but since then I've seen others posting that they also have had to provide a copy of ATM cards.

 

It also took me by suprise when copies of rental contract/landlord's ID card etc. were required.

 

Times have been changing for a while to make it ever more difficult/complicated for foreigners here.

I am not of the opinion it is being done solely to make it more difficult. There are far more effective ways to do that if they really wanted too. They could make life hell here or make the system so it was pretty impossible to stay for any length of time. I think they just want to make people more accountable, and know exactly who is who and where they are. Money, Tax, Thailand derived income etc is what they are attempting in keeping an eye on. I know sometimes it's hard but you just have to go with it because otherwise it will drive you mad.