avidorn

5 hours ago, CMBob said:

The appointment system here in CM only goes out 90 days.  Have checked (for retirement purposes) a bit the last month or two and it seems that all time slots are filled except for the 90th day out and one or two slots a day or two before then..  Checked a few minutes ago and the only open slots were one on June 21st and four on June 24th (which will probably be taken within hours).  Reminds me of the prior online appointment system (which I think was 100 days) and one had to grab a time slot shortly after midnight 100 days out or even those last slots were filled in less than an hour. 

 

5 hours ago, Presnock said:

I found the same results as you last year when I was due for a renewal in May.  The only date (90 days before in checking) was the day before my due date!  I have always done my renewal 30 days in advance just in case something new was added and I needed that extra time to fix things.  But, in both of the last two years I just walked in, got my queue ticket, waited inside and never spent more than 90 minutes at immigration so since we used to have to wait hours in various queues, I see no real problem in not having an appointment - last year I was only in immigration for 45 minutes.

More good info, thanks. It sounds like appointments aren't as important there.

Which is helpful, if you can't really get one. 😄

10 hours ago, buick said:

i think you are okay with (i) the bank book (ii) one copy of the pages in the bank book and (iii) the bank letter that confirms the balance in the account.  if you've had the money in the bank for a long time, i don't think you need 5.3 (proof of transfer from abroad).  i didn't need 5.3 when i did mine in 2021 (most recent). 

 

more recently people have been asked to provide monthly statements for the bank account.  but i think that is when they apply for the one year extension.  not the initial Non O.

 

 

Okay, thanks for your help!

1 hour ago, Tazmo said:

I have been going in for several years now. It’s a lot easier and quicker!

1-2 hours waiting including waiting for a ReEntry Permit.

Not too long, considering. Thanks, that's a good trip report!

I have, but I appreciate that anyway. I almost posted more about the bank documents (5.1-5.3) but don't want to take too much advantage of a board that answers the same questions regularly.

Those bank account documentation requirements in particular seem like a real headache, requiring (I think) 3-4 documents + copies of things and visiting different places (basement in the morning, possibly an HQ depending on bank the day/week before), and so on.

It's all in older threads, I know.

2 hours ago, buick said:

when you say 'initial Non O', are you referring to a situation where you entered thailand visa exempt or on a tourist visa and would like to change/convert to a Non O at CW ?  if so, that is done at the C desk which does not have much of a line.  walk-in is fine.

That would be great, thanks for the information.

Is a walk-in feasible for that, and how long does it take? Arrive early and sit all day in the bleachers?

I'm looking at online appointments too, but those are several weeks out and would leave me with < 15 days on an extension.

With so little time I think I might not get past the document check and that's also a long time to wait only to potentially be rejected, so I'm thinking it might be better to go sooner and sit with the crowd (which I'm sure I'll be doing anyway).

As an experiment and to compare with CW I found the online appointment site for Chiang Mai, and it has IMO clearer options for appointment selection, and also doesn't require email validation as a preliminary step. So I selected "Retirement Purpose" to find a date.

March is fully booked so I checked April, but it also had no available dates. Despite being greyed out I tried clicking on a day to confirm that's correct, and it displayed "There is no availability on this date" so that's in fact how it works.

So I clicked forward to May...no dates. Finally June, and it has one day the entire month available. Beyond June, you may not pass.

One day, in the next three months. So with 30 days and even a 30-day extension you'd be out of luck. I think there was a recent marriage visa thread about the appointment system, so online appointments and CM may not mix.

Has anybody here done the initial Non-O there recently? Are they reasonable with walk-ins, or is it an all-day or even "All full today, come back tomorrow" affair?

Would a reset work? Hop out and back in, start over.

Though all roads may lead to the Bad Desk, if not in Year 1 then in Year 2 (and they may notice anyway)? Is that desk only extensions?

I don't know how/if it would all work, just an idea if you haven't considered it already.

23 hours ago, Red Phoenix said:

It will be very very difficult - albeit not totally impossible - to open a Thai bank-account on a Tourist Visa.

Is it safe to say that if the process for obtaining a Non-O for retirement purposes includes entering with or without a tourist visa and "Present passbook and deposit certificate from banks in Thailand" along with "Copy of all entries of the applicant’s passbook showing that the applicant has a savings or fixed deposit account (etc.)," there is no official explanation of how to legitimately obtain this account?

The non-official answer would seem to be: "Your problem."

16 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

If prepared to spend weekend in Savannakhet most likely Friday would be good option. 

Coincidentally I was reading a helpful post on this in the (quiet) Laos forum:

So apparently on Friday you'll encounter a minimum of bubs.

I don't think "despite" is the best interpretation.

11 hours ago, BritTim said:

 

Yes, it seems excessive, but those are the advertised rules.

I thought that might be particular to Penang/Malaysia, but Vientiane is the same: "Single-Entry Tourist Visa: 3-month financial statements with an average balance of 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 baht per family."

It's crazy that this is for a tourist visa. Asking for a bank balance is intrusive enough, what are they going to do with 3 months' worth of your financial history? You've already demonstrated you can afford the bulk of the trip by purchasing airfare and hotel reservations.

18 hours ago, BritTim said:

Some embassies/consulates have long required a bank statement for a single entry tourist visa, and I think all have required one for a multiple entry tourist visa.

I noticed a random consulate in Canada (Vancouver) shows the following: "A copy of a bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to no less than 200,000 (Baht) per person or 400,000 (Baht) per family."

That's for an METV. But here's Penang's for a Tourist SETV: "The applicant’s bank statement or bank book showing the account’s name and number, balance and history of transactions for the last 3 months."

Does that seem excessive to anybody else? They want 3 months' worth of your financial transaction history for only an SETV.

Plus: "Proof of payment for accommodation for the whole period of stay in Thailand (the receipt must state the tax payer number of the relevant hotel/accommodation)"

I think I'd just take an exempt entry and extend from there instead. (Too bad it's only 30 days and not 90.)

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

When you first deposit the 800k for the Non O (retirement) application you would be advised to just leave it in the account..

Yes, definitely a dedicated account with the balance untouched. ????

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

The non O retirement requires 800k in Thai bank account on day of application.

The non O stamp provides a 90 day stamp.

In the last month with the 800k having been in bank for 2 months you can apply for 12 month extension.

Thanks, I think that changes my understanding of the process, because I thought one needed to have the deposit in their account for 2 months prior to (first) applying, but I believe the above says no, it's for 2 months prior to the 12 month extension application, so one could apply, get the stamp, and then even wait for about a month into the 90-day period before funding the account. (Though I wouldn't wait until the last minute out of caution.)

48 minutes ago, Dart12 said:

I've heard many horror stories about reentry from an ED visa.

You're not helping! (Well yes of course it does, having more points of reference, I just don't want to hear that. ????)

25 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

You forgot to mention that you need to prove that the 800k was transferred in from abroad.

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

 

Para 5.3

Thanks, I've read that requirement enough already too, but hadn't researched exactly how yet. Does the bank letter cover it? (Bank letter + passbook copy, right?)

Actually, reading the form again makes it sound like it's a separate document, but then what form does that take? Like if people use Transferwise (Wise?) or whatever service, does a printout from there count (which doesn't sound very official)?

This has probably been answered numerous times already, so I will go and read some more, too.

22 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Here is short thread....

 

Thanks for the link, I see your responses there regarding timing and forms. I'd need to transfer money to the account soon to meet the 2-month requirement. (Correct? I've read that enough times, though curiously there doesn't appear to be a timeframe listed on the form.)

I think a plan would be to try 15+ days prior to the expiration of my current/final extension, then assuming that doesn't work be prepared to exit and try again 15+ days out after returning on the 30-day visa exemption.

Think they're okay with returning visa-exempt immediately after a year of study? I feel like that or some other issue would be the main risk, which is the concern about exiting and returning.

So no Chaengwatthana and instead the IT mall, eh?

9 hours ago, BritTim said:

At CW, if you apply for an extension of stay based on retirement, and they refuse to do that because your existing permission to stay is for studying at an informal school,, you will not be charged, just told they will not accept the application. If your application is accepted, the cost of the extension is 1,900 baht.

 

I suggest you apply for the extension based on retirement at least two weeks early. That will give you time to decide on a suitable plan B if the application is refused.

Thanks BritTim, after posting I realized they'd probably just turn me away if it isn't possible. Yes, I'd definitely want to allow some time, and am not sure what timing is best.

And then it sounds like I would hop out and back in, as DrJack54 posted? I'm from a visa-exempt country, and it appears that would mean using form TM.87 if I'm reading correctly. (I've read the visa-exempt period was returned to 30 days from the temporary 45.)

This would all be a first-time "learning experience." Maybe fine, maybe not fine. Maybe pay a fine.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure what would be the best course of action in this case.

I could go to Chaengwattana and try when the time comes, knowing that I may be denied (and out ฿2k+) and then what? I'd need to be prepared to exit the country and return as a tourist? Go to Vientiane and return visa exempt, and try again, or something else? (The Non-O Retirement form mentions TM.87 when returning without visa, if I am reading correctly.)

Getting an agent is the other path, but it sounds like that will cost ฿25-30k+, and I don't even need their help with a bank account.

I've read as many old posts as I could find and asked a couple of agents too, and have different answers on whether it's possible to convert from an ED visa to Non-O retirement or not without leaving the country and returning as a tourist or VE, etc.

Does anybody have recent experience with this?

The application form states: "for the foreigner, who has Tourist or Transit Visa and want to applies for a change of type of visa (from Tourist Visa or Transit Visa to Non-Immigrant Visa)." That doesn't mention other types.

Thanks.

32 minutes ago, idman said:

God for the sake of sanity I hope I can see the fight with English commentary and not be forced to turn off the sound to avoid hearing Thai commentaters screaming their ef..fing heads offs. Still no definitive word from True, I know a shock, about an English language version.

I've heard they won't have versions in Hindi or Portuguese, either. I'm flummoxed by this outrageous behaviour!

If anybody's looking for a spot, try Facebook--a couple of local places were advertising the fight.

2 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Beautiful kitchen you have!  I have gone with that company also... I used them at my last house and was very happy with the quality and service.  

 

Thanks for letting me know you had the same experience at Index Living Mall.  

 

They must loose so much business there.... I can't understand why their boss does not think it strange no one buys a kitchen form them.

That's strange, because when it comes to purchases of real goods, I've found them to be aggressive! One time I parked my cart full of stuff and walked away, and noticed upon my return that it had been moved and tagged, with the presumed agent showing up at checkout time to assure her catch. (Understandable and it's a good store—just funny.)

Maybe no commission on kitchens?

5 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

 

I saw this on FB with pictures of a car in the Khlong. From the garbled Google translation it seems that farang guy went in and saved three people. Kudos to him!

 

And our hero even got the girl! (Okay, probably had her already, but please don't spoil my narrative.)