CMBob

There just are not enough appointments available and, as stated, they are all taken within hours of the beginning (midnight) of the 90th day before. A friend received an appointment time for December 5th this past year and showed up to find the office was closed due to a schduled holiday (Constitution Day). I mention this only to suggest you should pre-check known immigration office holidays before snagging an available appointment.

OP, trust you understand from some of the correct responses here that your "immigration" account (the one which you maintain for Immigration purposes) must be in your name alone. Anybody suggesting anything else is simply wrong. As poster Mercer has noted above, some immigration offices have accepted in the past a true joint account for immigration purposes....but only if the amount in the account is double the amount required for you alone. I have no idea if all or any immigration offices nowadays are okay with that concept of a joint account with double the single amount. Perhaps anybody doing that now might chime in here (and, if so, it would be helpful to state which immigration office is involved). Regardless, you mention that you have another joint account and, as your spouse will apparently have access to those funds up your death, it would appear that your spouse won't have any immediate issue with having funds available. As to the "immigration" account, the "probate" process will take around 5-6 months and the court will issue an order (complying with your Will provisions) awarding the funds to your spouse and then those funds can be accessed by showing the bank a copy of that court order. The cost of probating that one account should not exceed 50,000-60,000 baht (hopefully your spouse shops around if any lawyer office is quoting significantly higher numbers).

Have flown with them a few times and had no issues. And flying to Danang (via BKK this time as the direct flights from CNX don't exist any more) in 9 days so we'll see how it goes.

It's been a long time (maybe 13 years) but I got one at the Revenue Department office by the intersection of the 700 year road and Chotana Road. Got it at a second floor office there. They wanted a copy of a couple pages of my passport (I had my passport and they copied the pages themselves) and also wanted a copy of a Certificate of Residence. I had that Certificate but it was many months old....but they were satisfied with taking a copy of that. Was there with an expat friend and the friendly Thai lady who had given us TINs also filed tax returns for both of us to retrieve withheld bank interest (we both got checks for that a couple of weeks later). I have no idea if you'll get the same quick and friendly service there nowadays....but good luck.

A one hour consult or less can't be that expensive. I'm ultimately seeking a written opinion saying (1) I have no need to file a 2024 Thai income tax return because I remitted no money to Thailand in 2024, and (2) that in future years, if remitting only social security income, that either that alone means no filing is required and/or that no Thai tax would be owed due to the Thai/US tax treaty. I have no intention of having any accountant file anything for me (I can take care of that myself). And, just in the off chance the Thai revenue department ever asks any questions, I'd like to have an accountant's opinion to show them why I haven't filed and/or why I claim no tax is due). Again, just a safety precaution that shouldn't be very expensive.

Does anybody know about a local (Chiangmai only) accountant who would give advice about the new tax law, the need to file anything, actual application of a tax treaty (e.g., if a US citizen only brings in tax treat exempt income, does that trigger even the need to file a return?). I've reviewed the latest Thai income tax return posted via the Revenue Department and I can't see anything on that form that would apply to us expats (well, except for expats working and earning wages or other income here in Thailand).

Only was out for about an hour or so.....you should no longer be delighted.

Would note a couple of minor points: (1) I really don't know if CM Immigration requires a very recent transaction in your passbook. Because I read a couple+ years back that other immigration offices were requiring that, I've been depositing 100 baht into my "visa account" just in case. But, Jbifl's post seems to say it's now required here in CM and that may be the case. (2) I was going to switch my "visa account" to Bangkok Bank a couple of years back until I read many posts about BB taking 1-5 days to get the one-year's bank statement from Bangkok; however, Siam Commercial Bank (at least the CM Thaphae office) does both at the same time and generally it takes about 15 minutes. And SCB does stamp and sign each page of the one-year bank statement. As usual, I get those documents and do the deposit thing the day before the retirement extension application. (one needs to make sure the deposit is made just prior to the bank doing their paperwork so your bankbook amount and bank letter amount are the same). (3) It's been a year or so since I got a re-entry permit here but last time they wanted in addition to the usual paperwork a copy of my TM30 and a copy of my TM47 Receipt of Notification. Never had to supply those before (but, since I take the proverbial kitchen sink with me, I was prepared). (4) I got my last retirement extension a month ago and, for whatever reason, they wanted a copy of every filled-out page of my passport, including Vietnam stamps. Again, I was prepared as they asked for the same thing about 5 years ago. (5) Be prepared to be required to give them a photocopy of your original Non-O visa stamp (even if it's in a prior passport). Occasionally, they'll ask for that (regardless if you provide a copy of the transfer of stamps information in your current passport).

My only comment really related to a timing issue. Presuming the funds in a Thai bank account need to be in that account for 60 days prior to application for the annual extension, rather unwise to wait until the 30th day to get the account opened/activated and the 400k transferred over. Make sense?

I'd get the bank account sorted out (meaning get it activated and get your 400k transferred over) the first week or two you're back as the 400k needs to be seasoned (in your bank) for 60 days prior to your application for an annual extension. If you do that, you can go apply for your extension early enough so, should a problem with documents or whatever arise, you have plenty of time to go back to resolve the problem.

I'm not 100% sure of what they provide. But I do know that the US Consulate and Embassy will accept their documents when they translate from Thai to English. For example, they'll translate a Thai death certificate to English and provide what looks like some form of certification that their translation is accurate. I also know that the Thai commercial court (we would think of it as a probate court) will accept an English to Thai translation of a Will that's in English by one of these outfits. So, I'm guessing you'll get some kind of "certification" but I'm doubtful that you'll get any kind of "government stamp" (given the outfits are private entities). Edit: I guess I've never perused a Thai birth certificate but, if it's at all like a birth certificate in the west, isn't there a certification (even maybe an embossed seal) on it by the government office that issued it? I'd guess that certificate and a certified translation ought to be enough (perhaps somebody who's done this with a Thai birth certificate could post their experience).

Here's a list of translation service places from the US Consulate website. I haven't used any of them so can't recommend.

Had both done at the same time at CM RAM earlier this year. Total fee was 38,000 baht.

Okay, thanks. Then what you're waiting for is essentially a Court Order which confirms your paternity of the child.

You refer to getting a "document" and I'm curious what that document may be. Is it a Court order declaring you as the legal father of the child or, perhaps, a corrected birth certificate for the child showing you as the legal father?