CMBob

The are taking forever to repair what they have torn up on Huay Gaew Road (both west and east of Canal Road...and now east of Nimmanhaemin). Some of us complemented the B-Quick outfit (that built the building about 100 feet west of the scene in the first photo above) for the very nice brick sidewalk they built in front of their building. It's history now.

I would expect that it is still that way. But (1) in prior times the desk was on the left after you went through the international security line (and don't think you could get through that line without proper ID AND an international boarding pass, and (2) according to poster above, the re-entry desk is now located before you go through the upstairs security line (where seemingly anybody can go there) so I wondering if anybody (including somebody not flying out internationally) can get a re-entry permit there. Poster Appleton, do you know?

Following expiration of my retirement extension while being trapped back in the US during the covid mess, I returned visa exempt in September of 21 and no new TM30 filing was required here in Chiangmai. Used a copy of the old TM30 Receipt of Notification still stapled in my passport for conversion to a Non-O without any problem or question and have used a copy of it again for other services (including two annual extensions based on retirement).

If you're entering after March 31, 2023, you'll only get 30 days absent a change in the law in the next 3 weeks (the Tourist Bureau has advocated extending the 45-day routine for the rest of the year but the government has not taken any action on that as yet); regardless, if you run short of time to meet the 15-day requirement Dr. Jack mentions, you can always get a 30-day extension to your visa exempt entry). Although irrelevant for you, at least one immigration office (Chiangmai) requires 21 days left on a visa exempt entry (or tourist visa) to apply for conversion to a Non-O.

If you want to be technical, the TM30 is due within 24 hours after you take up occupancy; however: (1) In some provinces, no filing is required if you return to your already registered address (i.e., it sounds like your wife has already registered you online at the same address and, depending on your Immigration office, no additional filing may be due). (2) If you won't be going to Immigration for any service and just staying for the 45 days or less, don't bother (although technically it's due) as there will be no consequence for not doing it. (3) Asking the question on the basis that somehow you'll be jet lagged for the entire 24 hours after you arrive and will be too inconvenienced to do a 5-minute online task seems a bit silly. And having a tabien baan and/or pink ID is irrelevant to your question.

Almost no reason to suspect that will happen; besides, all accounts in one bank are backed by the Thai version of FDIC to the tune of one million baht.

Perhaps timing has changed but processing applications by mail for US passports has generally been well under 3 weeks. I got a new US passport this past December, mailing the required items by DHL from Chiangmai to the Bangkok embassy on a Monday morning. I received back my new passport, punched old one, and the Embassy letter to Immigration in my Chiangmai mail the following Thursday (i.e., 11 days later). No complaints here.

Would be helpful if you'd actually mention what country's passport is involved. If you're talking about renewing a US passport, there isn't anyway an agent can do that for you (read the embassy/consulate website as what's required is plainly spelled out).

The Tourist Bureau publicly advocated that the government continue the 45-day exempt entry for the balance of 2023 but there as been nothing in the newspaper that the government/cabinet has even considered that as yet. Until that happens, it's back to 30 days after March 31st.

Rules have indeed changed. In addition to the bank letter you mentioned, it is now required to show a full year's history (apparently so Immigration can verify you kept 800k baht in the bank for 90 days after your last application, 60 days before the current application date, and a minimum of 400k baht all other times during the year). SCB provides a separate statement with copies of bank statements to support this required history. As to whether CM Immigration in fact requires a deposit/withdrawal the same day as the bank letter, I actually don't know....I've just done it the last couple of extensions because other Immigration offices have required it (according to multiple reports) and I've presumed CM Immigration also required it.

Here in CM it's no problem doing the bank paperwork the day before.....have done that for more than dozen years without even a question. I understand it may be allowed up to a week before the date of application but I've always done it the day before. For only the last couple of annual extensions, I've deposited or withdrawn a small amount from the account minutes before getting the bank paperwork as I've understood (from ThaiVisa comments) in recent years it may be a required to show a transaction the same day. Before then, I didn't do the deposit/withdrawal routine and it was never questioned.

I wouldn't really care which bank is involved but, as I said, SCB is easier for me for the annual paperwork so the account stays there. The interest rate is irrelevant to me as it's lousy wherever you park money. And, as I've said before, while the 800k does allow me comply with the annual extension requirements, my primary reason for using the method is so I have adequate funds available in case of personal or medical need (I have medical insurance but may some day be put in the position of having to pay up front).

One nice thing about SCB is one can get the usual bank letter and the annual statement just by showing up and asking (takes 15-20 minutes) so I simply stop at the bank (my original branch, of course) the day before I apply for the annual extension and get them. I was considering moving my 800k account to Bangkok Bank but decided not to solely because of this factor alone.

If OP is talking about the letter one gets to support an annual extension based on retirement, my experience with SCB (Chiangmai) is different.....only the branch where I opened the account eons ago will issue that letter. I've asked at other branches (closer to where I live) a couple of times over the years if they would issue the letter and I was told that I must go back to the branch where I opened the account. It's been a couple of years since I asked so maybe things have changed.

Last approval for the 90-day address reporting was sent to me by CM Immigration at 6:15PM on a Sunday and previously I have received an emailed approval on a Saturday. Am guessing some of them do work over the weekend and/or at least some interns do.

I use the songteaws several times a week, typically going from the Huay Gaew area to the river. With the cost being less than 90 cents, I'm not complaining.

There's the school for the blind sorta between Wat Phra Sing and Suan Dawk Gate and I'd recommend you inquire there.

Would note that, according to a Bangkok Post article yesterday, S. Korea just donated 501,120 doses of Phifer's BA.1 bivalent Covid-19 vaccine (which I believe is the latest update vaccine hopefully more effective against some newer variants) to Thailand. Would be nice to see some of the updated boosters here in CM but I'd guess that's unlikely.

The annual extension is still valid but you'll need to go out to Immigration and get the stamps transferred into your new passport. There's no charge for this. Presuming you've applied for the new passport here in Thailand (can only be done by mail via the Bangkok Embassy.....see the Embassy/Consulate website for how to do that), what you'll need is: (1) Form titled "Transfer Stamp to New Passport Form" (you can get this at CM Immigration - it's CM specific and they did not accept the "Bangkok" one I obtained online); (2) The Embassy letter you'll get with your new passport (you won't get this if you obtain the new passport back in the US); (3) From the old passport, they required from me a copy of every filled-out page, even those with visas/stamps from other countries; (4) From new passport, copy of the entire photo page (and, if applicable, copies of any other page with stamps).

OP should be aware that an overstay of 90 days will result in a 1-year blacklisting (i.e., if OP intends to return to Thailand in the next year or wishes to guarantee no hassle in obtaining a future Thai visa/extension, OP needs to exit the country before the 90-day mark).

To assist understanding, you are saying that the Central Festival IO office now does annual extensions (based on retirement/marriage)? I'm also presuming you had an appointment and that Immigration sent you a new email telling you to go to Central Festival versus the airport office.

No, it won't as that won't stop any usual embassy process for location/notification of next of kin. What OP needs is a Thai Will that names his partner as the executor and handler of funeral arrangements (and, presuming that's the OP's wishes, to get his Thai and/or other assets). I can't speak for the UK embassy but the US embassy/consulate has advised me that presentation of such a Thai Will (which may be required to be translated into English) will stop the next-of-kin process (which essentially is a process to locate any relatives and possible heirs) and will result in the embassy/consulate issuing the letter allowing the release of the body to the person named in the Will.

Given his attire in the photo, he obviously was at home. Smoke detectors and perhaps a fire extinguisher for a 20-million baht home? Puzzling.

Have friends here in CM who head to Pattaya once a year to find and use what you're looking for......an "agent specializing in financial requirements"; however, I'm not aware of any agent here that can help you get around the legal requirements for an annual extension based on retirement. I would think at some point it's possible that the agents and immigration officers that play these games might find themselves charged and the expats joining them may be deported and blacklisted. Everyone makes their only choices but I personally like living here and wouldn't risk my right to do so; besides, I primarily look at the "ransom" you describe as a reasonable level of backup in case of personal emergency or need.

Technically, there is no limit to the times you can fly into Thailand and get exempt entries; however, at some point, you can expect an immigration officer to question whether you are a legitimate tourist. A few times a year should present no problem but after that then you can expect to be questioned. It's discretionary at that point whether to allow you entry. Would also note that so far the 45 day period for exempt entries expires as of March 31st (after that, absent a law change, you'll only get 30 days). If you're typically on an annual extension, why not convert to a Non-O (keeping in mind that here in Chiangmai you need to do that at least 21 days prior to expiration of your permission to stay to apply for that)? Then, of course, apply for your regular annual extension within 45 days of the expiration date of the Non-O.