CMBob

An old topic but for those who haven't seen it, here are some photos of the memorial to the Flying Tigers at the Chiangmai Foreign Cemetery:

I successfully registered for the Section 38 app a month or so ago.  Two days ago, after flying back in to Chiangmai from Taiwan, I spent over an hour trying to do the updating with the app and eventually was successful (and took photos of all the screen shots to prove I had updated).  On Monday, since I was nearby, I went to Immigration simply to make sure I was okay with them and to ask a question or two.  Got a queue number on the third floor and had to wait 20-30 minutes until it was my turn.  I advised the young lady why I was there (handing her the printout of the successful updating along with my passport) and she kept asking me if I was the owner of the townhouse (to which I told her no, I was just the renter).  She didn't like that (seemingly insisting that only the owner can use the app), tossed my printout into the waste basket (rudely not returning it to me), and then proceeded to place the regular update stamp (actually, only a date) on the TM30 Receipt of Notification stapled in the back of my passport.

In reality, CM Immigration is so fast with the updating that it's actually easier to simply go there and have them update it and that's what I will do in the future (so far, we in Chiangmai only have to update when re-entering the country).  But it does irritate me to some degree that the young lady wouldn't accept that I had already updated using the Section 38 app. 

3 hours ago, CMNightRider said:

Thai Immigration is currently purging their country of western expats.  I don't believe the westerners are leaving fast enough so the Thai government decided to require forgeiners to purchase useless Thai Health Insurance plans to speed up the purge.  

Your constant negative attitude is rather amazing and, presuming you live here, one wonders why you continue to do so.

I don't agree at all with your premise.  Everybody I know here in Chiangmai finds CM Immigration requirements to be relatively easy to comply with.  As to your health insurance comment, nobody who is now in Thailand has to comply with it (it only applies to those who obtain an O-A visa in their home country after October 30th).

In Chiangmai, you can renew your annual extension up to 45 days before the expiration date.  And, as others have stated, the date of renewal and expiration date will always remain the same regardless if you renew 1 day before or 45 days before.  Apparently some Immigration offices will only allow renewal up to 30 days prior to expiration (although there are a few reports of people being allowed to do it earlier than that if you'll be out of the country for that 30-day time period (and can show them proof of airline tickets or whatever). 

On 8/24/2019 at 3:36 AM, elviajero said:

Again, I am simply pointing out — for the OP’s benefit — that questions might be asked if the applicant spends 6 months plus outside the country every year; as that square peg doesn’t fit immigrations round hole.

I asked before but you didn't respond so here goes again:  Do you know of any cases where Immigration has even questioned an expat (who is on a retirement visa/extension) as to why he is out of Thailand for many months per year?  If you do, that information would be helpful; if you don't, I wonder if it's all that helpful to speculate as to what Immigration might do (I've been on a retirement extension for a decade+ and have been out of Thailand 4+ months in a row each year for that whole time period and Immigration has never said a word about it). 

"2.  What documents do I need to take to my local immigration office if I file a TM-30 to report a "return to my residence" after staying overnight in another province - again, considering I have a legal right to use the property (just like a lease).  I'll obviously need to do this until I have access to the online system."

It may depend on what provincial Immigration office is involved.  In Chiangmai, updating only requires presentation of one's passport which has the TM30 Notification of Receipt* stapled in the back.  They'll simply briefly enter some info on their computer and then put a new date stamp on that Notification of Receipt.

[*For those who only have some printout of the TM30 filing, I suppose that is needed instead of the TM30 Notification of Receipt.  In Chiangmai, if that is the case, they'll print out their form of the TM30 Notification of Receipt (it looks very much like the 90-day Notification of Receipt), date stamp that, and then staple that in the back of your passport.  And, if your Notification of Receipt is full of date stamps or too damaged, they'll print out a new one for you.]

Anybody doing anything - original filing or updating - via their online system ought to keep a printout to prove the filing/updating has been done. I'd note that, so far, Chiangmai has only required updating upon return to your TM30 registered address after re-entering Thailand (although, given one poster claimed he/she was required to update simply for being gone 24 hours within Thailand, perhaps that is going to change). 

37 minutes ago, elviajero said:

My only point is that immigration might want to know why someone is living 6 months outside the country that is applying for an extension of stay.

I understand your speculation but do you know of a single instance when it's been an issue (or even questioned)?  

11 hours ago, 503726 said:

...Sorry to be pedantic but … can the immigration service take issue with the money being not instantly available when it is deposited for a term period or that amount being confirmed by the bank in separate sentence in their formal letter or if its done by a second letter?

To qualify for an extension, the bank account money must be instantly available.  SCB (and other banks) have those accounts and, while they are "fixed term" (for 6 months, 11 months, etc.), they are nothing like a "western cd" where you can't get your money until the term ends.  These "fixed accounts" being talked about allow you to withdraw the funds whenever you want but, if you take the money out early, you lose all accrued interest.  Just ask your bank if whatever account they're trying to sell you will qualify for the annual immigration letter.  I've had this type of account at SCB for 8+ years without any issue or problem at all.

Question for Ubonjoe:  One's passport expires February 1, 2020, and one obtains a one-year extension based on retirement on May 20, 2019 (the day before the current annual extension expires)...... it's pretty clear that the extension will be granted only to February 1, 2020.  Then the person gets a new passport in October of 2019 and goes out to Immigration to transfer the stamps.  What will be the expiration date of the extension stamp in the new passport?  (I guess in other words I'm asking if this situation re-sets the date for one's annual extension). 

22 minutes ago, bubba said:

Commenting from Chiang Mai here. I was told by my condo management when I moved in that TI is very serious about the T30 here and they advised me to let the front desk attendant know each time I return from a trip out of Thailand. They then do the filing for me. Note that they did not say returning from a domestic trip, where I know the hotel would have TM30'd me. Just to be safe, I ask the front desk agent to TM30 me each time I return from any trip.

It's helpful that posters identify which province they are talking about when it comes to the TM30 requirements (or application) as many provinces treat it differently.  You're correct about how CM Immigration treats it excepting that you only need to "update" the TM30 when you return to your TM30 registered address after you've been out of country.  There currently is no need to update if you're only traveling within Thailand.

Also (again, CM Immigration specific), people showing up for an extension of any kind who have a printout of an online TM30 filing are being asked to go up to the third floor of immigration and replace that printout with the smaller/standard TM30 Receipt of Notification form (and then providing a copy of that form for their extension).

Again, this is only how CM Immigration is currently doing it. 

2 hours ago, R123 said:

I know this has been asked many times before but:

 

If living in Thailand on a retirement visa with re-entry permit (CW office) then I take a trip outside Thailand...on return to Thailand , do I need to go to Immigration to file a TM 30 within 24 hours?

Even though address etc not changed? 

Probably depends on where you live.  In Chiangmai, the answer is "yes."  When I say that, one must (when re-entering the country and returning to your TM30 registered address)   update the TM30.  If your condo office or landlord does that for you, ask for a copy of something so you can later prove it was done.  In Chiangmai, they haven't been strict about the 24-hour rule and people have updated within 4-5 days without a problem.  I update myself (given my landlord doesn't have clue if I've hopped out of the country) and here in Chiangmai it's an easy process usually taking 5 minutes or so (they just stamp a new date on the TM30 Receipt of Notification hopefully stapled in the back of your passport). Typical fine up here for messing up the TM30 process is 1,600 baht (why it's double the 800 baht mentioned in this thread is beyond me).

Here in Chiangmai, they have no use for a TM28 and typically hand it back to whoever attempts to file one. 

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Some offices may want a copy of every page that has a stamp or visa for Thailand on it.

When I transferred my retirement extension and re-entry permit to my new passport here in Chiangmai, they asked for a copy of every single page of the old passport (including non-Thai visas and stamps).  Just in case they ask for it, perhaps wise to take a full set of photocopies of the old passport.

On 3/25/2019 at 11:23 PM, FaFaHead said:

We are returning to Chiang Mai tomorrow from a visa run to Vientiene. Everything I’m reading indicates that I need a TM30. I know it’s the landlord’s responsibility to take care of of it or face a 1600 BHt penalty, but I would like to do it myself for her. I’m assuming her signature on the bottom will suffice along with rental agreement. 

In the past, they've required a copy of the owner's (Thai landlord's) tabien baan, national ID card, and sometimes a copy of their deed showing they own the property.  I'm very doubtful CM Immigration will accept an original TM30 filing with the Thai landlord only signing the TM30 form.  But wish you luck.

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If not then when you apply for your next extension the 800k baht will only need to be in the bank for 2 months on the date you apply and then remain in the bank for 3 months after you do the application.

Given you are the guru of visa/extension information, I respectfully ask if are you sure about the start of the 3-month "after" period?  I would guess that the 800k has to remain in the account for 3 months after the date your renewal takes effect (versus the date of application which could be 30-45 days earlier).  Would appreciate your comment on this.

30 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

So by the deposit method, a person must have 800k on deposit for 5 continuous months at a time around the extension renewal times, and a person must keep a 400k Baht on deposit at all times. 

Actually, the 2 months before (presuming that applies to initial and subsequent extensions) is 2 months before the application date....so it would appear that the actual 800k seasoning time is 5+ months (one can renew in Chiangmai 45 days early so the seasoning period for the 800k amount for that entire period would be 6.5 months). 

What was the court proceeding?  If it was a civil suit filed against the driver and his insurance company defended, the insurance company likely has to pay (unless, of course, there is some language in the insurance contract that says otherwise).  And if it was a civil suit and the insurance company didn't defend, that might raise the question of whether the policy was even in force at the time of the accident.  However, if the 500k amount was a criminal fine/penalty, I'm doubtful the insurance company has any liability to pay that.

In either case, sounds like the driver is personally liable for the 500k although collecting it against the driver is likely going to be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.  

Best of luck to child's family.

On 2/19/2019 at 12:55 PM, indepth said:

Jolly good topic ol man, what about Siam Bank?

I do a swift transfer into a Siam Commercial Bank account each year and the only designation in the passbook is "X1".....which, according to their legends, means only a "Transfer Deposit, Withdrawal Nobook."  In other words, SCB's passbook does not show anything to indicate a foreign or swift transfer of funds. 

16 hours ago, allane said:

You are supposed to report to your new office within 24 hrs. (or next business day) after you move in, though they are not going to know exactly when you moved.  I would not rely on the landlord to do the TM 30, unless you have discussed it with him.

With regard to the "90 days", it will reset to 0 when you notify Jomtien Immigration.

OP definitely needs to make sure the TM30 is filed when he moves and retain a copy of whatever the landlord gets when filing or the TM30 Receipt of Notification if OP files it himself.

While there obviously is a reset of the 90-day address reporting time period when you re-enter the country, I never heard of a reset of that time period when simply moving to another province within Thailand; however, I am only familiar with Chiangmai Immigration's application of the rules and perhaps poster Allane is correct (OP....you ought to make sure about that so as to avoid a fine for late reporting.

20 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

That is good news.

Just the letter from the bank confirming your account is valid and a statement or bank books are what I have been predicting is all they will want.

I'm curious as to exactly what the OP's "bank letter" said.  You've indicated that it only said the OP's account was currently valid but the OP's comments were a bit unclear on that.

OP, if you kept a copy of the bank letter, could you post a copy (blocking, of course, name and account number)?  

The OP has confused TM30 reporting requirements with the address reporting requirement for staying continuously in the country for 90 days.  His issue has to do with TM30 reporting requirements only. 

1 hour ago, statman78 said:

It has been my experience that immigration always makes me sign copies of documents.  Is it wise to sign all of the copies before I get to the immigration office.?  I found the form to transfer stamps to a new passport.  I don't see any TM number on it.  I found it in several locations and in each location it is always addressed to Bangkok Immigration.  I have not found a generic form.  I will be going to Chiang Rai Immigration.

Yes, sign all the passport copies before you go and they won't bug you about it at Immigration....and use blue ink (on everything with Immigration).  

The form you found is the proper one (although CM Immigration wouldn't accept the online one as it refers to the Bangkok office so they furnished their own form....my guess is Chiangrai will be okay with the online form).  Sorry...it apparently has no TM number (just checked my old copy).  Just to the right of your signature, write your telephone number (they usually request that).  

When transferring my extension (retirement) and multiple re-entry stamps a year or so ago to a new US passport (obtained in the US), I didn't need any confirmation letter at Chiangmai Immigration.  Other offices, however, may require that.

Other than filling out the Immigration form (don't remember the TM number but it's simply titled "Transfer Stamp to New Passport"), you will need a photocopy of your old passport (photo page and every single page that has any stamp on it).  And best to make sure the photocopies are all horizontal (some of my copies were vertical and an intern attempted to reject them....although an Immigration officer later intervened and overruled the intern).

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 ....The law also specifies that the responsibility for filing lies with the landlord/house master not the alien though granted the consequences fall onto the alien if they need to use Imm services and no TM 30 on file.

A bit puzzled by that conclusion and omission of rather clear language in the law. That law places equal responsibility on three (not two) entities/persons:  the house-master or the owner or the possessor.  If the "alien" isn't the possessor, who is?