CMBob

A POA has no effect after death as has been mentioned. It would have zero effect to assist release of the body or handling any of a decedent's affairs. A valid Thai Will with proper language would assist in getting the body released (it would have to be in English and/or have a certified translation in English to be useful for embassy/consular stuff). And, of course, the Thai Will would allow filing of proceedings here to have an executor you've nominated to be actually appointed and empowered by the local court.

A fair amount of misinformation here. In no particular order: (1) Your embassy/consulate will be informed of your death (normally by the cops) and, at least in the case of the US, they'll begin a "next of kin" search (or see a valid Will in English or certified to English) that names an executor here. Other than that, the embassy/consulate is finished other than getting and cancelling your passport and issuing the appropriate letter authorizing release of your body from the local morgue. The embassy/consulate isn't paying dime one for any expenses, burial, cremation, whatever. (2) Once you croak, you're going to end up in a local morgue. And your body is not going to be released from there without three things happening: (a) the cops giving the okay (which is quick and easy unless there are suspicious death circumstances), (b) your embassy/consulate issuing its letter as noted above, and (c) somebody paying the hospital/morgue bill. (3) For those few where nobody has ever claimed the body under the above circumstances, eventually (after a few months) you'll be cremated with other lost souls.

While it's always best to use correct terminology, it's a bit harsh to suggest that it's "ignorant" if one refers to their long-term stay here as a retirement visa. Most expats here in Chiangmai do refer to it as their "retirement visa". Multiple signs in the Chiangmai Immigration office expressly refer to "retirement visas" but might be wise not to tell those officials they are ignorant.

Based on my experience, the TM30 rules (or how they are applied) at Chiangmai Immigration are as follows: (1) When returning to your TM30 registered address from abroad, nothing is required (probably because nobody outside of Thailand has filed any new TM30 address); (2) When returning to your TM30 registered address domestically when a hotel or other entity/person has filed a TM30 for you, I believe the answer is nothing is required. It is possible (it's hit or miss), however, that an online TM47 (90-day address reporting) may get rejected in this case and you are not going to be able to file a new online TM47 until you go to Immigration and "update" (requiring only to show them your passport and tell them what happened) your TM30 address; however, even in that case, there has been no problem in filing the TM47 in person (I'm not sure about mail but suspect that would work too). So, only issue is that on occasion a person who is reviewing/approving the online TM47 filings rejects it because of the domestic hotel filing. (There have been reports of possible filing needs if one returns from abroad with a new passport....which maybe makes some sense as passport numbers are tied into the TM30 filings).

It is certainly true that the funds only have to be in a Thai bank for 2 months prior to application for those converting to a Non-O visa based on retirement from either an exempt entry or tourist visa. It's a bit more dicey when talking about converting from the 65k/month method to the "money in the bank" method. When renewing an extension based on the "money in the bank" method, one must show the standard bank letter and the one-year information (showing 800k in the bank for 3 months after the last application and 2 months prior to the new application....with a minimum of 400k for all other times). I suspect most immigration officers here in CM would require that for any renewal of an extension based on the "money in the bank" method regardless of the illogical conclusion that this would require the applicant to essentially comply with both methods for the year prior to the new application seeking to change methods.

Technically, I understand that the OP is required to have a new TM30 filed for his "5-month" place and then file TM47s for that location while he's there. Then have a new TM30 filed when he returns to the family location (which I think he refers to as his "main" address) so he can file TM47s while there. But what would I do? I'd forget all that and just keep filing online for my main address (TM30 registered address) unless and until that ever becomes a problem (if a filing is rejected, then I'd do whatever is necessary to fix that).

"Reporting back that this morning I was at Immigration (small building in the back for TM30, next to copy shop) and renewed a TM30 from 3 or 4 years ago as I have a new extension (Non-O based on retirement). I was still residing at the same address. The officer looked at only my old TM30 and my passport and filled in a new TM30. That's it. The cost was zero. I had tried doing it online with no success that I could discern." Updating a TM30 filing (when necessary) is rather easy here at CM Immigration but I'm wondering why you did that. Can you advise why you felt the need to do so?

Really? When the hotels do the TM30's online, they need to put in your passport number (a number which is also on your Thai driver's license).

May depend on the particular Immigration office. Here in Chiangmai, it has been hit or miss. Sometimes when I stay at a hotel that files the standard TM30 for me, it affects nothing; however, occasionally it causes the online TM47 system to reject me for the same reason you were rejected. When it has happened to me, as noted, I can't use the online TM47 system until I go to Immigration and they "update" my TM30 address (I still can, however, do the TM47 reporting in person). At least here in Chiangmai, to "update", I just told them what happened and they just played with their computer a short time and printed out a new TM30 Receipt of Notification which they stapled in my passport (the passport was the only thing they wanted to see, no other documents). Of course, my comments relate to when someone returns to the same TM30 registered address.

Pretty much the same list is required here in Chiangmai (although never had to provide either a copy of the TM47 Receipt of Notification or a double set of any of the documents). Somewhat wise to always avoid Mondays, Fridays, and any day either side of a holiday in any immigration office. On the plus side, spending a couple of hours once a year to obtain an extension based on retirement is actually not much of a hassle. It would be helpful and less stressful, though, for the immigration offices to simply post a list of exactly what documents they want for a given service (it's frustrating when a particular officer asks for something off the wall).

I've never had the occasion to use any of the numbers. I did, however, download the phone app titled "Police I lert u" which on its face provides your GPS location, provides for notification for police or an ambulance, and for messaging. I have no clue how well it But here's what it looks like when you open it (I've changed the GPS location as it shows my home location and don't really want to publish that here).....

Would recommend to the OP to use the same Thai lawyer.....and get it in both Thai and English. Thai probate requires a Thai Will (or a Will in English with a certified translation into Thai). And, to the extent you may be in Thailand when you die, your embassy/consulate will require one in English (or, if the Will is only in Thai, a certified translation in English). Easier/cheaper to get both done at once and it'll make it easier for your Thai executor.

Nope. Sent by PM.

With respect to the OP's question, I'm doubtful there are many consumer protection laws here in Thailand (that either exist or are actually followed) that require doctors or hospitals to advise of all costs ahead of time. Prices for any procedure here are typically far below prices in the west and, should the cost be a relatively important concern to anybody, asking the doctor or hospital ahead of time isn't that hard to do. Yet, I just had hernia surgery last week at Chiangmai RAM hospital and they told me (without my asking) the range of expected cost days ahead of time (and the final cost was at the low end of the range given). No complaints from me (was second hernia surgery I've had at CM RAM and thought they treated me well and fairly both times).

I have no clue what's required for your wife but likely similar to whatever was required before. As for you, probably just as easy to enter exempt and to convert to a Non-O based on retirement at Chiangmai Immigration: (1) 800k has to be in the bank the day you apply (obviously get the letter from the bank the day before you go to Immigration); (2) You need 21 days left on your permission to stay in Chiangmai to so convert (they claim it's because they have to send the stuff to Bangkok). So you'll need to do it within your first 6 or so days here on your 30-day exemption or, if you don't have enough time with that, you'll have to get a 30-day extension. (3) I don't really remember what documents they want. Obviously, photocopies of your passport photo page and entry stamp....and, yes, a copy of your TM30 (4) A TM86 filled out is required if converting from a tourist visa whereas a TM87 is required if converting to a Non-O from an exempt entry. As for subsequent annual extensions based on retirement, same documents as when you were here before including/plus a copy of the TM 30. The 800k is required to be in the bank 3 months after your last application date for an annual extension based on retirement and 2 months before the next application date (with a minimum of 400k in the bank all other months).

No wonder....and your dad should have slapped you silly for having said it. Your fascination with telling people that (and your generally incorrect perception as to why they react badly) suggests you are a few fries short of a happy meal.

No. With respect to the original post, I wonder if the OP stayed at a hotel which may have filed a TM30 for him. If that happens occasionally (not always) here in Chiangmai, one's online TM47 reports thereafter get rejected until one updates their TM30 filing.

They surely do. When I last transferred stamps to a new passport here in Chiangmai (December of 2020), they requested a photocopy of every page of the old passport including stamps from other countries. That was new to me (didn't have to do that last time I transferred stamps to a new passport in CM) but, since I take the kitchen sink with me (occasionally a given officer asks for something different), I had no problem. And OP has attached the proper form and it's probably wise to print it and fill it out before heading to immigration.

Obviously, since you have some concern, I'd highly recommend you apply for your annual extension as soon as you are able (i.e., if you're here, do it on the 30th or 29th day prior to expiration) so that you have time to fix anything that might (but hopefully does not) come up. As you know, your annual extension will be dated beginning on the expiration date of your current extension.

Okay, understand that. What confused me was OP's reference to multiple 60-day extensions granted to him before (only 60-day extensions I'm aware of are based on marriage or being the parent of a Thai child).

Out of curiosity, what "court document" are they requiring. Something to do with your marriage?

My guess is the answer is (and has been) "yes" to this question....and government is already getting 15% being withheld from bank interest; however, given there is an exemption of 150,000 baht per year, likely you can file a Thai income tax return to retrieve the 15% withheld (unless your total income here is over the 150k threshold). As concerns the new tax law, I'm doubtful it will affect anybody who is from a country which already has a Tax Convention agreement with Thailand. Even though you are below the threshold for taxes in your home country, it is income technically taxable in your home country and shouldn't be taxable here. The new law, in my view, mainly eliminates the loophole where a Thai earns income outside of Thailand but elects to wait until the following year to transfer it back to Thailand (which under prior law made it non-taxable here in Thailand). Even for those people, assuming they pay taxes on their income in the country where they work, I'd guess there are deductions here for taxes already paid (i.e., I'm doubtful anybody is going to be double-taxed on the same income). But, as a lot of people have said, the devil will be in the details which have not been adequately explained in any news article I've read.

I think most banks issue what we all have called the standard bank letter (just a letter from the bank showing the account number, account owner, and balance as of that date) in fairly short order (10-15 minutes). But didn't you also have to present to Immigration for your extension (retirement) essentially a history of the account for the prior year (and/or monthly bank statements for the year)? Others (Chiangmai expats only) that ask for that from Bangkok Bank tell me it takes 4-5 days to get that second item.

Yes, the death certificates (in Thai) are issued by the District Office where the death occurred. I mention "in Thai" as you might want to ask your nominee to also get a certified English translation as perhaps your pension company or others won't accept only a death certificate in Thai. You or your nominee can consult your country's Thai embassy website to hopefully obtain recommended outfits for the certified English translation (the Thai US embassy website has a good list of them).

I actually don't know; however, when coming in last time (August 10th), the immigration officer here in Chiangmai asked for my boarding ticket/pass. Rather no big deal but, given one is immediately off an international flight, one would think one would have the boarding pass easily available (if asked for it).