Andrew Dwyer

I retained my old passport definitely, had to show it to immigration a few days ago when doing my retirement extension even though they had transferred the relevant stamps a few months ago.

Do take a look at the tyre pressures of the EV you are thinking of buying as many of those tyre pumps on Lazada don’t go above 35 psi. My Seal is 36 front and 42 rear, not sure about Sealion 7. I did find a great tyre inflator but it was around 600 baht and is one of the noisy ones !! The gas stations around me are terrible for tyre inflators ( broken, low pressure, non existent ). I was like yourself in that I didn’t fancy having to stop and charge when doing our frequent 450 km ( 200 km there , up to 50 km running around, 200 back ) round trip so for me the longest range the better. So i didn’t buy the EV that i first wanted due to it’s range and instead bought a Seal Premium which gives me 520 km easily and is ideal for my needs.

Yes exactly, did my renewal in March 2025 at VFS, you retain your old passport and when the new is given to you they cut the corner of the old. But of course 2 trips to Bangkok ( or Chiang Mai I believe ) are required and this can be an expense in itself for some.

I think you are confused as you quoted a Lithium Ion Phosphate battery. I am quite aware of the difference between LFP and Li-ion. Anyway, if the manual states Lithium Iron Phosphate ( LFP ) but the Neta Website states Lithium Ion ( Li-ion ) who is confusing matters ? Which is really quite a shame as at one time I was contemplating buying a medium sized SUV HEV ( Haval Jolion ) for the longer trips and a small EV ( Neta V ) for around town and daily stuff. The battery chemistry was one of the deciding factors in my decision not to buy the Neta.

If it is a Lithium Iron ( not ion ) Phosphate then fair enough but the Neta website says Lithium Ion .

Don’t think so.

If you are remotely interested in buying an EV then test driving a Sealion 7 will seal ( pun intended ) the deal !

With your home charger you just plug it in and pay for the electric usage added to your normal bill. With an on the road charger you have to register to an app and provide some financial way to pay ( either a wallet or credit card or qr code etc ) then you are good to go. Only EV Station Pluz chargers at PTT gas stations ( there might be others ) require a booking in advance at some of their locations which seems like a PITA but once you get used to it its easy.

PlugShare and Charge Loma cover all the different charging options or you can download an app for them individually: EV Station Pluz PEA Volta Elexa for starters.

Toyota EV ?? ” Google it and see “ how successful Toyota EV’s have been !

Meanwhile in the U.K..

Big Bank ??, just say Bangkok Bank !! Really hard work getting all the way through this guy’s videos, he is a terrible communicator !!

This happened to me yesterday: Took her ladyship to her friends salon for some hair work ( yep, i didn’t pay much attention !) and i elected to stay in the car. After about 10 minutes an identical car ( Seal Premium in Space Grey ) parked up right behind me and then shortly after another identical car pulled into a space in front, only separated by two mc’s. So, 3 identical cars ( same model, same colour) almost in a row, i did contemplate stepping out and taking a photo ( yes, i am that shallow !! ) but didn’t and regretted it. The car behind pulled out leaving only two, about 5 minutes later the little lady appeared …. and yes you guessed it …. she went to the wrong car. I watched in amazement as she tapped on the window ( the international action for “ let me in its hot out here ) and then shielding the sunshine with her hand peered into the car ! At this point i should have flashed my lights but she was too quick to realise her mistake and, tbh, it seemed like an opportunity not to be missed. Anyway, we both had a good laugh at the situation but the strange thing was that she said that they were a young couple in a heavy embrace and kissing ! ( doesn’t seem like Thai behaviour to me ). Seconds later the car drove off. Seems like a strange place for some heavy petting as is a very busy street …. or maybe we uncovered a clandestine dogging group here in Thailand ??

Seen a few of these recently as a dealer, together with Omoda, has opened up in town. While they are available in up to six colours only seem them in this silver colour. Hp and torque seem well down for a dual motor EV, single motor is equally underwhelming. So, anybody wanting a cheap Baby Hummer that looks the part …. then here it is !

I went to Bangkok Bank Ayutthaya on Friday 27th to pick up my 12 month statement and get the bank letter. The teller started to waffle on about immigration financial requirements, he seemed like a new guy so I didn’t pay much attention. Afterwards a lady came out with the letter and proceeded to waffle on about “4 months” and “frozen accounts”, my partner tried to explain it but it didn’t make sense that the bank would be telling me about some new immigration rules !! Anyway went and did my retirement extension with no problems or any new info so dismissed it as “ lost in translation “. But now, with others reporting the same, seems legit !

Slightly off topic but an interesting story imo. My brother in law ( Thai ) had a stroke about 3 years ago and decided if/when he died he would like to donate his body for medical science. 1 year ago he was rushed into hospital with a suspected bleed on the brain, two weeks later he was pronounced dead and the paperwork for the donation of his body was produced by the only person who knew about the arrangement …. the oldest son . So, his wife, other two children and the rest of the family, including the mother, were all very surprised/shocked by this revelation. Some parts donated went to Bangkok and the remainder went to Chiang Mai ( a University Hospital i believe ). There was no funeral but a 7 day and 100 day remembrance service, both boycotted by his mother !! Now, after 1 year the Chiang Mai Uni will return his body for the funeral , will be interesting to see if the mother attends. I just hope it isn’t an open coffin !!

Agree that they are understaffed at times. I requested a 12 month statement 2 Mondays ago and the bank told me to return the following Monday ( yesterday ). Expecting Monday to be a busy day I returned to the bank on Friday and the statement was ready, got the bank letter at the same time. But due to some other events couldn’t get to Immigration until 1.30 pm. The place was rammed and while I was having my docs checked plus filling the other documents they spring on you at the last minute I was told to go back on Monday. Only needed to make a withdrawal and update bank book on Monday and the place was relatively empty except for an agent and 4 accompanying clients. A couple of times in the past i have turned around and returned another day as there are many foreign monks who all go on the same day.

Ayutthaya, i must add that in general the IO is good and friendly except for the strangely excessive home visits ( which seem to have ceased now ) and the request for 800 baht 1 year ago for a CofR.

As is anything related to immigration there are inconsistencies just proving the lack of formal procedures surrounding these home visits usually related to individual immigration offices and their interpretation of the rules. I have had more than my fair share of these visits over the last 9 years all for retirement. 2 x first extension visit ( OA and O ) 2 x random visits, not announced. 2 or 3 visits scheduled. They are usually very polite and quick but more recent visits ( 2022/2023 ) seemed to deviate from the norm. On the penultimate visit they asked for a witness to verify that I lived at the house, the witness ( next door neighbour ) had to sign some paper, answer a few questions and have his photo taken. On the last visit an IO was accompanied by a young trainee whose job was to take the photos, after the usual “ house number “ and “ holding the passport “ pics the IO, clearly embarrassed, requested a photo of me sitting on the bed. I opened the bedroom door, pointed at the bed and stated “ a bed “ then closed the door before they could enter or take a photo. The IO nodded his head as if in silent approval at my refusal to this invasion of privacy. I don’t show any hostility towards the visiting officers as they are simply only doing their job but at the same time make them aware that i don’t agree with the intrusion. I believe it is mainly due to the big boss at the IO deciding on a crackdown or a new boss trying to justify his existence rather than any nationwide mandate hence some have multiple visits and others have none.

Did my retirement extension today, 1 hour and 15 minutes, the 15 minutes because apparently had to do a TM30 after changing passport. All in all quite quick, but more importantly no home visit pending .

I got the standard home visit on the 1st retirement extension of my Non imm O ( changed from non imm OA ), then got a surprise visit some 6 months later and another visit 6 months after that !, 3 in a year ! This was 2022/2023 and thankfully no more since, my unfriendly hospitality paid off . Seems like they have a purge every now and then, doing my retirement extension tomorrow will see what happens .

Exactly ! Might not end up as a Charles & Diana fairytale romance ( oops, just remembered how that ended ! ) or even something from a Mills and Boon ! But romance, or lust, could blossom so I would say “ go for it !”. In the worst case scenario it might lead to a 3 minute knee trembler behind the 7-11 dumpster ….. but that’s okay also 👍

How dare you insinuate that there is no romantic attraction between a visiting tourist and a young lady out for a stroll at 4.00 am in the South East Asian equivalent of Paris !! Shame on you !

Thanks. I have no intention to use an agent but have seen plenty of them with wads of paperwork and passports in hand. Whether these are just assisting the process instead of bypassing i am not sure, there is quite a lot of Japanese working here attending immigration and I tend to think they are just getting assistance with the process/language barrier but I could be wrong. There was a Brit living nearby who stated he paid 14k direct to the IO for his retirement extension but of course he could be mistaken and was meeting an agent at the IO. Each to their own i guess. I could do the income method, not sure if my IO does combination, but money in the bank seems the easiest option for me despite the annoyance of limited interest on the funds. It is once a year and i usually get all my documents right first time so sitting around for an hour or so playing on my phone at immigration isn’t too painful.

Ayutthaya. I use the branch closest to the IO as they seem clued up on what is required at Immigration but this is the first time they have given out a “ friendly “ warning.