Shackleton123

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Where are you?

Pattaya - Huay Yai

Well Ireland is still in the EU, and so have freedom of movement. I have an EU passport as an Irish National. When we arrived in the UK the UK was also in the EU, which meant any EU Citizen was free to live and work in the UK, and bring his dependants no matter what their Nationality, and vice versa of course. This Treaty of Rome free movement thing is for workers going anywhere in the EU with their families, except of course their own country. Hence I couldn't take her to live in Ireland, but could in the UK, or Germany, Italy, France etc. I would need a Visa to live in Kiribati with all that entails, might as well stay here (It's much more developed) We could of course go anywhere in the EU (so long as we were self sufficient) with no Visas required. In the end we chose to build here on leased land owned by a friend, and get my Visa Agent to arrange my wife's Visa, post my being brown bread. 

On 4/30/2021 at 4:10 PM, GinBoy2 said:

This is more curiosity than anything.

 

But, if you are an Irish citizen why would you say 'except Ireland of course'

 

Now I know there are some complex issues with people holding Irish and UK passports while never having lived in Ireland, God knows I hold a US & Mexican passport, but I've never lived in Mexico, but wouldn't good backup plan be to move to Ireland, just in case.

 

I sense a move back to Kiribati isn't an option, so what are the options?

 

Thai elite, some form of immigration gymnastics, she's got a long way to go before she could do a retirement extension, so you have some difficult decisions.

 

You have no children, so family support is something else to consider.

 

I always know that should I depart this mortal coil ahead of my wife, our son, and my daughters, even my ex wife actually, would always be there to support her.

 

Where do you have family who could be there for her? Is there a support structure in Thailand, which might make those immigration gymnastics worthwhile?

 

Sorry that's probably more questions than answers, but many things to consider.

I chose to build. I have an old school friend who is married to a Thai lady and they have lots of land. He is leasing a plot to me, and supervising the build. I use an Agent for all dealings with Immigration including 90 days as well as retirement extensions because of a ton of difficulties without a single case of deviation from the rules. One time Immigration stapled someone else's notification of address in to my passport, and since it was in Thai, and had the correct return date on it, I never knew until I returned for the next 90 days. It became somehow my fault, and I got fined. That's when I appointed an Agent for all things from then on. Long story short, my agent told me not to worry.

How does one make an appointment for vaccination? I'm a bit off the grid having retired.

2 hours ago, Aarin said:

Don't buy. You can rent a great place near the beach for 5/6000.No use buying. She has many different options to stay. That's no problem. She can get a Thai Language visa and that will give her something to do and that she can drag out for up to 4 years and by then she should qualify for retirement 

Our rent is 30,000 per month, I'd love to find a suitable place to rent for less. But she is 34, years old and so is sixteen years from retirement age. As was so astutely pointed out here is all expats are visitors only, and at the mercy of the Immigration Service.  I do see what people are saying about buying, and I tend to agree. When I croak, she would have to sell, and that could take eons.

3 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Save the proposed house purchase money for her to buy a long term elite visa. Presumably she will have an income to subsist on. When 50 she could switch to a non-imm extension.

or,

Many people posting here live long term on short term visas without having to prove funds. Adopt a dodgy agent.

 

 

A little confusing.

I worked here and in SE Asia but based here, for nine years and then retired. Hence came here to work, and now on a retirement visa.

My wife and I live here on a Retirement Extension Visa. We have rented for over ten years, and are thinking of buying, or building.

The missus will almost certainly outlive me by a country mile, and is too young for a retirement visa. So when I croak, does she have to leave? and if so how long does she get to settle her affairs? like cremating me, and selling up.

Much obliged for any info

On ‎1‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 12:36 PM, OJAS said:

The news may not all be good, though, unfortunately.

 

If you married your wife in the UK then you will first need to get your marriage certificate formally legalised as a prerequisite to her piggy-backing on to your retirement extension on dependency grounds. This will entail a convoluted bureaucratic process which will become apparent to you as you follow the step-by-step guide in the link below:-

 

https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised

 

We were married in the United States.

Superfast reply! and good news too. Thank you very much.

Shackleton

My wife is not Thai, we have lived here since 2010, I have a Work Permit. However I will retire soon, and will look to obtain an extension of stay based on retirement for myself and my wife. I would ask the forum the following questions (and thank you for any answers)

1) Do we both need to deposit 800k THB in a Thai Bank?

2) Can the money be in a UK bank with documentary evidence to show it is there?

Shackleton

On ‎12‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 8:22 AM, drtreelove said:

Your experience is unusual, you must have hit it on a bad day.  I have had nothing but good, friendly efficient service at Samut Prakan Immigration office.  My retirement extension in October took only a few minutes.  But then I read the instructions and bring the passport copy and other documentation required. 

 

The office is small and sometimes crowded, avoid Mondays and day after holidays. Contrary to another post, there is a toilet inside on first floor to the left of entrance near the stairs to the second floor, and another larger toilet facility outside to the right of the building.  There are a lot of foreign workers go through this office, but few farang expats. There is minimal English, but the male officer at the far right window (#6?) is fluent and helpful. 

 

And now with new BTS green-line extension opened a couple of weeks ago, the PakNam skytrain station is right at the corner of the driveway to the Immigration office. And if you have waiting time, there is the view and walkway along the mouth of the Chao Phraya river right there. 

 

Samut Prakan Immigration website by Richard Barrow is as clear and informative as you can get. 

http://www.samutprakanimmigration.go.th/

 

If you have time after your appointment, there is a big marketplace nearby and from there you can take a boat for a few baht across the river to visit Phra Samut Chedi with Buddha relics and powerful spiritual energy IMO, and an old fort with an elevated walkway through a mangrove and palm forest.  http://paknam.com/

 

The Erawan museum (Chang Erawan BTS) is unique and has one of the best and well maintained gardens I've seen in Bangkok area. 

The Muang Boran ancient city is near the end of the line, Kheha BTS station. 

 

If you have to be in the big city, Samut Prakan is on the coastal outskirts of Bangkok and is affordable and not a bad place to live in my opinion.  And now very accessible with Skytrain. And Immigration is not as bad as portrayed in this discussion.  

You must be joking. Seriously what planet are you on? Samut Prakarn is a nightmare EVERY time regardless of the day, the time of day, or whether there was a holiday some day that week. You are a prime example of why the internet blogs are a complete waste of time. It's a ZERO SUM GAME. Every time someone makes a genuine complaint about anything at all, someone like you signs in to say it's all nonsense. Read other people's experiences above - are they all completely wrong? So you read the instructions? implying that nobody else did? Well I took advice from our Thai HR Department who telephoned Samutprakarn for all the requirements, and were NOT told about photocopies!!! 

On ‎12‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 9:58 AM, Kerryd said:

Just did my 90 day at Jomtien a little over an hour ago.

 

Was #3 for the desk, was done and out the door in 6 minutes (from the time they started calling numbers). Only need to bring passport (and previous 90 Day report slip). Barely had time to sit down in the chair when my number was called and then I was back up again and heading for the door.

 

And that is all it takes to be "legal" for another 90 days. Amazes me at how many people whine about it. I guess having to wake up, shower and put on some clean clothes once every 90 days is too much effort for some.

 

So because you are lucky enough to be registered in an area that has an efficient office, nobody else should "whine" about 2.5 hours in a crowded hot room? These people amaze you? One can only hope your eyes are opened by experience, by experience Sir!! Seriously though, why is it that some offices simply scan the passport while others require originals plus photocopies?? Why can't immigration be STANDARDISED throughout the country? Cant see them ever getting certification to ISO9001:2015 can you?

I see I am overdue my 90 days reporting again. I should have reported on the 2nd December, it's now the 5th, and today is a Holiday, so I will go on the 6th. In the past I have worked for firms that look after this for me, and allow me to do my job without worrying about immigration. Now however it's my problem. My wife's 90 days are offset from mine, so we will be at immigration every month and a half until we reset them bu leaving for a long weekend somewhere. However, - I digress. I have two questions:

1) What documents do I need to bring with me to immigration? - there have been changes recently I hear

2) Can I report 90 days at ANY immigration office, or do I need to go to the office that issued the Visa?

Much obliged for any answers

On ‎11‎/‎7‎/‎2018 at 9:36 AM, ubonjoe said:

Which office?

 

Did you get a receipt for the fines? If not then it was not a legitimate fine. 

I work for a Thai Company. We have many offices in Thailand, I work at all of them at different times. I registered as living at the Company Bangkok Address initially, which made sense as that was where my Work Permit was issued. It would help to understand EXACTLY what is the purpose of the 90 day sign on. If it is so they can always find / contact you, then obviously the Work Address would be unbeatable. However this does not appear to be the case. I signed on at various offices no problem (except minor fines for lateness - fair enough) However 6 months ago that all changed. Now we are registered at an address of a member of staff, in Bangkok. I am trying to get our HR department to sort this out finally. Since we arrived in Thailand we have always lived at the same address, HOWEVER our landlady is married to a foreigner and lives abroad. No chance of contacting her for papers she knows nothing about because the law changed after she left, and I do not know where she is (except for the country) I have her bank details in Thailand - where she still has an account - they will have no idea where she is either. So hence the difficulty.

19 hours ago, Laza 45 said:

Ha ha!!  I think what we have here is a scam..

I have been fined EVERY TIME I VISIT IMMIGRATION, no exceptions. I never know (except in one case) why I am being fined.

We have decided that we will ALWAYS leave the country (Hong Kong, Vientiene, Singapore - ANYWHERE) just before the 90 days is up, and have a weekend away. On our return we start the 90 days again.

22 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

You appear to have tried to make a 90 day report at an office that didn't issue your extension.

Had you made a formal notification in change of address?

 

'Their fault' translates to 'your fault' if this was the case.

What does any of that matter, either way it was my fault. There was no change of address. We used the same Immigration office we always use. 90 days previous there was no problem. (did get a small fine - but not sure why, still able to do the 90 days)

Thank you Jack Thompson

I am 66 years old, and working in Thailand for the past 8 years. My wife is here too, - she is a Kiribati Citizen. In May I will likely retire, and seek to obtain an annual extension of stay

based on retirement.

My wife is 31 years old. My question is can my wife also get an extension based on MY retirement? In other words can we both stay. We are legally married, and have the notarized marriage certificate. We can also demonstrate the requisite funds and income from pensions.

Thanks for any advice.

Been here 8 years, haven't been sick yet. Used to get annual colds in the UK, not here.

18 hours ago, Rc2702 said:

Vitamins may be subject to FDA and that will bump up cost and may incur further processing/delay/demurrage costs.longer you wait the more costs will rise and I would not be surprised if they change their mind and bump up cost due to the medicinal use factor. Dhl/UPS/TNT - reciever beware.

 

8000 baht bill was my lesson. Goods Value £150.

 

 

DHL asked for 1500 THB for a pen drive worth 50 THB, I declined and told them to keep it with my compliments.