orchidfan

Ah, thanks for that. i understand the procedure to follow (they said on a recent visit there on another matter, to allow at least 8 weeks to get the new pp), but didn't know about the stamp in lieu of letter business

Dr Jack....can you elaborate in the "except Oz" comment as I'll be getting a new OP towards the end ofthis through the Oz Embassy Bangkok ???

Unfortunately, it appears to be a "textbook" stall/spin. High altitude, low approach speed, tight turn.....then wing stalls, aircraft spins and at that height from terrain , inevitable crash. The ATR72 is a great and safe aircraft, if handled correctly. Very sad.

No, my wife (thai) and I (guilo) both have "Permanent Residence" on out HKID cards. But for Hong Kong only. But it's more than Thailand give no matter if your wife is Thai or if you work or how long you live there. No requirement (after the 7 years) to speak, read or write Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin ) in getting Permanent Residence status. Luckily most people here are multi lingual in Chinese and English.....including cops !

No, after the Chinese took it back in 1997. I'm sure the same rules apply today.

Hong Kong...see my post

Somewhat incorrect. I (and my Thai wife) lived and worked....me, not her... In Hong Kong for 15 years. After 7 years we could, and did, apply for PERMANENT HONG KONG RESIDENCE. (1 x A4 application form and 5 minutes interview ) Although we have a house and (me) yearly marriage extensions in northern Bangkok, we are able to come and live/work forever in Hong Kong, enjoying the near free medical facilities and services etc. No money in the bank required, or 90 day reports. No annual (or ever) visits to /from Immigration dep So, there are SOME places where you can do it!!

I'm on marriage extension. My Thai wife is away working as a chef 9/10ths of the year.... B100,000 per month. She does NOT have to be living with you. Just comes back to do the annual extension and home visit (mandatory in Pathum Thani). Of course I do the 2hr flight to visit her on a regular basis. She has permanent Residence there so no financial requirements, medical virtually free, polite English speaking people, no Immigration bs (I'm PR there too,) trains buses ferries etc run exactly on time, traffic obeys all the road rules etc etc . As she says, "why would I work in crazy Bangkok for?)

Do you mean "Australians" by any chance??

Same as there and their and they're. All sound similar but TOTALLY different meanings. I guess it comes down to early education ????

Col. Superprick. Certainly livng up to his name!

Yes exactly. That how my Thai wife and I both have Permanent HKID....just 7 years living there,apply and you've got it.(oh you have to declare that you plan to make Hong Kong your home etc) . But NO monetary requirements or future reporting or visits to / immigration. Virtually free medical. The way it should be !

I recall a cross border visit on the close Cambodian border.....back in the day before 12 month extensions... My wife being Thai was an avid gambler and so off we went to a Blackjack table at the "very available" nearby legal Cambodian casino. Luckily we were accompanied by a Thai copper (friend ) who worked at the border (Imm). She kept winning......I couldn't believe it! (She a Macao addict ) At 20,000 baht up, our "friend" politely suggested we should "leave now" ..... wife protesting of course, but I told her, "we're out of here" ..... and we did with the 20k and still alive.

Dr Jack, I like, and appreciate most of your helpful comments and advice.. But my imm office (PT) do NOT require the 400k to still be in the bank during the " under consideration period " (marriage ext). So with great respec, I would suggest that you qualify this that "certain" IO may demand it. It is NOT a written requirement. But perhaps CW is one of those (as you often refer to) as a rogue outfit. Cheers

Me too. Depart on 29th for 2 weeks. Need to keep the Permanent Resident status active.....many benefits.

My past experience setting up an Oz bank account for my Thai wife required all the same certified "proof of identity" . Basically notarised copy of her password done by the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. So don't think changing banks would help. So I'll just do the same with my passport and EMS it to Oz. Funny thing is the mailing address given is a "Reply paid *******, Adelaide, Australia 5001" I hope EMS can understand that address ???

Thanks, I'll try the mail in option 2 or so months before expiry. My 2023 extension of stay (marriage) will also terminate same day as my passport expires....from what I understand. So I need to have the new one.in hand to transfer the stamps and/submit everything for the next extension.

This Oz bank made it quite clear in their email.that IF I didn't provide the requested "proof of ID", but Oct 20th, all services (internet, mobile app, ATM etc) would be suspended (except inward deposits and loan repayments !). My fortnightly pension goes into this account and I transfer it via WISE to my thai bank. I gave them a call this morning to point out that I couldn't "pop in" to my local branch, and that of the list of acceptable persons they list for overseas customers, basically ONLY the Embassy /Consulate notorial would work. Also getting this done (let alone the costs) and sending to them by EMS or Registered mail by Oct 20th was probably impossible. They have kindly given me an extension until Nov. 5th. Big of them! No form of electronic submissions are accepted ((email attachments etc).

Thanks for that link Will. It means saving 2 long trips to the Embassy for the new passport later this year and more urgently, a certified copy of my (current) passport now being required by my Australian bank to "confirm my ID" (after having and operated the account for over 17 years !)