DrJack54

4 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Yes....I posted the 7000k "gig".  You didn't even take the time to click on the link I provided which gave a price list which CLEARLY mentioned 7000 baht as the fee for processing a Non-O or a Marriage Visa. You don't even have the ability to LOSE gracefully. Try that tactic on Thai Immigration. They would appreciate the entertainment, since they don't do much of anything else.

Maybe you didn't get to read all posts about this irrelevant op. Maybe deleted. There was no link provided in your op or subsequently. I ask you again to provide serious information about a reliable agent service. With present confusion regarding income affidavit from some embassies, an informative post would be very welcome. Sadly your recommendations are zero and of no substance. Post again with more detailed information that can assist members previously using monthly income.

3 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Here is the "serious rubbish" which the mods will probably delete because the agent has not bought advertising.  https://www.pattaya4all.com/retirement-visa-pattaya/

I never claimed to have "plenty of funds", another distortion. I claimed to have MORE than the required 65 thousand baht a month. You simply want to argue on topics that you know nothing about. Most expats use the monthly income method, that is a matter of public record. Have you thought about applying as an official spokesperson for Donald Trump? Your inability to correctly quote and remember facts and pull "alternative facts" from your rectal cavity, would serve you well in that position. However, you are probably British, judging by your argumentative nature, so you probably wouldn't qualify.

Sometimes when you type/talk to someone and realize they are not relating to their own OP, just time to shake your head. You posted the 7000k gig. Put up or shut up.

4 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Not into my SCB account, it just shows as a normal domestic transfer. 

I think were missing the point. IO relies (previously) on embassy letter or 800k in bank for 3 months. I've done the bank method for several years. As mentioned previously, when in au, I bring 25k USD. I always bring my withdraw statements from my au accounts etc. I have never been asked in 7 years to show where my 800k baht came from. 

53 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

I have NO "confusion" regarding the visa process. I get my information from this forum and from immigration. Frequently, the two sources give conflicting information, such as the IO who told me last week that I would need to get an income affidavit when I apply for my renewal next October. As far as "easily verifiable"....would a passbook savings account clearly showing deposits in excess of the requirement, not be "verifiable"? Have you . considered opening a Monty Python-style "argument clinic"?

Is this a serious post. Stop with the " verifiable etc rubbish". If your embassy is prepared to issue you "income letter" next October, then fine. However you mentioned you have plenty of funds. Just put 800k in your Thai bank. You post serious rubbish about 7000baht visa service, with zero info, back up etc. Then post your personal means of extension completely unrelated. 

Best you ring 911. 

15 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

OK...but my original question is still WHY??? Is the requirement B800,000 "seasoned" in a Thai bank account for 3 months or is the law/rule/requirement that there also be activity on the seasoned B800,000 account?

 

IMO...I've already summed it up, which isn't difficult. Ridiculous random rules by random offices in the Land Of Ridiculously Random. ????

Calm down. Fact is in reality the day you apply for your extension you could have have bank balance zero. Having withdrawn after obtaining letter. I agree with you. But its their rules. Not hard. Try living in Vietnam. They don't even have retirement visa. You leave every 3 months. 

We can bounce this around. After this I'll stop. I just did quote live on my OFX ac. Same as trànsferwise.

Live market 23.6442 (unavailable to public)

Superrich 23.55

OFX deal on 3000aud deal 23.1335

Not a Google deal a fixed deal if I click it. Then the deal cost added to that quote. 

1 minute ago, sometimewoodworker said:

No they don't. They also have a rate that is somewhat less than the mid market rate and is slightly less good than the superrich buying rate once you factor in the fee payable.

 

I did a comparison and for a transfer of £9,000 you would get about 1,200 Baht more using £50 notes at superrich.

 

of course that doesn't factor in the inconvenience of exchanging cash compared to the convenience of a transfer you can do from your chair at home.

When I started this thread earlier today I did an example such as yours. This morning the "live share market rate was 23.63baht/ 1aud.

The company I sometimes use OFX was 23.30. Superrich 23.55.

I got the OFX rate (same as tranferwise) on a live deal quote of $10000aud. Would of been worse rate at say $2000. 

My point. If I'm in position to bring cash in I'm losing about 2000 baht + the companies deal cost. 

Point of thread was to point out how much is lost over a year. The above example was only for 10k aud. 

No substance, no real meaning op. No first hand account. Not even friend of a friend tale. Nothing.

I'm not qualified to talk about Thai taxation. However think some are confusing taxation here. Personally I (like many) have an income stream from my superannuation, rentals etc. I PAY taxes on all my income in Australia. The taxes have been paid to au government. The money is earnt there, not in Thailand. I'm happy to stand corrected but I am just spending my after-tax monies in Thailand.

37 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

What's with the "small deposit" suggestion? Assuming just another silly and meaningless requirement at hit and miss IO's in Land Of Scattershot. 

Often you need to show "activity" on day of extension. Most people deposit 100baht. I obtain bank letter at CW. The bank charges 200baht for get letter. 

Kerryd, you make some good points. I also use the 800k in Thai bank. Only difference is, after the extension date I start using the money. Some people visit home country each year (I do), point is I physically bring with me cash 25k USD  each time. The difference in me bringing in cash and converting here is often between 0.5-1.0 baht per aud. (I mentioned USD before because that's the maximum before need to declare). Then there's the savings on transfers etc. On that sort of money im often 30k baht better off. I'm au. No one can completely acurately forecast exchange rates. However domestic interest rates are going in opposite directions in USA and au. Also the au government wants a weaker aud. In feb when back in au upon return will bring in another 30k au because rates end of 2019 expected to possibly be 22baht+. Point is with money in bank method you can let your money accrue in home country from pensions/investments etc. Then bring/transfer when it seems best.

The guys using the monthly income deposit into Thai bank might see better alternative if it suits their situation.

Thanks for the report. I did mine at CW few weeks ago. I might add couple of tips to your op.

Download the TM7 days before. Fill it all in before arriving. Walk straight past the hoards picking up filling in forms. Go straight to counter for L ticket.

My "address map" was just a condo flyer with printed map on back.

As for the reentry permit. I never even bother with it. Not worth the wait. I obtain same at airport when flying out. Again download tm8 have it already to go and process most times takes 5 mins. Oh BTW there is bus #52 from mo chit to CW. 8baht. Then short walk or free shuttle to imm building. Going back best to use taxi

"Hidden costs" was a bad choice of words. What I meant was costs overlooked by a lot of us (including myself) in relation to transferring our money from home country to here. 1/Bank to bank (international). 2/Money transfer companies such as OFX (money transfered in your home country to their account then transferred to Thai bank in baht). 3/Physically bringing cash from overseas here (not suitable for most). 4/Other methods. The difference in all methods is not minor. One of the biggest differences is exchange rates for the various methods.

This op isn't meant to be one group versus other using the above mentioned options. Presently many threads running regarding some embassies no longer providing affidavit letters. My question has anyone actually investigated the cost of various ways of living in los on non o extensions. I'm interested in monthly deposit method (hidden costs). Transfer costs from o/s and more significantly poor exchange rate, etc. The 3 month bank deposit has costs also. Many like me accept zero interest (yes I know term deposit possible). Cut to chase nothing is free. It all pans out costing to various degrees. On my calculations, monthly transfers from o/s is not a good option. Happy to stand correct (without the stone chucking).  Some people even asking where should they move to for easier regulations. Few in various threads mention Vietnam as one example. I get 4 multiple tourist visas there every year. Geezus they don't even have a retirement visa. 

52 minutes ago, Amusements said:

Title of the thread?

Title of thread gives little.

There is zero detail of op giving advice and info to helps other members interested in extension based on retirement. Not even mention of income monthly or bank deposit method! Zip

All these posts about muggings. Geezus...I would be more nervous about being robbed in Melbourne cbd. Check yesterdays repots gangs of melb. In any event none of this is remotely related to the OP. He most likely need a visa "to get my stuff". As few members have posted the 20k isn't the issue.

I would rarely not have 10k on me Day to day. So having  20k to enter Thai means your going to get robbed. Good one. 

Based on your report, it would seem that folk need to be prepared to use the 800k in bank method at some point. Think this would be a more simple process in any event. Keep in mind the 800k only has to be in bank 3 months. Then use it to live off next 9 months. Repeat. Not hard. I wonder if some people have included all costs for monthly deposits into Thai bank, with banks poor exchange rates just to name one. Bit more warning would have been nice for some xpats to organize the funds, however its not a huge amount. Not possible to come up with 800k, as I've said many times use an agent. Not huge cost per year.

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

 Because a few months ago the Thai government made AIRBNB illegal in Thailand.

 

No point in arguing why, it's now cearly the law.

First of all that's so not the point. Put airbnb legal or not aside, this guy is just having a stir. Either that or just plain foolish. He can do zero work, period. Probably would not get caught but that's not what he asked. As for airbnb...I live in bkk 7 yrs. Right now I'm having a break in phuket. Just left Kamala stayed airbnb. Had one night phuket town agoda. Today checked in Nai Yang beach AIRBNB. Look em up if you, not hard. Japan recently made airbnb need strict licence. I go there few times a year. 80% airbnb listings dropped off in Japan. But Thailand is not Japan. Point is, plenty of airbnb in los. Note, they ain't much cheaper often than hotel sites. This is all irrelevant. OP cannot WORK.

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

One of the better more intelligent ( and honest) posts I have read on this.

I do not get live in a place because the Visa is easier??

You are talking about your life and lifestyle which are much less in some of these places mentioned.

And on the big picture, none of these other places are that much less expensive.

If I was pinching pennies for Visa reasons I would do what I could to save up and use an agent here.

I had ruled out posting again in this thread because about 14 pages ago i posted #3ish, "use an agent". Some of the above posts about Vietnam etc, I have found interesting. I agree with a couple of members above who enjoy Saigon. I find it great joint for break from bkk. I go every 3or 4 weeks for last 5 years. Now to the point.

Lot of people have been stating " easy visa rules in Vietnam" please direct/advise me how you do that, because being AU, I do not have the visa exempt many countries receive. I cannot get the 12 month available ONLY to USA. (BTW expensive). Next wed I go again and need new 3 month multiple anyway, I don't find it east at all. I contacted a "visa agent" to be fair I'm the one that suggested business visa. (In fact asked same q in visas to other countries forum") zero replies....anyway I said..."I don't have a sponsor letter, in the main because I'm not doing business" he replied .." No problem. We get you a business visa, one month, to enter then obtain a temport resident card" Something like that. 

Then we get you annual ongoing business visa. 

Guess what....I'm using an agent, same as most likely op would use if he moved to Vietnam. BTW I can imagine this costing more than staying in Thailand and using agent for 800k in bank, I suggested in post 3

This thread reminds me of the book catch 22

If it was me I would just suck it up. The money is gone. This will sound bit nasty, but you sound bit naive. I mean when you buy say a plane flight etc, you are offered insurance. No insurance ticket money is lost. Many many examples similar. I recently booked hire car Thailand and opted for the "discount pay in full option".. result lost my funds. No problem. I accepted. Would appear you were not fully aware of conditions. Even if you were, as one member mentioned, this ain't the west.

On top of all that your Mrs was already ill  and the plan was some study some passive Muai Thai. Money gone move on.

You have it covered. I was at CW few weeks ago. Surprised when they asked for map. I had condo flyer with printed map. Some offices require a hand drawn map. Next year I indeed to take hand drawn, and flyer, and Google map print out. They can take their pic

OP make sure you get a reentry permit. Hassel to go to bkk imm, just get one when you fly out to India. 

As has been advised already, you won't have a problem. For rental of condo etc, sometimes smaller info provided is better. As for accomm personally I wouldn't mention I have one booked for 3 months etc. Perhaps a booking for first night for ease of showing address and from there you plan travel Thailand. As for your question about how long out of Thailand. The simple answer is more the better. 2 weeks out (as you did previously) is typical of someone travelling as a "tourist" and doubtful would be working in los