onera1961

I am thinking of building a room and a bathroom in the back of my GF's house. She has a house in Banglamung with lots of lands in the back. Her mother also has a house in Sisaket with lots of lands in the back. Her Father also has a huge land in Kolat? She told me I could build a house anywhere I like but I had to pay for it. I think Banglamung will be better.

My GF has a house in Banglamung (in a gated community) with 2BR/1 bath. It has lots of land in the back. What it will involve adding a room and a bath in the back? A room of size no more than 10x10 (in feet)? Right now I have a rented condo in Jomitien and I live for 6-month only in Thailand though I rent the condo for the entire year. Making plans for future when I want to move permanently and possibly stay through out the year.  Don't want to buy a condo.

1. Does she have to take a permit from the Amphoe?

2. How much approximately does it cost to make one room and a bath room. My GF sys it will cost around 100K BHT. Is she right? A ballpark figure. 

3. Is there any recommended builder/contractor who can build it?

I don't care whose name is in it. My GF is OK if I pay to build the room.

19 minutes ago, luckyluke said:

it is hereby certified that

May be that's the catch. Thai officials like the word certify. They have no clue what is affidavit. They think it is just made up ????, and a large number of people from those countries do make up their income when you don't have to show document to get an affidavit. Lying is an unavoidable part of human nature to gain advantage. 

20 hours ago, MadMuhammad said:

You cant blame the banks for your friends lack of preparation 

True, but sometime it just slips away. If married, one must have wife access to the account. If single with a long-term girl friend, girl friend should have access to the account (by knowing the ATM number). If none of these applies, just keep 800K and have somebody in home country know about this with the ATM pin number. 

On 2/21/2019 at 10:13 AM, PAWNEESE said:

An agent did a talk at an Expats meeting recently in Pattaya. Reports on here were he said new regs not a problem. The meeting was only 300 yards from my condo ... so maybe I should have gone but I read the reports.

So expats meetings are now inviting agents to talk on what subject? To clarify the requirements? Should not they invite a senior IO for that? Or they are inviting agents to discuss if it is possible to get extension without money? 

1 hour ago, geoffbezoz said:

So you are suggesting all these extra tourists are arriving at midnight which is perhaps why all the other TV members who contradict you are not aware of all these extra Chinese millions who are entering during the hours of darkness ?

Most flights from China come in the wee hours of the night. Massive amounts of Chinese tourists are pouring in

Massive amount of Chinese and Indian tourist pouring in huge amount of foreign currency. Massive amount of FDI and foreign currency inflow into Thai stock and bind market. Baht is appreciating unabated. Soon it will be $25/USD (2022/2023). What would happen to lots of retirees whose income won't meet requirements? Only the 800K "money in the bank" people will be the winners.

1 hour ago, Pattaya46 said:

Agents now know no more than us

Sure they know more than you. The have access to the big bosses in Immigration. Have you earned the privilege of accessing the big bosses? In today's society you can earn privilege by spending money, by becoming famous, or by connections. Now it is your choice what option you choose. 

17 hours ago, ukrules said:

It's pathetic that they require photos outside the house.

 

For all they know you could pick some random house almost anywhere with the same number and take a photo of it.

 

Surely the documentation provided by the house owner is more than enough, in fact this is already way too much information, it doesn't matter where you live reall. Some people move house very often.

If everybody submits same documents, then there is no need for agents and people won't hire an agent, even if they could afford to,  to access privilege of less document. If I hire an agent I must get some privilege. 

On 1/14/2019 at 8:28 PM, Misty said:

Okay, thanks but none of that occurred. Company has 100% foreign ownership, and foreign business certificate, and all directors are foreigners, as per Thai law for this type of company.

Right, otherwise all multinationals will require Thai directors in the board. That won't be acceptable to multinationals, I think

Just smile, pay 6USD and get the hell out of there. What's the big deal? He is lucky to be born in America and managed to make a few dollars to come all the way to Thailand. He did not achieve anything by his own. His claimed privilege is based on place that made his earn a few dollars a this young age. In other countries people would be working hard to support families. 

21 hours ago, tomx2 said:

I can get a full medical checkup from my local MD. And bring a copy of my results.

They don't care full medical check up. Why do you want to do a full medical check up? 

You need to take the form provided in the embassy website and get your doctor sign it, stamp it, and if required notarize it. I applied in Washington DC and that does not require notarization. What the doctor does is between you and your doctor. My doctor did not do any thing. He looked at it, laughed at it and signed it. 
 

21 hours ago, tomx2 said:

Letter of verification stating that the applicant has no criminal record (verification have to valid for not more than three months and must be issued from a state or Federal Bureau of Investigation only. Online criminal record without authorization's signature is unacceptable )

They say it should be from at least a state level check. You could also request a FBI check.  Those online checks are not acceptable. If you want to take a chance, take a chance with your county police check. I went to my local county clerk's office and got one instantly for free. I got my O-A. Again this is from Washington, DC. New York may reject it. You should get at least a state level police check. 

21 hours ago, tomx2 said:

OK, so here is what I have.

Assets:

1. A bank Statement with a deposit of $85,000.00 in Checking/Savings.

2. Multiple Funds in a 401k plan worth about $1 million dollars. The Funds are eligible for withdrawal.

3. A pension savings plan having about $400,00.00. Contribution to this plan is still provided by my previous Job.

4. Statement from Social Security estimating my current monthly disbursement.

What do you think you should  provide? Using common sense I think 1 will suffice. If you meet minimum requirement, just show the document that meets minimum requirement. Why bother with other documents? 

I have an O-A from Washington, DC. What is lacking in today's world is common sense. Providing unnecessary documents to embassy, overloading and annoying their stuff and then complaining if it results in failure. No wonder the immigration in Thailand is pissed off and wants to avoid farangs and demand clean and concise agent submitted applications along with some tea money. 

42 minutes ago, jonwilly said:

Why does anyone use the 800K baht for retirement anymore. 

I am on an O-A visa. So my opinions are not biased for my advantage. I have started to form this new perspective recently. Let me tell you why 800K is better than any other options based on information I have gathered so far. 

Option 1. O-A: They may impose health insurance requirement in the future. They may increase the base amount to 1.2 or 1.5 million. In all cases O-A is a looser. 
 

Option 1. 65K/Month. Baht is getting stronger due to massive inflow of FDI, Chinese/Indian tourists, and in-flow of foreign currencies into Thai stick and bond market. By 2022, if Baht becomes 25BHT/USD, one has to import more dollar every month. 

Option 3. You bring 800K and put it in a fixed account for 1.5%. Currency conversion is over and no future effect due to rate fluctuation. Baht is not going to become weaker. If people are waiting for weaker Baht, they are dreaming. There is no reason for baht to become weaker. 

On 6/18/2017 at 9:40 PM, strikingsunset said:

Hi, OP here.

Thanks for the very helpful replies.

I note, this ( rolling) year I will be in Thailand 4 times, with a gap of circa 2 months each time and on average 3 weeks in Thailand each time.

So hopefully I will be  ' below the radar'

Cheers... 

You will be fine. 

2 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

In situations  where that  becomes  a reality the  winner will be the  Agents although  with possible co-funding with  select  IO.

Agents and IOs also have hope and aspirations to drive a nicer car or bigger house just like everybody on earth. An agent fee is only 25K which amounts to 2K/mont or $75/month. This is a paltry sum to buy the privilege of staying in Thailand. Your home country banks may be charging you that much money for two transfers of your money from your home country banks to Thailand using SWIFT and the CEO of the bank is vacationing in French Revieria. . It is not asking too much if they could smooth out the process. 

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

You need more than 800K to retire. You need at least 800K plus your annual expenditure, and easy access to other funds for emergencies. The new rules don’t change that.

How much more I need to retire if I would be drawing 75K/month from my SS at current exchange rate? Want to keep my finances planned

3 minutes ago, Coconut Kidd said:

Okay, so first time using 800k in bank I have to season 2 months? Correct?

It is nebulous. Do you whatever you could and report us what you find out from IO. You could use an agents in the first year if denied for some reason. But from the next year, start bringing 65k/month or season at least 400K for the entire year and 800K for the three months prior to your application, though the police order says three months but you never know what IOs want. 

Here is what TAT data shows. China is on the top

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

That advice is not really pertinent for the OP.

You may not be familiar with the O-A process for the London Embassy. The document collation, certification and application process are not straightforward and would take even the most efficient applicant over a week.

No I am not. But I wonder how long does it take to convert Tourist to Non-O and then extension inside Thailand? O-A is still the best option, though I am changing my views towards 800K in the bank method due to strengthening of baht unabated. 

1 hour ago, sumrit said:

Just had a message from Transferwise and the fees for a normal transfer are going down slightly. On a £1,000 transfer to Thailand, it's going from £.96 to £6.81.

When baht is becoming stronger

If you're already over 50, best is to get an O-A, otherwise it is OK to get an METV. I am not sure why a new passport is required. With an METV, you can fly to KL and then to Penang and then take a train to cross the border. Guaranteed no problem. 

The rule of the thumb is keep on doing whatever you're doing unless stopped and denied in the airport. Always ensure that you fly from Asia into Thailand (cheaper and if denied they will send you back to the last boarding airport). If denied start using land border (avoid Poipet).  That's all people can suggest here. Nobody has any inside knowledge of under what circumstances a person will be denied entry into Thailand. Close to 100,000 tourist visits Thailand per day. If they deny 0.1% people, that will be approximately 100 per day. Land borders are the safest (except Poipet) so far. Now take your chance. If you're unlucky, you will be in that 100. Otherwise everything is honky dory. Easiest will be to fly to KL and then to Penang (or directly to Penang) and take a train. That's the most modern convenience you'll get while entering through a land border.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

"5. In the case where an alien applicant does not meet the full qualifications stipulated by the criteria herein or in other cases not specified in this Order but a competent officer equivalent to or higher than inspector is of the opinion that the alien has legitimate reason for staying in the Kingdom of Thailand, the application shall be forwarded to the Commander of the Royal Thai Police or an authorized competent officer for further consideration of the alien's application."

Perfect, the gravy train continues. No wonder agents are not moved by recent announcements. They may be partying. More customers and legalized loophole to obtain privilege by offering money. 

1 hour ago, KhunFred said:

Agents are not a racket for those who need . help.

Agents are conduit for obtaining privilege. In today's society privileges are earned. One can earn privilege 1) by spending money, 2) by becoming famous, or 3) by connections. While 2) and 3) are bit difficult for most people, option 1 is easy for many as long as no body is breaking laws.