onera1961

54 minutes ago, Bears said:

Negative, the only paperwork I have is the income affidavit and can get my socialsecurity paper but not enough to meet the min. 65k

Agent agent agent. They are the savior, providing great services for umpteenth time to confused farangs. 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

It's really not correct to suggest O-A vs. O

Where can you get an O for retirement (not Thai family) in neighboring countries? What are the requirements? Do they want to see money in the bank (or "income letter' if available). Are these Os multiple entry for one year, leaving every 90-day?

 

40 minutes ago, fusion58 said:

I'm a U.S. citizen.

May be they are now scrutinizing everybody throughly and doing a search with interpol ????

19 hours ago, PGSan said:

I believe that this change was in response to some problems with staples, such as they can interfere with reading the chip now in many passports.  I certainly recall some years ago being mildly colder by UK guys for the staples in mine.

They stapled mine along with TM-30 and 90-day report in a passbook page. It does not interfere with chips. I like it that way. I once lost it but I was leaving the country, so I picked up one from the airline counter. 

17 hours ago, loumaripol said:

I submitted a TM30 prior to my renewal since I had been in Lao since my last TM30.

Did you submit TM30 as an owner of the property where you stay. Or do you rent it and submitted on behalf of the owner?

9 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's about whether if you did a recent application that was rejected,

To make an educated guess, I would like to know what happens when a extension is rejected? Is it noted on your passport. Are you asked to leave the country immediately? If it is marked in a passport, the agents may demand higher prices because they would know that you're desperate. 

On 1/18/2019 at 2:07 AM, MRToMRT said:

That is interesting. Especially with the Big J comments last week on the 10 year visa (which some believe may just be an extension of the current 10 year OX visa in terms of countries that qualify or age limits as there seems no cabinet approval issued for a new type of visa).

A 10-year visa with no age limit will help lots of people on perpetual tourist visas. 

2 hours ago, Drax said:

Im just wondering if I will be refused entry in the country once I visit it in 2 weeks as extension due to having a history of visa runs 2 years ago. The past few times I’ve been heavily questioned which is quite annoying despite having the correct visa and always taken out of the queue and taken to the place where they question people before deporting. 

Use a land border (except Poipet/Aranay) to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. Once you get the elite, you will be treated like an elite and don't have to worry. Enjoy your elite. Congratulations. 

10 hours ago, jacko45k said:

BUT you have to open a Fixed Deposit in an amount equivalent to your credit limit. (So not really a credit card).

It is a secured credit card. Not sure I will be inclined to get it unless it gives me some compelling benefits. Already have their MC debit card which I hardly use except for ATM withdrawal. 

2 hours ago, CMNightRider said:

I'm declining to deposit my monthly income into a Thai bank but thanks for sharing ????

The agent route is still open. I don't think Thai government needs to take everybody's money in case of an emergency. What an international scandal that would be. 

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Then why not get one of their MC Credit cards?

How do I get a MC CC? Can I get one? I don't have work permit and never had work permit in Thailand. However, I have more than 60 credit cards from USA, totaling close to a million dollar in available credit. Collecting CC is my hobby since I started job in the USA. How do I proceed? Just show up at the bank and ask for one? 

9 hours ago, Wazzzzzz said:

So you saying I shall be sure about return ticket ?or only other things which you mention in same post

No return ticket is required. 

The only advantage of a marriage extension is:

a) Does not have to be 50-years to apply for an marriage extension

b) Can get a work permit. 

The disadvantage

Lots of lots of ridiculous paper work. 

Wife can pull the plug if she desires.  

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You can bring in 25k USD undeclared. Your wife could also. Your going to get much better exchange rate in Thailand. 

I think it is kind of unsafe to take out 25K USD cash. Money could be lost, misplaced, etc. One thousand cash each should be sufficient. He already has a Charles Schwab card that he can use to withdraw money and the fees will be reimbursed. 

@ubonjoe has already outlined choices for him. If I were in his position, I would get an O-A visa, if possible, or an O (family) visa. O-A visa has the advantage of not requiring any extension for the next two years. Once in Thailand, you will have plenty of time to sort it out. Try to avoid entering visa exempt or on a TV. You will have less time to convert and it is more stressful. 

His wife with a Thai visa, does not need anything at all, except the passport. 

Unless one plans to work in his retirement at the age of 66, I don't see any advantage of getting an extension based on marriage. It is more paper works, unnecessary trip to immigration and amphur offices, and very time consuming and taxing for an aged person. 

3 minutes ago, Pib said:

Repeat process next month while begging on the streets to support himself because he can't spend that Bt65K...needs that to transfer monthly.  

What? Are you crazy? Who is begging on the street? But many people living on $1000USD can recycle the money and live of a 65K savings. 

7 minutes ago, bangkokequity said:

(1) Embassies are no longer furnishing income letters

Wrong. Such a self-centric view. Your embassy is not furnishing "income letters"

17 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is the same for every type of extension or a entry from a visa that allows a stay longer than 90 days.

Except entry using a smart visa

23 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

I remember Thailand Elite celebrating 5'000 members early 2018.

It is a good option for people 30/40 years old who have money and wanted to spend unlimited time in Thailand without the hassle of SETV or METV. I guess it mostly attracts westerners. Not sure if it will attract Japanese or Singaporean. 

9 hours ago, elviajero said:

They have to report their address like everyone else if they stay longer than 90 days.

No 90-day required for smart visa. Please check their requirements. Smart visa also does not require work permit.

https://www.interactivethailand.com/thailand-smart-visa-4-year-application/

I met an Indian on a smart T visa and he does not report 90-day. Yes, they have to go every year. But his company (lawyers in KPMG Consulting) takes care of it. He does not see any immigration officials. No requirement for reentry permit also. Spouse can work without work permit. And he likes to frequent Thermae ????

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

To applicants that have the proper documents. That has included embassy letters for income methods. Hopefully they will get with the new programs, but I'm not surprised if any office at this time says we don't do that, it's your problem, your embassy cut off the letters, not our fault, it's not on us, come back with an 800K bank seasoned application or ba-bye. Not surprised at all. 

You then find an agent who will ask 15K, including 90-day reporting. And you don't have to import any money. Long live the agents. 

On 1/25/2019 at 4:37 AM, Thomas J said:

Irrespective of whether it is 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months, isn't the system placing people in a catch 22 situation.  They can't open any bank account without a 1 year visa but are required to have a bank account to establish either the $65K baht per month pension or $800k baht deposit.

There are many ways to do it.

I opened an account with Bangkok bank using a Tourist visa and documents listed in their web site, including an embassy letter.

You can get an O/A visa from your home country eliminating any requirement for an extension for the next two years and take you time to open an account. If you at all desire. 

You can get a Thai (not a bar girl but with a a respected job like a teacher or a government job) to accompany you to open a bank account. 
You can walk around randomly to visit many branches and someone will open an account (most often quoted method in TVF but least practical way to guarantee any success)

You can pay an agent. 

If you're from an Asian country, you can buy an insurance to open an account. Very difficult for Americans due to FATCA

Remember the saying - where there is a will, there is way.

15 minutes ago, Date Masamune said:

in my own condo to an immigration officer at suvarnabhumi airport?

Can't you show a letter from Juristic office? Or a utility bills. And tell them you own the condo. 

19 minutes ago, CMNightRider said:

immigrations idiotic requirement to transfer your money

Hmm. Bashing TI is the past time of some retirees, I guess. Idiotic? They should be praised for allowing Farangs whose embassies f*** their citizens. Can these TI bashers tell me what else they could have done? There are plenty of options when people are not here in Thailand to access the money sitting in a Thai bank. Life is change. If someone can't adjust to change, they will perish. If they want to vent their anger, they should direct it towards their own country. 

11 hours ago, Myran said:

hen transfer it to the UK account with TransferWise or something (to use while in the UK).

Can't use transferwise. Use DeeMoney