Peter Denis

First of all I'd like to thank once again all the TV-Forum members who made the effort to respond on my query with answers, suggestions and recommendations.

The comments were helpful in clearing my mind on how to proceed.

In conclusion:

1. Continuing with back-to-back METVs is no option as it will become increasingly risky for being denied access.

2. I need a long-term non-tourist visa.  I meet all the requirements for an O-A retirement visa except for providing proof of income/salary of the last 3 months before application.  That strange - probably incorrect - requirement is imposed by the Thai Embassy in Belgium when applying for such a Visa.

However, due to our discussion it suddenly dawned on me, that I can meet that requirement by simply using my own 1-man company to transmit me the equivalent of +65000 THB at the end of March/April/May referring to it as salary for my services.  As I would do the O-A retirement application somewhere in June, that would work out fine.

Problem solved (with a little creativity)....

Thank you Elviajero > crystal clear!

1 minute ago, jmd8800 said:

I don't know about Belgium but in the USA if you don't have income, you can show money in the bank (in your country not Thailand) for an O-A. 800k and/or combination of bank and income last I looked.

Yes, and takes makes sense.  But the Thai Embassy in Belgium requirements for an OA state monthly income AND money in the bank, which is not logical.  And this is different than what the Thai Ministry itself posts on their website. (they mention OR).  I already contacted the Belgian Embassy about this some months ago, but did get a response which clearly showed they did not understand (or did not want to understand), and after some time I did gave up.  But it looks that I will need to press for a clear response as I do not want to run the risk of applying for the OA knowing full well that I do not meet the monthly income requirement.

2 minutes ago, Date Masamune said:

 

Read the OP he can't get the OA in Belgum.

Yes, that's correct.  I meet all the requirements for an OA except that I cannot show income/salary slips of last 3 months as I stopped working.  I also don't understand why they impose this, because it blocks the application for people like me who have more than enough money and hence do not need to work anymore.

2 minutes ago, jmd8800 said:

Look into getting a Non-Immigrant O-A in your home country. Your problems will be solved for almost 2 years.

OK, I will look into that option!

Thanks a lot!

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, did you read thaitero post. Can you place 800k baht in Thai bank

Yes, and thanks to both of you!

I did not know of that possibility.

The 800.000 bath is no problem, but opening a bank account with my present METV might prove difficult.

Also, where to apply for such conversion?  Is that in my home country or at my local IO?

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

An METV is tourist visa. They will issue them but that does not mean you won't have trouble entering at bkk airports. You asked about border crossings. You will OK with that but from Belgium you intend to fly to nearby country? 

Thanks for response.

Normally I fly to Suvarnabhumi airport as that is the most convenient to enter Thailand from my home country.

What do you consider the probability that I would be denied entrance?

If that probability is high I could consider flying to Cambodia and entering at a land crossing (I live relatively close to the Chaam Sa Ngam crossing).

But that would be a hassle, so if my chances are 90% to enter without difficulty at Suvarnabhumi, I would prefer that option.

Hi guys, looking for some advice/recommendations for my situation.

Some background:

> I am 61 years old and since October 2017 I am living in Thailand with my thai girlfriend.

And I am using back-to-back METV's, with border-runs/visits to home country in between. 

I will have to wait 1,5 more years before I can apply for a 'retirement' visa, because the Thai embassy in Belgium - my home country - requires a.o. that you provide income/salary-slips of the last 3 months when you apply for such a visa.  But I do not have these.  I stopped working since I am in the lucky circumstance that I do not need the money and have more than enough on my bank-account to bridge the no-income period till I will get my retirement pension (in 1,5 years).    

So in the mean time I am here on METV's.  I am now using my third METV, which will expire end of april, and a border-run at that time will allow me to stay till end of June (and with extension to end of July).  Then I will go back home and will apply for my 4th METV.

> Reading the posts on the TV forum I notice that it seems to get increasingly difficult to stay long time in the country with a tourist visa like I presently do. 

I never experienced any problems or even got any questions when applying for the METVs or entering Thailand.

My questions:

1. Is there a limit to the number of back-to-back METVs one can apply for?

2. Can you be denied entrance at the border with a valid METV (and carrying the equivalent of +20.000 THB + hotel booking for first days)?

If so, are there points of entry to avoid?

3. In 2018 I was more than 180 days in Thailand (approx 270 days), and it looks that in 2019 I will be even longer in Thailand (approx 300 days).  

   Can such long stays on valid tourist visa cause problems?  And when checking the number of days you are in the country do they start counting from each calendar year?  Or can you be denied based on your previous staying history?

4. Applying for an Elite visa would be too expensive, but are there for my case my other options than applying for an METV?  Note: I do not yet meet the requirements for a retirement visa (see higher)  

Thanks in advance!

When I need to book a flight I first browse 1 or more 'flight search' engines like Skyscanner or Matrix-ITA, and have them present the options in the order of cheapest first.

The cheapest flight is most often not my final choice, because you also need to consider factors like trustworthiness of the carrier, no more than 1 stop, total flight-time, convenience of departure/arrival time, luggage allowance, etc.

When I made my choice, I then go directly to the airline's website to make the actual booking.

Be aware that the closer to the actual departure date, the ticket-price tends to increase and lowest economy-options will often not be available anymore.  So best to search/book approx 1 month beforehand.

Note: In case my departure date is not 100% sure e.g. I might have to postpone to 1-2-3 days later, I normally make use of a travel agency.  When you booked yourself on the website , you have to pay a sometimes hefty fine for changing your ticket.  But travel agents seem to have more options and you can sometimes change at no cost at all a couple of days before departure, which is quite useful if your departure date needs to be flexible till last minute.

Two boxes is 24 bottles.  But not really a surprise... 

So why not give 1 box (12 bottles Chang) and 2 cartons (6 bottles Chang). 

But also give 6 different beers, so that he can change taste from time to time (and maybe discover he likes one more than Chang).

Suggestions for the 6 different ones: obviously not the regular brands like Leo or Singha, but non-Thai beers like Beer Lao, Federbrau, San Miguel, Tiger, ... (all of these are appreciated by most beer drinkers).

It's impossible to give sound advice, without the OP providing more details and preferences.

How long are you staying?

Do you want a sight-seeing or relax vacation?

North (mountainous), Central (main land), South (beaches) and North-East (rural) are very different and each of these destinations is worth more than 1 trip.

>> Make an approximate plan with timing and main destinations you have in mind, and you will get good advice.

1 hour ago, phantomfiddler said:

I would advise not going looking for taxes to pay. If they want some they will doubtless come looking ????

It depends on your financial situation.  RodtheSod posted an interesting piece on that a couple of days ago.  Might not be applicable for your situation, but worth looking into >

I have no earned income coming into Thailand so I am not liable to complete a tax return nor register for tax. But I do....

Why? Firstly, I can reclaim the withholding tax on my 800k Time Deposit (currently worth TB1,800p.a.). Secondly I feel that I have done everything I can to make my presence known to the authorities with nothing to hide, but thirdly, and most importantly, I can get Tax Residence letters from Thailand which I use to reclaim withholding tax on dividend income from Switzerland (currently worth circa TB100k p.a.).

The Tax man did look at me rather strange when I volunteered to complete previous years tax returns and pay the late lodgement penalty even though I had no tax to pay, but he did see my logic in doing it to get the Residency Letters.

Hope it helps someone out there....RtS

14 hours ago, Lancashirelad said:

Why not just pay the small additional amount to increase the luggage allowance with the budget domestic carrier at the time of booking ?

Two (possible) reasons:

1. Because it is still at least half cheaper to have it send by ThaiPost instead of increasing your luggage allowance at the time of booking.  And of course much cheaper than paying the overweight luggage at time of checking-in.

2. If you plan to do some sightseeing in the area of your domestic airport, it might be interesting to have the overweight luggage sent directly to your final destination so that you do not have to carry it around all the time.

>> Obviously my TIP is only worth the effort, if you are talking +10 kg of overweight (or if you did come in with 2 bags and are only allowed 1 bag on your domestic carrier).

Ubon Ratchathani > Nartsiri Hotel (best value hotel I have ever been in - squeaky clean, all comfort, very good buffet breakfast > 850 THB for double room).  It is situated in quiet area but close to city center.

I also liked very much Nan and Mae Hong Son in North Thailand.  And Nong Bua Lamphu, Loei, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan in Isaan. If you stay little bit out of the center, you are by definition in a quiet place.

All of them (including Ubon) not very touristy but nice and interesting.

At age of 43 you cannot get a 'retirement' visa, you have to be at least 50 years old and meet the financial requirements.

Some posters suggested the Elite Visa option, but that's a very expensive method and only worth considering if money doesn't matter at all.

A worthwhile alternative to consider would be a applying for an METV (multiple entry Tourist Visa).  That would allow you to stay 6 months + 60 days + one additional 30 day extension in Thailand (almost 9 months).  However on an METV, you will have to do a visa run every 2 months.

When you live relatively close to a land border point or enjoy visiting neighbouring countries over land or by air, an METV would be a good solution.  But it does mean that you have to go back to your home country at least every 9 months (to apply for a new METV, which you can only get in your home country).  If you combine this with visiting family/friends, an METV is worth considering. 

The additional advantage being that you will not be harassed by Thai immigration for too many visa exempts. 

Trust your own judgement and don't go by what others say.

That you met in a bar or club, doesn't mean she's not the one for you.

As others commented: there are many and genuine reasons for ladies to have to work in a bar.

It's obvious you like her, so give it a chance.

Good luck!

When you fly to Suvarnabhumi Airport with an international carrier like Emirates or Etyhad you will normally have 30 kg luggage allowance + 7 kg cabin luggage.  But when you fly on with a domestic carrier like Lion Air, NOK Air, Air Asia or Thai Smile, the luggage allowances are much smaller (typically 15 kg).  In most of the cases you cannot send luggage through to your final domestic destination and have to pick it up in Suvarnabhumi and check it on in your domestic carrier.  Instead of paying the hefty overweight charge, you can opt to send some of the luggage with ThaiPost.  A ThaiPost office is conveniently located at the end of row 24 at the Suvarnabhumi departures hall, and it is quit cheap to have your overweight luggage packed and sent to your final domestic destination (approx 300 THB for 15 kg including the packaging box).  And typically the package will be delivered  the day after or max 3 days after you sent it.  So if you have 1/2 hour between arriving and check-in for your connecting flight, that's an option to consider.

Since I live almost 100 km from the domestic airport (Ubon Ratchathani) doing so, not only saves me money but I do not have to carry the luggage I did sent with ThaiPost as it is delivered at my door.

Victoria Bateman is a nice and fearless lady and literally shows the naked truth on Brexit!

> https://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2019/feb/15/owen-jones-meets-the-naked-anti-brexit-protester-we-are-a-nation-of-prudes

I stopped working at 60 and live in Thailand now making use of the ME visa option (living close to the cambodian border makes it easy to do a 2-monthly border-run).  I have enough funds but unfortunately cannot yet apply for a retiree visa as one of the - illogical - requirements from the thai embassy in Belgium for such a visa is that you need to demonstrate both enough funds (over 800.000 THB) as well as proof of monthly income.  But as I stopped working I do not have such monthly income, and hence have to wait till I am 63, when I will get my monthly pension.  The moment I have at least 3 monthly pension payments I will apply for the retiree visa.  To answer the survey question > I am in the lucky circumstance that parking 800.000 THB or more on a thai bank account is no issue.  And that's what I will do, so there will be no problem demonstrating that I meet the requirements for extension of my retiree visa once I have it.  But I do feel for the farangs who do not have 800.000 THB 'spare money' and are now in the rather difficult position to cough up 400.000 THB and will be confined to make use of the 'agency trick' for the remainder 400.000 THB. 

Visiting her sister and yourself is a very plausible and good reason for her trip.

Do you know the reason the earlier application you made was turned down?

Bear in mind, that most of the requirements are there to satisfy the concerns of both UK and Thailand re her visit.

UK will be concerned that she would not be able to support herself during the visit or that she will not go back to Thailand.

Hence the need for yourself to demonstrate and declare that you will take care of all the costs involved, and for her to demonstrate that she has an incentive to go back to Thailand (e.g. if she has children or a husband in Thailand).

Thailand will be concerned that she will not be exploited, hence you need to provide a plausible reason for her vist and demonstrate that you have a clean record.

In a private message I did sent you the invitation letter I used to (succesfully) invite my then Thai girlfriend to Europe, as well as some tips that can be handy.

Success!

Hi from your history, it should be no problem at all.

But to give you any advice on possible options it would be helpful if you told us where you are staying in Thailand.

A possible option is to use TransferWise (best rates - midrate / small handling fee / quick processing / fully transparent) and have the money sent to a Thai friend / someone you trust who has a Thai bank account, and who can withdraw the money in cash once it arrived (usually next working day) and hand it over to you.