Saltire

I suspect many IO's are oblivious to the new system (see my post above) and are still using the old one.

The old system is still there and working, may be an option for some. Worked for me.

New system Pending since 4th Dec

So today I see there are 2 working 90 day websites.

On the 4th I registered and got access, completed an application and saw status is at Pending.

Still at Pending this morning, I called my IO (as I usually do to move the status to Approved), gave them my passport number but she told me she could not see anything for me. I was to call back later while she checked.

I opened the old system out of curiosity, and lo and behold I got to the Pending status here too.

I called back, she checked again and after a few minutes, approved my application. I downloaded the Next Appointment form it generates so I now have a new date in March.

In the meantime as I type the new application is still Pending.

This leads me to believe my IO did not get the memo about a new system and are still updating the old one.

If the new one finally gets approved, I will get a new, new appointment slip which should have the same date, so I am not too bothered now. Job done for another 90 days.

11 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yep have read about these backwater offices.

Which one. Care to share.

They need kick up the backside.

Do they check for TM30 when you do your extension. Should not be required. 

Kanchanaburi, small, friendly and very efficient. Never had a problem.

My latest TM30 is always in my passport but I can't tell if they look at it or not - maybe I will take it out next time and see if they ask for it? ????

The TM30 is done in another building by different staff so it's possible the IO's don't give a jot about it.

I only found out recently that this small TM30 office can issue certificates of residence for driving licence etc. Last time I renewed drivers licence I had to go to Bangkok to the UK Embassy for one! Always learning.

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Rules regarding TM30 requirements changed.

You are no longer required to file tm30 if returning to your usual residence after inter province and international travel. 

So you can stop doing that.

I am aware of this and this has come up in the forums before.

Each time I visit the office I ask if it's still a requirement and each time they say a big Yes. Asked last week while I got my renewal, no change.

Now my choice is to stop doing them and see what happens but for the sake of peace of mind and avoidance of a fine, I will continue to report, as, as I said it's not a major inconvenience. They still insist on my wife as 'landlord' being present too.

Just another example of the inconsistency from office to office.

Too many to read all posts but I am sure my views have already been expressed.

If I wanted to move out of Thailand it would not be because of onerous admin for renewing a retirement extension, as quite simply, it's not onerous.

Last week I renewed for another year, in and out my IO in 40 minutes. Sure you have to prepare. I set a reminder in my phone to start paper-collecting about 4 weeks before my expiry date.

I start with copies of stuff tht hasn't  changed then arrange for new photos, a medical and last but not least the on-the-day bank letter for the 800k proof.

I see many have a fair trek to their IO but as mine is 170 km there and back it should be a pain but again isn't as I only have to go in person once a year for the renewal. If I take a break in say Pattaya or Hua Hin they stil want a TM30 which I do on my way home as if I go anywhere it means almost passing the office. 90 days done online for 5 years with a few exceptions when I had a new passport.

If you are retired the time spent on this not really a lot in my view. I suspect other reasons for a departure.

For the OP good luck and I hope the grass is actually greener in your new home.

2 hours ago, NanaSomchai said:

Again, when was that? The biometrics are in full force since mid 2019.

Yes, August 2019, no one in my line in front was asked. Maybe on the blink. I motioned to the officer but he just waved me on.

7 minutes ago, Dambuster said:

Police Lieutenant General Pakpoomphiphat Sajjapan has also revealed that under new entry vetting procedures, Thailand’s Immigration Police can now halt any passenger boarding a plane for Thailand if the person is deemed a threat to the security and well being of the country. 
 

Someone may need to tell the good Police Lieutenant General that the Thai Immigration Police have no jurisdiction outside of Thailand and cannot halt anybody boarding a plane for Thailand while on another nations sovereign soil. 
 

Just sayin’

Agree this would be impossible, and would imply a member of the RTP was deployed at every airport with departures to Thaiand.

On a more realistic interpretation maybe they get advance passenger lists sent before departure, but even the process of checking before arrival would be a struggle too, operationally. Probably best to vet arrivals as now (or better than now).

Pre-covid the last few times I passed through swampy no one asked me to use the fingerprint machines.

Thanks,  here's a song just for the OP from my favourite Japanese girl punk band.

21 hours ago, mfd101 said:

So in my 'immediate' family of 20 people eligible for vax, only 3 have so far been done & they were working in BKK. Only when people start getting seriously ill and dying in the village will they move on vax.

This is pretty much what is happening in my village now.

After trying hard to get any vaccine for months, I finally got to join the first group of locals for SV/AZ 4 weeks ago. They had provision for 1000 jabs but as it turned out, I was number 179 and they would be lucky to have had 50 more that day, Now, mainly due to all the returners from Bangkok, Pattaya etc there is a local outbreak and the subsequent vax days are over subscribed.

I'd rather be a bit sick from a vaccine than a whole lot sicker from Covid.

Incidentally, 66, 3 stents 10 years ago, type 2 diabetic 10 years - no side effects from both jabs.

I see OP's gf has relented, good news.

Just for the record, (I don't need this monthly transfer option), I use the 800k in the bank, but if I did I would have to change my bank from Krung Thai as no Wise transfer using the 'long stay' option has ever appeared in my bank book as a foreign transfer, it simply states 'transfer'.

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I know this is a "tongue in cheek" thread, but if I may put a serious thought to it, I'd limit every woman to a maximum of 3 eggs, which would ensure the planet could probably never be over run with environment destroying, polluting, war making humans.

555

Or alternatively switch the ability to give birth from women to men - same result ????

On 9/23/2021 at 10:36 AM, Speedo1968 said:

I already drew up my Will some years ago

If your will is a Thai will and you are specific as to where you wish the monies in all your accounts should go, your executor/lawyer will go to probate court and about 2 to 4 weeks later the money should be released.

At least this is what I am told by my Thai lawyer. I have a separate UK will.

Also (not planning on an ealry demise) but with 1m in my KTB account, when I bring money over now I do a local transfer to the wifes KTB account. With Covid I find myself able to save a reasonable monthly amount. She will have enough to tide her over till that 800k+ account is released to her.

8 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

What does YMMV mean? Another poster who thinks he/she is texting.

Ha I had to google it too

Your Mileage May Vary i.e. you may have a different opinion.

I did mine on Saturday with no problems. Called them on Monday and changed status from Pending to Approved on the phone, as they usually do.

Coulld be dependant on your Imm Office, or other factors like did you get a new extension, or a new passport since the last one?

2 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

I often wonder do they hold meetings and check what they have said previously and how effective it went.

I've often though the same, and every time it makes me so glad I never had to work for a living in Thailand. Can you imagine how frustrating sitting at one of these committee meetings would be?

"who's taking the minutes?"

Silence.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

During a crackdown on middle easterners in the Nana area he was found walking the street and behaving suspiciously.

Obviously not walking like an Egyptian, what an idiot!

13 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

In my case I pay UK tax on all my UK pensions before they are paid into my UK account so under the double tax agreement with Thailand I don't pay Thai tax. I did discuss Qrops with my UK financial advisor which involves transferring private pensions to say Australia or an off shore bank and then getting them paid gross into my Thai bank net of Thai tax which is at a lower rate and it is here that transferring in the following year that it is earnt comes in  but I believe this applies to earnt income not pensions. I decided I was risk adverse and opted for taxing in the UK as I didn't fancy arguing the point with Thai Revenue. Qrops also allows for the entire pension fund to be bequeathed to my wife so a tax/ financial advisor can assist if you have a risk appetite. 

My FA made a blunder one year and I paid way too much tax. The rigmarole I had to go through to claim it back took about 3 months so I now avoid claiming a rebate, easier just to pay money owed online once a year.

I too considered QROPS but I too passed on that one. I felt it was too risky and to be honest didn't fully understand it. I like a simple life!

4 minutes ago, JetsetBkk said:

It's getting the money out of a pension fund or investment fund in the UK without paying more tax in the UK - that's my problem. 

That was my problem, all I could do was minimise the tax over a longish period.

I took the 25% tax free lump sum from a SIPP and lived off of that for 3 years (in Cambodia).

After that I drewdown just enough each year, to live and keep close to the annual allowance. That worked for 7 more years until my pensions kicked in. Now I have no way of reducing my tax bill but as it's not much, I will live with it.

17 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Do you do a tax return in Thailand?

I have an accountant in Scotland, I send him all the info he needs, P60 etc and he submits. I sign electronically,''

I have 3 UK pensions, all are received untaxed at my request into my UK bank.

Their combined value is above the UK personal tax allowance, so I do an annual tax return and pay monies due each tax year.

Pretty sure  this is the normal procedure.

9 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

Whenever an AirBNB owner cancels it lists it under reviews along with how many days before the booking they cancelled so that way you know when an owner is canceling often.

Thanks, that is very useful information.

I live in a predominantly migrant farming community where non-Thai used to number about 70%.

Many have long gone home due to covid so yes, the landowners are struggling for labour.

My wifes brother has a one-man music/PA hire business and pre-covid was kept busy at gatherings of all kinds. Now that has all but dried up. No house blessings, very few weddings and not so many funerals as he had expected.

However there is ALWAYS work to be had here, and during slack times he joins the crew in the pickups and heads off to work on a farm somewhere. Recently he had a full month's work at 400 Baht per day planting new rubber trees, so made about 12k Baht, probably more than an average month at his music events.

The only problem now he has also joined in the 5 PM Hong Thong/Lao Khao brigade on a nightly basis but at least he is not lazy.