moontang

1 hour ago, JLCrab said:

It seems to me, lacking official guidance on the monthly income route to extension of stay, that the best thing you can do right now is to start putting 65K+ baht per month int a Thai bank account with an FTT transaction code next to it ... or just hang out in the grey area and wait.

Decent advice.  IMO, at minimum, they will want to see the income deposited in  a Thai bank account.  As witnessed here, many are racking their brains devising schemes to deposit and redeposit money in an attempt to show income.  It is unrealistic to believe that will be acceptable.  If that were the case, they would have never required the 400/800 to be in a Thai bank.  Many are trying to cheat the cheaters...Asians, as a group, are huge system players.  Even the lowest IO will know of attempts to pad financials, to obtain loans, or mortgages.  Sometimes, it isn't the criminal act itself, but committing the act as a foreigner and thinking you can get away with it.  Petty white collar crime?  Best to do that at home.  Start doing the 65k, and be prepared to top up three months before, just in case.  It is obvious that the dung will hit the fan in early January, as many don't stay on top of Immigration events, as the TM30 pleas for help are still happening three years after the first documented victims.

1 hour ago, Tanoshi said:

If you can't afford to keep that 400 or 800K locked in an account throughout the year and need it for living expenses, then just top it up 2/3 months before your next extension application date, I suggest you open a 3 month Fixed account.

 

Deposit the funds 3 months prior to extension application, baring in mind you may wish to apply 30/45 prior to renewal date.

 

It shows the date of deposit. The term, the amount and the due date.

No transactions, it's a fixed amount and doesn't need updating via ATM or branch.

On the due date and after your application has been submitted, close the account and transfer to your Savings account.

Nope..maturing FD during seasoning are problematic.

There would be 10 million software developers from India here, if it was easy.

2 hours ago, 5633572526 said:

I know this isn’t what you were asking but since you mentioned bad Thai food I would like to recommend a place called “Isaan station” it is a restaurant on the south side of town across from the railroad tracks. An absolute favorite of the gf and when we go to Hua Hin we end up eating there almost daily which is ok with me since it is a lot cheaper than resort food. Any taxi can get you there.

That is helpful, thanks. A shortage of places like that here, almost unlike any place I have been in Thailand.  I had a successful outing last night.  3 for 150 small Tigers on 80, then down to Bintabaht.  Took one of the massage girls all night..Bars were OK, not great, but way, way better than the action in CM.  Much better vibe than Udon, too.  She is mid 30s, a former coyote.  There were a few on 80 closing in on 60, but some cute ones, too.

80 for a small?  You can do that at Cowboy.  The videos showed some places in the 50-60 range for Happy Hour.  Last night it was so dead out here, my night concluded at 10:40 getting overcharged at Family Phart.  Could not find even the simplest of Thai food.  The girls (if you consider mid 40s a girl) seem more interested in sex in a closet than hanging out at a 10 million Baht house with a pool and some Smirnoff coolers in the fridge.  7km from Hilton..you would think I lived in Lopburi.

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

That is often the grey area mentioned - it is likely not legal if done to to circumvent foreign ownership laws.  Some Condo ownership is officially allowed.

Exactly...

3 hours ago, Speedhump said:

Ah. I own my house. Maybe it's different. 

If you owned your house; you sure as heck wouldn't need a visa....and if you are on some kind of grey area paper....best to be very low key about that.

8 hours ago, Mario666 said:

Only spent 1 week there earlier this year....Deffo recommend "Beer Goggles".....

 

Not planning on going back anytime soon, but all the girlie bars, freelancers and decent pubs are all within 5 minutes walking distance from each other.

 

My question is with so many better places to go in Thailand if you are looking for Tottie, why go back to Hua Hin....Also the beach is dirty and no good for swimming and forget driving a car as nowhere to park.

 

Chok Dee! ????????

A friend gave me his house for the week.. 

isn't that a big tax ripoff, where the 10,000 baht one sells for 89 bucks in the US?

On 11/16/2018 at 6:06 PM, Kerryd said:

I have a Fixed Term account with Bangkok Bank which auto-renews yearly at 1.5%.

I have never had a problem renewing my Extensions (in Jomtien) and showing a bank book that only has the initial deposit into the account, and the balance update (the day before I go for the renewal).

I have never been told I needed to show "activity" on the account.
They know the difference between a "Fixed Term" and a "Savings" account (though it seems some foreigners can't figure that out - just like they can't figure out the difference between a "Savings" account and a "Chequing" account).
The interest I earn can go into my Savings account automatically if I choose or be rolled over in the Fixed Term account. 

On 800,000 baht, you'd earn 12,000 baht in interest minus 2,000 in tax.
That leaves you with 10.000 baht which is more than enough to pay for your yearly Extension as well as a Multi Re-entry permit (5,700 baht total) and leave you enough for a decent night out on the town (or pay your electricity bill for a couple months maybe).

And yes - if you get a Fixed Term deposit at a promotional rate for a set period of time, at the end of that time it will renew at the standard rate. It isn't a "rip-off" just because you didn't check on it or ask about it before hand. I used to do those "Promotional Rate" deposits for years and it has always been like that. Bangkok Bank used to (maybe still does) "promotional" rates on Fixed Term deposits that were usually either 7 month or 11 months in length (not 6 and 12 for some unknown reason). If I wasn't around when the term ended, the interest would be paid and then the balance would get the "standard" interest rate (on 3 month "terms") until I started a new "promotional rate" account. 

And that is NO different than "promotional rate" accounts offered in some Western Banks - where you have to maintain a certain amount on deposit, or make regular deposits of at least a certain amount, or you lose the "promotional" rate and get the much lower, "standard" rate. (Yes, I've looked - because I also have money sitting in accounts back home that are not earning a lot.)

<snipped> 

Like I told dear old dad when he came over here 10 years ago. Having the 800k in the bank gives you peace of mind knowing that it's always there for your Extensions, or if you have a medical emergency, or if for some reason you decide to pack up and move back home - you'd have a decent nest egg to tide you over until you are resettled.

(And when he passed on - his Thai "companion" wasn't able to get at that money at all.)

And no - banks are not rubbing their hands together just waiting for you to put the cash in the bank so they can steal it from you. It's not even an urban legend - it's just plain bull**** but some people will grasp onto any excuse for why they can't - er, I mean "won't" - put money in a Thai bank.

 

There's a far better chance that your "relatives" will steal your money because they know your PIN and you leave your ATM card laying around all the time (but even they couldn't touch a Fixed Term account - you'd have to be there in person to make any changes to it.)

They don't issue ATM cards for Fixed Term accounts (at least not at Bangkok Bank) and even if you have internet banking and have the account listed - you can't make transfers
to/from it (I know - I have that with my accounts. I can check the balance on my Fixed Term account(s), check the interest rate(s), see if an interest payment has been made and that's it.)

Personally - I have the 800k in the Fixed Term account, the bank book is locked in the safe (and only I know the combo) and I forget about until the next time I go do my Extension. The day before I do the Extension I get the bankbook (and my passport) from the safe - go to the bank to update the book and get my Bank Letter, photocopy the pages of the bank book (showing your name and account number and the page showing the latest balance update), put the bank book back in the safe and forget about it for another year. (Though I will glance at the balance when I'm doing some internet banking, to see if the latest interest payment has been made.)

It really doesn't get much easier than that.

you are renewed at the current rate, at the time of renewal....you have no guarantee of what the rate will be in the future.   BBL has recently fallen more in line with the others, but never the best.

17 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

From a purely personal standpoint I prefer soi 80, though it is very quiet of late. You may also consider soi 94, not so in your face, and a variety of bars, as in some with girls, some without. Whatever you decide I hope you have a good time here.

Any freelancers on 94?

Planning a visit, soon.  What are your thoughts on these two places.  Is Bintabaht a tourist rip-off, or simply more upscale?  I am not new to Thailand by a Longshot, but haven't been to Bintabaht in 10 years...and never been to 80.  I know it has changed a lot.  Watched some videos and neither place looks great, but will be in the area for a week, so why not?

9 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

There's no ferry from Hua Hin to Samut Prakan as far as I'm aware. There's a ferry from Hua Hin to Pattaya but that's it for the moment. They keep talking about plans for other routes but none of them are operating yet.

Sorry, misread....I haven't seen mention of a ferry to Samut Prakan in the Post, but there is no shortage of illusions of grandeaur here, especially using others' money.  The current ferry did cease for a few months..claiming rough seas...1200 per trip approx...a little like super choo-choo..all style, little substance and very questionable sustainability.  So few of each side wants to be on the other side.

22 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

What does it do which the others do not please?

You can use any Thai bank, in any province, without any fee from either bank.  You can also use 6500 CIMB ATM in ASEAN without a fee....means nothing to some, but very useful for those frequenting neighboring countries.

First year and card are free, then 100 per year on subsequent years.

On 6/14/2018 at 7:09 AM, Chou Anou said:

Have there been any updates about the [kind-of] planned ferry from Hua Hin to Bang Pu (Samut Prakan)? I'm not holding my breath, but I'm really hoping that becomes a reality by the time I retire (2025) and buy a house in HH, since my gf already has an apartment not far from Bang Pu...it would really be nice for it to be a 2.5 hour trip as opposed to a 5 hours (adding an hour for getting through Bangkok from Samut Prakan).

The ferry is back up and running.,..

I can post a copy of my old BBL fixed book showing how they renewed a five month promo at 2.5 to a 1 year at 1.125.....that is the scam, and then I went in and got the new promo, at 2.6250 as the sign on the desk said, then was handed a book with 2.5...took my bag of money and went to CIMB, but still use BBL for transfers.

Now getting 2.7 and 3.1 on 12 and 24 months in the US...the trends are up, clearly..in both places.

1 hour ago, Antonymous said:

CIMB are advertising 2.4% for 24 months right now.

 

To open an account at CIMB I was informed (just recently) that you must provide address in your country of origin and/or 'a letter from your government'. No account without these, so not suitable if you've burned your bridges.

 

IB has Fixed account 1.7% interest for 11 months right now. Interest paid monthly into a separate savings account.

 

At Visa extension time I just add a little money to the Fixed account on the day of the letter. That shows in the same Passbook and you're good to go.

 

OP, interest rates may well have increased by next year so shop around again when you are ready.

 

 

 

I got 2.5% on a 24 month last week, but I have preferred status.  their equivalent of MTD pays 1.35%, and they have the best ATM card in Thailand.

I did not have a WP..of course not with retirement extension, but I have a yellow book from a place I sold earlier in the year.  They tend not to understand their own rules....sound familiar?  She mentioned the Thai person to come with you, and I told her that was BS.

1 minute ago, keithet said:

Not easy for me because condo owner didn't do tm30 and doesn't want to do because of fine I guess. 

It would be grounds to terminate lease with thirty days notice.

12 minutes ago, Speedhump said:

Why not do it online, it will show you the requirements in full and you can't make any mistake. I think it only you to enter the TM30 number, if my memory is correct (so that's not guaranteed). 

That is a feature not available to individuals...but is great if your apartment uses it.

In Udon, no copies, just checked my passport, but did look at TM30 and told me to get original for extension,,,quite easy.

58 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Now on page 188 of this thread....  But I think it's worth mentioning:

 

Anyone visiting Immigration with an extension of stay application based on an Embassy income letter who has an otherwise correct application denied during the remainder of 2018 because they won't accept your income letter DEFINITELY needs to report the details of that denial to the Embassy that issued your letter.

 

The British Embassy is still issuing letters until mid December, and the U.S. Embassy until the end of 2018. And those letters certainly should be accepted as valid by Immigration now and certainly at least while those embassies are continuing to issue them.

 

And beyond that, the embassies have said, and it's long been Immigration policy, that income letters are valid for 6 months from the date of issue, which would mean mid-2019 at the latest for British and American citizens who get them just before their embassies shut them off.  However, it remains to be seen whether Immigration is in fact going to continue honoring that 6 month period into mid-2019.

 

 

 

But what if they are accepting the letter, but not the supporting documentation?

In CM, Udon, and Nonthaburi; they want the original in your passport.... extension time is when they nail people.  I own my condo, so I just showed the chinote.  Others have done their own as a leaseholder, but you may need copies of the owners blue book and ID.  Some offices are requiring an appearance by the owner.  I would actually put this as a high priority, if not the highest, when finding an apartment.  Foreign owner, out of area, and maybe not paying taxes...could really suck.  I went in two years ago, a few months before extension time, and paid a 1600 fine in CM...there were quite a few Thais in there getting squeezed, too.

1 hour ago, Oztruckie said:

Renewed my extension to stay at jomtien last week, rocked up with all the forms filled out and signed, io looked at my Stat Dec, umm, she ask, you use Stat Dec last year, yes, last 2 years my reply, I go see my supervisor, stat dec not enough now, must show 800k in bank, she tell me next year no more stat Dec, must show 800k in bank, guess its more confusion about what's required

But, you did get your extension? And what embassy was your letter from?

1 hour ago, onera1961 said:

If one marries, does she get a social security number? Or she has to emigrate to the USA? May be they can go to the USA, marry in Las vegas, apply for a social security card. With a social security card, spouse will be paid 50% of his SS (when she turns 62 of course), without any contribution made to the system. 

I heard something about them having to live in the US for ten years..otherwise you would have old guys taking a girl back for a quick wedding, and permanently moving back to Thailand....