Mike Teavee

34 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

According to her indoors the law is there has to be more than one entrance/exit to the any project, the office cat would have known that, 

Almost all the major developers in Bangkok pull one stunt or another they employ people fix it should it be needed,  

A golfing trip to America and a day out at Poseidon should fix it 

I thought I read some time back that it was something to do with the size of the access road (e.g. if you had a small condo with 20 units you can get away with a much smaller access road than one with 580 units) & they have had to use part of the BTS land to meet the requirements. 

If was the case then I'm guessing the "Remediation" could be to reduce the number of units to a number that allows them to have an access road without using the BTS land. 

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I have another "fun" sort of related question.

Many of us with U.S. credit cards do so while posing as U.S. residents and not revealing that we live abroad. 

Suppose you get a Thai credit card either a regular one or secured by a bank account deposit.

In that case, you would of course be giving them your Thai address.

Couldn't that cause a problem with your U.S. credit report as you're telling Visa or Mastercard that your residence is in the U.S. in one case, and abroad in another?

Visa & Mastercard are just the "Networks" that banks/merchants use to carry out transactions & as such don't have any of your Personal/Address details and the US/Thai Banks would not exchange personal/address details unless for some reason you asked them to. 

So having a Thai credit card would have no impact on your US cards (If it ever did, then chances are a lot of people would be screwed anyway as Bangkok Bank uses Mastercard Debit cards).

3 hours ago, gargamon said:

Thanks. Better you wasted the time than me. I was thinking about the last Nicholas Cage movie I saw that was watchable. Can't seem  to find it. Cage had the ability to replay time and modify his actions to achieve the result he was looking for. Maybe someone else can identify it. 

Next... https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435705/

4 hours ago, paulikens said:

I am actually waiting now to be flown back to Penang

If you fancy a very nice holiday you could go Penang to Langkawi then enter Thailand via the boat over to Koh Lipe…

Warning you might never look at Phuket the same way again after visiting either Langkawi or Koh Lipe ????

On 7/25/2023 at 10:09 AM, zhounan said:

I returned with re-entry permit on May 24. My 90-day report expired yesterday, July 24.

The new date resets to the date of re-entry to Thailand, right?

Correct...

I re-entered 31st May & had a bit of a scare when the online system sent me a reminder saying my next return was 3rd July, but soon realised they were using my last reporting date & not my last date of entry so my correct date is 28th August. 

Your next reporting date should be due 21st August. 

32 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Aren't all farangs required to have a TM-30 attached to their passports? I'm going through a TM-30 problem with the condo I rent. The managers/condo owner haven't made a TM-30 happen for me, and I wonder what problems this may make for me down the road.

Depends on which Immigration Office you use but I found Jomtien & (IIRC) Bangkok require a TM30 for anything you need to do with them so at worse on your next visit to Immigration you'll be fined (Can't remember how much - 1,500b rings a bell). 

If you plan on travelling outside of the country anytime soon then just ignore it & do a TM30 when you get back, if not then probably best to visit your immigration office to file a new one/pay the fine. 

FWIW I'm moving Condo next month & asked the agent (Not really, it was the Condo Management Office who found the unit for me) about doing my TM30 as my last one did it automatically for me every time I returned to Thailand (even though I didn't need to file a new one).. She said cannot do but knows a lady that will do it for me for 500b... Turns out the Owner is registered for the TM30 online service so will do it for free. 

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Oldie new to me maybe not new to you.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catherine_Tate_Show

 

I discovered it from youtube videos.

 

Funny!

 

 

 

One of my favourite CT sketches…

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Where are you getting your figures from, you MUST research your information before commenting.

 

If you have everything in order and meet the requirements it only costs a few thousand baht on top of the 1900 baht for extension. 

 

Agreed, figures of 15-25K are very high, it's normally around 12,500B if you don't have the 800K in the bank so an extra 10,600B on top of the 1900B immigration fee. 

If you do have the money in the bank it's 8000B so an extra 6,100B on top of the 1,900B immigration fee - Worth it to me, others don't see the value & do it themselves - To each his own.

8 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

The LTR  stands for  "Long Term Resident", 10 Years, near zero effort; at 70, why would one bother....

As I said, the majority of Retirees on here do not meet the financial requirements of the LTR so it might as well not exist for them but you are right, the potential point about UK inheritance Tax aside then it really is not worth the hassle of going for it at 70.

But then again, if I was 70 I'd just buy the 1 Million THB 20 year Visa & be done with it (am sorely tempted to do this now at 57, if I was 70 it would have been done 3-4 years ago).  

Apologies if this is a stupid question (have never considered getting married so have never considered it before) but if I were to marry my long term (4.5 years) Thai girlfriend could I apply for PR without ever having worked here ?
 

15 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Honestly, why invest time, money and effort in PR when LTR is so easy to  get.  Took me 3 hours flat, expect the same in 5 years,  one 90 days [equivalent] a year, no financial constraints, etc...

I'd guesstimate < 5% of Retirees here have an income of > $80,000 or have an income > $40,000 & are willing to invest $250,000... in fact I'd guess that there are more Retirees that can't/don't want to invest the $25,000/800,000b for their annual extension than that.   

That aside the LTR is still a Non-Immigrant Visa whereas Permanent Residency is (as the name suggests) more permanent & can lead to Thai Citizenship with all the benefits (land ownership etc...) that comes with it.  

All things being equal I think most people would choose PR over LTR.

1 hour ago, bbi1 said:

If arriving at Udon Thani Airport and wanting to get to Nong Khai border quickly by a car taxi service or Bolt, is this available from the airport and roughly how much does this cost?

In February we got a Taxi from the kiosk at the Airport, cost 900B... 

19 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

You can apply under investment

 

• You must have had a Thai non-immigrant visa for at least three years prior to the submission of your application. Holders of multiple NON-Immigrant visas can not apply. You must have 3 consecutive yearly extensions in order to qualify.
• You must be a holder of a non-immigrant visa at the time of submitting your application.
• You must be able to meet one of these categories to apply for PR status in Thailand:
  • Investment category (minimum 3 – 10 Mil. Baht investment in Thailand)

Interesting... 3Million THB doesn't sound like a lot of money to have to invest, especially if the investment could be a Condo purchase... Does anybody know of anyone that's managed to get PR via the Investment Route?

In another thread I made a point that it was next to impossible for Retirees to get a PR & somebody suggested setting up your own business - Feels like a lot of hassle/expense but I guess it's an option for the determined. 

Edit: I've just found the 3Million THB Investment needs to be made in a "Limited or Public Company"

• Employment: You have held a Thailand Work Visa and Work Permit for at least three years, and:
  • You have an Extension of Stay based on Employment at the time of application
  • You have worked at your current company for at least one year at the time of application
  • You had a monthly salary of at least 80,000 Baht for two consecutive years or you filed a tax return for an annual income of at least 100,000 Baht for two consecutive years
• Investment: You have invested at least 3 Million Baht in a limited or public company in Thailand
• Family: You are a close family member of a Thai citizen (parent, child or spouse)
• Expert: You have at least a BA Degree and are employed in a position in which you have to work in for at least three consecutive years.
• Other categories that the Immigration Department considers eligible.

https://visaguide.world/asia/thailand-visa/residence-permit/

On 7/10/2023 at 5:04 PM, priceyface said:

Na Kluea

The Riviera Wongamat
Saranchol Condominium
The Cove

You can add The Palm to your list. 

Viewed a nice 2br 2bth unit there (35k PM, Block A, Level 37) with a very nice Sea / Sanctuary of Truth view but at 63sqm it was too small for the 2 of us. 

Can confirm Rivera Wongamat allows Cats & small Dogs, I would say it's mainly Dogs but I have seen a guy walking his cat (You need to keep them on a lead when in the public areas). 

25 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

My understanding based of few folk I have chatted with is if you actually have the funds in the bank then stamps issued at Jomtien immigration.

Without funds the pp is sent upcountry for stamp. (Previously KK) 

I have heard that Conversions are done up-country but had always assumed normal extensions were done locally.

As mentioned I keep the 800K in the bank but use an agent for convenience sake so I couldn't say for sure, perhaps somebody who uses an Agent to "Provide" the 800K could comment. 

11 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Keep it simple.

Obtain your extension at current immigration office.

90 day report should have nothing to do with 90 day reports, however recently at some offices they want you to provide TM47.

 

Just tell them you have done it via mail and waiting.

 

At some time after move do a change of address TM30 at new office.

That can be done in person or via mail. 

Sorry I should have said that I’m staying in the same area (actually moving just across the road) so it will be same (Jomtien) IO. 
 

I do agree though that the best approach is probably to  keep things as simple as possible by doing my 90 Day Report / Extension before the move then doing the TM30 address change the following week.  

16 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

If funds not in bank which immigration office does the stamps? 

 

I believe it’s the same (Jomtien) either way but have always used the 800K in the bank so don’t know for sure. 

On 7/13/2023 at 5:49 AM, JoseThailand said:

May I ask, how much do you pay for the agent? And do you actually have the 800k in the bank?

Maneerat (Pattaya) charge 8,000b (includes the 1,900b immigration fee) to do your extension if you have the 800K in the bank, 12,500 if you don’t.

Add on another 4,000b if you want a multi re-entry permit at the same time.

Am moving Condo next month around about the same time as I would normally do my Extension / 90 day report & am unsure as to what the best order is to do things. 

Background:-

• Extension -  Due 26th September would normally do around 45 Days early so 12th August
• 90 Day Report - Due 28th August would normally do around 12 days early so 16th August
• Moving - Get the keys to the new place on 17th August but my current lease expires on 25th August (Gave myself a week to do the move)

I think my options are:-

1. Do my Extension & 90 day report before 17th August at my current address & then move / do the TM30 address change the following week.
2. Do the 90 day Report (online) then move & do the TM30 / Extension at my new address.
3. Move do the TM30 then do the Extension / 90 Day Report a few days later at the new address. 

I'll be using an Agent to do all of the paperwork so will see what they say but would appreciate any thoughts on which is the best order to approach things. 

TIA

MTV 

9 hours ago, Franck60 said:

Hi there,
Thank you so much for all the information. It’s super helpful.
So both the Non-IMM O and Non-IMM OA visas can be extended for one year? Would you say that most people favour the Non-IMM O kind of visa ?
Thank you,
Frank

Yes both Visas can continue to be extended for 1 year at a time for as long as you meet the requirements.
 

The only difference between the 2 when it comes to extending is you will need Health Insurance for the Non-IMM OA which is why most people prefer the Non-IMM O. 
 

14 hours ago, Pib said:

See even the Thai Embassy didn't recommend a Non OA visa.   

As he doesn't have Permanent Resident status in Switzerland, he's not eligible to apply for a Non - OA Visa there so no surprise that the Embassy didn't recommend it. 

OP It sounds like you've got your Non O Visa sorted now but do note it is also possible to get one from a neighbouring country to Thailand (I believe Laos & Vietnam are currently the go-2 places) should you need to.   

1 hour ago, Confuscious said:

And don't forget that the retirement age in most European countries is now already 68 years and will be 70 years in 2025.

Can you name some of these countries, currently Greece seems to have the highest retirement age in the EU at 67 (but we all know that was because it was a basket case a few years back allowing people to retire on full pensions at 50) though other reports say it’s 62 & Germany has the highest age at 63.7. 
 

https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/04/06/pension-reform-in-france-which-countries-have-the-lowest-and-highest-retirement-ages-in-eu

The Uk has one of the highest retirement ages in Europe & that’s 66 raising to 67 between 2026 - 2028 & then 68 between 2044 - 2046.  
 

On 7/12/2023 at 8:11 AM, Mike Teavee said:

Currently getting 0.7% on my 6 month Fixed Deposit accounts with them so am going to look around for a new account once I get my Extension out of the way next month. 

  

 

Went into Bangkok Bank yesterday to update my Bank Books & noticed that my Fixed Term Deposit that expired 1st July has been rolled over at 1.05%… 

Still not great but 50% more than the 0.7% I was getting ???????? 

Was in Bangkok Bank doing the Facial Recognition thing a couple of weeks back and the girl doing it was trying to sell me a 4.5 (might have even been 5)% long term deposit account but as "Long Term" seemed to be 12 years I passed. 

Currently getting 0.7% on my 6 month Fixed Deposit accounts with them so am going to look around for a new account once I get my Extension out of the way next month. 

Hmmm Seems their 10 & 14 month accounts are offering 1.45% interest 

Edit: Scratch that, these are only available to Thai Citizens/Corporates... 

• The 10-Month and 14-Month Fixed Deposit Account are available for Thai individuals, corporates, government agencies, insurance companies, non-profit juristic persons, Financial Institution and Other Funds.