Bangkok Basha

I mailed a letter to the U.S. via regular air mail in early April and it still hasn't arrived, so I'm guessing it went surface. I wonder how long surface takes. Good grief.

38 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

...and here i thought large windows bringing in natural light was popular, silly me

Natural light is one thing. 40 degree intense sunlight is another thing entirely. In VT5, temps on the South side of the building are as much as 5 degrees hotter than on the North side in mid-afternoon. 

On 4/30/2020 at 4:22 AM, Pattaya46 said:

The location of VT6 is great, but I personally don't like VT6 too much.

If I remember well, most units are 48 sqm, but this include a big terrasse ~10 sqm that is unusable during the whole afternoon as facing South-West. So more like a 38 sqm unit. Many units have a big white outside curtain to block the strong sun... and cut the view. Also VT6, is built perpendicularly to the beach, so - except for corners units - the sea view is only a part of a side of the bay. A popular place though for mongers who live during the night and sleep during the day. So unsure I would like to live there...

Monthly price could be found from 15 kB (before Covid) if you avoid the agents that have office inside VT6 and (try to) rent 48 sqm at crazy prices 20k, 25k, ... ! (ex: https://www.hipflat.com/projects/view-talay-6-xvkegu). Yearly contract even cheaper, as everywhere.

Problem with VT6 is that the first 6 or more floors on the Central side look directly into the mall's parking garage. Great view. The other side of the building is on the "Sunny" side and will require extensive shading to prevent bright sun streaming into the unit. AC electricity costs very high. 

On 4/24/2020 at 10:41 AM, baansgr said:

Jomtien takes some beating, easy for immigration, plenty restaurants and bars when they are open, no police presence whatsoever, markets, mini lotus etc yet only a few minutes from Makro and Thepperasit. Baht buses everywhere so Pattaya easily accessible. Seen some real bargains lately on FB etc. There was a VT5 large seaview studio for 9k a month..I think 53sqm available.

I am very curious to know where you see FB posts about properties like VT5. I'd like to follow that. I've seen ads on the bulletin boards there for units between 10,000-15,000/month when I used to visit and occasionally stay in a friend's place there, but don't expect to be able to do that for several months yet. I intend to move from Bangkok to Pattaya when the emergency is over (currently residing at country place in the far reaches of Sa Kaeo province). Thanks in advance, Baansgr.

Fort Collins is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country right now. Regularly makes the list of "most livable U.S. cities". It does have good public transportation, an excellent Senior Center, and a very nice climate (cold winters but with mostly dry snow and sunny days). Small college towns are usually a good bet for retired seniors but few have walkable streets (Fort Collins does, but it's very spread out) and supermarkets in the town centers. Supermarkets are dominated by large chains with giant parking lots like Walmart. I hear Silver CIty NM is nice, but probably no public transportation. 

14 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

So if i had to recommend anywhere it would be somewhere in the Rocky Mountain West.

 

Rapid City SD, Deadwood SD, Missoula MT, maybe Cheyanne WY, although I'm not a fan of the area.

Then you get to the rather more pricier parts of Colorado. Vail, Beckenwood, although to those in the know it's just 'Breck'.

Fort Colins CO might also be a good choice. Straddles that price point, and the big city/small city thing, although it's flat and boring, it's still close enough to Denver

 

The smaller towns, like Deadwood, by definition going to be closer to the local supermarket. As you scale up to the likes of Fort Collins, transit becomes available

Could someone please share the links from previous posts on how to transfer from a Non-OA to an O?

17 hours ago, rastlin said:

None taken.

 

My purpose was to inform regarding my recent experience and to suggest to others in a similar spot as me (frequent travelers to Thailand but within the posted "rules" for entry) that getting a retirement Visa might be better than counting on immigration to enforce the rules as posted.

 

Sorry if the post is not worthwhile. 

 

 

 

 

This is actually very useful, since I know a number of older travelers who own property here, but go and come repeatedly on visa exempt status, and are concerned that they could also be questioned about the frequency of their visits. Thanks for posting. 

As a former visa officer, I can only say that this application would have had a snowball's chance in hell at the U.S., UK, or Canadian embassies where I used to work (not Thailand). The grounds for denial are based on whether the applicant has more reason to return to their home country than to stay illegally in the country for which they are applying. Someone who earns $200/month as a shop assistant clearly has better prospects in the UK than here. In the case of the U.S., a "Sponsorship letter" actually weakens the case, as it shows the applicant has a source of support that would enable them to easily stay. The reasons that are provided for denial are pro-forma, and she could apply a dozen times and the result would be the same. It won't matter how perfect the paperwork is, it's a done deal.

On 11/29/2019 at 6:08 PM, bangkokgalaxy said:

"I rushed to SCB and got a letter from them showing the 3 transfers to BKK Bank as international, and went back the following Monday to CM Immigration, and they refused to look at it. And as my previous Extension had expired the day before (on a Sunday), they told me I needed to leave the country..."

 

Did they refuse to look at the bank letter because "your previous extension had expired" or because they won't accept the bank letter that confirmed your international transfers? I

 

 

I have the same issue with my bank statements (they show as SMART transfers) Today, a visa agent insisted that I get a bank letter that will clarify that all my transfers came from international sources would suffice. 

 

Does anyone know if immigration accept the bank letter?

The first agent I saw accepted the SCB letter, but her supervisor noticed that I had been there the last work day before- i.e. the Friday, and asked me if I had seen another agent (which my paperwork clearly indicated I had). I was then taken to the agent who had denied me, and who had in fact asked me to get the SCB letter, but the two huddled, and decided I would not get an extension, and then marked through the stamps the agent had already entered, and then told me to leave the country. I almost lost my temper, but gratefully did not. After a pleasant 2-day stay in Phnom Penh, I returned via Suvarnabhumi and had no problems with a visa exempt entry.

Good luck with this. I was turned down flat at Chiang Wattana in August 2019 for having only ten months out of 12 with the minimum 65,000/month transfers (so much for 'flexibility'). The last month (July 2019) I had more than 65,000, but all but one were SMT (Smart) transfers via TransferWise and were not recognized by Immigration as they technically show as domestic transfers. Turns out TransferWise was using SCB Bank as their intermediary bank before it was transferred to my bank (Bangkok Bank). I rushed to SCB and got a letter from them showing the 3 transfers to BKK Bank as international, and went back the following Monday to CM Immigration, and they refused to look at it. And as my previous Extension had expired the day before (on a Sunday), they told me I needed to leave the country immediately and return on a visa exempt, and reapply after I transferred 800,000 to my BKK Bank account (and recognized I would have to wait two months to do that). I duly left Thailand the same night for 48 hours in Cambodia, returned visa exempt, and flew back to the U.S. two weeks later and applied for a new retirement visa from the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington. The embassy only needed proof of my Social Security income (in excess of 65,000/month), an FBI police check (easy to get), and the usual other paperwork, and the new visa came back in two weeks. As it was before Oct. 1, no proof of insurance was required. I am now ensuring that every month's transfer is recorded as "FTT" (international transfer), not SMT, and still use TransferWise to do that. I realize that not everyone is willing or able to return home to apply for a new retirement visa as I did, but that was my choice rather than having to deal with Chiang Wattana again until next year (I hope). 

Be advised that depending on your age, Pacific Cross requires a complete physical exam and check-up to be submitted with the application. I applied at the age of 73. I went to Bangkok Christian Hospital and got the check-up, and submitted the exam and receipt with my application, and was reimbursed the cost of the exam after I paid for the annual premium (in one lump sum initial payment, btw). The insurance broker had the physical exam results reviewed by Bangkok Hospital in Pattaya (where I applied), and several exclusions were written into my policy). My original policy did not include Out Patient Coverage, but they have just informed me that I can upgrade my policy to meet Thai Immigration's new requirement of THB 40,000 in OP coverage for the price of THB 10,000 additional fee. The initial process took several weeks, and I expect the additional policy rider will also take some time. I am convinced that only a Thailand-based insurance policy will meet the requirement. I also have out-patient coverage with U.S. Medicare Part F (minus a deductible), and with coverage overseas for the first 60 days of travel, but it doesn't meet the Thailand Immigration requirement. 

Most of us on Non-O-A won't qualify for Non-O extensions:

Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O”Those who wish to stay with family in Thailand (Thai Family) or wish to do volunteering work with the state enterprises or social welfare organizations in Thailand  (Volunteering)

Can anyone comment on whether a "Fixed Account" is OK for the 800,000 minimum required deposit for a Extension of Stay? I already have two accounts, one savings and one fixed, and I'd prefer to use the fixed one rather than open a new savings account just for this purpose. Thanks in advance. 

Respondent is correct about Consular Officer questioning the rationale for an application for a tourist visa by the Thai spouse of a U.S. citizen, when other routes are available for spouses. All decisions are subjective, based on the CO's instinct about the likelihood of the applicant staying in the U.S. and not returning to Thailand in violation of the terms of a tourist visa.

6 hours ago, sencelebi said:

She should reapply for the visa. You are a US citizen and you have right to take your family with you. There is no set requirements for foreign spouses to get visa. It all depends on the visa agent at the embassy. But again you have right to take your spouse and child with you to visit US.

Unfortunately, US citizens have no inherent legal right to "take their families with them". Non-US citizen family members must provide the same proof of intention to return as any other applicant. If an AmCit has children of their own with a Thai spouse, they are eligible for US citizenship, so there is no issue. If they are a non-U.S. citizen's children (by a previous marriage, for ex), and unless they have been adopted by the U.S. citizen step-parent, they have no automatic path to a visa. 

CW Immigration flatly refused to accept three deposits to my Bangkok Bank account that were "SMT" instead of "FTT", and denied my renewal in spite of having transferred more than 1m baht during the previous 12 months. Even after I got a letter from TransferWise's correspondent bank- Kasikorn- confirming that the transfers they received from TW and passed along to Bangkok Bank were incoming foreign currency transfers. Go figure.

My experience at Chaeng Wattana last week is instructive for two reasons. They disallowed three transactions in July 2019 made using TransferWise, because they showed up on my statement as "SMT" (Interbank Transfer) because TransferWise started using Kasikorn Bank as their intermediary bank in Thailand. Even after I got a letter from Kasikorn Bank stating that the transfers they received in my name were indeed international ones, the agents at Immigration refused to accept them. I also had only one transaction in August, 2018 for THB 32,000, and they absolutely required 12 consecutive months. That in spite of the fact that I had transferred over 900,000 in the 12 months total- no averaging. I was denied an extension, and as my previous extension had expired over the weekend, I was told that I was now on overstay and should leave the country immediately and come back on a visa exempt entry, which I did. The only option for me was to transfer 800,000 and re-apply, but since that would require 2-3 months ''seasoning", I decided to say <deleted>> it and just return to the U.S. and apply for a new retirement visa there. It's actually much simpler in terms of paperwork. 

Medical insurance is indeed mentioned on the Royal Thai Embassy website for the very long-term, ten year visa (O-X).

• – Applicant must have a bank deposit of no less than 3 million bahts in Thailand or a bank deposit of no less than 1.8 million bahts and annual income of no less than 1.2 million bahts. Such amount must be maintained in bank deposit in full for at least one year, and keep at no less than 1.5 million bahts thereafter.
• – Applicant must have a Thai health insurance for the duration of stay, with coverage for outpatient treatment of no less than 40,000 bahts and inpatient treatment of no less than 400,000 bahts.

Are they now requiring proof of insurance when applying for 0-A visas?

When did these rules start? I thought they started in January. In any case I did have 6 months from January to June covered, and 5 months before that. Still confused. 

Thanks so much for the responses. Elviajero, what is a "Non-O" as opposed to a "Non O-A" which is what I have now and have had Extensions for the past 3 years?

Anyone used a visa agent in Cambodia? My current Extension of Stay on a retirement visa is expiring before I could renew it at the last minute due to failure to meet the 65,000 monthly transfer requirement for one month out of 12 last year. Turned down flat at Chaeng Wattana yesterday. Does the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh issue Non O-A visas?

Does anyone know if a Non-O-A retirement visa can be obtained at the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh? My current one is going to expire before I can process an Extension of Stay (I waited too long to start the process and lacked some paperwork when I applied on the last day). Any information most welcome. Thanks.