Tmoney

19 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Mostly foreigners in our experience.

Europeans and Indians.  (Half term/Easter in most of Europe)

Some Thais with overseas boyfriends/husbands meeting up with family.

And as there will be a 3-5 day National holiday (Songkhran) soon, the Thais will be arriving here en masse in about a week's time, so once again many hotels will have full capacity.

Fortunately, the actual 'enjoyment' of water throwing lasts for only one day here on Samui unlike the rest of the country where it can last for up to a week.

Agree 100% with TE, the island is buzzing and packed with tourists.

One strange phenomenon though, the expat bars in and around places like Bangrak are strangely very quiet and have not seen their clientele return since Covid.

Been here in the NE since mid February and not a drop of rain and no storms or high waves so far.

We are a small group of Bridge enthusiasts playing Duplicate Bridge regularly every Thursday afternoon in Bangrak.

Standards range from beginner to good but most importantly we are a friendly group intent on enjoying a friendly game.

Please DM me if you are interested in playing and would like further details.

3 hours ago, Spamhead said:

Makes perfect sense. The guy being quoted is a Swiss national and is talking to a Swiss news outlet therefore talking Swiss Francs. 

Fair point. So they were offered the equivalent of 410 baht.

Am I missing something here?

Surely if he is married (OP calls his partner his wife) then for a start he only needs 400k baht in his bank not 800k baht, something which seems to have been missed through 6 pages of comments.

(Sorry if I missed a post pointing this out).

My 400k is lodged in a savings account IN MY NAME ONLY (as required by immigration when I go for my annual marriage extension) in a Bangkok Bank Savings Account (No debit card, but get a small amount of annual interest).

I went to the bank a couple of years ago and filled in forms together with my wife which according to the bank allows my wife to withdraw funds (without needing my signature) both before and after ones death. (Yes, you have to trust your wife or lock away your passbook).

There was a charge (of course).

Sorry I can't remember any more detail about the forms or the process and am currently not in Thailand to find out more, but worth OP going to his bank and asking if this is possible for him.

Sorry it was not the OP who mentioned 800k baht, it was the next reply from MickTurator

I can't say definitively how long for the retirement extension, but (if it helps) for the marriage based extension they don't keep your passport, you keep it. They put in a stamp which tells you when to return (in the case of the marriage one it is one month). On your return they complete adding your stamps and off you go for another year.

On 8/16/2023 at 9:08 AM, Neilly said:

Just been to immigration this morning to renew my retirement extension, they've added another requirement to the list...photo of you stood in front of your house with the house number showing ????

 

There are a few new forms to fill out, but the girl at the check desk will give you those and they can be filled in there easy enough. They've also added a line stating that the bankbook statement must be done on the same day as your application at immigration.

 

Interesting. Both those requirements have been required for an extension based on marriage for as long as I've been doing one. For the marriage one they want 6 photos altogether of husband and wife in different rooms including the bedroom. Last time they also took photos of us together with an IO in the bedroom as well.

"No, not after the new rules. You can travel domestic to other provinces and stay in hotels and private and return without a new TM30, if that place is your reported address, and from abroad if you have a multiple entry visa or re-entry permit.

However, as almost always, there might be difference between the immigration offices in how they bends the rules."

So, this is the Samui forum.

How do Samui Immigration interpret the rule then?

I shall be returning on a re-entry permit, do I need to complete a new TM30 after arriving in Samui having entered the country and stayed 2 nights in Bangkok?

2 hours ago, khunPer said:

No, not after the new rules. You can travel domestic to other provinces and stay in hotels and private and return without a new TM30, if that place is your reported address, and from abroad if you have a multiple entry visa or re-entry permit.

 

However, as almost always, there might be difference between the immigration offices in how they bends the rules.

 

The original article was here at ASEAN NOW, se especially article 2 in the translation...

 

9 hours ago, khunPer said:

I didn't make a new TM30 last time I entered Thailand from abroad back in August 2022. I renewed my extension of stay at Samui Immigration in October with a print of my two years old TM30 registration. After the new rules you don't need a new TM30 if you stay at the same address.

But what if you have made an overnight stay at a hotel in Bangkok before you return to your usual address on Samui?

The report the hotel makes means your Samui address will have been removed therefore presumably a new TM30 needs to be completed

Samui Immigration closed:

Monday 5 June: Substitute for H.M. Queen Suthida's Birthday

Samui Immigration closed:

Monday 5 June: Substitute for H.M. Queen Suthida's Birthday

Just to conclude, nothing more to add, went to the DLT office this morning, it took just over an hour to do the usual tests, pay the fees etc. but walked out with the 2 licences.

Have to say the whole procedure went like clockwork, much improved from 6 years ago, and yes, this, the day after my birthday and I have 6 years before I need to go again.

Good luck with your application Kenny

2 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

That is exactly how I answered them but it doesn't say if you are correct or not. In the movie they clearly state alcohol is the biggest cause of accidents in Thailand, but in the multiple choice question it doesn't even give you that option. Tailgating seemed the most logical answer out of the 4 choices provided

You clearly listened to the movie more intently than me, ???????? but yes, I went for the logical answers without knowing whether or not they were correct and was rewarded with the QR code at the end.

If the 4 online test questions were the same as mine and which kept popping up during the 1 hour video to keep you watching  the correct answers if it helps are

1) tailgating, 2) 30 m, 3) 30m, 4) 30m

Then the same questions were repeated at the end of the test.

Amazing Thailand!

No, I first went to immigration same as 6 years ago (then they accepted my word for my address and 'sold' me the letter for 500 baht), this time they said I needed a copy of my TM30. Not knowing how to do this I went next door to a shop where they can do everything for you (photocopying, take photos etc) and for 100 baht somehow they downloaded and printed a copy of my TM30 for me as I knew my username and password. Went straight back to immigration, completed a form and together with copy of passport handed it in, given a slip with a number on and told to come back in 7 days to collect. Not been to the transport office yet, got that joy to come on Friday!

Just going through the process myself.

I was told I needed to download a copy of my TM30 for proof of address, take it to immigration, fill in form of course then told to come back in 1 week for their proof of address letter (free).

A medical certificate is also required. (100 baht at local medical centre, absolutely no testing whatsoever).

Before you go you must watch a 1 hour online video (as you say you've already done), answer 4 questions correctly (easy) and take the QR code with you to the DL centre.

There I think you have do do the usual reaction tests I'm told.

I shall be going on Friday the day after my birthday in the hope I get 6 years licence. If it's anything different I'll report back.

This is Samui office, your office requirements may of course be different.

That's great, thank you. Not heard of the last item, do you have a link please?

Do you have to sit through a 1 hour video like I did last time?

My licences expire in May, what is required when applying to renew a 5 year licence please?

Medical Certificate? Proof of address? Anything else?

(old licences of course)

(Renewing on Samui)

Take care using the chalk, it contains Cypermethrin - this from Google:

Human Risk
Mild acute occupational exposure may result in transient dizziness, headache, nausea, anorexia, and fatigue. At high doses, such as dermal soaking with concentrated pyrethroids or intentional ingestion, skeletal muscle fasciculations, convulsions, pulmonary edema, and coma have been reported.

and, it is not pet safe

5 minutes ago, Menken said:

Not to hijack but cigar/whiskey/whisky bar in central Bangkok? Or reasonable outside beer garden to enjoy a stogie.

 

Anyone wants a meetup I've got a cigar for you if you've got the whisky

 

Agreed, Whisgars (behind Craft Bar) Sukhumvit 23 have a large range in comfortable surroundings.