Martyp

I would wait to see what happens with the emergency decree. The government is as well aware of the crowds at Immigration as they are at the bus and train stations. My guess is that you will still have to go to CW but they will have much more crowd control. 

34 minutes ago, Bramley said:

Would be an ideal time to convert to an online/mobile system like the TM47 and TM30, both of which (finally) work well.

Certainly the epidemic is a good use of doing this online but only yesterday I saw yet another thread about the online system not working for someone. 

I would think in 2 months time it will be worse in the US and in Thailand and your options will become more complicated. It might be better to go back sooner rather than later. Just a thought.

5 hours ago, JimGant said:

Did mine on my PC. Hand to forehead said, no virus. No crowds in line to push the "enter" key. (Sorry, you must fall in that new passport category -- otherwise, no excuse.)

No. I just don't mind going out there. I went to Or Toh Kor market afterwards. I have a Mac. I've heard so many stories of problems with the buggy software I just haven't bothered. The virus thing wasn't a consideration until now of course.

Yes you still need to do a 90 day report. I did mine at CW on Tuesday. They check your temperature at the door. Then you join the crowds of people.

Also inconvenient if you need a address affidavit.

5 hours ago, mahjongguy said:

I don't see an answer to the OP's concern. Will LMG or PC or any of the rest issue a policy for anything other than precisely one year? Can I get a policy effective in July that expires 13 months later? If not, must a settle for a 10 or 11 month extension?

My PC agent has many times told me that he can sync my policy with my extension date. They will issue a new policy and apply the unused premium of your existing policy to apply to the new policy. That is what he told me. You really need to talk to an agent to see what exactly they can do for you.

6 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

I presume that the insurance company you will be talking to in order to align the policy starting date with your new permission to stay starting date, has issued you a thai IO-approved policy (and uploaded that policy in the IO Health-Insurance database).  Because if that is not the case, your application will be refused by your IO.

Pacific Cross. I’ve got the certificate. They uploaded it though I haven’t asked an Immigration officer to check. This is my 2nd year with PC. My extension expires November 19th. My policy is January to January. My first policy was obtained before the requirement. I need to sync it to November for my first extension under the new rules.

What immigration office are you using?

This November I will have to sync my policy with my extension dates. I plan to start talking to my insurance company about a plan to do this but I will not depend only on what they say. I will also go to CW and ask them what they require. I know that talking to an officer in L section isn't foolproof but I can only do what I can do. I will also have a plan B to switch to a non-O if there is an insurmountable problem. Hopefully border crossings will be easier by October-November. 

For something simple like a 90 day report don’t bother going early. Today, Tuesday, I got to CW around 8:30am. I just got into the end of the line and was through the doors at 8:45. My 90 day report was completed in 1 hour. I left CW at 10am. This is what happens every time I go for a 90 day report on this time schedule. 

Also note that a good legitimate language school may require more than a few hours per week of study. My school had courses of 60 hours per month. Add in homework and study you will find it to be time consuming.

25 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

Why not take a normal taxi? 105 baht roughly and safer.

I’m fine with motorbike taxis. It depends on traffic too. Early morning going to CW is OK but coming back you can encounter a lot of traffic. I’ve taken taxis when accompanied by my wife. 100 baht vs traffic is neither here nor there for me. I had a motorcycle for 20 years. The taxi drivers are pretty skilled drivers and I am aware of the risks.

1 hour ago, Eocene said:

Great, so instead of every week, I can transfer every other week $1000 USD and maintain a minimum deposit account of $100K BHT throughout the year, and that will be acceptable. 

Once again, you have a plan, but what you are doing is not the "usual". Bring your plan to your Immigration office. If they don't like it then you can have a discussion about what will work. Be careful who you talk to. If the Immigration officer is not high up what you are told may not hold when you go to get your extension. Ultimately you need to ask yourself how important an extension is and what you are willing to pay for it and have a plan B if things go wrong.

3 hours ago, Eocene said:

Assumg 30BHT/USD, some months (five Mondays) it will be 75K and some months it wil be 60K (four Mondays). I can send and extra $200 to make it up. Or I can keep a reserve of 100K throughout the year for a combination method. My plan is to keep a reserve of 300K in a Thai bank and keep sending $500 USD every Friday that will reach me Monday. There is another thread my friend started about combination method, hence, I did not start a new thread. But that is not for now. This thread I want to focus on O conversion only, various options, pros and cons, etc. 

It sounds like you have a plan. Everyone is telling you that you won’t be able to do it. If you don’t like the answers you are getting here you can always go to your immigration office and discuss it with them. Be sure to let us know how that discussion goes

9 hours ago, cliveshep said:

What do you mean "look first"? On the forum, or in Immigration? I'm aware TV have had numerous discussion posts in the past, but what it the up-to-the-minute situation? Is it what I have described just then - or not?

 

And isn't CW the main Immigration Office? That Government complex houses numerous ministries including Electoral Commission amongst others. Surely whatever CW decide to do should be the norm for all the others or is that too simplistic?

Thank you for your up-to-the-minute report that confirms that the way CW is handling TM30’s remains the same as it has been for the last 6 months. While CW is a big building with many government offices including a big Immigration office the other immigration offices often enforce their own interpretation of the immigration rules and are allowed to do so. It is always best to check with your own office if you are uncertain about a particular policy such as when to file a TM30.

35 minutes ago, Jesse123 said:

Is there a known procedure when changing from the affidavit of income method to the 800K in the bank. 

Deposit your 800k 2 months before you apply for your next extension. 

I’ve never been there that late but when I do go I normally take a motorbike taxi for 200 baht to Mo Chit. That is the normal fare.

18 minutes ago, alanrchase said:

I have just done mine at the Ratchaburi office. 5th time from a non-O entry.

Passport picture page, entry stamp, visa page and TM6 copies. (Copies of previous extensions if you have them).

1 year bank statement. Applied for on Monday 24 February at Bangkok bank and received on Thursday 27 February, showing transactions from 23 Feb 19 to 23 Feb 20, cost 200 baht.

Copies of current bank book updated today and showing a transaction today.

Bank letter issued today.

TM7.

Copies of blue book and owners ID card signed by the house owner.

Insurance was not mentioned.

Insurance was not mentioned because insurance has never been a requirement for non-O entries. Insurance is required for anyone extending a current or previous non-O-A entry for reason of retirement.

11 minutes ago, pagallim said:

Perhaps you misread me.   I have no problem with whatever requirements Immigration have had previously or now, and if I wish can go either the Retirement or Marriage route, with the emphasis being on 'can'.   I normally bring lump sums here when the exchange rate is favourable (hit and miss admitedly the last couple of years) and then run the monies down over the course of the year.  Having to transfer funds more frequently and losing income from maintaining minimum sums at minimum interest is a choice that I've opted not to make. 

However you want to transfer lump sums the requirements are clear. You can’t let the balance dip below 400k or 800k for the first three months and the last two months. Or meet the marriage requirements that require lower sums. There is no averaging throughout the year. 

Just now, TheFishman1 said:

I just make copies of my bank book do they now want a year bank statement 

With the new rules, now one year old, they may want to confirm that the 800k remained in the bank account for the first three months of an extension and that the balance remained above 400k. A 1 year bank statement might require a wait of a week or so from your bank. There is little harm in getting a 1 year bank statement. If you don’t have it and they want to see it then that is on you for not being prepared. Up to you . . . 

3 hours ago, pdtokyo said:

Ah thank you again Marty for the detail, at the risk of sounding Zen ... the individual picture becomes clearer but the overall picture remains vague ... some folk here report intrusive marriage inspections, bed-sniffing and holding hand out for petrol money etc ... others report no inspections at all.

i am rapidly learning the need to accept what will happen to me in Thailand as predictable as the weather.

Or less so.

I've heard that in Bangkok they do an inspection first time but then no so much.

43 minutes ago, pdtokyo said:

... might I ask why continue with retirement extension if married extension would presumably free up B200,000 ? Is converting from retirement to marriage extension a hassle? or some other factor?

I can afford to keep the 800k in the bank and the extension process is same day and very simple though complicated with the insurance requirement now (which I have not had to do yet though I have qualifying Thai insurance). For the  marriage extension you apply and then are under consideration for about 30 days and it may involve a home visit and questioning the neighbors to verify that we are really married. I know lots of people do the marriage extension and are happy with the process. I'm not judging anyone. I'm just doing what I am used to and it is not about the money.

Regarding insurance, if it becomes a problem then I could switch to an extension based on marriage and that would eliminate the insurance requirement or I could go through the process to  get a non-O and then a retirement (or marriage) extension. This is my plan B.