isaanistical

this and several other agent options. Having been talking to some of them, I pass on an observation from one, that is probably well worth noting. The instinct is to take such advice with a pinch of salt, but in this case it makes sense. "If you want to do the border run (eg to Laos), do it, by all means with us or with another agent, but do NOT do it alone. Unaccompanied, the officials at borders will allow you out but not back and make it all a big problem."

sorry, deleted

No. I know I have seen stuff referring to punters being permitted 2VEs in a calendar year, but not since it was first mooted (if you'll allow the expression) late last year. Perhaps "granted" might be a better word than allowed. But I was only using "allowance" as my own term. In the past 50 years I've crossed enough borders to know no entry in the world is a "right". (NB: If something is allowed, it is an allowance)

None taken! You tell me what I expected anyway. de facto, it seems so - but only because that's how an individual IO would want to interpret it, not because it's law. That's why I am intrigued by the apparent "2 VEs per year" allowance, because I had 2 last year and now I would like one this year, so in a sense it ought to be ok. Been here long enough to know these inconsistencies though.......

Are these primarily at SVB/DMK, or everywhere? (I am asking because I don't see these reports, not because I don't believe they exist)

Sorry, but the land issue led to us not having B400K available, hence the interruption to normal service! 2 VE entries, both via land, and currently a single 60-day extension. I would have got a further 30 days but screwed up because I failed to note your own observation that one must do the 30 first before asking for the 60. Rather than spending a month or two outside TH, I am exploring whether to risk one more in-out on the 60-day jobbie before the expected reduction come August. By then I'll be able to show 400K again.

For months we've been preoccupied with an unresolved problem over sale of some land, which has delayed my marriage extension. Temporary fixes meant 2 land visa-exempts last year, the second finishes mid-March as I did a 60-day extension to visit Thai family (btw: no hassle at all at upcountry IO). I should be sorted by mid-year to go back to the marriage extension routine, but I'll need one more “border run” to tide me over. Has the fuss died down or will I face likely trouble over one more visa-exempt run if I come back by air? The “rule” seemed to be 2 entries per year, but are IOs holding to that in general? Does a couple of days out of Thailand suffice? Would I need onward air tickets and billions of dollars in bank to get back in? Is it better (ie safer) to enter at (eg) CNX than Bangkok? I know fine well there are no hard-and-fast answers, but what's the mood over at Immigration?

Wires crossed? To me, that's two different things, unless they want to attract pensioners (who must NOT work) to work in two restriced sectors. As always, the details are missng and/or ambiguous. Anyway, next instalment of this saga due end August, so let's not hold our breath. NB: I took the quote from Johno57, my comment is not aimed at him/her

Well I am looking at my own Bangkok Bank card..... Don't post rubbish.

except 7-11 is from Japan not Thailand...........

Bake bl@@dy good cakes though

why unfortunate? In any case what is not possible to dispute is that this wonderful Thai gentleman is a criminal who did time following his conviction in Australia of a serious drugs crime. That he has several times during his subsequent rise in Thai domestic politics claimed to have been given a package of cooking flour is not relevant to that conviction.

Hardly bears thinking about. Perhaps time to take a bit of care of the old girl - after all, she's been with me so long she's almost like one of the family!

I'll pass these on if I see the guy, but I am intrigued by the idea of just calling a government department in England! I know it can be done in Australia, and other places, but I can't imagine that working in Britain! So I just gurgled the Future Pensions Centre. First response was: "I phoned the Future Pension Centre earlier, I was told that they would call me back within 8 weeks! " All of which kinda backs up my vow never to set foot there again. Thanks for the answers.

I was asking a question about UK when a separate question occurred to me as I typed. My wife (khun Thai, of course) was quite ill recently, happily now better. But what if she died? Does Immigration just shrug, cancel my marriage extension and throw me out? Or is there a less brutal procedure after bereavement? (Or indeed does it vary from one IO to another!?)

maybe I just look like I know everything. Not infrequently I am asked serious questions in conversation, sometimes with people I never met before. Few days ago I got this one from a Brit, probably sincere, almost certainy not enjoying great luck in Patts (or anywhere else, I reckon). He has a UK NI number, and proved it (without being asked) by waving the government doc with the number on it. Shorn of other funds, he said, did I know if he is able to claim anything at all in the way of benefits from the UK although he has lived outside UK for 30-odd years. He said he was 75 years old, originally from London (I asked if he is “proper” British or of immigrant stock and he confirmed “British Citizen”). I have no idea about benefits, having a (just about adequate) private annuity. I said I thought there ought to be some Britishgovernment website where you could enter the NI number and just find out, but he didn't know and I subsequently did a quick check and found nothing. So – does anyone know how to establish whether one is able to claim anything at all? [please, don't warp this simple enquiry into some sort of rant-thread about (il)legal immigration, foreigners, channel boats or darkies. I'm actually interested in the answer, if anyone out there knows one]

look it up. Clearly you are not from Uk otherwise you would know, and if not, then your legitimacy to pontificate here is limited,no?

Maybe the same time I get my European citizenship back? "My" country disenfranchised me. Stick it. I would rather die than ever set foot in UK again.

I now wonder if they might let one do it twice, that's nearly a year's worth! Pushing your luck, I guess. Cheers

That sounds like a good deal! 60+30+60 = 5 months. Finally, a way to make the wife useful..... I may think further. Many thanks, Doc.

Sorry for confusion, two different cases. Two friends here now, staying with us, TM30 done already. If they are elsewhere on the day they want to extend, I understand a hotel or such would give them a TM30 and they have to extend locally wherever that is. But if they apply days early (because of w/end and holiday), do they end up with fewer than 30 days, or would the extension date from 11th? The idea of a farang spouse on 60-day exempt getting a 60-day extension is separate and only just occurred to me. You suggest it might be possible (all these things are at the whim of IOs, one is aware!).

I have 2 questions and pardon me if they are obvious but I failed to find them in search. 1. Friends from EU are visiting, staying with me on visa-exempt, and will want a 30-day extension. I have never done one of these, so I know as much as they do. They are stamped till October 11. That is a a Saturday, and Mon 13 is a public holiday. If they go to IO on, say, 9th, would they get 30 days from 9th or from 11th? And does it have to be the local office where I live (in Samut Prakan) or any IO? Related: anyone know yet if 10th Oct is going to be a holiday? 2. It just occurred to me that if someone married to a Thai lass was on a visa-exempt 60 days, could he get a 60-day extension "to visit Thai wife"? Or only 30 days like a real tourist?

of course that hasn't happened in the UK since,oh, 2022?

you mean this house is inflatable? That really IS genius. Pull the plug out and roll it up to move house!