Ozman52

29 minutes ago, BritTim said:

What was the date of your entry into Thailand? It is possible that the Admitted Until date you originally received was smudged (different from what it appeared on first glance) or outright incorrect. In that case, the 30-day extension would be from the correct Admitted Until date as recorded in immigration's system. The other main possibility is that the immigration made an error in issuing the extension of stay. In that case, I would seriously recommend getting it corrected, or leaving during the correct period of your permission to stay. Always make sure you understand immigration stamps, and get incorrect ones corrected as soon as possible (usually immediately).

Had plans made to leave after 30 days, can't see any reason to change them.

26 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Is it possible to post your original entry stamp, the extension stamp, and that strange red stamp? I have never heard of anything remotely resembling what you are describing.

Sorry I have been confusing myself by looking at last years extension, on consecutive pages and the TM6 on the same page as the previous extension, red stamp Is actually the date.

But this extension is until 25 July, which is 34 days. 

Extended my tourist visa today at koh Samui for usual 30 days, was given 35 days (to 26/07) plus a red stamp saying further extension available of 32 days (tp 27/08).

Is this another new change I have completely missed? Is an extension of 67 days available or must it be done in 2 hits?

13 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Next airport after Hua Hin (Air Asia is the only current user) is Surat Thani IIRC, then Krabi and further south- handy for people in between.

 

Strangely this isn't just about external tourism. Places like PKK and other towns down the isthmus will benefit.

Chumphon has 6 flight in/out each day. Nok and Thai AA.

1 hour ago, Rally123 said:

Because in a Credit Union you can get more interest, between 4-6%, than in a commercial bank. Only problem being is that immigration does not accept money in a Credit Union as being appropriate when obtaining ones annual visa.

The number of times I have heard of Credit Unions being ripped by directors makes that a sensible policy.

6 hours ago, haymanpl said:

Costs 46000 baht for 1 years cover for a 52 year old. Would much rather put in bank an extra 400,000 baht making it 1.2 million deposit rather than pay 46000 a year which will only increase in age.

I decided to live here around that age. If the insurance requirement had been in place then, I could have had the joy of paying A$40,000 over 20 years for SFA, except that my decision of where to live would not have been Thailand.

Do the maths; 10 people pay B460,000 each year. Allowing B60,000 for admin, if 1 in 10 is not maxing their insurance, the companies are making obscene profits at our expense.

18 hours ago, fhickson said:

How many entering and exiting airline tickets did you have to show when applying for that visa in the USA?

I just did a SETV from KL, with a return ticket 88 days from fly in. No problems. Have also been told of travel agents issuing issuing fake ticket printouts for B100 (I'm assuming they make a booking and then cancel) which embassy/consulates accept as they simply don't have time/resources to check every ticket presented.

46 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

That's fine for you. Two exit ways. One back to Oz, or the short Track. Seems not to be a very happy future. But at the end we'll go the same way 

You forgot Plan B, Cambodia. There is also Plan C, 6 monthly trips home for a double entry TV.

2 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

Well, I suppose there are some retirees who have chosen Thailand as a nice country to live, but not as a mousehole to avoid payments to healthcare 

I have chosen Thailand as a nice country to live, for more than 20 years, during which time I have not required health insurance. I also still have access to Medicare in Oz due to frequent return trips and employment. Having retired early due to an incurable medical condition, I find my savings somewhat depleted. I certainly have no intention of depleting them further on over-priced health insurance I neither want or need,

BTW there is a 3rd option to health insurance and paying 2-3 million baht for cancer treatment. We all end up there eventually.

9 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

So, what is your plan B???? 

You got a too low income for UK to go with family and also you Can't pay insurance. 

Might be time for a move before it's too late. I read about Bulgaria, Romania or Hungary, where it's not expensive to live with low income. However it will have to have more Research. 

Good Luck 

Plan B (in planning stage) is just across the border into Cambodia, with ! year visa easy, cheap and no income requirement. Other 1/2 can easily visit family, and a lot of Thai spoken/understood.

There are many retirees here on low income. If we spend B500,000/yr, and 10,000 leave, how silly will Thailand look? 

Found a facebook ad claiming that health insurance will be required for "Thai Retirement Visa". Weexpats.com are selling insurance, so could be "mistaken"(cough).

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

If she provides a reference for you (and attends the bank with you) that might help. Apparently buying insurance is another way around this!

Samui Immigration have been known to make up their own rules and this lady perhaps thought you were trying to extend your Visa Exempt (for a second time?). Obviously one 30 day extension is allowed. If she correctly understood you were trying to convert that entry to a Non-Imm-O, I do not know how she determined you did not qualify without looking at more documentation, unless Samui indeed do not process them, and she falsely told you Bangkok does not. 

 

I was in the long-term queue, so can't see how she could make that mistake. What type of insurance helps to open an a/c?

4 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Your applying for conversion of a Visa exempt entry to a Non O (not 0-A) as a prelude to obtaining an extension of stay based on retirement. ( A permit, not a Visa).

The Non Imm O-A Visa can only be issued by a Thai Embassy Consulate in your home Country, or where you have permanent residency status.

 

As pointed out already the financial requirements must be obtained from a Thai bank.

 

It is very possible to open a Thai bank account on a Visa exempt entry provided you supply the documentation requested.

2. Foreigner without work permit

• Passport
• A reference letter issued by one of the following institutes or organizations or required document
  • Embassy located  in Thailand
  • An overseas bank where the customer holds an account sent via SWIFT
  • Trusted individuals such as a Bangkok Bank staff member or customer, director of a private company, permanent residence in Thailand, government or private educational institutes located in Thailand trusted by the Bank
  • Trusted companies, e.g., an employment letter from the company if the customer is in the process of applying for a work permit.
  • Document showing ownership of a fixed asset such as a condominium sale/purchase agreement (a condominium which is acceptable to Bangkok Bank) Or a property reservation agreement valued at 100,000 baht or more with a reference letter from the property developer that is acceptable to Bangkok Bank.

 
Notes: Contact addresses for both Thailand and overseas must be provided (hotel and P.O. Box addresses are not acceptable).

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Foreign-Customers/Bangkok-Bank-Accounts

 

You should request opening a Savings account initially.

If you don't know an existing customer of BKK who can recommend you, then obtain a letter of reference from your Embassy or your Australian bank.

You'll probably require a certificate of residence from Immigration as proof of your Thai address and an Australian utility bill, or bank statement as proof of your Aus address.

Many thanks. My g/f is a BKK Bank customer, and I have been using her a/c to make regular transfers. I have already been refused by the local branch, will try again with reference and a printout of their requirements.

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

They will only accept 800k baht in a Thai bank on the date you apply for the visa and proof it came from abroad is required.

Requirement are here on the immigration website. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80

Note they have not updated the info to show the new option for the proof of 65k baht income. 

Thanks for the link. Again it states the requirement of a THAI bank a/c, so Catch 22 applies.

2 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

You must transfer at least 65,000 into your THAI bank account EVERY month or have money in your bank account plus and amount transferred in each month so that together they meet the combo method or deposit 800,000 in a Thai bank so that it will be there two months before and three months after your extension and then never be drawn down to less than 40,000.

Incidentally, O-A visas can only be issued in your home country.

Also, you seem to believe that money in your Aus banks can certify retirement income.  Only money in a Thai bank can do that.

I don't HAVE and can't get a Thai bank account on a visa exemption or tourist visa. Given that, what other proof is there besides a Centrelink statement of OAP entitlement and regular deposits referenced as C/L pension payments? 

Once I have a type O there will be regular transfers and a sufficient lump sum transfer to satisfy retirement extension. It has already been established(?) that I should be able to convert to a type O if I provide proof that I meet requirements, and I have nearly all that documentation to hand.

3 hours ago, onera1961 said:

May be she is overwhelmed by useless documents and simply denied the existence of such extension.

The only document looked at was my passport at entry stamp page.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Not sure why she said you could not do it unless they want more that 3 weeks to do the visa application. All offices are allowed to do the non immigrant visa now.

If you had looks closer she would seen that you did qualify for the visa application. Even the 2000 AUD going into your girlfriends account was not enough to meed the 65k baht requirement.

Looks like the option is to go back tomorrow and try again, perhaps asking to see a supervisor if still no go. I understand transfers to g/f's a/c not enough, but my a/c statement shows regular pension payments and sufficient funds for the pro rata 800k. 

Is there an Immigration website that states that conversion is acceptable? Perhaps a print-out might help her comprehension.

All she did was look at my entry stamp. I had a swag of documents including bank statement showing AU$15000 for more than 3 months, Centrelink statement of OAP (AU$458/w), proof of regular transfers of AU$2000/m to Thai g/f's a/c, google map, Oz police report, and more - none of which were considered.

I was in the process of applying via Sydney C-G, but sent them a money order for $550 rather than $275 required due to a mistake on my part. Could they send me back the extra? NO!  Needing my passport back, I cancelled, and only found out about conversion process after arrival. I am well over 50,  have 3 weeks stay left and proof of funds in Oz.

Again, how do I show money in a thai a/c when banks refuse to open one?

I have just attempted to convert my visa exemption stay to type O for retirement extension at Samui Immigration. Charming young lady, apparently locally known as the FAT controller, told me not available there, or at Surat Thani or Bangkok. I am using an Oz passport and have 3 weeks remaining stay. Is she right?

If so, the next step seems to be Penang. Websites indicate that I need to have proof of pension, and I have Centrelink letter, but as I understand it, embassy letters are no longer required or useful. Also, I need a make-up amount but most sites say in a Thai bank, and several have refused to open an account at my current status. Will an Oz bank a/c printout suffice?