MeePeeMai

15 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Somebody asked about helping wife at her shop or stall.  From what I was told by an ex GF who owned a restaurant in Pattaya it is illegal, she may have been paranoid but i am not sure even the ct of me cleaning a table off or returning dishes could cause her to get reported by one of her competitors and have to answer all the questions that immigration like to ask.

Yes it is illegal.  There was a recent report of a foreigner helping his wife sell BBQ chicken on the roadside fronting their home.  His wife went in to go to the toilet and Immigration pounced (as he was the only one at the stall to assist customers).  He was arrested and it turned out that he had warrants in his home country but I don't think they found out about that until later on at the police station.

Thanks UJ

12 minutes ago, Huckenfell said:

Are  Non Imm O visas now limited to 90 days.  I think that they used to be for 1 year with compulsory 90 day visa runs. Will someone please clarify this.

The 1 year Non O is a ME (Multiple entry) visa.  The single entry is only good for 90 days.

How does a rat like this get past Immigration?  THIS is the stereotypical "tourist" that I would expect to be singled out and taken to a back room to be questioned (and then denied entry).  From the looks of things, he probably smells like a pig too.

Just now, Isaanbiker said:

Twice this year he has caught foreign thieves red handed and called the police. Both times the foreigners just were told to compensate him and let go. 

 

  He needs the right warning sign. 

She wouldn't be worth 1 Satang.

3 hours ago, Aussiepeter said:

She looks like an 18 gallon beer keg sitting on two tree stumps ! Thank goodness for Thai ladies, including the missus who at 48 is still a thousand times more attractive than this petty thief. Even with alcohol being included, I doubt her chances of scoring a date in LOS any time soon.

This is the most politically (and literally) correct post I have seen in a long time.  5555  Well Done!

Just now, CNXexpat said:

Well, in the 6 weeks in April/May Chiang Mai and the north are the hottest place in Thailand with up to 43 C. I am sure it´s less hot in Da Nang.

I think the humidity is the killer there in the summer.

2 minutes ago, CNXexpat said:

Relocate to Da Nang in Vietnam. Nice city and good air.

My brother moved to Da Nang from Chang Mai and always talks about how nice the cool ocean breeze is there everyday.   He says the air is much cleaner there but says that in the summertime it does get very hot and muggy.  I am looking forward to visiting him soon.

8 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

The requirements and conditions of an extension for reason of marriage of a Non Imm OA or a Non Imm O Visa are identical. 

Yes you are correct.

No, I did not ask to speak to the big boss for clarification because I still have 3 more months before my current extension expires and I have decided to wait until my next 90 day report is due to ask again.  Hopefully by then, the dust will have settled and there will be clear and concise orders from the top down to ALL Immigration Offices on how to handle this situation (and I hope that all will follow the orders as instructed).

I know this quite optimistic but they did seem to rectify the situation that was occurring at the airports in Bangkok after 31/10/19 (when this whole mess started).   I am hoping that the same logic and clarification on the rules will trickle on down to the rogue offices by then and soon all offices will have the same policy with regard to marriage extensions (of an O-A) whereby Thai health insurance is not needed.

A 3 hour drive to Nong Khai and then a hop over to Vientiane for a new "O" based on marriage is my back up plan (if things remain as they are now and my office is still saying I need a Thai policy to apply for a marriage extension).

I will post an update when I do my next 90 day report (end of Feb/1st of March).

Wow, two Mayors killed in as many days.  RIP

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/road-deaths/trang-mayors-body-found-five-kilometres-from-scene-of-fatal-accident

1 minute ago, oldcpu said:

I can understand not wanting to purchase a health insurance policy on the Thai approved list, as there could be good reasons for not doing so - where the reasons (for not purchasing health insurance from a company on the Thai approved list) benefit both the "Permission to Stay" applicant, and benefit financially the Thai Health care system.  ie. one has already superior Health Insurance that can provide better funding to Thailand (than those on the Thai approved list).

 

It does read to me that the IO you talked to at the Immigration Office interprets the rules differently than IOs at other immigration office(s)?  I posted on that here:

 

Yes I already have far superior Health Insurance (which covers me worldwide) and this is the main reason I refuse to buy a Thai policy.

... and yes it appears as though different Immigration Offices are interpreting the new rule independently as some are saying "can do" without insurance and some (like mine) are saying "no can do" without insurance or leaving to get a new "O".  This has been reported in several threads and one of them had a running list of offices and their take on this subject.

4 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

If I read the above thread correctly, user MeePeMai stated he was told he should leave the country, and come back in on a Type-O and apply for an extension on Marriage. To me that's not the only thing he could do.  He could come back on a type-O and then apply for an extension on either marriage OR retirement.  Further, I've read of cases where one on a Type-OA Visa (with entry to Thailand since expired) when going for the extension of the permission to stay, can when going for the extension/extension-renewal change the reason to be for "MARRIAGE" and not need to leave the country.  ....

Yes this is true but I choose to leave only 400k in my bank account (vs 800k) therefore I will be applying for a marriage extension.  I was told that I could apply for a marriage extension from my original O-A (expired) but that they would require a Thai health insurance policy (unless I leave and return with an "O" from a nearby Consulate or return on a VE entry and start the process here).  I do not want to purchase a Thai health insurance policy.

5 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

Just to be certain I am not reading this wrong ... Those on a Type-O (not a Type-OA, but on a Type-O) can apply for a 1 year extension based on RETIREMENT (assuming they meet all the retirement requirements with age/money) with no need to prove Health Insurance ... and those on a Type-O do NOT have to go for an extension based on MARRIAGE.

I believe this is correct.

26 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Some IOs therefore try to use excuses not to handle your application (some will say that also an OA Marriage extension requires health-insurance,

Sorry Peter, I left this part out.  YES, I was told that they would grant me an extension based upon marriage but that I would need health insurance (since I entered on an O-A originally) unless I left LOS first and then started over with an "O" visa.  Sorry about that.

15 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

I am optimistic that there won't be an issue wrt changing to "marriage".

I wish I was as optimistic as you are.  I have been told that I must leave Thailand and get a new Non-O to then be able apply for an extension based upon marriage to a Thai. 

39 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

As it is not an extension of a previous marriage-extension, but would be a switch from retirement to marriage there might be a time-constraint for doing the actual application.

He can always get a 60 day extension to stay with his Thai wife (if he needs more time to prepare) but...

Has he already asked them about applying for an extension based upon a Thai spouse (without having to leave Thailand)?  If so, what did they say? 

I believe you said he is applying at the Udon Thani Immigration Office.  From what I understand, my local Office (Chiang Khan) is under the Udon Thani jurisdiction (big bot) and I have been told that I must leave LOS to kill my O-A and then re-enter on either a new Non-O or a visa exempt status to apply for an extension based upon marriage to a Thai.

Interested to know what they say and how it goes, thanks Peter!

7 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

How do you prove that you are retired ?

A signed document from your pension provider would be my guess.  I had to get one from my pension provider in order to get my O-A visa originally.

Just now, tweedledee2 said:

When setting up a Transferwise account you first must provide your account number at the bank you want the funds withdrawn from. Transferwise will make 2 deposits, each less than $1 into the account you are withdrawing your funds from. You have to have access to your account, either thru online banking or by phoning the bank. When these 2 deposits appear in your bank account you log into your Transferwise acct and verify these 2 deposited amounts. Only after you have verified these deposits will TW withdraw any funds from your acct or make any transfers. 

   

I don't recall going through that but I probably did.  Thanks for adding that important step.

17 minutes ago, murikamba said:

What happens if I alternate between Korea/USA passport? I am planning a Startup for S curve industry in Autmotive industry (ECM software development) and need to stay at least one year on Tourist visa. 

Beware that Immigration now uses biometrics (fingerprints) and will recognize that you hold two passports (if you have used them both to enter Thailand). 

As far as staying one year on a tourist visa, this is probably not possible anymore and working here or starting a business here without a work permit or business license (on a tourist visa) is foolish.

10 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

They will only allow you to transfer money to an account that is in your name.  The normal transferwise does not do that.

My Bangkok Bank account here is in my name (as would be his) and I use the normal TransferWise service.  I don't see that it matters what bank you use in the USA.  I do not use Wells Fargo though but all my accounts are in my name.

25 minutes ago, john terry1001 said:

90 day reports the easy way, on line

I just wish that was a reality (for me anyway).

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

He is obtaining annual extension to his permission of stay

Yes this is what I meant.  I do know the difference, thanks.