Robin

I do not see the o/p problem. it is easy to enter on a 30 day visa and the apply at I/O to change this to Non Im. O visa for retirement. I assume o/p has the necessary financial qualifications, then the normal Retirement extension... plenty o info on here as to how to do and confirmation that it works.

The more confusing and complicated it becomes to get a long term visa, the more the dubious agencies and I/O will benefit. Legitimate visa holders, for whatever reason who do their own paperwork will suffer. Big rise in Elite Visas? Are there any statistics on how many retirees are caught doing anything criminal?

"Yellow Book" Tambian Baan for farang. I jumped through all the hops to get one, as suggested by my then local I/O (Chiang Rai) who said it was "important" that i get such thing. Since then it has not been the slightest use to me at all. I have tried to show it at SVB Immigration, (not interested,) and at local I/O when doing 90 day report or Retirement extension, also not interested. Unless you know of a reason why you need this thing, why bother? Thai driving license? Many Thais do no bother. You can drive legally in Thailand on an International DL, easily obtained in UK. If you really want a TDL, go to your local DL office with wife and spend a day watching the instructional video and reading the Thai Highway Code, then waste more time with getting a 'medical' and you should be able to convert your UK license to a Thai license. INMHO both Tellow book and TDL are WOFTAM

Strange quirk of Thai BAnking is that passbook update will only show if there has been a change to the account. Tus for Immigration, you need to take out/put in 100B on the day and then get book update Only logical in Thailand ,but TIT, you can't fight it. Immigration know this very well, and sometimes will accept a recent update with the Bank Letter. I managed this year by pointing out to I/O that if there had been any change to my account it would have shown on the update that morning. Very rare to get such an understanding I/O

Says what is wrong with the Thai Education System. I once thought I could help by teaching English, but quickly gave up as I realised that speaking English is not the same as being able to teach ohers to speak English. Secondly, gave up because all students simply wanted their assignments to be easy, and none wanted to work to learn.

When my house was built, without my supervision, builders/wife chose patterned white gloss tiles, mainly, I think because these were cheaper. These have been lethal when wet, like after cleaning, and I have had several near miss slips and falls. Last year I got our patio floor replaced with non-slip, (no idea of R rating) but matt texture and virtually non-slip even when wet. Tiles from our local builders shop, so common Thai brand. Now trying to persuade wife that the cost of replacing all tiles with these nonslip is a good investment compared with potential medical bills if I slip and fall on existing gloss tiles. Local workers did a good job of patio tiles, laid on existing tiles which were 'roughed up' first. Experience is NEVER use shiny tiles on the floor. Always cheapest to do the job properly he first time. In this case, the Thai way is NOT the best way.

See my earlier posts. When I came in to Thailand last Aug I was given 30 day visa exempt. I went straight to my local I/O and asked to change this to a Non O to use for a retirement extension, which I had previously held. No problem, I just needed to show 'proof of funds' in bank and was given a 90 day Non O, which I have since extended for 365 days for retirement. Extension again requires proof of funds and up dated bank book, and has to be done in the last month of the Non O. Very easy and no need to pay an agent if you have money in the bank. My advice, works well at Phayao I/O is to visit in advance and ask for an appointment to do these changes/ extensions. Say you want to visit when convenient for I/O and then ask for a list of documents you need to bring.

"Exactly, you would think they would have multiple cameras covering all of the carousels, showing different angles?" There might be cameras, but is anything recorded?

Tiger Balm is the universal cure for all bites and stings and almost every other superficial injury . Ask any Thai.

Any advance information about Chiang Rai Flower festival this year? Imissed last year becuse of Covid, but I usually try to get there. Is i happening? If so When? In h usual place?

Last Aug. I flew in from UK on THAI and entered visa exempt at SVB, with no questions about onward ticket. Now converted the Visa exempt to Non O and with retirement extension for 365 days. All very easy, had to show 800K in bank both when converting Visa exempt to Non O and when getting Retirement extension. Actually I bought n onward ticket as a precaution, but not asked for

I opened an account with Santander earlier this year. Confirmed when opening that I could live in Thailand 9+ months of the year. Only 'residence' requirement was that I was UK taxpayer, but not checked as far as I know. I used my UK address when opening the account. To change to Thai address I had to show 'proof of address', which I did not have , so will have to wait until next visit to UK.. I was told that when I had Thai address, replacement credit cards, etc. would be sent to Thailand, but that, beware, some cards will not allow this, including, I think, Mastercard. Experience of living in Thailand and keeping UK bank accounts has been that only problems are when you need a new credit/ ATM card, which not all will send to Thailand. I only wish there was a Thai bank that I could use that would give a credit card that I could use anywhere, and make payments/transfers to overseas accounts, and had a working on -line banking. Any suggestions? I have suffered with Kasikorn for years as they are in my local town, and at least their cards work in Thailand.

The problem is not the hours that Alcohol is served, but that Thais and Tourists cannot control their drinking

Local Police really on the ball? Nearly 9 years overstay. Where will they deport him to?

Thailand will never go cashless. Expect vendors to accept the deduction made on credit card payments? NO WAY. Only cashless if you pay the surcharge. Also too many in Thailand like the anomality of paying cash, and being able to launder cash so easily.

This year I entered Thailand at SVB and was given 30 day non-visa entry. Subsequently I went to my local I/O (Phayao) and was given a 90 day Non-Imm O visa, but had to show 800K in my bank (as for Retirement visa). Last week this non O vas given an extension for Retirement for 1 year, as normal (I have held Retirement isa before) but again required to get bank letters confirming 800K I never used an agent but did all the work myself I/O was well aware of procedure to change visa exempt entry to Non O. I was charged 10K baht, 2K for visa and 8K for "Services" (they filled in all the forms for me. Considering how many restrictions/requirements RTE in London were asking for a Non IM visa, I am happy with this and consider it a bargain.

Desperate to talk up some new form of Visa. How many are going to qualify for this, and how many of those will be rushing to Thailand for treatment. I have nothing against Thai medicine, but who want to be in hospital in foreign country? Particularly with on with dubious medical malpractice laws? At one time Thailand did very well with simple 'tourist' visas, or non-visa entry, 1 month, 2 month, 3 months, and ech easy to extend.

Wy not ask Immigration? When I went to check on the window for my 90 day O, they were very helpful and insisted in making an appointment for the extension, and giving me a list of documents I needed to provide.

I did the same as you intend, arriving last August. No problems on arrival, given 30 day non-visa entry. First week here, went to local I/O, Phayao, with wife, to do TM30. There told the I/O I wanted to change my non-visa entry to Non IM O for retirement. Had to return with the standard bank documents for retirement, and pay 2000B visa fee, plus 8,000B for 'Services', and return 1 week later. Non IM O stamped in my passport expiring 3 months after my non-visa 30 days ran out. Told to return in the last month of Non O and apply for usual retirement extension. Now due to go back to I/O on 17 Nov with appointment to extend for retirement. Need to get new copies of usual bank documents and photo, as per normal Retirement extension. All very straightforward, except for the 8000B for Serices, seemingly for filling in the forms o change to Non-Im.. Far less trouble than applying for a Non IM. at RTE in London and for that I did not mind he 8,000 B Services fee All at Phayao Immigration seemed to be aware of the procedures to change no visa entry to NonIM I have previously done 2 Retirement extensions at Phayao, and they have all my details on file there

Because this is Thailand, and Thais do not want long term 'residents, but only short term visitors who will spend lots of money and fall for all the scams. Immigration laws are not expected to make sense or be logical. Just smile and do what i aske of you, and you will find life is much easier.

Window dressing.

You can enter on 30 day non-visa exempt and then change to Non O at your local I/O. Saves all the messing about with the London RTE site and stupid requirements I did it 2 months ago; straight in at SVB with 30 day stamp in PP. Conversion at local (Phayao ) I/O easy and now on 90 day Non O, waiting to get Retirement extension.. neededd to show 800K in Thai bank to get Non O, same as for retirement, but otherwise straightforward.

I came back to LOS in August, fling THAI, with an expired Non O retirement in my passport, flying in on 1 way ticket from LHR. Frustrated by the requirements to get a Non IM visa on line, I flew visa exempt , but bought the cheapest onward flight I could find, about 30UKP, I think, not wanting to have any problems at the airport. AS others have noted, not asked about onward ticket at check-in. AT SVB, I/O looked at my expired Non O and told me she could only give me a 30 day visa exempt. At local I/O ( Phayao) I asked to convert this to Non IM for retirement.. Had to go back 3 days later, and sign all the forms, and was given a 90 day Non O, and charged 2000B for the visa, and 8,000 for "Services" ( all the forms were filled in for me and all copies made. I also had to get bank statements as for Retirement visa. Told to come back in the last month of this new visa and get the normal 365 day retirement extension. Now waiting to do this next month. I know the 8,000 was a blatant rip-off, but kept I/O happy and cheaper than using an agent. I'll report the success or otherwise of getting the visa extension next month.

I have just transferred 50Kbaht from UK to a friend in Thailand, using WU. Money has gone through, but WU give the impression they do not know quite what they are doing. I transferred money from my UK bak to WU, to be collected in Thailand. having made the transfer, I checked that money had left my UK bank (on-line banking) I hen received two mails from WU, telling me to sned the money, and "funds have not been received" warning. Checked again ha money had been paid from my bank; OK. Then used WU tracking; Firs told that transfer in progress and then, next day, that money available for collection in Thailand. Money was collected yesterday, and today I receive another WU e-mail, telling me that the transfer had been cancelled. Just what is going on with WU? I thought they were a competent company, but in this case they appear not to have any idea what is going on. Each of the e-mails have WU as sender, so presumably not a scam to get more money from me. None have an e-mail address to reply to, or to question the content of the mail, only a Uk phone number and address o contact, and i am not going to waste money trying to call this from Thailand. This is making me doubtful about using WU again, as it all sems very suspicious. previously, I have used WU for money transfers to Thailand without any problems

I do not believe that DWP are so trusting as to accept that every pensioner is still living in UK and eligible for annual increases. Apart from the letter asking if you are still alive, I think they can check if you are receiving National Health care or prescriptions. My impression has always been that DWP do not want to pay any pension unless they have to, so if they do not see any activity that indicates that you are still alive, they can decide that you are dead and stop your pension To be fair to them, if they find that they were mistaken and that you are still alive, they make up to missed pension with no quibble.. If you are going to keep a UK bank, check that your bank will allow a current account with credit card etc., when you are living in Thailand. Not all will. If you have a UK based credit card, also need to check where the replacement card will be sent when due. Default could be to your (unused ) UK address. Some will not send a credit card to Thailand under any circumstances, other are happy to use DHL at no extra charge.