asiacurious

Previously there was a restriction that if you are in Thailand for more than 180 days in any given calendar year, you cannot get a VAT refund.  If that restriction is still in place, then practically everyone currently here would be ineligible for a refund.

Don't know if that restriction is still in effect.  The language I'm seeing now is that those who are domiciled here cannot get the refund.  I suspect anyone here on a long term non-tourist visa would be considered to be domiciled here.

More information here

Selfish and irresponsible of those who worked there and illegally came back and especially the greedy Thai, Myanmar, and Chinese investors who owned and operated that Covid Superspreading Hotel/Brothel and made the choice to kept it open during a major virus outbreak.  And of the customers who went there to party too.

The investors should named, shamed, and held responsible.  It all started with them.

14 hours ago, keith101 said:

The original notes are printed in China so not to hard for them to bring in fakes when entering as tourists and the Chinese are the biggest country for making fakes of just about everything .

8 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

If true (and I have no reason to contradict) this would be the perfect scenario for the biggest rip-off of the century ????

6 hours ago, Traubert said:

Source?

I'd like a source for this too, but they can't provide one.

Because.....
 

Quote

 

Opposite Bank of Thailand headquarters on Samsen Road next to Rama VIII Bridge, the 49-year-old building, designed by ML Santhaya Israsena and Dr Ratchata Kanjanavit, ceded its 12,900 square metres to the Learning Centre, which opened earlier this year to commemorate the central bank’s 75th anniversary. 

 

This was the national Note Printing Facility from 1969 to 2007. Banknotes have since then been produced at a bigger facility in Nakhon Pathom.

 

(emphasis added)

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/30339035

Oh, and this....  https://www.bot.or.th/English/Banknotes/production_and_security/Pages/NPTBankOfThailand.aspx

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I suppose. 

But banks sometimes deduct automatic annual fees.

Also if you never touch it, wouldn't the bank eventually call it dormant?

Those are good points.

Having several thousand extra baht over the 800K is probably a good idea (which is what I do). 

Not sure about the dormant account issue, but definitely worth looking into!  I suppose adding 100 baht every few months isn't a bad idea too. 

Yeah, Bangkok Immigration switched to doing that sometime in the last month.  I think the only result of them doing this is that the crowds may be more manageable at extension application time because it spreads the deadlines for doing those extensions out,.

Except of course for all the people who waited until the last day.  Reports from MTT on November 30th sounded rather nightmarish.  If I were any of those people, I'd probably sacrifice a few days of the current extension and go in earlier next time.

Is the set and forget method not a workable option?  Transfer in 800K 2 months prior to application and leave it there.  Never touch it.  Never take any money out.  Once a year prior to applying for an extension, deposit 100 baht at a teller, then update the passbook.

Then set up a second account at another bank for daily use.

2 hours ago, allencraig said:

Update from MTT:

So yes, the K Counter has moved buildings, to the 4th fl. where other visa types had been processed.

 

HOWEVER it feels something isn't right. I received my initial number out front and went to the room designated for my number range. But I'm the only farange waiting here. At least the only non-Asian. There's even a monk filling out forms in the corner! The officials come in and only shout in Thai.

I know K Counter is for any foreigner with a TV stamp to extend, so why are there almost all only Thai waiting here? I've shown my passport to get my number and have asked a few officials in the hallways, and so I sit here waiting to have my papers looked at.

 

Last month I walked right into the final assessment room in the usual building's K Counter and was serviced and left in about 40 minutes total.

Definitely interested in hearing how it went.

Could it be most people have already taken care of their extensions? (Today is the last day for everyone who got extensions before the September amnesty ended. And those who got extensions through the end of December can't apply for new extensions until later this week.) 

Also, Immigration is relocating Counter K effective November 30th.  Still at MTT, but now in the same building as the other counters.

More here:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1194476-mtt-immigration-change-effective-nov-30th/

For those applying starting November 30th, Immigration has moved the Counter K to the 4th floor of the same building that has been handling all of the other things at MTT.

As Counter K has been the most crowded of the counters, it may take more time to get into the building to handle 90 day reports, Tourist Visa Extensions (J Counter) and TM30 reporting.

Note that the bar code on this graphic from Immigration DOES point to the CORRECT building.

On 11/27/2020 at 3:09 AM, Jackcwba said:

Just got back from counter J, easy. No questions asked. And didn’t ask for tm30 

What did they tell you about the extension?  Will it start that day or December 1?

Here are the buildings and counters for all of the services at MTT.  Most people probably know these already but just so there is no confusion, if you're on an extension based on a Tourist Visa or Visa Exempt, everything is handled at MTT.  No need to visit CW.

3 hours ago, Jackcwba said:

i just read on richards barrows twitter that we now need TM30 ? do tourist 60 visa holders need this?

i live with my girlfriend in an apartment and everything is in her name not mine. 

My friend's landlord gave him a copy of the confirmation of the TM30 filing.  He had it with him (along with a copy of his lease) but MTT Counter J handed those documents back and did not use them.

Perhaps Counter K (for those who entered visa exempt ) requires it, but Counter J (tourist visa) did not.

7 hours ago, Tunaboi said:

Just to be clear I’m on tourist visa on arrival US passport stamped til November 30 last time with embassy letter. Going MTT Monday is acceptable? Or must I go this Friday. Sorry I just want to triple check with you guys. Thanks

Whenever you go, since you entered on a tourist visa, make sure you go to J Counter not K Counter (3rd floor in the same building where they do the 90 day reporting).

Also, you might find this post interesting.....

Hello,

My friend went to apply for a new extension at MTT today and they were told that the new extension would be effective TODAY, not December 1st.  I previously reported on their experience applying for an extension back in September, and a link to that post is at the end of this one.

Today's experience was a bit different from last time:

• He entered on a Tourist Visa (not Tourist Exempt).  Those who entered on a Tourist Visa apply for extensions at J Counter on the 3rd floor of building where 90 day reports are done.  It was very quiet at J Counter.  Those who entered Visa Exempt apply for extensions at K Counter.  (Counter K requires online appointments booked at least 1 day in advance.  Counter J does not require online appointments.)
• When applying, he was told the new extension will start as of today (November 26) and will expire on January 25th.
  • His current extension does not expire until November 30th, and he assumed the new extension would start on December 1st.
  • It's annoying that he's lost 4 days, and will cause people in the future to wait until the final day of their visa to visit immigration for further extensions (assuming they are still giving them).
• He received an Under Consideration stamp and must return on December 9th to obtain the extension stamp.  (So extensions are still a 2-visit process.)

Forms needed can be found here (this link to Google Drive pdf is from immigration????

• Application form
• STM.2 form (without the extra form that was stamped on the back last time)
• Form acknowledging penalties for overstay 

Documents needed:

• Embassy Letter OR Affidavit
  • He did NOT need a copy of the email showing receipt of embassy letter, which is different from last time.
  • If you can't get an embassy letter and are using an affidavit, others have reported that they still needed to request an embassy letter and then provide a copy of the email received from their embassy stating they were no longer issuing letters.  <---- Can others please verify this?
• Photocopies
  • main passport page
  • entry stamp showing date of entry
  • TM6 showing both sides

I'll report back what ends up happening in terms of the date on the visa extension.  He said they were very clear (he asked repeatedly) that the new extension would be dated starting today.  When coupled with other people's reports that they are no longer going to be issuing extensions as of Monday, it seems like there may be some kind of change ahead.

Here's the original post from a couple of months ago about his experience:

39 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If you have never done a 90 day report to them they will not do them. When you get to the 15 days before your 90 day report is due you could do one and the certificate of residency to MTT (if still open then).

????

Thanks UbonJoe. 

1 hour ago, MRToMRT said:

Hi,

 

I need a CoR (for renewing a driving license) and have some questions on what to do, if anyone can help?

 

I looked at using my embassy (UK) but no appointments available this year. So now I have to use Imm. 

Do I need a 90 day report completed or just a visa that requires 90 day reports (I have O-A). I have just come back so not due for a 90 day report for a while yet. 

Do I go to CW or MTT?

 

This is my list of documents I have been able to come up with that may be needed (?):

 

 

• Two 4 cm x 6 cm passport photos 
• Actual passport
• Photocopy of the following passport pages: main photo page, visa page, TM.6 departure card (all pages must be signed)
• Completed application form of Residence Certificate in Thailand. 
• TM30 copy
  
  Anything else (I don't have a lease or yellow/blue book but have unit deeds). ??

 

 

Thanks

I've seen these questions asked elsewhere.  From UbonJoe, you need the application for the certificate and would apply at MTT.

As for needing a 90 day report, that's what UbonJoe says is needed, but given that you don't have one yet...!

If things made sense, I'd say your O-A Visa with a date that shows you haven't needed to report and the TM-30 should be enough.  Or a lease.  Or something like that.  But... not everthing makes sense here!

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

As per usual it depends on where you applying for your extension.

Some offices are not providing affidavit. CM notable.

Many embassies are currently not issuing letter. Which imm office do you deal with.

It'll be MTT, with an embassy letter less than 30 days old at the time of appointment (which is the end of this week).

On 11/20/2020 at 6:17 AM, DrJack54 said:

I think there is a box that is basically stating "cannot exit Thailand due to Covid situation"

I read one report from MTT that the io basically pointed which box to cross.

Regarding this affidavit, am I correct in understanding that if you DO have an embassy letter that is currently valid (dated within 30 days of the date you apply for the extension) then the affidavit is not necessary?  Or is the affidavit still required even with a valid embassy letter?

Thank you!

8 minutes ago, Yanki said:

Well, I have to go to Muang Thong Thani for my 90 days report. How to get into there? . Is it near to CW govt complex? Kindly advice me please.

Not really near CW.  It's farther from the center of the city.  You'll need to take a taxi or Grab.  There are 3 buildings in the complex and this link will show you the exact building for the 90 day reports: https://goo.gl/maps/UfKdnBPcUABMNJ3T6

If you want to save some money (and time if there is a lot of traffic) then you can take the BTS to the Wat Phra Sri Mahathat station and grab a taxi from there.  This link shows the station to MTT route:  https://goo.gl/maps/6kMYKTL9wpZzTraH7

The best way to do this is to use a VPN Router.  Every device connected to that router will be secured through the VPN.

Service Provider <--->  VPN Router  <---> Phones, Computers, Fire Stick....

Some providers (like ExpressVPN) will sell you a router with their software pre-installed, but you can also buy your own and install the software.

This page explains everything....

https://www.expressvpn.com/vpn-software/vpn-router

There are a number "streets" like the one in question in St. Louis, which were originally established at a time when it was legal to put restrictive covenants in land titles/deeds that prohibited the sale of property to anyone who was not white.  Although the US Supreme Court has since struck these sorts of covenants down as unconstitutional, these streets remain almost exclusively white and remain a simple of slavery, segregation, and Jim Crow laws.  (I'll also note that the security hired by the trusts that own these kinds of streets are typically off-duty police, something that shouldn't be ignored when discussing protests against police brutality.)

So what you have is:

A private street that is itself an enduring symbol of the racism of a supposedly earlier time, located in the middle of a city who's mayor had recently doxed peaceful protesters and who's house was a few blocks away on the other side of this particular Jim Crow Street) on the one hand...

AND

100 or so peaceful protesters marching down this street uninvited on their way to the Mayor's home in an act of peaceful civil disobedience.

The homeowners had a few options:

1. Let the protesters pass on by and call it a day.
2. Call the police and wait safely inside their homes, armed with their guns if they were so inclined to protect themselves should anyone try to break in.
3. Don't call the police and instead head outside with their guns to waive them around and point them directly at people marching in the street.

They opted for the most provocative option, the one that could have led to serious injury or death.  Thankfully the people marching did not react.  Were the marchers trespassing?  Yes.  But basic peaceful civil disobedience isn't the kind of thing that should be met with guns being pointed at people.

There is NOTHING more American than protesting peacefully, even when (or especially when) the protest includes non-violent civil disobedience.  At the same time, there is something quite off about two people living inside their little bubble of privilege, heading outside to threaten and point guns at people.

I'll quote three sentences from the BBC article linked to by others in this thread, to do away with a few other issues people in support of the gun couple have raised:

Quote

However, a live stream from the front of the march shows that the first protesters walked through an intact gate that was being held open.

 

[SNIP]

 

Demonstrators shouted back at McCloskey that the street is "public property," which is not true of Portland Place - it is private property owned by a trust.

 

[SNIP]

 

According to analysis by St Louis Post-Dispatch investigative reporter Jeremy Kohler, video evidence does not show the protesters crossing onto the McCloskeys' property, remaining instead on the sidewalks and in the roadway.

1 minute ago, Sujo said:

They were not on mccluskeys private property. How many times do you need to be told.

There's not much point in arguing with or responding to certain people on these forums.  And in the more extreme cases, the ignore tool comes in handy!

4 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Since CP took over, Makro went into a direct competition with all retailers like Tesco Lotus, Big C etc.  Makro is, originally, Dutch and a worldwide operating wholesale operator. 

This implies that all customers are "professional" retailers like hotels, restaurants, caterers and smaller retail shop which explains the necessity to buy industrial sized packagings (shampoo sold in shrink-wrapped units of 3 or 6 bottles etc.). 

As far as licensing is concerned I would assume, that Makro has a different kind of business license compared to all other supermarkets, i.e. it might stipulate wholesale only. This, in turn, would explain, that still today customers need a tax ID and if an individual arrives today, the cashier staff scans off a "day pass" kind of code. 

For a professional buyer I can tell you, that this individual retailing customers are a hinderance in the stores as they either start to rip open sales packagings, pick fruit and seafood very unprofessionally (no gloves, throwing fruit they dont want back into crates and hence damaging the fruit) or loading a trolley. Until four years ago, when I sold my restaurant (good luck for that) I sank lots of money into Makro, had all the bar code tags turned upwards so the cashier could get through with billing as fast as possible but today I see, the longer the more, private individuals clogging this wholesaler .......... 

Not really much of a wholesaler these days.  For anyone familiar, they are more like Sam's Club or Costco the US (and parts of Asia) or Metro (in China).

Oh, and CP now owns Tesco now too, so same company. 

53 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Makro is wholesale, not a retailer. You also need a Makro-card to shop in a physical shop, at least where I live...????

In BKK they also used to ask for a membership, but they don't do that anymore and everyone is welcome to shop.  (Membership is needed if you want official tax receipts I think.)

When I started shopping there a few years ago, you could ask for a one time pass if you show a foreign passport (which you could get every time you go to the store, so not really one time!) but they've done away with even that requirement.

Perhaps only a matter of time until they stop requiring one where you are too!