BangkokAlan

Most people are now having the process broken down into two visits, the first to check documentation and you are then given a date to return for your tests and collection of license. If its still as it was when I did this about 8 weeks ago then the first visit will only take about an hour. At the time I applied there was no process to prebook an appointment to submit I had to just turn up. They only accepted a max of 30 submissions each day. I suggest you get there early say 07.30 even with an appointment. I was given a return date one week after my submission this was for a renewal license but some who had previously applied had to wait 2-3 months for their 2nd appointment as they were playing catchup for covid closures. They may have now caught up. Good luck.

If its rented then it will be in your landlords/owners name. Its all dependent on your landlord as most contracts state return of deposit one month after tenancy ends or after outstanding bills are settled so your contract will let you know when you should get it. If you have a good landlord normally they want tenants finalized asap so would normally do a meter read with agent/juristic and tenant and work out what is outstanding from last bill get this paid by tenant and release the deposit. That is what we do with our tenants anyhow. Some landlords hold the deposit for the full month regardless.

No you cannot bring cash put in a Thai bank and buy a condo. The process of purchase requires all money to come in from overseas and only a transfer from your home country to Thailand can show where the funds originated as they wont accept a withdrawal slip from you home bank as proof. The Thai bank wont issue the TorTor3 form to you which shows the money transfer into the country and exchange rates for condo purchase unless the process is followed and without the TT3 land dept will not allow the transfer of the condo to your name. Even living in Thailand with a Non B visa and work permit I still had to bring money in from overseas for my condo. Most countries have something similar now is all part of money laundering controls.

I checked mine and although it shows -7+7 validity of arrival date when scanned its only 3 days.

You can do it a a few weeks out. I did mine on 29th May for a flight on 17th June. I got my QR code approval the next day although they quote 48hrs. It is now valid 1 week before your submitted arrival date and 7 days after. So mine is available for use 10-24th June with a 17th June arrival date. I suggest you do early in case they refuse or want more information and you have to resubmit anything.

You can continue my Thai wife has had 4 or 5 2 year visas.

There are loads of quality condos available in Pattaya, I am a landlord and have rented a few units last two month long term to expats, things have picked up for quality units. On Jomtien there are quality units at Cetus and Aeras and a few other projects.

Prices are going up fast they are all in they 120-150K zone now Etihat and KLM are the lowest as I have also been looking for my wife I came back to Ireland 4 weeks ago for 70K on business class on Airfrance via KLM site.

The main benefit to informing the embassy is in the event that she overstay her visa in UK they may come to you to follow up why. Also if you want to take another person later if her visa is still valid it will create a lot of drama as the UK embassy will say you already guaranteed someone else and of that person overstays it will be a black mark against you so best to cover yourself. But inform her you are informing UK embassy you are no longer together and no longer support her visa so travel for her is a risk and let her take a chance or get a of being refused at UK border control or she can get French visa.

I don't know Huahin market but I agree on Pattaya comments. Lots of options. If you want good quality for 15K then Jomtien or Pratumnak Hill are good quality locations for nice 1 bed units and small 2 bed at lower quality. In downtown Pattaya you would get a nice studio or 1 bed but no sea view for a quality unit but easy walking to everything so you don't need a bike car or taxi. Use a good agent so you have a comeback on any issues. Some good agencies are Pattaya Point Real Estate, East Coast Property, Gecko Property and Coastal Real Estate. Yes I am a landlord in Pattaya and use these agents as they are very professional. I am sure others can share their agent experience too. Prices decreased significantly in Pattaya during covid 50% below normal market for good units, I just rented two units last month and prices are nearly normal again max only -10%. 1 year contracts will get you a better deal with landlords as most renters only want a 6 months contract.

If you look on Thai pass website they have recommendation. Its on page 3 from memory they offer a number of packages from 7 days onward you can use this. When I applied in January I used Axa Thailand which is recognized insurance company for Thai pass and found value for money. Never needed to use it. Thailand site. www.axa.co.th then they have it as inbound insurance.

They don't match the card and the license addresses but its better to hire on your Thai license if you can in case of any speeding tickets. Also they require confirmation of you not having any points or disqualifications on your UK license, you can get a report yourself online but it must be no later than 24hrs old or they can retrieve it with your approval at the desk. With a Thai license this process is not required. I always use my Thai license and Thai card to hire a car in UK.

There aren't any specific supermarkets serving those countries uniquely but the Central Food Halls at Central Chidlom and Central Ladprao have vast Asia ranges and if you like Korean food there is a Korean supermarket on Ratchada Road near Esplanade mall. Don Donki in Ekamia also has a lot of Asian ranges not sure the coverage on the you have asked but I do believe they have Japanese and China products. Most international supermarkets cater for Japanese ranges and there is a Japanese Supermarket in Sukhumvit 33/1 and a few more dotted around Bangkok but Suk 31 is the one the Japanese housewives visit.

They should ask commuters on the MRT and BTS to take their backpacks off as well and place them on the floor, during peak times it can make the trains uncomfortable and every time they move left or right they hit someone with the backpack.

Tops Market have Waitrose teabags which are very good and half the price of PG tips

Try Bangkok International Dental Centre BIDC on Ratchada. Tel 026924433. They are closed now but normally open 9am. sometimes dentists have shorter hours over Songkran. I have been going here for about 12 years very professional.

Yes you can get a Thai pass without a visa as Thailand is open to visa exempt entry but you will need to the required insurance which I now believe is reduced to 20,000 USD cover to include covid coverage.

I was at Chaengwattana this morning for my marriage extension. Arrived just before 10am after a quick visit to the bank to get everything updated. As I had let my extension lapse in November last year being out of the country. Whilst it would be considered a new application it was very easy no new documents requested and I received no home visit from the immigration police. At CW this morning it was quite busy being the last day before Songkran closure for both the extension stamp and I also got a new multiple re-entry permit. Overall the process took two hours I got my passport back just as they were closing for lunch but there was still a lot of people having to return. All in all I find they are very efficient when you prepare well and I feel that the pandemic has reduced a lot of time wasting sitting down talking with the officers and getting a home visit all of which never happened this year it was very much in/out of the building at each stage. Immigration is now closed until Monday 18th from today for the long Songkran break this year.

I applied from Ireland as a British passport holder but as we own a house in Ireland I now have an Irish driving license that has photo and shows my Irish address and they accepted this as residency. For the letter of invite I did not require this as I own my apartment in Bangkok but I did include a copy if title deed/blue book so perhaps your girlfriend could write a letter stating she is the owner/renter of your accommodation inviting you to stay and attach either the title deed/yellow book or the contract rental agreement in her name.

You could look at Siammotorworld in Bangkok and expat owned dealer who has a good reputation. He also offers a service to check any car you want to buy from any dealer to ensure its in good condition.

If you go to a local clinic or hospital and tell them you need a medical certificate for drivers license then they will produce a document that is acceptable by the DLT its normally around 200 baht at a clinic but more expensive at hospitals. You can normally apply early one month should be ok. I got my renewed license in Bangkok recently it was walk-in only where on first trip they checked my documents and then gave me an appointment to return 10 days later for the actual renewal. I did the video and questions online and the other tests such as reflex test at the 2nd visit. Best to call ahead to see what process they use locally to you as offices may differ in their approach.

It depends what is in your contract, whilst the law states 1 month deposit most landlords are still charging 2 and if you signed a contract for that I believe it will be difficult to argue the case. If you leave early you would most definitely lose your 1 month. You have to bear in mind that the landlord pays an agent 1 months commission for a 12 month contract and if you leave early they do not get a refund. I am a landlord and I believe whatever is agreed in the contract should be met by both parties, however if I have a tenant that had a major issue then I would allow early termination and I have on one occasion. I would suggest you prepare some evidence to show the landlord why you want to leave early. IE early termination of your job or other good reason as they may want you to leave anyhow if you cant pay the rent so it would help your case.

I completed my marriage extension at Chaengwattana yesterday, it was very busy there but I had booked an online appointment. It not clear when you arrive how you will be processed as they don't issue you a queue number as you have a prebooked appointment. It states on the appointment that counters L28-30 process you but you must actually go to counter 27 to have documents prechecked. My appointment was at 2pm had my documents checked just prior to this and they brought me straight to an officer to process my application. They only took one set of documents plus wanted a second copy of our Kor Ror 2 and my wife's ID and house registration and as she is not registered at our condo and they also asked me for bank statement. I had a 6 month statement printed that morning at Bangkok bank and also had the bank letter and photocopy of every page of my bank book, The whole process took about 20 minutes the officer was very efficient and polite. I now have an under consideration stamp to return 12th April just before they close for Songkran.

Yes that's correct as they were not issuing visa in the passport as embassy's were closed to walk-in.

Yes I have to start again, I was out of the country so could not extend so I have a new Non O visa obtained outside Thailand and I am submitting a new application within the last 30 days of my visa