Nonthaburi Boy

Some confusion as to what ‘it’ is here? I am responding very specifically to the OP’s post, which is actually about a form that can be filled/ letter signed granting a spouse access to his account - I assume prior to death as well and without a joint account. If any such form/letter can help (doubt it but no expert) it’s outside the post-death legal process you refer to. Therefore, ask the bank makes sense to me and once you do that (and again if such a thing exists) for sure not every bank is going to give the same response to a foreigner Anyway, no worries. I understand it can appear a bit unusual to respond directly and uncritically to an OP’s question. LOL

I don’t know and would like to, but I believe that it would to some significant extent depend on the particular bank and branch. Once there is any dispute/uncertainty I guess that it will end up requiring a court order regardless. So I would talk to the bank, and consider talking to other banks and transferring your account (if able to open one!!!!), about whether there is any way to allow your wife legal access to these funds without a joint account. Obviously, whether the ‘give her the access codes’ thing is a good idea would depend on certainty that there will be no dispute - including a good will - and that our embassy/the local police will be happy to ignore our death (they probably will). There is a whole world of trouble and extortion potentially waiting for the spouse if someone makes a bad call on that. This is a quick and rough translation of the list of documents in a post above - for others as well as you - because I found it helpful, but Google translate makes it confusing. It’s not specifically about the bank account - just in the event we can’t sort that with the bank. Seems to me that much of this paperwork can be done/ prepared in advance of our death and kept up to date, and will make the court process smoother, if not shorter. The form in 11 is in English and Thai so we can potentially ask any close overseas relatives/ exes to sign it in advance, or at least make them aware that it is coming and is to be completed/ submitted to our wife in the event of our death. I imagine it might need to be notarized though and may require help from our embassy or government agencies (who may prefer to have other forms or a home country will). Will have to look into that. 1. House registration of the deceased 2. House registration of person applying to be administrator/inheritor (would be our spouse). 3. Death certificate 4. Death certificate of parents of deceased, if applicable 5. Marriage certificate of deceased (actually it says marriage certificate of the deceased’s spouse - and it could be ‘spouses’ suggesting they may have remarried or have more than one current spouse, which would make some sense). 6. Marriage certificate and/or registration of the spouse of the deceased (who would I guess be the executor and it would be the same document as 5 - this is one of those requirements that makes you say ‘what???’ Probably to cover situations where people have married multiple times?) 7. Certificates of any changes of name, surname by deceased, applications to appoint relatives (adoption papers and the like I guess) and to assign people (possibly the adoptees, but it isn’t clear and I guess isn’t supposed to be) as beneficiaries of the deceased’s estate. 8. Birth certificates of the inheritor's children (if having children unable to legally consent)… I am feeling this one should cover the deceased’s children too but it wouldn’t apply to me anyway 9. Official ID card of the applicant to be administrator of the estate (will be same as ‘inheritor’ in most cases). 10. The will of the deceased (if any) 11. Letter of consent for administration of assets of deceased (Download here Thai/EN) - this I guess is to be filled in by anyone with a likely/potential legal claim over the assets. For Thai relatives it might be easier to get everybody together with a lawyer and witnesses as there are a lot of signatures required. 12. ID card and house registration of all persons consenting to the administration of the estate 13. Chart/list of relatives (I think a chart but best to ask about the format) 14. Documents related to the assets of the deceased, such as land title deeds and mortgage contracts, car/motorcycle registrations, firearms, bank passbooks, stock certificates, etc.

@areyouserious As I said above, you can safely ignore this item I think, as long as you have the other evidence of marriage (Kor Ror 2 or 22 and marriage documentation, plus any necessary translations). Not even Nonthaburi immigration appear to know what it is supposed to be, although in some rare circumstances perhaps it would make sense.

Thanks for that link. I hadn’t realised that I might pay more on a non-taxpayer basis, so I’ll be more careful to ask about that in future and make sure. However, your summary doesn’t seem to match the article. According to the article a foreigner who works here pays considerably less than a tourist, and a foreigner who lives here does not pay more than a tourist. Is there another source for the tiers you quote? (Acknowledge that you say it is at the discretion of each hospital and also that the tiers referred to in the article may specifically be those for insurers - likely affecting your premiums too).

It seems an unusually long time but I don’t know about Khon Kaen. I applied early like he did and my under consideration period is about 4 weeks (from the date I applied). I thought that was slow! No warning not to travel once the home visit was done but I wouldn’t go overseas during an under consideration period anyway. I’m traveling within Thailand in the knowledge that I may have to get back within a day.

Okay, according to the home visit officers Nonthaburi will do a home visit for every extension and the only change in requirements is that a single neighbour will suffice from now on. That doesn’t necessarily mean they always will do the visit if you take a neighbour to immigration, but since our neighbours were there it’s no longer an option for us… and there was no doubt for these guys that this was the current procedure.

This may be too late for the OP’s friend but perhaps not for someone else. The answers for Nonthaburi are (for now) these. 1) I understand this is a ‘helpful guide’ rather than an actual list. They shouldn’t need the one you ask about. A Kor Ror 2 or Kor Ror 22, plus marriage certificate and MOF-certified translation (if overseas marriage) are sufficient as evidence of marriage. Having said that, a friend of a friend from a developing world country was actually asked to provide this for his initial extension in Bangkok, so it’s not unique. Perhaps they sometimes ask for this, but it is certainly not something they always insist on (or even ask about in our case). Personally, I think they mean the one used to register the Thai marriage but I don’t know. Same with a similar, weird item on their documentation list for the non-O based on marriage conversion. I asked them about this and was told what I had was enough - they preferred that to saying that an item on the list was not needed and didn’t even make sense. 2) This is what I was told after my wife and I specifically asked our IO in tandem with big “that’s not what we were told before” eyes … so in that context what else could they reply? Still, it seems to be the case. First time (90 day conversion to non-O or first extension of a 90-day from overseas) neighbour needs to come with you and bring ID card and house registration. Neighbour will be interviewed separately. There might (or not) be a home visit if they are extending by a year on first visit - outside my experience. For second extension: Neighbour should come but does not need to do so. If neighbour does not come they will do a home visit, which two neighbours should attend with copies of ID card and house registration. The impression was that they’d strongly prefer the neighbour come and that maybe a home visit would not have been 100% required if they did (no straight answer on that). But we were previously told (twice) that neighbour did not need to attend this second time, then it was like surprise that the neighbour was not there (different officers but also the same front desk people). Anyway, if doing again I would take the neighbour second time and (best case) no home visit or (worst case) it’s not serious if neighbour is not around for home visit. Fortunately, we’ve been here for 25 years (and my wife since birth) so we have a lot of neighbours to choose from and most are now retired or semi-retired. Others may not have such helpful and available neighbours. When we previously asked about the requirements for this time (first one-year extension, second visit), no mention was made of home visits. Whether that was a careless IO or requirements have actually changed (or reverted since this is the same as lord grinz describes from many years ago) I don’t know. We have decided we will visit the office and check the latest requirements close to next extension date. After 10 am and after 2 pm are good times to do this as the information staff generally have time then. As done admirably by the OP it is important to be very specific about the circumstances (history, current status and what is being applied for) and to clearly mention that you have the list, have already prepared all other documents and are just clarifying about this one thing.

Where I said that Nonthaburi don’t seem to do home visits - well, they do at least sometimes. So that isn’t the reason - they still take the neighbour and photos seriously.Just in case anybody finds that comment.

I think this was a parody - but it is hard to tell sometimes. I thought the OP might be a parody at first, but it appears not.

It’s part of it, along with whatever else the immigration office want (interview, neighbours’ testimony, photos, home visit). In my case it is a Kor Ror 22 (married overseas) issued in 1998 so that proves almost nothing of relevance - it just completes the paperwork.

They’ll always look stamp by stamp from the first page in Nonthaburi. And they will look like they expect to find something - as I am sure they often do. This is quite normal and nothing to do with who did the previous stamps (as you now know, Immigration have absolutely nothing to do with the work permit). And I believe it is normal to check that first because if you have any outstanding issues these need to be resolved first (as a completely separate step) before you can move on to applying for the extension of stay for the length of your work permit. There is nothing suspicious about this in itself. Nonthaburi can be annoyingly fussy and there is some corruption there, but nothing remarkable as far as I know. They seem to be much more into sending you off to get further documents than they are into asking for payment to overlook them, in my experience. Whether the teaching agency paid to get your extension of stay for the purpose of work based on the wrong type of non-O visa I don’t know - is that what you are suggesting? I assume by stamps you mean the type of visa? But then why did you get the wrong type of visa? In Laos? Anyway, if you genuinely want help understanding what went wrong provide more information on what the fine is for. If it is for working on the wrong visa for a year then it seems quite generous - although why somebody there let it pass first time is a valid question and it the agency was also certainly at fault.

If you’re in Nonthaburi, you try that and they notice (and I think they would) you, your wife and your neighbour will all have to go back home, take new pics (neighbour is handy for this since he’s already up and about LOL) and return. They may well also ask you for x and y extra that they were otherwise probably going to let slide this time. Other offices, seems there will be different consequences and different probability of being caught/ anybody caring much. Possibly photos are not taken as seriously where they do (or are supposed to do) home visits? In Nonthaburi they don’t seem to do visits and the neighbour and photos are important evidence. You should take new ones unless you know they are definitely okay with the old at your office.

Thanks. Khor Ror 22 for me (married overseas rather than in Thailand). I’ve already done one extension so am reluctant to waste more time on another but the 60-day extension on basis of visiting wife is something I never considered and should have. Thanks!

Actually this is the list of documents required in the link to the immigration website given - item 8. However, this morning I checked at the desk at the immigration office about item 6.3 and it appears I don’t need anything for that - just that the marriage certificate must have been translated to Thai/ stamped by Ministry of Foreign Affairs - which I believe was needed for the Kor Ror 22 anyway. Provided your District Office didn’t issue the Kor Ror 22 without such an MOFA certification I guess anyone can ignore that. You’re right about the asterisked part (never doubted it but I thought I’d check while I was there) - it only applies if documents are not in English or Thai. However, it isn’t specifically part of 6.3 - it covers all of 6 to the extent applicable. However, we have to take a neighbour along when we apply. That’s doable but a little awkward, especially as there are so few seats at Nonthaburi. Apparently this would not be the case if I already had a non-O and was extending - not sure if it is required under a TM 86 (as you noted I am TM 87). However, just on that basis alone, if I could do it all again, being resident in Nonthaburi I would get a non-O to re-enter Thailand and start dealing with Nonthaburi immigration with that in my passport rather than visa exempt entry. Seems slightly less onerous in Bangkok.

Thanks for that. I’ll have a read and hope it makes more sense. Anyway, since they gave me this list seems like I’ll have to visit in advance and ask if what we have will meet their requirements.

Thanks for the handbook link! Much appreciated. Sorry, I should have said that this is for the initial 90 day extension to convert visa exempt entry to a non-O - after which I’ll begin the yearly extensions. I’ll look out the link for this doc. I have seen it before via the immigration website so I’ll try to find the link again. Pretty sure I got it via a post from somebody here. This is what I got from the immigration office. Second one so you can see the heading.

I’m applying for an extension of visa based on marriage (Nonthaburi in case somebody has recent experience, but this is from the official list of documents on the immigration website). I have a Kor Ror 22 (married in UK) but item 6.3 makes no sense in English or Thai ”Letter from a government office, embassy or consultation, certifying that the applicant (me) is a member of the referred family.” I guess that this means some sort of certification that I am still married to my wife? It follows the ‘family status registration’ (Kor Ror 22). If so, what kind of document is this? I’m from the UK and have family and friends there who can help if needed, but have no idea what to ask for. Also, is the Kor Ror 22, original marriage certificate from the UK and translation of marriage certificate certified by Ministry of Foreign Affairs sufficient? No need to have UK certify the marriage certificate if we already have the Kor Ror 22? We got the Kor Ror 22 for my wife’s use rather than mine, 25 years ago and it is not ‘certified by local or overseas embassy or consulate’, although the marriage certificate translation is certified by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This doesn’t seem to meet the requirement (“Documents under 6.2 (the Kor Ror 22) and 6.3 must be translated into English and certified by local or overseas Embassy to Consulate of the foreigner and by the Legalisation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand”) but why would a Kor Ror 22 need to be translated to English? It is rather confusing. I’ll visit Nonthaburi immigration again before I submit an application but I’d like to understand the wording before I do. My experience is that they are not exactly squeaky clean there, at least in some cubicles.

Bank statement issued the day of application or update of bank book? If a statement, that seems like a significant variation, no? Thank you both for the information. Will be making my first application for an extension in a few months and first ever trip to Nonthaburi Immigration, despite living here for 25 years. Quite excited.

You don’t need to tip much in Thailand - it is generally not expected for standard service, other than for meals where there is no service charge. Even then 50 or 100 baht is usually fine. However, many Thais do tip and expect and usually get better service as a result. Some foreigners tip for the same reason, or because they think it is expected. However, if the culture in that place/area is that most tip, you might not be too popular if you don’t. Expectations are that you will. This can certainly be the case in tourist areas. The cow should produce milk! Personally, I suspect this is probably just a bit of a crappy place - there are many in Thailand - but if you like it you might make it a bit better for yourself by tipping. I think you already realise this. “. I get it they don't get paid much, but is that my fault?” This is going to be a bad attitude in the eyes of most staff. It’s not endearing. You are not wrong about fault but you are not dear either. Being dear is almost as important as being generous.

Always been that way at certain places but never sure where or if it stays the same. Sometimes I’ve even got into national parks for local rates but sometimes not. Anyway, it’s too much research in practice, but thanks for the information.

It is annoying, but it’s not the money or principle that annoys so much as the terribly depressing realization of the thinking behind it in some cases. It is hurtful. I’d guess the kids are handling this as best they can, especially with museums (otherwise every time it’s an ethical decision - don’t go or leave Dad on his own - worse with national parks when it is an all day thing). It isn’t going to change anytime soon and if we are (not saying you are) claiming it is ‘on principle’ that we don’t go into places, that only makes sense if we really live a principle-based life. I think it’s generally worse for my wife in these tourist places though. Lucky if she gets away with “and what first attracted you to millionaire Nonthaburi Boy?” type questions, even well after she hit 40! Not sure now, as we just holiday elsewhere unless my family are visiting - then she’s taken for the tour guide, which is slightly less annoying.

Just to be clear, we're trying to remove dried and crystalised cat urine from a cushion, not a dead cat in there.

So, it should be possible to change reason for extension of stay while still employed? Providing you have the docs in place and wife ready to go? I am asking because I think I should have tried this some time ago, while HR were still doing everything for me. I am feeling this was a mistake (although no consequences in my case as my post-retirement employment extension ends one working day before I leave Thailand for a while anyway). There is enough to worry about when ending employment without this too.

Yes, this is what my office suggested to me, but I’m going back to the UK for a month anyway, so it wasn’t any use. Do you know if the 7 days is automatic or it needs to be requested? My office said they will ‘get’ 5 days (3 more than I need) so that made me think the automatic period is less, which I’ve always heard.

I thought the foamy mess was a good thing for cleaning? It really is a thing. And you won’t clean a seat cushion without liquid soaking in. Making a big mess first is probably essential - although I’m keen to try the hydrogen peroxide idea now. I’ve kept lots of ‘rescue’ cats for a long, long time and my success rate once the pee has dried is very limited, even if the cushion can be taken out. Having said that, I realise I haven’t actually tried the two together, pre-mixed, for this purpose, only thought about it. So I really did screw up. I have only used separately on same item. Plus I didn’t say what type of vinegar or that you might want to add water - although if I had started thinking that much I would have remembered I hadn’t actually tried the mix. So thank you!