BKK57

Dr Jack, thanks for your reply. Last extension I used income method, this coming extension I want to use 800,000 deposit method. Do you think I would be OK to show back in June 2024 a deposit of 800,000, a copy of my bank book, and "Bank Statement". My stay expire date was Aug 9, 2024. OR are you saying I have to show I am still showing income transfer every month since my last visa extension, which I do have, but then I have to go back to Bangkok Bank in Silom to get a separate statement showing that i have international transfers for each month and show the credit advices for each month. I'm really hoping I can just show 800,000 deposit back in June 2024 along with the current bank book and bank statement.

I have two questions about my situation with my new passport. I have a 90-day report due Mid March, two weeks from now. I just called immigration and they said I need to transfer stamps from old passport to new passport before I can do a 90-day report. First question, can I do the 90 day report with the old passport? The old American passport has been punched to show it is cancelled, so can I really do the 90 day report online or at the immigration office, or will I have a problem when I go to do my retirement visa renewal in July for my renewal date in August? Second question, if I can not use my old passport and I have to transfer stamps what is the required documentation? The second page of the Stamp Transfer form lists some requirements, copy of old and new passport, last entry, last visa stamp. When I called immigration they said I need bank information also. Here's where I'm not sure what they require. For my last visa extension at Chaeng Wattana I used 65,000/method method. For this I have to go to Bangkok bank with each credit advice for the last 12 months and they generate a letter (not "The Bank Statement" that shows I own the account, which I have to get separately). Would I need to go back to Bangkok Bank with the last 7 credit advices, or for the last 12 months My last retirement visa extension was in July 2024. I had planned to change to the 800,000 in a bank account method for my next extension in July. I made a foreign transfer of 800,000 baht into my account back in June of 2024. Can I show this instead? Do I just need copy of my bank book and the "Bank Statement" for this method? Basically what do they require for this partial period to show I am still in compliance with bank requirements?

OK, IAT... the letter I received from BKK when my ACH transfer was refused back a few years was that the transfer had to have the address information of the recipient and only IAT could provide that. In any case when I call Fidelity every month to send a wire, which by the way they do not charge for, it is always sent via a wire using the swift code BKKBTHBK. Crucially, the coding on the bank book is FTT, which I need to show my monthly transfers using 65,000/month method. I have considered changing to 800,000 in a bank account to side step this problem, but its like giving up 5-10% interest/dividends which I could realize by keeping it in the USA. That is about 80,000 baht a year, almost 2500 USD.

Maybe time to talk to another bank. I have recently seend posts saying many banks won't set up an account for Americans because of the USA reporting requirements, too much paper work.

Yes, I'm aware of this, Fidelity restricted my account a few years ago when I changed my legal address to Thailand to match the legal address on my USA tax returns. The only restrictions are that I can't invest in mutual funds (no problems there). Can still buy stocks, ETFs, etc.

As I said I will go to the global payment desk at the Silom branch of Bangkok bank to sort this out. As far as ACH goes, that was done away with a few years back, and since then the only way to send money to Thailand via a bank is by wire with a swift code. ACH is not allowed any more as address information has to be sent along with the transfer and ACH does not have this ability. Now I have to call Fidelity Investments where I have all my investments and ask them to send each month. An automatic payment every month is preferrable. I let you know how the visit to Bangkok bank turns out.

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify, I did contact the bank, and made sure they understood I wanted to do a International Direct Deposit. They asked what country. I answered USA and told them I was going to submit a form to Social Security. As I understand S.S. asks for a swift code, so it is NOT the old ACH method. She checked with some one and came back and said you must setup a restricted account to do International Direct Deposit. I also asked if I would be able to get a credit advice if I did this. She said no,, sindce the code in the bank book is not FTT. Perhaps I need to go to the Bangkok Bank in Silom and ask at the Global Payments desk. Currently I have my SS deposited into my investment account in the USA then send a wire transfer here to Thailand. I get a Credit Advice sent to my email for every transfer and I use those credit advices to show 65,000 each month for retirement visa. i have read post from a few years back saying that you can put a non-restricted account on the SSA-1199 and it may work for a few months, or even years until some one at the bank notices and then will refuse the deposit. I really don't want that happening.

Thanks for information. When you receive funds is FTT the code used in your bank book for the transfer? I ask because I would like a credit advice from the bank and you can only get that for transactions marked FTT.

Has any one from America signed up for International Direct Deposit for monthly Social Security with the S.S. Admin? I know to start this process you need to send a SSA-1199 Form to FBU Manila. They require the account number and swift code of the bank. I have two plain vanilla savings account at Bangkok Bank. However, when calling Bangkok Bank, I am told that on Bank's side a special restricted account is required and I would have to appear in person to collect the funds. No Debit card or ability to transfer funds from this account is permitted. According to the USA S.S. this is a convenience... but it's NOT. Has any one done this at Bangkok Bank with out a restricted account? From what I have seen on various posts if you try to send to a regular account eventually they will catch you and refuse the deposit. Until I was made aware of the restricted account I was thinking this might be the way to go so that I can easily prove I'm bringing in S.S. which is not assessable for tax purposes. Now, I just send a wire every month, but there is no specific designation that it is social security. Any feed back is greatly appreciated.

I have 90% of my investments at Fidelity Investments (Fidelity.com). Just like a bank you can do Bill Pay and find financial stocks and ETFs that I'm sure pay better than a bank. Fidelity does not charge anything for international wire transfers. Bangkok bank charges roughly 200-300 Baht on receiving a 100,000 baht transfer. It does come in as an international transfers and you can ask Bangkok bank to send an email with a credit advice when they receive the funds. The credit advice shows the amount sent, Bangkok banks fee, and the exchange rate used (which is the TT Buying rate on the Bangkok bank website.) Today, Dec 29, the TT Buying rate is 34.03. Usually comes in next day. Always been very happy with Fidelity.

Bangkok Bank allows up to 2 Million baht transfer on their banking app. But unless you go to the bank first to get your picture taken the app limits transfers to 200,000 a day. However, can only make transfers on the app during banking hours :( Still, saves a trip to the bank.

If you are in a hurry you might take a look at the notarize.com website. You upload the document to them, then using audio/video session with a notary they verify your identity. They stamp and sign your uploaded document. You can then download the notarized document. Of course, check with who ever is receiving the document if they accept this type of notary. I needed a document notarized for my pension, and they accepted it. Quick and you don't need to leave the comfort of your home.

I just want to make a comment about Part B. Although there is a penalty for Part B, the amount you save by not signing up for Part B can be used to pay for the additional penalty when and if you do sign up for Part B. Every year you do not have part B you save about $2000, it is this savings that you can use to pay the additional 10% yearly penalty ($200/year). For example, if you wait 5 years (age 70) to sign up for Part B, that is a savings of $10,000. Even though you will pay an additional 50% penalty (an additional $1000/year) every year the savings will pay the penalty for the next 9 years (age 79). If you wait 10 years (age 75) the savings is $20,000 and the savings will pay the penalty of $2000/year until age 84. So, if you don't go back home you save quite a bit. If you do go back home later on, the penalty is covered for quite a few years. I generated these numbers from an excel spreed sheet, you can do the same to see how this works. The only other consideration is that you may have a gap in coverage as the Part B open enrollment is only available Jan-March of each year (except the initial enrollment at age 65).

Cataract surgery (done in 2017) at Rutnin Eye Hospital (best Eye Hospital in Thailand) was 70,000 Baht, other eye (done in 2020) was 75,000 Baht which included everything before and after the surgery. That's 2-3K depending on exchange rate. Much less than a round trip in business class plus hotels, rental cars, meals, etc. If you go back every year to the states, and have a house and car there when you arrive, then it might make sense. But $2000 USD you save on Part B premiums can buy a lot of out-patient services in Thailand with out all the hassle.

Wrong. When it worked for me the last 4 times online the usual wait was 2-3 days, never 24 hrs. This time I waited 9 days before going to CW. IO at CW said "Too many people online".

I did my online report first day I could mid August. Waited a week, no reply. Status online stated "Pending". Usually had something back in 2-3 days. I asked the IO at CW why I didn't get a reply, she said "Too many people online".

In regards to where I heard about TM 47 rejection: just today on a separate thread. The OP wrote: "Just received an email: "Your application for 'STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS' has been rejected. Please update TM.30". Thanks for the links provided. I will check them out.

I THINK... not sure.... but maybe, kinda, sorta think that needing a new TM30 is not the same as re-registering. Just put the current information on the new website. Again, not so sure this is important for visa renewal where you can show the paper registration but probably needed if you want to do 90 day online if they are now going to check the TM30 database. If you go to CW to do 90 day report maybe it is not needed. BUT... that's what I'm trying to find out on here. Maybe some one has a definitive answer?

That's what I'm trying to find out. Do we need to re-register? I did have something on the old web site but from what I've read all that is gone, thus the need to re-register. For visa renewal I can and have in the past shown the TM30 Notice of Registration from 2019. For the 90 day report online it seems they check for a TM30 now, before they didn't. The only way they can do that is if we re-register on the new site.

I have seen a few posts about the new TM30 Registration Web Site https://tm30.immigration.go.th. Some poster have received email stating they need to register a new TM30. Others have stated their TM47 90 day report was rejected with "Update TM30" message. From what I can gather the old website no longer exists (the old link gets you to the new website). Apparently everybody needs to re-register. All this is supposedly effective September 15, 2023. I've always used a copy of the TM30 Receipt of Notification at my retirement visa renewal at CW, no problems. Also, in early August at CW when I did 90 report, no problem (online didn't work for me this time, IO at CW said too many people online.) Soo... any one know if we have to re-register??? Would be nice to know before I have next 90 day report. In the screen shot below I assume all the contact information (name, email, telephone) is related to the owner of the condo. Under reference data in the screen shot below they want the 1. copy of house registration (Tabian Bahn) of accommodation provided and 2. Thai ID card of the owner. Once that is done, what is next? Attach excel file with my information? Or once you register is there another page to enter my information (passport #, date of arrival etc.) Any info on this is greatly appreciated! With the last web site, I did everything for the owner of the condo. For the registration on the new site they if I understand correctly

I always been some what confused about TM30 reporting. I live in an apartment, my landlord is Thai. Back in 2019 when they started enforcing this for apartment dwellers I offered to register and update the TM30 for her so I would not suffer if she did not report promptly. I've lived in this apartment for 8 years now but have have only reported once on the original site. My questions are: 1. I did not receive a notice in the mail, do I need to reregister and resubmit TM30 info to this new site? 2. I assume I specify the applicant is Thai, and use her contact info (except for the email which is mine) since the applicant is really my landlord, not me. Correct? 2. I haven't been abroad since I first reported for her. If I travel abroad do I have to report again, even though I'm returning to the same apartment? I've seen a lot of conflicting answers on this. Just to confirm, what are the documents I need to upload. I believe I need to upload a copy of 1. my landlord's Thai ID card (the web page states "3. Copy of ID card of the owner and attorney. (Signed to certify true copy)", do I really need certified true copy of this??? 2. a copy of my original TM30 document done at CW in 2019 ( I always show this at Visa Extension) 3. a copy of my passport page. 4. Where/How do I enter the address of her apartment on the registration page. Do i upload an excel file or a word document containing the address of my apartment? It seems it is really setup for hotel and business owners, not owners of condo apartments.

A few years back I would send funds from my American Bank to Thailand using EFTs until Bangkok Bank (actually the Thai Banking system) stopped accepting international EFTs claiming that EFTs don't include an address in Thailand. They gave notice they wanted Wire Transfers which allowed that address information to be sent as part of the wire. After six months of that notice I actually had one EFT refused by Bangkok Bank. So, now I only can send wires, which means I have to call the Bank (because they must read a Frank Dodd notice to me before sending the wire), instead of an online procedure for EFTs. The bank doesn't charge any fees for the wire, but Bangkok Bank charges 261.83 Baht (0.25%) to send US $3,000 (104,730.00 Baht) as shown on the Bangkok Bank credit advice. A good exchange rate of 34.91 on July 6, 2023. How does Wise stack up against that exchange rate and fee?

My question is... In addition to the two requirements above do you need proof (a credit advise from the bank) that the 800,000 came from outside Thailand? if so, do you need to show the credit advice just for the first time or do you need to show each year? With 65,000/month I have to show a credit advice for each month that the money came from outside Thailand.