Leonard Desharnais

Curious. With Phuket open and cheap hotels, why would you pick quarantine in Pattaya? I stayed in Phuket in September and had a blast.

Follow the science. Thailand now recognizes this covid will not disappear. "NEVER"  It is all about the number of deaths and not cases that every gov't needs to react too. As the jabs go up the deaths decrease and this is true. Also, as the months go on, the efficacy decreases resulting in more milder cases which in turn gives better immunity. Example, Singapore has more than 80% of people innoculated yet they are seeing an increase in cases but not deaths and opening up. How could this be? They have had some of the strictest lock downs. Lock downs are not needed but actually the opposite is needed. The weak and old must take precautions and continue getting boosters and the average person needs to get a jab or 2 or catch covid and take your chance. I personally had 1 jab in April (Astrazenaca) worked in the oilsands in Canada for 3 months and had 85% of my crew catch covid while I did not. I had my 2nd jab (phizer) in June and now I am waiting to get back to normal here in Thailand and go out and enjoy life and hopefully just get flu like symptoms when I eventually catch covid

Would it be more beneficial to ease the restrictions here first and then allow fully vaccinated to come without quarantine? Pattaya is under curfew (10pm-4 am) No alcohol sales in restaurants. All nite time activities obsolete. I would guess that at least 60 percent of work force is not here so I think businesses will need their labor force to come back before opening up. I am not an economic scholar but supply is low (hotels/restaurants,labor) and if demand increases 5-10 fold in a short time without the supply then inflation occurs. In other words, the prices for boutique hotels and resorts,taxi, etc will be more than double the normal price. Just my thoughts.

The last I read was 7 days at the SHA or SHA+ resort with a sealed route. Which means stuck on the resort for 7 days, 2 PCR tests and you will be able to sign up for the daily tours to certain venues. That was for Oct 1 opening. We should know by next Wed. I did the Phuket sandbox at the end of Aug and to me that was the best and still the best option. I roamed the whole island for 2 weeks. Nothing was strictly enforced

41 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

This clearly shows why the initial stages of visa extensions when first coming to Thailand are best handled by an agent. Impossible for a newbie to get their heads round Thai Immigration especially Jomtien. After an agent handles the stages to the first annual extension it then becomes easier to do them yourself otherwise you could get marked down as a troublemaker.

Disagree. I have lived here for at least 6 months a year for the past 11 years. It is a simple process to do and easy.  Many extension trips to Jomtien for TR extensions. Using the agent I would have had to open a new bank acct at Bangkock Bank (4500bht) plus when I checked into the cost with an agent last Oct it was 30,000 baht for first time and 12,000 each year after.  I have the money and I screwed up by not transferring my money 15 days earlier. I still get to do my non O on the same day I get TR 30 day extension which is totally legit. She the IO was very easy to deal with and answered any questions I had. No agent, 4000baht, with agent all in over 30000 and I still have to go to the immigration office plus hassle of opening another bank acct

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Which office told you it needed to be in the bank for 2 months.

I would guess Jomtien since there have been reports of them doing that. Same for the special fee that was mentioned.

The is nothing in the written requirements stating it has be in the bank for any amount of time.

See: https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/8-1.pdf

Yes Jomtian. I could tell she was very experienced so just accepted her response. She was kind of busy with the drive by window. lol  I am not complaining bcuz I accept Thailand for what it is and that is why I am retiring here

So I posted 1 week ago asking If I could get my Non O if my 800,000 BHT had only been in bank for 45 days. Response from all was yes. Well, maybe before but not now. It will be 2 months in bank 2 days prior to my TR visa ends(60 day) Lady informed me that I would have to do my extension on Oct 27th, pay the 1900 baht and get the 30 day extension. Then I can come and see her the same day and she will give me the 90 day non O (based on retirement ) then 2 months come back and apply for the 1 yr extension. Basically I will pay an extra 2000 baht since my 800,000 had not been in bank for 2 months exactly. BUT, then she said, if you want all done today ( 15 months) she could do for a small nominal fee of 23,000 baht. ( she did not actually say small nominal fee) and I replied, no thanks, I prefer to do legally and left the office.

lennyd

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, the financials you outline are for non O based on retirement.

You did not want to obtain non O based on marriage? 

The financials are far more easy for extensions.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. No, not married. 

Hi. I am here on a TR 60 day. I usually get a 6 month Tr but that was not available this year. It ends at the end of October with a 30 day extension available. Before I left Canada I started transfering money to my Thai acct at Kaskorn which I have had for 9 years. I turn 60 in December and have decided to retire. The Mrs and I have been together for 9 years and own our house which is in her name. I went to immigration at Jomtien and requested the required paper work and will do it myself. That should be extra back ground info for my question. The requirement states that I am required to have the 800,000 in the bank for 2 months from the application date which I am suppose to apply a minimum 2 weeks before visa expires. I have over a million baht in my acct but the 800,000 was not in my acct until Aug 27th. So the way I read it, I have to apply for the non O (3month) by the 15th of October which means I am 13 days early for the 2 months. I know I can get a 30 day extention at the end of Oct and then apply for the O on or around November 15th. Not a big problem as it is just an extra 2000 baht but extra trips to immigration which I hate doing. Common sense tells me to date the application for Sept 28 but I am sure the Thai IO will not accept this. Has anyone had this same situation?

Thanks

lennyd