expat_4_life

Shocking, nuff said! My job here is done ????

there is a good list here https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf you're going to need a bank account, in your own name, to complete the requirements

I was at CW twice this year for retirement extensions, once in Feb assisting a friend with his first extension, then back in March to do my own. In February my friend required a TM30, in March for my own extension I did not, though I was well prepared to get one while I was there. Bottom line is you might get asked for one, be prepared.

The real danger at night is, you're more likely to trip and fall on the notorious footpath paving stones then to get mugged. I know plenty that have have tripped at night but nobody that has been mugged.

Many things have changed in the Nana area likely contributing to the decline of the Soi 5 Foodland. It didn't all happen at once but is a cumulative shift in the clientele for that markets location. In the immediate vicinity many of the small businesses are long gone. There used to be a more diverse/vibrant local/Thai feel to the area, bars restaurants, more small-medium hotels and guest houses. That whole area from Soi 3 to Soi 13 has transformed from what it once was and so has the demographics of the neighborhood. There are far fewer people that are more medium/long term visitors to the area. Over the decades Soi 5, 7 11 have all had stints as construction zones, long list of casualties. Foodland may be next. Couple that with the rapid explosion of all the major malls and competition for supermarkets - doesn't look great for the Soi 5 location. I used to shop Soi 5 weekly even though I live down towards ThongLo. At the time I had a favorite spot on Soi 7, originally the Wave then the New Wave. I liked the area, there was that open food court right next to the bar and you could take the "tunnel" over to Soi 5 and eat at Took Lae Dee with the benefit of getting your shopping done. Alas, my days of visiting Foodland on Soi 5 are in the past.

The "Great De-Coupling" bring it on, spread that wealth.

"Neanderthals", often times considered an appropriate way to describe the Immigration bureaucracy in Thailand ???? However, seemingly they've now been outdone by the absolute incompetence at the US State Department???? No form letter for you ! It's a race to the bottom, we are left to figure it all out SMDH

This is how I remember it several years ago, in 2019. Had renewed passport as extension was due, got extension/stamp transfer done by the same IO at the "L" desk in Chaeng Wattana at the same time.

16 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said: My approval finally came through - 14 days after I had submitted the online report. Thx for update @brewsterbudgen I'm facing a similar problem at Chaeng Wattana, snoozed on doing the report 2 weeks in advance and got the alert just 3 days prior to the due date. Application was accepted 2 days prior to the due date. However the due date has now come and gone while application is still pending. With the holiday period upon us I'm going to give it a week or more. Will update with the eventual outcome

Cops cannot be everywhere all the time. Part of the reason there is an absolute right to bear arms (2nd amendment) is that it’s an additional deterrent to criminality. A rape or robbery victim who kills perpetrator sends an even stronger message than a cop making arrest.

I know it's a bit off topic, but I personally applaud and endorse anyone who wants to put time into the language. If your goal, passion is to reside here, go for it, consider the visa a plus. Back on topic, I suspect you'll be fine exiting, good luck.

I have US passport and made a trip home on re-entry permit some years ago. Planned on renewing my passport as soon as I returned as my annual extension was due in several months. When I attempted to board my return flight to Thailand I was denied boarding by airline staff, had 5 1/2 months remaining on my passport. I showed them my reentry permit and my permission to stay stamps, still denied. Fortunately, and after much discussion with supervisory staff, I was finally allowed to board. I had to sign some documents that stipulated I would pay for the repatriation flight if I was denied entry. Thai immigration noticed and remarked when I entered but a simple. I plan to renew my passport before my next extension was enough for them. Nail biter, close call.

Darwin Awards nominee of the day goes to Wilaphon, a gardener that will soon be pushing up roses

Well thought through???? Impossible that this 500k "Tik Tok" styled challenge could have any unintended consequences, Amazing Thailand! ????

OP, Both @DrJack54and @Red Phoenixhave offered various valid options for a strategy that allows a stay of 4 months. I would like to add that the METV could provide you with your 4 months WITHOUT ever having to visit any immigration offices. Anytime a trip to immigration offices can be avoided is a Plus. Enter for 60 days, make a trip outside Thailand when it is close to expiry and re-enter for an additional 60 days. No extensions required, no visits to immigration. There is a convenience factor. Anyway, many ways to slice the pie, lots of choices, good luck.

No opinion until I know exactly what the graffiti says ????

Thailand, progressive on policy, first weed, now sex workers. Much better than the absolute prudes that ran the show during and since the Thaksin regime.

In a perfect world one would hope to see some action to clean up the air. They have been kicking the can down the road for decades. "Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha held video talks with the leaders of neighboring Myanmar and Laos to discuss the problem, which affects large areas of southeast Asia every year.", "Prayut's office said he would push for discussion of cross-border pollution at the next summit of regional bloc ASEAN." Not gonna hold my breath though (pardon the pun). At least they are advising to stay home. Maybe the combined impact of bad publicity and a decline in tourism will get some progress on this issue, this time around.

@Dirk Zis entirely correct that new rules are being pushed out for opening new accounts. My wife works at Bangkok Bank in the head offices for their AMLO (Anti-Money Laundering Organization) group. She attends seminars here in Bangkok when the Central Bank rolls out new regulations. All the banks have attendees. She is one of the staff that oversees compliance with such new regulations. This has been in the works for several months and rolled out at BBL this month. All the banks have either already made changes or are working on them, they probably have some deadline. I confess that I don't have any specifics, just knew this was in the pipeline. She initially mentioned the coming changes because she knew I had acted as guarantor for a personal friend opening an account that was on a visa exempt entry last October. After attending a AMLO seminar some months ago, she came home and said this would no longer be possible.

"Woman Driver" seems to sum it all up "rather nicely" ????

Trump has been subjected to the most aggressive, well-financed, open-ended investigation in history by the DOJ, state AGs, private investigators, media orgs, and weaponized Five Eyes intel agencies, and all they found were allegations of paying a former mistress to keep quiet.

We all know how any experiences at immigration can sometimes differ from office to office and IO to IO. Many many such threads. Don't really have any experience with the specific rule and your circumstances. Personally, assuming no financial pinch, I would take the "err on the side of caution", "why tempt fate" approach. Leave the money until you have your annual renewal stamp safely in your passport.

I must be missing something here, how can this be in Finland's interest? Was Finland under some immediate threat, they lived next to the old USSR and Russia since the end of the cold war. There are existing treaties. 1) Now they are on the NATO hook for the 2% of GDP to NATO 2) With a NATO proxy war ongoing they have increased the risk they get dragged in. 3) there is a risk that an expanded NATO border with Russia is seen as an existential threat which could have consequences. 4) they just gave up some of their flexibility to make independent decisions about their national security/defense. 5) I don't even want to think about the additional consequences if Russia wins the US/NATO led proxy war in Ukraine, there will be some though

I did say the FAQ page which I quoted from the response to: Question: How long does it take to have my passport issued? (answer) Full-validity passports are printed in the United States and mailed to an Embassy or Consulate. It takes approximately two-weeks for a full-validity passport to be processed. NOTE: I also cautioned that even though the website says 2 weeks, take the article as a warning and plan well ahead. FAQ page is here: https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passport-services-frequently-asked-questions/

Just visited the US Embassy site in Thailand - their FAQ still says: Full-validity passports are printed in the United States and mailed to an Embassy or Consulate. It takes approximately two-weeks for a full-validity passport to be processed. At any rate, take this article as a warning - plan well ahead ????