DodgerRodger

OP, Has your friend considered the Thailand Elite Visa?

Just a thought.  The  https://landsmaps.dol.go.th resource provides the identifiers for the land plot.  Can you not then visit the Lands Office and request to see or obtain a copy of the Chanote?  This will at least identify the owner by name.

45 minutes ago, howerde said:

I  received my 2 year license at Bang Chak Sep last year you needed an appointment i had to wait 2 months, they would only accept a residence certificate that was a max of 1 month old, same with the medical certificate, one thing they did or at least say they did was check that my address was within their area,  I had an IDP so did not need to do the online exam, though things seem to change daily you could try one of the agencies on face book that offer the service

Yes, I heard about Bang Chak only accepting applications for their area (how that is defined I have no idea) but the 2-month wait is way to long for me.  The validity of the residence certificate seems to be a problem if the local office state one month when the DLT website says one year.  Thailand never ceases to amaze...

1 hour ago, sometimewoodworker said:

While I can’t comment on Bangkok DLT offices certainly here in Isaan many offices do not have queue systems, most will allow just turning up as well if there is a queue, but you will almost certainly need to watch the video on line and printout the certificate if you want smooth sailing.

 

Also you can go to any DLT office, though smaller ones may refuse(too difficult), giving you an opportunity to travel to more places in Thailand, a Thai speaker may be required in some.

Thanks, that's really good to hear as I'll be travelling to Isaan soon.  Hopefully can get processed there.  I've done the online video and have the certificate which is valid for 6 months.

15 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

IF the DLT office at Chatuchak is too busy, try going to the one next to Sukhumvit 99 (DLT Area 3)....

 

You may well need an appointment there too...  But, it may be worth rocking up and telling then you need to get this done before you travel.

 

Alternatively, IF you are travelling soon, then you don’t need the licence - book an appointment for your return. 

Thanks Richard.  I may try Bang Chak as you suggest.  My first port of call when I arrive in April.

However, there's always a Catch(22).  I am a frequent visitor (TE like yourself) to Thailand but with other commitments I have difficulty in achieving the 90 day report needed in BKK to get the residency certificate.  I have a UK Embassy issued certificate from November last year (valid for one year) but they have since stopped providing this service.  Hence my urgency.  Last November I contacted two of the oft quoted motorcycle shops that help foreigners apply for driving licences.  Firstly they only use Chatujak.  Secondly they need at least 4-5 weeks to complete the process (which I couldn't do last visit) and thirdly they claim that appointment booking cannot be made in advance of the rolling one-month windows that are made available by DLT and lastly I have to be present at DLT to make the booking.

Hence my search for a viable alternative to BKK as a Plan B

Rock on!!! 

I'll be visiting Roi Et for a few days and hope I can get it done there.  But it would really help if I could book an appointment online.

Hi guys. I have a driving licence question if I may. I have a UK driving licence and IDP and want to convert to a Thai driving licence. I also have in hand a certificate of residence from my Embassy. The problem for me is the availability of appointments at DLT Chatujak and I am short of time to do this before I leave Thailand again. I read somewhere before (but cannot now find) a suggestion to apply at DLT in another province. If anyone has done this I'd appreciate some first hand experience. I can only think that my address being in BKK might cause a problem. Many thanks...

I believe Metisdead has provided the link in this thread 

On 10/25/2022 at 4:46 AM, Pattaya Spotter said:

Generally flying business class gets you a Fast Track Lane pass. (The airlines buy them for their passengers. I've never flown an  international business class flight without getting one...including EVA Air). The airline will give you the pass at check-in for departure and usually on the plane for entry. 

Fast Track Passes were binned several years ago.  If you are in Business or First you are eligible and merely have to show your boarding pass.

It seems there are significant discounts available if signing a 2 year lease over traditional one year.  But from what I've read on this forum, I can't see any disadvantage to having a 2 year lease.  If, for example I took a 2 year lease and I needed to move out urgently after 6 months or 18 months, the penalty would just be forfeiture of the deposit in both cases.  Or am I missing something?  Thanks in advance for any advice here.

Thanks to all.  It seems no real downside (from my perspective at least), so I'll make the proposal to my prospective new landlord.

Is it possible to do this?  Talking about in Bangkok.  Lease in my and my Thai girlfriend's names.  I'll be away a lot but also want the lease to have my name included for use in other aspects of life (read Thai immigration, transport dept etc).  Grateful for any thoughts.

My recent experience (also UK applicant) went like this

17 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

"marathon" SIM for 1600/year, same 15 Mbps but traffic is capped to 100 GB/month

 

What the code to dial for this offer? Thanks

I'd like to know about this deal too.  Is it a pre-paid deal?

5 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

 "systemmailex@boi,go.th"

 

 

Looks like a comma after boi or is it a typo?  Strong smell of phish about this.

2 hours ago, khunjeff said:

Ah, ok - for some reason I thought you would be getting the visa at Chamchuri. Someone a week or two ago posted the fee that would be charged at the Thai embassy in their country - I don't remember which one - and it was quite a bit higher than 50k THB, since they tend to use a poor exchange rate and then adjust upwards to the nearest round number. 

RTE London quotes GBP1,500 for LTR Visa which is quite a lot more than current exchange rate

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

A new passport will not help anymore. The immigration system is ow all computerized and your information will be cross referenced. 

I totally agree with this.  It is my understanding that the first thing the immigration officer does at point of entry is to scan the data code on your passport photo page.  Whilst this may not contain data relating to a previous passport, the Immigration data base will throw up any past records of a person with the identical name, date of birth, and nationality.

4 hours ago, Dart12 said:

 

 

THAT is a pain in the butt.  I'm gonna have to google that because I don't want to mess with my real one at all and lose everything.

You have any suggested workarounds?  

Maybe use a gf phone to download it instead?  

I've just been through this process to download the Section38 app to my iPhone for TM30 reporting.  My research concluded that changing App Store is too problematic as it wipes so many aspects of your Apple ID account.  Instead I logged out of my Apple ID and set up a second Apple ID account using a new email address and with Thailand as the location.  Takes ten minutes or so.  Then I downloaded the app, logged out of that Apple ID and back to the original.  If you google second Apple ID account you'll find plenty of advice.

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The possessor of a residence can also do the the TM30 report. It is not solely the owners responsibility.

A copy of the receipt for a TM30 report would be accepted for the proof it was done.

Hi ubonjoe,  interesting to know, but is it possible for the possessor (i.e. tenant) to register using the phone app for submitting the TM30 or can it only be done by the property owner?

6 hours ago, anrcaccount said:

 

 

So based on your two responses from the BOI, taking example of 'Work from Thailand Professional Category', do you think this is a fair summary? 

 

• If you are granted the visa after application, it is valid for 5 years multiple entry.
• There is a 1 year address reporting requirement which could be avoided altogether if the holder leaves the country at least once per year.
• The BOI will do no checking or validation of the visa conditions or your continued employment status during that 5 years.
• Immigration will do no checking or validation of the visa conditions or your continued employment status during that 5 years.
• If you decide to self declare that your employment has ended, your visa will be terminated. 

 

Be interested to check if there are any penalties in that case above, or just a visa termination? 

Your analysis matches mine, except that as a potential retiree I am not considering the employment aspect in my calculations.  Such a pity that BOI can't take on board these types of questions and publish more detailed requirements and a set of FAQs

1 hour ago, TerraplaneGuy said:

As for the “5+5 years”, It sure seems misleading hype to call it a 10-year visa.  From the description, it is just a 5 year visa, since you only get a 5-year stamp, you have to prove all the qualifications again to get the “second” 5 years, and no doubt it’s  in their discretion whether to extend.  Still it may be worthwhile if that annual report proves innocuous.  

Yes, quite.  It seems to me that the only difference is that after 5 years you get a further 5 years without having to pay the 50K Baht fee.  After 10 years, provided you still qualify, I assume you can keep on going by making a new application and paying said fee.

Thanks for all the replies and useful advice.  I am new to the Thai banking system (despite being a regular visitor to Thailand for over 40 years) and having read all of the comments I believe having a bank passbook is going to be indispensable and I have no intention of trying to avoid such.  I've used them in the past so not a problem for me.  

So I am soon going to be jumping into life in BKK and part of that is setting up a bank account.  I read in so many threads (e.g. current thread about expired lost  ATM cards and the need to show bank passbook and ID to get a replacement) that the bank passbook is a vital commodity.  And yet when perusing bank websites for a suitable account, I find many types of accounts that have no passbook at all.  Should I avoid?  Go for the standard savings account that has a passbook?

Most grateful for your advice guys...