ThoMichael

I got my Non-O visa today. Thanks for all the help!

The girl that gave me my visa said to apply for my one year extension 45 days before my new Non-O visa expires. But I guess what she was meaning, was not more than 45 days before my visa expires? 

I had my 800k in a Thai bank since October 18th

My Non-O visa will expire on February 11th

I plan to apply for my one year extension on December 29th

I would rather not wait until 2023, because I fear they might change some rules in 2023 to get the extension, that could maybe cause me a problem. I heard they sometimes change rules in the new year, without warning?

Had nothing to do with saving 50 baht, or whatever it would be... ???? 

Yeah, it was the old school train. It is a direct line from Hua Lamphong to LakSi. Taking the MRT you have to change from red train to blue line, so taking one train just sounded fine to me. I just like old trains. I once took the old train from Saigon to Hanoi Vietnam. Not a single foreigner on the train, but I liked it. 

Have a good night. 

I had an appointment at Thai Immigration today, first to do a 30 day extension at LakSi Imm and next to change to a Non-O at the Div-1 complex. I decided to take the train because it goes directly to LaSi station and I am staying close to the train station. I left 2 hours early. Boarding time was around 10 minutes after train was supposed to depart, then the train sat for 40 minutes, and I started realize I was going to miss my appointment since the train was leaving an hour late. So I asked one of the guys when we were leaving, he said the Train has no engine??? — so they just let people sit there for an hour and don’t tell anyone that the train is going nowhere!!!

I saw there were trains departing on other tracks. So I took it upon myself to find one that stops at LatSi station. I found an express, and they said that it would arrive at around 10 minutes before my appointment at the LaKSi Imm. Shortly after that train started to move, it stopped at sat for around 20 minutes. So I ended up 3 minutes late for my appointment, and the Thai Imm said sorry, my appointment was canceled. I will have to get a number and wait. Luckily it was not crowded at all and Imm staff me processed quickly, else I would have missed my 2nd appointment for my Non-O visa.

So what I learned is, if I want to take a short train ride from the Bangkok train station, better leave 3 hours early if I want to get to my destination on time. But nope, I will just take the BTS Skytrain instead, like I should have in the first place.

ps: I have lived in many countries and Thailand is the best, and I am grateful to be here most of the time. Just frustrating sometimes.

5 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

You shouldn't need anything to show immigration, if the hotel has entered you in the system then immigration will see you in the system. The email may make you feel comfortable that the hotel has entered you, but immigration will simply check the system to see if you are there. There is no requirement for a receipt of being entered, if you are not in the system, you are not in the system.

Great, that crossed my mind. 

On the Thai govt website immigration.go.th, it says "The applicant who comes to contact must show the notification of residence in accordance with Section 38 and present the accommodation notification." But I think you are right, should be ok.

The hotel owner emailed me this. Anyone know if Thai Immigration will accept this, to change my visa exempt entry to a Non-O visa?

25 minutes ago, CANSIAM said:

Try and get a letter from the hotel stating the monthly rent and maybe a length of term you'll stay there, bring that receipt as well. Ask the hotel if they have reported your stay to immigration, they should have soon as you got there.  Yes I had a rental agreement, landlord ID, House registration number and a filled out TM30.  

Thanks. I have a receipt from yesterday where I paid the next months rent. Unless the hotel owner can get me the TM30 by tomorrow morning, I will just go to my appointment tomorrow and hope they will do my Non-O without the TM30. I read another persons comment where it wasn't a problem. Or else I will probably need to I make another appointment for next week. 

I sent the hotel owner an email asking if they could email me a copy of the TM30. Hopefully they will come through by tomorrow morning, but I kinda doubt it. 

48 minutes ago, ThoMichael said:

I just noticed something I don't think I have. It says "The applicant who comes to contact must show the notification of residence in accordance with Section 38 and present the accommodation notification."

 

I don't think the people at the hotel where I am staying did this. I guess this is needed?

 

I just have a receipt for one months rent.

My appointment with Thai Immigration is tomorrow to change from visa exempt entry to a Non-O visa. Is it possible for me to do the TM30 at Thai Immigration myself, before I apply for my Non-O visa?

And if it is possible, what documents do documents do I need from the Thai hotel owner?

Thanks for any help.

On 9/7/2022 at 6:11 PM, CANSIAM said:

I did mine in person at Immigration, when they submit it all on their system, you get an Address Notification slip - keep it in your passport. Yours was done online, take a screen shot of it and tell them your tm30 was done online when you go for your 1 year extension.......

I have my appointment with Thai Immigration tomorrow and I just found out I need the TM30. But I don't have one. CANSIAM: You said you did this at Immigration? But I guess you had the needed documents from the Thai address owner?

I just have a receipt for one months rent from the hotel. I guess the TM30 is needed to change from a visa exempt entry to a Non-O visa?

I just noticed something I don't think I have. It says "The applicant who comes to contact must show the notification of residence in accordance with Section 38 and present the accommodation notification."

I don't think the people at the hotel where I am staying did this. I guess this is needed?

I just have a receipt for one months rent.

22 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Requirements for a non-o visa is here. https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

I assume you actually have visa exempt entry not a visa on arrival.

Oh, yes, 45 day visa exempt entry. I will get another 30 day extension before I go for the Non-O. I should have found this page before asking, but good to know I have now the correct info now. Thanks again Ubonjoe!

I have my appointment to change my visa on arrival to a Non-O visa next week. I guess just need to bring my visa and bank book showing I have 800,000 baht in my Bangkok Bank account. Do I also need a letter or printed statement from the bank or anything else?

Thanks again for all the help. 

On 10/18/2022 at 10:07 AM, ThoMichael said:

The Wise transfer fee was $125 for the first transfer and $48 for the second transfer. I had to do 2 transfers, because the maximum transfer rate using Wise is $15,000 per 24 hours.

 

The first transfer rate was 37.38 and the second was 37.12. On both of these transfers I had a better transfer rate and I thought it was locked in, but when I went to complete the transfer, the rate was adjusted lower, so the rate went down some on the first transfer and down a lot on the second smaller transfer.

 

But I am satisfied with the rates. The last time I was in Thailand it was around 30.0

I sent this image to Wise and their answer was what I expected. it is what it is, or I guess it was what it was (the rate). Just seems like my rate should have been higher that day. Oh well. 

On 10/17/2022 at 6:51 AM, flexomike said:

what was your wise transfer fee?

The Wise transfer fee was $125 for the first transfer and $48 for the second transfer. I had to do 2 transfers, because the maximum transfer rate using Wise is $15,000 per 24 hours.

The first transfer rate was 37.38 and the second was 37.12. On both of these transfers I had a better transfer rate and I thought it was locked in, but when I went to complete the transfer, the rate was adjusted lower, so the rate went down some on the first transfer and down a lot on the second smaller transfer.

But I am satisfied with the rates. The last time I was in Thailand it was around 30.0

If I understand correctly, the financial requirements to get my Non-O visa are the same as to get my retirement visa extension, when I will be using 800,000B in a Thai bank. Except for the Non-O visa, the required 800,000B does not need to be in the bank for two months prior?

12 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Holidays this month are the 13, 14 and 24th.

I plan to make my appointment for November 11th. I checked for holidays, seems ok at that date.

28 minutes ago, problemfarang said:

1 hour ago, canerandagio said:

That's not very helpful. GPS may or may not be aware that the immigration office at Chamchuri square only deals with certain types of applications, so it's a legitimate request he is putting forward, to avoid ending up to the wrong place.

He is asking for directions

I wrote "I just wanted to ask if anyone could tell me the location". I got the address where to go for the 30 day extension and the different address for Non-O. Also got the much needed warning that I need 15 days on my visa expire date. Thanks for all of the info!  

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Be aware that Laksi immigration for your 30 day extension is not far from CW.

It would even be possible to obtain your extension AM  and still have enough time (with PM appointment) to apply for the non O same day. 

I think that is what I will do. Thanks!

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

No

He entered visa exempt. He will apply for at the IP square in Laksi

You will have to apply at the IT square Laksi Square office,

Info is here at the bottom of this page.

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/courses/muangthongthani-will_be-closed/

Thanks for all of this info. You guys are saving me a lot of time and saving me from going to the wrong places at the wrong times.

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A soon as you get the 30 day extension you can apply for the non-o visa.

Thanks, I guess I get the 30 day extension at the same office?

at...

The Government Complex, Immigration Division 1 
Building B, South Zone, Chaeng Wattana Road,

Thung Song Hong Subdistrict, Lak Si District, Bangkok 10210 
 

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

It will. 

It's a clear requirement.

You you have insufficient days left you can obtain a 30 day extension to your 45 day stamp. 

Ahhh, oh well, I was trying to get my retirement visa extension done by 2023. Not possible. - Thanks again for telling me that! I would have showed there with a few days left on my visa. 

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP,....on an aside. Be aware that you require 15 days remaining on your permission of stay, just be aware of that when you make your booking for appointment at CW. 

Thanks for telling me that. I was planning to go around the 40th day of the 45 day visa on arrival I just received. So that will be a problem I guess?

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Yes

See: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/ImmigrationOfficeGovernmentComplexChaengWattanaRd@imm1division.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

Great. thanks so much!

2 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

Queue Ticket Service : 08.30 – 15.30 hrs

Is it possible to book an appointment online?

Thanks!

I am new to Bangkok. I just wanted to ask if anyone could tell me the location of the Thai Immigration office in Bangkok, to apply for a Non-O visa. I am located around the China town area of Bangkok.

Also, is there a website where I can book an appointment.

Thanks for any advice.

15 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Wise will let you transfer that large an amount? All at one go ?

Wise would do it all in one go if I did a money transfer to them from my bank, but my bank said it would take one to two days. I don't trust my small bank where my money is. Always a problem with them. So I did a Wise transfer for $15,000 (the maximum) yesterday around noon, then have to wait 24 hours, so will do the balance in a couple of hours.

My exchange rate was around 37.40. Can't complain about that rate.