Pickwick

Sorry for taking the thread off topic; i just wanted to thank the folks above for their replies.

I'd be (genuinely) grateful if you could expand on why you think bank apps are less secure than internet banking. I have never worked in IT so I have no expertise, but months of research before coming to Thailand led me to believe apps were more secure (with the caveat that you have downloaded the real app in the first place). Especially if used with WiFi disabled, fingerprint (or similar) to access the app and a secondary measure, such as a password prompt, within the individual apps, when any money is being transferred out. You could, of course, add a VPN to add another level of security. What am I missing that makes the above less than secure than internet banking? Please note: it's a genuine question and not a challenge to prove me wrong. I am always eager to learn from those with more experience/knowledge. I will also add that I am using an HP Chromebook at the moment. The only reason I bought it was to come to Thailand on an extended holiday and wanted to travel light with no checked luggage. I was surprised at how well the combination of ChromeOS and Android worked for me. I do have multiple Google accounts in use and on one I do have the Android part disabled, which is easy to do. I generally like to have the Firefox app running as a back up browser, however. You can use Linux too, and I tried, but I am out of my depth with Linux and was never comfortable using it so reverted to ChromeOS. Surfing/Video Calls/Email/Netflix etc all very easy. I had a bit of work to do when I first bought the Chromebook and used Office 365 without issue over a six month period. I do like most of the Google software (though only require basic spreadsheets in Sheets, so cannot answer one of the questioned posed in a previous post). The only problem I encountered was on an older website I found when trying to practise Thai tones. It had some software you could download to practise your tones but the download files were only available for Windows or Mac.

I wonder what would be accepted as a credible reason (to a Thai IO)? (Serious question). I have a visa now but back in the day I am glad I never got pulled over, was never sure what the best/worst things were to say, given the unpredictability of (some) IOs.

I appreciate the link but I am not sure I understand the information. The last part specifically - does that mean if I remit money - let's say 5 million baht per year - from my overseas account to my Thai girlfriend's account in Thailand it is not assessable income for me and I do not need to file a tax return, as it is a gift? However, my Thai girlfriend will now need to file a tax return even though no tax is due (as it is under 10 million baht). Or have I completely missed something (I am guessing the latter!). Appreciate your time and efforts with this, many thanks.

Many thanks to you, the other members who posted, and the OP - after reading this thread I will get a letter from my school and visit immigration before exiting.

That doesn't stop me and my ladyboy wife from trying though.

How much did you transfer? I can't remember where but I read about a month ago that transfers of 50,000 baht and above now require photo verification. I've transferred about 5 x 45,000 in the last few weeks with no verification needed.

I appreciate your help already and appreciate you may not know the answer to this but given the unfathomable logic of immigration rules I now wonder - if I went to immigration and got a future date of cancellation stamp - let's say 15th November (purely as an example), if I reached the border on the 13th would they let me leave? Or would I have to leave exactly on the 15th? Finally (I think and hope), should I decide to ditch my plans and fly to Laos then no visit to immigration is necessary as flying out automatically cancels the ED visa - and will not cause future problems? As always, many thanks for any advice.

Thank you so much for your helpful reply. Would you happen to know if this is something immigration do the same day or do I need to take the letter and then wait a day or two to get the cancelled stamp (I read a post on here - albeit some years ago now - where the OP stated it took two days to get everything sorted and he went into overstay - he did not state if the delay was caused by himself or immigration). Many thanks again.

I hope it's ok to ask some further questions. I am not the OP but feel they are relevant to the subject. Is cancellation required for all ED visas if exiting by land (I am not sure if there is a difference between ED visas for language schools and universities, for example)? Does anyone know the process of cancelling the extension of stay? I would need to do this at Bangkok but wanted to exit via Nong Kai* Do you need to leave the same day as the cancellation stamp or do you get a grace period (ie enough time to leisurely drive to Nong Kai)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. *For clarity of my situation: I have an ED visa at a language school. I actually attend the classes and find the structure invaluable (after several stop/start attempts to learn Thai on my own). I'm a little bit ahead of the class with the book/study material and the school said I could use the last week of my extension of stay to travel and everything would be cancelled automatically when I left Thailand (I did not mention exiting by land). I had planned on visiting Vientiane and then getting a SETV. I want to visit the north and then decide my next move. Probably by getting another ED visa and then go down the retirement route after my 50th birthday in just over a year's time. I'd really like to get a second ED visa as I want to be able to continue to learn Thai if I am eventually going to live here permanently, but could equally spend the time travelling in SEA. With the eventual goal of the over 50 route in mind, I do want to keep everything correct and proper for the future. As said above I would be thankful for any advice