Rob Browder

As the application would be based on income/transfers, a min-balance should not be a factor. Maybe they would not even care if the bank-book was updated same-day - but easy and cannot hurt.

I remember speculation about this when the health-ins requirement was first added to Non-OA Visa-extensions**, because some Non-OA folks had it from previous employment in Thailand. I do not recall reports that it was accepted or not. A related question - can it also be used for the LTR insurance requirement? I assume many who have these visas previously worked in Thailand before retirement, and it is a no-brainer to keep this very affordable insurance. ** (Technically, "permitted stays" continuing the original visa's "permitted stay" - but this issue shows that Immigration view them as "visa extensions," in practice. Otherwise the type of a "long ago used/expired visa" would not matter.)

That is the beauty of this method - you bring in what you need, when you need it - not "every month must transfer ..." The income-method never required to TRANSFER a specific amount every month - just "have that much" income (worldwide). Xfers were only imposed on USA/UK/AU people after our letters were nixed.

1) yes. 2) Credit-Advice for each and every transfer, unless it is coded as "international" in your bank-book. 3) Bank-letter should show you are the owner of the account and current balance. 3b) 12-months statement from the bank, showing the transfers (bank-book may or may not be enough - could be unnecessary, but ...) 4) TM-30 receipt, last 90-Day report, Long-Term Rental-Lease or Condo-Ownership proof. All assuming your current permitted-stay is from a Non-Imm extension or Non-O "retirement based" visa entry. Some offices do nor require #3 to be "same day" - others do. But, the bank-book update should be done the same-day.

Never underestimate how lazy people can be. It is not hard to "qualify" for the DTV by booking some dental appointments or similar, then follow the proven process documented in the DTV thread on this site and elsewhere. Go to the agent, and they will "figure it all out" for you (for a fee). I don't know why anyone under 50 + not working in Thailand would not use the DTV. If I was still under 50, I'd be dumping my old PITA marriage-based extensions or ME-Non-O Visa to go with the DTV. But, retirement-based is simple, inexpensive, and reliable, so sticking with that.

The next time you do something at immigration, they may require you to exchange your TM-30 printout for their TM-30 receipt. Your printout allows them to look up the record, and verifies you did the required report.

The USA Dept of State is forbidden by law to investigate US Citizens in the manner required to "verify" their income.

There is no way to predict any increase or grandfathering. I am sticking with my retirement extension for the fact it is has a long record of stability, relatively low-cost / low-hassle, and possible grandfathering. If I were under-50 I would do the DTV over any other option.

Oh, please. This is not a case where it is confusing.

You will need the screenshot-copy of the TM-30 to show at your next visit to immigration, to avoid any fine. You do not need to make a special-trip just to swap your screenshot-copy for their receipt before your next visit to immigration. You are "in the system" as soon as it is filed. Your copy is just to ensure they can find the record without issue, and to prove it was done.

They had a makeshift TM-30 office set-up just for these - I was in there for a couple hours to file mine, and watched the debates ensue. The final offer was always the same - "you pay or you leave." I don't know what they fine for filing-late these days.

Given no warning to those coming here, it makes sense the landlord should handle it. But Immigration may make it your problem, if you don't have it when you see them to get an extension or other service. When they first started this, I read about it online, and immediately filed one after my next entry to the country. When I went to immigration for an extension, I watched immigration slap 2K Baht fines on everyone in a crowded office except those who read the FB groups or "thaivisa," and those obtaining retirement extensions (who did not have to file them for years).

Anyone at smaller offices should check for requirements at that office in-advance. If a big office, with frequent posts here, you are probably ok. They required 3-mo seasoning (not 2) for a marriage-based extension at an office I used in Issan - and I watched her highlight my bank statement balance going back 3 months.

It is 2 months seasoning is required before the day you "Apply" for the visa, so you are fine. Once they accept it, you have automatic permitted-stay "under consideration," until they give you the final 1 year stamp.

Marketing it as "just for the poor," at first, is a good tactic - as it lowers the cost below the massive-debt (or spending cuts) which would otherwise be required, and allows the program to begin operation without seeming threatening (track, trace, and control your spending) to most.

Good. It's a tiny fee, and that should at least help fix the roads repeatedly torn-up by the Tour Buses. Better yet, build a street-car or similar system, and force the Buses to park at the end-terminals of such. I know about the Pattaya train, but that is overkill. They should also earmark part of this fee to cover any foreigner's unpaid hospital-bills. They claimed that was some huge problem in the past - proposed this to pay it (~20-Baht per-each would be enough for that) - but then started making OA-Visa entrants pay for Thai insurance, instead of following through with the original proposal. As a bonus, maybe this will act as an incentive to stop harassing border-bouncers, since each bounce will generate more govt-revenue - in addition VAT-taxes and other revenue which they already spend into the private sector.

If that is the case, you have only 2 options - get "credit advice" statements for each case where your Wise xfer is not received "FTT" - OR - forget Wise, and wire-transfer from your foreign bank to a Thai bank which does not involve an "intermediary bank" in Thailand.

Yes, if the condo-owner will provide signed-copies of their ID-Card, Chanote for your condo, and Housebook for your condo. Plus, the lease, of course - which assume you already have. When renting a condo in Thailand, one must insist upon receiving those from the landlord or landlord's agent, before handing over the money. That way, you are in control of your TM-30 reporting, and do not have to worry about problems with immigration in the future.

The only advantage I see, is freeing up your 800K. You are comparing costs for an agent-obtained retirement visa (90-days) + extension (year) using an agent, to a DTV w/o an agent. Also assumed, is that one needs the 3400 multiple re-entry permit. We do not yet know the agent-fees for either border-bounces or in-country extensions with the DTV. History indicated it is likely there will be the usual "hassle" or "agent-money" choice. Hopefully, one could simply border-bounce at known "safe" entry points, and avoid this - but it remains to be seen. Even then, border-runs cost money, which should be factored-in. Keep in mind, they can always find one isolated case of a DTV holder "behaving badly," amplify the story in "the news" - and then use that for a "crackdown" to force the flow of more agent-money, as has happened in the past. They haven't done that with retirees, because a torrent of agent-money is already flowing to them, via those.

Not sure what your movie reference has to do with anything. But, I see, you just insult without any attempt at comprehension. Does insulting people online make you feel good about yourself, when unable to make a cogent point? Anyone not a "mod" would be banned for abuse, for the types of posts you make routinely.

Let me make it easy for you. IF the corrupt faction took over that entry point and began making problems, THEN we would hear about it BECAUSE it is a high-traffic crossing. Clear now?

There is no way to obtain a DTV "within Thailand" - must leave and go to a Thai consulate to apply. We have some success reports from Vientiane and others. If someone is on a Non-B extension, they need to cancel their extension at immigration before leaving the country, to avoid problems later with immigration.

I do not recall hearing anyone denied-entry that far away from a previous stay. If you stayed over 6-months the previous year, they might make a fuss, but I would be surprised if denied-entry.

I don't think there is a relation to the DTV at all. In any case, if I were ever on a Tourist type stay again - or the DTV - I would just use known-safe entry points, who have historically followed the laws published in the Gazette - vs entry points known to make up things which are not the law. Nong Khai is a good choice, because they have a good record, and there is high-traffic - so we would find out immediately if "the bad guys" took over that entry-point..

There is no requirement the funds remain after obtaining the visa, per the published (Gazette) order. That said, of one tried to obtain an extension in-country, we do not know what Immigration may require. Immigration have not yet said anything about any re-entry procedures / scrutiny for DTV holders. It would be a first to require showing a bank-book or similar at an entry-point, should that happen. Edit: 20K Baht cash can be requested to show for tourist entries - might happen - also, evidence of where they will stay.