Rob Browder

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.

Correct. it is Illegal under USA Law for the USA State Dept to investigate Americans, including financial probing into other agency data (IRS, Social Security, etc. But, if Immigration had evidence anyone was supplying false information in applying for extensions of stay, they could be charged under Thai Law. And, if the foreigner used a falsified affidavit to do this, Immigration (RTP) could refer the case to the FBI office in Bangkok. No such cases were ever reported - in Thai courts, or with the FBI - with regard to "false" income affidavits. This indicates that no such abuses were ever documented by the authorities. In fact, this entire made-up story about "false" affidavits was only hearsay, used to justify a strategic goal - targeting a large group of expats (= potential market for their agents), using a legal-technicality of USA/UK/AU law. This action followed the same pattern seen throughout Big Joke's term as head of Immigration - blow up a story out of whole-cloth or an isolated incident demonizing foreigners, then change policy to suit the story - with the result always leading to more agent-use.

This is 100% correct, according to the "relaxed" change to TM-30 policy, announced a few years ago. Unfortunately, reports indicates some immigration offices will say you must re-register when reported at another address (hotel, etc) - even when returning to a condo you own. This is even more likely to be an issue, if returning from abroad. I see no harm in re-registering a new record in the TM-30 system when returning home, using the return-date as the starting-date. Then, screen-shot that, and have it ready to show at Immigration, if a problem arises. The core-problem, from my analysis, is the lack of a "This is the foreigner's permanent address" checkbox in the TM-30 form/system.

If he does not have a history of longer stays in Thailand in the recent past, and only does that schedule once per-year, then current reports indicate he would not be given problems upon-entry at the airport on his 2nd entry. One change I would make, is do the trip to Laos after the first 60-days, instead of getting an extension - then, do the extension on the 2nd entry, if additional time is needed. The reason is: There is some indication Immigration at "unfriendly" entry points (including both Bangkok airports) do not like seeing 30-day extensions on the last recent stay, when returning in close succession to the last departure..

It's a "Visa On Arrival" in Cambodia - and to be able to apply for the one-year Visa in-country, you need to ask for the "Other" visa when you enter - not the "tourist" visa. I think it was $5 more for the "Other", when I last did this years ago. Unless things have changed, you can also get a 6-mo visa - saves some $$, if you will only stay that long. The 6-mo or more gets you "multiple entry" at no extra-charge.

At the Bangkok airports, they seem to hassle people most when they are NOT as busy, per some reports. Thais who want more prosperity for their people want us here. Other, xenophobic-types, do not. The latter are a tiny minority of the general population, in my experience, but such attitudes help justify corrupt-practices towards foreigners, so are inculcated into immigration-staff. It is psychologically similar to how "the enemy" is demonized with military personnel, to make their job easier to carry-out. If Immigration staff thought of us, and our Thai families we support, as "like them." it would be harder to stomach what some of them do. Hate makes it possible. The proposed "ETA" is purported to make using auto-gates possible, though it will infuriate immigration, if they aren't able to extort people with false-reasons for denying entry, to force agent-use. Some have suggested the ETA will be used to block "too many" border-bounces, but if that system is run by the MFA (not Immigration), I would not make that prediction, absent some change in MFA policy.

If in Pattaya, you need 15K in an envelope (no receipt) to do that immediately - retirement or marriage - though the "official rules" say what you said is true. If in CW, they do it "by the book" without the payoff, but ... I'd get a Non-O 90 day from a Thai consulate, if at all possible, to avoid applying for the initial 90-Day in-country. It is also easier to open a bank account with a Non-O visa-entry, which avoids the "chicken egg" problem created by recent bank-policies - "you need a bank account to apply for the Non-O, but a Non-O to apply for the bank-account." Just be sure to get that visa for the same reason as you will use for your 1st extension - marriage or retirement.

Yes, but they don't follow the rules - is the problem. They did at first, but then changed to demanding you had must have been transferring money every month for a year before you got here. There were more detailed examples in published paperwork at the time, allowing a few months of xfer for a 1st extension. Nothing was said about that being temporary. You could arrrive, open a bank-account, start xfers, border bounce to get a few xfers under your belt, then apply for the Non-O. But, with those SANE transfer rules for the 1st application, not enough people were being pushed to their "no financials required" envelope-agents, which defeated the reason for blocking embassy-letters in the first place - and for changing the 'in the bank" seasoning requirements to the byzantine system in-place now.

I have heard such stories from friendly offices. My experience with marriage-based was all day in the sticks - where, at least, they were polite. Submit and review - 2nd person reviews and questions you. This includes review of "how you met" questions every time, even when married for many years. Wait over lunch, return - then the top-ranking person reviews it all over again. Because not using an agent, the District office is furious that no envelope is included, and they seem terrified there might be a mistake. Required documents and pictures changed every year (district-office demand), so need an extra trip in-advance to see what is needed. At some offices like Pattaya, the IOs may be extremely rude, especially to your wife - may add "another document" multiple times / visits - having nothing to do with if you are "really married and living together." If going this route, bring all old passports, past applications, etc in a bag, as they always ask for something else not on the "official" list. My wife, especially, was delighted when I could finally apply for retirement.

Yes - one can get a work-permit with a Non-Imm-O permitted-stay based on a Thai wife or child.

I assume the return for the year prior would be used, if before the filing-deadline for that year. If after the tax-deadline, but before a confirmation by the tax-guys, proof that a filing had been made could be accepted. But, even better (for all concerned), would be that immigration can log into a portal and check there is no "red tax-flag" on an applicant, and that they are "in the system." Once "in the system," one is open to audit, and the tax-guys have their own enforcement mechanisms. Related: Note the proposal for a "negative income tax" for lower-earning Thais (currently do not have to file), which would trick every Thai who wanted to get the "free" money "into the system," where they can be audited. Eventually, they would simply declare everyone must file.

Correct - I was speaking hypothetically regarding the new tax scheme's possible enforcement mechanisms in the future.

How long you were in Thailand the previous year is easily visible in your passport. Less than 180 days = no income-taxes due on foreign income - remitted or otherwise. As to those required to pay tax, proof of submitting your Thai return should be sufficient for Immigration purposes - if/when Immigration require such. But, another scenario, is - if the tax-authorities have a problem with you, then they would flag you in a system which immigration checks before issuing extensions or stamping you out of the country.

I thought I read a quote from a UK citizen, quoting your double-tax treaty with that info. I am sorry to hear if you aren't protected from being taxed on pension-income by your treaty.

No fingerprints until the Pink-Card process - took them then. Every amphoe has different rules for the first-application process. Glad to hear you got a replacement book + ID ok.

If his GF hadn't answered the phone, he would have been booted. And they would have stamped "didn't have the money" - after telling him it was for "coming too much/often" - to spite flying to/from England (which isn't cheap, these days).

I read one report where someone with a Non-Imm visa did not have to spend the one-night-out at one of the borders. YMMV. I would have a change of clothes, just in case. Could also ask the local visa-run vans if they know.

Yes - two reported here recently. One was refused and returned from a Bangkok airport to where he started. He then flew to CM and got in OK (no "agent entry" program there to incentivize denied-entries): Another was almost refused, but managed to get his GF to talk to the IO, who then grudgingly let him in. If she hadn't been available to talk right then, he would have been gone: if you use known safe entry points - no problem. Otherwise, be sure to pay whatever agent-service the entry point is using. One here for Bangkok airports: ... so just add that figure to your budget, if you need to fly in to Bangkok. May be easier to just deal with annual extensions.