Rob Browder

RFK-Jr proposed the fix for this, and eVerify, which is to allow those who cannot get a DL/ID from their state - for whatever reason - to get a Passport-Card at their local post-office without cost. Not having a form of photo-ID has many downsides, so this improves the lives of those who do not have one, beyond ability to prove who they are when voting or applying for a job. Whether one believes that vote-fraud is a real-issue or not, this would remove all doubt, so we don't have ~1/2 the country not trusting our elections. What is the downside? Of course, that fix is not in this legislation, because it is being "used as an issue" - by both "sides" - neither actually wanting to solve the problem. Instead, they use this as a circus-event, to distract from the many "bi-partisan" positions they hold, which are in opposition to the views of the majority of the electorate.

You won't get "kicked out" with valid permitted-stay a valid multi-entry visa - but, on your 180-day border-trip, you may need to pay an agent to come back w/o issue. We will not know until next year how that will work - either at the the historically honest (no agent-service needed) entry-points like Nong Khai, or the historically corrupt entry points. The ED visa is generally limited to a year of Thai-language (do some still do 2 years?), or Muay Thai, or Self-Defense (available in Chaing Mai). But, similar agent-business is involved to make the extensions trouble-free - even if you attend classes. Be sure to inquire at the school on how THEY process your 3-mo extensions for you, any added cost for this, and find another school if they don't.

In such cases, a trip to Laos - to a Thai consulate there - may be a more enjoyable use of one's money. Similar if in Pattaya. In Bangkok (CW) one can apply there using "by the book" rules w/o issue / agent-payment.

There were no reports of such ever made, which I saw. Offenders could have been referred to the FBI for prosecution, and is a USA Felony to lie on those affidavits. Immigration knew (or shortly discovered) it was against USA law for our State Dept to do more than provide the attestation; they were/are legally forbidden from "verifying" anything. If immigration really cared about foreigners living here w/o income (sleeping outdoors and eating nothing but air?), the first thing they would have done is shut down all the agent services. Everything Big Joke did - from Edu-extension hassles to retirement-rules changes - only had the effect of increasing agent-business, which bypassed ALL his "new rules." The "No Tips" policy only amounted to IOs not taking money "on the side," which did not go into the distribution-scheme. When first rolled out, the guidelines allowed showing a few months income-transfers for new cases - then, they pulled that back. The same reason as the rest of their changes - too many honest applicants, who had the income, were "getting away" with not using agents, for at least their first year. And if you get 2 payments one month, and none the next, due to how your country allocates pensions? Sure, it's the same income, but - back to the agent you go!

Yes, at CNX it is generally unnecessary. They seem to run an honest entry-point, and no recent bad-reports indicating that has changed. Personally, I would not fly in with a "longer staying" record though - even there. Worst case being denied-entry at a land-border - if something changes just before you get there, which has not yet reported here yet - at least you don't get locked-up.

File a police report for both, then. Going to your new amphoe (serving your new residence) with the police-reports in-hand, and seeing what they require, is the only way to know. It is far less work for them than putting you "in the system," so hopefully they are friendly about it. I would assume the new owner has to attend, when you have what they need - hopefully not additional witnesses - but please do update here with your experience.

MANY others have experienced this. You are far from alone. You need to show the termination-paperwork from the school. They just need to write a letter saying "Person (you) stopped working here on Feb 26, 2024," on their letterhead. The 500 per-day referenced by a post above, is if for days remaining in-country after the termination-date while on your non-B extension-of-stay. As long as immigration stamped you in on your Tourist Visa (you did not have a re-entry permit for your Non-B extension), the fine could be no more than 500 Baht for 1-day.

Having been in a similar situation for years with my then GF, now wife - when in my 40s - I truly sympathize with your situation. Running immigration's gauntlets was even more stress on her, than it was me. I would message her my entry-stamp as soon as I entered, so she could relax. I have read similar stories here for years, so do not think you "made up the story." Unlike many, I didn't get the impulse to switch into a smug "I'm allright Jack" type, after turning 50. My support of my wife and her family during covid were invaluable to them, and though we were married then (so I could an extension based on that, though was a PITA), had I been on covid extensions at the time, my help would have been no less important to them. That immigration would use that against you is despicable. What helped me the most, was realizing many immigration entry-points and local-offices are run as a racket. Once looked at with that POV - and acting accordingly - life here got much easier. For example, next time entering, you must either pay the airport-immigration's agent, or fly to a nearby country (Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos), and use a known-safe land entry-point Be sure to check on this site just before crossing, to see what rackets are being run where, because the nature of the game and locations can change.

"Criminals" would just use the agent-system to avoid scrutiny - the same as is done for the many other forms of entry/stay they could use before the DTV existed. It is only legit applicants who must deal with immigration roadblocks. They are punished for doing things honestly. This has been constant for years - only varying by the degree of problems honest-applicants face, for various types of entry/stay. The DTV, like other cases - including the Non-Ed, TVs, METVs and Visa-Exempt - those using the agent-system will not have to deal with any of that. But, those mistaking the system as "honest" may have problems, until they learn the real purpose of "the system" - generating brown-envelopes. Those who learn to navigate the "real world" environment, vs the "how it should be" fantasy, will have a less-stressful experience.

Fair point on the OP not being married. But it is ALL about money - why they let us come/stay at all, and why they said the changed to 60-days VE and added the DTV. Immigration at bad entry-points do all this hassling, because they want "their cut" of "our money" for themselves. They are not allowed to touch infrequent visitors on tourist-entries ("bad press"), but come some undefined "too often," and you are "fair game." How often is "too often" depends on what the Boss needs for his beyond-salary lifestyle that day/week/month. Otherwise, they would specify it.

I do not think they will be making problems over a clear-case. They can read numbers and use a calculator. One only has to put this together once, for all savings pre-2024.

Yes, because it was proven-earned before Jan, 1 2024. Pensions / SSI - may be tax-free due to your DTA (it is from USA).

For proof, provide a list of your investment-valuations / account-totals as of Dec 31, 2023. Anything you bring in up to that limit, starting from Jan, 1 2024, until you have remitted all of that sum, is not taxable. Edit: unless they start taxing income not remitted.

I predict this part will not happen. It would drive out everyone but pensioners, who are protected by double-tax treaties, in the case of most.

Feel free to discuss the merit of holding "covid time" against returning foreigners, here. The other topic can only be discussed openly in forums not adhering to the "Trusted News Initiative" (sic) guidelines.

You will need the owner of the property where you want to register your new yellow-book to assist, as it is "their house". Your pink-ID would also be needed. I would ask at the amphur - or have a Thai-speaking person call and ask them what they need to see. You may also have to report the old yellow-book lost, if they want to see that, as well - you would show them the police-report and a copy, instead.

Doesn't the ETA apply to all types of entry - exempt or with a visa? I am open to correction if mistaken, but that was the wording I recall.

Why would they count the covid-time "against" folks - when those who stayed, and kept spending here, helped the country greatly during that bleak time. They even created a special-visa to encourage people to stay long-term (STV). We could not save all the jobs that stupid episode wrecked, but we saved many.

I was specifically told that my more than adequate, easily proven (xfers to my Thai bank + foreign-bank records) foreign income would not be allowed for my marriage-based extension, because it was not a pension. They required proof of the income-source, to verify (which I was too young to have). This was several years ago, but I haven't heard that they changed this. If working in Thailand w/ work-permit, you can use non-pension money, but the process is harrowing - requiring all Non-O-marriage paperwork PLUS Non-B paperwork (a pile of company-records).

That depends entirely on the entry-point. Each runs their own thing - either with an agent-money game, or no games. Entering on serial-exempts at Bangkok airport requires paying their agent-service for safe-entry. So far, no reports of denials or needing "agent service" at Nong Khai, or many smaller crossings. There is a Cambodian crossing used by the visa-run agents out of Pattaya and Bangkok - no reports of denials with them, yet - though those on non-imm entries must pay a premium to return on visa-exempt.. A couple crossing near CM into Laos are now requiring "stay out" for 1 or 2 days.

Odds are good at CM Airport, but he should have come by land, as you said. For the future, if he wants to spend more time here, he has a few options: - If over 50, should then go straight to Pattaya and pay an agent to get him a Non-O based on retirement. - If under 50, he could get a DTV - though future entries might require agent-assistance. No one has done this yet, so we don't know how immigration at the bad entry points (Bangkok airports, etc) intends to "game the system" for agent-money. - Last option, and if he insists on flying in, he needs to use Immigration's agent to set up "pre-clearance" for a fee. Even CM may start making problems with serial visa-exempt entries, at some point. His next attempted-entry might be our first report of a problem there since Covid - will see.

The new 60-day visa-exempt rules INCLUDE visiting family. But even if he didn't, he was here spending money into Thailand, so no reason not to let him do that. "Real Tourist"? There is nothing in the law defining a "real tourist" beyond specific reasons to deny entry - no money, working illegally, or other criminal activity. What were they going to stamp in his passport as the reason? "Didn't have money" is the LIE the (expletive deleted) usually write in there - after they guy just paid for an expensive pair of air-tickets, and with a travel history PROVING he has PLENTY of money.

IOs don't care about Thais, at all - only their brown envelope system.

They hate he didn't pay their agent guy. See what they REALLY wanted here - to line their pockets. People upthread pretending they "care" about "rules," as they push people to their agents - LOL!!! We all know what they are. No one is fooled.

If it is more than 10 illegal-alien workers, it is a federal felony - see 8 U.S. Code, section 1324. This law was never blocked by a court. Those were jobs with good pay and benefits, before the American workers were replaced. Similar is true in the construction-trades. All that is needed is a president "chief executive" who cares about Americans, so would order the law enforced. They were probably paying withholding-taxes to whatever fake SS#, which the IRS happily collects and keeps.