Rob Browder

Unlike in many countries, in Thailand, IOs have only a limited set of reasons they can deny entry - those restrictions intended to prevent corruption - "pay me to let you in" - which has long been a problem in poorer nation's immigration systems. "Discretion" would only apply to whether the IO thought you were not eligible to enter, based on those legal reasons. They CAN ask to "see the money," and deny for that legally, if someone doesn't have it. But, that tactic quit working, because folks started carrying the cash to show (20K Baht with a tourist-visa). At that point, all rules went out the window. It remains to be seen if Immigration begin undermining these new MFA/TAT schemes (60-day exemptions, DTV) to increase revenue into Thailand, as they did with Tourist-Visas and even the METV, before. I hope some sort of back-room deal was made, to prevent this - possibly explaining the delay in rolling them out - and that any deal does not undermine folks on other permitted stays.

Medical appointment + 500K Baht proof? Unfortunately, we don't have any "success reports" on using soft-power or at Vientiane yet.

Trump wants to attack Iran immediately - started saying this with their response to the attack on their embassy months ago - tag team with his neo-con buddies. He escalated with Russia the entire time he was POTUS. The Ds aren't any better - just different "who to start a war with first" priorities - at most.

Biden, Harris, whatever D will get the Anti-Trump vote, is why the polls didn't change much. They are voting against Trump, who is hated by 1/2 the country, and even most Republicans - though most Rs who hate Trump will vote for him "against the Democrat." That's all this election is - two HATED parties, with HATED leaders, and folks voting for who they HATE LESS than the OTHER one - if they bother to vote at all.

Yes, it is terrible with the Gas-Price increase, thanks to Trump's "deal" with OPEC in 2020 to slash production - and the massive inflation the Uniparty created with the Covid spending. Trump now says he wants unlimited Green-Cards, so no help there with the invasion - and he didn't mass-deport like he promised the LAST TIME - only "talked" about it to get votes.

There are twice as many INDEPENDENTS as either Rs or Ds in the USA right now - first time in history more Independents than Party people. No, I won't vote for THE SAME UNIPARTY POLICIES with different "spin" on them, shilled by a pair of shallow actors, who have no depth of understanding of any significant issue. What would be the point? With either of THOSE "choices" (sic) we get Pharma, MIC, etc running the show, working against our interests / making us poorer sicker, and World-War-3.

That depends on location / proximity to public-transit and whether it has air-con or not +/- furnishings and appliances. The 2K rooms tend to be cheap apartment tiny-rooms, with a bath you can barely turn-around in. The older condos are often larger than newer ones.

You use an agent to list it, to avoid "work permit" rules - if you are smart - many to choose from. They generally take 1-mo-rent as payment for a successful rental. The deposit takes care of "runners" and minor-damage. Major damage is criminal, and unusual.

Translation: "Responding to concerns about cigarette tax-revenue - and who cares if they cause millions of cancer-cases to get that money?" Treating cancer is profitable for certain companies, after all. The solution for eCigs / Vaping is the same as for weed - make strict penalties for providing it to minors, ban it it public (and cigarettes), but otherwise, leave adults alone if they do it in private - not bothering anyone else. I don't want ANY kind of smoke/vapor blowing in my face when I am out-and-about - but who cares what my neighbor does, which isn't bothering me?

Yes - this is a problem with the eVisa system. But, so far with the DTV, reports are they respond with requests for additional information. At Vientiane, they generally have not accepted your application, unless you will get the visa. I was once even refunded there for a TV application, when it was not given due to an "applies often" note from a different consulate; I was told to get a new passport from my embassy, and come back (which I did). Phnom Penh became the first nearby consulate to begin putting tourist-visas with "VOID" stamps on them, and keeping the money - following on VPS in India.

In almost all cases, AGENTS handle the envelope-money collection, to hide what is happening. But, there are exceptions, such as the infamous 15K extortion for a 90-Day Non-O stamp in Jomtien, where that service is handled in a private office - reported here repeatedly for many years. Nowadays, they seem to have moved the "additional landlord docs" to the TM-30 stage, itself, in order to force people to use agents to get the TM-30 filed, when they do not have access to documents unrelated to their immigration-status. This isn't happening due to some rare, rogue, corrupt official - it is the PURPOSE of the process. Don't fall for the Orwellian double-think propaganda. Once one understands the nature of the system, dealing with it is much easier / less-stressful. In this case, be aware that Immigration has a TRAP SET for TM-30 submissions, to generate Agent-Money, and the "workaround" is requiring your landlord to provide their private ownership documents, or you cannot sign a lease.

If Thailand wanted to create a limit, they could. The rule/law is, there is no limit on "time in country as a tourist." There is no "staying in Thailand too much/long" reason in the law, allowing Immigration to deny entry. That is why Immigration will stamp "doesn't have money" in victim's passports - though the victim DID have the money to show. Immigration will SAY there is some limit (they make up), in order to funnel people into "agent assisted entry," which lines their pockets - but never put a stamp in a passport which would expose their criminal behavior (denying entry on false-premises). Each of these "denied entry for being in Thailand too much" cases costs the country billions of Baht in lost revenue over time, due to the bad-press across social-media - expats warning others NOT to go to Thailand - discouraging those who would otherwise come here to SPEND THEIR MONEY. They don't care. They only care about their own selfish grifing. THEY are the Grifters - not those coming here, whose spending is all upside in terms of VAT taxes, Thai-Jobs, Thai-Businesses, etc.

As long as it is incorporated as a "condominium" - then yes, it falls under the law allowing freehold / chanote title. Also, you don't have to worry about the foreign-quota - you may be the only non-Thai owner. Note that some condos are occupied by Non-Thais from certain 3rd World countries, so have changed to resemble the conditions where those people originated. By contrast, Thais are generally good neighbors. It will be easy to tell from appearances whether it is a well-managed, clean, Thai-occupied building or not.

Yes - see recent pages of the pinned running-thread on this topic:

Probably not if using an agent - only as punishment for doing your application honestly / in-person, as with most other extension-applicant requirements. But what about when attempting to exit the country, if you have been here over 180 days? Without that step, I don't see how this new tax-rule is enforce-able for those on Tourist-type entries, DTV, etc.

There is nothing in DTV legal language about tax exemption, so 180+ days = income is taxable. See your dual-tax treaty to know if it will affect you and/or how much.

Just use soft-power, if you have been living in Thailand while doing "online work" - to avoid any potential problems.

Agree on the call - they will do extensions w/o agents there - going through every step and piece of paperwork to do it. But, the last time I was there, agents were running in with their clients, messaged an IO on their phone, jumped in between those with que-numbers, took a quick-pic and out the door - while I had to go through the rigamorole with the IO to get my extension. Has this changed recently? Agent service costs more there than some other offices, but they did quite the business.

Ok - that is as I remembered - why I always did it at immigration, back in my visa-run days. Next, check Manareet Visa Agency or Cambodia Inter Tour & Travel, and see if there is a "fee" option to get it done. Those are two of the better-priced and long-time agents in town. They both have Line and Phone with English speakers.

Both processes are Immigration matters. You provide the owner's ID and your contract with them = done. They can check with the owner if they don't believe you "really live there" - or come and see for themselves, if they want. If it's all fake, you could fake all the documents. This is only a problem for HONEST people - as designed - they HATE honest people, who don't chip into their "fund." Everything they do makes this crystal-clear.

Or, do it from Laos, Cambodia, or the PI - where they never cared about "online work." They don't really care in Thailand either - but rubbing it in their faces is not recommended, as a few have found out.

If you are on an extension-of-stay based on retirement, and leave without a re-entry permit, then your extension ends when you leave. You could then apply for a visa at a consulate abroad. The downsides I see are: 1) You might not get grandfathered-in to the current "money in the bank" requirements, if they make them higher in the future. 2) The MFA guy said changes to other extensions are in-progress / will come later this year. Also, would need to do it using "Soft Power" category - otherwise would be saying you were working illegally on a retirement-based extension until now. Personally, I won't be making the switch from my retirement-extension, as it is easy / convenient and 1900 Baht / year, and I don't know what may change next. But, I do regret having 800K sitting there, on which I could be getting a decent ROI. Over 5 years, with border-run costs, though? Is it worth it? If you travel out regularly regardless, then the border-runs aren't an issue - but I don't.

Please report back on what they say / what happens when you do it.

The landlord-documents would be easy, given your wife is the "landlord" - so can provide the house book and chanote copies. They would call to arrange a time to visit - if they decide to visit - and you would let them in the building. Generally, a witness must be a non-family-member - could be a neighbor, or maybe even someone who works the front desk - who knows you both live there together.

Until we get a good quantity of reports from the airports, I would not try flying in for the visa-exempt 60-days - or, even with a Tourist Visa, if one has spent more than scant-time in Thailand recently. There was a rumor they were not being (expletive-deleteds) any more, but I would not risk problems on a bet. There are many reports at the Cambodian entry-points with the Visa-Run companies - no more "2 times per year" limit is being applied now. No. That is only needed for the 1-year Multiple-Entry Non-O available at Savan. The problem you may have is getting an appointment at Savannakhet or Vientiane in time. A single-entry 90-day Non-O is possible at either consulate.