Rob Browder

I had passport-stamps transferred more than once in-Thailand while on Tourist-Visa entries in the past - but maybe it is different on a Visa-Exempt - or this is a new policy? Either that, or they are fishing for folks to use an agent to do it. I would check with an agent to see if they can do it and at what cost. I do recall hearing folks having problems doing stamp-transfers to a new passport at land-borders - unable to leave without going to an immigration office for the stamp-transfer, first. The last report I recall, several years back, they had to travel to the immigration office in Nong Khai to move the stamps, before crossing into Laos. It is possible that this office could also refuse, and tell you to go back to the office where the extension was issued. If an agent cannot get it done, I would fly out to Cambodia or Laos and re-enter by land (not using Poipet to re-enter, of course).

I would assume agents would provide a valid bank-statement, provided by the bank and showing an accurate balance at the time it is created, as they do with their in-country extension-of-stay assistance.

If the bill becomes law as written, tourists would only be able to extend their stays for TWO years in the country before flying out and back, vs THREE years, as-is now. Note that this is only a bill for now, but provides insight into the thinking of the current government - they don't want to "crack down" on Tourists.

Most marriage don't use agents, because it is MUCH more expensive than retirement-based, to cover the signature of the District sign-off. Recently, a poster reported ~35K, vs 12.5K for retirement. Most agents won't do this, as they lack connections at the district-level. OTOH, retirement is packed with agent-applications, and they figure sooner or later most will miss "topping up to 800K" by 1-day, or miss one monthly-transfer in-time, and they will get them into the agent-pipeline - even if their money/income totals are well above what is required.

What does that have to do with immigration? What the law requires is: "I am married to this Thai person and our marriage is de-facto (KR-3 and KR-2), our marriage is de-jure (they can come visit), and we live here (rental contract + owner's ID), and I have the required 400K (bank-records). As far as requiring the owner's House-Book, and Chanote (likely, unless he lives with you), yes - one must do this, or Immigration will force you to their "agent" - which is the only reason they ask for these in the first place / not part of the legal-requirements.

For newbies, a border-van is the best option - or if one is in a big rush - or if getting up at 4AM for a 5AM departure is something one enjoys doing. I haven't read reports of denied return-entry at any of those entry-points - maybe you have new info, though. One definitely must pay the Cambodian side their cut if coming back the same day - or spend overnight on the Cambodian side, which I always found a nice diversion. A nice bus with plenty of leg-room and a bathroom in it is nice to Chanthaburi, in my experience. Sometimes I would do an overnight there, on the way or back, just to make the trip more enjoyable. Why not, and see something different?

Probably trying for a 90-day Non-O in Jomtien. That person/office has been doing that for over a decade - reported multiple times as demanding 15K Baht cash for her to follow the written law / rules - or you don't get it. I had this experience, also, and went to get a Non-O from Laos, to get around it. After that, the Marriage-Extension people were furious I had done this (I guess they get a cut), so kept adding "new requirements" on every visit/attempt, and abusing my wife with insults, until I gave up, went back to Laos, and got a Non-O-ME. I have always known the true nature of "Thailand Immigration" after that experience. Once you know what they really are, you can be properly prepared to deal with them. Retirement and Tourist extensions in Jomtien are easy / by-the-book, however. They make a fortune on agent-business for those, so happy to process some "in person applications" by the book.

But, that would prevent roping people into paying income-tax. Also, I heard India were not enforcing "180 day max / year" on those visas for Americans any more?

I doubt very much they go to Poi Pet, which is what I was referring to. The 60 days exempt stamps are free. The Cambodian cost is ~1500 with same day exit. Your travel-cost to/from is the only other factor - back in the day, I did it by bus to Chanthaburi + songthiew to the border for maybe 600 baht round-trip. I'd do anything to avoid riding in a crowded van at 5AM. Maybe if they ran them at some decent hour.

Because Poi Pet is the most corrupt point of entry in the country, and upon trying to return to Thailand you could be denied-entry (stamped denied in your passport) for not having enough money - even if you have plenty - then their helpful "agent" will try to extort you for a princely-sum to get in. Literally any other land-border is possible, with some "affordable" corruption only on the Cambodian side. Expect at least 300 Baht for a same-day enter/exit, as Cambodian rules say you must stay overnight - plus some more on top of the official visa-fee if you try to pay in $$ vs their crazy exchange-rate.

Showing the intended accommodation upon entry? Sure. But not the owner's title-deed, because that has nothing to do with a foreign renter's permit to be in the country. It is certainly not a reason to try to break up a marriage by denying an extension of stay, because the owner won't or isn't around provide it.

The eVisa is only accepted at certain border-crossings, and I do not know if any of the border-run van services use those. Certainly not Aranyaprathet/Poipet - maybe Trat's Hat Lek / Koh Kong, but I don't recall a report of such.

What jobs do "those people" do on the islands? Competing with the illegal-working Burmese - really? As to those with remote incomes - that's great for Thailand - money just flowing in from other countries, funding Thai salaries and VAT taxes. And now, they can use the DTV Visa to avoid all the silly running-around for extensions, visa-runs, and spending chunks of their incomes in other countries, just to avoid problems with Thai immigration. Every 1000 / 1500 Baht for a Cambodian / Lao visa, was money not spent in Thailand, plus the days/months out.

No, only those with a source of income which might create a tax-liability they do not wish to pay. They could swap countries every 6-mo - avoiding the similar tax system in Cambodia, for example. Someone bringing in Social Security income will have no tax-liability in Thailand on that money. The same is true for other forms of income, if the tax-rate is the same or higher + paid in the country where it is earned, provided there is a dual-tax treaty. This really isn't that complicated. I don't see why people are upset. But then, I always did my own taxes in the USA, including for a small business. It's literally elementary-school math.

In any case, this is an issue which has nothing to do with one's extension. You gave immigration the rental-contract and the person who rented it to you, and a map to the place. They can (often do) come visit, to see if you really live there. Maybe it's a sub-let or whatever - who cares? What does that have to do with immigration? They can refer it to the land-office or tax-authorities if they want - but none of that has anything to do with the applicant or the validity of their reason for the extension. Use an agent, and none of this ever comes up - which provides a clue as to the real motivation for all this.

This was because people were paying $50 to the US Embassy, vs ~$350 to immigration's "agents" - to get their "no-money in-the-bank" extensions. This was interfering in the flow of funds into brown-envelopes, so Thai immigration asked them (and the UK and Australia) to quit issuing those letters. Actually, it is against federal law for our embassy to do what was being requested. BUT, it is a USA Federal Felony to lie on that affidavit - and I never heard of a single case of anyone being referred to the FBI by Thai Authorities for not having the income they claimed.

There is no exception to the 180-day tax-rule for them with the DTV - any more than someone with dividend-earnings on a retirement-based annual visa/extension.

Agree, but I have also been asked to show the chanote, before, so best to have that one also - especially if doing a marriage-based extension, where they may try throwing everything at you they can, to stop you doing it successfully. I was asked for that to spite already having a current TM-30 on file, before - they wanted all of the same docs again.

The MFA guy would not get into the tax-issue. There is no tax-break in the law for this visa, so the 180 days/year in Thailand rule would apply. What is owed, if anything, depends on the income-source/type, applicable deductions, and/or dual-tax treaties.

That is not the reason Thai immigration is putting in denied-entry stamps in passports, because it is absurd that someone from a Western country would work here at an under-the-table job - 10+hour days for 6 days, to earn the same as McDonalds-pay for one day back home. Instead, they were stamp-pretending the person didn't have money. We had multiple examples of this posted here. Meanwhile, those coming from neighboring countries, where illegal Thai pay is higher than where they come from, got unlimited border-crossings. I did notice the one-night-out rule the MFA noted for the DTV. That is not unreasonable.

I guess if your income isn't taxed in your home-country or no dual-tax treaty with Thailand, it could be a significant problem. Otherwise, just means filling out a tax form here, to stay fully compliant.

The main things needed are just 3 copies one needs to report themselves, so it is not a landlord-problem - the landlord's ID plus the house-book and chanote for the residence - all signed by the landlord. They can draw lines across these copies saying "Only for immigration purposes," to assuage any fears they have about sharing these.

I am not aware of any Thai law about 180 days currently in existence regarding tourism. VAT is just as relevant as any other form of tax. Neither are relevant to immigration. In Thai law, Immigration can only deny entry for very specific reasons. None of those reasons involve "been here as a tourist too long." They did not define "how many days out" because that would allow people to avoid paying their agents, and simply stay out the proscribed period.

For the most part, those are the short-term tourists, who never had a problem coming to Thailand visa-exempt.

In some cases, condo-management handles rentals for owners, and have the needed documents. This was done for for me, before - but I also paid my rent at the condo-office. If you have a separate agent (not condo-mgmt), this is less likely - but cannot hurt to ask.