Rob Browder

I would bet they have a spreadsheet set up to calculate the projected-losses in agent-fees, and are being as obstinate as possible and/or demanding compensation.

Jomtien is one of the best places to get a 12-Mo RETIREMENT-based extension. They are also relatively good with Tourist-Visa extensions, though have to jump through the TM-30 hoops (hope your landlord is cooperative with signed copies of Chanote and House-Book ). Getting the initial Non-O 90 day is terrible there - for many, many years - a 15K "fee" for them to follow the rules. Getting a Marriage-Based extension can also be a nightmare there.

Yes, it is new - as of a few months now.

Collecting money this way is Immigration's primary function. To think otherwise is being naive. It makes it much less stressful when you realize what the game is all about. Then, it's just a matter of knowing what the "fee" is, for various situations, and who is the contact who handles the money.

That is the source of your problem - "Poipet" - no one should ever go there for a border-bounce. One can DIY it at any other crossing to Cambodia - just be prepared for the "not staying overnight fee" to the Cambodian IOs, or stay overnight.

The person handling that service in that office requires 15K Baht no-receipt to follow the written rules - been this way for many years, at least over a decade. I do not know if they are requesting it directly these days, or only laundered via agents, such as the agent-shop next-door.

I look at it this way - every foreigner spending foreign-earned money in Thailand, who isn't a criminal, is a net-benefit to Thailand. Each of us - whether "tourist" or otherwise - supports multiple Thai salaries with our spending. There is no sane reason to create roadblocks preventing this inflow of wealth, from law-abiding foreigners, to the people of Thailand. That said, with regard to restrictions on new visas proposed, or existing ones, it of course makes sense to prevent those coming from nations with a lower wage-level from flooding in to take jobs illegally - where working an 'under the table' (illegal) job in Thailand pays better than what they could make in their home-country. This has the opposite result in terms of harm/benefit to Thai people.

"... can withdraw the fund 3 months after being granted permission ..." I can read that either way - but, I am not at all surprised some IOs read it as reported. The best rule to follow, is to interpret ANY immigration rule in the way that is least advantageous to the applicant. Be on the SAFE side. Don't give them a way to reject your in-person application. Your adequate financial status does not increase their incomes, but each rejected in-person application does. This is the game in-play, and being aware of this dynamic makes it much less-stressful.

The only correction I would add to the "Get 90 Day Non-O at Immigration + re-entry permit" posts, is that this process may involve a home-visit. The timing of that visit could impact when one could be out of Thailand.

I would not recommend this either. At one time, relatively short overstays were "no big deal" - until suddenly they were. Things can change. It can't hurt to be squeaky clean.

I had this request only once, a few years back, and when I showed it to them (I bring everything with me), they just glanced at it, then handed it back. It was just a test.

Look at the changes to visa-exempt entries. Remember the 15-day land-border-entry change? Then, denying-entry at airports + Aranyaprathet . First, "Show us 20K Cash," which was in the written rules - so folks prepared for this. The response by Immigration was to switch to just lying about the reason for denial of entry - say one thing, stamp refused for something else. That 15-day policy was substituted with the "2 land border crossings per year" rule - excepting the illegal-workers willing to work at low wages from neighboring countries, which make Thais poorer. Westerners living on long-term visas in Laos and Cambodia could no longer make regular weekend-trips to Thailand to shop (spend money). Concurrent with all this was the "ed-visa crackdowns," to stop folks staying/spending here with that method. What had been standard operating policy for decades began being labeled "abusing the system," when the rules were being followed to the letter - both as written, and established in those decades of practice. Meanwhile, Laos has made new remote-worker and other easier visas available. Cambodia has remained easy to live/stay. Like Thailand, one cannot live in those countries w/o money for survival - so why not let them stay and spend? Hopefully, the DTV will be a reversal of policy, but, I'm not holding my breath.

The discussion in question was sparked by a YT post - found it - screenshot attached. Whether this is in-force - I would rely on recent reports.

Examples: people who I met through my wife, who lost their jobs, which were related to the tourism sector - from hotel/restaurant to real-estate. Some entire streets of tourist areas were literally boarded-up after past "crackdowns" (this was long before covid). All that money = businesses and jobs simply went to other destinations, so immigration could feel smug and satisfied. As to paying for services - VAT tax, businesses-taxes where foreigners shop, income-taxes of employees of those businesses, VAT paid by those employees when they spend their salaries. In short, income down-stream of anyone spending foreign-sourced funds into Thailand benefits Thais and Thailand. . At the same time, I do recognize that the "Tour" type of tourism is the least beneficial. Their buses make the roads un-drive-able, and tear up the pavement. The tourists in those groups shop only where the bus takes them, to businesses with the lowest employees-per-tourist ratio. Ask Thais who work in the sector which tourists they prefer - who tips well, is polite, etc. They will not name those tourists. Adding a tourist fee ~300 baht per-entry has been suggested in the past, and would cover any additional expenses incurred - from the moto-wrecked tourist w/o health-ins, to road-repairs. If tourist-caused expenses are really a problem, that would be the way to solve it - not rejecting repeat-customers.

They switch to Non-O as the first step in obtaining permissions of stay for a year at a time. The process for going from Visa-Exempt entry to Non-O, or Tourist-Visa entry to Non-O, is the same - other than a slightly different application form.

I am not surprised that some offices break the rules outright, demanding even older bank-records than the "official rules" could possibly be interpreted. "Made Up" rules are not uncommon, in my experience, and those reported by many others. Once people understand this isn't about "Can you really afford to be here," and is just a racket to maximize agent-applications, they can be mentally and otherwise prepared for the Thai immigration experience.

If based on retirement, it is pretty easy. There is no "district office" involved, which helps. I am glad I am over 50 now. If based on marriage in the sticks it can be an all-day affair, even if you have all the needed docs/pics. I speak from past-experience. The upside was, all Immigration personnel were polite - fellow rural folks, who did not treat me like a criminal, or my wife like a traitor, for being married. Contrast to some other offices.

I read elsewhere that they now only accept online applications in the first 7 days of the 14 days before the due-date. I changed my reminder/calendar to fit this schedule, Please correct this information, if others are currently having success up until the due-date. In person / at the immigration office, one can submit it from 14 days before, to 7 days after, without penalty.

I mean, if Tourist application-slots were separate from the others, those who need Non-Os and such would not be "que'd out" of a spot at 2 mins past midnight (per a post in another thread). I hope you are correct that they find a way to solve the reported "all slots full" problem being reported.

IMO, I think this would really tick them off, given the paperwork involved, and supervisor sign-off required. Better to get serial Non-Os from Laos, extend 60-days per-each. One could also extend 30-days from an exempt-entry, then 60-days more to visit family - is supported in some offices.

The "Good Guys / Bad Guys" myth / PR-Spin needs to be dispelled, and is the core of the OP - the so-often "But why ... doesn't make sense" we often hear. When Westerners go to Immigration, they should know what they are really dealing with. This will lead to less confusion and disappointment for foreigners. It will, ironically, also make an easier time for the IOs, who won't have an applicant saying/asking things which are not applicable to how things work in Thailand govt offices. A clued-in applicant won't argue about some made-up/whatever which blocks their application, because they know the score. They will simply ask if there is a workaround, and if an envelope-solution is not offered directly, they know it's agent-time.

How many multiples of the average Thai ("low spending") salary, is beneficial to Thailand? Keep in mind, there are no handouts here, so no downside to the govt / finances. How many Thais would you like to see de-employed, by refusing entry to those with money to spend, to make Thailand more "exclusive" to suit you? I know many Thais who lost jobs from past visa "crackdowns" who would disagree - if their lives matter to you.

One would need to hit the site as soon as the next day becomes available - might be midnight, or maybe early in the morning. Better if they had different calendars / slots for Tourist and "all others."

Good/Bad has nothing to do with it, and never did. That phrase accompanied adding more hoops to jump through, for people submitting applications without an agent. All except the most basic requirements become "optional" with an agent-submitted application. Basics are being over 50 for a retirement-extension, and currently married-to-a-Thai for a marriage-based extension. Some offices in the sticks don't do the agent-thing, but are stuck with all the crazy requirements, regardless.

For awhile, they would print application forms on the other side of them. I don't know if this is still the case in some offices. I have not seen other's passport-copies, etc on the back of my forms in a few years.