TaoNow

The Thai housemaster of the house and land where I am the sole occupant died 12 years ago. My name is not in the blue household registration book (because I am not a Thai citizen). Yet, I own the land on which the house sits -- as evidenced by my name being the last one listed on the Chanote (deed). The local land office has assured me that I can sell the land -- but not the house (which can only be owned and sold by a Thai national). Will I have a problem if they ask for a TM30? (They never have yet at Immo/CW during annual extensions for retirement). Food for thought.

If OP is referring to an extension based on retirement with money in the bank, then the only forms I prepare are the following: 1. The application form with photo 2. A map to my home in Bangkok 3. A photocopy of my last 90-day report receipt 4. A photocopy of my passport photo page, and visa/latest extension pages 5. A photocopy of my updated fixed savings account bank book (pages dating back one year) 6. A bank letter verifying the balance, and 7. A bank statement for the previous 12 months. Not really "millions" of photocopies. Indeed, I keep multiple copies of these documents on hand in any case when I visit Immo. What's the problem?

I also do my ret. ext. at Immo/CW with 800K in a fixed deposit account, which is never touched until D-Day. In my experience (past 5 years), it seems that Immo/CW does want to see the one-year statement + the bank book, updated on the day of application. With a fixed deposit account, it is possible that the updates (showing interest and tax) are consolidated and hard to read -- thus, the need for the annual statement. In any case, since you already have to go to the bank to get the bank letter authorizing the balance, I would err on the side of caution and get the annual statement too. There is no extra cost or time to do so -- at least at the SCB branch opposite Central/CW where I do the dox each year.

Last month, I first e-mailed the American Citizens Service (ACS) website to see if I could go to the Embassy to do the renewal. The ACS responded within 24 hours saying I could go in, but they preferred that people mail in their passport, form, and fee. So, I made an appointment, printed it out, and went to the Embassy around 9 a.m. on Jan. 17. Turned in the renewal form, and then. I paid the $130 in US cash, but you can pay by baht cash. If mailing it in, you have to buy a bank draft in the equivalent baht amount. They have a branch of ThailandPost in the ACS compound, so it is easy to buy the return envelope there (100 baht). (Copy down the EMS code so you can track the item when they mail it back.) Then, you turn that in with your PP fee receipt, and that's it. It took me about 1.5 hours as there were quite a few people in the ACS section. In sum. it's no faster by going to the Embassy in person compared to mailing in your PP as they recommend on the Embassy website.

There have been several threads on renewal of a US passport while in Thailand. It takes about 3 weeks. I did mine last month, and it took 2.5 weeks from the time I went to the Embassy in Bangkok to hand in my old passport and form and pay the fee, until I received the new and old one by EMS post to my home in Bangkok. Then, a quick trip to Immo/CW to get the visa/extension stamps transferred. The only hiccup for me was that I had to go to the bank in the morning to update my fixed account passbook, plus obtain a bank statement of the account for the past 12 months -- before heading to Immo. Still, all in all, a very efficient process.

It seems that OP is renewing his/her Oz passport while in Thailand. If the OP is currently here on a retirement extension, please note the following (as reported in another thread about 6 months ago): At Immo/CW, they will want to see the bank book used to establish your financials (updated on the day of application to transfer stamps), with a one-year bank balance statement for the past 12 months, and photocopies of the bank book going back 12 months, in order to transfer the stamps. Note: You will *not* need the bank letter affirming the bank balance: just the updated book and one-year statement. Hope this helps. (I tried to do my stamp transfers last Friday at CW and found this out - though I was warned by this forum and forgot.)

Been here for 40+ years and travelled to every province by road. Never carried my PP with me on most trips. Only once, about 3 years ago, was I stopped at a check point and asked to produce my passport. The location was the highway connecting Bangkok with Nakorn Pathom Province (Borom Rachachonanee) -- inbound at about the Sai 2 intersection in mid-morning. It was close to New Years Day. The officer was polite and professional. I showed my photocopy of the PP and relevant pages. He said I was supposed to have the passport in my possession. Luckily, we were speaking Thai, and I engaged him in some casual conversation. That seemed to do the trick and he waved me on. Those who say that you should pretend not to speak Thai when accosted by a police officer are giving bad advice. Even if your Thai is basic, speak Thai whenever you can with an officer; I guarantee that most will appreciate that you are trying to acculturate, and usually be lenient.

@Srikcir - I went to the US Embassy last week to renew my passport. You can go in person; no need to mail in. However, they will keep your current passport (unlike ten years ago in my experience) and have you buy an EMS envelope to send the new pp back to your Thai address. There is a ThailandPost outlet inside the ACS compound. So, that is convenient. Cost is 100 baht. Remember to jot down the EMS code so you can track the return mailing. In sum, this system is no faster than mailing in your pp from the start - and I had to sit there in ACS for about 1.5 hours to complete the process. Many people.

Just on the US passport renewal questions: The payee on the 100 baht bank draft is "American Embassy Bangkok." Kasikorn charged me 15 baht for the draft. Also, I went to the Embassy this past Tuesday, hoping that I could keep my current passport while they processed the new one. No dice. They only mail back the passports to you after they receive the new one from State Dept.. They said it takes 3 to 4 weeks -- but I notice some folks on this forum report faster turn around. Just make sure you note the EMS code number so you can track the mailer. At the Embassy, they said I had to buy an A4 envelope for the return EMS mailing - it cost 100 baht and they have a ThailandPost office in the American Citizen Services section, so that is convenient. But the wait was unnecessarily long with all the other people there. I was in by 9 a.m. and out by 10:30 a.m. So, in sum, it is probably less hassle just to do the renewal by mail, since going to the Embassy won't make it any faster and you won't be able to hold on to your passport while waiting for the new one. I'll report back when I receive the new PP and if there were any complications.

A few years ago, I asked my daughter in the US to purchase and send a designer bag to me (which I planned to present as a gift to someone here in Thailand). My daughter did so, and sent the bag to me in Bangkok by regular mail. However, the postal customs office intercepted it, and I was called in to pay a hefty luxury tax in order to claim the item -- but no fine. Out of curiosity, I asked the official at the postal/customs office how they identify items that are eligible for import tax, given that so many items arrive at Suvannabhumi Airport each day. She said that they conduct a sample of items. But that didn't seem plausible to me since the probability of this single package being selected was surely extremely small. Now, as one of the above posters reported, it seems they have a way of scanning packages, parcels, and luggage, for imported luxury items. That makes more sense. So, buyer beware, indeed.

Yes, I realize I can report online or by mail, but I prefer going to Immo in order to have the 90-day receipt in-hand, just for security and to see if there are any changes at Immo/CW. Also, I don't think they will overrule my current 90-receipt date with the re-entry date in my passport. We'll see, and I'll report my experience. Thanks for responding, Dr. Jack.

I realize that this is referring to the online 90-day reporting. My issue is that I recently took a short trip out of the country (Oct. 1 -10) and, technically would not have to report until 90 days after re-entry. However, I would prefer to use the report date on my 90-day receipt which is mid-December since I have that 90-day cycle programmed into my schedule of domestic travel (and memory). Question: Is there any problem with reporting earlier than I technically have to but still in compliance with the latest 90-day receipt window?

I plan to renew my US PP in January or February 2023. Reading the US Embassy website, it seems they went to the mail-only procedure because of Covid. I am not too happy about sending my PP in the mail and being without it for the three weeks it takes to process. Does anyone know whether the US Embassy in Bangkok will go back to in-person processing of a new passport application, say, starting in 2023? I would prefer visting the American Services section in person to do that.

It sounds to me like an officer-in-training case -- which I have experienced once before. However, thanks for the detailed update. These are always the highlight of Forum in this section.

Out of curiosity, it would be relevant to know what the health issue is. If I had a terminal illness with, say, a year or two to live, I would risk just being on continued over-stay, as long as I had compassionate end-of-life care... ...rather than huffing it back to Oz or some other country where the hospice care might be worse. It's my opinion that Thailand Immo is not concerned about these kind of over-stayers. They want to nab the international criminals or those with excessive debts to Thai institutions (e.g., courts, hospitals, etc.). Is OP's friend's in an end-of-life situation?

@spambot - it has been pointed out numerous times that there are 2 types of agents: (1) The agent who helps get your paperwork together and holds your hand during the visit to Immo; and (2) The agent that helps someone get around the financial requirements of, say, a retirement extension. It is the 2nd variety of agent that most people on the TV Forum object to. That is because paying a bribe to avoid the Immo financial requirements is breaking Thai law, and also makes it more difficult for those trying to do the process legally. Also, it is dangerous for the ex-pat since, once you go the agent route, you are stuck with it. If the agent is busted, then so are you.

I have been doing retirement extensions like OP at Immo/CW for over ten years and never been asked for a TM-30. Does anyone understand why some folks are still asked for this and some are not?

Kenny: At the district office, try dressing in long pants and a tucked-in shirt, wai-ing them, and speaking in polite, respectful Thai. Then see if they treat you differently than before.

Coincidentally, I am about to renew my passport as well, which contains an extension based on retirement. I report to Immo/CW. TGJB - are you saying that you were asked for photocopies of an updated 800K+ bank book as a requirement for transferring Immo stamps to a new PP?

Greatly appreciate detailed trip reports like this. They are undoubtedly the most valuable threads on this section of the TV Forum. One question for OP: It seems that you didn't use the appointment system. Is the system down or did you choose not to use it? If the latter, why? Thanks again, TGJB

I read this thread carefully since I had heard about the flooding on CW in front of HealthLand (or whatever). So, this morning (Thursday), I left the house at 5:30 a.m. and crossed over the Rama 4 bridge from Thonburi which dumps onto CW. Traffic was moderate but moving. No sign of flooding in front of HealthLand. Arrived at Government Complex at about 6:15. There was parking available on the left-hand street side but filling up fast. Entering the building, I was surprised to see 3 Immo officers issuing queue tickets -- at 6 in the morning? I got number 15. Then, you need to kill time until 8:15 when they start to let people into the Immo office. For my 90-day report, I got queue # 3. I was out by 8:40 a.m. Unfortunately, by that time, a large pick-up truck had double-parked in front of me -- leaving the pick-up in gear...but that's another story. On the way back, in-bound traffic on CW was backed up from the entrance to the Rama 4 bridge, and bumper-to-bumper until, I suspect, the Laksi intersection with Vibhavadee-Rangsit highway. Lesson is: Go to Immo/CW at the break of dawn.

Based on my experience using both the English-language US Embassy affadavit and the Thai-language Immo/CW certificate of residence -- either one satifies the Land Transport office doing the vehicle/license permits. But your mileage may vary.

Judging from the comments on this and other threads, it seems that posters think that Immo lasses and lads are obliged to grant entry, extensions, approvals, etc., simply because Thai law allows this -- WITH DISCRETION. I am sorry for the all caps, but too many posters don't seem to realize that Immo officers are police -- and they are gatekeepers -- and THEY HAVE DISCRETION. Their job is not to provide a service (like the post office or your local district clerk issuing a land tax receipt). The job of Immo police is to protect Thailand from ne'er-do-wells. I'm not sure if OP is one of those NDWs, but he had better adjust his attitude if he wants to enjoy entry and passage into and through Thailand in the months and years ahead. 'Nuff said.

For those readers with price envy -- fear not. Studies have shown that the average wine drinker (like the blokes on this Forum) cannot tell the difference between affordable wines and the much more expensive bottles (e.g., $20 versus, say, $75-$100). In the case of Thailand, the important distinction is whether you can taste the difference between Mont Clair/Mar Sol, and the 600-700 baht wines. Word to the wise...

Dear Forever: People with a fixed savings account at SCB cannot do book updates at an ATM machine or equivalent. Only counter transactions allowed. Thus, in Bangkok, at Immo/CW, I do the following: 1) Make an advance appointment on the Immo website for about 10:00 a.m. on the day I intend to renew the extension (retirement) 2) Go to the nearest SCB branch and get first in line when the bank opens at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the extension appointment 3) Deposit 1,000 baht to my fixed savings account (or less, or withdraw, but keep balance well above 800K) 4) Ask for the letter to Immo and a one-year statement. This branch is well-acquainted with what I need, and they do it in about 15 minutes. 5) Pay the fee for the letter (200 baht). 6) Ask the bank to make photocopies of the fixed deposit savings account bank book. Caveat: In my last visit (April, 2022), the SCB bank clerk only photocopied the name page and the last page of the bank book. However, Immo/CW wanted a photocopy of every page of the bank book going back a full year. So, be aware -- but my kindly Immo officer offered to make the extra photocopies herself -- which, in my case, she didn't have to because I had done this in advance, just in case, while waiting for my appointed time. It's a breeze now, with the advance, online appointment system.