TaoNow

So, neither Dr. Jack or Ubon Joe has an explanation for why the Immo 'Certificate of Residence' seems to have different forms and validity dates. Surely, it's not a difference of Immo offices for such a standard form. What gives?

At the very least, the Certificate of Residence from Immo should be valid until the date when the next 90-day report is due, since that is the verification which Immo uses to issue the certificate in the first place. Below is the form I filled out to get my CoR last month at CW. No photo required; just the 200 baht for postage: APPLICCATION FORM RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE IN THAILAND แบบฟอร์มการขอหนังสือรับรองทีÉพักอาศัยในประเทศไทย IMMIGRATION BUREAU DATE / ที………..MONTH / เดือน………YEAR /ปี..............NAME (MR., MRS., MISS.)……………………………………………………………………………………..............NATIONALITY / สัญชาติ.............................................DATE OF BIRTH /วัน เดือน ปี เกิด.........................................PASSPORT NO. / หนังสือเดินทางเลขที.............................................................................................................................É ARRIVAL CARD NO. (TM.6) / บัตรขาเข้าเลขทีÉ...................................................ENTERED THAILAND ON /เดินทางเข้ามาเมืÉอวันที................................................MONT / เดือน......................................YEAR / ปี...........................ALLOWED TO DATE /อนุญาตให้อยู่ถึง................MONT / เดือน.....................................YEAR / ปี........................... I WISH TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE AND FOLLOWING REASON ข้าพเจ้าขอยืÉนคําขอหนังสือรับรองทีÉพักอาศัยเพืÉอ DRIVING LICENSE (CAR / MOTOBIKE) BUYSELL(CAR/ MOTOBIKE)ใบอนุญาตขับ (รถยนต์ / รถจักรยานยนต์) ซืÊอ ขาย (รถยนต์ / รถจักรยานยนต์) ADDRESS IN THAILAND / ทีÉอยู่ในประเทศไทย ADDRESS NO. / บ้านเลขที..............................................MOO. / หมู่............................LANE / ซอย.............................ROAD /ถนน..........................................................SUBDISTRICT /แขวง / ตําบล..........................................................DISTRICT / เขต / อําเภอ................................................PROVINCE /จังหวัด................................................................ZIP CODE /รหัสไปรษณีย์.............................................PHONE NO. / โทรศัพท์............................................................ YOUR SINCERELY ขอแสดงความนับถือ SIGNATURE OR RIGHT THUMB PRINT………………………………………………………. APPLICATIONลายมือชืÉอหรือลายพิมพ์หัวแม่มือ ผู้ขอ

eisfeld: I think we are referring to a different authorization. The Certificate of Residence has no photo and merely states that the ex-pat is living at such-and-such address. It is required for renewing a driver's license or purchasing a vehicle and not much more. I did mine a month ago at CW and was told it has 6 months validity.

I believe that the Certificate of Residence you get from Immo is good for 6 months -- not 30 days. However, the medical certificate (which you need for driver's license renewal) is valid for only 30 days.

Jersey, agreed. Without a doubt, the most valuable posts on this part of the Forum are the recent trip reports. In fact, I wish the Forum would create a sub-section which only lists trip reports and the responses of other members.

triplez: I did this a month ago at CW. It was very straightforward. Just fill out the form. They need a photocopy of your last 90-day report. I didn't have a photocopy so she did it for me at a cost of 5 baht. As Dr. Jack noted, the cost of proccesing and postage is 200 baht (no receipt), and they tell you it may take up to 2 weeks to deliver. But I got mine after 3 days or so. You can track the progress of the delivery on the ThaiPost code they give you.

Just a word on Thai probate based on my experience in 2011. I am not a Thai citizen. My Thai wife died suddenly and had no will. I went to the local court (Taling Chan branch in Bangkok) to see what the procedure would be to become the "administrator of my wife's estate". The staff were very helpful and professional. I just needed to obtain the signed release from our two adult children (who would be the first in line for the 'administrator' role). I just provided the death certificate, copies of some of my wife's major assets (e.g., land deed, car, bank account), marriage certificate, and my passport info. Then, several weeks later I appeared in court. The judges asked me a few questions, and that was that. It took 5 minutes. I did not use the services of a lawyer. I don't think there was any cost, other than photocopying. I used the court order to have my name added to the land deed (which, in theory, allows me to sell the land -- but not the house which sits on it. But that is another story.) The transfer of ownership of my wife's car and bank accounts to me was straightforward and quick. Have some faith in Thai institutions for a change.

I wouldn't call 205 replies an "enormous response." That sort of summarizes how the Forum has declined over the years. When I first joined, there were many experienced ex-pats on the Forum who knew the culture, the language, and how to skilfully navigate life as an expat in Thailand. That was a real service for newbies and those thinking of visiting the country, or moving here. There were also many more women members who posted. How many women are there on the Forum today who post on this section or the Visas section, or the General section of the Forum? How often do they post? That is just one indicator of how the Forum has been taken over by (male) trolls, bullies, and ne'er-do-wells. I have no idea why advertisers want to pitch products to that low-life, misfit crew on this website. 'Nuff said.

Sanmut Prakan is a suburb of Bangkok. You might consider establishing a legitimate alternate address in Bangkok and do your extensions at Chaeng Wattana. In 50 years of doing extensions (work, marriage, retirement) at Immo/Bkk I have never been asked or pressured for a bribe. Also, the appointment system ensures that you will get a professional and polite Immo officer.

You are confusing the type of agent. Apparently, there are 2 types; (1) Agent gets your paperwork together and holds your hand while you appear at immigration to have photo taken and present valid financials. (2) Agent gets around the financial requirements (for a retirement extension) by bribing an Immo official and bank official somewhere. It's the Type 2 agent (and obliging ex-pat) that most people on the TV Forum scorn for perpetuating the graft system. Just say no.

Why isn't this thread in the Visas sub-forum?

Just a clarification: None of the major Thai banks failed in the '97-'98 baht devaluation crisis. Or ever. You need to check your history. The major Thai banks are very safe. Plus, if you are not willing to park 800K baht in a Thai bank, perhaps you cannot afford to retire there.

The only reason I read this story (and the 1st and last pages of comments) is that I am involved with a lovely Thai woman who has 3 sisters who have married Danish blokes. All 3 sisters have had successful marriages with these Danes, and have spent time living in Denmark and Thailand, and have raised children together. The people on the Forum who like to generalize (quoting Durex statistics?) about relationships in Thailand really have no clue. Those posters are the punters who never learned Thai and only have "friends" and relationships that are bought. If you only live or socialize in the expat bar scene and towns, of course you will view Thailand as full of mercenaries. Yet, if you are able to get outside that sick bubble, then you will see the wonderful side of the country. 'nuff said

Another advantage of the appointment system (which I used a year ago and just yesterday for retirement/funds in bank) is that there is a dedicated Immo officer who is stationed at Desk #32. So, you are not getting some random lass with a chip on her shoulder. Why is that important? See below: In both times I have gone to this desk with the pre-booked appointment, the officer has been the most efficient and polite I have ever dealt with at Immo/CW in decades. It also may mean that the people who use the appointment system have "all their ducks in a row" and do not waste the time of the official (e.g., to go for extra photocopies, to fill out the additional forms, etc.). Ergo, they treat you with more courtesy. So, to echo the others, if you do your extension at Immo/CW, use the appointment system! It is the best thing yet to happen at Division 1.

Many users of the Forum do not start at the top. You, of all people should know that.

OK UJ, but since you are the Chief Guru on this site, please be more explicit in future explanations. Otherwise, many of us nervous ex-pats may experience sudden heart palpitations.

Possum: I truly agree with you about the 90-day address report. I remember, when I was living in a northeast Thailand provincial town during the early 1970s, the local merchants of Vietnamese heritage had to report at the local police station every 90 days -- regardless of their political affiliation. I guess my point was that OP should not try to wing it, especially at this time. Immo (and the country in general) seems to be gravitating to a higher-income level of tourist and aspiring resident. In my view, the fairest thing is to give us long-term expats a path to (dual) citizenship so we could be here legitimately on a long-term basis without all the pins and needles.

What is this nonsense? Immo/CW is also for extensions for retirement and marriage. Not "only for 90 day reports, TM30 reports and certificates of residence." Also, there is no requirement for ATK on entry to Immo Div 1 Bldg B at Chaeng Wattana. Why is this false info being posted on the forum?

Others will have more knowledgeable replies, but here is my view, after scanning the TV Forum over decades: At some point in this century, Immo started to tighten scrutiny of single, non-retired ex-pats who were trying to live in Thailand as residents, but without the proper visa or permit to extend their stay. Some people were doing visa runs to neighboring countries and coming back in on visa-exempt entries. They had to do this every 90 days or so. Others were staying on with "education" visa extensions in collaboration with 'sympathetic' schools who facilitated the extension process for a fee. Then there are the Covid extensions, which are probably coming to an end this year, and only for tourists who were trapped here. I am sure there wer/are many other work-arounds that are much more affordable than the Elite Visa, but those loop holes have been closing over time. In sum, in your case, can't you get by with legitimate tourist visas and returns to your passport country until you can qualify for the relatively-simple retirement extension? (Finances permitting - but retirement in a foreign country should never be cheap.)

Thanks, skatewash, for replying. Even so, even a red, two-line notification in the passport (for missing the 90-day address-report deadline) is too much. In other words, why are they keeping track? Perhaps, if someone has two (or more) infractions, then the fine goes up from 2K to somewhere up to the maximum of 5K. I guess my point is this: Immo takes these (redundant) 90-day reports seriously for some reason. And it's not just about collecting fines.

As I reported to this Forum (years ago), I forgot to do my 90-day address report, although I had complied for many years. I was a few days past the grace period, and I was prepared to pay the fine of 2,000 baht (at Immo/CW). What I wasn't prepared for was the big red stamp in my passport, which took up nearly a whole page, stating I had failed to report staying beyond 90 days. That was spooky, and made me wonder why they had to warn other Immo officers of this mild transgression. Mind you , it was NOT overstay of the permit-to-stay date -- which I will never overlook. Just a slightly delinquent address report. I am still wondering why the red stamp in my passport was necessary. Anyway, I got a new passport and the red stamp disappeared... ...never, hopefully, to appear again.

and you are a "Super Member" of the Forum? I'd like to know what I am...

I have repeatedly entered Thailand on a variety of visas, (tourist, non-O, non-B, etc.) but never changed my (Immo-reported) address in Bangkok since the beginning. Over many decades. And, I have never filed a TM30 form. What am I missing?

Which immigration office do you deal with? I use the 800k fixed account. Immo/CW (Bangkok) has never asked how I cover living expenses. As has been pointed out numerous times in this Forum, the 800K is not to cover living expenses for a year. The purpose is to separate out those with a certain level of financial security and those with less. Same for the 65K/month threshold.

In dealing with the Bangkok Immo office over a period of 50 years, they have never, not once, been inconsistent in processing my extensions.