stevo2

10 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

Not many foreigners will be happy to bring every month 40,000/65,000 Baht.
Thai banks mostly give no interest on a bank account if the holder is a foreigner and the cost of exchange Foreign-Thai Bath takes a big chunk out of that money every month.

 

Also, a big chunk of foreigners who stay now in Thailand don't have every month 40,000Baht/65,000 Baht income to transfer to Thailand.
Most of them were able to produce an Income Certificate from their Embassy.
But from that income, they had to pay for other things in their home country.

Eg.: I know personally the case of person who was able to show the income certificate of 65,000 Baht/month, but he needed to pay from that income 20,000 Baht for his children in Germany (Court Order).

Paragraph #1:
The foreigner need to show that he/she paid taxes on the 40,000/65,000 Baht every month.
From now on, everybody will need to fill in a personal income tax form and pay income taxes on the 40,000/65,000 Baht.
This income tax is additional money lost on the 40,000/65,000 Baht.

 

Paragraph #2:

The foreigner need to show a "letter of certification" and bank statement showing the tranfer from overseas for the past 12 months.
This means that most foreigners will not be able to fulfill this rule, unless they started to comply with that rule already 1 year ago.
THE EVIDENCE MUST BE FROM THE MONTH OF RETIREMENT.
Eg.: I was retired in 2002.
I will need to show that I transferred 65,000 Baht every month to a Thai bank since 2002 (and paid taxes).
Impossible as it is a new rule.

 

This "new" rule makes going back to "border runs" more interesting than applying for a Spouse/Retirement Visa.
No need to transfer every month a vast amount of money and no need to fill in an income tax letter and pay income taxes.

 

In my case, where the Government of my country made a new law for 2019 that specify that every citizen who lives abroad and return to the country for medical reasons will need to wait 3 month before being entitled to (almost) free healthcare.

 

My choice with all these new rules will be very easy.
Stop the Spouse/Retirement visa and look for a house/appartment in Spain.

Many foreigners will look for cancel their Visa and look to live in a neighbouring country.
Eventually with making visits to Thailand on a tourist visa.

If you can’t afford to spend 40/65k Baht in Thailand, you won’t be able to afford to live in Spain.

1 minute ago, Psychic said:

Sorry if this has been addressed before but I don't have time to go through the entire thread right now.

 

I got as far as page 7 and there were some reassurances that if you could still get an embassy income letter nothing has changed.

 

Unfortunately, I see nothing in this translation that explicitly says that.

 

I understand that that may have been the intention but without a clear pronouncement I am concerned that when I walk into my local office, shiny new embassy letter in hand I get hit with the all too familiar "new rule this year" at which point it will be too late to put 400K in the bank or show 40K monthly transfers.

 

Have I missed something or is there documentation that says these new regulations augment rather than overrule the existing regulations.

 

Again, sorry if this has been asked and answered already.

It has been answered and it was on page 1.

Look at the police order, item 3 of the evidence required .

1 minute ago, alant said:

It is a concern that this makes no reference to the "money in bank" method to qualify. As the various offices around the kingdom have been shown to interpret or enact the rules as they see them, this may be a concern.

Read the posts !

This police order relates to the income method - the rules on ‘money in the bank’ are unchanged.

1 minute ago, Pattaya46 said:

Once again, this change of policy is made to help people who were using an Embassy Letter and can't get one anymore on decision of their own Embassy...

With Thai Immigration doing or not doing, there are always people here to criticize it! 

The decision by the embassies was in response by demands from immigration for “verification “ letters.

Do they really think the proposed bank letter will give them that ?

59 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Similarly, why are marriage/child extensions allowed average monthly income but retirement apparently not? (a new query!). I'm guessing the latter one could just be an oversight with new regulations, but the former?

Extracted from the OP:-

For retirement extensions of no more than 1 year evidence of average monthly income of B65,000 is required.
 

47 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

What about exchange rate fluctuations?

Irrelevant. Your job is to find the required amount of Baht.

The requirement is for XX Thai Baht........ whether that sum is derived from Sterling, Dollar or Euro matters not to Immigration.

Remember also that there are Expats on retirement extensions who not reside in Thailand for 12 months of the year.

Their annual income could be well in excess of 780,000 Baht p.a. but may only transfer money for 9/12 months.

Sorry, they said I would have to leave the country, return with a visa waiver and then apply. They say it's a new rule and in the past non Imm O visas could be converted to the ones which allow you to work. I suspect they are not being quite truthful. Ie saving face, can anyone confirm, if the rules about this recently changed.

Thanks

There is no such thing as a "Work Visa". You must have a "Non-O" visa, either based on spouse or business. Once you have the Non-O visa, you can apply for a work permit. Once you have a work permit, you are allowed "extensions" of your original (and eventually expired) visa, based on the fact that you have a work permit. Once that original visa expires, you are living here on extensions, not a visa.

For a Non-O business visa, you must apply for and acquire that visa outside of Thailand. It is not possible to obtain it within Thailand. Some have stated there is a way to get that visa inside of Thailand, and this may be true, but I do not know how it is done. Every lawyer I have ever spoken to has stated you must obtain the Non-O business visa outside the country.

Non B(usiness).

Birth certificates for BOTH kids.

And for the granddaughter, a letter from her parents authorizing you and your wife to take here out of Thailand.

Mac

Daughter has an ID card. Why would she need a birth certificate too?

Daughter is granddaughter's mum so no problems there.???

The children will need to get a border pass to enter Laos. It will allow them to stay for 3 days.

You will need the birth certificate and house book registry for the child without the ID card.

The border passes cost 30 to 50 baht dependent upon whether you use an agent or not.

There is a border pass office just before the gates for the bridge. The last time I was there it was on the left side of the road.

Thank you so much for your prompt and precise answer, UbonJoe

Looking at going to Savannakhet to get a Non O.

Taking the wife, who has a passport, but would also like to take step daughter and granddaughter.

Daughter does not have a passport and neither does granddaughter. Can they stay over night? I seem to remember there is, was, a rule that they cannot.????

Also granddaughter is only 4 so does not have an ID card.

In a nutshell...can we all go to Laos and stay for 3 days???

Thanks.

Are you talking about a "Freedom to marry" affidavit from the Embassy? If so there are local places near to Wireless Road who can do the deed so it's acceptable for the Ministry of Silly Walks(Foriegn Affairs) in BKK

Sorry cannot help with a good lawyer in Sisaket but can tell you about a bad one!!!!

Indeed there are many places near to there. Good services too.

The OP should really explain what he need translated as he says "from Thai court to English"

Would be interesting to see some links to the suggestions that the MFA and embassies have lists of accredited transaltors.

Website only state the "the translations should be certified as true" by the translator.

No mention of any accreditation.

who cares what she wants?

Until you want she wont get divorce, so forget it and her !

He still needs to sort out how to stay here.

Next January, at the earliest, he will need another extension. Cannot do that without his wife.

Depending on how bitter the split is , if the wife knows anything about immigration rules then she may just help that date come forward.

Chong Chom/ O samach border do not accept US dollars.

They are very friendly about it and smile and say "1500 baht please". I asked why and they simply said that borders in most ASEAN countries are charging the same. The offer was there to go somewhere else.

I think you have been had properly. Their attitude changes only when you rise hell, ask for the supervisor, show official printouts etc...

In all other cases they count on the foreigner giving in in 30 seconds, which most do, not knowing better.

No, I have not. That is the price for all. Quite simple " Don't pay No Visa". Seen people try it. No US dollars. Seen people try it.

See the other reports where people paid with dollars.. it's a posture that they keep for as much they can. It changes when you raise hell, start taking pictures, noting names, making calls, etc. They know what they do is wrong. They give in when the bets are off, I have seen it before.

One report. Also check the dates.

Chong Chom/ O samach border do not accept US dollars.

They are very friendly about it and smile and say "1500 baht please". I asked why and they simply said that borders in most ASEAN countries are charging the same. The offer was there to go somewhere else.

Someone else mentioned Laos as an alternative. Well that too is 1500 baht. I know they accept dollars but there have been reports that the bills have to be pristine.

Where I am the border crossing is only about 13kms more than immigration. As things stand I think it is good value to be on a multi entry and just leave every 90 days. Some of the stories I have heard from Immigration lately make me sure of that.

That must have changed. We were there in December and they had no problem taking crisp USD.

I was there in January.

By the way, how many US did they want?

Chong Chom/ O samach border do not accept US dollars.

They are very friendly about it and smile and say "1500 baht please". I asked why and they simply said that borders in most ASEAN countries are charging the same. The offer was there to go somewhere else.

I think you have been had properly. Their attitude changes only when you rise hell, ask for the supervisor, show official printouts etc...

In all other cases they count on the foreigner giving in in 30 seconds, which most do, not knowing better.

No, I have not. That is the price for all. Quite simple " Don't pay No Visa". Seen people try it. No US dollars. Seen people try it.

Let's face it.....anyone who is on a multi is paying around 5000 a year to Thailand. Anyone complaining about the 1250 baht a trip to enter Thailand? Especially as visa exempt is free. Anyone complaining about the difference in price at different consulates? Anyone complaining about the "tea money" box on most desks in Immigration?

The money to be paid at any border is worth it. It means that Immigration can be avoided. No double trips, or more if there are new documents needed, and no waiting.

Chong Chom/ O samach border do not accept US dollars.

They are very friendly about it and smile and say "1500 baht please". I asked why and they simply said that borders in most ASEAN countries are charging the same. The offer was there to go somewhere else.

Someone else mentioned Laos as an alternative. Well that too is 1500 baht. I know they accept dollars but there have been reports that the bills have to be pristine.

Where I am the border crossing is only about 13kms more than immigration. As things stand I think it is good value to be on a multi entry and just leave every 90 days. Some of the stories I have heard from Immigration lately make me sure of that.

The web site which might have information on the grand opening of the Buriram Global House store is www.globalhouse.co.th

28th March. Sign outside the store.

50% of the Thai teachers in rural areas could never pass a real English test. And if the test was verbal (speaking) test it would be more like 90% could not pass.

Yes and you are almost 100% correct with that statement.

But we are just...

You're pretty wrong about your post. Let's talk about rural areas in the northeast (Isaan)

Those guys who teach English wouldn't pass a test for a private Kindergarten in the UK.

And I'm not making fun out of them now. Nothing but the truth.

So 90 % would fail in written and verbal assignments.

You mean to say "90 percent of teachers that you have met".

There are good teachers out there. They are the ones that embrace the idea of a native speaker and learn from the experience.

The problem is the acceptance of those that do fail. That is at any level. Remember that the national average ONet, ANet and Gat grades for English are under a pass.

How many Thai people actually have knowledge of immigration and labour issues?

I would think that most people would likely think that it is in fact quite nice that a husband is helping his wife.

A lot of it will depend on where you are. If you are in a quiet, non tourist area then probably nothing will happen.

Let's face it..... in the less touristy areas, if every expat that was running / working in a shop/bar/restaurant was told to stop by the authorities then there would be none left open.

Puchooay : "Who is "pujaybaan"?" That is just a different spelling for the elected official you might call a mayor in a small town in your country. The advise other posters have given you are well worth consideration and better to have the right papers and permission prior to your event. The fees are nominal if done in advance, the "payments" if you do not have the papers and permission after the fact or during the event are much higher. LostinIsaan must have done this sort of event and has steered you in the right direction. Enjoy a pleasant evening

If you look at post #3 you will see that Puchooay steered the OP in the correct direction.

"Poo yai ban" has no power to allow such things. It is done to the local district office.

Speaking from experience.

Have to agree with the majority.

Let her do it.

You could ask the owner of the local Home Mart for names and numbers of builders. I did so in my part of Isaan. The local Home Mart will know all the builders and they have an idea who is buying proper building materials and who is cutting corners and buying marginal building materials.

And how would they know who is good? Go in any village in Isaan and you will be recommended to a relative who is a part time farmer/ builder.

Salesmen are salesmen and builders are builders(sometimes)

You seem to miss the point.

If you were to go and buy building materials from a merchants why would they offer bad advice on contractors? Why would they "go in any Issan village" to find a builder? Surely that would have negative impact on their business. You must remember that every builders merchants has had their own shop/warehouse built.

Good advise from Kamalabob ( even though he seems to be doing a bit of self advertising).

Maybe too early to mock.

There have been a few storms in the area already.

I have heard that there is currently a huge storm in Kalasin. Not too far from Surin.

I hear roofs coming off and windows being blown out.

You keep going on about SS.

I don't understand.

You say that the director has to register "his" school by law. If it is "his" school then it must be a private school. That is a whole different story when it comes to SS.

Then you mention the word "Anuban" Is it actually an Anuban school? If so then it is a government school and the local education authority will be responsible for registration.