Pib

Below weblink is a SSA Office of Inspector General Audit Report in 2017 regarding the FEQ process (i.e., 7162/7161). It appears the audit was looking at 2015 data. It's probably the latest IG review of the FEQ process especially since the COVID pandemic hit in 2019 and the FEQ process came to a halt for a coupe of years. Read the short IG report for full details....but I did quote one paragraph from the report. https://oig-files.ssa.gov/audits/full/A-13-16-50092.pdf

Amen Brother!!! And I say that based on the s....l....o.....w processing of my LTRWP application (approx 1.5 months already) and others I know who are at around 2 months. And phone calls to BoI which have all been polite and professional on both ends has yielded little other than them saying they have a lot of applications, their IT system is slow, they'll get to the application soonest, etc. IMO LTRWP processing (and probably other categories as well) has slowed down a great deal since the LTR kickoff month in September when the BoI may have been staffed better to process LTR applications and/or more motivated to actually reach an approval or disapproval decision within their advertised 20 working days (approx 30 calendar days). I bet 40 working days/2 calendar months is closer to the average processing time right now.

Just as a 7162/7161 refresher regarding the 1st, 2nd, and Suspension notices and how different SSA departments such as Wilkes Barre, Office of Int'l Ops in Baltimore, Manila FBU, etc., fit in the process, the two SSA Program Operations Manual System (POMS) weblinks shown at the bottom spell it out. POMS is what the SSA calls its operating instructions. And from review of the two POMS you'll see there is a combination of automated and manual activities occur that determine if a person ends up on the suspended list and it varies a little depending on whether it's a 7162 or 7161. You will notice that if a person is suspended the FBU, like the Manila FBU, is the key department in trying to resolve the problem but of course that means they need to be able to contact you and all they got to go on is your address, phone number and email on-file (correct or outdated). And I doubt they would try to contact you by email or call....and probably not by mail since no response to the 7162/7161 notices has occurred (although you may have mail a form back it just never made it to Wilkes Barre or didn't make it in time). Instead they are probably going to wait for you to contact them. So, it's pretty much up to the individual to contact the FBU to get off the suspended list (not to imply contacting the Office of Int'l Ops in Baltimore might not work also). The Foreign Enforcement Questionnaire (FEQ) Process. FEQ is the SSA's fancy name for the 7161/7162 forms. https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302655010 What Wilkes Barre Does https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302655007

Oh yea....the SSA will definitely suspend benefits if they don't receive back the form and the ensuing checks accomplished by the SSA can't satisfy the form requirements. SSA knows suspension of benefits will definitely gain the beneficiary's attention and quick reaction to contact the SSA to resolve the problem. Once fixed....which is basically confirming you are still alive.....then any suspended benefits will be paid within a few days to few weeks. Additionally, Manila will be very receptive in accepting a 7161/7162 sent to them "once you appear on the suspension list." But as we seen in several replies from Manila they don't even want to provide a blank form for completion until 1 Nov (after a 2nď notice should have been received by 31 Oct) and even then they instruct a person to mail it to Wilkes Barre. But as mentioned once appearing on the Jan suspension list they will accept a form sent to them to unsuspend your payments but still may require you to also send a copy to Wilkes Barre.

Just a typo...even my mobile spell checker initially replaced cardless with cashless which I had to change back to cardless before submitting.

A cardless withdrawal is where you use your bank mobile app to scan a QR code displayed on the ATM screen. Then the ATM spits out the amount you requested.

And just to add to K2938's post in regards to any major financial decision/commitment a person must make before applying for an LTR I would not accept a answer/confirmation in response to a query submitted via their online contact form as many people have found out the answer given by those BoI reps working the contact queries may be different and much less experienced from the BoI reps that actually evaluate a person's application. https://ltr.boi.go.th/index.html#contact Instead, first determine if you feel such a financial investment matches the exact wording listed in the BoI LTR requirements and also look at the application form where they require certain info on the investment to include investment documents. Yes, look closely at both the requirements and the application form blocks. https://ltr.boi.go.th/documents/Wealthy-Pensioner.pdf And then get some kind of confirmation from application evaluators at BoI; not from just any person that answers the phone at BoI. If possible you might even want to try to setup a virtual or physical meeting with BoI to discuss. Committing oneself to buying long term Thai govt bonds solely (and hopefully) to meet the requirements of an LTR application is a major decision and a person needs to be as sure as possible the bond buy will indeed satisfy BoI.

Nope.. Whether you have an online acct or not....or if having an online acct and setting the paperless option the 7161/7162 is still snail mailed.

Yea...they are giving instructions like if you went to an ATM "to pay a bill." So just use your bank mbanking/ibanking "to pay a bill." I always just use the Pay Bill's selection on my Bangkok Bank mobile app...just takes a minute or two. And I could do it via Bangkok Bank ibanking also. All you are doing is paying a bill the Lazada checkout process created....and I think you have 2 days to make the payment....otherwise, the bill then cancels itself if not paid.

No, I do not mean "internet transfer" which use to be an available option up until around Jul 2022....although the internet option is still shown on the payment options list it is "greyed out" and no longer works. Maybe they are keeping it on the list but inactivated/grey out for now as they are planning to bring that option back in the future. But back to the "bank transfer" option which I use several times per month, when you select it you are shown a transaction number and instructions on how to complete the bank transfer which is basically log onto your Thai bank acct ibanking/mbanking acct, use the "Pay Bills" function in your banking, look up the vender to pay given in the instructions (i.e. 123 Services), enter the transaction number given in Ref 1, enter your phone number in Ref 2, and enter the payment amount. Just like you had got a paper bill for your monthly electric, water, etc., bill. Click confirm and if you have entered the info correctly (i.e., correct vender, Ref 1 number, and amount) it immediately processes; otherwise, it's rejected as not being found in the system just like how a bill payment will not process unless all info matches. This is good as you can't send the money to the wrong place or send the wrong amount....must send the exact amount to the stang. Then just a few seconds later within your Lazada acct you see the payment arrived/completed. Yea, Lazada calls it a Bank Transfer but it's really a Bill Payment. Below snapshots are from my Lazada acct when Using the Lazada Mobile App and when logging on Lazada via browser (like using your computer to logon). During checkout to pay for an order select the "all payment options" selection otherwise you'll probably only see two payment options. When logging on using the Mobile App that a Mobile Banking app payment will be offered for several banks....but that Mobile Banking payment option is "not" offered when logging on via a browser. But the Bank Transfer payment option is offered via the app or browser. Yeap, I use the Bank Transfer option (which is actually a Bill Pay option) several times per month but I use my Lazada Wallet more. And I highly, highly recommend that people predominately use the Lazada Mobile app vs logging on via your computer because the Mobile App offers more discounts, free/reduced shipping, cashback, and a variety of other goodies not offered at all or in smaller amounts when using Lazada via a browser. Use of Lazada via browser definitely comes in handy sometimes to "translate" some item descriptions as translation on the mobile app is more cumbersome. But predominately using the Mobile app is the way to go "pocket-book wise" due to all the extra discounts, free/reduced shipping, etc. Yea, as long as a person can view a smartphone/tablet screen OK, then using the Lazada Mobile App vs using a browser is the way to go....definitely better. Lazada Payment Option When" Using Lazada Mobile App." Note the Internet Banking option is greyed out/doesn't work anymore as of around Jul 2022. Lazada Payment Options When "Using a Browser" to Log onto your Lazada acct. Notice the Mobile Banking option is not offered. And the Internet Banking option is greyed out/doesn't work anymore as of around Jul 2022.

I use Lazada all the time....I'm a farang. I don't remember it ever offering payment at 7-11 but maybe I missed see that option My payment options in the Lazada app which I looking at as I write this are: - Lazada Wallet (which I use for payment) - Credit/debit card - Mobile Banking (which I use for payment) - Bank Transfer (which I use for payment -Truemoney Wallet, -Rabbit Line Pay, - and COD (which I use to use) In my early days of ordering on Lazada I used COD but that can be a pain if you are not around for delivery. So for the last couple of years I've been using Lazada Wallet, Mobile Banking, and/or Bank Transfer to pay for each order in advance....which method I use depends on the situation...but I use the Lazada Wallet the most, followed by Bank Transfer, and occasionally via Mobile Banking. I use the Mobile Banking most to top-up my Lazada Wallet. All three of my main payment methods are easy and quick....all done on the comfort of my smartphone/laptop. And I have found the Lazada refund process to be easy....in some cases I get my refunded "instantly" after filing the return or dropping off the item at a Kerry/Flash delivery point. There area a lot of payment options available for a Lazada buy. Anyone who has a Thai bank acct should be able to do a simple bank transfer which is easy and quick to do (a minute or two)....no additional action required like emailing Lazada a copy of the transfer receipt. Yeap....lot of options to pay for a Lazada buy.

Misty I had never heard of PFIC until your post above. I did some googling on PFIC and yea, it sure does sound like overseas mutual funds are taxed at a high rate per U.S. IRS laws/rules. Quite a few websites saying such like the one below. https://www.goldinglawyers.com/foreign-mutual-funds-pfic-form-8621-fbar-8938-u-s-tax-returns/

Thanks. And when did you apply as people are definitely interested in how long it takes to get from application submission to notice of approval.

Update: Known LTR Approvals as of 7 Dec 2022 based on posts in this thread I saw. Added "anotherexpat4444" who received his LTR approval on 7 Dec. Congrats!!! Don't know what type of LTR he applied for or when he applied. I may have missed some approvals...please speak-up if you have been approved. Poster & Date Approval Notice Rec'd 1. BKKNono - 15 Sep 2. ashkale - 28 Sep 3. ThailandRyan - 28 Sep 4. pepper402 - 29 Sep 5. gajah - 30 Sep 6. Alotoftravel - 4 Oct 7. James7 - 4 Oct 8. & 9. Misty (and family member) - 4 Oct 10. mudcat - 4 Oct 11. & 12. stuarty (and wife) - 4 Oct 13. Boomer6969 - 5 Oct 14. aublumberg - 12 Oct 15. JJJJJJJJ - 8 Nov 16. smic - 28 Nov 17. anotherexpat4444 - 7 Dec

So what changed with your insurance? Did you buy a new policy over the last few days, self insure, etc. Before you were saying your application was hung up due to insurance.

Whenever a residence that is far from a populous area and is also unoccupied it's just screaming, "Come burglarize me, please!!!" The maid having left five months ago doesn't necessarily mean the maid was involved as the maid may have just wanted to move to another location/job (people in these types of jobs change jobs/quit all the time), the home owners were not paying her on-time/enough, etc. Toss-in an all too typical witnesses/neighbors' attitude of "Not wanting to get involved" and it makes it easy pickings for any burglar. Now the destruction within the house such as punctured ceilings, walls, and trash everywhere could indicate someone had a grudge against owners and/or the burglars where just high on drugs. Yea, this house was just screaming, "Come burglarize me, please!!!!"

Well, it will reach the New York City/Jamaica NY in approx 10 days where it has now entered the Customs and USPS systems. It first enters Customs. How long it takes to get thru Customs can range from same day to several days. Now that Customs has released it back to the USPS a person is at the mercy of the USPS in getting it from NYC to Wilkes Barre which is only 121 miles. That USPS trek from NYC to Wilkes Barre is where it can only take a few days OR months....OR simply go Missing in Action.

Manila's response this year is different than past years regarding non receipt of a 7161/7162 when not received by 1 Nov which is well after the 1st and 2nd notice mailings. Before Manila's email response would be complete the blank form they include in their email response and then email/scan/mail that completed to the Manila FBU with no need to mail to Wilkes Barre. The wife had to do this in 2019 when she didn't receive her 7162 by 1 Nov per Manila's instructions. Sounds like Manila is getting out of the 7161/7162 "acceptance business" related to the 1st or 2nd notice. But I'm sure they will remain fully involved if a person receives a Suspension notice in Dec/Jan because the SSA regulation requires their involvement when a person's benefits are suspended due to non-response to the 1st or 2nd notice.

Update: I called BoI about the LTR online acct website be VERY slow. They are aware of the problem and hope to have the problem fixed this afternoon. I then asked about the status of my application which was submitted 25 Oct...around 23 business days ago. Took the rep approx 2 minutes to look up the status because the rep said their system is very slow right now. I've been told that in by earlier calls over the last few weeks. The rep said it's "processing." I told him my online status shows "Pending" and not Processing. I then asked what was meant by "processing" and the rep said it means my application has been initially looked at but not at detail level. I asked how much longer does he estimate before I get some kind of feedback via my online acct such as in a notification/email asking for more docs, approval, rejection, status change, etc. He said approx 10 to 15 "working" days. He said they have a lot of applications to review. So, at this point in time it appears a typical application may take approx 40 "BoI working days" vs 20 working days to reach a point where a person will know whether their application is acceptable, needs more docs, etc.

Third day in a row now that the LTR online acct website has been VERY slow during BoI business hours. At 10:50am Thailand time it takes approx 1 to 2 minutes before a logon will complete to the point of seeing the status of your application. And when clicking "View" to see your application you can not....it just times out....basically makes it unusable to view or upload docs. This has been my logon experience since 28 Nov/Monday when checking the status of my application during BoI business hours. But before 28 Nov and/or outside of BoI business hours the online acct website is fast. I have an AIS Fibre internet plan to gives me speeds of 700Mb speed to Thailand websites....surfing to other Thailand and foreign websites is fast....just the BoI online acct is slower than a sleeping turtle. Using my DTAC mobile connection to logon results in the same VERY slow experience. Just FYI in case others are experiencing this "during BoI business hours" issue.

Update: Known LTR Approvals as of 30 Nov 2022 based on posts in this thread I saw. Added "smic" who received his LTR Work from Thailand Professional approval on 28 Nov....he initially applied 20 Sep....which equates to around a total time for approval of approximately 2 months and 1 week. Congrats to smic!!! Glad to see another approved application with smic's approval on 28 Nov. The previous approval was JJJJJJJJ's approval on 8 Nov....he applied 1 Sep....which equates to a approval time of around 2 month and 1 week. I may have missed some approvals...please speak-up if you have been approved. Since early Oct the rate of known approvals based on posts in this thread (and other forums like reddit and Facebook I've looked at) has really slowed down....slowed down bigtime for whatever reasons. Maybe fewer applicants, maybe the BoI slowing down in how fast they process applications (personally I think this is a major reason), maybe applicants simply not meeting requirements but submitted an application just to see what happens, maybe people just not posting about their LTR application experience, maybe ________________(you fill-in the blank). And for those who may have been rejected, being asked for more documents which you find very hard to impossible to provide, etc., your crossfeed on why you think your application isn't meeting requirements would be greatly appreciated as that provides excellent insight on the BoI review process, how flexible (or inflexible) they are with requirements/docs, etc. Poster & Date Approval Notice Rec'd 1. BKKNono - 15 Sep 2. ashkale - 28 Sep 3. ThailandRyan - 28 Sep 4. pepper402 - 29 Sep 5. gajah - 30 Sep 6. Alotoftravel - 4 Oct 7. James7 - 4 Oct 8. & 9. Misty (and family member) - 4 Oct 10. mudcat - 4 Oct 11. & 12. stuarty (and wife) - 4 Oct 13. Boomer6969 - 5 Oct 14. aublumberg - 12 Oct 15. JJJJJJJJ - 8 Nov 16. smic - 28 Nov

Here's the detail on Bangkok's rating. Seems the Personal Finance Index rating (a.k.a., cost of living) carries a lot of weight in the overall ranking as Bangkok scores average to poorly in some other categories of this survey. https://cms-internationsgmbh.netdna-ssl.com/cdn/file/cms-media/public/2022-11/Expat-Insider_City-Ranking-Report-2022_0.pdf

And now (it's 5:250pm) "after" BoI business hours which ended at 4:30pm the LTR online acct website has went from VERY slow to again fast. Same thing happened yesterday.

I don't know if it's just me or it affects other also, but starting yesterday and continuing today "during BoI business hours" when logging onto my LTR online acct it was VERY, VERY slow although Speedtest.net confirmed I had a 700Mb local connection and my internet surfing to all other local/foreign websites was fast as normal. I have an AIS Fibre internet plan. Ditto for logon via my DTAC mobile connection. My log onto my LTR online acct would take a full minute or two to "fully" display my info....and a minute or two is like forever when staring at a display. For the first 30 seconds or so it would display the SMART Visa logo vs the LTR Visa logo before switching to the LTR Visa logo....and then another 30 to 60 seconds before my name would appear along with info on my applications. Yea....VERY, VERY slow. Now after business hours in the evening/night the LTR online acct is fast as it use to be up until a day or two ago.

With acceptance of your insurance does this mean you have now received approval from BoI for a LTR visa? Or does it mean they accepted your insurance which "should" satisfy all requirements in your view but you are still awaiting notice of BoI final approval?