JimGant

What am I missing here? I've four gmail accounts and none has required an "enforced" two-step logon. Yes, there's an option for it, but if you don't click the "turn on" button, you don't get it. Nice, tho', that you have the option, as additional security may be desired by some. So, not sure where the OP is coming from....... The tone of his dialogue sounds like he's into conspiracy theories, however.

The Thai gov't has a diplomatic tightrope to walk. So, too much 'in your face' condemnation' of a trading partner country has no diplomatic nor practical benefit. But, to allow one of your citizens to morally condemn Russia, is refreshing, to include not preventing her statement from being viewed on media -- as I would imagine that had she been Chinese, her statement would have been cut off right after being uttered. Hey, Thailand isn't a perfect democracy, but, with certain cultural limitations, it does have free speech. So, Russia, maybe this is the beginning of what the Thai people think of your war crimes. ... Nice to see and hear not just a beautiful person, but a smart, thoughtful one.

Any readout on whether or not this may not be necessary, should you never stay in the country more than 365 days? Kinda like, with 90 day reports, if you leave Thailand on day 89 of your permission of stay, no 90 day report needed. And the 90 day clock resets upon reentry to Thailand. Same logic, I would think, would apply to this situation, i.e., leave Thailand on day 364 and no 365 day report needed (heck, you wouldn't be here to do it anyway). Then, a new 365 day clock starts upon reentry. For those of us who never travel, this annual report certainly would need to be done, but if it can be done online, or by mail, so that no trip to Imm is required, then, no big deal. For travelers, being out of the country when your five year anniversary occurs, requiring a trip to BoI Bangkok to show again your bonafides -- would need a waiver of some kind. Obviously, they can't require you to be in country at the five year mark.....

No, in golf attire. But if I had to knot a tie, I'd probably flunk. Fortunately, things aren't overly formal here.

Dress pants? Aren't those the things in my closet that belong to some skinny kid?

Haven't seen the actual online application, but only the requirements delineated here: https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/application-forms.html Where there's no requirement for tax forms, just: "Evidence showing the incomes in current year, e.g., pension." And tax returns, being historical, wouldn't seem to fit the bill.... So, yeah, a disconnect, indeed, when you get to the actual application (oh, do you have to wear "business attire" in the photo required in the actual application?).

Thanks for the ideas. But, I still wonder: Do I have to provide tax documents since this is not a listed requirement for "Wealthy Pensioner?" You've gone thru this process already -- what did you provide?

I didn't see any requirement for tax returns for "pensioners." Only "global citizens" and "work in Thailand" categories. So, yeah, would be interesting to see if they're also asking for tax returns when their application requirements don't list it.

My income tax filings are "married filing jointly." Thus, my individual taxable income is not separately broken out (except in the worksheets tax software, like TurboTax, utilize). Also, for self insurance for health, my required 100k is in a joint bank account. Does it, then, have to be 200k? Any ideas/solutions?

On 14 Oct sent query to: [email protected]. Received the following robo reply same day: They finally replied five days later.

I recently queried the LTR folks about future branch offices away from Bangkok, specifically Chiang Mai. Here's their reply: Nothing about contemplation of future offices outside Bangkok. At least Elite Visa has addressed the inconvenience of those who live outside Bangkok. Anyway, just a consideration point for those who don't relish a trip to Bangkok, or worse, aren't ambulatory enough to do so, or won't be five years later for the replenishment requirement.

Not as long as the passbook is NOT updated over a period involving X number of transactions (no idea what X is). Then, you'll get a consolidated entry netting out all the transactions. That's where a withdrawal *below* the minimum amount required in the account could occur. And that is why the 12 month bank statement requirement came about, as the 12 month statement shows all transactions. Some Imm offices have enforced it, like CM, while others, like CW, have allowed copies of passbook pages to suffice. In DrJack's case, the IO saw a 4 month gap in his passbook entries -- and probably recalled a briefing about consolidated entries occurring when passbooks aren't frequently updated. Well, there was no consolidated entry (it would have been coded), but the IO was none the wiser. So, maybe the higher ups at CW have decided that, if their IOs can't adequately read passbook entries, might as well require 12 month bank statements. I'm sure that individual situations will vary with the IO, as with all aspects of the annual Imm goat rope. But, I guess, to be safe -- best get the 12 month bank statement. No big deal, actually -- except for Bangkok Bank (and maybe others), where you have to build in a 7 business day lead. time.

Jeez, you've haunted this forum for years. And you seem amazed that many of us (not necessarily at CW) have had to provide a 12-month snapshot of our bank account -- while you only had to provide photocopies of your passbook pages. Why? Well (duh) because if you have a multi month gap in transactions in your passbook -- it just may mean the consolidated entry is disguising a dip below minimums required. Gotcha this year. Sorry. Maybe bring the whole packet next year -- 90 day report, TM30, maps, bank statements, whatever the latest read on possible requirements. Be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best. Why complain about Imm trying to identify possible cheats. Just feel good that they let you get away with the bank statement absence -- until next year.

And what about this....... Presumably the operative phrase is, "t-shirt is not allowed," as my business attire went in the trash when I retired. The fanciest shirt I own is a polo shirt.

Yeah, that happened to my neighbor, Vladimir. The Thais sent him back to Russia. Heard from him last night. He was sipping a beer in a pub when the press gang collared him and several other able bodied males. He leaves for basic training in the morning. He believes the Ukraine won't be as nice as Phuket. But, hey, your mileage may vary.

Right. And if your intention is NOT to leave anything to a family member who otherwise, if you died without a Will, would get his or her fair share, then, yes TELL your intentions in your Will. This doesn't apply to someone not in the statutory line of inheritance, i.e., those legally considered if you die intestate. Thus, a GF would have little traction to argue for being left out of a will. "But he loved me mak mak" isn't mentioned in the Civil Code.

Ah, just like classic cases in the US by the disinherited. Thus, for the disinherited of family members (who would normally get something if you died intestate), you need to specifically state in the Will something like, "I leave one dollar to my worthless son, Seymour." Otherwise, they could claim you forgot, but wanted to leave them their fair share.

Better yet, never fight an unpopular war, period. I guess George Bush the Second never got the memo.

I haven't gone thru this drill yet, so I'm just guessing. But I would think you would need to show you've actually subtracted X amount from your IRA. Since I do my RMDs in early January (so if I croak the wife has one less block to check, since Uncle Sam wants your RMD in year of death), such proof would be easy. Believing an IRA drawdown would be acceptable comes from my analysis of documents required if you're going for a global citizen LTR. In this application, you need to submit tax returns. Well, a US Form 1040 has line items for my Air Force pension, for my Social Security, and for conventional (taxable) IRAs. Also, other line items for income acceptable by BoI, namely dividends and interest (and I would believe capital gains is acceptable, as one of the "other" forms of income solicited by the BoI). So I would think this snapshot of all my taxable income would be, in full, acceptable in satisfying the income requirement. But, with my Air Force and Social Security getting 8.7% cost of living raises, I won't need that IRA to cover the gap. And with the dollar up 14% against the baht, in the gravy! (Oh, yeah -- the stock market. Nevermind.)

It does not have to be witnessed ('tho I'd recommend you do have it witnessed). Amphur involvement unnecessary. Here's an example of a simple holistic Will: https://www.samuiforsale.com/other-miscellaneous/sample-text-holographic-will.html

Yep. Minors age 0-15, in person. Otherwise, by mail.

Not so in Thailand or the US. Is this common in Europe?

Yeah, I guess I'd trade rich and young for old and comfortable. Unfortunately, that opportunity has come and gone. Sigh.

I guess you're not a Yank, 'cause you currently cannot go in person for a routine passport renewal.

Yeah, that was a case of arrogance by the US. And we got our rear end handed to us, largely due to high enemy morale, bolstered by a Soviet supplied air defense system. Those SA-2s and related radar system (heavily manned by blue eyed Soviets) shot down hundreds of Thuds and Phantoms -- and at the end, 11 B-52's. Now, how about some payback! Ukrainian morale bolstered by US and NATO air defense systems (maybe even the Israeli Iron Dome system) could really do the trick. And, like the Soviets in Vietnam (and North Korea), might as well embed some Western advisors. If that torques the Soviets, er Russians off, just tell them to remember Vietnam. Yeah, that might do the trick -- and assuage some ill feelings I still have from the Vietnam air war. So you Ruskies, maybe time to re-think all those "Make the Soviet Union Great Again" hats.