jaideedave

31 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

look it up  thaskin war on drugs

TAK BAI temple murders...aka war on drugs

On 3/15/2025 at 8:22 AM, JBChiangRai said:

I don’t have any experience with this, but I remember reading some time ago that you can pay ฿30,000 to skip the selection process, it might be worth doing that.

Correct! My neighbors son's family did exactly that. His number came up for the Army and he was strutting around the moo ban for a couple days in Army fatigues then "presto" back into civvies.

He's done quite well for himself. He now struts around the village in an orange vest with his own number. 555  

12 hours ago, ozz1 said:

This is going to be interesting let's see how much power taksin has and how much money has changed hands being Thailand I bet she will be back home soon

TIT..Yes I'm afraid its a foregone conclusion.This is the place a lot of us call home. smh

10 hours ago, Lazybones said:

I changed from money in the bank marriage to monthly transfers of over bt65.000 per month for retirement here in Phetchabun last month. No problems. I did have over  bt400,000 in the bank as a back up at the time of renewal. The IO supported my switch to retirement. I've been in marriage for many years but retirement is much easier. SCB no problems with the bank statement and letter. 30 mins. 

Among the 50+ pages of documents I submitted to the IO one of them was our marriage certificate that he noted and kept.

My bank provided the 12 monthly deposit/transfers from abroad but only 100k baht in my Kbank account.I'll just repeat this again next year.Its a good feeling to get away from the agent dependency though.But I must say the agents I used were very fair and proffesional.

On 11/28/2024 at 4:44 AM, scubascuba3 said:

I'd avoid buying from a Thai, often not maintained i.e. no oil change for years

Exactly. We were going to buy 2nd hand 3 years ago. The 2-3 year old cars were so close to new price we decided to but new. Best decision we made. I bought a 2nd hand car through my BIL and it was real bad.The rad was plugged up with rust and had never seen coolant. A long list of f,d up items. New or nothing from now on.

Just now, jaideedave said:

I've been using The Immigration office on Soi 5 Jomtien

Since it opened. I believe its a 2 way street.Yes some foreigners are rude and ill prepared. Once I was screamed at by an IO about some insignificant rule he made up and pissed me off and embarresed me in front of the whole room.I then reverted to using an agent to avoid this. Only this year did I try and succeed to use the monthly transfer method . The IO never spoke to me but him and my wife chatted the whole time.He only spoke to me when he said stand up for the pic and asked for the 1900b.

I'll contine to do it this way for the future if it goes that easy.

The IO that caused me to use the agent is deceased as of about 2 years ago and many people knew this fellow who held court at the front desk.    

16 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Years ago, soi 8 Pattaya, they were so helpful. 

 

IO now fed up with the abuse, disrespectful attitude from some of the foreigners 

I've been using The Immigration office on Soi 5 Jomtien

9 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Further proof you can move from Agent method to own funding method without getting a new non imm O, I'm not even sure the stamps are any different when using an agent, i read they are signed by the same person

Correct scuba..I've had my extension done with and without agents before and compared the signatures and are exactly the same ..

I can even point him out to you(won't) at Jomtien...he now sits at the back and plays on his phone and acts as a supervisor.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

First up ...good result that you obtained the extension.

I'm very surprised as for previous extension you used an agent.

I assume while your bank statements can show 12+ monthly transfers of 65k (min) that not have been sufficient.

The io should have checked compliance for money in bank method. 

 

My last extension Nov 5 using money in bank, I had a chat with head the head io L34 at CW.

I signaled my intention to change to income method.

I already had been transferring monthly amounts.

FWIW she clearly stated..."keep 800k in bank next 3 month" 

I've gone a step up and currently running both methods in concert.

 

IMO you got a lucky break. 

I agree about being lucky.I went in giving myself maybe a 50/50 chance. There are some old original Visa stamps in my PP dated back to 2006 that were transferred from my last PP when I got this newer one.That may have something to do with it.

I did notice him confer with a senior IO in the corner at one stage so I'm sure they were aware something wasn't 100%.

BTW: Thanks for your advice and encouragement.   

On 3/1/2025 at 10:00 AM, DrJack54 said:

Good. If for some reason the extension is not granted, you would be aware of good border run companies doing border bounce from Pattaya to Cambodia. 

Worry about that after Tuesday.

 

Recent favourable report with mob.

 

https://www.tvsservicesthailand.com/Visa-Run-to-Cambodia-Laos

 

Here is thread discussing border run from Pattaya.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1331485-border-run-from-pattaya-in-a-6-seater-vip-van/

Dr Jack,my experience at Jomtien to for 1 yr extension using monthly income vs agent last year. Luckily I had an example sheet to show Kbank desk Pattaya Klang. I hadn't updated my passbook for over 2 years.They went ahead and printed every transaction for that time period.(50 pages plus++) I also received the foriegn deposits for the past 12 months.Average 70k/mom.

At Immigration the IO looked that over with a fine tooth comb.Ruler and highlight pen in hand. He really took his time and found nothing out of order. No mention was made about previous agent stamps etc. I took my wife and they chatted the whole time and I was the invisible man.happily. He only acknowledged me when he said stand up for the pic and 1900b request. A real big sigh of relief from me.

So in my opinion if a persons foreign deposits are correct they should be okay.

On 3/1/2025 at 6:33 AM, Tod Daniels said:

Remember the hardest part about changing from banked money proof of funds to monthly income by international transfer proof of funds is:
 

You need to continue to meet the seasoning requirement for the current extension you're on NOW <- meaning you needed to have kept the 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 3 months after your extension was granted and then you can't let the balance go below 400K the rest of the year until you apply for the new extension using monthly income by transfer <- meaning you also need to transfer in from abroad a minimum of 65K baht, each month every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for the extension based on monthly income.

The people who used an agent that banked the money for you cannot show they kept the 800K baht in the account for 3 months after the extension they're on now was granted and that will be readily apparent when you submit the year detail transaction report to the immigration office because it shows every transaction on that account (and the balance) for the whole year..

That is what runs most people who have agent gotten visas and want to do their own extensions..

It's a slippery slope getting agent banked money extensions and then trying to switch to one you do yourself.

@Tod,my experience at Jomtien to for 1 yr extension using monthly income vs agent last year. Luckily I had an example sheet to show Kbank desk Pattaya Klang. I hadn't updated my passbook for over 2 years.They went ahead and printed every transaction for that time period.(50 pages plus++) I also received the foriegn deposits for the past 12 months.Average 70k/mom.

At Immigration the IO looked that over with a fine tooth comb.Ruler and highlight pen in hand. He really took his time and found nothing out of order. No mention was made about previous agent stamps etc. I took my wife and they chatted the whole time and I was the invisible man.happily. He only acknowledged me when he said stand up for the pic and 1900b request. A real big sigh of relief from me.

So in my opinion if a persons foreign deposits are correct they should be okay.

13 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Regarding the bank statement (not letter) the transactions need to be shown coming from abroad.

You need discuss this with Kasikorn.

There was a post recently someone stating that if you ask for the 12 month statement in Thai language it will be coded correctly. (personally doubt that) 

Yes bounce and obtain visa exempt entry stamp (not visa on arrival) 

Use an agent minivan company.

Your location? 

You could receive extension. 

You could be sent away.

You could be given 7 day notice to get out of dodge. 

I'm in Pattaya.

Yes, the Kbank statement will/should show monthly deposits from abroad. I also have the Wise transactions printed out. Apparently the letter should say its my account only and confirm the deposits from abroad. 

My passbook shows TFD (trade finance deposit) deposits which I had confirmed indicates "deposit from obroad" > Kbank...other banks are probably different.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Please post back report. Hope goes well. 

Yes I posted in various threads to start over. 

I'm guessing that it will be down to the immigration officer.

You mention bank letter day prior.

Good idea.

Assume that you are providing 12 month bank statement..

Good luck Tues 

 

If rejected don't panic you can exit Thailand and at some point obtain a Non O retirement.

You can do that by obtaining an eVisa at consulate/embassy outside of Thailand or use visa exempt entry to obtain the Non O retirement 

Yes, I'm going to Kbank on Monday for the 12 month statement (An Imm officer provided a printed format for Kbank) and letter.

How about a border hop mini van Visa run ?

Get a Visa on arrival? 

Would that work?

FYI: My 1 yr extension expires on March 14th so I don't have a lot of time.

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Will be interesting to see how that unfolds.

Reads that you previously used an agent. Guessing they avoided the financial requirements.

You're planning to obtain extension based on providing 12 months of transfers.

Assuming you are changing from money in bank method (using agent) to income method......good luck with that. 

 

Regarding transfers using WISE ..

If you do that manually then you see the Baht amount of transfer prior to hitting transfer button

I'm going to try this on Tuesday. Kbank on Monday for the letter etc. Will let you know how it goes. A lot of viewers are saying it won't work. Perhaps as one suggested I need to do a border run and start over? 

I'll be switchhing to the 65k/mon next week to get away from the agency. I have about 70k depending on rates. My plan is to keep several hundred $ in my foreign bank in case I need to top up my monthly transfer when/if x-rates drop.

Next challenge is to get the correct bank statement and letter from Kbank. I went to Jomtien Imm office and they gave me a Kbank template so fingers crossed. All my last 12 months have been right around 70k. So thats my new job in monitoring the exact amount to transfer with Wise.They're easy to use so I think I'm okay!   

2 hours ago, Chivas said:

They have completely stopped the short termers staying at Condo residence I have in Jomtien

They introduced a facial scan on main entrances and individual condo blocks

To be registered for the scan you have to produce contract of 30 days and longer

 

Of course many didnt or couldnt comply and were promptly denied entry when it went "live"

 

The pool areas decreased in numbers in excess of 50%

@ Chivas> I really like that idea of the scanner. I researched the Jomtien condo I'm renting and management told me short term rentals are not allowed. The buildings only use a key card sytsem.In over a year I've only noticed a few obvious short termers.

I won't hesitate to report any I see if they cause issues. The real problem here is the Boris and Svetlana people who love to slam doors and fight with each other. Juridic asks for a video clip which I'm sure would get me involved more than I care to. Hopefully they don't stay more than a month.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo

 

In a bid to tackle high sodium consumption and its associated health risks, Thailand's Excise Department is crafting a roadmap to introduce a salt tax, starting with snack foods. This initiative mirrors previous steps taken with the sugar tax, aiming to improve public health through economic incentives.

 

Kulaya Tantitemit, head of the Excise Department, shared that the discussions are ongoing with industry stakeholders. The aim is to gather input from the private sector as part of a collaborative effort to understand the potential impacts and refine the proposed tax structure.

 

Significantly, this salt tax would be enforced initially on snack foods, which often lack nutritional value and contribute heavily to sodium intake. Acknowledging the challenge such a tax poses to businesses, the department plans to offer a transition period, mirroring the gradual implementation observed with the sugar tax launched in 2017. The sugar tax implementation, which increased over three phases, allowed businesses time to adapt to the increasing tax rates.

 

Under the proposed tax, products would be taxed based on their sodium content, thereby encouraging manufacturers to reduce salt levels. Initially, the focus will be on snacks, leaving items like seasonings and instant noodles outside of this preliminary tax wave.

Moreover, the department's tax restructuring plan also sees an environmental angle with changes proposed for battery taxes. Primary, single-use batteries would face higher taxes than secondary, rechargeable ones, encouraging more sustainable practices. Lighter and more efficient batteries will attract a lower tax rate, further promoting environmentally friendly options.

 

The discussions align with broader government policies aimed at boosting tourism and increasing excise tax collection through other avenues, like the potential easing of alcohol sale restrictions. Such regulatory changes are intended to ramp up consumption, subsequently increasing government revenue through excise duties.

 

For the fiscal year 2025, the Excise Department has set an ambitious revenue collection target of 609 billion Thai Baht. It’s a challenging goal, but the department and its director-general, Ms. Kulaya, are determined to meet it through strategic tax restructuring and broader regulatory policies.

 

This tax initiative represents a broader commitment from the Thai government to enhance public health while stimulating economic gains through nuanced fiscal reforms, illustrating a progressive step towards sustainable development.

 

These developments are crucial in the context of a global push towards healthier lifestyles and environmental sustainability, positioning Thailand among forward-thinking nations making strides in public health and economic reform, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-18

 

 

I've read that the Thai gov't is broke (10k giveaway vote buying scheme) so they are grasping at straws these days.Whats next? Oh wait...Carbon Tax..same as Canada/Austrailia .

53 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Proof of income to who. 

I realize it's part of application to Canadian embassy for income letter however they cannot verify it. 

 

Cut/paste from AI...

"The Canadian Embassy in Bangkok will no longer provide income affidavits, also known as income letters, starting April 1, 2025. The embassy cannot verify income and is not legally required to do so. 

Explanation 

The embassy's practice of issuing income affidavits was informal and not regulated"

 

The NR4 Slips I receive from CRA every tax year were direct from the gov't. These days I suppose a creative person could generate bogus ones quite easily. I'll just revert to the monthly transfers that I send to my bank here in any case. If agents are not available in the future I'll go back to doing it myself as before.

1 hour ago, 300sd said:

Interesting statement from the Cad Embassy: 

"Because the Embassy of Canada has no means of confirming a Canadian citizen’s income, a notarized affidavit from the Embassy of Canada has never met the requirement to prove a minimum income level for a non-immigrant long-term stay visa."

 

You mean showing Canadian Tax returns, to this embassy, are not proof of income? They should tell the truth. They just don't want to bother!

I've used my current year T4 slips as proof of income previously. I thought that was pretty solid pfroof.wtf? Was someone caught with bogus papers? 

21 hours ago, JontS said:

Which popular agent are you using?

Mentioned here many times > Maneerat Soi Post Office

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't find that to be the case overall. But in areas where there are alot of tourists, you do find creeps who are jaded. 

 

I was in Hua Hin recently, and encountered a real vermin. I've stayed at this place a few times in the past. I booked two rooms for my friend and I, and for the first time in the 19 years that I've been living in Thailand, and the nearly 50 years that I've been coming to Thailand I was asked to show a visa stamp. I don't carry my passport unless I'm leaving the country or going to a bank to make an important transaction. I did have a color copy of my passport with my visa stamp on the back, however they said that they required one of my friend also, even though the booking was entirely in my name and paid for by me. 

 

I feel that the man at the counter was simply flexing his muscles and asking for something that is not required. I will now have to fight to get a refund with Agoda. I asked the hotel for a refund and they said no. The man was very rude, very arrogant, very obnoxious, and totally uncooperative. 

 

This hotel knowing that they have a very unusual policy of requiring a visa stamp should be willing to offer a credit for a future stay at a minimum, on the spot when they are turning away a guest. I started raising my voice and screaming at the man behind the counter because I was getting no cooperation, you cannot stay here, we will not give you your money back, and get lost. That arrogance set me off, and the man actually threatened to call the police. Is this how you treat a customer? 

 

The only mistake I made was not getting his name. I sincerely hope he loses his job over this, he doesn't deserve that job. Neither does the manager.

 

This was a dreadful way to start a vacation. We were left scrambling for a room at the last minute for the same day. Not only will I never come back to this hotel, I would encourage every single person who reads this review to not book with this hotel, as they have no idea how to treat customers properly. I know I cannot call them out by name, but the letter B appears at the beginning of their name, and a very low digit follows that. Ha! 

Good code..got it. Bad luck..had a similar experience in Kanchantaburi a couple years ago at a chain hotel the (moves like a bunny) lol

They f around around for over half hour at check in about a PP copy. Very rude and arrogant treatment from the front desk lady.

12 hours ago, theblether said:

Instagram has descended into the worst international prostitution portal on earth. Far too many young women are getting dragged into an apparently glamorous but often depraved world. Dubai is the epicentre, Thailand a satellite. I'll also say that Thai Instagram is out of control, you'd be gobsmacked at not only how many women are plying their trade their but also who is available for hire. 

 

I see this story, what I see is a young woman heading for a nervous breakdown. Tragic. 

When I worked O&G industry I worked on/off in Dubai.There's tons of p4p available.The infamous York Hotel was a warm up. 

1st time there I was surprised with all the booze and pussy cats available for a Muslim country.

On 2/6/2025 at 1:40 AM, mstevens said:

Diabetics need to be conscious of their total sugar / carb intake. Bread, pasta, rice, fruit, sugar etc - they all increase your blood sugar. Some fruits like mangoes, ripe bananas, watermelon can be quite high in sugar and depending on the amount consumed, can spike your blood sugar. A small piece of mango should be fine, whereas a whole, large ripe mango could increase blood sugar. Other fruits like berries and pears are much lower in sugar. Generally, you want to avoid the high-sugar fruit while also being aware of your total sugar / carb intake. Best way to do this is to monitor your blood sugar levels at home, and get Hb1ac tested every 3 to 6 months. If your blood sugar levels are stable, then some fruit and carbs is fine. If your blood sugar levels are unstable, you might need to cut back on fruit and other carbs, and possibly adjust your diabetes meds (with medical professional help).

Sometimes I will look up the GI Glycemic Index of different foods. A lot of local Thai fruits are quite high in that regard.