bubba

So is going to their airport counter the only way to book a ticket? I just had a look at their site and there is no way to book there or even a schedule for their flights. 

I found a truly amazing app that uses AI to identify flora and fauna from photos that you take with it. If the AI doesn't get it all the way to genus or species, others in the community will also see it and try to do an ID. It's called iNaturalist, produced by National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences.

https://www.inaturalist.org

Rather the discuss everything that it does, go have a look. I have found it to be sort of addicting and find myself trekking through the forest to see if I can come up with something new, plus your findings are documented and mapped for the use of researchers.

Couldn't you have it deposited to your US bank and then do wire transfers to your Thai bank account?

1 minute ago, NancyL said:

There are other "work-arounds" that people from countries with Embassies that require "proof" have been using for years that will undoubtedly be offered to Americans in short order.  All this new requirement does is make it more expensive for people already living on the edge who want to remain in Thailand.

I think it's not just people "living on the edge". For example, someone who really doesn't have much income, but has plenty of cash to spare to live here. They also have several hundred thousand dollars in investment accounts which they are managing for capital appreciation. I can fully understand why such an American would prefer to use the income affidavit rather than transfer over a sum of money to a Thai bank which will then be sitting there making nothing

As for these other "work arounds"...I am curious to know what those are, assuming that can be discussed here.

I’m not sure moving to another province, establishing an address, doing the extension, and then moving back to Chiang Mai would work. Doesn’t immigration sometimes call around to your registered address to see if you are really living there? Hasn’t happened to me, but I’ve heard the story. 

Also, what about the new TM30 you would get back in CM?  Where would you do your 90 days?

It was his Thai bank. he didn't say which one, but US Social Security has a designated bank in Thailand to which they will do direct deposits. I think I read somewhere that this is SCB, but not sure.

Had dinner last evening with my American friend who went through his retirement extension last week, using an agent. Here is what he told me:

- The new requirement for Americans to have supporting documentation is only being enforced by Chiang Mai. The agent told him that the reason for this is that a foreign national complained to immigration that only providing the American Consulate affidavit was unfair, because other foreign nationals had to provide supporting documents to obtain their consulate's affidavit. 

- There are no exceptions and Americans must now bring their consulate affidavit together with statements to verify the income. In my friend's case, he has US Social Security direct deposits to his bank in excess of the 60,000 baht requirement, so he brought along a statement from the bank. They did look at that and it was acceptable.

- For those presently caught in the middle without supporting documentation or the 800,000 baht in the bank for two months, those individuals will have to leave Thailand and start over. If they cannot show the required monthly income, they have to leave, establish the bank deposit now, wait two months, wait until their current extension has expired, obtain a new non-immigrant visa and come back to start the retirement visa extension process again. He mentioned that his agent told him that a lot of Americans were leaving now, some to wait out the deposit, and some not returning to Thailand. For those Americans who are returning, this will no doubt be an expensive process.

While I can understand Immigration's insistence on a instituting a level playing field based on the complaint they received, it does seem like a better approach would have been to provide advance notice for those Americans who needed to plan their new strategy.

1 hour ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

So a self driving car has already  ran over a woman and killed her, Now this!

 Oh what will the future be like, dead people everywhere?

 

Perhaps in the future, rather than Somchai in command of his pickup following several hours of lao khao with his mates, the computer will be doing the driving. 

48 minutes ago, balo said:

I prefer Windows computers and Android phones. 

 

I have been working in the IT business since back in the 80's and never understood the hype about Apple. And here I am 40 years later and never touched an Apple product. I am still alive and happy . 

 

 

 

 

Neither did Steve Balmer when the first iPhone was released:

Quote

It's sort of a funny question. Would I trade 96% of the market for 4% of the market? (Laughter.) I want to have products that appeal to everybody. 

Now we'll get a chance to go through this again in phones and music players. There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. 

11 minutes ago, Dante99 said:

I do not think there has been confirmation that CM Immigration is checking proof of income for extension renewals, is there?  Has it been only for first timers?  There seem to be reports of recent renewals without proof required.  Correct?

It has been reported by a few people here, and they were using an agent. Also, I do have an American friend who was informed by his agent that he would need to bring documents together with his Consulate affidavit for a fourth year renewal. No problem for him since he said he can show adequate income from his US social security deposits to his Thai bank; however, I think this may not be the case for a lot of Americans who relied on their affidavit, do not have the seasoned deposit and cannot show proof of income into Thailand.

14 minutes ago, amexpat said:

 

As shown at the top of the page: 

 

Easy Thai Retirement Visa

No funds needed, No visa, no fee. We do everything; no stress or  worry.   I think it costs about 20K which should make an i-o very happy.

Yes but unless they can time warp at the bank, providing the necessary funds in the person's bank account is not going to help if they have to renew next month, since the funds must have been seasoned for two months.

So here's a question: what happens to all those Americans who have been cruising along on their Consulate affidavit, cannot prove either the income or Thai bank balance seasoned for two months and their extension runs out next month? It is too late to do a deposit now due to the two month requirement. Are they out?

If so, this could be very bad news for a lot of people who have been here for a long time.

I accept that this is the law and planning is necessary to comply in order to renew a retirement extension; however, I can understand why many would prefer not typing up 800,000 baht in a zero yield savings account with currency risks when that sum could be invested back home and making either real earnings or capital gains.

I'm not sure about Casio straps, but I ordered one for my Apple Watch from Lazada. It was an exact copy of the Apple nylon mesh strap, about 1/4 the price and what appears to me to be of identical style and quality.

Although not on a visa run, I was up there this past weekend. There were no immigration queues for foreign nationals and the markets in both Mae Sai and Tachilek were completely dead and nearly devoid of visitors. 

Regarding signal coverage, DTAC is not at all good in many areas outside the city. 

I was speaking with an American friend yesterday who said his visa consultant (didn't ask who it was) phoned to tell him that he would need supporting documents in addition to his Consulate affidavit for his upcoming retirement extension. 

11 hours ago, el jefe said:

If you're seeing them all over, and I am too, then obviously it's working well. Within the city I see dozens of bikes being used every day. btw, the rate is "free for the first 30 minutes".

 

these bikes are the only way to make mass transit work. It solves the "last mile problem." CM officials would never even try the bus system without the bike-share program. Take the bus, get off at a fixed stop, and use a bike share for the short trip from the stop to home, school, or work. Without the bike-shares, you're stuck with songthiews forever.

 

The rate is not free for the first 30 minutes. It is 10 baht for every 30 minutes or fraction of 30 minutes. They also score you based on your use (or misuse) of the bike. If you fall below average (500 points), your rates doubled to 20 baht/30 minutes. If your score drops below 300, your rate goes to 1000 baht/30 minutes.

Have you actually tried riding one of these Mobiles? I have. They are truly crap. They have a single gear and solid tyres which makes them both uncomfortable and exhausting to ride for just a couple of kms. Definitely only good for a very short journey, and not one with any hills involved.

As Buick says, could be Qatar knows they will be assigned a remote bus stand out on the tarmac and will not be assigned a gate at the terminal with the jetway leading directly to the upper deck. That may be beyond the control of Qatar.

QR's A380 is configured to seat 561 passengers. Imagine a full A380 flight with all those passengers disembarking at a bus stand. That's one more reason I prefer smaller aircraft

5 hours ago, elgenon said:

Wow, thanks! Hope I can find it. Always happy to be schooled and learn a better way.

 

Anything to look for when I arrive to help me find it or is it easy?

 

Where is the Priority Lane when leaving Thailand? I have never seen one.

When you arrive, follow the "Visa on Arrival" signs. The Priority Lane is right next to that.

For departure, you could ask the check-in agent to direct you. It is located in the middle of the terminal.

I think I got caught up in this scam. A few weeks ago, I paid for fuel at a Shell station using my credit card. The next day, I had two charges for purchases of AMEX gift cards of US$220, both in exactly the same amount. That was the only time this card had left my hands for at least a month. I reported it straight away to the issuing bank and they removed the charges cancelled my card and sent me a new one.

Appreciate the idea of scratching off the PIN number. I've just done that with my cards.

Thanks for that, NanLaew. I hadn’t noticed they had changed the names. 

Great news, timeout!

At 58 yo can't even get much lower than that and still have a prostate. I'm seconding xylophone and hoisting a few for you tonight as well.