thaibreaker

You still do not understand. Unbelievable, yes! Again, I have been told from a well known visa agent, that an income letter does not help me the first year of extension. He says I will still need 800k in bank, if I can't show a transfer of 65.000 for 12 months into a Thai bank. Then what good does an income letter do, I ask. That is what I ask your opinion about. How difficult is this to understand? In his words, I will not be able to obtain a 90 days non-O, solely based on the income letter, which later can be extended with a year. Immigration will not accept it, as he has had other customers trying that. I have stated I will not have 800k in bank this time. I might have 400k (but want to avoid that too), that's why I also mentioned the marriage route. But now we have stated that is not available as an option in my home country, throug an O-A. I have just started my pension, and can only show a few transfers to my Norwegian account. That is why this is an issue for me, if no one accepts my non transfers, but solely my income letter from the embassy. My embassy is providing me an income letter as we speak, of more than 65.000. I am worried that is not enough to get my 90 days non-O. Do you understand what we are talking about now? All the other stuff have been a waste of time for me. And I do want to avoid ending up using an agent, for the reason my income letter is not doing any good. My original plan was after entering by a 60 days visa exemption, get a 90 days non-O based on retirement, with my embassy income letter. Then extend. That seems not to work. That's what I'm told. My previous extensions based on retirement ended a few years back.

I know of course that I can obtain an income letter, the question was if the immigration would accept that from day one. An experienced visa agent in Pattaya said that was not possible before the second year, the extension. That was my dispute with him. I think he was wrong, and as I understand, so do you. I am not a native English speaker, and may have challenges making myself understood. Or presenting my case. I took offense because 95% of what you and DrJack were explaining, I did know very well. I didn't need that lecture. You were acting like I didn't have a clue about anything. It seems you (and DrJack) misunderstood the base of my question. You both showed that clearly at a couple of occasions. The confusion for me was the marriage part from my country. Everything else, I know perfectly well. I've stated that I will do the retirement route, which I also have done a few years back. Thanks anyway. I do not expect to get any help in the future, based on my posts here. Nor do I want any. I know when I have made enemies. Just want to say that I miss ubonjoe very much. He had respect for us, and didn't always assume others had no clue, and treated them accordingly. However, I thank you for the last clearing up, that O-A is only based on requirements for retirement. Finally that was helpful.

@Liquorice I mean, I understand the answer to that is yes. Not no. Whether I can obtain an O-A based on marriage in my own country. It's the marriage thing that I haven't been sure of how that works, plus whether you might avoid the 12 months proof of pension income, or the 800k, from day one, with an embassy income letter of 65.000 (retirement). Still no answer to that, and that's fine. The process based on retirement I have been through a few times already (don't need a lecture on that), but never the "marriage process".

I am not confusing anything of the sort. Your whole post is unnecessary. The only thing I asked back, and wondered, was if the O-A (yes I of course know you need to apply for it outside Thailand, jeezz..) can be obtained based on marriage. I understand the answer is no, unless you correct me on that. I do know and understand all the differences regarding the extensions and visas based on retirement. The last quote.. really? I am referring to health insurance bought abroad as not necessarily a bad thing, because you need it in Thailand. I'm not an idiot, or a newbie to this. DrJacks post too, this is a toxic place to ask for advice. "You so do not understand.." Wtf. Last time asking for help here.

Thanks. Yes, I figured the O-A for a full one year might only apply based on retirement. But you think it might be valid for a year, with multiple 90 days entries based on marriage? I will check that out. Thanks for your comment. And yes, the downside of the one year O-A visa, is health insurance, I hear. But that is needed in Thailand, the only thing is that those are cheaper from within Thailand and through Thailand companies. Agree about the visa agents. They know a lot, but are sometimes wrong too. I might use an embassy letter the way you described. Thanks!

I am sure you are aware of the Non O-A visa (based on retirement) we can apply for in our home country. As far as I know that is a one year visa, not 90 days, that's what I meant when I was referring to applying in my home country (I was thinking the same thing might be available based on marriage). That requires proof of income, or 800k (or equivalent) in a bank in Norway, I was not sure if you can get the same visa based on marriage, just through the usual 400k or 40k income. That's the background for my first question. Anyway, most unlikely not, and I will be using the route to retirement, not marriage, for security reasons, should my marriage end. The second question touches the answer I got from the visa agent in Pattaya, who claims I can't avoid the 800k in bank in Thailand (based on retirement) the first year through an income letter from my embassy. I think that is wrong, hence my question. If that is true, what good does the income letter do. I can't see much difference to countries without one.

You didn't answer my question. And please, don't explain to me what a visa or an extension is. I didn't even use the terms wrong.. I've been doing this for decades. Most people on this forum knows the difference. The explanation is not needed. I know the process, and yes, of course I know it's not a Norwegian embassy in Norway, I shouldn't have brought the Thai embassy in Norway into the question. The income letter is only written in Bangkok of course. The highlight of the question was if I could avoid the 800k in bank (or monthly proof) the first year of the extension, with a Norwegian income letter. I have recently spoken to an experienced visa agent in Pattaya, who told me I can't avoid the 800k the first year, with an income letter at all. I was thinking surely that must be wrong. That's why I asked here. Maybe you can't give me an exact answer, and that's fine. Thanks anyway.

Question 1: If I have an income letter from my Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok, would I be able to use that to get my non-O 90 days extended with a year based on marriage while I'm in Thailand, or do I need to apply from my embassy in Norway? Yes, they still give income letters from our embassy in Bangkok. No 400k in bank, or any further monthly income sent to a Thai bank. Question 2: Will this work with non-O extensions based on retirement too? If I show my income letter of more than 65.000 baht, can I avoid the 12 monthly transfers beforehand, and 800k in bank the first year, and start directly with my income as source? Much appreciated if you have an answer to these 2 questions :)

Depends on where and how you live, I guess, about the risking part. Using VPN is not illegal, most are using it for security reasons, and for privacy. I'm shocked anyone at your network interferes with that. Sounds like they are monitoring their users, so I would be out of there, if it was me.

Never heard of that before. I've been using VPN for many years. You must have a Karen in that network.

You get free VPN online, if you want access.

What visa you are on has nothing to do whether you will be taxed or not. If you will be taxed, and that is a big IF, depends on how many days you stay in Thailand a year. You can in theory have a "retirement visa" and only stay 179 days in Thailand. That does not make you a tax resident. So the visa in itself has nothing to do with it. But as soon as you extend your DTV within the same year, and stay 180 days or longer, you'll become a tax resident. The LTR visa is the only visa that officially let you off the tax-hook.

Reports of several people getting stamped in for 60 days this afternoon and evening. So finally it's in effect, at Suvarnabhumi at least. The question was asked to the immigration officer if the 60 days could be extended with another 30 days. The answer was YES.

Of course. Not announced, but everything points to that.

Won't work. Been there, done that. I wasn't even allowed on the flight from my home country, because I was banned, and it showed up on their screen when I was checking in. And I had a new passport, even with a slight name change. That was some years ago, even back then there was no way around the biometrics. I can almost guarantee you won't be allowed in. Complete your ban, don't risk a further problem. After completion, let's hope the ban has been lifted automatically, mine wasn't at first, and that cost me a very expensive ticket. Had to go through a few hoops to get off that list.

I think that just made this report complete rubbish. A couple of more countries there I would never think was even close to top 10.

Totally agree. Might be my next destination for a longer stay. Been a few years since I lived there.

That the same wording they always use. Nothing new there. It does not mean you can't extend this visa exemption with another 30 days.

My visa agent said so too. He had been in contact with his immigration officer contact, confirming it. But, I would wait for the fine prints, and official confirmation. We have yet to see this kind of visa being non-extendable though. All points in that direction.

Taxes may be, we dont know that yet. But taxes from that amount are peanuts, and you will only have to pay taxes in one of the two countries. If his embassy doesn't provide income letter, he can start paying these amounts at 49 if he wants. He just has to be 50 at application date. Never to touch the 800k is not true. You can spend up to 400k 7 months a year. Up until 2 months prior, and after 3 months after the extension.

I ordered it, they used DHL free of charge, my Revolut card was at my door in Thailand within 4 days. I have a metal account btw, maybe that helps. Insurance and some other benefits included (free Nordic VPN etc), 170 NOK a month.

You certainly can. But you must use a VPN connected to your home country, and give them an address (can be any, a friend's or a family member's), and a phone number. You will even get your physical card sent to your door in Thailand by DHL, if you say you're on a vacation there, if they ask. Been there, done that. I opened an account while in Thailand. Then you're good to go.

That is not true. From 1998 it was 3 months prior on your second extension. That was the official rule. See the link a few posts back. That's the confusion for me, that this has now changed to 2 months prior, regardless of 1st or second extension.

Interesting that it states 3 months after and 2 months prior. I thought it was the other way around, 3 months prior, and 2 months after. Not only me, I guess.