thaibreaker

Okey, the first link would be helpful last week. Now I'm already in Thailand. I missed that opportunity, didn't see I could only use the same confirmation there as I used to get an income letter in Bangkok, on a 90 days non-O. But it still would need to be approved by immigration in Thailand based on income letter for the 12 months extension. Maybe that would be easier. It seems so. Thank you for this info.

Of course I know this. I have stated I already have an income letter made for me, based on nothing else than a confirmation of my pension. Nothing I have written dispute that fact. But we are back to what immigration will accept. Getting an income letter does not necessarily mean immigration will accept it. You have only provided the route for going this way, which I already knew, within Thailand. The whole reason and background for my posts was to get a second opinion on what immigration will accept, since the mentioned visa agent had his clear opinion it would not work, based on his experience. Do you see the difference? We will not have an answer to that before a few weeks from now. But I understand now you think this will go through, with only an income letter. Okey, we will see. I'm still worried it won't.

Yes, I know, but thank you for the clarification.

Okey, thank you for that, Rob. I have been thinking of Savannakhet, so that might be a solution.

Thank you, DrJack.

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.

Definitely possible. Skin tone mattered at least 15 years ago when I spent a few weeks at the Hilton at IDC. People with the "wrong" skin were always cuffed during transport outside IDC, while those with the "right" skin were not. I was never, even travelling together in the same group. That made me quite uncomfortable, I must add. So yes, at least 15 years ago, that was the norm. Today, I can't tell.

What's on it might be. I would hang on like crazy to my phone, and would probably be stabbed for it, or even killed. I feel my whole life is on my phone, contacts, banks, SIM from my country etc. Nothing I want to lose. Even if they can't open it, and it might be useless to them, it's a freaking mess to regain it all.

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