Mattd

Yes, I suggest that the 'frequent & observant' poster has a look next time that he is in BKK airport, as it is quite a few years since you have been able to access departures from arrivals and vice versa, the escalators do not even exist between floors 2 & 3 now.

The experience got worse for me, as when we got the bill, was charged 380 THB ++ for a pint of Hoegaarden, it was nice, but not that nice!! (Som nom na me for not asking prior to ordering)

10 minutes ago, tomwct said:

I have never heard of a Traditional Sunday Pork Dinner, but in the west we have Sunday Beef Roasts Dinners. I guess maybe they

substitute pork for beef since Thai Beef is disgusting. Most of the Roasts in Bangkok would be the Beef variety. I personally like The Huntsman Club in the Landmark Hotel. Go with a party of four and pay for two. Very good deal. 11-5PM on Sunday Beef & Lamb Roasts.

When I was nipper in England the old man was the Roast cook, Sundays rotated, Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork with Mondays being leftover day!

I went to Huntsman about a month ago with two others using a 2.30pm booking via Eatigo with 50% off (not including the ++ portion), all three of us were disappointed and thought it was nowhere near as good as it used to be, the beef quality was poor, as it was in general, to be quite honest, even with the 50% off it wasn't that good value for money, we won't be rushing back.

So far these incidents are not exactly widespread, a few isolated events and although the press reports are a good way of spreading word of the requirements, it is still quite strange that they are actually reported, I would almost guarantee that more people get refused entry to the likes of UK & the US on a daily basis and have been for years, yet these are not reported in the International press.

If Thailand are going to really enforce their rules regarding monetary requirements, then they do absolutely need to improve the various websites that contain information, the onus is on the visitor to know the rules and nowadays most would visit websites to get the information, right now it isn't really there or very clear..

Where @chrisinth suggestions for those with visas would work fine, it doesn't for those that would come here on a visa exemption, so the correct info needs to be freely available to people.

Whilst I agree that ATM's prior to immigration would be a very good idea and BKK airport is the biggest receiver, people can enter Thailand in so many ways and entry points, covering them all would be a big task!

4 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

30 day consideration is only for marriage extensions

And work extensions 

8 hours ago, Shroud said:

He won't be able to convert foreign cash into baht before he enters immigration

If in the event that somebody is required to convert foreign cash in to Thai Baht, then it is possible prior to Immigration at Suvarnabhumi, as there are exchange booths available and the rate, although possibly a little lower than after Immigration, will be a lot better than converting outside of Thailand.

Just now, Jim7777 said:

I'm not doing one I was just replying to someone else who was and since I've done it before I was just trying to offer some common sense advice.  I never said that I was.  

The implication was there in the next words in your reply, though your knowledge of retirement extension requirements is sadly lacking to be honest, you seem to mix retirement and marriage extension requirements and then advise the OP to use an Income Affidavit for money in a Thai bank.

3 minutes ago, gprit said:

Presumably once I get the non o multy entry I can stay put in Thailand for one year and not have to leave/reenter.

NO, you cannot stay for one year based on that non O ME visa, you would have to leave Thailand every 90 days OR you do have the option to extend the entry by a further 60 days for visiting wife, if you take that option, then you must depart Thailand and reenter again, in any event it involves departing Thailand and reentering.

The only way you can stay for a year without leaving Thailand is to obtain a SE non-O and then extend this at the local immigration office to where you will reside at in Thailand, as explained by Ubonjoe in his first reply to your post.

I do know one thing, anybody who is thinking of 'testing' the system by openly working without a work permit would be a fool, those in power here make the rules and it has been proven time and time again that they will bend those rules whichever way they have to, regardless of any precedence.

My advice would be try it at your peril!

There are loads of places that do a traditional Sunday Roast in Bangkok.

Jools - http://www.joolsbar.com/menu/maincourse.html

Chequers - http://www.chequersbangkok.com/menu.htm

Royal Oak - http://www.royaloakthailand.com/food-and-drink.php

The Londoner - http://www.the-londoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FoodDrinks_Menu.pdf

The Black Swan - Suk 19

The Queen Vic - http://www.queenvicbkk.com/#menu-item-2720

And many many more.

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Then it would certainly be handy if they listed that on the required document list.  

 

There are lots of important documents that I keep but don't carry with me when I go to immigration.  Unless they're on the list.

 

Then I apologise, as maybe I misunderstood the meaning, the way it was written I thought it meant that the OP friend was lucky that he had it at all, as opposed to not having it with him when going to immigration.

Must admit though, most of my dealings with immigration have required copies of the TM.6, last entry stamp and last extension stamp (actually they wanted every one of the extension stamps the last time), so would do copies and take it as a matter of course.

5 minutes ago, Familyaffairs said:

I am in and out regularly, have a WP and one year multiple entry visa, never any questions asked. 

Same here, I do honestly believe that immigration are targeting those that they feel are either working illegally or staying here long term on tourist visas, rather than those here long term on extensions of stay, either working, married or retired etc. however, I am also with Crossy and see no harm in carrying the 20K THB or equivalent as security.

The reason I think that extensions / re-entry permits are less likely to scrutiny than ME visas (of any type) is that the extensions have been approved by immigration here in Thailand based upon certain criteria, as opposed to a ME visa which is approved by a consulate or an embassy, which makes the IO feel a bit more comfortable perhaps.

OP mentions Multi Non B visa for the last 7 years? Is it actually a visa or is it an extension of stay?

I ask, because I suspect it makes a difference on the requirement.

Not saying that it would not be a good idea to carry 20,000 Baht with you through immigration, but I go through BKK airport quite frequently, the last time being last week and I have never been asked to show cash, mine is an extension of stay for working with a multiple re-entry permit.

The recent 'clampdown' seems to be more aimed at those on tourist visas or visa exempt entries that are frequent 'visitors' and youngish.

When I came through last Wednesday immigration was rammed and I can't say I saw anybody being asked to show cash or any red flashing lights to indicate a supervisor being called in.

I suspect it would probably be easier (and cheaper perhaps) for them to travel the extra fours hours from Muscat than to try to do as the Grandfather suggests.

UAE visa for them as Thai's are doable, but it would require a 30 day ME one, due to the two entries, the one that Old Git cites is for the transit visa, problematic as they would depart and enter (after Oman) UAE by a land border, this transit visa is designed for those flying in and out, hence why they are done by the airlines.

Oman - if you read what Old Git quoted, then it clearly states that they must have a return/onward ticket to get the VOA, again land border entry and departure may scuttle that.

4 hours travelling to most Thai's is a walk in the park, they think nothing of 12 hour bus rides whilst in Thailand.

This has gone a bit off topic, but certain pension income could well be subject to tax if you are resident in a country like UK for example, so if you were receiving a state pension and a private pension (regardless of type) that is based in the UK and the combined amount of these pensions exceeds the tax allowances for your circumstances, then you are liable for tax.

Most private pension payments that were made during the working years had tax relief, so to say it isn't earned now from an income tax perspective is not really correct, all the government did is defer the tax payment!

6 minutes ago, perthperson said:

Those FAQs have no status and are merely intended as a guide.

Agreed, except that those that answered the FAQs are also likely the ones that approve the extensions and therefore would apply their understanding of the rules, which by definition from their answer is seasoning is required for them, just my opinion.

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Answers in the FAQ are not rules.

This is what clause 2.22 of  police order 327/2557 states.

No seasoning is mentioned. The intent of the combination option is for when  somebody comes up short on income to get extension. The reason for no seasoning is so that if somebody comes up short because of a devaluation of their home country currency.

OK, then I will stand corrected, the only caveat is that it is going to depend on the office applied to and how they understand it.

Logic does state that if using the combination method then both sets of rules apply, but then again logic and here sometimes do not go together.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Practically, it doesn't matter. What matters to applicants that intend to use the combo method is to learn the specific enforcement policy about seasoning for como applications at their LOCAL office. Reports over the years indicate that the offices that do require combo seasoning don't care if you tell them they're wrong according to the national rules. 

I would say that it is perfectly clear that in the case of using the combination method that the money has to be seasoned, because it does state that the documents required are the same as the ones required for using the 800k method and the 65k per month method.

4 minutes ago, perthperson said:

 

The rule is SILENT on the topic -- You might not agree  in which case I challenge you to prove otherwise. 

Not really, as according to the FAQ in the Immigration website it does mention that the documents required to apply for the combination method are the same as for 800k.

Answer : For reasons to stay of Retirement, the alien must be 50 year of age or older and must have been granted a Non-Immigrant visa, firstly. More over, the said alien must have evidences to verify his/her financial status of not less than 65,000 Baht per month or 800,000 Baht per year. Evidences showing financial support are as follows;
       1.  In case of having money in the bank account (Saving/Fix deposit) of any bank located in Thailand.
       -  The updated bank passbook on the date of application submission showing money in the account of not less than 800,000 Baht which has been deposited and consecutively held of such amount for 3 months. ( Except the first application for this reason, that such amount should be deposited and held for 60 days)
     -  Letter from the bank certified the current account in the bank of not less than 800,000 Baht; or
         2.2  In case of having any other income from abroad such as pension, social welfare
     -  Letter from the applicant’s Embassy or consulate in Thailand verifying their pension or other income of the applicant which must not be less than 65,000 Baht per month. Or;
        2.3  In case of a combination of having money in the bank account and income from pension, with total amount of not less than 800,000 Baht per year, the required documents are the same as mentioned in 2.1and 2.2

4 minutes ago, blackcab said:

The relaxation of labour laws is specifically for nationals of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar who hold or need to obtain a passport, Non-LA visa and work permit for Thailand.

 

Citizens of these countries are given limited dispensation to work in occupations (mainly manual labour type jobs) prohibited to other foreign nationals.

 

I don't think the current relaxation covers YouTubers.

 

There are good reasons why the dispensation is specifically for these Nationals, the companies that employ them would face much more severe financial penalties and to replace these migrant workers with locals is probably impractical and far less profitable, so they will have put a lot of pressure on the Government when this was announced, I would seriously doubt that it involves any compassion towards the migrant workers.

It certainly doesn't mean that your average Farang can suddenly start working without a WP, probably just an easy way out for them regarding this 'Youtube Dude'

8 minutes ago, perthperson said:

Sorry if I have, inadvertently, repeated something you said. There are no "quotes" or plagiarism associated with my post. 

 

Suggest you chill out. 

No worries, super chilled here  

7 hours ago, JayBird said:

I'm concerned they may start to insist it has to be THB.

If immigration were to start to insist on seeing it in THB, then there are exchange booths that are available prior to going through immigration, so worse case you would have to go and change the other currency first, it is highly unlikely that they would ever insist on THB only, as I'm sure that even immigration realise the importance of an influx of foreign currency, having said that though, the exchange booths on the air side of immigration could make an absolute fortune!!!!

5 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

had i a thai  debit cash card loaded with 20 k baht , would the io let me in ???

 

wbr

roobaa01

Unlikely, as they want to see cash or travellers cheques, how could they verify that it is 'loaded' ?