Mattd

As you had a work permit and that everything with the company and your employment is legit, then if they make you redundant or retire you they will have to standby the labour law and pay you 10 months salary, which is subject to special tax concessions. Unless you took this option of the payout at the age of 60?

Did you participate in a provident fund here for the first 5 years employment, i.e. until you were 60?

Allowing the use of the one year visa or an extension of stay as proof of residency does not surprise me at all, as IMHO the requirement is not necessarily to prove where you actually live so much as to prove that you are legally allowed to and are residing here from the point of view of being able to apply for the passport here, as opposed to the UK.

Under normal circumstances, a tourist would not be travelling in to Thailand with a passport that is about to expire in that period or is virtually full and if so, then they could get an Emergency Travel Document from the Embassy.

MiKT - Please wise up, how do you think you renew the passport then?? Read what is says here! https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

Fair enough, though the fact does still remain that people are getting refused at entry, some for legitimate reasons others not, plus seemingly an increasing number of people are getting questioned by immigration if they are seen to have a number of exempt entries in their passport.

Again, it is up to the individual as to how they want to do it, I was in exactly the same position as the OP from 1989 through to 2004, the first 8 years were on visa exempt entries and were never a problem, then I got married and went to ME non-O visas, times have moved on since then and if I was like the OP single with no dependants here and put in to the same position again, then I would not hesitate to purchase the 5 year elite program purely for peace of mind.

20 minutes ago, kovaltech said:

30 on and 30 of equals 90 days in 6 month periods

Agreed, see my post above though, a risky way of doing it and one that may not satisfy his employer.

27 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The 90 days in 6 months rule was rescinded in 2008. There are a few odd embassy and consulate websites that still have it. It does not appear on the MFA website.

Not sure about it being rescinded, however, it is most definitely on the MFA website, that is where I took the quote from! MFA Q & A  and see the answers to the first question.

Also, given the fact that there are several reports lately of people being refused entry for a variety of reasons on visa exempts, tourist visas etc. then if it was me, I would not take the chance, as by definition the OP will more than likely end up building a life here during these work periods, then an entry refusal could cause all sorts of issues for him.

It is a personal choice, but if earning the big $$ and you want to have some sort of certainty (as much as one can dealing with Thai Immigration!!) then really the best option is the Elite program, the OP has to find a solution that is acceptable to his company as well.

Aha, my question answered, in the MFA FAQ! :)

Actually, for my own learning, I am intrigued as to where the cash amount derives from, whether it be in Thai Baht or equivalent?

As far as I can see the Immigration act only states:

11. According to the Immigration Act of Thailand B.E. 2522 (1979), foreigners who fall into any of the following categories are prohibited to enter Thailand: 

(1) Having no genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport; or having a genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport without valid visa issuance by the Royal Thai Embassies, the Royal Thai Consulates-General or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with exception of those who meet visa exemption requirements. The terms and conditions of visa issuance and visa exemption are prescribed by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(2) Having no appropriate means of living following entry into the Kingdom. 
(3) Having entered the Kingdom to be employed as an unskilled or untrained labourer, or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit Law. 
(4) Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases stated in the Ministerial Regulations. 
(5) Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox; or inoculated, or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against disease; and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the Immigration Doctor. 
(6) Having been imprisoned by judgement of the Thai Court; or by lawful injunction or judgement of the Court of a foreign country, except for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(7) Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting any violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments. 
(8) Reason to believe that entry into Kingdom is for the purpose of being involved in prostitution, the trafficking of women or children, drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are against public morality. 
(9) Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(10) Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(11) Being deported by either the Government of Thailand or that of other foreign countries; or having been revoked the right of stay in the Kingdom or in foreign countries; or having been expelled from the Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government of Thailand unless exemption is provided by the Minister on an individual basis.

Obviously it must come from what the Minister prescribes?

I also thought I read that it was 10,000 THB for individuals?

As written by several posters before, in this modern age, then there really should be allowances made for those that come with credit cards etc. 

Though really the amount needed to show is not a huge sum if coming on a holiday!

8 hours ago, thecyclist said:

Unbelievable, they won't even accept hard currencies any more, unheard of.
This is just pure harassment.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00UD using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

Not sure about the pure harassment bit, but it is certainly pure stupidity, countries like Thailand need hard currencies, the whole point of tourism is to generate cash from overseas!

Thai banks / currency exchange companies make a lot of profit buying and selling USD etc. I'm sure they would prefer the average tourist to arrive in to Thailand with hard currency.

Feel sorry for anybody having to exchange in the UK or similar!

As far as I know, access to arrivals is now restricted from departures, before it wasn't.

Not so sure that it would work anyway, even if not restricted.

I get what you mean and actually is another reason why I'd be contacting the Embassy for advice.

An extension is the way to try first IMO.

Hilarious really, Walking Street, the 'Happy' Zone, where, after 25th March, the Farangs don't get hurt or ripped off, meanwhile the rest of the town can still be a free for all.........

Can see why it will work......

3 minutes ago, lonewolf99 said:

From personal experience.... you get a ETD that is supposed to be used to continue your journey back to the UK. 

You also have to show them at the British Embassy your booked flights/travel arrangements and countries on route and list any stopovers. i.e if you fly through Dubai / Paris / Amsterdam.

I doubt if you can do a border run using one ?

 

it is what it is - for Emergency travel use only and on returning to the UK the ETD is taken off you at Immigration/Border control - whatever they call themselves these days.

 

 

Not strictly correct regarding having to return back to the UK according to the Government Website info on an ETD, though the OP doesn't actually live in Thailand.

What an emergency travel document lets you do

You can use an emergency travel document to travel to your destination through a maximum of 5 countries. You can also normally use it to return to where you are now if you live in the country you’re applying from.

Your travel plans (countries and dates) will be printed on your emergency travel document. If you change your travel plans once you have your emergency travel document, you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Your existing British passport will be cancelled in most cases.

If your final destination is the UK, border staff will keep your emergency travel document when you arrive. Border staff at a different final destination might also keep the document.

I would certainly seek advice from the British Embassy before going down this route, as Ubonjoe states, under normal circumstances when an ETD is issued, then your newly applied for passport will be cancelled. 

You need to ask the embassy if there are circumstances whereby the new passport will not be cancelled.

You can specify up to 5 countries on an ETD.

I'm sure that far more knowledgeable members than myself will also reply, but, to my mind, if you do have an Non O-A visa (which is what I assume you mean), then you could depart Thailand and return on or before 13th April 2017 and this would give you one more year of entry in to Thailand, then 30 odd days before that entry expires apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement.

Alternatively, as far as I know, the money for the first extension only needs to be seasoned in the bank for 2 months prior to the application for extension, the 3 months applies for subsequent extensions.

On 27/02/2017 at 9:48 AM, mahjongguy said:

We know that the Jomtien Land Transport office does not accept yellow books. Does anyone know if they accept the pink ID card?

As far as I know, the Yellow book is accepted by Banglamung Land and Transport Office for driving licence renewal / car transfer etc. I know of several people who have used them in the past as proof of residency, in fact one of them was with a Yellow book from Surin and this was accepted no problem at all, has something changed?

Yes, 25th June would be the next date.

Can be done up to 15 days before or 7 days after.

TM.47 is the correct document to use and has not changed as far as I know.

He does not have to report on the 24/4 as he will not been in the country for 90 days or more when he departs, the next 90 day report will be due 90 days after he arrives back in to Thailand, including the day of arrival.

90 Day Reporting

See the very last paragraph in this link.

10 minutes ago, transam said:

The paper thingy is now history...

I do believe that the green or pink paper licence's issued prior to the photo licence introduction remain valid so long as your name or / and address remain the same and you are not disqualified at some point.

If any of the above happens, then they must be replaced with the photo licence.

You are correct if you are referring to the paper part of the photo licence, I think this was done away with in June 2015.

As an addition to the above post, I seem to remember that DVLC also stated in their reply to me, that in the event of a change of a UK address then you must inform DVLC and replace the paper licence with the photo type.

On 04/03/2017 at 9:03 PM, LongTimeLurker said:

In an email to me DVLA said that my UK (green) paper license can still be used in UK until I am 70 and as I live abroad the address cannot be changed and any fine for incorrect address would not be applicable.

Now that is interesting, as they pretty much told me the opposite, my question at the time was related to hiring a car and using my UK licence, they told me that I could not and must use my Thai licence, as driving without the correct address is an offence.

Never had an issue hiring a car with the Thai licence, though mine is a 5 year one.

14 minutes ago, elviajero said:

The CW IO's are correct.

 

If you were returning on or after March 29th you'd need a new re-entry permit, but as you're returning before the current permit expires you don't.

 

You will be stamped back in until March 28th under the existing valid re-entry permit. When you go to immigration on March 29th they will grant you a new 1 year permit to stay with day 1 being the 29th.

 

If you don't leave the country you're permission to stay expires on the 28th. If you do leave the country and re-enter with a re-entity permit it also expires on the 28th. There is no difference. The 29th is covered by the under consideration stamp.

 

The re-entry permit remains valid for use up to and including March 28th even with a new application being under consideration.

 

I think you'll get the same answer at the airport.

Interesting, thanks for this, maybe I'll ask at the airport re-entry desk if I do have to depart between now and the 29th, that part is not sure as yet, a distinct possibility though.

5 minutes ago, georgemandm said:

Up to you how you think ok , I read it and he is after a o or o a is he not and in my country you can only get the o but you can get the  o a  and the  normal 6 months or 2 months visa.

it has all changed in thailand now .

you did 7 years ago , back then you could do it like you have done it not now .

No reason why he cannot, as suggested, come here on a 30 day visa exemption entry and convert this to a non immigrant here in Thailand, can be done and has been done many times.

Alternatively he can go to a consulate locally and get a single entry non o, loads of options!

BritTim, thanks, will allow for this plus a queue.