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Posts posted by cusanus
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3 hours ago, davehowden said:
Thank you. As I don't bother to update my passbook when I make an ATM withdrawal/ Transferwise deposit it shows an amalgamated balance the next time I do do an update. I would have thought a 12 months statement from the bank showing every transaction would have bee more useful, but then that's just my logic.
This is amalgamated government, not logic. You really should update your passbook once a month or more, anyway.
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29 minutes ago, Shouldhaveknownbetter said:
Need some help please. I went to the visa agent to get an extension of my retirement visa. I brought a printout of my Bangkok bank account showing all my international transfers. The agent said the printout was not enough and I needed a bank letter and a Social Security letter. I went to my Bangkok Bank in Maejo and they told me they do not give bank letters as requested by immigration they do not have the program. Question to members, what Bangkok Branch did you use to get that letter?
These days bank letters are always required. I've always gotten mine at the Hang Dong intersection BIg C branch, no hassle. Would guess any branch in Chiang Mai would do it.
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5 minutes ago, CMNightRider said:
The improvement in waiting time is due to the mass exodus of western expats fed up with immigrations latest restrictions
Not a serious problem for many of us, but I doubt I could have come to Thailand 14 years ago if they were that picky. My guess is that it will hurt Thailand more than it will help, but might help us long timers more than it hurts. There are a few other things about Thailand that may end up forcing me to leave, but hopefully not because I've been really happy here.
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16 minutes ago, Konini said:
Two copies? Sounds like they may be starting to be a bit difficult again, asking for things people probably won't have. I hope not, things have been so much better since Big Joke shook things up.
Don't believe he meant two copies. Helped a friend with her extension in June. One copy. Just like mine in January, but I do make a complete set of the passport that includes TM30 and last 90 day as they are required two be stapled in.
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1 hour ago, Konini said:
It's a bit more complicated I'm afraid. They haven't been accepting the letter from the embassy for about 4 years, you've been a bit lucky to get away with it. ...
When the changes came in, it was a 3 stage process of seemingly mindless bureaucracy. Firstly get a copy of your marriage certificate and have it certified by the FCO. This is all done online with a credit card, it took about 3 days. The mailing address I gave them for it was for the Thai embassy in London, and I sent them an email letting them know that it was coming and that I needed it to be certified and gave my credit card number for the fee, about GPB10 I think, and I asked them to mail it to my mother's address. No problems at all, all very easy. When I finally got to see the certificate, it was a full print out of the certificate, identical to the one I have, and on the back it was certified by the FCO, and a second stamp certifying that the FCO certification was genuine from the Thai embassy. This was always OK to use in UK, I have provided a copy of this every year, didn't need to use the marriage certificate in Thailand so I didn't bother with the 3rd and final step; having the Thai embassy (certified) certification certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was surprisingly easy, go to office, clearly marked and easy to find in a maze of government offices, show passport, couple of photocopies of it, fill in a form, pay (I think) 200 baht and come back the following day to pick it up. Now I can legally use the marriage certificate, complete with 3 certification stamps, here in Thailand.
I would suggest that you send an email to the Thai embassy in London just to let them know what you are going to do, then get the certified copy from the FCO sent to them. I would further suggest that you have the Thai embassy mail the certified copy to someone in UK and have them send it to you here registered mail if the embassy won't do registered post for international mail - they probably do, asking the question can be the opener for starting a conversation about this with them.
Then, as I said, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 200 baht and done. It's actually far less painful than I imagined it would be.
EDIT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the government complex at Chiang Puak
You call that eezy peezy? Now I know I have Alzheimer's. God help me. What is an FCO?
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40 minutes ago, chingmai331 said:
I went last December to apply for my one-year retirement extension. Was told by on IO lady how well dressed i was that morning. She liked my pink striped shirt, collared and well-pressed. But not my shirt, nor my shiny shoes and body perfume, had any effect on my application, since she gave me only 30 days.
A passport, proof of income, etc? That might help.
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16 minutes ago, Mapguy said:
"Why can't the English teach their children how to speak....?!" (True, he didn't mean exactly the same!) So, why should the Thais........?
Shouldn't we remember where we are?
I've always given them a copy of every page, that way there's less room for a mistake. Yes, I know, I should try harder. I certainly don't criticize Thai people for not having a perfect grasp of English except when they drag people into court and use it as an excuse to shove the evidence under the table and hijack my wallet. Well, not me so far, but two people close to me. I also learned from such experiences to compile and organize ALL the evidence at the first hearing, because that will be the last opportunity for the next five years, not that they would have read it anyway whether in English or Thai. I've never had any complaints for overdoing it, though, I have a terrific knack for being ignored.
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On 9/5/2019 at 5:36 PM, Ozziepat said:
cusanus: Maybe, though, anecdotes, hearsay and assumptions are all we ultimately have to work with.
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4 hours ago, Ozziepat said:
cusanus: Thanks. My questions stem from the fact that a spouse extension is known different in many ways from the retirement extension, but I can't find all the differences spelled out anywhere. For example, I understand after I apply in Chiang Mai, the application is processed in Bangkok, hence a significant delay - meaning one cannot wait until the last week or so on the generic "O" visa to apply (And I could be completely wrong about that. My recent prior post addressed the general information problem in more detail. Crickets.) I appreciate that the two visa types probably should parallel each other in most major respects, and I am very reluctant to just assume that. Maybe, though, anecdotes, hearsay and assumptions are all we ultimately have to work with.
Why do I think you're wrong about that? I always got a great deal of pleasure as well as good answers by going to Immigration and asking. Also, advise taking a Thai friend, best a female friend who speaks excellent English, there with you. They can chat up a storm and get to the bottom line real quick. I did inquire about the Thai visa marriage myself about 10 years ago and was told that retirement was a much better option because of some kind of red tape, so that's what you're likely talking about. I didn't come up with 400k/200k by interpolating from retirement, but this had been discussed before with pretty fair consensus. I didn't tag on to Thaivisa until I'd been in Thailand for 6-8 years, can't really remember, but I went to Immigration frequently on a very friendly basis, not just to ask questions but to say Hello. I can't imagine that you couldn't get all your questions answered with authority if you were to try that. I've given that advice many times because many people seem to think they can't do that.
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1 hour ago, Ozziepat said:
Somewhere in the current extensive commentary this might have been covered, but a search didn't turn it up so...
Re initial extension of Non-Im O visa to be based on marriage, I intend to deposit THB400,000 to meet the financial requirement. Please clarify:
1. Must the funds be deposited into a Thai bank account in my name only at least two months before I apply for the extension?
1a. And after two months must the application be filed at least 30 days before expiration of the Non-Im O 90-day visa? Tricky math...
2. Allowed source of funds: Can I transfer the amount from an existing account in Thailand in my and my wife's names, or must it be from a foreign bank and a particular kind of transfer?
3. Three months after (application, final approval,...?; dates that can be separated by a month or more.) can the 400,000 be withdrawn in total with no problem?
3a. Then 2 months before the next extension, the money must be returned to my Thai account, assuming it was withdrawn. Do any caveats apply as per 2 above?
I'm guessing a little, but this should be same as retirement except for 400k/200k instead of 800k/400k. Ok, AFTER the money has sat for 2 months (I'd definitely go for three to be on the safe side as that's what it used to be), you just walk in with your updated passbook, doesn't matter where the money came from, just show it's been there long enough and updated that morning (you might get away with a day or two before, but play it safe). Three months AFTER the date of renewal (why fudge), you must NOT withdraw the entire amount, but only 200k for the rest of the coming year. For retirement the new rules are you can withdraw half (400,000) and then MUST bring it back up to 800k two months prior to the date you walk back in to renew (better say 3). I always go in about a week before the extension expires, but I think you can go in much earlier than that. Of course, for marriage the amounts are 400/200, not 800/400. So, no, I'm sure you cannot withdraw the entire 400k, only 200k. Now, that's what always works for me except I leave 800k in a fixed account permanently, it's easier. For sure there are others who have a better grasp of these things, Nancy most likely can touch up the fine points. Anybody fine with 2 months prior to going in? On 1a, I AM NOT SURE, someone else help with that. I remember going in anytime within the last month of the initial 90 days, but I don't want to steer you into trouble, so someone help us out there, please.
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10 minutes ago, hml367 said:
I live in a single family home...... I registered at the referenced sites. I have made a report with the Android app and it is registered in their database. I made the "report" from my mobile phone while sitting in the airport.
Hot dang. Really. I'll remember that. I haven't been anywhere in the last eleven years though. Well, except for two emergency trips to the US a couple of years ago to help out a friend. I will definitely give it a go the next time I go. Immigration isn't as personal as it used to be anyway. Thanks.
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1 hour ago, NancyL said:
There's no helping some people. I certainly don't know which IOs are "pliable" and how to bend their ear and am taken aback at the suggestion that I do. I play by the rules.
Sorry, Nanc. Don't be such a grumpy kitty. My comments related to the statements in the post you referenced, not you personally. The bottom line as I read it was that there is no online TM30 meant for ordinary folk, but if you have good enough reason, you might be able to get there if you can convince the right person. What I was looking for was something from the horsey's mouth pointing to an equivalent of the online 90 day report, but it seems there is no parallel there. I didn't mean to be rude, honestly.
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4 hours ago, NancyL said:
Good grief. Ten seconds with Google got me to this.
You can tell this site is mostly elderly retirees. Read the link you posted carefully:
...You have to register in order to use the online reporting. It is primarily meant to be used by hotels and etc but a few immigration offices allow individuals to register. This is the login page for doing it. https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online...
Ok, the online primary purpose is for hotels, guest houses, and such. Damned if I'm going to ask my wife to plow through a crowd of unknown individuals willing to bend the rules so she can beg to play hotel. If we had tons of foreign visitors it might be worth the trouble, but we rarely leave the nest; otherwise we'll just stop in at Immigration and say Hello as we always do when needing an updated TM30. But some of us are surely like you, Nancy, of the upper crust and could tell us which IOs are pliable and which are not and how to bend their ears. So let us know. THANKS!
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5 minutes ago, Lizard2010 said:
For someone that has been here for so long
Plus has given so much advise
I thought you would have been up with everything
Go to the TM 30 website
Register
With all the relevant documents that are required
Then when approved with the user name and password
use The TM 30 App
If you had taken the trouble to watch you may have learned a few things
I took the trouble to watch
As many things have been happening thanks to certain people in Bangkok
Looking out for all of us who live here
A simple question deserves a simple answer, not a smart one. A straightforward one would also include the web link.
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48 minutes ago, Lizard2010 said:
watch this video it does explain a lot
Also how to do your TM30 Online
A good video, THANKS, but do you really expect me grind through two hours looking for the procedure to update the TM30 online? So, if I travel to another province and stay at a registered hotel, that's taken care of, but if I visit a friend how is this done online? And, I believe, on return to my home, it has to be done again. So, how does my wife do that online? The explanation for that shouldn't require two hours discussion by a panel of farangs and I doubt it really is possible if you don't own your own hotel. Just explain it, please. One can only conclude after struggling with a six week siege by an uninvited guest that the authorities have no genuine interest in policing the law, only in collecting fines when extending a visa and the TM30 is absent or doesn't match the current address. I do agree with the one fellow; indeed, since the TM30 rules became so strict domestically I haven't left my house and expect to die in it eventually, even though I'm convinced it doesn't matter much. One of these day's I'll finish the video, it does look worthwhile.
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2 hours ago, Sparkles said:
The TM 30 room had as many people waiting than downstairs and just creates even more paperwork. Now my wife is registered we can next time do it online, providing it works .
You got me. I do 90 day notifications online, but don't have a clue as to how to get the TM30 update done online. Clue us in, please.
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On 7/8/2018 at 7:37 AM, moonseeker said:
Thank you. Been to every shop and overall quite disappointing. Now down to Klipsch Reference Bar 11 or 14 or Yamaha YSP 2700. Yamaha a bit pricey. Klipsch sounds quite good at the Power Buy Setup and I bought with the same guy before, was pleased with his service. As you say, pity many newer and better models never make it to ??. Regards and Thanks. MS>
Same here 2019 Chiang Mai. I'll probably order via eBay and get just what I want for a lot less and np with Customs. There is, however, a very hefty price tag for the Global Shipping Program, but then you'll end up with what you want for a price you probably couldn't beat here in Thailand, anyway. Too bad the things are so bulky.
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1 hour ago, Lizard2010 said:
I understand
I have been using this forum for many years
I see what normally happens here
Unfortunately my phone goes everything a post is psoted
Hmmm, can you turn off notifications for thaivisa.com? I don't get any on my PC? Anyone?
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4 hours ago, Sparkles said:
I am not making a big deal out of anything or am I arguing.Just trying to clear up this grey area where my wife is the housemaster in the house we live in and she would be the one liable for the fine. She just doesn't want it to rebound on me in any form so we will probably do a return trip to Imm as our visitors arrive late Saturday.That I guess means Monday am
That's what I'd do because I too don't like to be on the wrong side of the fence. But Immigration will never make an issue out of it based on my 14 years experience here. It's the foreigner who stands to have a problem when he can't extend his stay and usually he pays the fine. The householder has never been held liable in practice or fined to my knowledge, not that it can't happen. Indeed, first time my wife was fined of course 1600 baht, but do you think I actually made her pay it? God help you if you try that. I also mentioned my ACTUAL experience last year when my son held his mom under siege for six weeks without a TM30 and despite many desperate complaints to Immigration, nothing was done. He finally left on his own because there were numerous other felonies involved that could have resulted in serious prison time. But in my experience neither the police nor the courts here are likely to prosecute anyone for anything unless there's a very public disturbance downtown or serious bodily injury. It's rare for any laws to be actively enforced, it's usually the victim's responsibility to pay an attorney to protect themselves and then the attorney is most likely to skip out and the court award damages to the perp. It's all about lining the pockets of attorneys, very little about justice, and that's not just Thailand. Ok, I suppose it's remotely possible you could end up having to pay 1600 baht per person (ok your wife), but that won't break your bank or go on any criminal record. In no way am I suggesting anyone break the law, but don't lose sleep over this. It really should be your visitors who are liable for the fine, anyway, IMHO. Just enjoy your life.
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21 hours ago, Sparkles said:
Thanks for the reply but the foreigner, me, is not involved its the housemasters (wife's) responsibility isn't it ? and they cop the fine. The stub surely doesn't go in my passport the only one there is mine last time I went out of the country which is checked when I do 90 day reports and extension
Seems like you are somewhat confused and making a very big deal out of very little. It's the housekeeper's responsibility YES, but it is YOU (not you in this case but the visitor) who pays the 1600 baht fine. You could argue the point all you want, but it won't get you anywhere unless the householder says ok I'll pay which has never happened as far as I know. The TM30 stub is supposed to be stapled into the foreigner's passport, yes it is. I doubt they bother with that for 90 day reports, they never used to, but most of us do those via mail or online and copies of that particular item are not requested. Nor was it checked for extensions for many years, but I think it may be a problem now if it's not in the passport. Nobody ever bothered with the TM30 until about 2016 or so and it appeared to be a quick windfall when they started up. Whether it makes any sense to you or not really makes no difference to anybody else. It doesn't have to make sense. This is how all bureaucracies work. They don't have to make sense and often don't.
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27 minutes ago, Mahseer said:
By the letter of the law if your wife (home owner) has non Thais staying she should report this to immigration. Don't believe you have anything to do with it but the fine is around 1,600baht so why not ride your luck as chances of anyone reporting strangers in the neighbourhood are slim. I certainly would.
By the "letter" of the law, yes, but it's the foreigner who pays the fine. If they're only going to be here for 10 days, I can't see where there would be a problem. It's when you go for a visa extension that you may have a problem. My son arrived uninvited to his mom's house in Hang Dong a year ago and camped out for six weeks attempting to bully her into forking over all her money. My daughter in law owns the house but could not have possibly done a TM30 or been responsible because he was not supposed to be there. Also, despite numerous efforts to point this unpleasant situation out to Immigration police in hopes of having him removed, nothing was ever done and no one was fined. I hope this is directly related to Immigration. The point is you need the TM 30 stub in your passport IF you have to do an extension or something like that. Nobody is going to come looking for anybody unless perhaps there's a dead body involved.
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4 hours ago, JimGant said:
Actually, your partner becomes a co-signatory, not a beneficiary. As previously stated, Thailand has no 'pay on death' proviso to enable you to leave your bank account to a beneficiary, thus avoiding probate. So, take your partner to the bank, set her up as co-signatory (no Will necessary), they'll enter her name against the account, and issue a new passbook that has her name (hidden) associated with the account. Officially, upon your death, the account is supposed to go thru probate. Functionally, especially if your co-signatory is also your Will's beneficiary, just have her clean out the account before you're cold. No aggrieved party (I'm assuming), so who's to file a protest?
Now that seems like the best explanation of what we did. She didn't say beneficiary, but stated the money was available to me. I just can't read Thai and didn't get a good understanding of what took place. That really isn't ideal if she either dies suddenly or not be in a position to get to the bank. I'll have to mull this one over.
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4 minutes ago, silverhawk_usa said:
I have asked friends many times, "Do you not plan on leaving your partner (whomever that may be) something enough to take care of them and final expenses upon your death?" If you plan on leaving them something in your home country, are they going to be able to access that without a myriad of red tape, lawyers and hassle? If you do not have a partner, Disregard. ????
If you have a will, take that to the bank with your partner and have your partner made beneficiary on one or more accounts. That's what I did at Bangkok bank. Only trouble was a series of papers that we signed being in Thai that I couldn't read, but that was the intent.
CM Immigration Q&A (2018)
in Chiang Mai
Posted
That's a new one on me. Every visit since 2005 they've required me to SIGN every copy, never had the benefit of a stamp like that, though they do make a lot of stamps and seem to get a kick out of it.