cusanus

30 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

Nonetheless I enjoy the pithy way you make your case. ????

An Englishman, I presume... 

On 4/29/2019 at 1:32 PM, WaveHunter said:

Well, I sure can't argue with you on what you said.  One size certainly doesn't fit all.  I know some people in your situation, and I can appreciate you guys have more of a reason to put up with the craziness of IMM than I do.  You sound happy and and content, so I envy you for that ????.  

Thanks, but I'd like to say as I'm sure I've said many times before that working with Thai Immigration has never been anything less for me than a very special pleasure despite the temporary overcrowding the last few years. As for setting aside the 800,000 baht reserve, that places no strain on me whatsoever and will not affect the quality of life for anyone, statistics now giving me only another seven years. Some have strenuously argued that it rightfully belongs in the USA where it originated against overwhelming opposition and where my kids would express their gratitude by pissing on my grave. For now I promise the Thai government that I'll leave only a good looking corpse and no debts 

9 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

Well, I think there is a lot of fact to back up my opinion, and I'm guessing more people feel the way I do than not, but yeah, it's just my opinion.  Nonetheless, when I see how much more efficiently things work in Vietnam, it makes me seriously wonder if staying in Thailand is worth all the needless effort.

You get what you pay for? I've been married to a one in a million/lifetime Thai babe for 10 years with an extended family worth dying for, a very convenient and aesthetically pleasing environment, modest COL, a most luxurious nest to live out the rest of my days. If I didn't have that, I'd pack up for Vietnam, a lower cost of living, easier visa requirements, and a hectic, unhappier culture. I need no bond to live in the USA, but I wouldn't go back at gunpoint. 

5 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

I appreciate the point you make but nonetheless I think tourist and expats account for largest portion of the country's income and should be treated accordingly instead of being subjected to ever-increasing red tape and constantly changing rules that seem totally arbitrary. Seriously, whoever the people are that are in charge of IMM, both on the regional level, and at the federal level are either hacks, corrupt, or both!  

If you're a farang, opinions are like <deleted>. Eveyone's got one. 

14 minutes ago, hml367 said:

Cusanus, May I ask who assured you regarding costing the Thai government a great deal?

No, you may not. 

2 minutes ago, Odisan said:

I did my reporting online on Saturday - worked a treat; no issues whatsoever. I have to do it though the provincial website, though, In my case it's this one: https://www.surinimmigration.go.th/. If I try it through the main immigration website, it fails.

Now, that's a truly amazing revelation! Everyone pay attention! If one doesn't work, try the other. More evidence that the process isn't entirely automated.  

3 minutes ago, davehowden said:

"Expect listing your address as [email protected] would have never worked"

 

I am sure your correct as you probably know more about what I did than I do !!!

Ok, then, you know a machine would not have have sent your stub to a gmial address, computer code isn't usually programmed that way, so that proves my point, doesn't it? A warm body received it and made the obvious correction. But the last time either the machine had taken over the job or the warm body didn't think to correct your blooper. I'm certainly not discrediting your experience, but it does raise questions does it not? Maybe you can explain it. 

25 minutes ago, davehowden said:

When you say "Can't get it to work" can you be more specific. Upon closer inspection I noticed that my email address on the application form was reading as "Gmial" and not "Gmail". This incorrect email was used for several previous applications of extension ...

Expect listing your address as [email protected] would have never worked. But repeating my last post, my last attempt failed while my previous one succeeded, then I noticed that I was on the seven day cusp listed as lead time for online reporting. If submitted a day earlier, my guess is that it would have gone through. And this was also Songkran when a lot of government stuff was closed. And this brings up the broader issue of failure simply because a warm body has to be monitoring the site for it to work.  Moral of story, apply at least 8 days early and if it still isn't working, try again the next morning and maybe later again in the day if that doesn't work. Certainly, it does work if done at the right time.  If all else fails, beat feet to the braisanee... experience shows that three days lead time by mail is usually enough. 

5 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

I just think it’s unfair for them to freeze funds in perpetuity.  It serves no purpose and only benefits the bank.  I don’t care how much money a person has; I think it’s a sin to have funds tied up like that.  I just think IMM has finally gone too far with this arbitrary red tape.

Yes, in theory you are right and lots of us feel that way. Still, expats looking for a better country to retire in are usually faced with such a requirement. I've also been assured that those who do not have a reasonable cash buffer frequently end up costing the Thai (or other) government a great deal for various reasons, especially if they die or take gravely ill suddenly. Many of us aren't expected to live more than 5-10 more years. So, to me, anyway, it's a very reasonable requirement when faced with the kind of things I was putting up with back in the USA.  

1 minute ago, davehowden said:

And if your not in Thailand at the time of your next 90 day report what will happen I wonder.

Maybe that would be a good use for an agent...

2 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

Im living in Pattaya temporarily, and the ChonBuri IMM office is in fact requiring that you come in to show 400k in bank after 90 dats, so I think it’s just a matter of time before CM does as well.

Seems like the safest assumption is that you will be called on it. Seems 800k in a fixed account would be the most sensible and convenient for most of us unless struggling for cash. 

13 hours ago, CMBob said:

Puzzled by that comment as in all 9-10 years of basing my retirement extension on the 800k in the bank, every single year the bank letter was required. What was required prior to 2009 is unknown to me and perhaps that's the time period you're talking about.

The issue that was discussed was whether one needed to update the passbook as of the day of the application for an extension (or some date near that) and it appears that all regular savings passbooks from all banks can be updated whenever

I was thinking back to 2008, but my memory is less than perfect so I might be wrong. The issue for me was the allegations that bank books were being falsified to deceive immigration officials and that was the main reason for the recent crackdown. This was supposedly a common practice by agents. Hard to believe, really Would seem quite difficult and risky. Wouldn't a bank letter not also be contrived? Do we have any such examples, or maybe we shouldn't ask such questions. 

1 hour ago, CMBob said:

Apparently BB will update but, for a fixed term account, SCB won't (and their machine cannot).  I even discussed this with the Immigration Officer and she said "no problem."  I'm guessing she/they already know about the issue.

That hitch never occurred to me. Have used BB fixed deposits some years in the past and no bank letter was required then. What's the basic problem now, were bank books actually being modified to show fake balances? So, I went the 800,000 fixed deposit method (1.5%) and just assume that with the bank letter there should be no problem. Maybe that assumption is wrong, wouldn't wanna make an ass out of u and me. 

7 hours ago, mcofer said:

Online worked for me on Chrome for mac in less than a couple of minutes 88 days ago. Just tried 4 browsers with and without user-agent changes on mac os and 2 different android devices (phone and tablet) with 3 different browser each and continue getting the 'contact immigration popups' in all scenarios. 

I strongly suspect that you were not within the 7 days prior window. Maybe best be 8 days before due date or it won't go through. CHECK AND REPORT BACK TO US

4 hours ago, moe666 said:

Went for my 90day report in and out in 5 min. all they wanted was the last 90day recept and my passport. the girl did her thing put the recept in passport and I was gone. Will use the copies I made for extension.

Outrageous. I took my disabled friend in to do at the same time as myself, we were parked and leaving in under three minutes. The gals and I did a thumbs up on our way out. 

On 7/8/2012 at 12:16 PM, jko said:

FOUND the stockist near Big C Don Chan - thanks.

Entering Big C from the Highway, garden stalls are on your right, a bit towards the end of the line, before it bends to the left, you'll find a shop called 'Sam Heng Dee' (written as 3เฮงดี ) Telephone 082-698-8497 Price 3 bags for Baht 100. Will report on results!

Wonder if he's still there. My experience with the bags sold along the highway to Hang Dong is that just about anything you plant in the stuff will die within 3-4 weeks due to reducing conditions. They all sell pretty much the same thing. It's safe to use after about three years, probably less. If you mix with other soil it's not quite so bad and established plants will tolerate it long enough to survive.  Have been struggling for years to build a decent topsoil in my yard. Added 14 bags of a pig manure mixture that helped a little bit. 

12 minutes ago, Konini said:

Ding ding!  This is the winner.  Owner reports online every time we arrive back in the country, we only physically go to immigration to do TM30 with a screenshot of the latest report on the phone (we don't bother printing it, they don't seem to care) the one time before we do our extensions. 

Assuming the "owner" makes the report. In 28 man/woman years here, the "owner" makes no such report, but you're responsible, anyway. 

19 hours ago, Mark1066 said:

Sorry if this is not the right place to ask but does anybody know what the latest requirements are for photos when applying for an extension based on retirement in Chiang Mai (as in how many and what size, colour background etc.)? I've looked at older posts but I'd like to know what they are asking for now if possible.

Can't remember the exact size, but just down the street from the US Consulate (towards the moat corner) on the left there is a small shop that does passport work and takes photos. I often go there and tell them what I need near extension time, I think 100 baht for a quick couple of photos. They for sure will get it right, then you can measure them to see. You can spend a few hours enjoying the local markets, too. In the past, they're also ready to take your photo right there at the Immigration offices. Maybe a short line, but can't get any easier than that. 

5 hours ago, grin said:

My wife and I tried calling Chiang Mai Immigration and asking if they were always open on Saturday for TM30 updates but we got different answers. Has anyone seen a sign or online posting that is more definitive? Even though the TM30 update for just a two day stay is onerous there are times that it would be quite convenient to be home for a weekend.

I'd go there in person and ask, or maybe even go over on a Saturday and check, because you can't rely on anybody's word here. Yes, the rule is 24 hours, but from what I've understood no one has ever been punished for being a day or two late. In the very small chance you are, will 1600 baht break your back?  If you're that worried, be a hero, go this Saturday and check them out, then report back to the rest of us. 

7 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Under the new rules (effective March, 2019) it has now changed to  2 months in the bank on the date you apply for consecutive extensions, according to UbonJoe in another thread on this. (See link below).  He usually knows what he’s talking about. 

I read it 2 months before for the 1st time retirement extension and 3 months before for subsequent extensions. Well, maybe UbonJoe is right, but for myself and others I know it's just easier to keep 800,000 in a fixed account permanently. It would be a real pain to keep shifting money around just to scarf a little extra interest. The new rule seems a bit hostile to me, but perhaps just because it's a new adjustment. We'll have to get used to it. I'm not going back to the USA. https://www.thethailandlife.com/the-thailand-retirement-visa-guide

8 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

I have another question that I have not been able to find an “consistent” answer to:  What if I decide I no longer want a retirement visa, and want to revert back to a 6 month METV after the present "retirement" visa ends?  Can I do that when my present visa expires, while still here in Thailand, or do I have to leave the Kingdom and apply from outside?  If I have to apply from outside, must it be from my home country, or could I do it from Vietnam (where I’m planning to visit at that time anyway)?  Just to be clear, my intention is not really to "retire" here, I only applied for the retirement visa because I wanted to be here for a year, and it seemed like the easiest way.  When it ends in September, I still want to be here for anther 6 months but after that I plan to travel to other places, and resume business activities so a retirement visa would not work for that at all.  So, getting a six month visa after my present "retirement" visa expires is my goal.  I'll appreciate any helpful advice.

Thanks for your compliment. I've no answer to this question, but suggest you try discussing it in person at Immigration. I've always gotten good answers there without knowing any Thai. Seems like getting a retirement extension might work okay even if you don't stay that long. 

50 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

There has been a couple of thousand posts written about what is going on.  The amount of money in the bank has not changed in 20 years or you can still go to your home country and get a 2 year visa with no money in a Thai bank.  Seasoning has extended to 6 month total at 100% and 6 at 50% - I think I got that right.  Most of us are not affected as we either left the money in a Fixed deposit account anyway or used the income method. 

I read every post, comment often, and yet saw no good explanation until I went to the articles about it via Google. You've simply restated what I just posted, but many of us hadn't quite gotten exactly how these new changes work. It affects me only because I get better interest in a non commercial account. I admit, I've been here 14 years and have gotten lazy, but the new rules as stated in the one article have been confusing as Hell even to Immigration officials throughout Thailand. Hopefully, everyone on the forum has a better grasp of it now.  

1 hour ago, cusanus said:

Sorry... the rules have changed and I'm still not clear on it. Looks like it's now 800,000 baht for two months prior to filing date, but now the 800,000 baht balance must remain for three months after the filing date and not fall below 400,000 baht until it's boosted back to 800,000 baht two months prior to the next filing date. I'll have to study this a bit more because one article says one thing and the next another. It means I can't keep as much as I have in good interest bearing accounts but let it go to waste. Essentially, we have to maintain a minimum balance of 800,000 baht for five months and 400,000 for the remainder of the year. Google thailand retirement visa requirement 2019 and check the news yourself.

Oh, and for years after the 1st extension, it's 800,000 baht for three months prior. Believe I'm going to withdraw 600,000 baht from non commercial savings and just buy a Bangkok Bank 1 or 2 year CD and ensure my usual account doesn't fall below 200,000 baht three months before and after retirement extension. It seems unfair to me since I haven't been cheating the system. I'll lose about 12,000 baht interest and have to juggle another account, but then there's a price for living here and we'll get used to it. Now, maybe someone else has something more to add.  I had no idea about these new rules and this should be the place to keep each other straight. One question I still have, do we get our visa renewal at the usual appointment as we always have? I assume the following three months 800,000 baht and continued 400,000 baht minimums are not checked until the following year and could jeopardize the next extension, not the current year, but maybe I'm wrong.  https://www.thethailandlife.com/the-thailand-retirement-visa-guide

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

It appears to be 2 months for new applications and 3 months for renewals. Then 3 months after renewal before you can withdraw 400K and top up to 800K again 3 months before next renewal.

Sorry... the rules have changed and I'm still not clear on it. Looks like it's now 800,000 baht for two months prior to filing date, but now the 800,000 baht balance must remain for three months after the filing date and not fall below 400,000 baht until it's boosted back to 800,000 baht two months prior to the next filing date. I'll have to study this a bit more because one article says one thing and the next another. It means I can't keep as much as I have in good interest bearing accounts but let it go to waste. Essentially, we have to maintain a minimum balance of 800,000 baht for five months and 400,000 for the remainder of the year. Google thailand retirement visa requirement 2019 and check the news yourself.

4 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Just wondering if anybody can tell me if rules have changed for amount of time money has to be in a Thai bank and the amount that must be on deposit prior to application for renewal of “retirement visa”.

800,000 baht or more for 3 months. Not sure about the first time visa, that was 14 years ago for me. If there are any other changes, let's hear about it.  NOW for my own question: Is Chiang Mai Immigration open next week (Monday)?