calbts2

That's what I did. My crypto portfolio is now over 200% in profit and about a year from now I plan to be up 10x from that. Of course I will be scaling out next year before the inevitable crash possibly at the end of next year. Study the 4 year cycles - invest accordingly - and as a result you wont really care about the changes in exchange rates. And when you have been here many years - it all evens out anyway. I have seen the baht range from as low as 28 up to 44 USD.

Where do you get this 12,500 amount? I only pay 1,900. Then again maybe I am not "skint".

I disagree. Immigration was much easier to deal with before "Big Jerk" took over and either influenced or directed many changes that made things harder - pressure on some Embassies to eliminate income affidavits, mandatory health insurance for Non-O-A, and strict enforcement of TM-30.

I got the same "come into the office immediately message" and I went into CW and was told that now every time you leave the country and reset your 90-day - your first report back in the country cannot be done online - it must be done in person or by mail. This has nothing to do with TM30 or your type of visa. The online report system is not informed when you leave and return, thus the schedule that it keeps is thrown off and must be reset manually. After the first 90 day report back, you can resume using the online reporting system. Again this was for CW - don't know if it applies in other provinces.

Non-O. I converted in Thailand from a Visa Exempt entry. Before the health insurance requirement, I would have preferred to get a NON-OA to keep my money in the USA. But now forget that - Non-O is the better option.

I got my Filipina wife's non-O dependent in Vientiane but that was in 2017. We were also married here in Thailand. At that time I think I used the income affidavit but do not remember what financial proof I showed them at the time. You probably now you need to have the 800k seasoned for at least 2 months and show your bank book to the embassy but maybe not. We also got married in Thailand so no need for MFA legalization. I showed them the Thai marriage certificate/documents. She was give a 90 day Non -O and then converted that to a one year extension in Thailand later on.

They just cut off all US Citizens due to FATCA. I am quite disturbed since I used they a lot for the past 2 years and just went in earlier this month to re-verify all my KYC info. I guess now I will just have to use my wife's account.

If you are that scared I would advise instead coming back into Thailand over land via Nong Khai, and fly back to Bangkok from Udon Thani. The Laos land border entries are generally the most "hassle free" to get back into Thailand. I believe there is direct bus service from Vientiane to Udon Thani.

I always either rent a car at at the Phuket airport or bring a rental car to Phuket. It pays for itself after half a day. All tourists flying in should do this. Taxi and tuk tuk prices on Phuket are one of the biggest ripoffs in all of Thailand.

Umm I don't think so - https://www.airlive.net/breaking-russian-airlines-ordered-to-stop-selling-tickets-to-russian-men-aged-18-to-65/

This is spot on. I have actually been successful obtaining two 10 year B-2 tourist visas here in Bangkok for 2 different wives 10 years apart. All the time I have been living in Thailand on marriage/retirement visas. I was not allowed in the last interview (I was in the first one nearly 15 years ago). Most of the questions were about my living status in Thailand - not hers. Once they conclude that I have been a Thailand resident an have no intention of moving and living back in the US - the Visa is issued no problem. Also do not bother using an agency for the B-2 visa as there is nothing more they can do for you than you can do on your own. It is a complete waste of money.

For me and many expats living here for a long time it is more out of habit to use AEON atms as they not long ago were fee free vs the Thai Banksters ATM cartel. And 220 baht just to withdraw your own money is a total ripoff no matter how you look at it. Actually though now Wise is becoming a real competitive option to get cash from overseas as lately my transfers have arrived in minutes - even on weekends. And the exchange rate is usually better than the daily VISA/Mastercard rate.

I don't know if they are out of business but they have recently been removing their just about all of their ATMS from central Bangkok. For example they used to have ATMs at Terminal 21, Tesco at Fortune Town, Big C Ratchada, and Central Praham 9 - All are gone now. I only now know of one AEON ATM not far from where I live - Big C Rama 4 - and who knows how long that will last.