Hotrats

Just did my latest 90 day report at Nonthaburi Immigration today. Same routine as  every time before. No mention of needing to see my bank book either today or on my next visit. Seems like it is as I was told by them previously, that I will only need to show my updated bank book plus bank letter when I go to apply for my next extension of stay, at which time they will check that I have maintained the required amounts throughout the year.

46 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Only at offices that are pragmatic enough to accept it (like in our area).

I recently renewed my 5 year driving license at Nonthaburi DLT on Tiwanon. They accepted my yellow book and pink ID card as proof of address, no problem. So this seems to be an issue that varies from location to location (as usual).

3 hours ago, Spidey said:

Did a SWIFT transfer from my UK bank this month and showed up as "International Transfer". Had planned to use TransferWise next month to reduce costs. However, I'm getting mixed messages from the forum as to whether this method always appears as am international transfer with Bangkok Bank. Some say that it does but @Sheryl claims that it doesn't 100% of the time. Not sure that I want to take the risk with TransferWise. 

I always use TransferWise for transferring money from the UK into my Bangkok Bank account here. It has shown up as an "International Transfer" (or FTT code in the bankbook) every time.

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The new rules are not retroactive. If somebody is already on a extension before March 1st the new rules will not apply until their next extension.

When they apply for their next extension they would have to have the 800k baht in the bank for 2 months before they apply and then 3 months after they do it. Then the 400k baht after the 3 months.

See above.

Thank you Ubonjoe for your clarification. However, I am still not clear on exactly how immigration will be checking on the balance in our Thai bank accounts through the year following the receipt of our next extension. Will showing an updated bankbook be sufficient? Or will we be required to get a bank letter every 3 months? And will this become an added task along with each 90 day reporting?

If immigration insist on getting these documents from your landlord, and the landlord refuses to give them to you, then your only option is to move. This same situation occurred for me several years ago. The reason the landlord doesn't want to hand the documents over is usually to do with the unpaid TAX they should have been paying on the rental income, which they presumably have not declared. You can't use an alternative address as a home visit could well be required.

I always use my Thai driving license for car rental in UK. Have never had a problem. All that is required is the license plus passport, no other paperwork needed. As others have said it is technically illegal to use a UK license if you are not actually living in the UK with a verifiable UK address.

Interesting. For us, we took our 2 kittens to our local vet when they were already about 6 months old only to be told, "sorry, cannot do, come back when they are 1 year old". Which is what we eventually did.  However, the problem is that by the time they are that old the whole procedure is far more traumatic for them, and it took about a week before they were back to normal.

Nor me. I'm also signed in, but told that, "The page you are trying to access is not available for your account".

The one in the squeezy bottle is "tomato ketchup", imported.. The one in the glass bottle is"tomato sauce", locally made. Very different products.

The best place for a decent salad by far is The Salad Factory. Unfortunately, they don't have any branches in central Bangkok, but have 2 branches in Nonthaburi. So, depending on where you are located, it is well worth the journey. They do every kind of salad imaginable, with the option to create your own if you want, using only fresh, high quality ingredients. 

http://www.bangkokland.co.th/beehive/floorplan/floor1/store16.php

The last time I did my retirement extension at Nonthaburi Immigration (a few months ago) they did accept the bank letter dated the previous day, but they insisted that my bank book be updated on the same day as the application. They even made me make a trip to the nearest bank to get the bank book updated before they would process my application.

I really wouldn't even consider living in a moo ban without security guards. If it's a well run moo ban, then you need all the vital services and security which the presence of the guards would indicate are provided.

It is a Kor Ror 2, Most offices want a recently updated one. It can be obtained at any Amphoe for a fee of 20 baht. Your wife can get it by showing her ID card and completing a simple form.

Thank you to ubonjoe, and everyone, for the clear and speedy responses. Most helpful, as always.

I am about to change my extension of permission to stay to a Non O based on marriage. I have all the required paperwork, but I have one question re. the 'Tor Ror 2' Marriage Registry entry.

Can I use the original from when we were first married, 7 years ago? Or do I have to get an updated copy issued. And, if that is the case, can it be issued in my local district office (Pakkret, Nonthaburi)? Or does it have to be issued by the same office where we were first married (Bang Rak, Bangkok)?

One more question on this topic; I am planning to move from my current address, for which I have my yellow book, to a new address, but still in the same Amphur (just down the road). Will I still need to get a new yellow book issued for the new address, or can the original issuing office amend the address in my original book? My wife will be changing her address in her blue book too.

Same as many others, I have a Lloyds UK account, and they have no problem with me having my registered address in Thailand. I simply informed them of my change of address from my old UK address to my new one in Thailand. The one and only problem I do have, however, is that Lloyds will NOT send me any debit or credit cards to Thailand. When I queried this they informed me that Thailand was on their "embargoed " list of countries to which they were unable to send any bank cards, for "security reasons".

I wonder who is selling? Surely Bob doesn't need a few bucks?

It's being sold by a "Californian friend and business associate of Dylan, who bought it from the singer three years ago", according to the original BBC article.

@avander, do you and your Thai wife have a child? If so, it could be, as TerryLH says above, that your name is in the Blue Book as the father of the child, but not as confirmation of your residence.

As a confirmed tea addict myself, I can confirm after much research that the best source of good strong tea in Bangkok is Marks & Spencer. You can find them in most Central Department stores. They sell three different blends, but the one I use is the 'Extra Strong' blend. If you like a good strong mug of real English tea, you won't be disappointed.

They will not accept a joint account.

It has to be in your name only.

You have to apply at the Immigration Office that covers the area you live.

In order to avoid any surprises when I go to apply for my 1 year extension to my Non Immigrant O visa through marriage, I have a quick question.

The background is that back in June, following advice I received on this forum, I successfully obtained a one year multiple entry Non Immigrant O Visa based on my Marriage, in Savannakhet. I am now in the process of raising the required 400,000 Baht back in the UK. Once that is organised, I will be transferring it into my Thai bank account.

My question is, will they accept the funds being held in a joint account in the names of me and my wife? This is the account I have always used, and intend to continue using. So this is the account the funds will be transferred into. But having read some of the posts on this thread, I've started to worry that they might insist on it being in an account in my sole name. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Also, I'm assuming my application should be done in the Immigration office covering the area of my home address (Nonthaburi). Is that the case? Or can I process it at Chaeng Wattana?

Any advice will be most appreciated.

I have three questions regarding my application for a 5 year Thai driving license. My first 1 year license is about to expire (on July 7th.).

Any advice would be most appreciated.

1. I intend to get a confirmation of my address from the British Embassy. Should that letter be in Thai?

2. Can I apply in any Department of Transport office, or must I apply in the same district as my registered address (Nonthaburi, in my case)?

3. Is it correct, as I've read on this forum, that I do in fact have 1 year in which to apply after the expiration of my current 1 year license.?

I will mention first what can be confusing to posters asking questions here.

You should bear in mind that information given in some posts here are from different DLT's around Thailand and they all have there different ways of doing things.

1. Get a translation done as it may be needed at the DLT you attend.

2. Apply at the DLT office or offices your address comes under.

3. You can have up to nearly 1 year on renewing a 5 year one but I don't know whether it would be wise thing to continuing driving when in Thailand and the renewal is due.

i don't know about 1 year license l was in Thailand and able to renewed mine on the expiry date.

lt's no big deal getting licenses here all you need is the correct paperwork and patience.

Am grateful for your response to my questions. It all sounds like pretty sensible advice to me. So, many thanks.

I have three questions regarding my application for a 5 year Thai driving license. My first 1 year license is about to expire (on July 7th.).

Any advice would be most appreciated.

1. I intend to get a confirmation of my address from the British Embassy. Should that letter be in Thai?

2. Can I apply in any Department of Transport office, or must I apply in the same district as my registered address (Nonthaburi, in my case)?

3. Is it correct, as I've read on this forum, that I do in fact have 1 year in which to apply after the expiration of my current 1 year license.?

Yes your extension of stay must have come to an end to obtain a new extension of stay so it can not be done early. And both of your must be present at Immigration to obtain such an extension of stay.

Thanks for that vital piece of information. I knew my wife had to accompany me to interviews for the "full" Non. Imm. "O" application process, but I hadn't realised she had to be present for the 60 day extension application. Lucky you mentioned that. Am grateful for the info.