Retirement Visas v TM28s & TM30s at Jomtien Immigration

[sharecropper]

I just walked into Jomtien immigration office this morning, having read all the posts on TV about the TM 28/TM30 requirements.

 

I asked an immigration-uniformed official on the information desk a simple question and got a surprising answer.

 

I explained I am living here on a retirement visa, and asked do the TM28/TM30 requirements apply, when I either leave the country or stay elsewhere in Thailand.

 

Her answer was an emphatic "NO. They do not apply" She said TM 28/TM 30s only have to be filled in by those on tourist visas.

 

I asked was she 100% sure, and she replied. "Yes".

 

Has anyone else discussed this with Jomtien immigration and received the same reply?

 

[steve73]

I don't use Jomtien, so can't help you directly, but I would say that probably every tourist wouldn't have a clue about the TM28/30 system - and would have no need to, UNLESS they were intending to extend their Visa Exempt entry.

[Pattaya46]

> "NO. They do not apply" She said TM 28/TM 30s only have to be filled in by those on tourist visas.

 

It nothing new, certainly not a "surprising answer" for most Pattaya TV members 

 

As long as you do not move (change address),

Jomtien/Pattaya Immigration don't require that you make any TM28 or TM30

when you are on yearly extension.

Worse, they even refuse that you make a TM30 ! (I tried )

[KittenKong]

1 hour ago, sharecropper said:

Has anyone else discussed this with Jomtien immigration and received the same reply?

Yes, me. I've mentioned it a few times on here.

 

I was told on three different occasions by three different people there that if you are on a retirement extension, and if you live in your own condo, and if you are returning to that condo, then you dont need to file any sort of form following any trip either inside or outside of Thailand. You just carry on with the 90-day reporting as normal.

 

Of course, this being Thailand I fully expect them to suddenly change their minds one day and to fine me for not doing what they told me I didnt have to do.

[Swiss1960]

Yes, me. I've mentioned it a few times on here.
 
I was told on three different occasions by three different people there that if you are on a retirement extension, and if you live in your own condo, and if you are returning to that condo, then you dont need to file any sort of form following any trip either inside or outside of Thailand. You just carry on with the 90-day reporting as normal.
 
Of course, this being Thailand I fully expect them to suddenly change their minds one day and to fine me for not doing what they told me I didnt have to do.

Same when you have marriage extensions, live in a house where your wife is the blue book household head. I travel in and out of Thailand every year, just entered the marriage extensions paperwork and have not been bothered about TM30 (which I and/or wife never did). As I do 90d online, there is also no question about that.

Sent from my CPH1821 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Banana7]

I'm on a retirement visa, own my condo, and live in it, most of the time while in Thailand. I went to Jomtien immigration office to file a TM30, last week upon return from another country, after an absence of several months. I was told that I do not need to do TM30 reports because I do 90 day reports and have a 1 year visa. I did get a TM30 stapled into my passport.

[DrTuner]

TM30/28 requirements come straight from the immigration law and have nothing to do with the class of the visa. They're making it up as they go, as usual. I'll go try my luck tomorrow.

[dotpoom]

"Yes"....posted about it on here about 6 months ago. Got it from the boss man himself. After living here 18 yrs. and never having reported myself as been back in the country (just started my 90 clock ticking from the day of my return)..I thought I had better check it out for sure before my last visit home earlier this year.. after all the confusion I had been reading about it on here.

[Kerryd]

Yes, it is confusing.

 

I am on a Retirement Extension and have never had to do a TM.30 (or been asked for one).

Meanwhile, at the beginning of this year (back some time in January I think it was) a friend of mine, here for the winter on a Tourist Visa, went to Immigration to inquire about the TM.30 after hearing about it at an Expat's Club meeting.

He got nabbed and had to pay the fine and when he told them that he tried to get his landlady to do the report and she refused, was told to try and get the money back from her ! (Instead of Immigration doing their job and going after the businesses that weren't doing the reports they are supposed to be doing.)

I just reminded him about that last week as he is in the process of getting his next Tourist Visa and coming back next month on his annual winter get away. This time he will go do the report himself the day after he arrives (unless he is staying somewhere else and they actually do it for him like they are supposed to). 

 

Could be a "communications" issue as it is possible that (smaller) building owners/landlords may not be aware of the requirement to report foreigners that are renting from them on a short term basis. Of course, most of them are not going to admit they haven't been doing it and then have to pay a whack of fines and why bother if Immigration is happy with fining the foreigners instead ?

As I mentioned in another thread, with "Big Jok" shaking things up, what is current today could be changed tomorrow - with little or no notification of any kind (until you find yourself being herded into the office on the left and being told you are being fined 1,600 baht for not doing it before).

 

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[Suradit69]

22 hours ago, KittenKong said:

Of course, this being Thailand I fully expect them to suddenly change their minds one day

Especially if they're asked repeatedly about it and, after giving an answer, are challenged as to whether or not they are 100% sure of the answer they just gave.

[JusticeGB]

6 months ago after living here at the same address for 17 years I asked if I could have  TM30 posted in my passport. I was told it was unnecessary for longterm residents returning to the same address but agreed to do it for me. They said if I moved address I then would have to file the TM 28 and TM 30. 

[Bill Miller]

I recently got a TM 30 from Jomtien, after renting a condo for 1 1?2 years. I don't recall exactly why I decided I need it. Probably a proof of residence issue, as I am contemplating a Thai driving license.
I had no idea that the owner, who lives overseas herself, had never filed one, nor did the real estate agent who handled the original lease, nor the agent who collects the rent, etc. 
A woman from the Juristic office cobbled up a lease agreement, had me sign it, and for a 500 baht fee went in person to Jomtien and filed the TM 30 and handled paying the fine, which I also paid for. I now have it stapled in my passport, and will check at immigration when I leave the country next if I need to file again, as they would not give me a copy of the lease I just signed. I think it was a "phony" lease to get the job done, as the legal owner is not present.
The Juristic gal assured me I can get a proof of residence without it  from Jomtien by showing my lovely new TM 30. Any thoughts/experiences on that?

[DrTuner]

Right, so went. I'm not on retirement but marriage extension and was moving address. They rejected the TM28 and took the TM30 instead and stapled the stub in my passport. Of course this makes little sense as the TM30 is supposed to be landlord and TM28 the alien from outer space, the stub from TM28 should be the one stapled to the martians passport. Mai bpen rai, the entry in their system has been updated, which was the whole point of this forest destroying archaic exercise. Maybe in 5 years they'll manage to get it online same as the sometimes working 90 days notification.

 

One more note, my wife (the landlord) didn't do a TM30 last time I arrived since I didn't move address that time. No mention of needing to do it, but I overheard one clerk telling an elderly man he'll have to do it within 24h of arriving every time. Phase of the moon, draw of the luck, place your bets.

[steve73]

If anyone who has the TM30 receipt in their passport is planning on leaving the country, it is worth removing the receipt before you leave or the airport Imm officer will sometimes remove it, and you'll have to go through the whole process again either before or at your next extension.

Of course, some of you need to do a new TM30 report on your first day back anyway, but fortunately most of the I/O don't require this.

[Banana7]

2 minutes ago, steve73 said:

If anyone who has the TM30 receipt in their passport is planning on leaving the country, it is worth removing the receipt before you leave or the airport Imm officer will sometimes remove it, and you'll have to go through the whole process again either before or at your next extension.

Of course, some of you need to do a new TM30 report on your first day back anyway, but fortunately most of the I/O don't require this.

I've left the country numerous times with the TM30 in my passport and never has the IO at the airport, removed it. At one time I had 2 TM30's in it, and none were removed.

[steve73]

Just now, Banana7 said:

I've left the country numerous times with the TM30 in my passport and never has the IO at the airport, removed it. At one time I had 2 TM30's in it, and none were removed.

Lucky you... !

Which is why I said "sometimes" in my original post.  I've known a couple of people who had it removed (or possibly lost it during their travels), so best to take it out and keep it safe. 

[DrTuner]

23 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

I've left the country numerous times with the TM30 in my passport and never has the IO at the airport, removed it. At one time I had 2 TM30's in it, and none were removed.

Same, also have had 90 notification and some other bits and pieces stapled to it. Must have left a couple of hundred staples stuck in the pages. IOs at swampy have never bothered to take anything out, I always have to do it myself.