27 minutes ago, Spidey said:

It's not a "grandfathering" issue. It's for first time applicants for a visa extension.

Just how do you come to that conclusion?

 

Why would it matter to Key Visa anyway.

They have ways of obtaining extension regardless of any rules according to reports.

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Something as important as it only being for first time applicants would certainly be mentioned. 

Perhaps that is what Key Visa is hoping for since it is going to hurt their business.

I can't see it hurting visa agents, if it were true. It would force even more people down the agency route and, no doubt they and the IOs would be inclined to charge an even higher price for their services.

 

Happy days for agents and IOs.

19 hours ago, ukrules said:

I wonder do you realise when he says 'new guy' here he's referring to the newly appointed guy in charge of immigration, not you. LOL ????

Thank you UKRULES for enlightening him.... 

12 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Just how do you come to that conclusion?

 

Why would it matter to Key Visa anyway.

They have ways of obtaining extension regardless of any rules according to reports.

It's been my impression that is a legit operation but even if not, I don't think it's cool to name and shame specific visa shops here. In any case, I don't read the order at all like Key Visa is reading it.  So it's a mystery so far why they are reading it that way. 

12 minutes ago, Spidey said:

I can't see it hurting visa agents, if it were true. It would force even more people down the agency route and, no doubt they and the IOs would be inclined to charge an even higher price for their services.

 

Happy days for agents and IOs.

This is a massive problem for agents.

Just now, Jingthing said:

It's been my impression that it a legit operation but even if not, I don't think it's cool to name and shame specific visa shops here. In any case, I don't read the order at all like Key Visa is reading it.  So it's a mystery so far why they are reading it that way. 

Key Visa are very tight with Jontien Immigration. I once had a problem and the IO told me to "talk to Key Visa". They, themselves, have also said that they have someone at Bangkok immigration.

2 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

You're in the right club. Lot's of ditherers here now planning their finances and which path to follow.

And checking themselves into, "The home for the bewildered" many of which will be springing up soon.............

17 hours ago, MikeOKitches said:

Apologies to you. I originally misinterpreted your comment here. I thought you were talking
about me, since my post count total is low and I may be considered "new" here in the forum.
It appears in your comment, you meant the "new guy" to mean newly appointed immigration chief
Surachate Hakpan - known as Big Joke. We can agree on this. I should also explore Vietnam, since
I've heard some very positive things about that country as well with regards to foreigners wanting
to live there. 

Thanks Mike... I can see how you misinterpreted this.... no worries !! I just did a trip to Vietnam in December... not any of the big cities though as I don't like big cities..... In any case I loved it and depending on how and where this is going to go it would be a good choice for me anyway ....not a money issue for me ...I just don't like being put in a box....Cheers Annabel

13 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Key Visa are very tight with Jontien Immigration. I once had a problem and the IO told me to "talk to Key Visa". They, themselves, have also said that they have someone at Bangkok immigration.

The days of money lending are almost certainly over, because on renewal you need to show a passbook with 5 months min balance of 800K and the other 7 months with a min balance of 400K. A big difference to 800K for 2/3 months.

 

It will only be out and out fraudulent applications signed off by a corrupt IO that will get thorough now. And it seems BJ could be going to go after them too.

5 hours ago, JackThompson said:

And every remittance is a dollar not spent into the USA economy - literally sucked out of it, destroying American jobs for citizens, plus the ones taken-directly by the foreigner working there.  Meanwhile, we are spending Foreign Capital INTO Thailand. 

 

 

Even Trump has been instrumental in destroying American jobs. Who do you think his hotels and golf courses employ for the menial tasks? Why do you think American consumers buy goods produced elsewhere? Because the cost of labor of American workers is uneconomic for many businesses.

You're complaining about the effect, not the cause.

2 minutes ago, elviajero said:

The days of money lending are almost certainly over, because on renewal you need to show a passbook with 5 months min balance of 800K and the other 7 months with a min balance of 400K. A big difference to 800K for 2/3 months.

If you use an agent, no need to show anything to anyone, apart from the 25k bribe.

Have you ever done this? There's no passbook, no money, no loan, no bank account.

Just the bribe.

21 minutes ago, annabel said:

Thank you UKRULES for enlightening him.... 

I see you are very selective in your quoting of comments. If you read that same page and several after, you'd have seen I expressly apologized to you for my misinterpretation
of your original comment to me. How did you miss this? ???? Or did you just figure it was better to intentionally ignore what I wrote and maintain some ill will towards me here on the forum for a simple misunderstanding I had? ????

 

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

If you use an agent, no need to show anything to anyone, apart from the 25k bribe.

Have you ever done this? There's no passbook, no money, no loan, no bank account.

Just the bribe.

I know how it works. There are two main ways agents work, not just the out and out criminals. I was commenting on both.

Just now, elviajero said:

I know how it works. There are two main ways agents work, not just the out and out criminals. I was commenting on both.

No 'out and out criminals', the IO is using his personal discretion to wave the savings requirements.

1 minute ago, elviajero said:

I know how it works. There are two main ways agents work, not just the out and out criminals. I was commenting on both.

It's more that the IOs are out and out criminals. Don't see that changing any time soon.

 

Where there's a will (and a brown envelope full of cash) there's a way.

5 hours ago, Roy Baht said:

But it's not just an economic problem, it's a social one, and the backlash comes not only from elites.  Thais are extremely status conscious and believe in maintaining a social hierarchy. Nothing upsets a hard-working middle class Thai more than the sight of someone they view as "socially inferior" being showered with wealth. They see it as deeply unfair. And envy is no small force in Thai society.

Correct. In my GF's village, she has some people very jealous of her rise from fairly humble origins.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

No 'out and out criminals', the IO is using his personal discretion to wave the savings requirements.

Perhaps bj could have just focused on that part of 'IO personal discretion ' rather than all this <deleted>.

1 hour ago, Spidey said:

It's not a "grandfathering" issue. It's for first time applicants for a visa extension.

When I first saw this thread, thought it had to be for first time apps ONLY...BUT then went thru dozens of pages where this was never mentioned or considered! Just assumed I was gravely mistaken. 

 

Like everything else here...silly stupid, unclear, poorly thought thru, confusing, irritating, gouging, egregious and ridiculous. 

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

No 'out and out criminals', the IO is using his personal discretion to wave the savings requirements.

Rubbish. Only senior IO's can sign off, and there is supposed to be a good recorded reason.

 

The bent IO's are using faked paperwork.

8 minutes ago, Spidey said:

It's more that the IOs are out and out criminals. Don't see that changing any time soon.

 

Where there's a will (and a brown envelope full of cash) there's a way.

I agree about the IO's, but the agents are complicit.

 

I see a change coming if BJ hangs around. He is definitely making his mark.

16 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

No 'out and out criminals', the IO is using his personal discretion to wave the savings requirements.

"the IO" doesn't have such a discretion! It's reserved to very high ranked officers and require to use a very specific procedure which include a report to Bangkok Immigration head office explaining why he accepted to abandon this requirement for this person. (Someone posted the rules this week, but I didn't mark the page/post )

No need to say that it's not how it works in Pattaya by example . The high volume would be impossible to explain. So the way it works here is just fully illegal, whatever these agents can say.  

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

If you use an agent, no need to show anything to anyone, apart from the 25k bribe.

Have you ever done this? There's no passbook, no money, no loan, no bank account.

Just the bribe.

This comment is spot on. People will still be able to go this route as a last resort for their
retirement visas if they're unable to meet the mandated requirements. Money talks. To think
this option will now suddenly disappear because of recent developments is naive. 

52 minutes ago, elviajero said:

This is a massive problem for agents.

no, agents stock just doubled

4 hours ago, Mango Bob said:

Tell me Big Joke why do a retired person here have to keep 400,000 baht in the bank all year long and 800,000 in the bank for 5 of those months while a married expat only has to have 400,000 in the bank to season for a few months a year.   Why do I as a retiree need to have more money than a married person who supports his family, her family and half the village need less money then I do?

Because that is the way they want to do ...get used to it...Thai retirement requirements are mostly softer than others countries...I'll say it again "get used to it"

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

If you use an agent, no need to show anything to anyone, apart from the 25k bribe.

Have you ever done this? There's no passbook, no money, no loan, no bank account.

Just the bribe.

Yes, in the past that was possible. Decision of the extension was done by one officer on the day of the application. Positive decision - deal done. 
I am very positive that they added photoshoped copies of bank books just to have the documents in order in case they have a revision. 

Now, they opened a door to request your bank book at a later point again. 

 

That is a new big risk for the officer and the applicant.  If everybody at that immigration office plays along no problem. But what if Bangkok sends in a new officer?
What you do if you supposed to show you bank book in 3 month ( after getting the extension ) and your "favourite" officer is transferred to a different office ????.

The visa agent will disappear, he has been paid already. IO also been paid already and the problem is with the applicant. 

 

This new rule will create a lot of problems and some very unhappy faces on all sides.  

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, uwe_rayong said:

What you do if you supposed to show you bank book in 3 month ( after getting the extension ) and your "favourite" officer is transferred to a different office ????.

 

Next you'll be suggesting the chief of police doesn't get a share from the traffic stops.

1 hour ago, madmen said:

Dude you live in jomtien where you can buy a condo for less than the price of a new camry.
Your paying 8k a month and think you killed it and got a super deal because all the expats left yesterday

You can't make that stuff up!
But here is a novel idea. Why not start a new thread about rents and stop hijacking this one?
 

I was not the one who started denying the low living costs here, the rapidly falling prices of condo-rentals, telling us we were living in shoeboxes, etc.  I haven't lived there in over a year now, but have friends who still do.

On 1/31/2019 at 11:47 PM, lucjoker said:

He wont keep laughing long, when he sees the money-people move some where else, and leave the pour mothers and children where they belong.

nobody is going to marry any thai lady, they will choose a cambodgian .

Yep, I'm sure he'll losing quite a bit of sleep, tossing and turning all night long, after he spends a day at Suvi watching all the retirees with all their belongings leaving the country.

 

Yep, that will wipe that grin off his face I'm sure.

 

Come on, let's read something sensible.

 

22 minutes ago, MikeOKitches said:

I see you are very selective in your quoting of comments. If you read that same page and several after, you'd have seen I expressly apologized to you for my misinterpretation
of your original comment to me. How did you miss this? ???? Or did you just figure it was better to intentionally ignore what I wrote and maintain some ill will towards me here on the forum for a simple misunderstanding I had? ????

 

Mike I am sorry but no I did not see your post as I gave up reading on this 104 page issue at page10 and the reason I saw UKRULES post is because it came through in the 70+ mails all related to this and as I was deleting them all I saw his post but I somehow missed yours .... and only saw it after I opened UKRULES one .... and I also replied to you saying Thank You and no worries! Please don't take all this personally.... there was no mal intent there at all....

30 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

If you use an agent, no need to show anything to anyone, apart from the 25k bribe.

Have you ever done this? There's no passbook, no money, no loan, no bank account.

Just the bribe.

no more

an applicant needs at least a bank passbook now and you to have your picture taken inside immigration with an immigration officer with immigration as a backdrop 

good agents put the money in the passbook for 25k

many do not for 15K