CW retirement extension -- refused because of no TM 30 -- question.

[retiree]

Umpteenth extension yesterday, same apartment for 20+ years, in-country since 2016.

Was allowed to get an "L" window number, and all paperwork accepted & stamped.

Had to draw a map (1st time).  Then told I must take the following to Window B at Chaeng Wattana:

- TM 30 application

- copy ID card  House master / owner

- copy house registration of house master / owner ..., or rental agreement (if not owner)

- usual passport and TM 6 pages.

Officer said I could just jump in at "L" window.

 

Today my building owner just gave me a computer printout from extranet.immigration.go.th titled:

"FINSEARCHHOTELFORM30 <Thai snipped>  (Search TM 30)"

It shows my name, and says I moved in as of today, and entered the country in 2016.

 

Question:  is this all I need?   

(i.e. TM 30 is already filed, so I don't need my lease / window B / etc)?

 

Thanx, Retiree

[ubonjoe]

The printout is all you need to prove the report was done online. Immigration can verify it by checking the database where the reports are stored.

[retiree]

Yes indeed, thanks.   Lease etc. not needed.  Unusually long wait

(nearly 1.5 hours) to get my stamped passport back after

the TM30 was accepted.  And fyi, yesterday arrived at 7:10am,

got number well over 200 outside -- worst I've ever seen it.

Was advised to bring another computer printout next year

even though the report is in their database.

--Retiree  

[RBOP]

13 hours ago, retiree said:

Yes indeed, thanks.   Lease etc. not needed.  Unusually long wait

(nearly 1.5 hours) to get my stamped passport back after

the TM30 was accepted.  And fyi, yesterday arrived at 7:10am,

got number well over 200 outside -- worst I've ever seen it.

Was advised to bring another computer printout next year

even though the report is in their database.

--Retiree  

Long que due to Monday is a holiday. Today will be worse. 

[Captain 776]

They are strictly enforcing TM-30 now.

There was just an article about it from Immigration here in TV last week.

 

Do your TM-30 or expect problems.....its that simple.

[Skeptic7]

17 hours ago, retiree said:

Yes indeed, thanks.   Lease etc. not needed.  Unusually long wait

(nearly 1.5 hours) to get my stamped passport back after

the TM30 was accepted.  And fyi, yesterday arrived at 7:10am,

got number well over 200 outside -- worst I've ever seen it.

Was advised to bring another computer printout next year

even though the report is in their database.

--Retiree  

Sounds like a monotonous breeze. Glad you got it all sorted, but just hope you don't ever have to go in December. 1.5 hours is nothing. And #200 isn't bad at all. Place is a total Cluster-F every time I've been there.

[RBOP]

I have a pink card and is good for 10 years. Never used it but will see if it gets me a Thai entry fee to the parks. I doubt it though. Its a weird card with some archaic conditions on the back obviously meant for refugees such as the holder can not leave the area unless have special permission. Makes me think all this crap about TM30 is coming from archaic legislation about refugees and they now apply it to all foreigners.   

[Scouse123]

We, like many others, have waited nearly 2 months for password and username. We have applied twice for it. I have just got new retirement extension and I am leaving the country in less than two weeks heading for UK.

 

I think we will just wait until We return then head to Kalasin then to report with a TM30, within 24 hours then.

 

We cannot get them to pick up on the helpline and when we contact the officer in Kalasin, he keeps saying he is too busy too deal with it and call back later.

 

It makes you think are we deliberately being sidestepped and given confusing answers, judging by all the different interpretations from differing immigration offices I read on here, so than can just hit us with a fine?

 

Forgive my cynicism, but it looks like they have found a way, temporarily at least, to generate between 1600 and 2000 baht a foreigner for as long as they can keep this confusion up.

Edited July 26, 2019 by Scouse123

[cnxnicho]

Thailand has problems now tourists down and expats living here going , why !!!

[Maestro]

Removed an off-topic post. This topic is about the Bangkok Chaeng Watthana immigration office.

[4MyEgo]

25 minutes ago, nichopaulcnx said:

Thailand has problems now tourists down and expats living here going , why !!!

Possibilities:

 

1) Most expats currencies have dropped about 20% in value against the strong baht, meaning it costs them more to live here, and as most are pensioners, there isn't any additional income coming in to top up the difference, thus making it harder for the expat to survive here.

 

2) Cost of living is also up

 

3) Immigration enforcing the law and making it mandatory for most retired expats to have 800,000 baht in the bank 3 months prior to applying for their extension and keeping half of the money in the bank after a set period, and they cannot touch the other half for 3 months after they applied for your extension, I believe, although they will turn a blind eye if you don't have the money and use an agent and pay them between 15,000 and 25,000 baht for them to take care of everything, i.e. immigration gets a slice of the cake.

 

4) Expats feel hard done by with all the changes with immigration rules, more forms, etc, etc.

 

I suppose the above are just a few possibilities why some expats are leaving, as for tourists, well I believe the string baht and social media may just be the cause ?

[CH1961]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Expats feel hard done by with all the changes with immigration rules, more forms, etc, etc.

No. 

How long do you live here in LOS? 

 

No changes the last years you are talking about. 

They are just enforce the (long/always) existing laws. 

[marcusarelus]

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Possibilities:

 

1) Most expats currencies have dropped about 20% in value against the strong baht, meaning it costs them more to live here, and as most are pensioners, there isn't any additional income coming in to top up the difference, thus making it harder for the expat to survive here.

 

2) Cost of living is also up

 

3) Immigration enforcing the law and making it mandatory for most retired expats to have 800,000 baht in the bank 3 months prior to applying for their extension and keeping half of the money in the bank after a set period, and they cannot touch the other half for 3 months after they applied for your extension, I believe, although they will turn a blind eye if you don't have the money and use an agent and pay them between 15,000 and 25,000 baht for them to take care of everything, i.e. immigration gets a slice of the cake.

 

4) Expats feel hard done by with all the changes with immigration rules, more forms, etc, etc.

 

I suppose the above are just a few possibilities why some expats are leaving, as for tourists, well I believe the string baht and social media may just be the cause ?

In the lasts 10 years the USD has stayed about the same.  I think Americans are the number 1 or 2 largest group of expats.  Immigration is not making it mandatory to have 800K in the bank and not 3 months before.  I'd suggest further study before you post.  

Edited July 26, 2019 by marcusarelus

[Skeptic7]

1 hour ago, marcusarelus said:

In the lasts 10 years the USD has stayed about the same.  I think Americans are the number 1 or 2 largest group of expats.  Immigration is not making it mandatory to have 800K in the bank and not 3 months before.  I'd suggest further study before you post.  

Has hardly "stayed about the same" as evidenced by the roller coaster 10 year chart below. It is down overall from where is was 10 years ago by approximately 10%.

 

It has been reported in the ever inconsistent Amusing Thailand at some IO's that the money need be seasoned for 3 months before...others 2 months.

 

 

Edited July 26, 2019 by Skeptic7

[marcusarelus]

7 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Has hardly "stayed about the same" as evidenced by the roller coaster 10 year chart below. It is down overall from where is was 10 years ago by approximately 10%.

 

It has been reported in the ever inconsistent Amusing Thailand at some IO's that the money need be seasoned for 3 months before...other 2 months.

 

 

USD 10 years ago 31 this year 31.  The poster I was responding to said it had dropped 20%.  The pound has dropped in relation to almost all other currencies.  

Edited July 26, 2019 by marcusarelus

[DrJack54]

54 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

USD 10 years ago 31 this year 31.  The poster I was responding to said it had dropped 20%.  The pound has dropped in relation to almost all other currencies.  

Aud 5 or 6 years back was 31+ baht. Now its more like 21+..…. I feel so much empathy with USA guests. 

 

Edited July 26, 2019 by DrJack54

[hongthai]

March 19, 2006, US$ got 38.96. Much higher than that earlier after Asian Financial crisis. Hit 36 in 2005.!!

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, hongthai said:

March 19, 2006, US$ got 38.96. Much higher than that earlier after Asian Financial crisis. Hit 36 in 2005.!!

And what was it in 1954. 

Keep it relevant. 

[Skeptic7]

39 minutes ago, hongthai said:

March 19, 2006, US$ got 38.96. Much higher than that earlier after Asian Financial crisis. Hit 36 in 2005.!!

Last time USD hit 36 was only 2 1/2 years ago. High of 36.00 on the number...28 Dec 2016. Falling ever since...

[Harveyg]

3 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Has hardly "stayed about the same" as evidenced by the roller coaster 10 year chart below. It is down overall from where is was 10 years ago by approximately 10%.

 

It has been reported in the ever inconsistent Amusing Thailand at some IO's that the money need be seasoned for 3 months before...others 2 months.

 

 

And then if u draw a horizontal line at the present rate you can see what proportion of time, and by roughly how much, the rate has been above present.   That is, even if you need the graph to help u feel what your pocket already knows.  ????

[emptypockets]

What has this discussion re currency movements got to do with the original OP's thread?

[adam1948]

19 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

USD 10 years ago 31 this year 31.  The poster I was responding to said it had dropped 20%.  The pound has dropped in relation to almost all other currencies.  

Hate to burst you bubble marcus but in last 10 years

USD vs ฿ has not stayed the same

(31฿ to 31฿)

USD from 43฿ Jan 3 2003 down to 30.8฿ Jly 2019 (16years) has dropped 12.2฿ or 28% ....

10 years ago (2009) USD @ 34.7฿

Today           (2019)  USD @ 30.8฿

So in 10 years USD actually dropped 10.2฿

or 29%

You can see by the stats below USD vs Thai ฿

has dropped A LOT!

Thai Baht vs USD 2003 to Jly 27 2019
Jan 1 2003            USD was worth     43.0 Thai Baht
Jan 4 2005                   “       “        “           39.1  -   9.00% DROP
Jan 2 2006                                                 40.9  -  4.88%
Jan 1 2007                                                  36.1  - 16.00%
Jan 1 2008                                                  29.5  - 31.40%
Jan 2 2009                                                  34.7  - 19.30%
Jan 4 2010                                                  33.2  - 22.79%
Mar 3 2010                                                  32.7 -  23.95%
Jan 4 2011                                                  30.2 -  29.77%
Dec 9 2011                                                  33.0 -  23.25%
Jan 2 2012                                                  31.2 -  27.44%
Jan 5 2013                                                  30.5 -  29.06%
Jan 2 2014                                                  32.7 -  23.95%
Jan 2 2015                                                  32.7 – 23.95%
Jan 5 2016                                                  35.4 – 17.67%
Jan 1 2017                                                  34.9 – 18.83%
Jan 3 2018                                                  32.5 – 24.41%
Jan 1 2019                                                  32.3 – 28.88%
Jly27 2019                                                  30.8 – 28.37%

The baht broke a 16-year record low on 22 April 2013 when its value dropped to 28.61480 baht against the U.S. dollar.

THAI BAHT vs USD AUGUST 2008

http://emergingeconomiestoo.blogspot.com/2008/08/thailand-country-outlook-august-2008.html
EXCERPT FROM Aug 2008 site (฿ @ 30)
The future course of the Bhat is thus difficult to call at this point in time. Clearly, if the economy continues to expand from its low “post military coup” level, and if the BOT opts for a hawkish course then the scene is set for a significant further appreciation of the Bhat. However, the general outlook for Asian economies is also one of re-coupling to the rest of the world and given that Bhat already is at a fairly high level (e.g. against the USD) we will need to see the BOT’s reaction and investors’ response before making any decisive call on the trend.

 

Edited July 27, 2019 by adam1948

[rickudon]

Hardly true to say immigration rules haven't changed, About the only ones not affected are retirees on 800,000 baht in the bank extensions, and even some of them are now having to provide TM30's when they didn't before. Below is a not necessarily complete list :-

 

1. Visa exempt. 10 years ago there were still visa runners living here on exempts, rarely a problem. Now if you have 6 total or 2 over land borders i a 12 month period you run a real risk of being warned or denied entry.

2. Tourist visas. 10 years ago i could a triple entry tourist visa, just pay the fee, and no limit on how many. Now only single entry, and like the exempt people, have 2 or 3 back to back and you may be denied entry, also embassies and consulates will not issue unlimited visas - some will stop at 2 or 3.

3. Multi-entry Non immigrant 'O'. 10 years ago, if you were over 50, just needed to sign a form saying you had sufficient money for your visit. Now you need to provide proof of income of about 65,000 baht a month in your home currency. And many places have stopped these altogether, only single entries provided now. About 4 separate changes were made over the 10 years.

4. Extensions by income. Well, for USA, UK, Australia, the rules changed on January 1st .... Not going into detail as I'm sure most are fully aware! But the main issue, as i saw it, was Embassy letters were based on gross income, while the international transfer was net income .... which would be lower for most., and you have to bring it into Thailand every month (even if you are out of the country!).

5. Also a few other rules which may have existed are now being enforced - the Amphoe marriage document has to be new each year - never had to be before. So one extra trip to get another document for every extension. And, of course, the address reporting (not everywhere yet).

 

So changes there have been. The question on everybody's lips (well, nearly everybody) is "what's next?"