1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

"interpreting the rules 'on the fly' not hindered by logic and adherence to existing rules/regulations."

Indeed there's the rub, inconsistency.

For the very old. sick and frail the constant uncertainty is unfair.

I doubt it will change as the "flexibility" opens the door to the brown enevelope.

I am sure many here on retirement visas in less cooperative offices would sooner pay more for a centralized service.

Of course we have to recall that good "earning" jobs come with favours and expectations all the way to the top trough.It is hard to imagne the practice or mindset switching to Finland or Singapore where a public servant would fear losing their future by any hint of corruption and be a social pariah and lowly night watchman.

35 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

...

Last year it was the same problem when people could not get proof of income from their embassy and were trying to a apply for an extension with only a few months of transfers. There was even a memorandum from the head of immigration that a year was not required for the first year under the new rules.

Hi UJ,

Thanks for conforming that both stances by the Petchabun IO are completely wrong.

>> Could you please post a copy of that Memorandum from the head of Immigration?

Those on a ME Non Imm O marriage Visa now wanting to regularize their stay in Thailand by applying for the 1-year extension of stay, will be confronted with this faulty practice of requiring 12 months transfers when for a FIRST application only 2 months are required, and that Memo will be helpful as the PoliceOrder regulating it is rather cryptic on the issue.

6 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

>> Could you please post a copy of that Memorandum from the head of Immigration?

Those on a ME Non Imm O marriage Visa now wanting to regularize their stay in Thailand by applying for the 1-year extension of stay, will be confronted with this faulty practice of requiring 12 months transfers when for a FIRST application only 2 months are required, and that Memo will be helpful as the PoliceOrder regulating it is rather cryptic on the issue.

Absolutely. Chiang Mai immigration refuses 2 months only the first year. If I had the document to show them, it *might* help (who knows?).

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Some immigration offices or officers have a mind set it has to be a year for every extension. The only way to fix it would be for the immigration bureau to put out firm instructions that only 2 months are required for the first extension.

 

I agree with this. The mind set problem. It was why I went to ask in person since there are contradictory reports.

 

As I said earlier , I don't think they were being nasty or awkward but it just seemed to me that they were not up to date with the situation. They may previously have looked at this a long time ago and having not had a personal memo sent them or having looked into recent changes they have the mind set that they know things that they don't.

 

It is very tricky to confront them without appearing to be a smart Alec and spoiling a relationship that you need to foster.  Several times I questioned their line on things telling them that their head office was not telling us the same things as they were but I had the feeling that if they backed down they would have lost face so it was like walking on eggs.

 

The point I argued the most was the 2 month deposits of 40,000 baht for a 1 year application which they flatly refused to accept no matter how I pitched it. I said , that yes.....it has to be every month of the year for the second years application but not for the first. Only 2 are needed in the official guideline. Again ..............no....I was wrong. This was where I got the comment that for just that amount I could borrow from my wife. No I said because it has to show in my bank book that it comes from oversees. But still no.

 

Here my wife cut in because as she later told me she felt I was beginning to ' push my luck '

 

So....I wrapped things up with the assurance that they would give me the 60 day extension in order that I would have time to season the 400,000 I would now have to transfer.

 

We left with all smiles but as I said to my wife outside ' They don't know s*** from shinola '

 

OK....so when I go again to actually apply for the 60 days , who's to say there might not be someone different on duty ?

 

Some posters in other threads have said these reports are getting a bit tedious in their frequency. I disagree and I have read and filed them all so as to be informed as possible. The other useful thing about many reports is that we can clearly see that TIT , and that it happens enough to remark on that different offices do sometimes have a different slant on things.

 

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

1. That is completely wrong. There is no requirement anywhere in the  immigration regulations for the actual visa to still be valid. 

 

Indeed. And yet another poster was told the same thing ( If I remember correctly he was using immigration at SriRacha. ) I will see if I can find the thread.

 

As I said ....I am making no claims regarding any of the above. It is just relating the answers I was given to the questions I asked.  I think that pretty soon more reports will be coming in and I am sure there will be points of variance. If you live in a tourist area it is likely that there will be an English speaker on hand to speak with. I count myself lucky that I didn't have to ask all these questions using my wife as an interpreter. That would have been very difficult.

44 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Thanks for conforming that both stances by the Petchabun IO are completely wrong.

>> Could you please post a copy of that Memorandum from the head of Immigration?

Those on a ME Non Imm O marriage Visa now wanting to regularize their stay in Thailand by applying for the 1-year extension of stay, will be confronted with this faulty practice of requiring 12 months transfers when for a FIRST application only 2 months are required, and that Memo will be helpful as the PoliceOrder regulating it is rather cryptic on the issue.

The memorandum was only for last year that was the first year that proof of income by way of transfers were allowed. That was to help those that were using proof of income from their embassy before and of course most had not been doing the the transfers.

There was no need for one allowing 2 months for the first extension since it is in the amendment to the police order.

14 hours ago, khunyod said:

Absolutely. Chiang Mai immigration refuses 2 months only the first year. If I had the document to show them, it *might* help (who knows?).

 

The same answer I was given and yet other offices agree to the 2 months first year rule.

 

I was particularly aggrieved by this rejection since I had already made the 2 transfers of 40,000 into my Bangkok Bank account and thought I would be good to go. Now I have to get the full 400,000 and if it were not for the bank of mum I would have to default on bonds I have in the UK which not only would loose my premium but take time.

 

I am still pondering whether to leave in June or go for the 1 year extension. A friend back in the UK who works for the NHS is saying they are gearing up for a lot more covid cases this winter so returning then looks grim.

On 8/18/2020 at 12:08 PM, Max69xl said:

"can't even guess why they want to expel even the few tourists they have left, tourists that are surely supporting the Thai economy."

Most of the "tourists" you're talking about are stranded and are not the richest ones at the moment. I don't think they really support the Thai economy. 

They certainly are not a drain in anyway on the economy.

Edited August 20, 20205 yr by overherebc

24 minutes ago, trucking said:

The same answer I was given and yet other offices agree to the 2 months first year rule.

 

I was particularly aggrieved by this rejection since I had already made the 2 transfers of 40,000 into my Bangkok Bank account and thought I would be good to go. Now I have to get the full 400,000 and if it were not for the bank of mum I would have to default on bonds I have in the UK which not only would loose my premium but take time.

 

I am still pondering whether to leave in June or go for the 1 year extension. A friend back in the UK who works for the NHS is saying they are gearing up for a lot more covid cases this winter so returning then looks grim.

Did you consider using an Agent?

Fee for a 1-year extension of stay based on marriage (with a 'fix' for the 400K) is 25K.

PM me if you need the agent co-ordinates (who uses his Khon Kaen Divisional HQ contact to get your application approved).

14 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Did you consider using an Agent?

Fee for a 1-year extension of stay based on marriage (with a 'fix' for the 400K) is 25K.

PM me if you need the agent co-ordinates (who uses his Khon Kaen Divisional HQ contact to get your application approved).

 

Not really. Did not see any hanging around outside and I wasn't nudged in that direction by the two guys inside , who as I said , were very pleasant and polite if not that up to date.

 

As it happens , the 400,000 will be in my UK bank today and as soon as I see it there I will use TransferWise to get it moved into my Bangkok Bank. Thanks to mum , not a big hassle.

 

As a matter of interest , if you don't mind my asking , where is your own immigration office and how are they handling current extensions ? The more info we get the bigger the picture. As Khunyod posted (P33)

Chiang Mai are also not allowing the 2 month first year option. Just how widespread is this ? Are there any reports of anyone successfully doing this recently and where ? Be useful to know.

 

Have to say I will really miss doing 90 day border hops. The wife and I enjoyed our little working trips and always took 3-4 days on them, no mad rushing. Pleasant breaks to look forward to and hassle free.

One agent suggested 25k to switch over to a retirement extension (apparently the bank requirements can be waived due to io-agent relationship), and that a marriage extension might be possible but seems to be more complicated and would cost 30k. Not sure if it was just an upsell or not. Any cheaper agents in CM?

2 minutes ago, trucking said:

Not really. Did not see any hanging around outside and I wasn't nudged in that direction by the two guys inside , who as I said , were very pleasant and polite if not that up to date.

 

As it happens , the 400,000 will be in my UK bank today and as soon as I see it there I will use TransferWise to get it moved into my Bangkok Bank. Thanks to mum , not a big hassle.

 

As a matter of interest , if you don't mind my asking , where is your own immigration office and how are they handling current extensions ? The more info we get the bigger the picture. As Khunyod posted (P33)

Chiang Mai are also not allowing the 2 month first year option. Just how widespread is this ? Are there any reports of anyone successfully doing this recently and where ? Be useful to know.

 

Have to say I will really miss doing 90 day border hops. The wife and I enjoyed our little working trips and always took 3-4 days on them, no mad rushing. Pleasant breaks to look forward to and hassle free.

OK, if you can do it fully legit by transferring the +400K to your personal thai bank-account (a joint account with your wife is not accepted), then by all means go that way.

FYI > I am actually a Newbie on the Forum and am only living since 2,5 years in Thailand more specifically in SiSaKet province.  Presently on a Non Imm O-A Visa of which the permission to stay only expires end of January 2021. 

7 minutes ago, khunyod said:

One agent suggested 25k to switch over to a retirement extension (apparently the bank requirements can be waived due to io-agent relationship), and that a marriage extension might be possible but seems to be more complicated and would cost 30k. Not sure if it was just an upsell or not. Any cheaper agents in CM?

Actually a retirement extension with the 800K 'fix' is the more interesting option of the two (but obviously you can only get it if you are +50 years of age).

It is also cheaper as it does not involve divisional headquarter approval nor does it have the 3-4 weeks under consideration period during which Immigration can come announced/unannounced to check whether you and your wife are indeed living at the place you indicated that you are staying.

14 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

FYI > I am actually a Newbie on the Forum and am only living since 2,5 years in Thailand more specifically in SiSaKet province.  Presently on a Non Imm O-A Visa of which the permission to stay only expires end of January 2021. 

 

Well...... a lot of good input from you which is much appreciated and with your current visa you won't have to bothering immigration for a long time yet.

 

I have always had my own account and wife has hers. Keeps things simple.

50 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Fee for a 1-year extension of stay based on marriage (with a 'fix' for the 400K) is 25K.

PM me if you need the agent co-ordinates (who uses his Khon Kaen Divisional HQ contact to get your application approved).

That is false info and could be considered as defamation.

They are going through a local office and the person approving the application is doing it without seeing verified proof of the money in the bank (original bank book for example) that is sent to division headquarters for approval.

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That is false info and could be considered as defamation.

They are going through a local office and the person approving the application is doing it without seeing verified proof of the money in the bank (original bank book for example) that is sent to division headquarters for approval.

OK, should have worded that differently. But 25K for a 1-year extension of stay based on marriage with a 'fix' for the 400K has been confirmed by someone using that agents services successfully for his 1-year marriage extension of stay application filed at CM. 

52 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

OK, should have worded that differently. But 25K for a 1-year extension of stay based on marriage with a 'fix' for the 400K has been confirmed by someone using that agents services successfully for his 1-year marriage extension of stay application filed at CM. 

They could of even put the 400k baht into the bank for 2 months.

Same fix done all the time. The officer that accepts the application does it without verifying the proof of the money in the bank.

1 hour ago, trucking said:

Have to say I will really miss doing 90 day border hops. The wife and I enjoyed our little working trips and always took 3-4 days on them, no mad rushing. Pleasant breaks to look forward to and hassle free.

You can still take some 4-day trips every 3 months if you enjoy that. Find some new places around Thailand...there are plenty that you likely have not been to yet. ????

Does the state of emergency being extended affect the visa situation in any way!

9 minutes ago, Daithi85 said:

Does the state of emergency being extended affect the visa situation in any way!

Nope, just gives them more powers incase there is another outbreak and keeps the universal requirements in place like bar closing times, mask requirement etc..