I understand there has been a new person appointed to be the head of the immigration, visa etc. department.  Any comments on his disposition towards those of us living here on retirement visas?  I fulfil all the current requirements but would like to be prepared if there are new regulations coming up in the near future. 

You do understand immigration is an internal matter while visas are issued by MFA.

In practice the application of the law seems to be interpreted very widely depending on the office person r mod of the day.While this is unsatisfactory for planning nobody is obliged to live here except those in prison.To be fair to Thailand teh requirments are far easier than many countires and some are almost impossible to live in without very substantial cash and language skills.

 

Most of us would appreciate consistent rules applied equally but don expect that any time soon.Depending on your age the paperwork and low cash threshold becomes less significant the access and quality cost of healthcare becomes more of an issue.

As for nearly everything here in Thailand :

" Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst "

Nobody here has crystal balls......

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Nobody here has crystal balls......

I've never had complaints.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Nobody here has crystal balls......

 

You can get them for your dog https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/22/neuticles-testicular-implants-for-dogs-have-made-gregg-miller-rich.html

 

 

NON-O is issued by the Immigration Department and they have the authority to turn that into an annual immigration visa. Most farangs that I know and are married to a Thai use this visa. there are no age restrictions as far as I'm aware and I know one sub 50 year old who got an ME from Savannaket last year after they stopped issuing the MEs elsewhere.

NON-O-A is issued by the Ministry of Foreign affairs and is issued to 50+ year olds. 

For what it is worth Thailand has a Commissioner of Immigration within the National Police, Pol.Lt.Gen. Sompong Chingduang. He was appointed in 2019 before the COVID 19 come up so his initial statements may not reflect current thinking. Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the normal issuer of all visas, including Non-O for many reasons as well as O-A, however Immigration can convert a TV into a Non-O and later issue an extension of stay (not a visa) if all requirements are met. MFA has a Minister and Immigration has a Commissioner, two different organizations and leaders.

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Nobody here has crystal balls......

I sure hope not, when they bang together when you run they would shatter.  Now Steels balls would be better, but the so is a Magic 8 ball.

People aren't even sure of their own disposition ie how they would react under certain circumstances, let alone somebody else's.

Up to them

Exactly be a Boy Scout and Be Prepared . How the H do we know But wait I do have an afternoon appointment with them next week for tea and cakes. 

My Oiuji board told to go and get Fked

2 minutes ago, itsallmine68 said:

Exactly be a Boy Scout and Be Prepared . How the H do we know But wait I do have an afternoon appointment with them next week for tea and cakes. 

My Oiuji board told to go and get Fked

I hope they have there work permits.  Giving advice is a Thai job however.

23 hours ago, notrub said:

I understand there has been a new person appointed to be the head of the immigration, visa etc. department.  Any comments on his disposition towards those of us living here on retirement visas?

I doubt he/she has given it much thought...while understandably important to retired expats, the issue of retired people living in Thailand probably isn't high on the list of concerns of Thai officialdom

Hopefully this guy is less xenophobic than his predecessors. The money Thailand takes in from expats annually reverberates out in countless ways. Even the rural folks benefit. Alot of the nicer houses in the poorer farming areas were built with money from expats. Alot of trucks, cars and income is from expats. Countless business employing many. To say it is insignificant, is a blatant misunderstanding of Thai economics. Thousands of hotels, restaurants, countless airlines and many tour companies, also benefit. This hapless administration needs to develop some courage and initiative. They can't hide from the world forever. Extreme timidity from supposedly tough men is an amusing thing to witness. However, the pain they are inflicting on millions is not. 

 

And expats should be treated with far greater respect and dignity. They need us more now, than ever. 

5 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

I hope they have there work permits.  Giving advice is a Thai job however.

Pics not in Thailand. 

4 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Pics not in Thailand. 

Sarcasm, Pattaya Spotter, Sarcasm my dear man.

A post discussing moderation has been removed.

 

But please feel free to quote my post.

I was at Bangkok Imm. 9 months ago I changed banks they told me when I changed banks my retirement visa was canceled and they wanted 40000 baht for overstay . We talked a lot and I left with my visa and didn't pay .Has anyone ever been told if you change banks visa is canceled.

2 minutes ago, muffy said:

I was at Bangkok Imm. 9 months ago I changed banks they told me when I changed banks my retirement visa was canceled and they wanted 40000 baht for overstay . We talked a lot and I left with my visa and didn't pay .Has anyone ever been told if you change banks visa is canceled.

 

22 hours ago, RubbaJohnny said:

To be fair to Thailand teh requirments are far easier than many countires

Cambodia, Vietnam, The Philippines all way way easier.

What Asian countries do you know where the requirements are harder?

 

Back to the OP,

CM Immigration has become easier the past few months, (I can't speak for other offices) what it'll be like after the amnesty ends, and when they allow Chinese back in is anyone's guess.

6 minutes ago, muffy said:

I was at Bangkok Imm. 9 months ago I changed banks they told me when I changed banks my retirement visa was canceled and they wanted 40000 baht for overstay . We talked a lot and I left with my visa and didn't pay .Has anyone ever been told if you change banks visa is canceled.

 

Your other thread on this subject is here:-

 

 

25 minutes ago, itsallmine68 said:

Exactly be a Boy Scout and Be Prepared . How the H do we know But wait I do have an afternoon appointment with them next week for tea and cakes. 

My Oiuji board told to go and get Fked

By the look of it they need to do a spellcheck first ????

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Cambodia, Vietnam, The Philippines all way way easier.

What Asian countries do you know where the requirements are harder?

When i was married whit Filipina i not even entrance in coundry where tourist herd entrance! I go where citizen going same really short and fast line!

Just now, 2 is 1 said:

When i was married whit Filipina i not even entrance in coundry where tourist herd entrance! I go where citizen going same really short and fast line!

Didn't matter, they always had a special desk for the over 60's, no waiting, straight through.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Didn't matter, they always had a special desk for the over 60's, no waiting, straight through.

LOL but i was 30+ at the time!

3 minutes ago, Crossy said:

A post discussing moderation has been removed.

 

But please feel free to quote my post.

You were not to know our dog Dorhu was castrated three days ago, the result of mixing with too many lady dogs with an STD virus. Resulting in two tumors. The vet said better to do it, as he would only go out and get re-infected. Both Dorhu and my wallet are hurting.

Where was I? Oh yes, the new immigration minister. Here's a couple of suggestions for him:

Remove the TM30 for retirement visas. Most of us dodge it by getting our wives and GF's to register at hotels anyway.

Get rid of 90 day reports for retirees. We all either are in property we have bought, or are on long-term leases. Once a year, with the extension, or when changing address, should be enough.

Dorhu is sleeping now, I think he has PTSD. He's not getting balls back of any description.

Just now, Lacessit said:

Remove the TM30 for retirement visas. Most of us dodge it by getting our wives and GF's to register at hotels anyway.

That's already gone, you only need a TM30 after you've moved your main home permanently.

@Lacessit Touché 

 

Poor guy, I hope he's OK. Enough now.

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

That's already gone, you only need a TM30 after you've moved your main home permanently.

I wasn't aware of that, a friend of mine was asked for a copy of his passport at a hotel up here. Or was that just to make sure he did not leave without paying?