On 2/17/2025 at 5:04 AM, flyingtlger said:

Each and every day, Thailand is looking like a bad place to work or retire.....

 

Wonder if anyone actually worked and retired.

 

Would be the epitome nutcases. 

 

On 2/19/2025 at 2:35 AM, Wyabcp said:

Hi all, so I was planning to get my Non O visa in the UK and fly out next month, the intention was to get the 1 year extension on this trip.... given all these issues is it now going to be impossible ? I didn't intend on using an agent and I was going to try and sort it myself...

should be able to do it yourself unless you have some particular problem area.

On 2/17/2025 at 5:04 AM, flyingtlger said:

Each and every day, Thailand is looking like a bad place to work or retire.....

 

dont you hate it when they change their standards to come remotely close to every other country on the planet.   

On 2/17/2025 at 7:37 AM, Jingthing said:

I predict if the agents can resolve this that their fees will go up. 

I was talking to an elderly couple yesterday that have recently moved to Thailand. The wife told me that they had tried to open accounts in five different banks, all without success. 

 

I asked if they had all the correct documents and she told me they had, but the banks were not willing to open accounts for foreigners due to a recent crackdown.

I then suggested that perhaps they try an agent. She told me they had tried that too, but the agent wanted THB68,000 from each of them.

1.8 million bank account frozen, never to be mentioned again. Another Thai cash grab about time these thieving bast+rds were exposed across the globe. 

It appears every week there's a new rule or law that affects us non Thai people who have decided to make Thailand there new home.Doesn't the Thai government want us and our money here.

On 2/17/2025 at 7:33 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

I've shared many times how I moved to Mexico and moved back so fast it gave me whiplash.

The SECOND part of that story is how I got my retirement visa back (I STUPIDLY burned the bridge and did not get a re-entry permit!).

 

It was Jomtien immigration. I asked what I needed to do to start the process all over again. The lady officer took me back to a private office where we sat down. She handed me a large stack of forms, all in Thai, and told me I would need to fill them out then take them to Bangkok where it would take several days to complete the task. OR - I could hand her 19k baht and she'd handle the whole thing.

 

I can't imagine they want this gravy train to go dry.

Guess I lucked out. Same thing happened to me at Laos-Thailand border (didn't get re-entry before crossing). Woman officer took me to private room and told me she'd give me a tourist visa and to go to my local Immigration Office and straighten this out.

Not every Thai officer is corrupt. 

15 minutes ago, OldmanJ said:

It appears every week there's a new rule or law that affects us non Thai people who have decided to make Thailand there new home.Doesn't the Thai government want us and our money here.

 

No.

On 2/21/2025 at 7:53 AM, jerrymahoney said:

On 2/20/2025 at 4:14 PM, MikeandDow said:

So as i said many posts ago a competent officer' has the 'discretion to grant a visa  but you still have to pay the fee

So why is there the need for an agent?

In an above described scenario, expat e.g. gives 15,000 to the agents account, agent gives 1900 baht to immigration office for extension of stay via retirement, agent keeps 3000 baht for postage & handling fee, and 10,000 baht goes to an account as specified by a "competent officer" as a traditional gift for service or 'sin nam jai'.

 

So in the above what might be a more accurate term for the function of an agent? 

BAGMAN, as in an intermediary in an illicit or unethical transaction.

 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bagman

 

NB there was no  reply to the query So why is there the need for an agent?

One more time: Thailand 3th World! The Thai government is not even able to provide the form for applying for a TIN in English.....ridiculous

On 2/17/2025 at 11:58 AM, smedly said:

you were ripped off

 

just saying

No he was not!, the going rate is 26k ++

On 2/17/2025 at 5:11 AM, nomad22 said:

 

Anywhere outside your home country you will have the same problem opening a bank account.  These banking laws were forced on Thailand by western countries, and every country in the world that wants to be part of the international banking community has the follow the same rules.

You aren't specific. KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER.  It comes from the USA

On 2/17/2025 at 9:39 AM, CallumWK said:

 

It are the banks.

I am here more than 30 years, and on a retirement extension.

I have had a savings account at TTB for decades. A few months ago I tried to open a fixed term account.

Sorry, people on retirement visa can not open bank accounts anymore.

Been to multiple branches, and everywhere the same answer.

I started a topic about this, where others confirmed the same situation.

You think nothing has changed?

yep, can concur.

 

The sheer stupidity just never ceases to amaze

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

I was talking to an elderly couple yesterday that have recently moved to Thailand. The wife told me that they had tried to open accounts in five different banks, all without success. 

 

I asked if they had all the correct documents and she told me they had, but the banks were not willing to open accounts for foreigners due to a recent crackdown.

I then suggested that perhaps they try an agent. She told me they had tried that too, but the agent wanted THB68,000 from each of them.

Had they got  a Certificate of Residence??

Buy 3 mil condo or 2 mil car - can 

 

have bank account - cannot

Staying in Thailand does make you insecure with all these changes . Part of the pro and cons living here . 😛

On 2/17/2025 at 12:28 PM, Nickcage49 said:

This government will gradually make it so difficult to live here that most foreigners will leave for places that actually want them.

 

I don't feel at all wanted here. Never did.

And most likely never will.

On 2/17/2025 at 5:12 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

In all fairness, the agents who have been assisting retirees without seasoned money in the bank have been performing an illegal act. The law to have the 800k in the bank was meant to keep riff raff out.

 

I have several friends in the Jomtien area who have used these agents for years. They are real decent folk, not troublemakers in the least - the kind of people you WANT living in Thailand, spending their money supporting the local economy.

 

Sadly, the law is the law. I hope they aren't forced to leave LOS. The place will be a little worse off if they are.

Keep the Riff Raf out you say,So your So Called Friends doing the Illegal thing with the Agents ? what would you call that.    Riff Raf     Right .

No Funds in the Bank  No Extension  Out you Go.

5 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Keep the Riff Raf out you say,So your So Called Friends doing the Illegal thing with the Agents ? what would you call that.    Riff Raf     Right .

No Funds in the Bank  No Extension  Out you Go.

From police order

5. In the case where an alien applicant does not meet the full qualifications stipulated by the criteria herein or in other cases not specified in this Order but a competent officer equivalent to or higher than inspector is of the opinion that the alien has legitimate reason for staying in the Kingdom of Thailand, the application shall be forwarded to the Commander of the Royal Thai Police or an authorized competent officer for further consideration of the alien's application. 

 

 Foreigners Face New Hurdles in Opening Thai Bank Accounts

 

If one is Legit and do the right thing than there's  no Reason why one would not be able to open a Bank Account   for an Extension  based on Retirement or Marriage / Work  / Business

As for Tourists  / short time Visitors  Do they Really Need a Bank  Account while they here?

6 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

From police order

5. In the case where an alien applicant does not meet the full qualifications stipulated by the criteria herein or in other cases not specified in this Order but a competent officer equivalent to or higher than inspector is of the opinion that the alien has legitimate reason for staying in the Kingdom of Thailand, the application shall be forwarded to the Commander of the Royal Thai Police or an authorized competent officer for further consideration of the alien's application. 

That doesn't include the use of an Agent and the Agents  800 K. 🙏

2 hours ago, Polaky said:

No he was not!, the going rate is 26k ++

no need t pay this, that is why he was ripped off, same as 12 month extension - if you meet the legal requirements it is bt2000 every year

1 minute ago, digger70 said:

That doesn't include the use of an Agent and the Agents  800 K. 🙏

The IO has Discretion to grant a extension with or without money  and thats how agents can get a extension

2 hours ago, OldmanJ said:

It appears every week there's a new rule or law that affects us non Thai people who have decided to make Thailand there new home.Doesn't the Thai government want us and our money here.

 

They want your money but not foreigners here longer term.

 

It has been this way since the 90's, when I first moved here.

 

Seen so many, probably 95% or higher, of foreigners that planned to stay, work or do business here, leave and go home or elsewhere.

 

Thailand isn't for everybody. 

 

With the current volumes of foreigners staying in Thailand longer term, I fully expect it to get more inconvenient, more difficult and more frustrating for the majority.

 

Thais are experts at the passive-aggressive approach. 

11 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

The IO has Discretion to grant a extension with or without money  and thats how agents can get a extension

Of course  they can and will if the Donation is Right  .

But to Us Legit Expats it isn't Right or Legal

11 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

They want your money but not foreigners here longer term.

 

It has been this way since the 90's, when I first moved here.

 

Seen so many, probably 95% or higher, of foreigners that planned to stay, work or do business here, leave and go home or elsewhere.

 

Thailand isn't for everybody. 

 

With the current volumes of foreigners staying in Thailand longer term, I fully expect it to get more inconvenient, more difficult and more frustrating for the majority.

 

Thais are experts at the passive-aggressive approach. 

 

 

Interesting.

 

 

My experience, over 19 years, has been somewhat different in that I can only recall 4 people in that time who gave up on Thailand. Two went 'home' to die, one was skint and the other chose Cambodia after a business failure here.

Just now, digger70 said:

Of course  they can and will if the Donation is Right  .

But to Us Legit Expats it isn't Right or Legal

it is called sin nam jai

to westerners it may look like corruption but to Thais its normal part of its culture    lot to learn !!

 

3 hours ago, phetphet said:

I was talking to an elderly couple yesterday that have recently moved to Thailand. The wife told me that they had tried to open accounts in five different banks, all without success. 

 

I asked if they had all the correct documents and she told me they had, but the banks were not willing to open accounts for foreigners due to a recent crackdown.

I then suggested that perhaps they try an agent. She told me they had tried that too, but the agent wanted THB68,000 from each of them.

From the US? Due to reporting requirements, many banks stay away from that. 

9 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

it is called sin nam jai

to westerners it may look like corruption but to Thais its normal part of its culture    lot to learn !!

 

 

Right -- so  there should be a "gift" window at every immigration office.

11 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Right -- so  there should be a "gift" window at every immigration office.

Another one with no idea  about Thai culture

BS if it's such an ingrained part of Thai culture, why should I have to go through an intermediary to make a gift.

There actually are two Sections of the Thai Criminal code on offering a bribe to a Thai official and a Thai official receiving a bribe.

But as one Bangkok law firm put it: ... convictions for bribery are rare. Courts need evidence or wrongdoing for finding of guilt. In most cases, there are no paper trail. A conviction is more or less improbable.

So, the more opaque the transaction and the more hands through which the money flows, the less likely that any bribery conviction could take place.