5 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

90 day reporting is, in and of itself, a disgrace and in violation of a persons basic human rights.

Eric.

Agree - somewhat 🙂   It is because there are no Immigration Visas in Thailand - all Visas are types of Tourist Visas under the Immigration Act (hence they are all Non-Immigrant Visas).  This was explained once many years ago by an Immigration Manager in a Youtube interview. All Tourist Visas are valid for a maximum 90 day stay - therefore 'technically' under the Law everyone has to report every 90 days. The maxmium period of usage validity for a Tourist Visa is 12 months - hence the annual renewal/extensions.  For Visa like Elite and LTR etc the Office than runs those Visa Programs either does the reporting on the person's behalf (LTR), or organises all the paperwork for them (Elite).

 

Because the Immigration Department itself, through the Immigration Police, manage all other Visas, the 90 day report technically has to be done-  and they are not going to do it of course. To remove that requirement would mean changing the Immigration Act/Law - and doing that sort of thing in Thailand is extremely difficult and takes a long long time - so it is has never been undertaken.  Many other countries also have a similar Immigration Act/Law situation and they have set up a centralised Office/Group who manages all long-term Visas like for Retirees - and they work very well in response to changing circumstances due to that centralised and focussed management.

 

We all know Thailand is not a real country as such.  It is a Kingdom of Provincial Thiefdoms who each run things their way (or the highway).  This is reflected in many things like Immigration and the Banking system and frequent Toll Booths on the same Tollway, and etc etc etc.  Also this is reflected in the public service itself where the Health Department changed the rules/penalties about alcohol consumption unilaterally and without consultation, and they are trying to get that changed or even reversed and it will take months. Actually, the Maryjane situation shows it best.

There are many reasons why these people cannot organise things - the disjointed, uncoordinated and dysfunctional structures of the Federal and Provincial Governments are a major part.      

1 minute ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Agree - somewhat 🙂   It is because there are no Immigration Visas in Thailand - all Visas are types of Tourist Visas under the Immigration Act (hence they are all Non-Immigrant Visas).  This was explained once many years ago by an Immigration Manager in a Youtube interview. All Tourist Visas are valid for a maximum 90 day stay - therefore 'technically' under the Law everyone has to report every 90 days. The maxmium period of usage validity for a Tourist Visa is 12 months - hence the annual renewal/extensions.  For Visa like Elite and LTR etc the Office than runs those Visa Programs either does the reporting on the person's behalf (LTR), or organises all the paperwork for them (Elite).

 

Because the Immigration Department itself, through the Immigration Police, manage all other Visas, the 90 day report technically has to be done-  and they are not going to do it of course. To remove that requirement would mean changing the Immigration Act/Law - and doing that sort of thing in Thailand is extremely difficult and takes a long long time - so it is has never been undertaken.  Many other countries also have a similar Immigration Act/Law situation and they have set up a centralised Office/Group who manages all long-term Visas like for Retirees - and they work very well in response to changing circumstances due to that centralised and focussed management.

 

We all know Thailand is not a real country as such.  It is a Kingdom of Provincial Thiefdoms who each run things their way (or the highway).  This is reflected in many things like Immigration and the Banking system and frequent Toll Booths on the same Tollway, and etc etc etc.  Also this is reflected in the public service itself where the Health Department changed the rules/penalties about alcohol consumption unilaterally and without consultation, and they are trying to get that changed or even reversed and it will take months. Actually, the Maryjane situation shows it best.

There are many reasons why these people cannot organise things - the disjointed, uncoordinated and dysfunctional structures of the Federal and Provincial Governments are a major part.      

WOW.

 

Where did you come from??

 

You are like a diamond in the rough!

 

Great post.

 

Eric.

 I like to stay for 3 maybe 4 Months at a time usually do the 60 day renewel but its probably going to end with this lot and probably a 60 day stay only. Were not all on massive pension pots to sit on. Iv'e been trying to obtain a Non O retirement but have had to give up due to the requirements there asking. Sent a photo 2 weeks later got E-mail, photo no good need to see top of head and shoulders on white background 2 weeks later after sending new pic, out of time visa denied, but took my £60 In fees non refundable. Appears they want you to pay thousands to Agents where a kick back is a nice little earner to some immigraton officials.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

WOW.

Where did you come from??

You are like a diamond in the rough!

Great post.

Eric.

Thanks. Unlike some - I HAVE been here a long long time.

Plus I worked with many Local, State and Federal Government Departments and Agencies in business for many decades and therefore I understand easier than most how they operate.    

 

2 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Thanks. Unlike some - I HAVE been here a long long time.

Plus I worked with many Local, State and Federal Government Departments and Agencies in business for many decades and therefore I understand easier than most how they operate.    

 

You sound like a genuine guy, unlike many of the sad trolls on here.

 

Keep up the good work!

 

Eric.

10 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

 For Visa like Elite the Office than runs those Visa Programs organises all the paperwork for them (Elite).

(cropped your post)

 

The easiest 12 month extension on elite is to land at swampy, show your elite card and get the stamp. You also save 1,900 baht which is a bit of disgrace charging us that IMO.

 

I've done in-country extension too. Quicker to do it myself than get elite to do it as you have to do 2 trips to take then collect your docs.

I used to work in my lonely big house back in the UK but now I travel to amazing coffee shops and meet lovely folks.

 

An unusual one is the BTS headquarters near chatuchak.

What an office!

 

 

Crazy amount of 'nature' coffee shops around Bangkok.

Different day, different office 😀 (4 places I use regularly)

 

28 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

 I like to stay for 3 maybe 4 Months at a time usually do the 60 day renewel but its probably going to end with this lot and probably a 60 day stay only. Were not all on massive pension pots to sit on. Iv'e been trying to obtain a Non O retirement but have had to give up due to the requirements there asking. Sent a photo 2 weeks later got E-mail, photo no good need to see top of head and shoulders on white background 2 weeks later after sending new pic, out of time visa denied, but took my £60 In fees non refundable. Appears they want you to pay thousands to Agents where a kick back is a nice little earner to some immigraton officials.

I suggest a possible solution - when you next arrive do so with the longest Tourist Visa that you can obtain (not a 60 days Visa exempt). Assuming you have decided where to stay, go to the Immigration Office in that Province and talk to an IO. Explain you want to stay long-term and ask him/her what you need to do - bank account, application, documents etc etc etc. They should tell you what to do - and then you can come back in a few months and apply for a 12 months extension of the Visa you arrived on. That is what I did the last time I moved here - rather than applying from home country. Then you can stay as long as you like, and you can get a single or multi permit to leave and re-enter as often as you like and keep the 12 months extension valid. There are lists on this forum, but always best to go see the local Office and ask them (varies office to office).   

19 minutes ago, noobexpat said:

(cropped your post)

 

The easiest 12 month extension on elite is to land at swampy, show your elite card and get the stamp. You also save 1,900 baht which is a bit of disgrace charging us that IMO.

 

I've done in-country extension too. Quicker to do it myself than get elite to do it as you have to do 2 trips to take then collect your docs.

Seems like you have it sorted mate - love your 'offices' 🙂 

Just now, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Seems like you have it sorted mate - love your 'offices' 🙂 

 

Thanks pal. Yeh I absolutely love it. 

The level of life change since moving here has been incredible. It was just boring for me in UK.

 

1 minute ago, noobexpat said:

 

Thanks pal. Yeh I absolutely love it. 

The level of life change since moving here has been incredible. It was just boring for me in UK.

 

The UK sucks, but Thailand isn't the answer.

 

Eric.

1 minute ago, Stressed Eric said:

The UK sucks, but Thailand isn't the answer.

 

Eric.

 

You are not me. I'll be here forever.

I absolutely love it here.

I will log off soon and come back next year. Forums like this do nothing for my positivity and well-being.

 

On 11/15/2025 at 6:13 PM, Stressed Eric said:

The UK sucks, but Thailand isn't the answer.

 

Eric.

So what is your answer?

On 11/15/2025 at 3:13 PM, Stressed Eric said:

The UK sucks, but Thailand isn't the answer.

 

Eric.

But, you are not from the UK, are you....?  🤫

Just now, transam said:

But, you are not from the UK, are you....?  🤫

Not sure he's even from this planet.