London Fog

Ubon Joe, thanks for your advice

Is is possible to change from Guardian extension to Retirement extension without leaving country. Situation is that child is finishing school in June 2023. Currently child is on Education extension to visa and parent on Guardian extension. Both extensions expire at end of school term. The parent is USA citizen and meets all requirements of retirement, ie age, money in bank etc. Can this be done without leaving the country or must a new non o visa be sought and reenter the country on that. Thanks for feedback

Thanks for the advice. Re the online video that you refer to, is this new and mandatory? Ie in the last 2 years. I guess that there is a one month delay once I apply.

What is the situation at DMV with getting appointment for renewing 2 year to 5 year licence in Bangkok. Do you have to make an appointment and how is that done, in person or online or can you just turn up (with all paperwork) and go through the process. Thanks

Kwasaki, thanks for your feedback, it is appreciated. He has basic compulsory insurance with the tax which he has just paid but looking for something more 'comprehensive' as its value is over 100k baht. Seedy, I would not be asking if the bike is not road legal. I have no intention of wasting the forum members time with flippant requests or comments. Bike has range of 120km on single charge and top speed of 90km/h. It surprises me that Thailand claims to want to go electric reduce pollution etc but my colleague has replies from 15 insurance companies and all state that they do not provide coverage.

Can anyone recommend an insurance company / broker that will insure a Niu Electric motorbike. My colleague has contacted numerous ones including Roojai, Mr Prakan, etc etc and they all say no. Many thanks for any suggestions

Thanks for your responses, I will pass on your feedback.

A colleague (yes, seriously) has bought an apt with the view to renting it out as opposed to living there. Please no comments about the timing or sense of doing that:) He lives in a different town to where he purchased and his landlord does the TM30's for him as required. Now that he is a landlord, he will have to register in the wonderful system that he is landlord of new property and undertake TM30's if he ever rents the apartment out. Will the wonderful system get confused between him as a tenant in one apartment and a landlord in another when he registers as landlord? Will his personal TM30 details automatically get updated to living in his newly acquired apartment? Any experience or useful feedback as to the best way he should approach this, ie online or visit immigration is aporeciated. Thanking you in advance

I also did this recently at CW immigration. Please note that apart from the required cometed form and passport photocopies required, I also had to show original bank book and statement from bank showing that money had not dipped below threshold from the date of my last visa extension.

I just want to share my experience so that others can have a smoother transition than me. I am at CW for the 3rd time trying to transfer my extension based on retirement to my new passport - and failed for the 3rd time. Whilst back in UK during summer of 2021, I obtained a new passport as my old/current one would expire in June 2022 and my extension renewal is in April. Returned to Thailand November 2021, showed both passports, no problem. Went to MTT 10 days ago to do 90 days (online was rejected, probably due to new passport, but never got old online to accept my application) with both passports. MTT advised that I need to get extension transferred to new passport. Went to CW, where I was advised that I need to do 90 day report first. Returned to MTT where I was able to do 90 day report. Second time at CW, and after having paperwork checked and getting ticket number for L counter, I was advised that I need letter from embassy re new passport. Made appointment at embassy, who advised me that I did not need letter as I had used my new passport to enter Thailand and it had entry stamp in it. I was advised that embassy or passport agency letter is only required if you receive your new passport while still in the country. Returned to CW today. Paperwork all checked, received ticket for L counter. When called, IO accepted that I did not require embassy letter, but that I did require my bank book with itemised statement from time of my existing extension. I had my online app on my phone, but not good enough. My bank is one of those no longer at CW. This requirement was never advised to me before, nor is it on the list of requirements on the form to complete that I was originally given. It should also be noted that you cannot make appointment for transfer of extension based on retirement, only for work permit related visa extensions. So, this is a cautionary tale for anyone else out there wanting to transfer visa extension. I do have a question for the community as today was the 3rd time and it costs 1000+ baht round trip each time. As my extension is due in APRIL and I have no problem carrying 2 passports around with me, can I just wait and do everything the same day or do I need to transfer extension first at a prior visit?

A quick check of just one online booking app shows over 200 establishments available on 31st, many with several room options available. Not what I would call fully booked.

Do new requirements apply to Thais as well as 'visitors', or are Thais subject to different requirements on arrival?

I can't speak for Thai Pass but for recent COE arrival I was asked to upload it to make sure that my insurance covered the visa extension period.

I am long term retiree on non-o extension who will be returning to thailand from UK after attending funeral. I know that as part of package I need specific covid 29 insurance. Does that specific policy duration have to be for the length of time for my visa or can it be for 10 or 30 days after which I can get more comprehensive local policy covering a wider range?