ilms
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Posts posted by ilms
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On 1/29/2024 at 8:50 AM, Captain Monday said:
What is the benefit to doing it this way vice entering
visa exempt then applying for I guess is called
non-O conversion with money in Thai bank
Thanks for the replies. The IO where he would apply for it (Krabi) has said that in order to get the Type-O from them, the applicant would need to have the 800K seasoned for 2 months in an account at a Thai bank when the visa application is made. The IO suggested getting the Type-O in one's home country, as they think it would be difficult/impossible to open an account if here on visa exempt or tourist visa. Of course, an agent may be able to help with that, but my friend was hoping to just get the Type-O before he arrives.
Hopefully the LA Consulate will adhere to what is on their website (no ins. requirement for 90-day Type-O). We've emailed the consulate to confirm this, but they just reply with a link to their website.-
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A friend would like to get a Type-O visa (90-day, based on retirement) at the Thai Consulate LA and then apply for a 1-year extension in Thailand. He would like to avoid the Type O-A due to the health insurance requirement (he has good insurance, but as it's from a non-Thai company, it may be a hassle to use it for visa purposes). The Thai Consulate LA's website lists the Type-O for retirement in the "visa types" section and there is no health insurance requirement, but we wanted to check as we have been hearing reports of some Thai Consulates now requiring health insurance for Type-O. Have emailed LA Consulate but they only respond with a link to their website. Hopefully, it will be as the website seems to indicate (no health ins. required for Type-O), but sometimes information is outdated or inaccurate. If anyone has recent experience with this and can share, we would appreciate it.
BTW, we're aware that you can apply for Type-O in Thailand (with no health ins. req.) but local IO advised against it saying that it would be difficult/impossible for a person to open a Thai bank account without some kind of non-tourist visa. IO here requires that 800K be in Thai bank for 2 months before applying for Type-O. If they came on a tourist visa, maybe an agent can help with the bank account, but it would be preferable to just get the Type-O before coming to Thailand. -
A couple of other points to bear in mind (some of these may not apply to all Imm. offices, but forewarned is forearmed):
-the bank account you use must be in your name only--no joint accounts
-if using the deposit method, in addition to the letter from the bank, you should also get a statement showing transactions from the last 2 months. Get the statement stamped by the bank if you can. It's best to have the bank letter and statement be from the same day as you are submitting your paperwork to Imm. Many offices will ask you to do a transaction on that day (deposit/withdraw 100 baht). They will want to see that transaction on the bank statement you submit to them. So, plan to stop at the bank before you go to Imm.
-some Immigration offices want copies of all the pages in your passport or at least all the pages that have stamps on them (not just the stamps you get when entering/exiting Thailand). Have your wife call and ask them exactly what pages they will want copies of.
-if you are going to submit the birth certificates of children, you should also have copies of their blue house registration book. The copies should have the front page (inside) of the blue book and the page with the names of the individuals that are registered
-if never gotten a clear answer when asking how many photos are required. They seem to want pics of you and your wife standing in front of your house (with the address clearly visible) and a pic from inside the house. I usually throw in 4 more pics of our family together for a total of 6
-many offices want the map to be hand-drawn and not a screenshot from google maps. Put the coordinates on the map if you can.
-all photocopies of identity documents (your passport, wife's ID) should be signed by the owner in blue ink
-you'll need 2 photos (4x6cm) to put on the TM-7 application form
-many offices want 2 sets of the above-mentioned docs.
-when they accept your paperwork, they will usually put a stamp in your passport that says that your extension request is under consideration along with a date that you have to return to Imm. to get the actual extension stamp. You must return on that date only (unless it falls on a weekend or a holiday)
-if it's your first time, immigration will probably want to do a home visit
-if you leave Thailand during the period that your extension is valid, you will need to get a reentry permit before you go. Otherwise, when you return to Thailand, your extension will be invalid and you'll have to start the process all over again. Single entry costs 1,000 and multiple entry costs 3,800
And yes, they love to add things when you're sitting in front of them or tell you that what you brought isn't sufficient. It's annoying but don't lose your cool with them or you might make an enemy in the office, which will only make things worse. Keep at it and eventually you'll get what you need
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As many have said, skype is good. Can call both landlines and mobiles. Rates vary according to the country you're calling, but generally quite cheap. If calling toll-free numbers in the US, no charge. You need to download the app and set up an account, but that's free. You can use it on both mobile and desktop.
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I will add my voice to others who have said that they are probably more interested in what you are doing in Thailand and if it looks like you will want to stay here and not move back to the US. And, she has to convince the consular officer of that in the 3-5 minute interview.
Her stable job, assets, etc. would probably be more influential in the process if she was not married to an American.
In my experience, using an agent is a waste of money. They very likely don't have an "in" at the consulate. You can fill out the application yourself and get plenty of good advice for free.
I'd be happy to share more about my own recent experiences with this issue. PM me if interested.
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Nice sentiment, but won't change a thing until there is actually enforcement of laws (I know, 555!).
People's behavior can change--most people on this forum can probably remember a time when use of seatbelts wasn't mandatory in their own countries. When I was a kid, my mother's arm was the only child safety restraint used in the car. Now, most people there use seat belts without a thought.
Seems like the only way to get people to change is to hit them in the wallet. Sad that the child safety isn't enough to motivate most folks.
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18 hours ago, Eff1n2ret said:
On the window of the appointment booth is a notice in English specifying the 5 items that foreigners need to submit, namely - passport + copy - residence letter from Embassy or immigration - medical certificate - expiring licence + copy - "Results of 1 hour training session"
If your expiring license is 5-year validity, you (likely) won't need the medical certificate for renewal. You need the medical cert. when going from 2 to 5-year license. Not quite sure why this is. In any event, it's always a good idea to have a Thai speaker call the DLT office where you'll be doing your renewal in order to confirm what documents are needed/not needed.
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At least several private hospitals I know of will allow people who paid for the Moderna shots to give them to someone else.
Once they actually arrive, I imagine many people (esp. Thais who for the most part, can't get mRNA vaccines in Thailand) will be interested. If you no longer need them someone will likely buy them from you. Just ask around. Or, you can donate them to someone in need who doesn't have the resources to pay for it themselves.
And if they never come, too bad. Pre-paying was a hedge that for some, could make sense in times of great uncertainty. Paying and not getting sucks, but it probably won't ruin anyone financially in this case.
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I own a hatchback and have rented sedans on trips. Definitely much easier to get things in and out of the hatchback. Never had a problem fitting buggies, toys, stuff in it. Someone sitting in the back seat can access the boot space from inside the car too. BTW, we own a Honda with a 3rd row of seats, which can be folded down to make the space larger.
Consider fuel consumption. I drove a friend's Fortuner (3L engine) on some long trips and while it was spacious, it also uses nearly 2x the fuel of many cars with smaller engines (1.5L).
Even though it's not the law here (or is but isn't enforced), invest in a good car seat. In our case we got one here locally that we used for the first year. After that we bought another one that could go from rear to front facing and eventually become a booster seat. Good brands, if available, are much more expensive here so maybe think about getting one when you're abroad or have someone bring it when they come to visit.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!
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As others have stated, if you want to have any say about what happens to your Thailand-based assets after you die, you need to make a will in Thailand. I've been told that a foreign-made will carries no weight in Thailand and even if it did, one could imagine the process of translating, certifying, legalizing a foreign document like that would be a massive and expensive headache for your heirs.
The process of making a Thai will need not be overly complicated or expensive.
There are DIY options. I chose to do it via a lawyer who is very well-regarded by expats in our area. It wasn't too expensive and I feel that it will give the best chance of things being done correctly once I pass on.
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I can confirm that a non-EU citizen can be the sponsor (financial support) for a Thai citizen for a short-term (tourist)Schengen visa. I did that very thing for my wife 2 years ago and it was no problem.
(Unless the rules have since changed.) -
It's the easiest of all the immigration hoops I need to jump through. That said, I don't think it adds any real value to my life or others and is just a waste of time. Get rid of it already...
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Not sure if this is still possible but when I did my second 5 year renewal last July-at that point things were just reopening-the local DLT gave me a link to watch the 1-hour training video online at home. While watching it, 3 multiple choice questions come up on the screen, which you have to answer (very general questions and all based on things the presenter said). Yes, it’s all in Thai, but if your Thai isn’t good enough, just get any Thai speaker to watch it with you and answer the questions-very easy and no need to pay or go sit at the DLT. Just have the Thai person follow the prompts to sign in and then complete the process to get the certificate of completion.
Also, when signing in they ask you for a 13 digit ID number as well as your DL number. I added some 0’s to my passport number to get to the 13 digits and the system accepted it.
Finally, don’t pause the video as it’s running. I did the first time and then had to start again from the beginning. The questions that appear on the screen will stay there for long enough that you don’t need to pause.
I no longer have the link but have a Thai speaker call the DLT and ask for it.
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Check out Bitstamp. It was very easy for me to set up the account. I used my Thai DL as identification but I think using a US passport would have been fine too. I used my Thai address. I funded the account in USD via wire transfer from a US bank. It was very simple and quick. I think they charge .05% to receive a wire transfer and ACH deposits are free. There's a link to their fee schedule at the bottom of their homepage.
I had occasion to call them several times and in each case they were responsive and helpful.
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I had Type-O visas based on volunteering for an NGO for nearly 4 years. This wasn't a scam-I was really working there for them. Initially, I had single-entry ones and had to leave the country to get a new one every 90 days. I was then able to get 1-year multiple entry Type-O's at certain Thai consulates in the US. That required me to leave Thailand every 90 days but I didn't have to get a new visa-just stamp out and come right back in. After 2 years, I even got a work permit, though I never drew a salary. The NGO told me that with the WP, I could apply for yearly extensions of stay and then only have to do 90-reports at the local IO (no having to leave the country). In the end, I didn't wind up doing that, though.
The big fee you mention and no 90-day report or having to leave the country periodically sounds dodgy to me. It's probably one of those "agent pays a bribe to a willing IO" things. That would be illegal and you'd have to decide if you want to take the risk or not.
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One thing is the law/statute and another is how each IO decides to apply it. Go by what your local IO says and if at all possible, don't give them any reason to reject your application or create obstacles for you.
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If you marry a Thai citizen, you can get a Type-O visa and then apply for yearly extensions of stay. After you get the 1-year extension, you have to do 90-day reports at the IO where you live. You can keep getting yearly extensions and don't ever have to leave the country. You can do this at any age (though there probably is a minimum age-18??).
The marriage has to be done and officially registered at an amphoe in order to get the visa and subsequent extensions. There are also financial requirements--you need to keep minimum 400k baht in a solely-held account at a Thai bank or be able to show minimum 40k baht of income per month (though I believe if it is a foreign woman married to a Thai man, there are no financial requirements).
As to how those guys are supporting themselves, it could be anything--savings, inheritances, online businesses, stock trading, etc. Unlike retirement extensions, if you have a marriage extension, you can legally work in Thailand, after getting a work permit, of course.
Maybe their wives are paying the bills--I've seen that happen here.
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These scam emails often contain mistakes or are written in ways that make it clear that the writer is not a native English speaker. Nobody's perfect but stuff like that is a red flag if it's coming from a company based in an English-speaking country.
I like the Try Again Payment button.
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When I was at my local IO this morning, a foreigner presented a medical certificate stating that she was not physically able to take a flight at this time. Her cert. was from a private clinic and the IO insisted that she needed to get one from the government hospital in order to use it for extension of stay purposes. I'm not sure what the actual regulation is but those needing to use medical certificates should first check with their respective IO to see what they require.
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From what I've been told by staff at the local Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labor offices, you can't legally teach students privately in Thailand unless you have work permit. To get a work permit, you have to go through the legal steps of opening a business and then get approval from the Ministry of Education. It's not impossible--I know a couple of foreigners who have opened language/tutoring centers--but there are a lot of requirements to satisfy, both to set up and ongoing. It's probably not worth it if someone just wants to teach a few hours a week on the side.
Of course, there are many foreigners who teach private students illegally (as a foreigner, especially one that teaches at a Thai school, you'll be approached by people in the community asking for classes for themselves or their kids). A lot of those teachers make some money and don't have any problems, but there is a risk. Jealousy is a big issue here. Many of the Thai school teachers also have tutoring centers that they run outside of school hours. If they hear that some foreigner is competing against them, they can just make a call to immigration. Immigration is always encouraging people to report violations so anybody can easily report you. Word gets around and foreigners can't really fly under the radar here.
In our province, Immigration has what they call a "crime suppression division". These are not the IO's who you deal with for visas, extensions, etc. Those people are basically paper-pushers. The other ones behave more like cops who are out to bust people for violating laws. Several years ago when the TM30 started becoming enforced, they were out in our neighborhood checking on all the foreigners. One of my neighbors (Thai) told me that they had asked if any of the farangs living in the area taught private English classes to the local kids. I had to go to their office because I refused to pay their bullsh#t TM30 fine (they were also very rude to my wife). I was teaching (legally) at a Thai school at the time and they casually asked me a couple times if I taught private classes. I hadn't been, but they were definitely trying to trap me.
Consider your situation and the risks/rewards carefully as you make your decision.
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I was able to get an IDP in Krabi last year. You need to have a valid Thai driver's license as the IDP is not a license in and of itself--it must be used along with a valid driver's license from the country that issues it (the IDP). There are websites claiming that they can sell you a driver's license that can be used internationally. I wouldn't trust any of those myself.
The Land Transport office also asked for a Certificate of Residence from immigration, which may mean you need to get the IDP in the province where you officially reside.
Interestingly enough, there was no expiration date on it but they said it was valid for a year. IT cost around 500 baht. I was able to use it, along with my Thai license, to rent cars overseas.
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I'm not sure of the reason for the different dates. An international driver's license/permit usually is not a valid driver's license on it's own; it needs to be used along with a valid driver's license from the country where the international permit is issued, so I don't know what the woman at the Land Transport office is talking about.
Re: getting a Thai license: it used to be that you could bring your valid driver's license issued from another country and if it was in English, the Land Transport office would look it up to see what class of vehicles it was for and they would only make you take a reflex and color-recognition test and you could get a Thai license. A couple of years ago, I went with some friends from the USA to the local Land Transport office and we were told that they either had to get their US licenses certified at the US consulate or they could just apply for a Thai license like any first-timer would. To go that route, you have to sit through a several hours of video (in Thai), take a written test (can be done in English-you can find most of the questions/answers online) and then take a "road test" in the parking lot on the following day. We're far away from BKK so the friends decided it was easier and cheaper just to go through the procedure here as opposed to going to the US consulate. I did it for my motorcycle license and it was no big deal.
FYI: Check with the LTO where you're applying regarding the other documents you'll need. Most offices will ask for a copy of your work permit or if you don't have one, a Certificate of Residence from immigration as well as copies of your passport information page and the page that has your visa or entry stamp (if you don't have a visa) on it. You may need a medical certificate too. Good luck.
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Consulate provided a letter with my new passport. IO didn't look at the letter but stamped new passport with the remaining time on my extension along with an explanation that it had been transferred from an expired passport. It took about 15 minutes and no charge.
I would definitely hold on to the expired passport as it likely has your original visa in it and for the fact that you probably used it to open bank accounts, etc. In my case, I went to the banks and gave them the new passport number. If you have a Thai driver's license, this will have your old passport number on it. I updated mine but in retrospect, I think you could just wait until your next renewal to do that.
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I would advise that you keep slightly more than 400k in your account. Banks here often charge yearly for things like an ATM card and if you've got exactly 400k in the account, it could cause it to dip slightly below the required amount. If that happens during the months you are required to maintain the balance at or above 400k, it could be an issue depending on the IO. It's a small detail, but I know of a couple people who've run into problems because of it.
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Under consideration - Marriage extension
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
I've traveled out of the country several times during under consideration periods. Just make sure you have a re-entry permit that covers it. Some IO's will allow you to submit the application for the new extension up to 45 days before your current extension expires. If you could do that, it might give you some extra time to make travel plans. Check with your IO.
Also, I've found that no matter when I submit my docs, the under consideration period is always 30 days from the date of expiration of the current extension. That date seems to be set in stone for the IO and it is very hard to get them to change it.