Hi All,

Sorry if this has been covered before, did a search but couldn't find a definitive answer.

After 5 months in Chiang Mai (60 day exemption x2 + one 30 day extension) I'll be returning to the UK early May 2025, coming back to CM early December. While here I got my bike license & Thai bank account (Bangkok Bank). My intention on my return is to apply for a retirement Non O visa (I'm over 50) but not sure which route to take.

1/ Put 800K Bht into the bank account 60 days before I return and apply for the retirement visa on my return, or perhaps apply for the Non O visa in advance at the London Thai consulate.

2/ Use the services of an agent who for around 29-35K give or take (for the first year, 16K approx there after) will supply the visa using their money so I do not have such a large amount earning almost nothing in a Thai bank account (0.6% interest rate).

The second option allows me to keep my money in a safe high interest UK bank account (at present earning 4.45%) which more than pays for the agents fees & is easily recoverable should anything happen to me while abroad. Also should there be a regime change or policy changes about foreigners & what we can or cannot do with money etc the money would be safe.

Do I play safe (option 2) or just bite the bullet & put 800K into the Thai bank?

Your opinions & suggestions will be much appreciated

Morning 👋

I would like to buy a car in Thailand

Can I get a residence certificate ( needed to purchase a car ) without a

Long term / retirement Visa ?

Thanks

Sharing a personal experience. Questions and thoughts welcome. Extending a 90 Day Non-O Visa for one year at Bangkok Immigration Division 1 on 27 January. This is directed at anyone doing this for the first time ever or someone seeking a refresher. It’ll be long and not very informative for the experienced. Please keep it in mind.

Getting there: I’m located near the Sukhumvit Road BTS aka the Green Line. Left residence at 10:35. Arrived @ Mo Chit Station 50 minutes later cost 62 baht. Taxi arrived at BKK Imm Div 1 main entrance 11:45. 105 baht on the meter. Paid 120.

Initial Entry: Show passport; guard scans it. Pass through security with bag going through detection machine. Straight to information desk to pick up forms for the extension. Proceded directly to queue area. Received queue ticket section L1 at ~11:55. 28 people ahead in the queue.

Bangkok Bank Information: Walked straight down to bank. 11 people ahead of me in the queue. Filled out TM7 & associated forms in the bank. Queue moved slowly. Had copies made in the meantime. Took 55 minutes for me to make it to a bank employee. I had 800,000 baht letter made and also ordered a six month printout of my account activity, each cost 100 baht. (As a test I ordered a one year activity letter (200 baht) which you cannot get same day. It arrives by email one day later. Estimated earliest arrival time by bank employee was 2:00 pm. Arrived 1:20 pm.) Walked out of the bank at ~1:05 pm.

Back to copy area to make duplicates of the banking information just in case. Always have extra copies made.

Arrived area L1 at ~1:10 pm.

Documents I brought with my to the L1 Area to be processed. 1) 12 month lease signed by me & owner with owner Thai ID attached. Each page initialed/signed by me and owner; witness page also signed by real estate pro. 2) TM30 online version completed by real estate pro. 3) Passport main page, most recent stamp page & Non-O Page. 4) Bank Letter 800K. 5) 6 month activity report from bank. 6) Same day update: bank account activity. 7) Passport Photo.

Area L1 wait: Line moved quickly. Called to Immigration Officer desk at ~2:25 pm. & presented docs. Approval process was pleasant and quick. Signed a few docs again in front of the IO, drew a map of the area in which my building is located & paid fee. IO applied stamps and stapled slip informing me of date to do first 90 day report which must be done in person. I briefly surrendered passport and bank book for supervisor final approval. IO officer says everything OK; please wait outside. It’s now 2:40 pm.

~2:50 pm: Intern/Trainee: “Mr. Michael” She has passport and bank book and bill in hand. One year retirement visa stamp in passport. I’m good in the Kingdom for 1 year. I walk out the door at 3:00 pm.

Getting home: This is for the 30 day extension group at Laksi. Lak Si IT Square is 3 km from Imm Div 1. Aircon Taxi cost usually 70 baht. The Dark Red train line run by State Railway of Thailand is adjacent the Mall. Laksi to Bang Sue main railway station is 20 baht. MRT Blue Line from Bang Sue to Sukhumvit (connect to Asok BTS) is 37 baht. Your cost from there will vary. It’s a bit of a roundabout way to travel (takes about 40 min to reach the BTS) but you can chow down or shop at Laksi & Asok. The MRT and BTS are separate companies so each have a different rider smart card.

General Thoughts:

*Train transport was free due to the Lunar New Year celebration gift from the companies to the public. I believe the real bonus was so many people were celebrating the new year fewer people were seeking immigration services. If you eliminate the lunch hour (12:00-13:00) I was in and out in less than two hours. I consider that a quick processing time.

*You can get an 800K bank letter ahead of time and update your bank book using automated machines in the government complex. My time in the bank was much longer than I anticipated.

*The one year account activity letter from cannot happen same day. One year renewals: keep this in mind!

*The copy shop in the complex I use knows what stamps you are required for the each visa that I’ve needed.

*Making an appointment is great. Allow a little extra time so you are ready with all your paperwork. If you aren’t fully prepared you have to get a new queue ticket.

*Thank you if you made this far and are still awake. I’ll reply to questions if anyone has them.

Today went for my extension and got

Thai wife extension under investigation stamped.

Must come back on 16 may, we are married since feb 2011 and my wife stayed with me for many years in Germany.

What can I expect from immigration?

Thx

Hello, I received my dtv visa on my mail. I need to go to the embassy to get physical visa on my passport?

We are interested in coming to Thailand long term from Canada, and curious what visa is best to arrive on. We are mid 30s, have a few rentals as our main source of income.

We will be enrolling our daughter in an international school in Phuket and

We also want to start up our dog business there.

What would be correct visa for us to apply for ?

I was thinking the guardians visa from the school as I’ve heard they assist with getting it but unsure if I can open/run a business on this visa?

Any recommendations for good visa agencies in either Bangkok or Phuket that could help us?

Thanks 😊

Should TDAC be by people who have a re-entry family visa pensioner

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TDAC doit-il être par les personnes qui ont une réentrée de visa famille retraité

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I'm doing my first 90 day report in Bangkok in person after converting my non-O visa into a one year retirement visa. I have the small slip the immigration office gave me and my stamped passport. Is the 14 day prior and 7 day after reporting day rule still in effect? What other items do I need or are recommended that I bring with me? Is there a form I can pick up at the information desk? What copies, if any, should I make before I enter the queue? Thank you in advance.

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