This was posted on other groups but probably belongs here.
Question/ advice wanted from Chiang Mai residents (or Tod Daniels) that are holders of non immigrant O visas and extend annually based on retirement. Do you report to immigration to update your TM30 every time you return from domestic travel? (Assuming you’ve provided your passport to check in at a hotel). If not, have you ever been fined when doing your next 90 day report? We are taking our first trip south since getting our first extension based on retirement. We are doing a 90 day report about two weeks before we leave so wouldn’t have to worry about it again til February but having read horror stories about 6000 Baht fines for not having an “up to date” TM30, I thought I’d ask the question.
I find this the rule absolute most asinine thing I’ve ever heard of because obviously if you’re checking in for a 90 day report in CM and there’s a valid TM30 on file with your passport that was filed legally on the day you took residence in this province, it’s obvious you’re not “staying” in another province but rather, you took a holiday, stayed at hotel and they followed the idiot law by filing a TM30 for every guest that checks in.
From the responses in the other groups it seems most think it’s not for domestic travel but the ones I trust say it is the law but it’s not often enforced
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the confusion among NON-O visa holders residing in Chiang Mai regarding the need to update the TM30 form each time they return from domestic travel. The original poster questions whether it is necessary to report to immigration upon returning, especially after hearing about hefty fines for non-compliance. Comments suggest varying enforcement levels of this rule in Thailand, with some claiming that Chiang Mai is particularly strict. Despite frustrations over the rule's redundancy, it's noted that compliance is necessary to avoid fines, and there are differing opinions on how strictly this is enforced based on one’s location in Thailand.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.