@Jim ******

NO what is the rule is the rule. What you do is up to you.

TM30 is required by all foreigners within 24hrs of arrival.

If you never have any immigration interaction it may not matter.

Doesn't change the rule.

ANYBODY who lives here has a tm30 or they would not be able to have their extensions of stays.

Most tourists won't ever know the hotel had registered them.

You are on a 90 day non-o visa.

In order to stay for 5 months, you will have to apply for a 60 day visit Thai family extension in order to stay.

You can only stay until the stamp in your passport allows.

You will apply for an evisa 90 day non-o based on being over 50( retirement ).

No checks needed.

Enter and find somewhere to live, obtain a bank account.

Transfer 800k.

Then you apply for a 1 year extension of stay and will do so every year.

This is the simplest path.

Once here or from home I recommend finding a health plan that works for your needs, self insuring pay as you go can be devasting.

Many just get good coverage for inpatient care.

Yes in order to get the nonb you must have a "wp3" which is a promise of a work permit (basically) from the labor department.

However If you are coming that soon, there is no reason, other than the company can't get it together before then.

Most companies cannot/will not provide the amount of paperwork needed to do an incountry nonb 90 day visa.

You should have told the officer when you were applying what your plan was and see if they could fix it.

If it's doesn't come in time and you cannot be here, then you will have to start over.

You can find a clinic and a doctor you like or you go to the hospital of your choice.

Private hospitals will provide all the services you need, at a premium but still cheap for us expats.

To further the understanding from

@Bra****

.

An extension that requires one set is kept in that local office. Retirement for example.

And extension that requires 2 sets of documents means 1 set stays local and the other goes to the district/head office.

Marriage for example.

This makes the "massaging" more difficult and problematic.

As the banking and scrutiny has increased, costs increase and remain inflated.

It's getting harder to "fix" and will get harder if other banks and institutions follow Bangkok Bank.

@James **************

as always they could ask you for it..that's Thailand. Best practice is to be prepared.

Yes they know as soon as they enter your passport into the system.