@Ling ****

Well… You’re wrong about that. Not reporting your income is tax fraud, since the tax laws say that you are the initiator not anyone else.

So your statement that you were safe 20 years might be true, but are you willing to bet on… say… the next 10 years?

They are hunting for money and anyone under the new guidelines, preferably rich Thai, are in the looking glass. Unfortunately enough, some day sooner or later that may include you and me.

Simple trick: Require copy of tax returns at visa extension. Bye bye Ling. 😉

Good to see you found *one*.

Probably you can find a few more.

If you were worth it I would take the trouble of producing dozens of posts stating the contrary. But since you were able to use Facebook during your Harvard time in Thailand I am sure you can do it all by yourself. Good luck hunting “thousands”. Bye!

By the way, 20 years ago Facebook was limited to Harvard students. As you were already in Thailand back then, I guess you weren’t a Harvard student back then, joining a non-existent Thai expat group. 🤣🤣🤣

Or maybe you were referring to an expert group of bargirls and made a little typo? 😉

@Nongnuch *******

Yeah. You understood my demonstration of your ridicule. You live 30 years in Thailand, but forgot to keep up with the calendar. Living 30 years under a stone didn’t teach you much.

I opened two bank accounts in the last four weeks. Things have changed since 30 years ago.

But don’t worry. If I need to find a museum I will know who to ask. 🤣

@Nongnuch *******

“Thousands of expats”? Speak for yourself!

Thousands of expats have died in Thailand.

Thousands of expats will confirm neither agencies or insurance is required.

Thousands of expats have suffered from alcohol abuse.

Thousands of expats are happily married to a Thai.

Please send names and addresses of your thousands.

@Eric *****

Sure. Book a hotel for at least 15 days and immigration will happily give you a residence certificate (not a permit!) based on the tm30 from the hotel. The tm30 must show that you will stay there 15 days or more.

Take your money (a few 1000 baht), your original non-o visa, the residence certificate and your passport to the bank and open an account. Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn are your best bet. Worst case you’ll have to visit three banks before you find the one willing to open the account.

These are the requirements but many will imagine additional requirements. Listen to what they want, thank them friendly, and go to the next bank.

@David **********

Yeah. So troublesome. You will need at least one hand to open the website and click here and there. 🤣

That’s the most difficult choice, when you’re having a beer in one hand and a girl in the other. 🤣🤣🤣

@Jack *******

Yeah… In fact Thailand will be instantly bankrupted if I don’t have a beer there tonight.

Funnily enough, West-European mostly eat chicken from Thailand, which doesn’t contribute to their economy. With Thai rice, of course, which doesn’t contribute.

And by some funny coincidence my Nikon equipment says “made in Thailand”.

Thailand is very poor. So poor that the Red Bull F1 team, world champions 2023, are owned by those poor Thai people.

[sarcasm off]

Be happy that some regions are actually very poor. Once they are sufficiently self-providing they will be no more girls for them poor Pattayan immigrants to have sex with. 🤣

@Brandon ***********

I was told exactly this by the IO. You must keep your seasoning money in the bank for the required period, or else… No matter which method you intend to use next year.

The way to get rid of shady agents is to already have the seasoning done when applying the 2nd year, and nonetheless use an agent for the 2nd year because they are the only ones who can “prove” seasoning after the first extension.

Then, at your 3rd extension you can demonstrate seasoning with your own account and choose your appropriate funding method.

Basically, once a shady agent, always a shady agent. And pray that they don’t retire in the process.

@Jeffrey ******

I tried getting a PA insurance policy at SCB after I got the account and they failed to do so.

They didn’t know which document to ask and in the end the insurance company refused the policy and returned my payment. I opened PA insurance with AXA through their website and had it done 10 minutes later… 🤣🤣🤣