They are mugging you off - if you are not resident /have a retirement visa bank account no longer possible - maybe this is rhe bribe you need to pay doesn’t get you a retirement visa that’s at discretion of immig

@Andy ***********

waiting for e-gates to be installed in all int‘l airports pointless otherwise

Not for long - ETA will kill off that gig

After clearing her throat over the last few months the fat lady is singing - only a matter of time.

Left BB 5 years ago for SCB - never regretted it, they are unhelpful, dishonest - never looked back and SCB give me 2.5% on my 800k get statements for immig same day And their on line app is excellent

You’ve only got one side of the story, having passed through Thai immigration dozens of times over the years can’t speak highly enough, 2 experiences with the storm troopers at the US border with Canada put me off that journey ever again. Anyway the new ETA will put a stop to all this , as rejection will take place on line , much as is does in US, AU and many other parts of the world, my wife (Singaporean) just had to do it for UK for the first time in 36 years - 5 minute effort and avoided the usual hour queue at LHR……

@Nate **********

stable govt failed to tick the box when I prepared my checklist on 7 retirement destination options, which included PH, VN and SG in SEA (SG made the list as I have been married to one for 33years) I have been visiting TH for nearly 50 years and been here during 2 coups……for a young democracy it’s normal, the Brit’s routinely beheaded monarchs they didn’t like , during a similar period of their development. There is a sense of community here, be it through culture, religion, or the monarchy that simply doesn’t exist in many parts of the world we considered. I ignore much of the media, and enjoy the people,lifestyle and culture and will do for as long it lasts, the last 10-15 years I plan to spend on this planet will be in Thailand and hopefully with my dear wife and dogs…….I will watch with interest as Thailand slowly comes of age, with the thai friends who make it all worthwhile.

@Dennis ********

no training required either you have a clearance certificate form Revenue Authority or you don’t, works in most jurisdictions around the world - I couldn’t settle my affairs in South Africa and clear my accounts and leave the country with out said certificate - immig in Jo’ burg werent the sharpest……paint by numbers on a computer screen.

@Roberto ********

which is precisely what I did - got chased away twice even though we have a TIN already - having lived and worked in much of Africa I am extremely wary of third world tax regimes seen too much grief - ignorance is no defence from tax man hopefully this all blows over soon enough.

@Roberto ********

and long may that continue , I will switch to 65k in November safe in the knowledge that I have an 800k backup in the event I get a curve ball - I always believed that if tax regime was going to change visa renewal would be the only leverage that they have over many expats here, who are happy to be tax over a bar in Pattaya….and not a baht more 🤔