Cathay Pacific only checks your passport to ensure six months left. They could care less about Thai immigration rules on visas. Airlines outside Thailand have no time to comprehend anything other than what’s required for them to use a country’s airspace. For example, when you fly to JFK they have to tell you about how you “can’t congregate in galleys or aisles”. For Thailand the gate agent at HKG on Cathay Dragon didn’t even check the passport because the flight was late

@Steve ******

only if you’re not white and privileged and a card carrying member of the United Trump States of Gilead. Can’t speak for the UK but clearly I don’t know why any non Brit would wanna expatriate there anyway given the high cost of living

Thailand is the best place for getting mixed up with immigration issues. That’s why this group and tod are invaluable. We sold our house in Walnut Creek which was paid for so we have enough money to live in Thailand for about 165 years (ok I’m exaggerating a bit)

If you had a Baht for every time you’ve said this; well you’d have a few bucks US. 555

We did the same. But came at 11:30 and then went for lunch. They took us first at 1 despite the long line.

@Saffron ********

if you’re willing to consider using an agent they will know exactly what’s needed but many people discourage the use of agents when you can do it yourself. I don’t disagree but we still used one because it was seemless after Tod helped us with all the correct information ahead of time

I can’t answer with certainty but generally speaking, as long as there’s been 800K minimum for a continuous 60 day period, the bank will give you the letter for immigration stating this. We use Bangkok Bank and although we did transfer the funds only about 90 days before we applied for the extension, the agent we used didn’t care as long as the boilerplate bank letter says what it needs to say. Granted we used an agent. If u do it yourself they may well ask for proof that the funds were wired from overseas. They may not be happy about gradual ATM withdrawals subsequently deposited that add up to 800K but maybe

@Tod ********

can help with that question

@Saffron ********

converting the tourist to non O has advantages in Chiang Mai. It’s one if the three things you and can do at the smaller upstairs immigration office at Promenada and there’s rarely large amounts of people there. (The other functions are TM30 house master applications and business visas).

Yeah. I’d take Tod’s advice first of Vientiane or maybe Penang as a second choice.

@Steve ******

in the example I cited, we paid Jim to go to the Penang consulate and get us the non o visas. The “show of good faith” was his words, not mine and since he rarely takes your cash if he can’t get a visa it didn’t matter much to us what he called it