Indeed, they are truly the most irrational people in the world, and the stupidest.Quote:
Originally Posted by taxexile
But of course with the change in rules to banked funds the minimum funds to be held annually will in practice be around the 1,200,000 mark given the original 800k is now held hostage and one needs money on which to defray the day-to-day expenses.
Frankly, if it were not for the wingman I'd be long gone.
absolutely ridiculous, and really looking for new ways to make your life there miserableQuote:
Originally Posted by taxexile
why do people even bother, sheeple and idiots
You cant persuade the wingman to decamp elsewhere, even another Asian country? Surely she would love to get out of Pattaya.Quote:
Originally Posted by Seekingasylum
i sometimes wonder myself, but immigration departments are probably much the same the world over.Quote:
why do people even bother,
my wife, who holds a british passport was made to return to thailand before she could renew her british passport, she had to change the maiden name on her thai passport to the married name on her uk passport , so that her uk passport and thai passport were both in identical names. a new regulation brought in when teresa may was at the home office, it was hardly publicised and we only found out when her application to renew was refused on those grounds.
it was impossible to actually get to see somebody in the uk passport office to discuss the matter, the only contact was with phone line operators and each one told us a different story, the thai embassy in the uk would not help and in spite of a letter from our mp to the passport office we were told that unless my wife would be in danger from imprisonment, torture or gender or religious based persecution from the thai authorities she had to return to thailand to change her name, then her id card, and then apply for a new thai passport.
they did say that if she formally relinquished her thai nationality then she could renew her uk passport !!!
dealing with the thai authorities was actually a piece of cake once the reams of paperwork, translations, approvals and notarisations was organised, it was all done face to face, there were no queues and each of the many departments we had to visit were as helpful as could possibly be. all done and dusted in 4 or 5 days.
mrs. t is quite surprised when she sees and hears the way thai immigration officials talk to falangs and how they make life as difficult as possible for some.
our experience with other thai government departments has been quite different.
Actually, it's very simple.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragonfly
Stash that 800K in the bank and forget about it.
What's so hard about that?
Interesting... We've had no dramas about anything when it comes to my wife's Thai or Kiwi passports. The UK immi sounds like an ordeal.
Same here with my old lady and her US Passport.Quote:
Originally Posted by happynz
...my strategy will be thus: a letter from the bank the day before, then, while waiting for my line-up number to be called, I race to the Bangkok Bank ATM in CW, withdraw some cash, immediately update my bank passbook (assuming BB has a passbook update machine at CW), race to the the copy center to copy my bank passbook, then rush to join the crowd of Mormons, chattering Flips, agents, and probably Todd Daniels...thus, I will have bank proof of B800K that is less than an hour (or so) old...Quote:
Originally Posted by taxexile
...on the other hand, one of the old immigration cows could walk me to the ATM machine in handcuffs and see the proof for herself...
Not in my Imm Office. Must be same day.Quote:
a letter from the bank the day before
But this office stopped accepting embassy letters about 2 or 3 years ago. Money in the bank or no extension. It's old hat to us.
My Immigration office allows a week max on the letter but the passbook has to be updated the day the visa is applied for.
Noted a new deal this last time moi went to renew - the letter has to be issued from the branch that the passbook was opened. Bangkok Bank.
deposit some cash!Quote:
withdraw some cash
...^what's the difference? The balance stays above B800K and is so recorded by the Passbook update machine...the important thing to immigration officials is the balance, not whether cash is deposited or withdrawn...
Anyone extended at soi 5 recently? Is it rumour or fact that they've decided there's more money to be made by rejecting monthly transfers and accepting only banked money?
Quote:
..^what's the difference? The balance stays above B800K and is so recorded by the Passbook update machine...the important thing to immigration officials is the balance, not whether cash is deposited or withdrawn...
...... if you say so.
...I do: the bank passbook shows a monthly deposit from the US and several withdrawals for living expenses...just as immigration would expect to see (I assume) from an account used for daily life in Bangkok...Quote:
Originally Posted by taxexile
Tax, using the UK as a counter example is a bit pointless
I do agree each country has pointless immigration procedure, but Thailand and the UK are at the top of their game
immigrants in Germany and France have it much better, once they have everything, no personal pictures or silly bank money non-sense to deal with
the problem is Thai immigration are stuck in a time tunnel, using procedure created 25 years ago, with a different kind of demographics, they can't or won't evolve with their time and the new demographics expectations
when it comes to dealing with thai immigration officials, it is better not to have any expectations. however, good luck with your renewal.Quote:
would expect
100% correct. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by tomcat
One wonders if Todd has any information on the alleged removal of Hakpan from his post and if there might be any impact on the recent daft changes as a consequence. He usually has his ear to the ground, his nose twitches in the breeze and if any scuttlebutt is to be scuttled he's the man.
Early days.
...a friend is extending his retirement visa next week at CW following my strategy...I'll report his experience on this thread...
has anyone seen TOD lately?Quote:
Originally Posted by Seekingasylum
whats the ODDS TC that the NO TIP SIGNS ARE DOWN.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomcat
:smileylaughing:
...yes, he was at CW last Thursday escorting a group of...clients(?)...Quote:
Originally Posted by headhunter
What will not change is the UK AUS and US embassies will continue to not issue income verification letters. All else is subject to change. At the discretion of your local immigration office of course.