Bangkok Immigration

I learned a new rule at Bangkok immigration in January of 2025. I got rejected on a 90 day check in and had to make the trip. Follow along to Chaengwattana Division One Immigration.
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[@goldiemojica7799]

Whew weee, I am definitley going to use an agent, thank you for this information, even though I am retired Military, and we had the hurry up and wait motto, I just don't want to deal with all of that, thank you again.

[@EagerExpat]

Many use an agent. But most agents will require you to still arrive early. My buddy and his agent arrived at 7:45 and didn't finish his extension until 3:00pm. It's nice to jump to the head of the line. But you still have to wait in the agent line. There could be 100 agents ahead of you.

[@bobjsim03857]

Same here. With all the stress related to moving/retiring to Thailand, I am willing to take the financial hit and let an agent deal with this.

[@EagerExpat]

@@bobjsim03857 Nothing wrong with an agent. But, you'll still have to go to immigration with them. You might as well do it yourself and try and save a few thousand dollars. It's not tricky

[@hgraphix]

I think the first thing I’ll buy in Thailand will be a scanner/printer, solely for immigration paperwork 😄🖨️

[@EagerExpat]

Not a bad idea

[@dariusslade4953]

I did just that! $80 stress reduction.

[@HiChewMango]

I’ve always had the same thought 😂

[@terencegraham8414]

Spot on.

[@poetic.voyage]

As a new "retiree," I really do appeciate these videos. I'm getting myself psyched up for my 1st trip to BKK immigration in a couple of weeks so it's helpful even just to see what the building looks like inside, etc.

[@EagerExpat]

You'll be fine. Get as much filled out ahead of time. Get your photos and copies made the day before. Get registered as soon as you can with immigration. If you need to be there on the Feb 1, start looking for an appointment 21 days before Feb 1. The appointments go very fast. Try to get the 8:30 or 9:00 appointment and you'll be out before lunch. No appointment, get there close to 7:00am and get a que number to enter in the first 200 people

[@vincem8065]

Finding a solid agent is key. I've had 2, first one was not a good experience, the second one has been great. Always on time, takes care of my 90 day check-in for me within 24 hours of handing them my passport. Very professional

[@EagerExpat]

Many people use an agent. I like to figure it out on my own. It's a game of chess

[@vincem8065]

@EagerExpat It's more like checkers dealing with Thai immigration rules. I prefer not wasting my time & energy with every rule change, and just paying the small fee to have someone take care of it. To each their own, King me!

[@cnxghost]

Wow cool video I’ve never seen Bangkok immigration before, I’ve only been to the two offices in Chiang Mai.

[@EagerExpat]

Ya it's pretty big, but it's doable. It's pretty easy if you get an appointment

[@paulroman3402]

9:26 is that the bank commonly referred to as K bank?

[@EagerExpat]

Yes. K bank

[@TutoneEarthling]

In november, I went to Thailand for 3 weeks on a ticket I bought last march. at the time, it was auto 30 days on arrival but changed to 60 days before my travel started. when i arrived at the airport for a feeder hop to a larger airport, i was asked about return trip. I showed documentation of my return trip. This, being my 15th trip to thailand, but was the first time i was ever asked about return plans. at the time i didn't really think anything about it. but now, i see there was a reason for asking perhaps.

[@EagerExpat]

Ya, things change. I've been asked for onward travel maybe 10 times in 50 legs into Bangkok. Even recently I was asked in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. I had to point out my long term visa. In Japan it was still a 10 minute conversation until a supervisor walked over. As far as being asked in Thailand, that has never happened to me. But, it's always possible. Since the 60 day visa exempt started, it seems to be happening more and more. It's nice to have the long term visa.

[@jacksonj3082]

Very helpful Vlog, wonderful job with clear explanation despite an immigration system filled with gray areas - thank you very much. At about 13:45 concerning going to a hotel in Pattaya or elsewhere away from your condo unit, you said "you still needed to do a fresh TM.30 every time you went to a hotel I think they've still or knocked that off". Can you please confirm if you are aware - is doing a TM.30 necessary if you have traveled only inside Thailand (not outside Thailand) and stayed in a hotel away from your condo unit?

[@EagerExpat]

There doesn't appear to be anything written down. The conventional rumor is travel within Thailand doesn't hurt your long term TM-30. It used to. I had to get a clean TM 30 in 2023 when I went to get my first 90 day report in person. The new rule, I have read is a TM 30 is needed within 24 hours of arrival from abroad Plus, like the video showed, your next 90 day check in must be in person (maybe in the mail also?) or as long as the airport keeps working for a trip abroad. We'll see if the new ETA system that starts in 2025, will change the 90 day check in. I hope not. The new wealthy pension visa only requires one check in a year, and the airport counts. Hopefully, all visas move into that direction.

[@jacksonj3082]

@@EagerExpat In my last 90 day reporting done at the same immigration office - I asked 2 different immigrations officers if a TM.30 is necessary for strictly in-Thailand travel with an overnight stay at a hotel and I got 2 different answers - one "yes" the other said "no need". I'll continue to ask a couple immigration officers each 90 day reporting until this is more clear. I actually do not mind doing an in-person reporting as it gives a chance to ask questions. In my previous 90 day reporting I got to the immigration office late (8 am to 9 am), while I was not processed until after the lunch break I was handled the same day - to avoid a super early arrival. BTS green line to the pink line interchange at Wat Pha Sri Mahathat gets you close to the immigration office, then I just paid another THB 40 for a short taxi ride.

[@EagerExpat]

@@jacksonj3082 Ya it;s up to you. I got there at 7:00 and was done at 9:45. Get there at 9:30 and you'll leave past lunch. Am appointment is best. As far as the train, it depends where you live. If near Asoke, the Blue to the red, to the pink is 15 minutes closer than the Green to the pink. As far as the TM 30. it looks like a hotel in Thailand doesn't matter. But returning from abroad requires a new TM 30 within 24 hours. Of course that can change

[@dariusslade4953]

Great info. I see the need initially for a detailed calendar.

[@EagerExpat]

That's not a bad idea

[@williamm1258]

Always good info. If I am traveling out of country every 90 days or less, I can avoid this and get it done as an entry stamp? As long as I get a TM30 every time I come back on my year lease? Im retired, plenty of time to go myself but I try to avoid the hassle it seems to be and since I am traveling anyways, can schedule trips for my 90 day mark. Can that work?

[@EagerExpat]

Yes, I also like to travel. The airport (so far) counts as a 90 day report. Everything is possible to change. But in 2.5 years, I've only did two check in's other than airports. As long as you have a multi-entry taking trips will work. I will say, the 89 day mark comes up pretty fast. You'll still need a plan for the occasional check in

[@jjmccee5665]

Hey, Joe. So how much would that have cost you to have an agent Do what you did on your own on Friday. Thanks.

[@EagerExpat]

I'm not 100% sure an agent can do this "in person" 90 day report for me. The old rule was the "first" 90 day check in had to be done in person. Even if you hired an agent (1000b to 2000b fee around Bangkok) you had to be present. Future 90 day reports the agent could just take your passport and you stayed home. This new rule says you have to do an in person after returning from abroad. I'll have to ask an agent if they can "handle" that alone. I have an agent who did that for me for 750b one time. If they say I need to be present, I wouldn't need an agent. It's a simple form, get an appointment after lunch (I like to sleep in) maybe 130pm and out by 1:45pm I'll keep traveling. I do that anyhow. We'll see what happens in 2025, The new ETA system at that airport might change the 90 day check in. Who knows?

[@chameleon467]

As far as I know, (and I'm no expert) if you leave the country, your 90 day period is reset and you need to do the first tm47 in person (I use an agent). The IO you spoke to is correct.

[@EagerExpat]

The clock does reset at the airport. Leave on day 49, 69 or 89 (whatever) and you get a fresh 90 days when you return from abroad. As far as checking in the next time. That seems to have changed sometime in 2024. I did at least three check in's after returning from abroad and always did them online. The last was in April of 2024. They were always approved. So maybe the in person check needed after abroad is a new thing. Going forward, I'll still schedule my trips around the day 85 mark. The problem is I travel every 30 or 45 days. So It's a ton of trips for me just to avoid the 90 day check. I might use an agent for the in person after a trip abroad. I'll have to double check with the agent. The only time I used her was in 2023 and I did not have to go with her. Hopefully, that hasn't changed. If I do have to go, I run out of trips at some point, I'll just make that appointment when they release the schedule 21 days in advance. In BKK the day you want sell out in hours.

[@joezip6389]

Great info Thanks

[@EagerExpat]

You bet! Thanks for watching.

[@keninchicago]

Good video, but I have 2 comments. If you are late with the 90 day report, the fine is THB. This is NOT an overstay. An overstay is remaining in Thailand with after your exit date. Two very different things. 2. As the immigration officer stated thereason you could not do the 90 day report online was is that this is your first report after re-entry into Thailand. The first 90 day report can only be done by mail or in person.

[@EagerExpat]

You are correct. I used the term overstay in a general sense. You are correct it would be a fine for being late. There is language that says you can do the 90 day check in 15 days early or 5 days late. The reason I said overstay, my buddy showed up in 2022 two days late for his first 90 day check in, the one needed in person. He was charged 2000b and told he was being fined for overstay. Again, it's kind of a gray area. If you have an approved 1 year extension and don't follow the 90 day check in, the visa is not in good standing. So getting 60 day visa exempt and showing up at the airport on day 61 is an overstay. Having a long term visa and dropping below 800k/400k or not doing a 90 day check in, may not be "overstay" but it might as well be. There will be fines and little marks you don't want next to your name. As far as the checking in, in person after a trip from abroad, that seems to have changed in the last quarter of 2024. I did seven or eight trips from abroad in 2024. Two times followed up with an online check in that was approved. I'd have to check, but the last time I did that was July or August of 2024. I was a meetup the other night. We all return from abroad and have had the next check in approved online. But, this looks like it's changed. That's no problem. Now I know the new "un-written" rule.

[@No_Strings]

Great video, i can never hear this stuff enough! Im going to try for K-Bank i think they have a savings account... Low rate, but something

[@EagerExpat]

Thanks Andy. K Bank sounds like a good choice

[@jimsilverdale205]

For a county that thrives by the tourist industry, they sure make it had for travelers. If a person wants to stay for six months, do they have to make a border run every 90 days?

[@EagerExpat]

Staying for 6 months isn't tourism. It's living here. You need the correct visa to live here.

[@jimsilverdale205]

@@EagerExpat I have been looking for a visa for 6 months and can't find one, do I have to get a 1-year retirement visa?

[@EagerExpat]

@@jimsilverdale205 I'm no visa expert. The Non O is a 90 day visa. You can then extend it for 12 months. If you keep it, you keep extending it for 12 months at a time.

[@jimsilverdale205]

@@EagerExpat Thanks

[@maungsacca]

The simplest thing to do if you want to stay for 60 days is to get a 2 month Tourist visa and get a TM30 when you get there and extend for 30 days. Then go to laos or somewhere else and do the same again. you will never need to do 90 day report and if you plan it well can have a nice trip in Laos or Cambodia or anywhere else which is very interesting and end up with 6 months in Thailand. So just do 2 x 90 day stays.

[@marcuspearson87]

I wish there was a better path to long-term residence. The Philippines has a better system. As you said, rules are rules.

[@EagerExpat]

But you have to live in the Philippines? I like my power staying on. Ha ha

[@marcuspearson87]

@EagerExpat LoL your right!

[@yappering]

Why not just remove 400k baht in cash and deposit in your other bank in cash same day?

[@EagerExpat]

It should work. But a better move would be to keep 800k in the account. When you are eligible to drop to 400k, move 400k into the new account. A few days later move the other 400k over. If the deposit went pending for some strange reason, that one day would be an issue.

[@mmaranta785]

Going to immigration looks about as much fun as going to a California DMV

[@EagerExpat]

The DMV is way easier. They speak English at the DMV. Ha Ha

[@briangoulding2855]

this is tge reason I am leaving Thailand after 6 years ...

[@EagerExpat]

For me a few forms isn't a big deal. For others, it's enough to leave. I'm kind of glad there are rules to follow. Otherwise we would have a group of characters trying to live on $500 a month. Staying for 3 years on a tourist visa, etc.. Nope, immigration once a year isn't too bad. Twice if you mess up a 90 day check in I suppose. Now I know the abroad rule.

[@michaeljcarneyjr.6187]

Learn to let sleeping dogs lie. Never ask a bureaucrat anything after you are approved.

[@EagerExpat]

Where I would normally agree, it's best to ask at immigration the rule, rather than relying on Facebook or KZbin. You might get a different answer by each IO. But many rules are a little more hard and fast. I also asked a few agents standing around that day. They seem to be the first to know about a new unwritten rule. One told me, the in person after abroad rule seems to have changed in the last quarter of 2024. I myself returned from Australia in June 2024 and was approved online the next 90 day attempt. So it worked in late July of 2024. The trip from Japan in Oct 2024 seemed to get me rejected online in my Dec 2024 attempt. Getting a fresh TM30 within 24 hours also changed sometime in later 2024. I always just waited to get one when I went for a visa extension only. And I never had an issue with a 90 day check in until this one. So, again, it's a game of chess. Not that big a deal.

[@CIOXYZ-c6i]

I live in Cambodia and we have none of these problems. They make you run around like a rat. It could be so much simpler.

[@EagerExpat]

You can run around if you want. Or make an appointment and be in and out in an hour

[@Sammyli99]

makes no sense came in 3 weeks ago 10 mins tops.

[@EagerExpat]

You made it out of Chaing Wattana in Bangkok in 10 minutes? I've been there maybe twenty times. It sometimes takes ten minutes to check in, before you wait a few hours. Don't count on ten minutes each time. You got lucky. Even with an appointment, that takes me about 45 minutes to an hour.