Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the TM30; I would argue every expats' least favourite topic of conversation. Specifically, we are discussing it in the context of the Thai Visa Extension. So for those who are unaware, the TM30 is an address form; it's caused a great deal of consternation since its reintroduction some roughly 5 years ago under the administration of "Big Joke", Surachate "Big Joke" Hakparn over at Thai Immigration, on his watch they sort of brought this back. It had actually always been in the 1979 Act but it just wasn't enforced. Now they did some things that resulted in it being, it became kind of a reasonable requirement but there was a time when it was really difficult to deal with especially when we had to deal with what was called the TM28. I have made other videos contemporaneously with this one discussing that; I will go into that analysis a little deeper as we get into the work I am going to cite here. 

So, I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Chonburi Immigration Bureau tightens address reporting. Quoting directly: "A recent change in procedure at Pattaya-Jomtien Immigration (and Sri  Racha) means that all foreigners requiring a service must have a TM30 form receipt in their passport dated since their last arrival in Thailand." (That's key, I'll get to that in a moment) "This bureaucracy is quite separate from the 90 days reporting for expats which remains intact." Quoting further: "The change in procedure means that the requirement is now extended to any foreigner seeking a re-entry permit, a renewal of a one-year extension of stay (including Retirement and Marriage Visas), extension of Elite, certificates of residence for driving licenses, opening bank accounts etc. All these categories must now have a TM30 Immigration receipt in their passport," (and this is key), "issued after their most recent entry to Thailand by air or land or sea. A TM30 receipt issued before the last date of entry to Thailand will be regarded as out of date and no longer acceptable." Okay, let's explain that practically. You have got an O Retirement Visa; you have had three years of extensions okay. You have had one TM30 that entire time. Let's say you own a condo here in Thailand and you use that address, you fill that out on your original TM30, you have been living there ever since. Now occasionally you fly back to your home country be it the United States or Portugal or the UK, or wherever, and then come back to Thailand. Well, the past three years you haven't had a problem with the TM30 because you just have your original TM30 you filled out in the beginning and that is all you have had to deal with, and they haven't asked for further TM30 documentation in connection with your extension for example. They may ask for the TM30, the one you originally did but what has changed here is you now have to file a new TM30 after your latest arrival.

So, what I am saying is if you lived here the past 3 years and you did one TM30, each time you went to extend your Visa they didn't ask for a new TM30 based on your last date of entry into the country. So, a TM30 that was filed after the last time you re-entered Thailand, they never asked for that in the past. Moving forward, with respect to at least the Pattaya Immigration Office, that is what it looks like they are going to be doing and I am aware that many of our audience are in the jurisdiction of that Immigration Office.

So moving forward, it looks like look when you leave the country, maybe it's a day or two whatever, you are going to have to file another TM30 before any subsequent extension. So that is what we are looking at moving forward.