Thailand was never a country that welcomes expats and that the Brits have to show real proof of income already exists for most of the other nationals. Let's be honest, why should Brits and Americans be able to make a statement that doesn't have to be true, while others need a bank letter from the same day?
  But when foreigners are living here for 10 years +, have spent their savings, built houses, bought cars and motorcycles, but every year, they've got to go through hell and back to supply all the wanted documents. Considering that the Thai baht is way too strong, many expats who receive a pension just don't have enough to continue living here.
Until now, you can apply for a Non-O in Savannakhet, without showing financial proof, but with this guy, Mr. Big Joke, on top, how long will that be possible?
Most foreigners here are trying to make a living as English teachers, unfortunately, are the salaries less than they were 10 years ago and some schools just followed agency's policy's and only pay a ten-month salary, no more sick leave, and no business days, while Khurusapha's ( TCT) getting tougher on them.
When I renewed my permission to stay at the local Immigration, the officer with the most stripes even checked on my provisional teacher's license on Khurusapha's website. Would somebody really forge a provisional teacher's license? Why was she treating me like a criminal, I've never done anything wrong, no overstay, no accident where others got harmed. But why do they treat foreigners they know for many years that way?
Each page with a sticker from a Laotian or Cambodian Immigration was checked out twenty times, checked, taken out, then checked again. And again and gave me the feeling that I wasn't really wanted.
Good luck was that I had some cash and invested in my education, studied for an additional Diploma in Teacher Education that enabled me to receive the full teacher's license. The little card took much longer than expected, but finally arrived a couple of weeks back. Next year in May, it will be easy to renew my permission to stay, but only if I'm not too old. They don't need experienced guys, the good looking ones seem to be okay. No matter if they're from Kasachstan or from Anatolia in Turkey.
Many others are all in a sudden not qualified to teach anymore and employed as trainers, teacher's assistants, curriculum developer, or any other fancy titles. They bypass the TCT/Khurusapha but continue working as full-time teachers. Of course is that illegal and just a matter of time when they'll close this loophole.
Honestly speaking, how do foreigners feel when they see huge posters of Big Joke after some "foreigners", usually from Bangladesh, India, Laos, and Cambodia are being caught without a visa? What do you think when you read "X-Ray Outlaw" blah blah blah?
Now I forgot to do my 90 days registration for Aliens, two days late will cost 3,000 baht and there's no excuse for it, it's, of course, my own fault. How could i ........
 Isn't that all a sort of a Catch 22? People come to Thailand usually with all/ most life savings, spent most/all money for wife/ kids/ relatives........ and then they can't take their wives back to the country where they came from if they haven't got a good paying job? How do you get a job when not in the country? Okay, Skype, yes...
 I'm afraid that Mr. B. J. will change a few more things that might not be in our interest. Oops, I've almost forgotten my marriage ring in the pawn shop.......
Why does a single guy need to show 800,000 baht for a retirement visa, when a married to a Thai guy only has to show 400,000 baht? Of course, you need twice as much money when you're alone and don't have to pay for lazy family members, huge gold necklaces, fake tits, new motorbikes and cars, expensive operations, usually paid by the government and more. Hallelujah!!
Best of luck!! Enjoy your stay in Baan Nok, it's so cheap and nobody will find you there.
