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laxman1960

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Posts posted by laxman1960

    Stop Traveling Within Thailand Because of TM30

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    It takes my wife 5min to do from her phone. I have sympathy for those who feel they need to do it the old fashioned way and drive for hours to meet an IO face to face. 

    They seem to have fixed the online system, I registered and it took less than a minute to get my userid and password and then self filed since I just arrived back into the country.


    Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

    Yellow Tabien Bahn

    in Real Estate, Housing, House and Land Ownership

    Posted

    Got mine last week at Pakkred Amphur. Needed to get my yellow book was:

    Certified copy main passport page

    Certified translation

    Both documents consularized at MoFA

    Marriage Certificate

    Wife's blue book for the condo

    Land sale contract for the condo

    1 inch by 1 inch photo of myself

    That was it.

    We had to come back because the spelling of my name in Thai on our marriage certificate didn't match the translation of my passport so we went back to Bangrak district office where we got married to fix it.

    How much is enough for the wife's monthly allowance?

    in Marriage and Divorce

    Posted

    This thread is a bit funny...some say never send money to his WIFE...others say send this much...It is really quite simple..if she is your wife, and you are forced to live apart due to needing to work in the UK to make real money, then send what is necessary to cover her living expenses and some reasonable extras. 15,000 THB is what less than 300 quid a month, pretty cheap. Only you know her background and how trustworthy she is. Now she should be working, especially if no kids. but that is such a small amount of money to support your wife. And all the guys on here saying 15k is huge, well maybe time to look and see how to earn more money so that giving your wife less than 500 USD a month isn't a problem.

    My retirement extension on 25 July 2014

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    Great stuff... I did my extension today at Nonthaburi Immigration which is very far and difficult to find! I live 10 minutes from Chaeng Wattana but because my address is in Nonthaburi we trecked there... nicest people. I arrived around 230pm, was done around 415pm.

    I had to sign the two new docs noted as well. A bit strange since I was getting a retirement extension, but that is what they required.

    Refused entry at Swampy for 20 minutes

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    The Marriage Extension is a lot more hassle and time and then your permission to stay in Thailand is dependent on someone other than yourself. Retirement Extension is much easier to deal with and totally within your personal control (other than what Immigration does of course).

    I posted already in another thread.. An oil and gas mate of mine just relayed that one of his friends was denied entry at Swampy.. Also an oil and gas worker returning on a rotation.

    Its not a direct friend, so I would still call it a a strong rumor, but its an actual mate of a mate, not some vague "I heard" etc.. The tale as it was told was he was denied entry and had to book his own flight out of the country. How he managed to check into a flight, without clearing immigration, I have no idea.

    Arrival by air, not an out in but returning from a rotation, oil and gas.. Think this was day before yesterday.

    Exactly what I feared.

    ---------------------

    There is no "perfect" solution to such a problem,

    But best solution is:

    • Get legitimate by marrying.
    • Take the time to get a so-called "marriage visa". (an extension of your stay by marriage to a Thai). This will allow you to stay for one year in Thailand at a time.
    • At the same time you get this "marriage visa" get a one year multiple entry re-entry permit for 3900 Baht.
    • The re-entry permit is good for the one year period of your "marriage visa" and will allow you unlimited multi entries with that "marriage visa".

    You will have ro be careful with getting the required 90 day reporting, and making sure that the marriage visa is renewed every year on time.

    But it is possible to do, if you have the sense to make staying with your family and child(ren) your main concern.

    It can be done.

    Other people have gone through the process, it is possible.

    Is there any advantage of the marriage visa over the retirement visa, other than 400,000 instead of 800,000 baht? I'm on a retirement visa at present and getting married next month, so wondered if it's worth changing to the married visa. Some say the married visa is more of a hassle.

    Too Young to Retire to Live...Now What?

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    I am not an expert on the marriage route but are there not multiple options for marriage?? Is my understanding correct that a marriage can be preformed by a monk that is only valid in Thailand and there is a more official route that is valid worldwide? I along with the OP might be interested in advise on this and legal ramifications in the event of stormy weather.

    The only way to be legally married in Thailand is to go the Amphur (District Office) and sign the papers and get the certificate. Monks can't legally marry you, unlike in the West where Rabbi's and Priests have authority from the State/Government to perform legal marriages.

    • Like 2

    No more Thai visa runs: Immigration will not let visa runners return after Aug 12

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    You are a very unique case...that is unfortunately caught up in this... not very many people fit your situation that is for sure. But you are also clearly not a tourist here either, you live here so they want you on some more permanent stay option. They don't really have a Visa class to fit your situation. It is very similar to a financially secure under 50 year old person who is single. You are not married to a Thai, so no O Visa/Extension based on Marriage. You are not over 50, so no O Visa/Extension of Stay based on Retirement. You are not working, so no B Visa/Extension based on employment. You can't use Tourist Visa's and extensions to remain indefinitely either. The only option that is now available in that situation is to go for a Non Immigrant Education Visa/Extension and attend classes in Thailand for something. Learn Thai, as previously posted you can get the classes and Visa setup done for something like 30K Baht which is what you spend now on Visa run flights every month. The requirements are to attend class 4 hours a week I believe, not that stressful and could be fun.

    Ok. But I doubt this new rule has much intelligence in it. In my case, Thailand will lose 100% on it.

    I am enrolled at my university in Denmark. I have 1,600 USD/month in grant and a bit of students loan. I live most of the year in Thailand, submitting 90% of the papers over the internet. In other words, I have managed to take a Danish degree while living 10+ months a year in Thailand.

    And now? If I cannot stay here at the basis of visa runs (I go to KL once a month, pretty cheap flight)?

    Listen, please: I get my money from Denmark. I take these money from Denmark and put directly into the Thai economy. It is a 100% win situation for Thailand. It is totally legal, I follow all rules, I never do anything bad here, etc. So, the question is: why do Thailand want me to go back to my home country and use my money there?

    Thus the lack of intelligence from these politicians. Honestly, it has been my thought, over the past couple of years, that this planet would be better off without politicians at all. They only create problems or short-sighted solutions that will later turn out actually to be more of a problem than a solution.

    Look at the West. How is it going there? There should be a law against politicians and politics.

    No more Thai visa runs: Immigration will not let visa runners return after Aug 12

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    They don't want foreigners to come here and open up small businesses to compete with Thai's. They want companies to hire Thai labor. What advantage to Thailand is there for you or I to come here and open up our 1 person shop other than the taxes we would pay on our income? Likely we would be competing with other Thai businesses and taking business away from them potentially. So they make this requirement (which is a real pain, I know) so that at least the foreigners who come here to open businesses will create some jobs and technology/knowledge transfer to Thai people. At least in theory, as many people go the route of opening up a company, putting names on the payroll, paying the social tax on the minimum earnings but not actually employing anyone.

    From the Government perspective they want big foreign companies to come here, invest big money and hire a lot of Thai's, that is what they are targeting. Not you and I.

    We may not like this policy, but unfortunately that is the reality.

    In other words

    We only want illegal Khmer, Lao and Burmese workers, who work for peanuts in appalling conditions.

    Not those pesky farang illegals who want more than locals.

    And are better educated as us smarter and independent.

    Why do you think there need to be 4 Thais to every foreigner in a company. Without that stupid rule many more foreigners would start businesses and get a work permit. Plenty of people who don't need Thais to work for them.

    They should abolish that stupid rule

    Long timers - Is Thailand better or worse than 10 years ago?

    in General Topics

    Posted

    Very well said...

    My first trip here was April 1998... moved here in 2004 so have been here for 10 years. Some things for sure have changed but all in all I love it here. Especially not working here or running a business here life is great. Sure there are minor annoyances like my internet suddenly went from perfect to garbage in a couple of days, took the building guys few days to get at it after True said all was fine to get into the building. After they went through the connectivity on all floors, it is back to decent.

    Stuff is more expensive here than it used to be, gas is not cheap, cars are not cheap, but compared to the USA it sure is less expensive living here. I went back with my Thai wife for almost a year so know what it costs back in the USA. Cars cheaper, gasoline a bit cheaper, blazing fast internet available (my Dad had 70M down/30M Up), lots of tv channels, again my Dad had nearly 1,000 we could watch, food way expensive and boring, going out expensive, doing stuff expensive too. I figured my costs here are about 40% of what it would take for a similar lifestyle back in the US.

    Times have changed for sure, but I love it here, have no intentions of leaving other than for trips, maybe go to split time between here and the US, but we will see. I learned a long time ago to focus on the good stuff, believe firmly in the Law of Attraction you get what you focus, and spend your time and energy on. So if you like to moan, gripe and complain, guess what, life will suck!

    Thailand Isn't any better or worse IMHO. The few things that have improved it have been offset by a few bad things that came from it. I have been here since 2005( sometimes on and off for business for short back to states stints but mostly here). The key thing to realize is it is trying to be "western" in so many ways and has no idea how to really go about it. What us foreigners are feeling is pressure due to all the low life foreigner tourist scumbags and scammers that came in and exploited the place and now muddied it up for the honest guy. Its no different than anywhere else. I have always been here on a B Visa so all this border run stuff was never on my radar. Now being just over 50 I use the AO retirement visa and it is a simple 5 minute check in.

    @ the OP, living in any high visibility tourist congested area (Samui and Hua Hin) only raises the level of BS. Your are seen as a mark for money. I lived in 5 different parts of Thailand over my tenure here experimenting and found that a nice place outside BKK and away from all the beach tourist nonsense is pretty much unchanged and business as usual. A very nice comfortable life can be found and enjoyed.

    Its all what you make it. I have had my moments where I shake my head(usually laugh at same time) but back in the states I shook it a lot more with way more frustration and anger. I guess in the states I expect more, In Thailand my expectations of system things are way less thus little frustration.

    Good Luck

    Newbie to Getting Treatment in Thailand

    in Health and Medicine

    Posted

    I can highly recommend BNH, the best back Doctor is there..my buddy had his surgery there..I went there when I broke my hip as well, great service, online booking.

    Is a bit pricey but if you have good insurance then definitely go there..online appointment setting or calling..

    If you have more time than money, go to Chulalongkorn Hospital, just walk into the Emergency area, you will be waiting a couple of hours likely, but costs are very low and quality of care at Chula is high.

    For something like this you should take care in selecting the right doctor. If you are in Bangkok I highly recommend Dr. Wicharn at the BNH Hospital Spine Center, you can make appointment online or by phone.

    http://www.bnhhospital.com/en/find_doctor/detail/256

    American and retirement in Thailand

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    The affidavit will only confirms you income.

    Proof of address needed will depend upon where you are applying for the extension. Some offices will want a rental agreement and others will accept a receipt for a room. Others may not ask for it at all.

    But the Affidavit has me affirm my address!

    I can get an address Affidavit done at the same time. I live in our Condo which is in my wife's name, so no rental receipt, no lease, but of course have a copy of the Chanote and the Marriage Cert.

    I am applying this time at Nonthaburi Immigration since the address in is in Nonthaburi.

    I plan to bring the Chanote and Marriage Cert with me when I go for my retirement extension, but do I need the extra Affidavit from the US Embassy? No problem to do it, but the Income document also says that I affirm my address in Thailand is....

    Hate to spend the extra money on something that is not needed.

    Thanks,

    Dan

    American and retirement in Thailand

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    One quick question relative to this....

    On the Income Affidavit there is a sentence that says: I affirm my address in Thailand is....

    Then I filled in my new address.

    Then the next paragraph is where I affirm my income.

    When doing the extension I need proof of Address and Income.

    Will this single document be good enough to cover both, or do I need to spend an extra 1,600 Baht tomorrow at the US Embassy to get two documents, one for address and another for income?

    Thanks,

    Dan

    You do not have to have a permanent residence here.

    You will do an income affidavit at the US embassy. You swear an oath that what is on it is true and correct which means their is no need for supporting documents. You can fill out and print the affidavit here: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/notarial-services.html

    Appointments are mandatory at the embassy.

    You will first apply for a change of visa status to obtain a non immigrant visa entry. Then after 60 days you can apply for an extension of stay based upon retirement. You will need an original income affidavit for each application but you can get them both in one trip to the embassy.

    I suggest you apply for your extension at immigration in Bangkok, They are more flexible than other offices about proof of address and should accept a hotel receipt as proof of address.

    If you are in the country more than 90 days you will need to make reports to immigration. You can do these at any immigration office using a local address and some proof of address for where you apply.

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