Langsuan Man

Seems to me that everyone is barking up the wrong tree in this thread

An "F" Visa is only issued to the holders of a Diplomatic or Official Passport and it would seem to me that if the OP is losing his "status" then he should also be losing the Passport that currently has the "F" Visa in it

He will have to revert back to his personal passport and start the process from their, his former "F" Visa means absolutely nothing to Immigration.

His Embassy or whoever issued his current Passport will probably facilitate some type of "temporary" stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his personal passport in order to get the ball rolling with Thai Immigration

Just a note to say that SlingMedia have excellent online support (kinda like messenger) and they can even (if you let them) remote control your PC and fix any router problems for you.

Give them a try.

Ok but I doubt they can remotely control the computer my Slingbox is networked to unless there is someone with at least some basic computing knowledge sitting in front of it.

You can get a free program called LogMeIn which will allow you to remotely control the computer that your Slingbox is networked to, get it here:

https://secure.logmein.com/US/products/free/

I don't see the girls on Beach Road as being as much of a nuisance as the Indian Tailors that try and shake my hand

I wonder how many germs are passed everyday with their constant handshaking demands. At least the girls do not impede pedestrian traffic, Something that cannot be said for the illegal vendors that line the sidewalk on the town side of Beach Road

Two different animals.

The sidewalk side.

The beach promenade side.

I am talking about the beach promenade side.

The beach promenade is the jewel in the crown of ANY global beach resort. This isn't subtle. Pattaya's is thick with whores. It's just wrong to invite these families now and to tolerate that on the beach walk.

BTW, the argument LEAVE to every criticism about life in Pattaya or Thailand is the absolute LOWEST form of debate.

Then don't title your poll : Should Street Prostitutes Be Cleared From Pattaya Beach Road? it should be: Should Street Prostitutes Be Cleared From Pattaya Beach Promenade ?

The "tax" the OP is talking about is not a tax but was a refundable surcharge that the Thai Government instituted for a short time after the military coup that ousted Taksin. It was designed to prevent baht speculation like that which occurred during the 97 financial crisis

It only applied to inbound transfers of $20,000 USD or more and was repealed soon after the Samak government was elected

The 700 THB that the OP refers to is the charge for processing the "wire" via the international clearing house here in Thailand

I recently transferred a large amount of money and I was charged $25 by my US bank and $15 by someone along the food chain. The exchange rate given by SCB was the rate on their web site and the amount exchanged was exactly the amount of the wire request, minus $40

There is no requirement for any papers to be notarized to obtain a Non-Immigrant O-A Visa (Long Stay), and the procedure is exactly as retiredusn stated

I am on my third Visa (I get the Multiple Entry, (2 from DC,1 from NYC ) which allows me two "winters" in Thailand with only having to do my 90 day report while there

The main advantage is that the Visa is good for a year (or two if you get the Multiple entry and just do a Visa run, land or air) and allows you the time to set yourself up in Thailand. There are a lot of people that don't like to tie up 800,000 THB in a Thai Bank account or obtain a income letter from the US Embassy in Bangkok or the Consulate in Chang Mai

And there is really no reason to use any of the Consulates since the Thai Embassy in Washington will accept applications from anywhere in the US. The Consulates must follow the rules as set out by the Embassy in Washington, thus explaining the change in LA, who in the past have acted as a law unto themselves

This whole notarization red herring is because that requirement is on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site but is not enforced by the Consulates or The Embassy in Washington

I wondered how long it would take my post to turn into the typical TV, my visa is better than your visa, thread, instead of focusing on other members experiences with Police Checks and Medical Certificates

One of the supposed difficulties in obtaining the Non-Immigrant O-A Visa (Long Stay) usually referred to as a Retirement Visa in your own country is the requirement to submit a Police Check and a Medical Certificate with your application. Not a problem for most Europeans with centralized police and medical systems but more problematic for Americans

I have just discovered that my US State, Pennsylvania, will provide an official certificate via the Internet for $10 charged to my CC. It is a real certificate and will please the most demanding Thai Bureaucrat (see redacted Attached thumbnail)

So anyone thinking about getting this type of Visa in the US should check with their State Police to see if they offer this service

IMHO, this is the best Visa to get when first coming to Thailand since you don't have to show money in a bank in Thailand but the Baht equivalent in your own country (800,000THB) or proof of a pension (65,000THB) or combination of both

And it has been my experience that most US doctors don't require a full physical to sign a form that say's you don't have Leprosy, Tuberculosis, drug addiction, Elephantiasis, or third phase of Syphilis.

To expand on eljeque answer there is really no way to know how many "companies" are created to purchase property in Pattaya, since Chonburi issues the "incorporation" papers that many farangs use to purchase Real Estate, and the Pattaya Land Office just recognizes these "companies" and would not break down transfers between companies and individuals

IMHO liveinlos solution is the best. This problem is going to come up again and is one of the disadvantages of owning a netbook and will future proof your investment

The OP needs to stop being so obtuse. Give is the Consulate and maybe someone has experience with that Consulate and we can stop this guessing game

GRATIS means FREE

Have you ever done a test, where you tried the same card on different Thai ATMS ? And then tried a different US Bank card on different Thai ATMS ?

I have and I still stand by my original statement that the rate is determined by your home bank, the network just verifies whether or not your card is accepted, has nothing to do with the exchange rate

Otherwise how can your home bank establish what your daily limit is going to be on a particular date, BY THEM SETTING THE RATE, that's how

Mmm i saw one at home works (powerbuy) but its quite a small unit and the anti-sales man struck me as a complete buffoon (shock horror - thai retail employing someone that know FA about the product). The spaces i want to use the unit in range from around 30M2 to 400M2. The powerbuy unit i think is rather underpowered for the bigger area's i need to use it in

They had two models when I looked ( as reported above) and the "container" could be removed so that you could hook up a small diameter hose to drain the water, thus insuring un-attended use

I found several models at electronics store on the top floor of Tukcom IT Mall on Pattaya Tai

The rate that a Thai Bank ATM gives is established by your home bank, not the bank that owns the ATM, they make their money on the "spread" and the 150 THB ATM fee

This was tested by many TV members when the 150 THB fee was initiated

Glitterman Speaks About Walking Street And Says Goodbye Forever

We should be so lucky

Well I would be able to do the 400k in the bank but how far would that get me? Would that only get me a year?

We all only get one year; we get " extension of stays " renewable on a yearly basis

A possible explanation

I had my service turned off when they switched from TT&T to Triple B and noticed that my first bill under Triple B had two due amounts. The first one was to TT&T and the second one was to Triple B

Subsequent bills rolled both charges into one for payment to Triple B, so evidently they worked out a way for Triple B to pay TT&T

I also use the Bill Pay feature of my SCB Bank account, which saves the reference number of the bill, so I don't have to worry about those pesky 7-11 receipts

That's right

Only funds for a Condo purchased under the Condominium Act can be transferred back overseas via a Bank Wire and submission of the Foreign Exchange Transaction Form

I am sure there are other rules falling under the BOI but they are not applicable to most TV members

Obviously there are other illegal ways to get money out of Thailand but the rules here at Thai Visa prohibit any discussion of them

Why do you think the mantra here at TV is: Don't invest anything in Thailand that your are not prepared to walk away from

It is called a Foreign Exchange Transaction Form and it will be issued by SCB Headquarters in Bangkok but is only issued for amounts over 20,000 USD

They should call you and request that you go to your branch and sign the form

BUT, it is only needed if you purchase a Condo to repatriate your money; all other transactions cannot be sent back out of Thailand

I have used Pattaya International Hospital as an inpatient and would not recommend them at all. The English skills of the staff is below par and they really hassle you about your insurance. Making you pay in advance if there is any question about coverage. Found the doctors to be negligent in following up patients that they have admitted, leaving it up to the on duty doctor, who may or may not be conversant in English

Have only used Pattaya Memorial Hospital for outpatient visits and have found them to be pretty good. Pricing is much less than BHP and the staff is pretty knowledgeable and proficient in English. Appears to be the hospital of choice (outpatient) for Pattaya's Russian speaking visitors

The Queen Sikrit(sic) hospital at the Navy Base in Sattahip is excellent but you must take a native Thai speaker with you to translate since their English skills are almost nonexistent

Medical Certificate to prove that I was of " Sound Body "

They really required a medical certificate? Or did you just throw that in? ("sound mind," maybe makes sense. "Sound body," hey, that it ain't no longer sound is why most are writing/rewriting wills........)

A bank account is an asset and everyone should make a will. Wills generally go for probate but this may not apply in Thailand. You should make/remake your will if you divorce or get married again.

I find the medical requirement rather strange "Of sound mind" clarification here is required.

And when you die you will require a death certificate before the will can be processed.

Yes the Medical Certificate is required to register the Will at the Amphur (at least in Bamlamung). The sound body part was tongue in cheek since most Wills start out with I __________________ being of sound mind and body do hereby state that this is my Last Will and Testament........

I really don't understand why regular TV members would find the requirement that surprising, since a Medical Certificate is required for a lot of things here in Thailand. A drivers license comes to mind, even though the Certificate has nothing to do with an eye exam and a 150 THB payment usually assures issuance without any kind of examination

As explained to me by the Amphur, the Medical Certificate is a check to insure that your are not being coerced or tricked into writing a will by those listed as heirs

A lawyer will cost you anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 THB and he WILL NOT register it at the Amphur but will keep it on file in his office where he will have access to it.

My cost was 650 THB for the translation, 20 THB for the fee, and 150 THB for the Medical Certificate

Obviously the way I did it will not suit everyone, especially if children are involved or if one wanted to set up a trust, but for a simple Will I trust the Amphur more than a Thai lawyer who may or may not carry out my wishes upon my death

I had a standard Last Will and Testament with only one heir translated into Thai by a professional translating service (excluded any property or assets outside of Thailand)

Took the original in English and the original in Thai to the Amphur in Pattaya (Bamlamung) and two girls there kindly witnessed my signature, they recorded it in their book, sealed both copies, put it into records storage and gave me a receipt with reference number for my 20 THB fee

Required documents

1. Passport ID page copy (signed of course)

2. Medical Certificate to prove that I was of " Sound Body "

3. Bill or House book for proof of residence

4. Translated copy and English copy ( but be warned the Thai copy will take precedence, so use simple English terms )

In and out in less than a half hour

Did it that way since my partner doesn't trust lawyers

Tukcom IT Mall on Pattaya Tai, between Second and Third Roads