4evermaat

30 minutes ago, DeeMoney said:

For marketing purposes we stuck with calling it EU, by no means is this an attempt to mislead; it is merely using a word commonly used by regular people to describe a region, a cluster of countries that share the same currency, not a union/trading bloc. 

I guess the more accurate term would be EEA???

15 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Perhaps she had something to show?

Or rather nothing to hide.

- switch to SSD drive  (if there is an m.2 nvme slot, best to get that one filled first).  This will improve startup time to 8-13 seconds.   Programs should install/load instantly.

- consider a fresh win10 install.   I personally would only use LTSC Enterprise version, but win10 Pro should work also for the casual user.   

I like my computer functioning 100% the same each day I go to use it, with no surprises.   This would require having more direct control over windows updates, forced reboots, etc, which LTSC provides.

- avoid installing anything you don't need or actually use.  If you don't know exactly why a particular program is being used, don't install it.

- in Task Manager, go to the startup tab and disable any programs that you see don't actually NEED to be started up.

@NamKangMan Phuket, the wake?

57 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Do people still use travel agents???

If they have the proper connections to view wholesale flight itineraries, they can be of use.  Because the Expedia and such cannot always customize legs very well.   A human touch can still do this and still honor preferences such as airline preference or stop preferences (avoiding certain countries).

I've used UsChinaTrip.com a long time ago and I'm trying them again to see if they can get a deal on open jaw ticket I'm currently researching.

On 8/24/2019 at 3:30 PM, poka513 said:

now have a one year multi-entry visa based on marriage and except for TM-30s, do not have to deal with local Immigration, but do need to do a border run every 90 days. The family is already thinking about where we will go for future holidays every 3 months.

5 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Not strictly correct.

You can obtain a 60 day extension to each 90 day entry, making a border run after 150 days.

If used to it's maximum potential you can stay in Thailand for almost 17 months before applying for a new Visa, with only 3 border runs and 3 x 60 day extensions.

Actually, to get the extension, would require trips to the local immigration office.   So if the office staff aren't friendly or are too far away, the border run might be preferred.

Granted, the 60 day extension is much easier to obtain than the 1 year extension for visiting Thai family.

This Kor Ror 2 .  If you were married to a Thai overseas, is this still needed?  Or is there a different form?

And the marriage certificate can be in English, correct?

On 7/16/2019 at 10:38 AM, RocketDog said:

....She advised me to use the PEA phone app and pay by credit card. My mastercard just announced the foreign payments fee just increased from 5% to 10% and the exchange rate rape is still free....

foreign transaction fee is really 10%? (includes the "free" exchange rate conversion)  So if you buy something for 8000 baht, you pay the equivalent of 800 baht fee?

On 7/16/2019 at 6:17 AM, jabis said:

You can pay with any credit/debit card or online banks (having 10 baht surcharge)
EDIT: I rather pay with online bank, with 10 baht surcharge, than store credit card information on their server ????

Some of the banks are free.  At least through the PEA app.   But I imagine it would be similar via the browser-based login.

17 minutes ago, uhuh said:

Promotion finished

I figured that wouldn't last long if it was genuine.   

My experience has been DHL Thai domestic is pretty slow vs Kerry.   It could vary by region which carrier is dominant in that region.

But in general, sending a heavy package via Kerry or other local carrier seems to be superior to checking in the bag via air travel.   Especially if you don't reserve the weight ahead of time (you try to do it at the check-in counter).  And it is door-to-door.

On 12/10/2019 at 2:41 AM, uhuh said:

They even picked up the package for free. 

That's nice they pick it up for you.

3 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

As a matter of interest what did your friend pay for this "service".

Several years ago I knew of several expats who paid their agents between 20-25k baht, and that took care of everything.   3 month non immigrant conversion visa + 12 month extension + multiple reentry permit.  Took about 2-4 days or so.

Usually the common advice at the time was to do it with the agent for the first year or two, and then do it yourself should you get married or be over 50 and have the income letter/seasoned funds.

6 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Thanks.  Will check out the links.

 

Once again, can anyone tell me if there is a problem running an unsupported Windows 7, but with a paid antivirus software. 

 

 

True computer security starts with the user. (who you let access it, what devices you connect to it, how you surf the web, etc).

Use the windows firewall control set to medium profile with notifications on.   check each program requesting access before giving it permanent access to the internet.

I actually disable windows update service without any problems.   Just be careful what you download and where you download from.   Or what usb storage device you allow to connect.  

Anything you install on that computer should solve a real problem.  And come from a trusted source.  

If you want, you can do security updates every 1-2 months.   Afer EoL, then i guess you can just leave update service permanently disabled.

3 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

In January 1 2020 when every Bangkok Bank Visa debit card expires, and everyone needs to replace them with the TPN MasterCard,then the s**t will hit the fan within days. My guess and I really hope it will happen is that,either Visa will return or they have to skip the TPN.

So the previous Visa debit cards didn't use TPN?

For you people having problems spending the mastercard (or any debit card), did you set the purchase limit > 0 and/or  > what you want to spend?

I actually like the fact that you can set the limit to 0 (effectively using atm-only mode), and you can adjust this via the phone automated prompt system.  I think the highest amount is 150,000 baht/day limit per card.

21 hours ago, poohy said:

There is known problems with BKK bank cards and paypal

My solution was use my krung thai card

Edit:  I had no problems with bkb visa debit cards and paypal.    I hope I will not experience the same when I eventually will have to switch to the mastercard cards.

21 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

The whole chaos started when China bought 50 % of Bangkok Bank. 

20 hours ago, Just Weird said:

The Chinese government owns 50% of BBL?  Really?

Yet another fallacy.

Can either of you or anyone provide a link etc showing which Chinese company owns what % o bangkok bank or vice versa?   

I was thinking the quiet/sudden switch to UnionPay cards were a result of:

a) diversifying away from Visa  (but why not just have both????)

b) A concession that BkB needed to do in order to have their Branches operate prominently in Mainland China.

20 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

i just two days ago got my new Bangkok Bank Platinum Visa credit card and Master Card credit card. the previous cards expired. they are good for five more years.

Can you elaborate on what you had to do to qualify for these credit cards as a foreigner?  

Are they secured cards or unsecured?   How much is the limit / security deposit?

Manufacturers like Intel do not even make drivers anymore for win7/8.1   So If you buy a newer laptop (intel 7th gen or later) processor, there is a good chance only windows 10 will run it smoothly as you will not be able to install drivers.

The good news is that you can get what is called Windows 10 Enterprise (LTSC) version.   This will give you guaranteed security updates for 10 years; no forced reboots and other nonsense.  The (proper) license is under $20 from the right reseller.

Then add Open Shell (Classic Shell refresh) to this and make the start menu look like win7.

If you want to tighten things up some more, consider Windows Firewall Control (wfc).  Set it to "medium" profile with notifications on.  You'd be amazed at how many services "request" internet access.   But do they actually need it?

edit:  I resisted 

Only older laptops are running win8.1 + classic shell, which is the true windows 10 debloated.   I actually wanted to put win 8.1 on my new laptop, but couldn't find many drivers for it.   I was so glad I found out about LTSC.

21 minutes ago, jackdd said:

This is wrong, as explained here:

 

The usage evidence all points to it being a Tourist category visa.   But instead of 60 days per entry, you get 365 days per entry. You also are not allowed to obtain a work permit with that visa.   I will need to confirm if the application specifically has an acknowledgment that you are not allowed to work (similar to Thai visa applications when you go to a consulate/embassy).

But let's pose the question another way, if TE/PE visa is not a tourist type visa, then what type of visa is it?  Is TE Visas in a category of its own?   "none / not specified / n/a"?????   

Edit:  it is a PE visa apparently.     Does this stand for Privileged Entry?

On 11/21/2019 at 5:27 AM, elviajero said:

It’s not a tourist visa and you don’t have to out/in once a year. You can apply for a 1 year extension of stay every year from immigration for 1,900 baht.

Not sure what bias you have for or against the ME non-immigrant visas, but in any case, the TE/PE visas are in fact Tourist category visas. 

This was actually proven several years ago in older Thai Elite threads also (That the PE/TE visas are long-stay Tourist visas).   Are you saying something has changed very recently?  

actually, there is a news thread already running in phuket forum

I suspect @webfact or other moderator will merge or close the duplicate thread.

7 hours ago, WinnieTheKhwai said:

 

What benefit would that serve?  Just forces people to start the same topic over and over again.

Several forums (including TVF) does this).  Forum threads that get too long will often not get read all the way anyway.   So if the original problem has been solved or not discussed in some time, it is likely better to start a fresh thread that will include more up to date information.

I thought there was a script that locks threads that have not had a reply after 12-24 months

What is his reason for qualifying for the non-o category visa? (visiting Thai family, retirement, etc).

Also, do not confuse non-O Visa with an Extension of Stay.

I think only the Thai embassy in London can issue ME visas now, but that could change.  @ubonjoe any ideas?

He could always get a ME non-O regionally if needed (Savannakhet, Penang, HCMC).