Gumballl

Cayenne Pepper. Sprinkle near the source of the ants and on any flat surface they cross or congregate.

The pepper won't kill them, but irritate them enough to find another place to conduct their travels.

Sting, I don't mean I want my starter page to be set at a certain website, I mean I have two Mozilla Browser settings on my computer.

One is in my name and is personalised, with all the bookmarks in it that I have made over the months.

And the other is just a plain google page with no bookmarks at all, the standard browser page you get when you first download it.

Sometimes the computer seems to forget this and gives me a choice as to what I want set at 'default' so I choose my name and my browser comes up as I want it for a while. Then it goes again and resets back to the old browser and I lose my bookmarks until one day the box just appears again and I can set it properly.

Its an old crappy computer and has a bit of a mind of its own.

How do I get that box up so I can set the default as my name again?

It would seem to me when a case arises that you are prompted to choose which profile you want to use at startup, that this would indicate that you already have Mozilla running. There might not be a window that is visible, but I bet if you check your task manager that you would see something there.

Btw, after updating to a newer version of Mozilla, I believe it always displays the Mozilla-default page first. If you click on the "Home" icon of the browser, it should take you to your preferred startup page.

I have no idea about the UK, but in the US, a letter with proof of employment and a copy of one's tax return for the previous year would suffice. I think that most immigration offices only care that you can provide "now", and don't put much weight behind what will happen in 6 months, one year, or even ten years from now.

If I were in your position, I would not worry too much. Go ahead with your application.

Update: we now have an interview date Nov 29. Hopefully we will get the visa that day or the following. I can't imagine anything holding it up because I have gone over this stuff a hundred times and whenever I was unsure of something I gave them more information than I'm sure they needed. Also I e-mailed them with a couple of questions that I thought would be ignored but they replied with the answers. I asked for an earlier interview date - no, I asked if we could bring her notebook computer to the interview to show dated photos of our 8 months relationship - no, computers are not allowed. I asked if I should expect to be able to sign the support doc that the instructions say should be signed in the presence of a counsular officer the day of the interview and they said it does not have to be witnessed. Just sign it.

I agree with the advice to be very careful to not make mistakes. There is plenty of information available, but I had to read it very carefully. When we go to the interview we will have everything orgainized with extra copies of everything and more information than they want to know.

Schooner, congratulations on the good news.

A little tidbit to bear in mind... just because your fiance has a slated interview time, this US Embassy (in BKK) does not guarantee that your fiance will be seen precisely at the time indicated on her appointment notice.

I definetely recommend that you and her (or just her alone) show up early to ensure that you get into the Embassy (there always seems to be a large queue of people waiting to get in), and also make yourselves comfortable in the waiting area. Delays in seeing interviewees happens all the time. Bring something to read because it will get awfully boring just waiting for one's name to be called.

Anyhow, please let us all know how everything turns out for your fiance. Good luck!!!

kudroz -

I was under the impression that if income is derived from overseas, deposited overseas, and it is taxed overseas, that the individual earning the income is not liable to pay Thai taxes. How will the Thai authorities know that I am earning income, if my monies come out of an ATM?

If it is foreign source income (like you said, derived from overseas) and deposited overseas - it is not subject to Thai taxation.

But if it is Thai source income (derived from Thailand) it is subject to Thai taxation. Thai source income means that the location of the activity for which the payment is being made is in Thailand.

I.e. You are located in Thailand and performing services for an entity outside of Thailand from which you receive a compensation; it is Thai source income and this income is subject to Thai taxation regardless of where it is remitted.

What if the money is taxed by the US, which has a tax-treaty (or something like that) with Thailand?

If things work out, I was planning to seek a job in the US that would permit me to telecommute (thus permitting me to work from my wife's home in Thailand). I would arrive in Thailand with a multiple-entry Non-Imm-O visa. I would access funds thru the ATM. How is Thailand going to 1) know I am working, and 2) be able to tax me?

kudroz -

I was under the impression that if income is derived from overseas, deposited overseas, and it is taxed overseas, that the individual earning the income is not liable to pay Thai taxes. How will the Thai authorities know that I am earning income, if my monies come out of an ATM?

kriswillems -

You are severely underpaid in your country! I have a similar background, and make 3 times that amount in the US.... and I thought I was underpaid.

gavstah -

Can you please send me a PM, or just post it someplace, some of your contacts that offer telecommuting positions (that would permit work in Thailand)? I would be very interested. I have a Comp Sci background just like KrisWillems.

I believe the new regulations stipulate the 40,000 baht are required each month for the Non-Imm-O visa. Since you have 20K coming from rental property in the EU, seems like you are half way there.

Will your wife's shop generate enough money to cover the deficit (in other words 20K per month)? If so, I believe this is sufficient for you to quality for the Non-Imm-O.

Last time I checked 20K + 20K = 40K.

Good luck to you.

Since I am married to a Thai national, I thought for now the best place to live (until my wife gets her visa) would be in Thailand.

Gumball, in my opinion, the ideal visa for you is a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, category O. This will let you enter Thailand for an unlimited number of times during one year from the issue date of the visa.

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

Maestro

Maestro, is this type of visa something I need to obtain while I am presently in the US, or can I obtain it within Thailand itself (in other words, convert a Tourist Visa to the Non-Imm-O Visa by going to immigration)?

I have the possibility of obtaining work that I can do from home, as long as I have internet access. Thus the work can be performed anywhere. Since I am married to a Thai national, I thought for now the best place to live (until my wife gets her visa) would be in Thailand.

Are there any visa restrictions or a need for a work permit to perform this type of work? I have read in another TV post (from 2004) that a work permit is not required, but with the new 01-Oct-06 regulations, I am wondering if anything has changed with respect to that.

The company I would be working for is US-based, and I would be paid in US dollars in the US. Thus Uncle Sam will get its (un)fair share of it in the form of income tax, thus alleviating the need to worry about being taxed in Thailand.

The company will also require me to visit their corporate office (in the US) on a monthly basis. Would I require a visa each time I enter Thailand, or will the 30-day-on-arrival stamps meet my needs? I do not want to be affected by the "90-days IN and 90-days OUT" rule.

Thank you in advance for your comments.

(Btw, I am a US citizen.)

Who want to live in USA?

And why always speak about a remote North american country? Who is inerrested in it? Why not copare with the situation in the Low March of Cambresi, or maybe more relevant with the situation of the illegal migrants in the North Gatinois?

On the topic, amnesty would be great, but what after? Does the overstayer will still overstay? Does they will leave willingly? Waht about their familly and their students?

Regardless of of one's personal opinion of the US, apparently there are still tens of thousands of people who want to immigrate to the US on a yearly basis... some do it legally, others illegally.

No other country can boast such a statistic, especially not Thailand.

The US continues to be the land of opportunity, and only punters that have failed in every aspect of life find the US to be undesirable. But for millions, it is a haven for becoming successful (do not equate being rich as being successful).

It is amazing that so many foreigners dislike the US concerning its foreign policy of waging wars, manipulating foreign governments, controlling economies (to a certain extent), etc, and blame the individual US citizen for these deeds.

In the US, 99% of the residents don't give one iota to what is going on in the rest of the world. They don't dwell on it at all. We wake up each day, go to work, make a living for our families, enjoy the benefits that the country offers, watch the nightly sporting events on television, etc. Trust me, the majority of US residents are not plotting wars or other mischievous deeds against other nations. The well-being of other nations barely enters our thoughts. We have our own personal agendas and problems to occupy our minds. As for the foriegn issues, that is why we have politicians.

I suspect the average Thai or other 3rd-world national is the same. They dwell upon what is important to them; their jobs and their families (not necessarily in that order). Only a small minority people in foreign countries swallow the vile propaganda that is spoon-fed to them by punters that can't accept their failures and thus need to blame the US (or other Western country) for every misery on the planet.

The bottom line is that it is a statistical fact that the US continues to be the most desirable location for people wanting to immigrate to attain better success with their lives. I'm not trying to put down other Western nations... they also have their fair share of wannabe immigrants... but nowhere near as many at the US.

P.S. Btw, it is my opinion that the US exerts its foreign policy to tilt the world in a certain direction, so as to preserve the standards of living back home in the US. This is an advantage that any powerful nation would undertake. Look thru your history books to see this has always been the case in the past with other nations. Maybe in the next century China will be doing this deed. It sure won't be Thailand or some other nation that does not have strong natural and financial resources.

There are no escalators between immigration and baggage claim at new BKK. They are on same level.

You're right. I was thinking of Don Muang. If I recall correctly the immigration and baggage claim at the new airport is on Level 2.

I just returned from my two-week stay in LOS. I have to agree that there are a lot of complainers that are never ever satisfied with anything. I was expecting the worse when I arrived at the new airport from all of the posts I have read, but my experience was the complete opposite.

Here is a quick synopsis of what transpired upon my arrival... my Thai airlines plane landed on the tarmac at 7am in the morning. By 7:50am I was being driven down the expressway, sitting next my wife, in a private mini-van that she had hired to take us to Korat.

During these 50 minutes (which seemed incredibly short compared to the 17-hour flight), I travelled for approximately 5 minutes by bus from the plane to the customs terminal. After arriving at this terminal, finding where to go to immigration and baggage claim was a cinch because I my uncanny skill at reading signs that were easily available for everyone to read. When I saw the immigration queues, I chose the shortest line available... I think it was 3-persons deep. Got my 30-day stamp in about 4-5 minutes.

Afterwards, I went down the escalator to take a peek at the English-Thai baggage claim sign. Yes it does flicker between the two languages every 2-seconds or so, but once again my superhuman powers prevailed and found that the rotunda for the baggage claim was right there next to the centrally located duty-free shop.

Popped into the duty-free shop to purchase a bottle of scotch whiskey for the relatives, then waited about 10 minutes for my baggage to show up. Voila it was one of the first to come out.

Proceed thru the "Nothing to declare" customs exit, walked thru the hallway separated by the frosted stained glass, and entered the greeting area. My wife and her family who had accompanied her where standing right there when I entered the greeting area.

As I proceeded to greet my wife face-to-face, only one person asked if I needed a taxi when I was shuffling thru the gathered people in the terminal, for which I replied "mai ow khrap". Then I was off to level three, then to the parking garage, then onto the expressway, and then rest is history.

Upon returning to Suvarnabhumi for my 7pm departure (I arrived at 5:00-5:30ish), I do not have any real sense of how much time it took, but I do know that it was not long. The queue where I had to wait to get my boarding pass was about 10-persons deep, thus my wait was approximately 15-20 minutes. Then I proceeded to take a seat with my wife and family in the departure terminal, and chat for about 30 minutes before I departed to get the Transit Ticket (500 baht fee) and then proceeded thru immigration. The former took about 2 seconds, the latter took about 5 minutes.

It was a long walk to the departure gate for my flight, but that was ok because walking is good for one's health, and sitting for 15 hours during the return flight is not.

Not once did the thought of going to the toilet enter my mind when I was at the airport. Therefore rumours of whether they exist or not is not a concern of mine. I do know that the airplane is equipped with toilets. As for seating, I had absolutely no trouble whatsoever. Once again, it was no big deal as to the number of available seats.... I knew that I had one reserved on the plane that my glutes were going to dread for 15-hours.

In conclusion, the new airport is just as good, if not better than other international airports. It is definetely a lot better than LAX (Los Angeles).

By the way, I should note that I flew Economy class. Therefore none of the Fast-Track stuff applied to me. Now I can only hope that many of those with the negative attitude about the new airport have read this entire post, and will consider alotting themselves ample time when departing the airport as I did. As for the arrival aspects, I'm sorry but I cannot find anything negative other than the baggage claim sign transitioning every 2-seconds between Thai and English. The airport management group can easily rectify this issue with a software modification.

Thanks Boxer. I will relay the info to my wife.

I am flying to BKK in a few days. My wife wants to meet me at the airport. She will be hiring a private mini-bus taxi that will bring her from Korat to the airport, and then take us both back to Korat.

Can someone please tell me where the private taxi will need to park, and where my wife needs to go to meet up with me? I will be arriving on an international flight.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

Thanks Gumball for 2 good ideas.

Employing my wife is an excellent idea, will it work?? How would i go about doing that to show

immigration she works for me? or should she just say she works and makes 40K? How close

would they look?

And yes the declaration is worth a try as i wouldnt really be lying as i make $1,000 a month

easily. I would be getting this from the US embassy if that makes a difference. Not sure if

they are easier. But would immigration ask for proof too along with the declaration?

This is driving me nuts, i had this whole thing worked out..

thanks

nam

I don't think that Thai immigration is going to be looking at your "E-trade" statements. I think the US embassy will have to do that, if at all. Like I said earlier, I think they will accept your word on it.

As for employing your wife, that was just a pondering of mine. As US citizens, we are able to set up 100% US-owned companies. You can set one up, employ a Thai (ie. your wife) to provide you with whatever services you want. Sort of like a personal assistant. She can cook for you, help you pick out a suit and tie, provide you with invaluable feedback on the political crisis in Thailand for your soon-to-be-published book, etc. Just make sure you pay a salary, and that she pays Thai income taxes.

It does not matter what the USD / THB position is.

What Immigration told me a few years ago was that 40k a month was what they felt you would need to support yourself and your wife or child.

It does matter. If an apple costs you 10 baht today, and next year 50% of the crop has gone bad, well then perhaps the sellers will have to sell apples at 20 baht apiece.

Will this affect the apple buyer? Well, the answer is yes it will. Perhaps not so many apples will be bought.

Today it cost $1.00 to buy 37.5 baht. Next year it may cost $1.50 to purchase the same amount of baht.

How you can say that this does not matter to those on a fixed-income pension is a incomprehensible?

I do agree with your first statement... yes Thai immigration will want to see 40K per month... but the costs of procuring this many baht can vary from time to time for the farang bringing this money from abroad. Capice?

I believe that it was suggested that you show up 3 hours prior to your flight. But believe me, you do not have to. It is only a suggestion!

Show up 5 minutes before your flight if you wish. Unfortunately, not I nor anyone else assure you that you will actually get to board your flight.

Just use some F-sense. Big deal if your flight is during the wee hours of the morning. I bet you show up at a decent time at your destination. Would you rather leave BKK at 6pm, and show up at your destination at 4am???

I'm in the same boat, although not married as long as you. My daughter carries her mother's surname, and not mine. She has a Thai passport and a US passport with the same surname.

My wife's surname is not a concern to me, but my daughter's would be, especially when she attends school. One might not think it, but having a pronouncible name does help one advance further in life.

Anyhow, I do not plan to have my wife change her surname (unless she wants it), but I will change my daughter's official "US name" when she is in the US. As far as Thailand is concerned, she will still have her Thai surname (in other words, I will not update her Thai passport).

Nam Kao,

I just read your post, and the reply by Cyberstar. I noticed that he/she/it also replied to one of my posts. He/she/it has nothing "worthwhile" to say... in fact, it is almost condescending. I bet he says stuff like that behind the cover of internet-anonimity, but wouldn't say that to anyone's face. Moving along....

I believe that what I have read from other posts, it appears that you need to provide evidence to Thai immigration that you earn at least 40K baht per month.

This evidence is obtained at the embassy of your home country (wherever that might be). Go to the embassy, and complete an affidavit that you make such and such every month. They may require proof, or from what I have read about the US embassy, only your "word".

I still don't quite understand how the Thai gov't will yield any tax, or any other benefit, from one earning monies from overseas.

P.S. If you have the funds, employ your wife... pay her 40K per month to be a "homemaker".

40,000 Baht = 40,000 Baht (yesterday, now and forever) ... Why should currency-fluctations make a difference to Thailands internal goalposts?

Huh? You must be a local (i.e. a Thai), or all of your money (or lack thereof) is deposited in a Thai bank.

Or could it be that you flunked basic math classes as a child?

Look at the exchange rates. They vary from day to day (if not from whim to whim). For many, 40K baht today may be a certain amount in their respective currency, but tomorrow, if the baht should appreciate in value, then the amount the falang would have to produce would be greater.

Today the US Dollar to Thai Baht exchange rate is approximately 37.5 baht to a dollar. If somehow the Thai baht appreciates to say 25 baht to a dollar, how would this affect the immigration policies now being rolled out? Would the minimum required per month be reduced?

It seems that the cost in living would remain fairly stable (for the average Thai) should a appreciation of the baht occurs, but this would surely impact O-visa holders enormously.

I remember recently that 40K baht = $1000. Now it is approximately $1067. It the exchange rate hits 25 baht to the dollar, then 40K baht = $1600.

Most (but not all) Thais earn 10K-15K per month. Let's see.... 25K baht for foreign husband and 15K for Thai wife = 40K baht. Oh now I understand the flawless Thai logic.

Anyhow, I all who read this will join me in spending as little as possible in the Thai economy so that the baht will depreciate to the 1997 levels (50+ baht to the dollar).

Why not just ban all cigarettes? This plan is as dumb as the one in place in the US... here the gov't restricts smoking in most public places, considers tobacco smoke a carcinogen (sp?), etc, etc... and yet still provides tobacco growers farm subsidies.

I wish the gov't here and in LOS would make an absolute mandate to ban cigarettes/cigars or just back off entirely. What point are they trying to make?

I sent my wife (in Korat) a USPS Global Priority envelope (with a document inside) on Sept 5. She never got it.

Prior to that, I never had trouble sending her letters using the same type of service.

(Btw, USPS = US Postal Service)

Hi,

It has to be good news for companies that are looking to hire people from overseas, but I for one cannot understand why the difference between the salaries for different nations. If, for example, I was earning 60,000 baht per month why should I, as a British expat, be paid more do to exactly the same job that someone from, for example, Vietnam? The job and it's responsibilities and challenges are no different, and it still costs the same to live here regardless of where you come from.

I know this is 'Amazing Thailand' and I'm not critical in any way, just wondering. <smiles>

Andy.

This salary structuring also has me baffled. It would be nice if the gov't did away with it altogether, or if it is essential that it be kept in place, that they would structure it based on one's profession, rather than nationality.

I wouldn't mind working in LOS, but for 50K baht per month! I don't think so. Maybe if I was a school teacher that salary might be ok, but I believe these folks are exempt from the salary restrictions and are paid more on the line of 25-30K per month. Once again, not for me.

I think that what Samran stated is correct. Your sister should go to the Thai Embassy or Consulate for them to draft a letter certifying that she is a Thai citizen and they do this by verifying her passport is indeed genuine.

When I was in Thailand, I had to do something just to open a savings account. Bangkok Bank has no authority or experience to validate my identity using my US Passport. They asked me to have the US Embassy do this (and to return with a letter).

I'm sure it is something similar in Belgium.