Misterwhisper

How many years old is that OP photo? It appears that in the meanwhile she's expanded like a bunt cake in the oven.

Two words that are used almost compulsively by the local press: "hub" and "Thaksin". I'm starting to get sick of both of them.

Thaksin this and Thaksin that; hub this and hub that. When will it ever end????

No, in my opinion he doesn't run into problems. Your friend's wife is the (sole?) owner of the company as the signatory to all bank debts (loans?), and thus solely responsible.

She might claim (and I believe that is why you wrote this post) that "in Thai culture the husband always has to take co-responsibility for his wife's debts" or something to that effect, but that's just a ruse.

If there are, as you say, no company-related documents that bear your friend's signature, he should be safe.

What I don't know, however, is whether there exists a prenup between your friend and his wife and how this prenup handles the assets that both partners brought into the marriage.

As per the visa extensions, I don't think her possible legal problems will have an effect on those. But it's perhaps better to talk to a lawyer about this issue.

Prosecutor: "Farang defendent, why did you murder that bar girl? What was your motive?"

Farang defendent: "I didn't murder her. I only killed her while I couldn't control myself."

Fat chance.

And is this mentally unstable person still permitted to drive a car or has his license been revoked?

I also noticed how many hi-so types seem to be "mentally unstable" in this country (or perhaps claim to be so they never have to face the music). Is this a cultural thing? Genetic, perhaps? Or just another ugly manifestation of 'Thainess'?

As usual, the mind boggles.

All I have to say about this is:

"Me love you same same monkey love banana."

"My friend you him say you hansum man."

"Same same but difflen."

"No pombem."

The moment Yingluck is switching off in consideration of the looming energy crisis all the airconditioners that peobably cool down the many rooms in her luxurious mansion to Arctic temperatures, we might actually start heeding her call to conserve electricity. Don't hold your breath, folks. Calling on everybody else to do what you yourself are not doing is one of the oldest ploys in the book.

You can download a fileable English version of the P.N.D. 91 from the Revenue Department website. Here is the link:

http://www.rd.go.th/publish/47635.0.html

It's the second form from the top, downloadable either as a pdf or zip file.

And another article that seems like it's been taken straight out of the pages of a satirical magazine - if only we wouldn't have been informed that this shockingly oafish tripe is coming directly from the hallowed halls of the MInistry of Public Health.

As per the average prevalent IQ in Thailand, this sentence by a supposed journalist probably reveals much more than doubtful statistics ever could:

"The project involves expanding the knowledge base of three age groups of Thai child intelligence developing technology,..."

It also would be most interesting to learn what the IQ of the average Thai politician and/or ministry employee is. I am afraid it might turn out to be not very favourable, to say the least. And there is no end in sight either, because today's children with below average IQs are pre-destined to eventually enter local politics or join the distinguished police force, while children with higher IQs hopefully will opt to pursue real jobs and real careers in the future.

What a wonderful flash of genius! I mean, after the utter misinvestment of god knows how many hundreds of millions of baht for an absolutely useless, cavernous mega station that at all times is practically deserted (because the city airport check-in concept has failed miserably - just as it was to be expected!), the next best idea is to burn a further couple of BILLION baht to develop yet another superfluous shopping complex in one of the city's most traffic-congested areas in order to somehow pull the waggon out of the muck. Good luck with that!

It is about high time that this SRT is privatised, so the future operator will hopefully be a little bit more careful on what and how they waste their funds.

i think it is reasonable to infer from the op,s post that he has been experiencing a mental state of surprise (albeit in a mild and transient rather than intense form) concerning this issue.

He says that when a colleague mentioned to him that to work in Thailand, as a psychologist ,one needs a licence that it was "the first i heard of this requirement."

Also he has made some effort to check it out via a google search and cannot find anything to support what his colleague states. This, and the fact that he has posted the question on here ,would suggest that he is somewhat sceptical regarding his colleagues assertion.

in conclusion i would say it was reasonable for Misterwhisper to suggest that the OP had experienced feelings of "surprise" concerning this issue. It seems likely that these feelings were at their most intense immediately after he first heard his colleagues assertion but likely they are persisting even now though at a milder level.

Thank you for concurring and thus supporting my initial diagnosis, my dear colleague ;-)

Why are you so surprised that in Thailand a clinical psychologist needs a license? Don't they need a license in your own home country - or anywhere in the world, for that matter? We are talking about a university-degree medical profession here, and that requires a license to practise anywhere in the civilized world.

Anyhow, I understand that in Thailand the rules for obtaining such a license are extremely stringent for foreigners; otherwise the place would just be brimming with foreign psychologists and medical doctors, wouldn't it? In addition to the license (and provided you can obtain one) you'll still need a work permit eventually.

Your best bet to inquire about regulations and procedures is to contact the Medical Council of Thailand. But in my opinion your chances of obtaining one in order to open a private practice are pretty much nil. You might have better odds if you intend to join a local hospital (which has an open position for a clinical psychologist and cannot find a suitable Thai candidate for it).

Just do it yourself and save that money (and potential "unforeseen additional cost"). It's not rocket science, really. You can even download from the Revenue Department website an English-language version of the personal income tax form. It is not compulsory to file your income tax return in Thai only, and every revenue department office is obliged to accept your form even if it is in English. I always use the English form and have never had any trouble.

This is outrageous, although unfortunately not unusual. You had all ncessary visas/re-entry permits and they simply had no right attempting to prevent you from leaving (or entering) Thailand. The singling-out of you and your spouse presumably just because you are citizens of Pakistan also is nothing short of blatant racism. If I were you I'd file a formal complaint either with Thai Immigration headquarters in Bangkok or at any Thai embassy abroad. Unfortunately, you only have the name of the offending officer and it's not even sure whether you've noted it down correctly. You should have asked him for his full name, rank and supervising immigration unit, and also asked for the same details of his superior. If they had refused, you could add another item to your complaint, because by law officers are obliged to reveal their names and ranks when requested. Well, in theory that is.

And yet another fantastic record that will lift Thailand's image enormously in the eyes of the world. It's not that the country is lacking in world records, though. Consider these:

The world's largest clown circus, a.k.a. Thai Parliament;

The largest amount of ear medicine ingested in a single session - proud record holder: Chalerm Yubamrung;

The world's only government remotely controlled and directed from abroad;

The largest number of prostitutes that do not officially exist;

The world's only country where demanding bribes is officially endorsed as "a Chinese New Year tradition" by the deputy prime minister...

...and so on and so on. Who needs hubs of any kind when we can be so tremendously proud of all these achieved world records? If it continues at this pace, I am sure Guinness will soon consider publishing a special "Guinness Book of Unique Thai World Records" collectible edition.

Perhaps the Palestinian ambassador should move into the Israel embassy in Bangkok as a kind of sub-tenant. I mean, they already share the same land at home, so they should be used to it.

The presenting of money as a gift in a red envelope may be tradition during the Chinese New Year, Mr. Chalerm, but DEMANDING cash is NOT. Once money is DEMANDED, it ceases to be a gift that is presented to the recipient through the giver's free will.

But why am I not at all surprised to hear that rather twisted and ridiculous statement from you, Mr. Chalerm?

That man is definitely off the rails and has lost any touch for morality whatsoever.

Oh, that poor, poor man! His blood pressure looks normal and his heart rate is only slightly elevated. His irregular heartbeat is probably normal, too, given the prospect of spending the rest of his natural life in a jail cell.

How many other inmates in Thailand are transferred to outside hospitals as soon as their pulse increases slightly?

The man was a ruthless criminal and had it coming a long time. Now put him where he belongs and disregard his heart rate, will ya!

What did mom use to teach her kid? Rosetta Stone? I hear it's a quite effective program for learning new languages...

As much as Dylan's cognitive skills are admirable, why is he branded "half-Thai" and not "half-Welsh" by the local press?

I know why, namely for the same reason why celebrity violinist Vanessa-Mae is branded "half-Thai" and not "half-Singaporean", star golfer Tiger Woods likewise is labeled "half-Thai" and not "half-American", and a certain female U.S. senator was described as "Thai-born" and not as "a naturalized U.S. citizen".

Would Dylan have even been mentioned in a three-line news snippet if he - as a "half-Thai" - would be able to recite the ABC?

Compare the headline

"Police pledges to suppress human trafficking more seriously"

to the body text excerpt

"...prevention and suppression of human trafficking has always been the main policy of the Royal Thai Police..."

and you're actually starting to wonder if this is just yet another case of shoddy reporting or copywriting, or whether the national police spokesman quoted is just trying to divert from the possible fact that the police might have taken their anti-human trafficking efforts NOT nearly as seriously as the good major-general is claiming.

My guess is as good as yours, but I am banking on the latter.

You already have answered your own question: no flip-flops, shorts, Jesus sandals, and most importantly, no soiled "I love Singha beer" t-shirt. Also try to avoid 3-day stubble and rasta dreadlocks.

How would you turn up at the authorities in your own homecountry? Common sense sometimes can put answers right at your feet...