andreww

Just an update: got my Thai will written, translated to English and signed at a local law office for 6500 thb, gotta deposit it to amphur and have piece of mind on this matter. Whoever quotes 10k+ is simply trying to bank from your unawareness, just open google maps and call around for better quotes, took my wife whole 10 minutes to fine a good deal.

First overpriced lawyer was recommended by my wife's freind, but the friend's family is top 0.0001% richest family in Thailand, and I guess her lawyer is very well aware of that. Or maybe she expected a laundry list of assets to enumerate with all the labour involved, not sure. 

Folks, sorry to hijack the topic, but since I can see some knowledgeable people in here, maybe someone can clarify how much making a will or POA cost here? I asked couple of lawyers, and was invited to pay 25-50k thb, is it real for what is basically a templated document? 

Also, can foreign residents (i.e. my overseas relatives) be included in my will? Or I can draft a simple power of attorney allowing them access to assets? Will Thai banks accept such document? 

Thanks in advance. 

I change 3-4 out of 6 stages of my filter every 6 months, and this time it was especially sakapok, due to some recent pipe maintanance in the building. The filtered water was still pure and clean, but pressure was not sufficient, and if I hadn't UV-stage, i'd be reluctant to drink that water even after filtering. 

Thai Embassy in China requires my friend to book a hotel for whole 2 months while she's in Thailand even though she owns an apartment to stay here! Are there any grounds for such requirement? 

Hello,

My Chinese friend is currently in the USA on a tourist visa (B-1, B-2) and she'd like to visit Thailand for ~60 days. I've heard that some Thai embassies refuse to issue visas to non-residents (never met such requirement in person though, had my visas issued in Australia, Malaysia and some other places, w/o being a resident there). 

Given that, she probably cannot apply for a tourist visa while in the US, what are other options for my friend to enter Thailand? On a 14-day stamp for Chinese tourist for example, and apply for some extension here? She's with money and quite old, so can apply for a retirement extension as well.

Thank you in advance. 

Thanks for response, @theoldgit, 
It's just a short 5 days leisure trip. We checked with the airline, they confirmed our predicament is not a problem for them, so fingers crossed everything goes smoothly on departure. Will update here. 

@mjcm, can you please share how your situation was resolved? I'm facing similar situation:

and wondering about recent experience others may have had.

There were some old posts about whether it's permitted for a Thai citizen to leave Thailand for a short trip with a passport expiring in less than 6 month, but I cannot find any updated info. We have travel plans arranged, and were supposed to renew kiddo's passport before departure, but due to some new / archaic rules, my ex-wife has to be present at the passport office, which she cannot do due to her work overseas (no Thai Embassy where she works). 

Has anyone had recent experience with this? Our only option (apart from cancelling the trip) is to try and check in anyway.. Wondering whether it's an official rule or some pre-cautionary measure airlines take... 

ps. Our son has 2 more passports to enter another country, but to leave Thailand he gotta use his Thai one. 

The same story just repeated. Apparently despite the announcement that TM30 requirement was dropped, some (or all?) hotels still consistently update TM30 database messing up my residential address in the immigration database, so I have either to re-register myself at MY HOME upon return or fill 90 report with a hotel address where I stayed ovenight (which is even more fun in case immigration would want to look for me there).

Anyone had luck getting any money from them? At least the premium refund... This is mindblowing, a company can just say "sorry no money" and walk away from their liabilities, I wish an average consumer could do the same to the banks or hospitals. <deleted>.

UWC Thailand International School, located in Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, in northern Phuket, has filed a formal petition against a slaughterhouse covering several rai from being built within 400 metres of the school.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/uwc-phuket-petitions-against-slaughterhouse-near-school-83293.php

On 1/31/2022 at 10:21 PM, Isaanlife said:

Warm climate by the sea, vibrant expat community, culture, dining, more things to see and do.

A nice sea-side community with shops and restaurants that you can walk to everything would be ideal.

You just described Phuket. Not as affordable as Europe in general, but far better climate, sea swimable 365 days and surfeable 8+ months a year,  close proximity to most Asian destinations and Australia, all intl. food you can eat, world class medical facilities and intl. schools etc etc. Most people (myself included, 15 years ago) disregard Phuket as an overly touristy destination, but a) there are plenty of mostly tourist-free expat-oriented areas b) during 2 years of COVID if was true paradise free of travelers, not sure whether it lasts though.

I admit, it's hard to live here completely car-free, but you can find a place surrounded by shops not far from the beach, and online deilvery options reduce necessity to go shopping altogether. 

On 1/22/2022 at 8:03 AM, internationalism said:

yes, the pacific is thai. They are the cheapest and do cover seniors. Always go by the agent. Dealing directly with insurer might be less successful 

not sure they're cheapest, but their policy covers lots of stuff other insurers won't touch with a 6ft pole. We tried looking for alternatives (just not to miss out on good deals laying around), and even agents from other insurers (not brokers) keep telling us that PC's cover is far superiour. 

Bangtao beach looks like the filth on the photos above: full of umbrellas, deckchairs and cheap Thai food joints nearby. Looks totally f#cked comparing to other pristine Phuket beaches. Surin was in similar state prior pandemic, but I heard no beach chairs there, just lots of street food on the road along the beach. Hopefully such cancer won't spread to other beaches and Phuket stays beautiful..

For comparison: my Thai wife is with Pacific Cross, her premium is about the same as mine with ACS, but she uses her insurance constantly (some hormonal issues, pregnancies etc). Everything is covered, sometimes on the spot, sometimes in retrospect. Her insurance I consider one of the best investments we had. 

Been with AA/ACS for 8+ years, never made a claim, but premium was increasing annually.

2 years ago I checked ACS website directly and to my surprise the online quote was almost 40% cheaper than AA was charging me. AA's response was "you belong to an old pool where premiums tend to go up etc'. I called them on their b/s, lack of responsibility to inform me on better options upon renewals and ended my r/ship with them.

After canceling my contract with AA I signed up with ACS directly. This year premium is up agan for no apparent reason. For next year I'm considering https://www.wrlife.net/medicalStep1.php#0

I'm researching the same topic, trying to figure out whether there's a plan for expats that would cover forced quarantine for asymptomatic positive or those who contacted a person with COVID. 

So far my research yields:

ACS covers only treatment-related hospitalisations (i,e. not quarantine)

Pacific Cross is the same

AIA the same

AXA mentioned over the phone that they'd cover such expence, but the policy wording they sent me says nothing about it (see attached). Their plans seem to be waaay too limited for any practical use and offer a nice 50% discount for a crazy 300,000 THB deductible (which seems more than this insurance would ever pay for any claim).

AIG (offered to _tourists_ along with Emirates tickets) covers $150/day, which is not too bad, but I'm yet to find out whether there's a similar policty for expats 
 

I guess, we gotta ask local brokers, they may be aware of a specific COVID-plans that cover crazy traps invented by Thai govt to scare off tourists and expats alike.

Smart Care Long Stay Visa (O-A and STV) Brochure and TOB TH+ENG.pdf

@BritManToo as a matter of fact, your message about "2-way" and a glass of lemonchello gave me a moment of clarity: YES, it is a 2-way 2-gang switch, i.e. two sets of lamps controlled from opposite sides of the room. Which clarifies the number of wires (not their colors though) and now I know for sure there is no neutral and I either have to make one or find an appropriate smart switch to handle such config.

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Are you confusing 2 gang (2 lights) with 2 way (1 light) ?

 

Your next exciting game is when you realise the smart switches don't fit in your existing switch boxes.

Nah, I'm not that lame ???? It's a 2-gang switch for 2 sets of lights, and I measured everything meticulously before ordering the switch -- found exactly ONE on whole AliExpress that matches my panel and box. The size turned out to be correct, but as always happens in life, one cannot predict such thing as Thai wiring practices. 

Either way, your idea #3 may work, and these 1-way switches are dirt cheap, will order one and see if I can make it work. Cheers for the recommendations! 

Folks, I'm a total noob when it comes to wires, and despite tons of reading and watching online, I cannot figure out the riddle some Thai/Burmese electrician left for me at my home.

Currently I have the following 2-gang T&J light switch installed:

I managed to google an official wiring diagram that's quite different from the photo above:

At this point i'm already 100% confused which wire is where.

To add to my confusion, here's the switch I want to install instead:

(ignore LOAD3 as mine is a 2-gang variation):

Now, can someone knowledgeable diagnose whether it's possible to install the new switch with current wiring, or I need to get some other kind of switch or I need to ask an electrician to re-wire something for me? Knowing how Thais work, I'd need to describe exactly what needs to be done, otherwise nothing would be done or I risk wasting everyone's time.

Thanks a log in advance! 

Folks, 

I'm applying for Thai Pass' for my parents, I have all documents on hand, departure is 1st of December (4 weeks from now). 

On this page I can enter their SHA IDs and upon entry the website fetches all booking details (correctly) and replies: The booking started from 8 November 2021 is temporarily closed until the official entry process is announced.

I'm unable to continue booking after that (all fields and buttons are disabled).

Is it imperative to wait for the new rules (when? where?) or can I simply apply w/o using SHA IDs (i.e. enter all details manually)? I can see people in this topic with departure dates beyond Nov 8th have recieved their TPs already, so not exactly sure whether should I wait for the new rules or just go ahead with the current ones.

Did not know about the driving license trick, as they always ask for my passport. Will try this on my next trip, thanks for the tip!

7 minutes ago, placnx said:

Maybe you should try doing the 90-day report by mail. Next time you absolutely have to go to immigration, couldn't you do a TM30 to correct your address, then continue filing by mail until there is a thread reporting that they have fixed the 90-day online snafu.

I see no difference between doing report online or by mail if some official confuses my long-registered home address with a hotel address where I stayed for couple nights. There's more chance my report will be overdue if I submit by mail and receive a rejection a week later.