TacoBoy

A very close friend in Chiang Rai desperatly tried just about every bank and branch in that area to open an account without success. He even had assistance from local professional (not referring to "working girls") employed Thai's who speak perfect english and translated.

Non of the chiang Rai banks could be bothered and said it was a policy only to issue with a Business Visa or Work Permit and proper Visa to support the WP.

Even at the CR Big C Siam Commercial, Bangkok Bank, and nearby Kasakorn Thai bank all would not open bank accounts.

I tried at a differnet time to open a bank account in Chiang Rai at many banks and branches with my retirement (extension) visa and was told I needed either a work permit or a Business Visa.

Fortunatley I do not need a thai bank account to meet the income need, and hate to transfer money into any lady's account regardless of her relationship to me.

Used to be cheaper to use the ATM per month than an international wire fee, but with recnet bank changes worldwide, the fees sure do add up now.

So I grin and bear it when I am charged the extra atm fees by my home country bank and the soemtimes thai fee of 150 thb (unless using an AEON atm)

If they had a definate bank requirement, then why would there be 3 categories which qualify for supporting documents. There would be no need for the income only category.

Even then, 100 baht in a thai bank and income of 799,900 would equal the combination amount also.

1. Bank Deposit

2. Income only

3. combination Bank and Income equalling 800,000 a year

Is it published anywhere that a person with a retirment visa have a bank account in Thailand.

Many banks will not open accounts for foreigners unless they have a Business Visa or Work Permit.

This is particularly the case in north and rural thailand away from Bangkok.

Local Thai Salad Cream (same type of mayo jar) is similar to miracle whip, albeit a bad immitation, but for those with the sweet tooth need and no miracle whip, it might suffice for a little while if you hate mayonaise and until you can find the miracle whip.

And speaking of un-godly combinations; my father used to luv peanut butter and mustard sandwiches

Mr Coffee or similar should be in eithr Big C or when the new Robinson's opens next Friday the 1st.

Add Starbucks, KFC, Tops Supermarket, Chester (the M..l.s.ter) Grill, to the list of lights on at CR Central Plazza as of last night.

I don't need to report you, but am telling you IMO that what you are doing and saying is racist and to stop and desist.

Discrimination of person's of certian origin, geographic locations, religon, race, color of skin, physical disabilities, etc.

Racism defined:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism#Declarations_and_international_law_against_racial_discrimination

Jingting, Does not matter my present or former profession or schooling. I am not giving legal advice here, just telling what are the rules according to what is printed and posted by thai authorities about visa's.

You are singeling out Americans in your arguments and that is unfair to attempt to bring discredit to the truthfullness of such persons and their embassy !

I never said that we should'nt try to get along with requests. Either give em proof, ask a superior, or seek an attorney. these are the options.

I never said to argue or not be polite.

Because a person has a badge or title does not always mean they are correct.

But continuing this thread with continued referances to American's and the Embassies is improper. It is against forum rules to be racist against any group, and it brings suspicion and unverified discredit to the americn embassies and conuslates.

Rumors are exactly that ! Rumors.

No need to be bringing any attention to expats by immigration. They can do that on their own without saying someone does this, or someone does that. Let it be.

There has been no offical immigration policy change posted nor a change by the thai foreign ministry or any other offical thai governmental agency relating to visa's and requirements that anyone knows about.

Officers can ask for whateever they want, but that does not mean they're correct.

If asked either present proof, ask for a superior and refer to the official rule, or consult a local attorney.

Here is the list of required and acceptable documents required by Thai Immigration per their website. The proof and evidence of income is a certified letter from the applicant's embassy in Thailand.

Income verification is cut and dry that income is proved by the letter from the applicant's embassy in thailand, just as the requirment of money in a thai bank with an updated passbook and a certified letter from the bank to satisfy the money in a thai bank test.

This is the law and the rule. Don't try to read more into it or because an official asks for more documentation. This is the current rule and test of proof.

http://www.immigrati...004/en/base.php

List of documents for extension of stay in case of Retirement

1. Application Form ( TM 7) with one photograph (size 4x6 cm.)
2. Passport and its photocopy with certified true copy by the alien
3. Application fee: 1,900 Baht
4. Documents required are as follows;
   • The account deposit with the bank in Thailand of not less than 800,000 Baht.
     The proof of such evidence is the updated bank passbook with the certified letter from the bank showing the money in the account of not less than 800,000 Baht which has been deposited in the account for the previous 3 months. OR
   • Income from pension/social welfare of not less than 65,000 Baht per month.
     The proof of such evidence is a letter from the applicant's Embassy or Consulate in Thailand to certify that the applicant receives pension or other income of not less than 65,000 Baht per month. OR
   • A combination of the account deposite in the bank plus income (from pension or other source per yearX witha combined total of not less than 800,000 Baht.

Probably better to start with a decent drip coffee machine like a Mr Coffee type and use good quality coffee beans.

For Espresso and Cupachino machine's try this site in Thailand (mostly thai language) for coffe machines. You misses will probably have to help you with the site.

http://www.verasu.co...ories.php?cid=3

This espresso machine 2,540

http://www.verasu.com/product_detail.php?pid=757

or this one about 6,700

http://www.verasu.com/product_detail.php?pid=379

My point was only to infer that if a person has a letter of income verification from their Embassy, that letter is an offical certified document and is not just a "piece of paper" that can be fudged with.

A paper trail, may not be what it appears unless cerified or notarised by the issuer.

My reply is in response to those that doubt the validity of a letter from a US Embassy and say the letter is meaningless.

A non truthful person could "show pieces" of paper to prove income, but that does not mean the papers are in fact true.

Just sayin'

Income statements are usually only verifiable within the country they were issued from by a checks and balances system for Tax purposes.

Other than that, a W2 or income statement for other purposes could be generated to show income not there. It is only paper.

That is probably why many times an Embassy does not want to waste time going thru paperwork, and your swearing to truthfullness means a lot more and is more enforceable than a "piece of paper".

I don't see how a W2 or other "pieces of paper" can truly guarantee true income.

Those "pieces of paper" are really meaningless in comparison to an "offical certified letter of income verification" from any Embassy.

In reality, supporting documents presented by anyone to immigration other than those originals that are truly certified and notarised by the issuer are not a true guarantee of income either.

Immigration can ask for whatever they want, but does not mean those documents really meet the test either.

No financial requirement to say on an Education Visa ?

4.8 aftershock 12:57pm (Thai time) in same area of golden triangle reported to have been epicenterd in Laos.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

Lots of smaller non-reported aftershocks being felt continuously in the region.

Noticed last nite the McDonalds trademark Golden Arches were lit up as was the Robinson's sign at the new Central Plaza.

Not open yet, but heard the mall will open on Friday April 1st.

4.8 reported at 12:57 pm Laos in golden triangle area.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

Saw somewhere that there have been more than 200 small aftershocks.

No wonder so many are feeling queezy and out of sync.

No surprise that thai authorities are increasingly concearned about a foreigner's means of support while staying in Thailand.

It is not impossible to live wisely on about 30,000 thb per month if they have medical insurance to cover them.

But the Thai requirement of about 66,000 a month for long stay visa seems to be a pretty fair assessment of how much a foreigner should have to cover living expences and emergencies.

Not to seem to critical, but trying to work here as an english teacher and live is pushing it on their limited salary.

Bottom line seems to be, if you can't afford to live here and take care of yourself, you should be in your home country.

Felt another small shaker just after 1 pm. Shook things on the tables and my computer screen with a low rumbling noise from the ground lasting about 5-10 seconds.

Luckily it didn't get any worse here. Nothing on the web sites report yet. If less than 4.5 would not be reported.

Unfortunately the very few musicians that try to make a few bucks ruin it for the one's that want to do it for fun.

And as some other's posted:

"The musicians are playing in a commercial venue. It may put other bars in the area at a competitive disadvantage..."

"I think the main issue with the (venue name deleted) is that the foreigners playing 'for fun' are taking the place of Thai bands who could play for money..."

Doubt there would have been a problem if there was a local house band and a foreigner joined in to jam for a little bit.

But who knows now

Comparison of 6.8 Myanmar Quake with major California quakes.

Note that the USGS and many other sources do not report current earthquakes or aftershocks less than 4.5 richter scale.

A Sampling of California's Largest Earthquakes

(Since 1800, ranked by magnitude)

• Magnitude Date Location Comments7.9
  Jan. 9, 1857Fort Tejon2 killed, 220-mile surface scar7.9April 18, 1906San Francisco3,000 killed, $524 million in property damage, including fire damage7.8March 26, 1872Owens Valley27 killed, 3 aftershocks of 6.25+7.5July 21, 1952Kern County12 killed, 3 aftershocks of 6+7.3Jan. 31, 1922West of Eureka*37 miles offshore7.3Nov. 4, 1927SW of Lompoc*No major injuries, slight damage7.3June 28, 1992Landers1 killed, 400 injured, 6.5 aftershock7.2Jan. 22, 1923MendocinoDamaged homes in several towns7.2Nov. 8, 1980West of Eureka*Injured 6, $1.75 million in damage 7.2April 25, 1992Cape Mendocino*6.5 and 6.6 aftershocks7.1Oct. 16, 1999Ludlow (Hector Mine Quake)Remote, so minimal damage 7.1May 18, 1940El Centro9 killed, $6 million in damage6.9Oct. 17, 1989Loma Prieta63 killed6.7Jan. 17, 1994Northridge61 killed, $15 billion in damage6.6Feb. 9, 1971San Fernando65 killed, $50 million in damage

• appologies that it did not print out same as the list copied. Here is a better to read link:

Certainly there have been minor-medium aftershocks less than 4.5 that are not reported on many of the earthquake report sites.

Just some "Rattled Nerves"

Some areas got hit harder than others.

Strange to see my house Gyrating like a Pole Dancer

A bit more intense than the "BKK or Thai Shuffle".

Altho some in Chiang Mai make light of the earthuake felt there, most did not experience the severity of it as in Chiang Rai and areas near the Epicenter.

It is a whole new experience when you are confronted with the Loud Roar like a freight train combined with the house (local brick construction, not wood) and ground beneath you shifting violently and nearly falling down. Been thru many in California but none as severe as this.

Luckily damage was not as bad as it could have been given such a large magnatude quake.

Shaking was more serious than I experienced in the San Fran area that last major quake.

Really surprised no damage to my home or others around me with the brick mortar construction.

Could not stand up or walk or run properly during the shaking that lasted about a minute or more at my place near Chiang Rai. A loud roar like a freight train or loud helicopter overhead. Thought my house would fall down for sure. It was girating more than a girl on a pole.

Hope everyone else is ok now that the shaking has subsided a bit for a few hours.

Large shaking felt like an earthquake with loud roaring from the ground shook my house seriously for about 1 minute. House flet likt it might fall down.

One after shok minor felt about 2 minutes after a main shock.

I know this is misplace but a warning to any that may be in harms way of Tsunami's or further quakes or aftershocks.

No time to verify, but it was a serious earthquake at least as felt here