fceligoj

No good experience even though I married one and found out later, but was able to get the marriage annulled by paying 30K baht (no need for a lawyer.)  The worst part of these "workers" in Bangkok and the resorts, etc., most come from Isan.  They send big money home to mother and father.  Once you get hooked, they then have a direct line from your ATM to mom and pop.  (I found the one I got involved with turned out to be a liar so she could get more money from me; like the chain on motorbike broke or the seat on my motorbike got ripped up, etc., need money.)

Noone's fault but her own.  Can't blame it on anyone else!

Last wills & testaments are NOT recognized across country borders.  Need to have a will in each country.

D Varee Hotel is very good.

Why don't you check Google Maps from BKK to Bangkok Hospital - Pattaya instead of hearsays.

This thread is a classic.

Go to most Big C's and check out the vender(s) prior to entering the main part of the store, have racks of sport shirts (all sizes) and shorts (the same.)  The brands are the same that are on racks in many of the stores in the US, manufactured by H&M with their label or other popular labels.  Prices in the US, $18-$25, at those shops 100-200 baht!!

Good.

If I remember correctly, to get a new passbook, any BBL can do it for you.  A new ATM on the account in Phuket most likely will require you to go to Phuket.  The Ranong Branch should be able to provide you with both a statement and a letter, as you know the Rnong Branch will have to request the statement from their Hq in Bangkok anyway.  Uusually takes 5 working days.

Check with your insurance company on where to get Laos Car Insurance.  They can also tell you if it is better to have an international driver's license than for your wife to go only with her Thai DL.  (And it does not cost very much to get one.)  By the way, the Lao consulate in Khon Kaen can handle your Lao short term Visa.

It is part of the culture, live with it!

The papers from the individuals identified in the documents has to be notarized by a notary public, since you are in the US.  Each documents has to be presented by the individual who 'owns' the document.  I've had document notarized by even a UPS office where the individual is a notary public and has the seal to imprint on the document.

I also acknowledge Isaan Farang.  BBL charges per ATM transaction beginning this year.

These types of foreign criminal activities sure give us retirees a bad name.

Bed and Beyond has a significant number for sale.  And since they are having a "closing the store sale", the prices will be reasonable.  Told to come in the store in April for best deals.

You might be able to find them at a Hafele Warehouse (or etter yet replace your old tap with a Hafele tap!)

So, let's assume that you can come up with unbreakable lease for the land.  Then you begin building your house.  How do you propose getting around the laws against you doing work that is exclusive for Thais?  plumbing, electrical, water well and the associated efforts to get the well attached to the house, septic system, landscaping, etc.  

Too many cheats.  Every American is required to report on their Form 1040 if they have ANY FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, by ticking the "FATCA" block, even it is less then $10,000 USD.  Since so many don't, the US IRS is forcing foreign banks to police those accounts and report to IRS.  This does translate into unprofitable costs to the banks.

AND you will have to report on your Form 1040 supporting information of FBAR and FATCA this foreign investment.  No way around it.

Why don't you use Treasury Direct, an online system with the US Treasury.  It is easy and straight-forward.

Go to the BBL Headquarters location, which is close to Siam Paragon.  They should be able to assist you better than any branch.

this issue has been presented for the lastfew years, like more than ten.  If the writer of this notifiction had been reading AseanNow on this subject, he would have known about this dilemma and would have acted accordingly.

I opened a savings account in a Bangkok branch of BBL 15 years ago and have never moved it anywhere.  I have deposited 65K+ in that account monthly since the beginning.  I have lived in Khon Kaen for the past 12 years and I still can go to a branch in Khon Kaen to get the yearly statement for immigration.

When we need money from that account, I go online and transfer it to my wife's acount, which is a local branch, and withdraw what we need.

It is interesting that the issue is being brought up now.

My Thai wife just opened a new account at TTB, which carries a high interest rate.  Because she opened this account, the manager and assistant manager asked to come and visit us.  They had two reasons:  1. they wanted me to transfer my funds I use to maintain my retirement extension to TTB and 2. they wanted to 'sell' life insurance to my wife by explaining to her how if she made a large yearly deposit to the account, the life insurance was free.

On my case of transferring my account for maintaining my retirement extension, I said no.

On the insurance offering, they explained to my wife the beneficiary had to be a THAI.  TTB did not recognize a foreigner as a 'qualified' beneficiary.  We said an emhatic "NO".

The real reason for my response to this thread, they said the current banking regulations require foreigners to only be allowed to open a bank account at the headquarters location of the said bank, that is any bank in Thailand!  If this is true, what a crock!

You really need a Last Will and Testament in both your home country and in Thailand.

Also, when it comes to money distribution, even the closest relatives seem to forget agreements.  The easiest way is to put your gf name in your Thai will which covers any and all your assets in Thailand.

A friend of my wife just went through this same issue.  It had to be settle in the court.  she could withdraw funds without the court's approval.

The woman had a lawyer assist her, cost 6,500 thb (negotiated down to 5,000 thb.)  This was a Thai couple, don't know if a lawyer with a farang involved costs more.