jeffandgop

Trying to install a motion sensor floodlight. The light fixture has these colored wires shown in the photo...The installation guide seems to indicate the Brown is the Hot wire; Blue the Neutral wire; and the Yellow/Green is the Ground.

I intend to connect these to my home wires using a Butt Splice.

My home wires are colored Black, Red & White! I believe White is Neutral and both Black and Red are Hot!!

What wires are to be spliced together? The light's brown wire with my home's red? The light's blue wire with my home's white? And then cap off my home's black wire as unused?

1 hour ago, Dante99 said:

Talk to the head of the Civil Engineering Department/Faculty at CMU.

 

Typical Thai construction is that the structural elements, load bearing elements are the posts and beams of poured concrete, not the walls made of brick or similar.  There are a few, very few homes built with load bearing walls.

 

Cracks in walls are common and if yours are the common type a licensed engineer may not want to bother with a formal structural inspection.

 

Thanks for your response.

I live in Chiang Mai in a 1-story home built complete in 2014.  Cracks in the outer surface of the paint/concrete finish are appearing over these past years in a variety of locations of the exterior- and to a limited extent the interior- walls. While the builder assures me these are normal cosmetic defects and non-structural in nature, I'm looking for a licensed structural engineer/practioner to hire to survey the structure and provide an independent assessment. Recommendations you may offer of any Thai or non-Thai experts with known experience is appreciated.  I'm not looking to troubleshoot this from my desk- I am wanting a person(s) to engage to come to my home and professionally survey the structure.

Thanks in advance.....

On 12/15/2020 at 5:16 AM, brommers said:

Been with AXA for many years, but never needed to claim. They seem very efficient and the staff are helpful & can speak English. I use their office on the Superhighway frontage road virtually opposite Central Festival.

I too was with AXA for many years..until this year when a neighbor's termite infested pine tree fell onto my roof. Although AXA covered they jacked up my premium for the latest renewal almost half of what they paid out to repair my damage.  My insurance broker gave me a variety of proposals from other companies and ultimately chose another insurer with a much less premium that covered my priorities of what coverage I needed.

My poor choice of not using the exact IRS terminology.

To clarify.

Whether you're REQUIRED TO FILE is based on your gross income.

Whether you're REQUIRED TO PAY any tax is based on your adjusted gross income (AGI).

AGI is always lower than gross income.

6 hours ago, JimGant said:

How so? If her entire income is SS, definitely doesn't have to file. And, when SS is combined with other taxable income, taxable SS will fall between 0 and 85%. Do the math, and if taxable income, to include part (if any) SS exceeds the standard deduction, yes, you must file. If not, no need to file.

 

Having said all that, best to file in any case, particularly if you want to avoid any future stimulus check address fiascos.

 

To cover my wife against tax penalties, should she be so confused dealing with my demise, I've intentionally paid somewhat excessive estimated taxes, so that when finally filing, there will be no smack from the IRS.

SS will not be her only US derived income as I wrote. Her total income will require that a tax return be filed but will have 0 tax liability due to her filing status and net income level. No need to advise me on tax particulars as I’m way ahead of all elements from my years of tax planning.

43 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Will that be required?  If she is not dual national do not believe there will be any tax to USA after your year of death.  Pension income would then be taxed under Thai law is my understanding.  Is she not eligible for W-8BEN status?

She is a US citizen as well as Thai. Her SS benefit will be based on my earnings and so she will have to file BUT the gross income level will place her below any tax liability.

26 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Very useful info, especially the practicalities in 2.  I also made a clear overview to avoid my thai girlfriend has to go on a 'Fact finding mission', but you provided me with some additional  points of relevance to be included.   Thanks for the inspiration!

It's also good practice to check and update your own "notebook"- I do twice a year.  Bank accounts change, current and future pension assets and direct deposits and 401K's change; even website logons are changed by administrators so your instructions would need to be current or your spouse won't be able to even log on to your 401K, for example, & follow your outdated instructions.

9 hours ago, ThaiVisaCentre said:

The OP is correct unfortunately.

 

We are hoping that they start to allow other long term visa classes to enter Thailand next month.

 

But if you are married, just make sure you have your marriage certificate with you and you can apply for a marriage visa outside of Thailand.

We do not understand why they cannot just allow them to show the marriage certificate, or proof of child, and enter under retirement. 

But this is how they are currently enforcing it.

If you have an approved extension of stay based on marriage even tho the original, and long ago original entry was a OA Retirement visa, , then you do not need to apply for an OA Visa based on marriage to get back in.  You already have an approved marriage basis.

On 9/17/2020 at 5:43 PM, digger70 said:

No you won't come back I doesn't matter that you are Married You got an Extension Based on Retirement So on Paper you Ain't Married That's the way they see that at Immigration ,Good luck and change back to the Extension based on Marriage.

I first entered Thailand on a Non OA based on retirement and received numerous annual extensions of stay based on retirement.  This year I applied for my annual extension of stay based on marriage; which was approved.  I believe that it is your current approved basis for your extension of stay (mine being marriage) that would permit me to re-enter Thailand should I exit...complying with all the other new requirements of insurance, testing, etc

On 9/2/2020 at 5:56 AM, jeffandgop said:

Thank you Pib & UbonJoe...I sent a test email cutting and pasting the address provided and it worked...got an auto reply almost immediately...will re-send my earlier emails that disappeared somewheres in the ethers of the internet...

This is the response I received a few days ago from the FBU in the Philippines, after emailing my SSA form 7162.  I'm satisfied I have furnished proof of life for this year, regardless whether the SSA is requiring them or not due to the pandemic constraints.

On 9/8/2020 at 4:25 PM, Bill97 said:

3M dealer, CMU pharmacy

My wife called the CMU pharmacy yesterday.  They don't have any N95 masks

The Manila office sent me this response to my request to update my wife's address in her SS MyProfile from the old U.S. address to our current Thailand address (as my profile is as well as IRS records for both of us).  Their reply:

"Please be advised that we do not have the capacity to access your profile and make the address change for your. SSA only keeps addresses/update addresses of those who are currently receiving their benefits."

So, I can't change the address within the SSA MyProfile domain and the SS won't...until benefits kick in..Que Sera Sera...

15 hours ago, Pib said:

And in response to that "Test" email I sent yesterday just to get an automatic reply (which I did get in approx 2 minutes), this morning I got below where Manila which is basically saying, Hey, we got your email...if you need to talk to us here's how you start by providing identifying info. 

 

Thank you Pib & UbonJoe...I sent a test email cutting and pasting the address provided and it worked...got an auto reply almost immediately...will re-send my earlier emails that disappeared somewheres in the ethers of the internet...

9 hours ago, jeffandgop said:

I didn't receive any automatic response to any of the emails...And yes, it was sent to what I believe is their correct email address FBU.Manila.gov

 

For IRS purposes we use our Thailand address- both of us.  For the last 8 years.....

 

But it's not urgent.  I created her mySSA profile which requires a US address; and thought a quick follow-up to Manila to change it to Thailand as they had done for me before would be easy.  As she is not yet eligible to collect benefits, it doesn't matter...

I want to correct the email address I stated originally.  I mis-typed what address I have been sending email to.  In fact it should have been read as "And yes, it was sent to what I believe is their correct email address [email protected].  I have never received, in response to my recent emails, any auto acknowledgements- receipt, read, or otherwise.

21 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

They do send one. This the one I got when I sent my 7162.

"Automatic response: Your email has been received"

And it does contain the info to provide as posted by PIB.

I didn't receive any automatic response to any of the emails...And yes, it was sent to what I believe is their correct email address FBU.Manila.gov

For IRS purposes we use our Thailand address- both of us.  For the last 8 years.....

But it's not urgent.  I created her mySSA profile which requires a US address; and thought a quick follow-up to Manila to change it to Thailand as they had done for me before would be easy.  As she is not yet eligible to collect benefits, it doesn't matter...

9 hours ago, Pib said:

You can change your address on file with the SSA by email to the Manila SSO.  I did it via March 2019 email for the wife and I....changed from a US address to our Thailand address.  The email was written as a joint email from both of us.   Took Manila about a week to respond...confirmed they updated our address.  And the updated addressed showed in our SSA Online accts.

 

When corresponding with Manila be sure to include below basic identification info in your email/correspondence....below is a cut and paste from their automatic response email saying what to be sure to include in your correspondence to them.   Otherwise, you many not hear back from Manila as you have not properly passed step one of their identity check.

 

 

If they need this info to answer or respond then they should email back this requirement.  I've sent 6 emails re requesting assistance on changing my wife's address and 2 emails related to submitting the 7162 and zero acknowledgments & zero responses.  Hell, they could set up an auto reply to all incoming email messages stating their requirements if there be such a rule.

I have had less success dealing with the FBU in the Philippines...it's been a week since I emailed my SSA-7162 and no reply / acknowledgement.

In June-July this year, I sent multiple emails requesting assistance to change my wife's address in the SSA "my Social Security"; currently a U.S address and needing to change to our Thailand address, and not a single response / acknowledgement.

On 7/13/2020 at 8:52 PM, cnxgary said:

I changed my extension from retirement to marriage and was given the 30 day under consideration last week. A few days later I was surprised to receive a phone call from Imm. asking me to bring my wife and a witness to Imm. which I did the next day. By doing so I was informed that a home visit was not necessary. Has this happened to others because I was under the impression that CM. Imm made home visits? While there Imm. took pictures of us at their desk as well as in the hallway in front of the large Imm. poster. My 30 day under consideration says I must report to Imm. on the 24th can I go sooner than this date or wait until the 24th?

Did my extension based on marriage a few months ago after previous years based on retirement. 
We did have a home visit and had to have a neighbor vouch for us. 
 

No. You cannot pick up your passport earlier than the date instructed. 

I just went through replacing all my old analog cameras & DVR first week of May.  I spent a lot of time researching what and where to buy...started out w/Lazada- lots of sellers but I was leary of buying last year's technology and wanted the seller to install.  Lots of HikVision products so I spent a lot of time on the HIKVISION website researching their products- clearly they are a major manufacturer so I narrowed down by choices to find a Chiang Mai seller.  The Chiang Mai area seller of HIKVISION is ALLTECH Solutions out at the intersection of Outer Ring Road (121) & 118- where the major flyover roadwork project is ongoing.

Went to their shop and tho their product range was less than what I expected they would have, they did have my primary choice of the camera model I had decided upon from my research.  They were very helpful and patient in answering my Q's and did not try to sell me a product of higher price/quality than I needed. I placed my order for 8 cameras, power supply and DVR...no money required until after delivery and installation.

They came out a few days later and swapped out the old cameras & power supply; connected the new DVR and set up all the parameters to my request.  And unlike my prior system setup where I could do remote viewing via IP address, this new system a simple download of the app on your phone and tablet does the trick.

I'm going to send you a PM next with more info....

3 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Was that the postmark date also?  Have found there often is a delay between mailing date and actual mail deposit.  But time is not that much off as I received an SS letter that was mailed on 24th of April last week.  Some organization have been drop mailing from Europe and they have arrived in about 3 weeks (but that was more than a month ago).  But mail should be getting better.

No postmark. Probably being a US Government official IRS business envelope. 

Received my tax refund check today.  It was reported by the IRS to have been mailed 17 April....took 7 weeks to arrive.....