Thailand J

SSA website stated with a Thai address I should deal with manila office. Last Sunday I send an email to Manila to start receiving benefit. I will be 62 in a few months. On Tuesday morning I got a phone interview. End of the phone call I was told my application was completed, and will be forwarded to US for approval. Easy. No documents to mail, no forms to fill. I had mailed to Manila certified copy of US passport in January when I updated my SSA record, which I was unable to do online probably because of my foreign address. I will use a US bank account to receive the monthly benefit, I can access the money worldwide with Schwab ATM card for cash withdrawals and Schwab brokerage account for wire transfers.

You can use any petrol except RON95.

1. You will need an updated Vehicle Registration Certification , which is a translation of car blue book. The last line is the road tax renewal date. 25B. 2. Get insurance and car sticker before the border. Malaysian Road Transport Dept is inbetween the two immigration check points. Sticker was 300B, one month insurance was 1000B for Toyato Fortuner. 3. Two copies of TM1, one for exit the other for re entry. TM2 if you have others in the car. Photo not required on TM 1. After Thai immigration stop by Malaysian RTD to get a free permit. 4. You will need a 'touch n go' card or Malaysian national ID card to use the toll roads. Cash is acceptable at the left lane but you need a card to scan at the entry and exit so thier system can calculate your toll. 5. Diesel is cheap, about 16B. Petrol is not cheap as foreign cars can only use RON97, not RON95. RON97 is about 4.5RM.

I am not a fan of tinting. It will make the room dark and depressing. A 3m porch will keep the house cool.

800k deposit is the way to go, for the peace of mind. That's what money is for. https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/more-than-100-foreigners-in-phuket-swindled-by-visa-agency of course that will never happen to you. stock market has been doing very well in the past 10 years but there is no guarantee going forward.

Asepso green soap. Benzyol Peroxide 5-10% cream. Cut down on deep fried and spicy food. Visit a laser clinic that is reputable, one that is run by a real doc. Accutane will kill you if not properly managed.

For bathroom walls, you can't go wrong with white tiles. For the floor you need to make sure the tiles are not slippery. My condo big bathroom: For the floor I used 60x60 KASSA GX1002 tiles from Thaiwatsadu, cut into 30x60 in the shower (see pics). For the wall I made a mistake of using beige 30x60 at the lower wall, should be white the entire wall. Keep it simple. The 30x60 Tubby White WS63P00 from Boonthavoon, glossy and deep reflection, are beautiful. My small bathroom: Same 30x60 white wall tiles as the big bathroom, wood grain tile for the floor, which is 15x60 Freewood Brown from Boonthavoon. White solid vanity tops are very popular now, but I opted to use granite. India Black is the best.

I've just re fitted my beach condo on the cheap. Replaced almost everything. Boonthavon sell tiles by the pieces, take them home to compare and decide. Living room: 60cmx60cm light grey, many shades to choose from. Balcony: I opted for 60x60 non slip tiles at Thai Watsadu ( KASSA GX-1002). I used off white grout, Crocodile Moon Stone. Tried one from TOA, it was too yellow. Tile gaps on the balcony are much bigger then those indoor, looks better.

I opened an account with K-Bank at Terminal 21 Pattaya with TM30 receipt. No RC was required.

Is it 30%? if so, 30% of 85% is 25.5% of the total SS payment. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/Tax_Treaty_Table_1_2019_Feb.pdf

Just what I found. Enter 85% of SS benefit on Line 8 of Schedule NEC, it is taxed at 10%, 15% or 30%. The form: Schedule NEC https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040nrn.pdf The Instruction is on page 43 here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040nr.pdf

Came through Sadao a few days ago, TM.6 required.

Can yours be repaired? When the styrofoam fell out from mine I tied it back with a gardening wire. When the hinge rod broke I replaced it with a wire from a cloth hanger. 15 years old it's still working.

July 13 stamped into Malaysia at Sadao, no mention of any vaccine cert. If you drive your Thai registered car into Malaysia you need to get insurance BEFORE Thai immigration, not after Malaysian immigration as before. You also need TM2 ( 2 copies) and TM3 if applicable. You also need "Touch and go" card to get on Malaysian highways.

The solution to this issue is brokerage accounts. Local Dtac phone number works fine with me to receive security codes from Schwab, Interactive Brokers, Fido and Vanguard accounts. Use you US bank accounts only when you are in US, or sign in to your brokerage account to deposit or withdraw from your US bank accounts.

May I ask how did you get internet service at the Malaysian immigration check point?

Don't know about Chonburi area. Free at Banglamung Hospital, 8am-3pm, every Mon-Sat this month (June). For future schedule follow โรงพยาบาลบางละมุง on Facebook. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/fMPTnsdTXZGWiV1z6