SDM0712

It's an interesting concept but as a Phuket Ninja 650 rider I can say with confidence that the fastest bikes on the road that I don't dare try to keep up with are 110/125 scooter and small bikes driven by Thais, they are by far the quickest and craziest things on the road. Also most accidents are caused by inexperienced foreigners that think they know it all on Scoopys and Clicks. I've read about many accidents with big bikes, but am yet to see one with my own eyes. I wonder how much these big bike licences will cost for the more expensive big bikes.......

Slightly off topic, but hopefully someone knows the answer because they have done it/currently do it yearly...what required forms do you need to file with the IRS at tax time if you have "said" company and only have a house in "said" company name?

Thanks

There is no IRS in Thailand

And the Internal Revenue Service in the US or the Inland Revenue Service in the UK could care less what you own in Thailand

You have an accountant or lawyer do the paperwork to "pay" your annual taxes to the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce but most of these companies are legally structured so that they don't make a profit so no taxes are due, just an annual audit to show that they did not make a profit

Under US Law American citizens are required to advise the IRS in the US of any financial set up like this that they have anywhere in the World.

The point is a relevant one and something my American clients have to deal with.

SDM

Sounds like you're after a PBX system. Are the calls going to be primarily domestic or international? If the latter, you'll be better served by a VOIP based system, which doesn't require the "box on the wall" - each handset just needs internet access.

I thought I would let you know that based on your advice I was able to properly research what I needed and am having installed a NEC PABX SL1000 system with something called a VoIP Gateway.

If I can be any help to you please let me know.

SDM

Yes that's exactly it, a PBX system. It's a ground floor real estate office, the calls will be within the Kingdom. I have a VOIP system on place for the international stuff already.

Evening all.

I'm just in the process of setting a new office up in Phuket and need an office telephone system. Typically in the would comprise a box that fits on the wall that connects with the telephone provider and splits the number into various handsets. I need at least 4 incoming and outgoing lines on the same number. TOT recommended I speak to a private company since they don't offer any systems, but they couldn’t recommend or suggest anyone.

Does anyone know a company here that fits these systems?

Regards

Stephen

Even volunteers need work permits. Was all his paperwork in place before critisizing others?

My paperwork?

Yep, copies of everything in a nice neat plastic folder. But that isn't the issue.

Good luck at the dentist. Let's know how it goes. One can always use a good dentist! The Dental Clinic at the Bangkok Phuket Hospital is becoming prohibitively expensive and is now almost entirely geared towards medical tourism!

Exactly where I am now. Hope the bill is less painful than the fillings!

S

Dear SDM: You are absolutely right on both counts:

- the wording on the form is misleading but it's helpful to interpret it as to what is actually required in practical terms to get your job done. Government forms are pretty difficult to fathom, especially if they are in English in a non-English speaking country. It's best to not take them too literally.

- Anyone who volunteers for this kind of a job is motivated to help people. It needs extra amount of patience to deal with the kind of problem you raised. Sure, the volunteer concerned could have just told you that the wording is misleading. But it doesn't matter and you should just let him feel important - a little compensation for his hard work!

Happy a nice day.

As my dear old mum says, "politeness costs nothing"

Hopefully most do volunteer to help others. But I wonder, is there an element that are feeling a bit bored and unimportant in their retirement and want to put on a nice smart uniform, be important and tell others what do do? Perhaps this would be worth doing the job for nothing for some people.

Some of the visitors to Immigration are rude themselves and I can understand an equivalent reciprocal response, although it's still not acceptable for a Police Officer to reply in kind. But in my case I was not rude and merely correctly stated the facts.

I'd like to have a nice day, but am going to the dentist for the first time in two years, so that's probably not going to happen.....

SDM

My take on this would be that you probably need to get a life...

are volunteers really needed ? My local office manages without them as do many others, is Phuket that different ? Although I hate the guys at my local office, they seem to be able to communicate with the Burmese labourers , the chinese workers and the English / non-English tourists quite well enough.

When you catch a bus, there is no English speaking volunteer working at the bus station and yet, foreign visitors get to their destination.

Just my thoughts thats all.

Phuket Immigration is exceptionally busy and with the right attitude and knowledge they are very useful and helpful.

SDM

That was your attitude and im sure you took it right there to immigration also. So I can absolutely see why you come here seeking sympathy from complete strangers. Hows it working out for you?

Sorry what is my attitude ? I treat people as people treat me ? Some people just don't like being spoken down to by someone who has no right ? or there being no such thing as luck, good or otherwise.

I am not looking for any sympathy, you have misunderstood.

My post had two purposes, the first to gauge an opinion on whether I had completed the forms correctly, the second to express my annoyance at being dealt with badly and wrongly.

SDM

PS

Just re-read your post and I see what you mean now.

You are referring this is as an attitude ;

"some people just don't like being spoken down to by someone who has no right."

Firstly I don't know anyone that likes being spoken down to, and secondly the reason he had no right is because he was incorrect in what he had said.

Hope that makes it clear.

SDM

That was your attitude and im sure you took it right there to immigration also. So I can absolutely see why you come here seeking sympathy from complete strangers. Hows it working out for you?

Sorry what is my attitude ? I treat people as people treat me ? Some people just don't like being spoken down to by someone who has no right ? or there being no such thing as luck, good or otherwise.

I am not looking for any sympathy, you have misunderstood.

My post had two purposes, the first to gauge an opinion on whether I had completed the forms correctly, the second to express my annoyance at being dealt with badly and wrongly.

SDM

Listen have a little patience with the volunteers, remember they are volunteers. They have a job to do and that is to ensure you have the correct paperwork before you sit and wait for hours. How would you feel if they werent there, waited 3 hours and were turned away from service because you forgot something or filled out wrong paperwork? Also, they see hundreds of people everyday all walks of life, all kinds of attitudes. Have a little empathy for that.....

I treat people as they treat me. I have no patience for rudeness, it is completely unnecessary.

SDM

The non-o visa that gave you a 90 permit to stay is what they want on the form. You have been extending that permit to stay not your visa.

They would also want copies of your extension of stay stamp because that is what the re-entry permit is for.

The volunteer was wrong in calling your extension of stay stamp a visa.

Normally they want copies of both the visa you used for entry and the extension of stay stamp.

Joe

I accept this. My grievance is more the attitude of the Volunteer.

SDM

And ?

Did you receive the Re-Entry permit which is , of course" based on the last "permission to stay stamp" ?

No “ And”

I had completed the forms correctly, as per the questions contained within the application form and was annoyed that I had been told that I had not and of treated so poorly by someone supposedly there “ to help”

SDM

I had an interesting experience today that I would like to share and wonder what others take is on this.

Part One

I entered Thailand on a “NON - O” visa granted in the Thai Embassy in London in 2011, and subsequently extended each year here in Phuket.

This is first point I am interested in opinions on. The form I use to apply to remain in the country every year is a TM.7, and entitled “APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY STAY IN THE KINGDOM “. Once this is approved my passport is stamped with ;

“ PHUKET IMMIGRATION

EXTENSION OF STAY PERMITTED UP TO ……………..

………………..”

It is thus my understanding that my VISA is the original “NON-O” placed into my passport in 2011 and each year I merely obtain an “EXTENSION” to this original visa.

Part Two

I am going back to the UK for a short visit and needed to apply for a re-entry permit. I completed form TM.8 entitled “APPLICATION FOR RE-ENTRY PERMIT INTO THE KINGDOM”.

In my professional life I have to review and complete many official forms, which some people find complicated. It is my experience that the complication often occurs because people filling in the forms try too hard to interpret the questions rather than take them at face value, i.e. they interpret them as being more complicated than they are and complete them incorrectly on this assumption. With this in mind when I complete forms I answer exactly what has been asked without making any interpretation of my own.

Herein lies my issue today. To quote form TM.8.

Q. “… previous visa for Thailand is of the category of”

The word “visa “is clearly and specifically used. So does this mean the visa, and only stamp or document actually bearing the word “visa”. Or does it mean my annual extension of stay which does not mention the word “visa “ either in the application form or eventual stamp that goes into the passport ?

The form then goes on to ask where the visa was issued, when it was issued, etc etc.

In my opinion based upon the wording of the documents it seems quite clear that the visa was the non-o granted at the Thai Embassy in London, and each year I merely extent it.

With this in mind I completed the questions on TM.8 relating to my visa based on the only document/stamp which I have which actually mentions that term. Since the passport that the non-o Visa was put in has now expired I brought that passport to Phuket Immigration, with my current one, and a copy of the “ visa and both passports”. I am fortunately also in the practice of copying every other document/stamp that could ever be requested, so had no need to go to the copying office.

Part Three

This is a summary of the conversation that took place between myself and the foreign “Volunteer” Immigration Officer. I won’t name him as I don’t want to liable myself but it annoyed me sufficiently to start this topic. Although I use speech marks, the quotes are not verbatim.

“ I’m here for a re-entry permit, I already have copies of my passports and visa”

“The copy of this visa is not necessary. It is not your visa. Your visa is this stamp “, he said pointing at my extension of stay stamp.

“In fact “I replied, “You are pointing to an extension of stay stamp and not a visa. My visa is a non-o and every year the term of that original visa is extended. This form, (TM.8) specifies the term visa, which is why I have copied this visa stamp”, pointing at the copy of the visa, and original visa in the passport.

“ No, you are wrong. You have made a mistake. Your visa is this stamp”, he said again pointing at the extension stamp and with that crossed out in a red pen the visa details I had completed and wrote the details of the extension stamp.

I asked him if we had a problem, since I really do not wish to be held up in a queue and continue to be lectured in such a loud and disrespectful manner, as if I were a naughty school boy. I was apparently completely wrong, the intimation being that I must be quite stupid not to be able to understand the form and its meaning. It was in my mind to say that as an Englishman, English is my mother tongue and I am well versed in its use and correct interpretation, but thought I would hold onto that less I find myself being ejected. My “telling off” was continued by being informed that this chap did not get paid for this, only did it to help others, and I was lucky he was here to correct my mistake. Also that I should not make the same “mistake” again. The reality is that I have completed these forms in exactly this manner before and never had a problem.

This was the end of the episode and I was sent on my way to an extremely helpful and pleasant Thai Immigration Officer.

Epilogue

In my opinion I had not made any mistake and the matter would have been politely concluded without offence being taken on either side if the volunteer had mere said something along the lines of ;

“ I know it says visa but what it means is that last annual extension stamp”

Also in my opinion the Volunteers are worked very hard for no pay, however it is their choice to work there. I like to think that it is purely to help their fellow “ farangs”. However sitting in Immigration today the main complaint being aired, rather than being directed at the Thai officials was the attitude of the volunteers.

This has stayed with me all day, steam now let off, next time I will say “yes sir, quite right, I’m very wrong sir, sorry sir, thank you sir, have a nice day sir”. Actually that’s probably not going to happen.

SDM

I was in Central in Phuket a few days ago and thought while I'm here let's go to AIS. It was quite comical because no one, including the manager, had a clue what I was talking about and were all completely unaware that subscribers must register SIM cards by the end of July. They did register mine, but said it was completely unnecessary!

Basement in Big C.

You would think so but no. They are only interested in copy software.

Copy software will work and it will prompt the computer to notify you that you're using unlicensed software and it then gives you the option to buy a licence online.

So it will be useful if the OP can't find the original thing.

That is interesting and might be the way to go. I didn't think of that.

SDM

Personally I had no problem with XP

XP and 95/98 Not supported any more

Mainstream support for Win 7 has also ceased which is what the person at Banana IT might have been talking about.

I went back to Banana it last night and spoke to the manager. What the other chap meant was that they had sold out of official copies in that branch and he looked on their database and it seems that all of the other its are also sold out and awaiting new supplies.

SDM

Or 95/98

Personally I had no problem with XP

I have an official Windows version from Banana IT. So yes, may have been a communication problem.

That's what I thought. Which branch?

Regards

Stephen

Homepro Chalong

I guess you mean Banana IT in HomePro village. Last year they offered my official windows 8. To be honest the sales person had no idea what he was talking about and I passed. Best to download from Microsoft web site. But the OP has no browser. mmmm

Since I said 'Banana IT' 'Homepro Chalong', not much of a guess where I bought it

And yes, official CD.

And I know exactly where you mean, I didn't know it was called Homepro Village actually, been there hundreds of times as well.

Thanks again.

SDM

I have an official Windows version from Banana IT. So yes, may have been a communication problem.

That's what I thought. Which branch?

Regards

Stephen

Homepro Chalong

I guess you mean Banana IT in HomePro village. Last year they offered my official windows 8. To be honest the sales person had no idea what he was talking about and I passed. Best to download from Microsoft web site. But the OP has no browser. mmmm

It's not that I have no browser, as I said I need to buy a few machines and they normally sell them here with no OS, so the new machine I buy will not have a browser. Or have I got that wrong?

I have an official Windows version from Banana IT. So yes, may have been a communication problem.

That's what I thought. Which branch?

Regards

Stephen

Homepro Chalong

Thanks, I'll head down there over the weekend.

SDM