Peterchap

Check this link out:

http://www.dbsvitrade.com/brokerpage/

Negligible - maybe

Negotiable never - your talking to a bank right! lol.

I have opened a Foreign Currency Deposit Account (FCDA) with Bangkok Bank (in Bangkok).

I transfer funds (in AUD) from my Australian Bank (Westpac) to my FCDA.

Westpac Bank in Australia charge a $30 fee regardless of the amount transferred, they transfer using SWIFT, usually in my FCDA in one or two days.

I usually transfer 30k AUD, so the fee works out at .001%.

Bangkok bank charge 500baht when they receive the funds, it stays in the FCDA in AUD, gets about 2% interest.

I also have a Bangkok Bank Savings Account (SA) in THB, so when I want funds I transfer from my FCDA to my SA and the funds are converted by the bank at the Telegraphic Transfer (TT) rate from AUD to THB.

Currently the cash exchange rate is 27.7600 THB for 1 AUD and the TT rate is 28.0825 THB for 1 AUD. The TT rate is always better than the cash rate.

When I need funds I go to the branch where I opened my SA (Khon Kaen), fill out a withdrawal form, the bank copies my passport, FCDA and SA bank books and faxes to Bangkok, within an hour or so the funds are transferred (at the current exchange rate) to my SA.

You can transfer any amount you wish and there is no fee for transferring from the FCDA to the SA.

Hope this helps

Regards from Peter.

Hi Manou,

I have a Usuafruct Agreement with my Thai wife owning the land and me having access to the land and improvements (house) for my lifetime.

We also did a will whereby if she dies everything belongs to me (although I don't know how that works with the land, as farang can't own land) and if I die everything I own in Thailand belongs to her.

I don't know how it would work with a minor being the land owner, but maybe Sebastian from Korat Lawyers could give you some advise.

I used him to prepare my documents and found him very helpful.

If you look on their website you may find some useful information, failing that maybe send him an email.

Regards from Peter.

Hello Again,

Thanks for all your replies.

Crossy.

No, I only have a Single Entry visa (I purchased a re entry permit when I went back to Oz in June).

I realize now I should have purchased a 12 month Multi Entry visa and then I could, as you say, gone out of Thailand and re entered shortly before it expired and obtained a further one year “permission to stay” stamp.

No, I am not legally married in Thailand, so I couldn’t get a 60 day extension based on marriage but I have a Thai partner/wife.

Monty.

That’s a option I didn’t think about, if I have to go out, apply for a O Visa instead of a 60 day Tourist Visa and convert it to a O-A after the bank funds have matured.

Lite Beer.

Good idea, I have been to the Khon Kaen Immigration Office to do my 90 report and found them to be very courteous and helpful.

Lopburi 3.

You’re correct, something I didn’t think about.

Sounds like you’ve been here a while “Expect the worst - Hope for the best” or is that the other way around!

Looks like the best thing I can do is go and see them (with my wife), explain the situation, and ask them for their advice/help.

I will let you know what happens.

Thanks again for your help/suggestions.

Regards from

Peter.

Hi Everybody,

I had an O-A visa based on retirement issued in Perth Western Australia on the 6th January 2009, entered Thailand on 15th January 2009 and received a “Permission to Stay until 14th January 2010 “ stamp.

I now want to apply for a one year extension based on 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account for 2 months (my first extension).

On 1st December 2009 I transferred 30,000AUD (about 900,000THB) to my Bangkok Bank Foreign Currency Deposit Account (FCDA).

The money won’t be in the FCDA for the required 60 days until 29th January 2010, 16 days after my “Permission to Stay until 14th January 2010” stamp expires.

My two questions are:

1: Will the Thai Immigration Office (Khon Kaen) accept the FCDA showing 30K AUD — about

900K THB or will I have to convert it to THB and transfer it to my Bangkok Bank Savings

Account?

2: Will the Thai Immigration Office (Khon Kaen) give me an extension on my “Permission to Stay

until 14th January 2010” stamp to cover the 16 day short fall in my bank account qualifying time,

or will I have to leave Thailand and apply for a 60 day Tourist Visa.

A fifteen day Visa on Arrival would leave me one day short.

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Regards from

Peter.

You can still do 90 day reports by mail to Bangkok without a problem. That has not changed.

The mail in to Bangkok is meant for those that live far away from their office.

I live in Khon Kaen on a O-A (retirement) visa. I usually do my 90 day reporting by mail to Bangkok.

Under the new rules, can you please confirm that I can send my next report (due 14th April) to Bangkok and not Nong Khai.

Thanks.

Regards from

Peter.

Continue mailing it to Bangkok.

There is no mention of 90 day reports in the memo from immigration. Only extensions and re-entry permits.

Thanks for your prompt reply Ubonjoe.

On another (related) matter, my last 90 day report was sent to Bangkok Immigration in April 2008, for which I received the reporting confirmation receipt back.

Since then I haven't been in Thailand longer than 90 days, so no need to report.

I went back to OZ for Xmas and applied and received a new O-A visa from the Thai Consulate in Perth (very efficient, helpful and friendly).

I came back to Thailand on 15th January 2009 and am due to send in my 90 day report by 14th April 2009.

One of the forms they require when reporting is a copy of the last 90 day reporting form.

My question is:

Do I have to send in my last 90 day report (from April 2008) or does that requirement only allude to back to back (continuous) 90 day reports?

Thanks for your help.

Regards from Peter.

You can still do 90 day reports by mail to Bangkok without a problem. That has not changed.

The mail in to Bangkok is meant for those that live far away from their office.

I live in Khon Kaen on a O-A (retirement) visa. I usually do my 90 day reporting by mail to Bangkok.

Under the new rules, can you please confirm that I can send my next report (due 14th April) to Bangkok and not Nong Khai.

Thanks.

Regards from

Peter.

Extract from Post # 48

Sorry for going off topic. To respond to the OP, all I can say is I hope it all works out for you. I can't give you any real advice because the situation you are in is very precarious.

Get help from a trusted Thai lawyer is about all I can recommend.

Now there's an Oxymoron if Iv'e ever heard one

Thailand declares emergency in Bangkok after clashes leave one dead

September 2, 2008, 11:13 am

Source: AFP

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand declared a state of emergency in Bangkok Tuesday, banning gatherings of more than five people in a bid to clamp down on anti-government protests that erupted into deadly clashes overnight.

The announcement came just hours after street fights broke out between thousands of supporters and opponents of embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who has resisted mounting pressure to step down.

One person was killed and dozens injured in the violence near the main government complex occupied for a week by activists who want Samak to resign, claiming he is merely a puppet for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Because last night there was unrest affecting the peaceful law and order in the country and obstructing the democratic process, the government has declared a state of emergency, which will affect people's individual freedoms," said the announcement read on state radio.

News of the declaration comes as Samak made a confident appearence after invoking the emergency decree, telling reporters he had done his duty as leader.

"I didn't sleep last night. I have carried out my duty," he said, adding that he would hold a press conference at the Thai army headquarters at 0200 GMT.

Samak appointed the powerful army commander General Anupong Paojinda to head a special team tasked with enforcing the emergency decree, with the national police chief and Bangkok's regional army commander as his deputies.

The announcement said Anupong now had the power to break up any gathering and to force people to leave any location.

"By invoking this emergency decree, Anupong can ban people from entering any specific place and can evacuate people from any specific place," it said.

Thai police called in army reinforcements early Tuesday to rein in the protests, setting nerves on edge in a country that has seen 18 military coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.

Thai television showed pro- and anti-government protesters wearing helmets and carrying batons running though the streets, fighting with each other and throwing rocks, as people lay bleeding on the street.

"Initial reports which need to be confirmed later are that one died and 38 were injured," said local government spokesman Peeratong Saichoew.

"There is a report that one person was injured from gun shots while the rest were injured from fighting," he said.

"Now they are being treated at six hospitals nearby."

Anti-government protesters from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stormed Samak's Government House complex one week ago, with thousands still squatting on the grounds.

The activists accuse Samak of acting on behalf of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who now lives in exile in Britain after the same protest group helped topple his government in 2006.

The protesters received a boost Monday when Thailand's biggest union called for a strike to add to the pressure on Samak, threatening to disrupt Bangkok's water and power supplies from Wednesday.

Tuesday's violence was the worst since the start of the campaign to oust Samak. No one was killed during months of protests against Thaksin in 2006 or in the coup that followed.

Thaksin was toppled by royalist generals in a military coup in 2006, and is now living in exile in Britain to avoid corruption charges at home.

But his allies still fill many top seats in government, and Samak won elections in December by campaigning as Thaksin's proxy.

PAD gathers most of its support from Bangkok's traditional elite and a portion of the middle class. Its leaders openly disparage the merit of votes cast by the nation's rural poor, who have thrown their support behind Thaksin and now Samak.

In addition to demanding that Samak resign, PAD wants an overhaul of Thailand's system of government, saying only 30 percent of seats in parliament should be elected, with the rest appointed.

Hundreds of Aussies stranded in Thailand

August 30, 2008, 11:02 am AEST

AAP (Australian Associated Press)

Protests in Thailand have forced the closure of three airports, leaving many Aussies stranded."

Hundreds of Australian travellers remain in limbo in Thailand after protesters seeking to overthrow the government have forced the closure of three airports.

The resort island of Phuket was the first airport to shut its doors, followed by Krabi and Hat Yai in the country's south as protests spread across the country on Friday.

Jetstar diverted its Sydney-Phuket flight to Bangkok on Friday night.

A spokeswoman says Australian passengers booked on the return flight, from Phuket to Sydney, had been provided with accommodation as they wait for the airport to re-open.

The spokeswoman could not specify how long the 265 passengers will have to wait.

"(Passengers) in Phuket have been accommodated, if they haven't been able to remain in their hotels that they were already staying in," the spokeswoman told AAP on Saturday.

"Once we've got the advice from DFAT

(Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and the airport is open then we will know that we can operate out.

"That's the situation until we have advice that we can operate out."

More than 5,000 protesters invaded Phuket International Airport on Friday, storming its two runways and preventing passengers from going in or out, according to an Agence France-Presse report.

The low-cost carrier flies between Sydney and Phuket three times per week.

The airport protests came as thousands of activists have laid siege to Bangkok's Government House calling for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.

DFAT updated its travel advice for Thailand on Friday night to highlight the risk posed by the political unrest, on top of long-standing warnings about the threat of a terrorist attack.

"There are on-going large political demonstrations in Bangkok, a number of which have been disruptive and have blocked access to key buildings and roads," the department warns.

"The demonstrations have also affected access to some airports including in Bangkok, Phuket, Hat Yai and Krabi and disrupted some rail and air services."

Thailand's southern provinces continue to have a "Do not travel" rating, while for the whole country tourists are urged to show a "High degree of caution".

I can't comment on the passport time left required to come into Thailand, but Australia doesn't seem to mind if you have less than 6 months validity on your passport.

My Thai wife was just issued (on 2nd May 2008) a 12 month multi entry Visitor visa (90 days at a time) by the Australian Embassy and her passport expires on the 19th August 2008.

She put on the application form - Depart Thailand 21st May- Return on 17th August 2008. (2 days before her passport expires) and the visa was issued, no queries. I saw on their website the passport had to be valid for 6 months OR the duration of the stay.

The problem I did have was when I tried to book online (Tiger Airways) they wouldn't issue a ticket unless the passport had a minimum 6 months validity.

She applied for a new passport that afternoon (2nd May) paid the fee and was given a new passport number and expiry date (1st May 2013).

We will receive the new passport by mail by the 15th May (they said).

It really only makes her passport good for 4 and a 1/2 years insead of 5.

Does anybody know why the airlines require the passport to be valid for 6 months when the Embassy (Australia at least) only require you to be covered for the time of your visit?

Regards from

Peter.

Thanks for the quick response to my query.

Regards,

Peter

Hi,

Could somebody please explain the difference between:

(a) "Application for Re-entry Permit" single 1,000 baht, multiple 3,800 baht

( "Re-entry Permit Endorsement" 1,900 baht

My Permitted to Stay stamp is good until Jan 2009 and I am going back to Australia for 3 months (returning mid August).

Reading other Thaivisa posts I thought I needed a "Re-entry Permit".

When I went to download the form from the Thai Immigration website I saw the two different forms, now I am not sure

which one I need.

Thanks for any information you can give me.

Regards.

Peter.