Ken

Confused and sorry. I'm sorry, apparently I've confused "Certificate of Residence" and "Proof of Residence". You need a "proof of residence" to buy a car, get a driver's license, etc. My friend in Kolat and myself in Amphur Khong, got a "Proof of Residence" from our local amphur.. I was thinking they were one and the same, but apparently they are two separate things. I don't know what a true "Certificate of Residence" is, nor do I know how to acquire one. Sorry for any confusion.

I got my "Certificate of Residence" from my local Amphur Office.  I answered this in... the "Certificate of residence" thread.

Anyway, worked for me.

Yes Ken, I found your thread at: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2488.

It seems that each Amphur office has its own rules - t.i.t. after all.

I saw that book alien's "Certificate of Residence" that looks the same as the Thai blue book of Home Registration, just in white color. I have heard that some offices require lots of paperwork (including the Birth Certificate, etc.) to issue the Certificate of Residence. Luckily, there are many such offices in Bangkok, so need to find which one is the easiest, since one can apply at any office, I assume.

BTW, just today I got the letter of address verification from my Embassy without problems, just gave them my passport w/1 year visa and home restration of my Thai wife and my daughter, where my name is stated as a father.

But in any case, it would be helpful to have an alien Certificate of Residence. Not sure, but maybe this book can be used as identification document and also, reduce the burden of 90 days reporting procedure.

1. Do holders of 1 year visa are really need to report every 90 days (or it's just a formality)?

2. Does Thai driving licence is really necessary in case of insurence claims, etc., or an international licence is sufficient? For Police checks an international licence is accepted without problems.

3. Any advise on the "GOOD" Amphur office in Bkk?

Sorry. Guess I better clarify as the terms "Certificate of Residence" and "proof of residence" apparently are not the same and I in "my mind" they were. I only need a "proof of residence" to buy a car, apply for driver's license and that is what I am talking about and that is what I got a the local Amphur office. I'm sorry, I never hear of an actual "Certificate of Residence" and haven't needed one as yet.

And I had to go to MY local amphur office to get this "one piece of paper" that is all in Thai with the Amphur stamp and signature of the official. I could not do this at "any" amphur office it had to be the "amphur" where I live.

QUOTE]I wonder is social security money enough to live in thailand?? does he have to supplement his income another way?

Now there is a question that has as many different answers as there are Falong in Thailand. There is another on going thread that has a lot of ideas, opinions, etc. on this.

First, I would say that "stormbrewing" probably isn't going to collect much in the way of social security if he is now only in his "late 30's". So, will he get the top allowable payments allowed? Probably not, but of course I wouldn't know his circumstances. If you go to the SS website they have "tons" of info concerning collecting while living overseas.

At any rate, the people that I know who are collecting SS money are also receiving some military retirement money. They seem to be doing "ok" on this, not extravagant, but they tell me they are quite content.

Can one collect Social Security while living in Thailand.

While I am not yet old enough to qualify, I know several people who are collecting Social Security from the USA and living in Thailand. Perfectly legal to do so. Most of them have their SS money deposited in a US Bank and use ATM for withdrawal.

Good luck. Have to say that I think you will need it (the good luck that is). Actually we can all use some good luck at times, it just doesn't always find us, but like playing the lotto, gotta try.

QUOTE Let us know how you get one.

It sounds very dubious to me.

Those people normally only deal with Thais, or Permanent Residents.

Fair enough Astral. I only know that it worked in Kolat for my friend and for me in Amphur Khong. We both have Non-immigrant O visas. And not sure about "normally those people only deal with Thai's", indeed I had to have Thai's with me, but I previously registered my marriage in this Amphur. Also when I got the residence thing yesterday the Thai official said that she had done several such documents for "Falong" in the past.

So for sure "ThaiLover1" let us know how you make out.

I got my "Certificate of Residence" from my local Amphur Office. I answered this in a rather lengthy detail on another thread and I don't know how to get you directly there so: go to "Thai visas, residency and Work permits" and then the "Certificate of residence" thread.

Anyway, worked for me.

Just got my "certificate of residence" today, cost 20 Baht, at my local Amphur office. This paper "should" allow me to buy a car/motorcyle in my name, apply for a Thai driver's license. Indeed, to apply for a Thai driver's license, other papers are needed in addition to the "certificate" (like passport with non-immigrant visa, medical certificate, another countries driver license). The other option is you can for sure get a "notarized" statement of your address from your embassy, which will mean a trip to your embassy and whatever they charge for the "notary" (Yes, USA is $30).

A friend did the Amphur certificate "thing" in Kolat (he lives in Kolat) and he only had to take himself and his passport with non-immigrant visa, his wife and her Thailand residence book to the Kolat "City Hall". He then used the certificate along with the other required documents that to apply for his Thai driver's license and now has his Thai driver's license which he "proudly" displays for all to see.

For me, I found out "the hard way" that you must get this paper from your local Amphur office. In my case it was not Kolat. And for me also, it required taking myself and passport with valid non-immigrant visa, and my wife and her residence book. However, in addition to the above, I also had to get two people who would "guarantee" that indeed my address in Thailand was "sure". I was told that the "guaranter" must be somebody like a school teacher, policeman, village headman, etc. Ok, no problem (sort of). Had to find a couple such people who know me and would do the guarantee, which in my case wasn't difficult.

Anyway, while the above looks a bit "long winded", it wasn't too bad. For sure, if I lived in Bangkok, or near an immigration office, maybe it would have been easier. I don't live near either.

undefinedPerhaps you would sound less pompous if you could find less derogatory terms to describe those that live on less than a B10,000/day. If you spend a hefty sum monthly, good for you... but you might sound more "rich" (in character anyway) if you didn't see the other side in such a demeaning, condescending light.

Thank you Sriracha John. I've been "biting my tongue" concerning "unbiasbob" and his very unkind words. And using the word "unkind", I am being polite. Glad he has so much money, makes me wonder why he came here? I can only assume it was for similar reasons of other "poorer" folks than him. Oh well.

Enjoyed reading this thread and can't resist adding my "two cents" worth.

I live "up-country", outside of Kolat with my Thai wife. I have a house, pick-up truck, couple of motorcyles (none of which are "fancy", but nice enough for me and very comfortable).

UBC TV connection 1,500 Baht per month

Internet connection 1,200 Baht per month

Electric 1,500 to 2,000 per month (yes I have air con)

Cell phone <500 Baht per month

Petrol costs: have to average here, but 2,000 Baht per month

Car/motorcycle insurance/registration 2,500 per month.

One year visa fees (I chose to use a BKK lawyer for help) 2,500 per month

(note: I don't have medical here, but I think it is a good idea and am checking in to that)

Anyway, that's about 12,200 per month.

My wife has her own business, but in addition to that I give her 10,000 Baht per month for whatever (because I want to and can).

I "give" myself 10,000 Baht per month for whatever.

On my "budget" of 40,000 Baht, that leaves about 8,000 Baht for whatever else.

I live very well (in my mind) on this budget, although it is always EASY to spend more if you have it. That's true no matter what country you live in.

I also know several "Falong's" in the area, and I have seen some live on less, and certainly some are living on more (because they have it).

Anyway good luck to the original poster and anybody else out there who loves it here.

undefinedAs has been mentioned here before, you don't need to actually go to immigration, and, in fact, immigration does encourage you to register at your local PD if you are not local to an immigration office. Never done it myself, but a neighbor has, anf his local PD just gave him a slip of paper confirming he made the report. He said is was much easier than going into immigration.

undefinedIf your service is that bad I might be tempted to go on vacation every 90 days to someplace that has an immigration office

It would certainly be much easier for me to report to the local Police Department for the 90 day thing. However, I already had to go there with the "Village Headman" and my wife to verify my address, etc. for my "marriage visa" approval. The "poor" police man had to type out, on one of those old mechanical Thai typewriters, two very long and separate reports for immigration, one signed by the "headman" and the second signed by my wife. So, it would "seem" that this should have sufficed as my 90 day report, but from reading the previous threads, I don't think so.

And indeed "Lopburi3", I wouldn't mind doing a "vacation" every 90 days to somewhere that has an immigration office, it's just that the timing is not always convenient nor do I always desire to "vacation" where there is an immigration office. Oh well.

Seems like a lot of good information concerning the 90 day reporting (well, most of it anyway). I reside far from Bangkok or other immigration office, therefor I am most interested in the "filing by mail". From the previous posts, I think I am now quite clear on the procedure, addresses, etc. I have one furthur question. I live in a "small" village and the post delivery here is terrible, at best. I generally get no letters unless EMS or registered mail is used. Doesn't matter whether the address is in Thai or English. So, for the "self-addressed stamped" envelope for the return of the stamped 90 day form from immigration, is there a way to do this using some kind of EMS/Registered letter.

You can buy a "Solomon" modem that connects to a USB port on your computer and internet service from AIS. The "deal" I got was 9,900 Baht for the modem and 1,200 Baht per month for the internet connection. AIS had/has a promotion that give you the first 6 months of connection as unlimited connect time and the last six months (one year contract) of 200 hours per month. The connect speed appears to be as good and better than the best landline I have previously used in Kolat. It took me 5 months to get this info and I now connect with my laptop in my village 80 km northwest of Kolat. There are no landlines here and God/Buddha only know when we can get one. And for whatever it is worth, I just told another Falong about the service and he got a better deal. The same modem cost 8,000 Baht and the promotion price from AIS was 999 Baht per month. Good luck.

Does anyone have any information concerning satellite internet connection from a company/system called APSTAR. I live in an up-country village that does not have landline telephone service and am interested in an alternative internet connection that doesn't require me to drive 70 KM to a city (Kolat) with landline phone service.

I have been "visiting" Thailand for a couple of weeks and have tried several times to purchase a calling card on line.  I keep getting to the paypal site (yes, I'm a member), but that's it.  No other info, no nothing.  What am I doing wrong?

By the way, I'm referring to the calling card offer on the Thai-visa web page for call from Thailand to other countries.

I have been "visiting" Thailand for a couple of weeks and have tried several times to purchase a calling card on line.  I keep getting to the paypal site (yes, I'm a member), but that's it.  No other info, no nothing.  What am I doing wrong?

By the way, I'm referring to the calling card offer on the Thai-visa web page for call from Thailand to other countries.