Thaiquila

There is no issue with passport number. As long as your face and signature hasn't changed, you won't have any issue.

Your account is not linked to a passport number. Otherwise, it would be an issue.

Since all these years i'm at SCB, i'm now using my 3rd passport and never had any issue. (Why 3? 1 full and 1 changed for electronic one.)

Thanks for that. Have you bothered to update your passport number with the bank records and/or online banking system?

Maybe they are Thai Muslims. The whole country of Malaysia hangs out a "No Israelis" sign; how fair is that? I think I will open a guesthouse and say "No Arabs" how about that?

Or how about "No Swiss." How does that make you feel?

I opened my Thai bank account with my previous passport, and now I am about to get a new passport. I think the thing to do now is to go into my bank and make sure the change gets recorded. I hope that turns out to be as easy as it sounds.

Anyway, on a related question, I am going to need to get a letter from my bank confirming balance for visa purposes. Does anyone know if Thai banks will need to see my passport to get the letter, and also whether the letter will state the passport number? In my case, Siam Commercial Bank.

In my experience, when checking into hotels, they usually look at the passport stamp. Do hotels even check in guests with overstay dates on arrival or a date that would become an overstay during a booked stay? Aren't hotels required to report all foreigners on a regular basis?

Congrats on your disability award and happy trails in Thailand!

If people insist on getting their panties in a bunch over government waste, have a look at Cheney and Halliburton ...

I went to the URL of an agency called Town and Country, put in specs for a 2 br house w/ garden, pets-allowed, and w/ AC, and did not limit the location -- ie all of Thailand. They came up with one listing -- in So Pattaya.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/style_images...cons/icon13.gif

Some listings for you to browse:

http://www.pattayatrader.com/accommodation.htm

All listings from estate agents, but this might give you a feel...

http://www.pattayamail.com/mailmarket/

The most popular local newspaper!

Not surprising at all.

Thailand does NOT have a multiple listing service. Any one real estate service only has its own listings. Often, the same listings are listed on several services, but there are alot of real estate brokers. The houses that are just being advertised with a Thai sign in the boonies are not going to be listed in such places anyway. I believe the URL you looked at was:

http://www.towncountryproperty.com/index.php (never heard of them)

Anyway, you could have a browse at this site for a sample of the type of houses avaiable for rent in the area:

http://www.fairproperties.com/houses_for_rent.htm

(Well actually, their houses appear to be mostly intown and "suburban" Pattaya houses, not the in the sticks ones you are interested in.)

Perhaps others can comment, but I think your main hope would be to come to Thailand and get in a vehicle and start looking around yourself.

Also, being advised if buying a property, it is very difficult to come up with objective comps as you can in the US with a few clicks online. The only way to guage relative values is to shop tlll you drop, or alternatively, find a real estate agent you trust (good luck on that one)!

Some questions:

I: Yes.

(or): With the savings book of most banks: yes.

(in other words): If the Immigration Officer feels like it, he will ask for it.

(or): I should hope that my bank does not give out information about my bank account without a court order.

II: No.

III: Yes.

(assuming): No.

(or): Yes.

---------------

Maestro

Thanks very much, Maestro.

I am going for retirement visa qualification based on transferring money into my Thai savings passbook account from a US bank account.

Some questions:

I: Certifying that funds came from outside Thailand

Do I need to get a document from the Thai bank stating the funds were transferred in from outside Thailand?

(or) Is this obvious from the code on the passbook?

(In other words, what does Thai immigration require to show this, or do they just communicate with the bank?)

II: Format of name on both foreign and Thai bank account

Is there going to be a problem if my US account has my middle name as one letter while my Thai bank account shows my middle name SPELLED OUT?

III: Other persons allowed to wire the money?

Assuming above is OK, does immigration require the person who WIRES the money be the same person as the applicant OR is the requirement only that the funds are coming in from outside Thailand? (I can imagine situations where I would need to send a check to a US friend, and then ask them to wire some money if my wiring agreement wasn't working.)

I also think the 30-40K B per month level is realistic if you are talking about everyday, normal expenses, especially if you own your housing and transport.

The rub comes when you factor in the "other" expenses such as, medical crisis, travel expenses to the west, home improvements, electronics, social expenses. Still takes real money and inflates the real cost of living in Thailand dramatically.

Snakes eating ferrets?

Can't we all just get along?

I am curious about the idea of buying land in a Thai's name and then doing a 30 year lease. The OP has no "my Thai", so in that case, how could she do it? Would it still be possible? For example, could she find a reputable Thai lawyer who would allow the land to be bought in his name, and then effect the lease? Any other ways, other than buying it in the name of a random baht bus driver?

Also, what would be the house construction costs for a 150 square meter, modest house, if paying a construction company to manage to project?

You can get veneers in Thailand, also expensive, but much cheaper than in the West. I tried the laser whitening and there was a very dramatic difference, but it looked artificial. It is reverting back over time because of coffee, wine drinking, and time. Depending on your teeth, they sometimes can't get all the way to the gum line (otherwise damage and pain) so results are not perfect. I don't feel ripped off, but I won't be in any hurry to redo it when it all fades either.

If you have staining from antibiotics, it won't help at all.

I truly think your experience of discounts for the uninsured is anecdotal and does not reflect the more common experience of the uninsured being charged MUCH, MUCH more.

Evidence:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/02/...in1362808.shtml

Hospitals charge uninsured patients two, three, four or more times what an insurance company would pay for the same treatment. And, when the uninsured can?t pay, they often find themselves the target of collection agencies or in bankruptcy court.

For American farangs who complain about tiered pricing policies for health care in Thailand, I would submit we have no business being critical, considering where we come from.

Very odd. Most hospitals charge double or more to people without insurance in the US. Not that they ever usually collect this, but the charges are generally much higher because insurance companies are group plans so they negotiate special rates. So it often means bankruptcy and/or ruined credit for the uncovered (or death because care isn't sought in time due to the cost). The US health care system is the most expensive in the world, and about 45 million Americans have no access to the system. Don't get me started ...

The priority is of course "the war on terror" rathole. Health care be damned.

Penang would be your top choice. If anything, getting a tourist visa is easier in Malaysia than the US. Embassy and some consulates in the US require air itinerary (looking for return to the US?), Malaysia doesn't, and you can use a visa agent in Penang so you don't even have to visit the consulate. Any recent word on whether they are issuing double and triple entries again?

Try http://www.airasia.com/site/en/home.jsp for Bangkok to Penang.

I don't believe you will find "foreign" wire transfers free at any bank.

It says it right here: Free outgoing wire transfers (foreign and domestic)

Washington Mutual Free checking terms & conditions

OK?

Not OK. You can only do if you show up at a branch in the US. Physically. No other way possible. This is not a bank, it is a McBank.

***Wire Transfer: Non-refundable foreign currency exchange charges and intermediary and beneficiary bank fees may apply.

what's a swift cost?

FYI:

Washington Mutual has TV commercials which state that outgoing wire transfers are FREE.

Washington Mutual is NOT a real bank! WAMU is to banking as USA Today is to journalism, as McDonalds is to fine cuisine. Incredibly, they offer NO method whatsoever to do a wire transfer unless you physically show up at a branch in the US. No provision for prearranging a wiring agreement and password. No provision for sending a fax, letter, phone call, or man on a horse.

Did I mention I don't like Washington Mutual?

Thanks for the info folks!

I think not!

Most banks charge about 40 dollars.

My opinions.

Ok. I will be leaving on August 4th and I am looking to drive over to the Thai consulate in

New York city to try and get a tourist visa before I leave later that night.

question 1) Is this a waste of my time? Is it possible to get a same day tourist visa if I apply in person?

Unlikely! Only hope is to call them ahead of time and make a special request.

Ok. If if it is possible to get the visa with relative ease in person then I have couple of more questions about the application.

1) On the application I checked the Tourist Visa* box. This is what many of you have told me was the best option for someone like me coming to Thailand with out the intention to work for a Thai business. What should I put for "Number of entries requested" considering a possible lengthy stay in Thailand.

You could ask for a double or triple entry and pay double or triple the fee.

2) In section 4 of the application there is a question regarding "length of stay". What should I put down in this column. Sorry if this is a simple questions but not sure if I should put down my intended stay time or not.. Don't want the thai consulate to frown if I put "one year" there and they know I am going to thailand on a tourist visa.

One entry: 60 days, two - 120, three 180

3) Do i need a reference person and address to a person in Thailand? This is in the final column.

Find something to put in that blank. A travel agent? A real estate broker? Bureaucrats don't like a vacuum.

4) Do I take my own 2x2 photogragh for the picture on the application or will they do this at the consulate?

Take your own and take two.

Do you have a one way ticket? Either way, the consulate might ask to see your ticket. And if you don't have a ticket showing exit out of Thailand within THIRTY days or a VISA, you most likely will not be boarded on the airplane in the first place. The exit ticket can be to Malaysia, doesn't need to be back to the US.

A few years ago I did a SWIFT transfer to Siam Commercial Bank for a condo purchase, and my real estate broker told me to use this swift code:

SICOTHBX

It worked, but upon checking the info on the bank's website the actual swift code is:

SICOTHBK (with an ending K, not an X).

Seems kind of weird that it worked. Anyone know if the bank has two swift codes for different purposes?

Anyway, another question:

If I have an account at the Jomtien branch, when asked for the street address of the account, should I put the Jomtien branch address, or the main Bangkok address?

And another:

My bank account name clearly says MISTER Name Name

Should I use the word MISTER as part of the name (I would rather not), or if I don't, will the name not match?

Details, details ...

I've been using Vonage for a year now here in Thailand. I have a US (California) number. I ordered it from Vonage and had it shipped to an address in the US, then a friend shipped it here to me. Of course, the original 110 volt adapter cannot be used here. I was able to find a 220v one when I lived in Pattaya for 220 baht.

The calls are excellent 95% of the time. People have no idea that I am calling via VoIP until I tell them. In fact, the only issue I really have is, some "friends" just cannot grasp the concept of world time zones. I have to unplug the phone before going to bed to prevent the occassional ring from the US in the middle of the night.

Could you (or someone) talk some more about how you dealt with the voltage issue.

Did you mean you bought a power adapter (power supply) that is 220 volt? The user guide for the D-Link VTA indicates that using a different voltage power supply would damage the unit.

Or, did you buy a voltage step down converting device, and then plugged the supplied 110 volt power supply into that?

From the Vonage D-Link VTA User Guide

Connect the included power supply

to the Power port of the Telephone

Adapter. The Power LED will go through

a blink sequence before turning solid

green.

Warning: Using a power supply with a

different voltage will cause damage to

the device and will void the warranty.

It is important to organize and maintain a US mailing address for things like your USD credit cards, American bank accounts, and frequent flyer statements. Yes, you can deal with almost everything online, but you would be surprised how many problems you will have if your accounts do not have a US mailing address regardless.

I have someone who simply collects my mail in the US and destroys it. Bank statements, frequent flyer statements, and credit card statements are all online, so who needs any of it it? Save yourself the forwarding costs.

Old Asia Hand, yes indeed, I agree with you, maintaining a "faux" real US address will probably prevent alot of problems. I am probably going to even have a "faux" US phone number with a Vonage phone. Not as vital, but easier to keep in contact with friends and family. Well, actually, you do probably have to have some US phone number to put down, but you don't need one that actually rings in Thailand as a US number, but its nice.

I am dealing with all the details of leaving the US and moving (retiring) to Thailand. For those that have done this in the last few years (otherwise, you probably don't remember or don't want to think about it), what are the things you did in preparation that turned out to be mistakes, what worked out well, and how would you do things differently?

I am mostly talking about practical, mechanical details of things to do while still in the US. For example, I just opened up another US bank account with a bank that allows wire transfers by calling them and using a preset password. I am paranoid enough to want to have two bank accounts in the US in case there is a problem with one of them. Stuff like that. What worked. What failed. What failed so bad you had to fly back to the US to fix it?

You pretty much have to have status in the airlines's frequent flyer club, and beyond that, all I can think of is dressing the part (business clothes), being super polite to the gate agent, asking for it, and being really fat.