new2here

Most of the hotels I use copy the photo page, plus either look at or copy the entry/extension stamp that corresponds to the stamp on the TM6 card.

Overall I've found that hotel document checks here have become more complete.

I can't recall a time that I've been allowed to use my (5 year) Thai drivers license in lieu of a passport at check in.

I can use it when the hotel may ask for proof of ID in cases like I must retrieve my hotel key from the front desk or charge things to my room account (and don't have a physical key or card).

In most cases the package is physically held by the carrier (like UPS or FedEx) in an "in-bond" status. However, as a part of that, the customs agency will specify exactly how/where or what kind of controls the carrier must have in order for them to be permitted having an "in bond" hold facility on premises; as opposed to customs physically holding it - and levying a warehousing fee.

Some shipments that may be deemed formal entry, high value or have special/unique entry formalities may be physically held by customs, but for the routine "dutiable" or similar cases, it usually with the carrier - but can't be released until the customs requirements are met and/or a formal release is given.

Most of my friends who work in government schools are like post #8; employee pays for the visa itself, the employer pays for (or reimburses either just after issuance or end of contract) the work permit fees. The annual extension seems to be a wild card as some appear to pay that too, while others do not. But as a general rule as I've heard it, you bear the cost for the visa, the employers pays for the permit.

At my university, I had to pay for the initial non-B visa, but the university reimbursed me for the work permit after month #6 of the 12-month initial contract. Starting with with my second contract (so long as they are back-to-back) they pay for the permit as well as the extension of stay.

To me, while I am not aware of any law that specially addresses who must pay for what in an employees work permit type case, I suspect that the norm is you pay for visa and extensions while they pay for the permit. I think this is a reasonably fair split of the costs and one that I might push them to agree to as I bet it's not outside of the realm of reasonableness or commonality.

I agree - my use of word "legitimate" probably should have been "good idea" - but in the end, it's not permitted and as you note, could be construed as defacing or unapproved alterations, and that could adversely impact it's acceptance or legitimacy.

from OP:

He wrote "Get a Thai Visa Next Time" and had me initial next to it in my passport.

That would make me a bit uneasy. It's very close to defacing your passport for the user to write on any visa/entry page, isn't it?

I had a friend denied entry to Japan because he drew a grid of lines on a page to guide Immigrations Officers to stamp appropriately so he could get more stamps per page. Drawing the lines voided his passport, according to them. How would they deem using your passport pages as a note pad?

For most countries the law is such that so long as the person who stamps, marks, places suckers, staples, etc a passport is an authorized official of that country to do so and acting in an official capacity, then the act is lawful. Sounds as if that standard was met here .

For the person who drew lines in the passport - even if that was for a legitimate purpose - that sounds like something that falls outside of this standard.

Have a look here http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/travellers/tourist+refund+scheme/touristrefundscheme

The last time i flew out of BKK this is the measure they used. I hold a work permit and extension of stay based on that work. They didn't care about my "status" (legally working foreigner versus someone on a formal tourist visa or a 15/30 exemption) but did closely count the number of days in THIS calendar (tax) year.

So, while I last entered Thailand in August of 2015 and had not left Thailand until that point, they started the day count from January 1- not back in August.

Initially there was some discussion between the window clerk and her supervisor, but after a phone call (to some known person/department) they did the days count from January 1

When I got mine, I had to have my original passport and original work permit. They asked if I had a contract, to which I said yes, but they didn't ask to see it, nor was a copy made.

The clerk did all the paperwork and I just signed the small card that had my name, work address (from the work permit) and my new tax number.

No fees were paid or asked for. In and out in about :20 or less.

IMHO, the revenue office is one of the easier national level offices to work or interact with in my experience as a foreigner in the Kingdom.

To me, if the issue is seizing the passport principally as a means to avoid flight by the accused while there is an open legal matter, then an immigration "stopper" might seem to be an effective workaround in lieu of seizing the actual passport.

However, I'm sure they are places where a stopper may not be noticed or acted upon, thus seizing the passport might have a stronger deterrent effect.

I do think it's fair for a sovereign nation to insure that a foreigner remains in country while there is a pending legal matter - more so for criminal matters, but I think civil matters should also be addressed before a foreigner is given exit clearance.

That said, I do think there needs to be fair balance between how long an agency may detain a passport before its ether returned or a more formal action like an arrest warrant, indictment or similar is taken - and absent that, the foreigner be permitted free movement to include departure.

I agree in that I think there is merit to at least bring the matter to trial. Who is right or wrong, I think the evidence needs to come forth before that can be said.

As a pet owner myself, I am firmly of the mindset that you, as the owner, are responsible and need to know, be aware and take measures to control your pet accordingly.

If you want to own breed X dog, then you need to be aware of what traits that breed has and be prepared and thus responsible for its actions.

there is merit to at least bring the matter to trial

of course there's merit ... his animal killed a 4 yr old child.

take measures to control your pet accordingly.

obviously he didn't.

You may be a responsible dog owner which is good, but this dirtbag obviously wasn't.

He deserves 20 yrs in jail.

why do these idiots breed and keep a savage dog in the middle of the city ?

is it a macho thing ????? please someone explain to me what is it ..............

I say kill all these savage dogs and fine the owners !!

The mere fact that there was a fatality does not automatically mean there is an grounds for the state to bring action.

I get it that it's emotional, but at the end of the day, the state has to make that case as the moving party.

I don't know what this person did - or didn't do to control the animal.. Therefore, I'm willing to reserve judgement pending facts. Sounds bad? Of course, but this is a court action, and therefore facts are going to be critical.

I too don't understand why one would keep such dogs, for me the risk is too high.. But.. Until the state (as a governmental entity) makes a law that says you can't do so - you can.

However, I do think that you as the owner still bear all the responsibility.

I do have a great deal of empathy for the victim -- and from what's in the public domain, it sounds ugly and bad to say the least... But before I sign off on a 20 year sentence for the accused, I want to see the state make and prove their case.

I agree in that I think there is merit to at least bring the matter to trial. Who is right or wrong, I think the evidence needs to come forth before that can be said.

As a pet owner myself, I am firmly of the mindset that you, as the owner, are responsible and need to know, be aware and take measures to control your pet accordingly.

If you want to own breed X dog, then you need to be aware of what traits that breed has and be prepared and thus responsible for its actions.

A shop tried to charge me 2% for using my debit card once,claiming it was good because it was less than the 3% credit card charge.

The actual reason comes from the fact that the shop owner needs to pay the company providing the card reader a fee for everything sale they use it on - because who reads the fine print here anyways x)

No they don't. And even if they did that's their cost of doing business. Increase your prices and stop trying to rip people off. Do they add a service fee for what they pay to clean the bathrooms? Telephone bill?

However in that case, I can see how there is a direct and objective way to "assign" those costs to the specific customers who actually used that service.

By contrast, unless you installed or recorded what customers called you (or you called them outbound) or what customers used the restrooms, it's hard to identify what specific customers used that specific service - thus should have a fractional percentage of its costs assigned to their purchase cost.

Therefore, for bathroom and telephone, it has to be spread across all transactions and not any one as you lack a way to identify which to apply it to.

I personally support this. It's one thing to say that the taxes are not right, disagree with how the money is spent or even claim graft/corruption, but in the end you have to pay it.

If you don't like it, there's processes for objection; be that legislative or even judicial- but simple tax avoidance to me isn't an option, therefore I support the withholding issuance of a US passport to those in arrears.

Yes, you do have the right to free movement if you will, but there is no "right" to a passport unless you meet the issuance standards.

Overall, I'd have to say, in my opinion only, that my average experience has gone up when I look at what my "typical" ride is these days and compared to what it was say in 2005 as example only.

Do I ever get a "no meter" or refuse fare kind of driver? I do. But I must also say that this is far, far uncommon. It just occur (to me at least) with any kind of frequency these days.

On occasion I get a driver whose talkative and with comprehension of Thai. Sometimes I'll ask the driver what it's like these days as opposed to a few years ago.

I tend to hear a fairly consistent answer.. It's harder these days with more police watching and passengers complaining - but what I also heard is that the drivers also believe that if you're doing the job as you're supposed to, that overall it no worse today.

I also do hear that many drivers feel there's too many taxis out there.

Again, this is just a micro sized sample of what I hear, but I tend to agree with the replies.

I seem to recall and can find news stories about a possible increase in the duty free allowance amount. Did that ever materialize? Or is it still b10,000?

I've searched but can't find anything that answers this directly.

For me, my GF tries.. I know at times her ideas leave me with more questions than anything else, but I can't overlook the fact that she is trying to help or offer solutions.

For me it would be different if her intentions were to be intrusive, ill-willed or the like, but for me, I know her intentions are good.

Plus, at times she does have good ideas, so I not to quick to dismiss them all. Sure, some of her ideas are just not credible, but I don't get mad because I know she's trying to be a "partner" and help.

I have a classic debit card from KBank (classic means one that has my name actually embossed on it, and not one of their numerous "privilege" customer type cards that are stock issue at any branch) and a Rabbit BTS debit card from BBL.

I have used both for online purchases from a Thai based merchant (in THB), online purchases from non-Thai merchants (in foreign currencies) and used my KBank card physically overseas.

I did have to compete the one-time "verified by visa" process - but that's a one time shot and free..

Naturally, there can be foreign currency fees when the transaction is not done in THB's, but the transaction still was approved.

Maybe I missed something, but why would Universities need to be highly profitable ?

I think perhaps the better word here might be "sustainable" in that a public institution must have the right balance between state/taxpayer funding, tuition/fees charged as well as other income streams like grant/endowment and alumni donations.

I don't think the goal of a state (public) institution should be profitability like a traditional for-profit corporate entity would be, but I do think that there are very much elements of good financial stewardship, fiscal planning and diversification of revenue streams involved too.

I agree that a true CC (and that means one where there is no mandatory account with a corresponding deposit required) is very much available..but... it seems that more and more the mandate of a work permit is required..

When I went to my bank, the process was quick and painless - they checked all my docs, work permit, extension, salary and contract copies and I was approved in less than :30 with card to arrive in under a week..

I don't dispute the rough cost comparisons, but I don't think this is a true like-for-like comparison in that many of the for-profit hospitals have much more extensive list of medical services they can do on-site and the facilities themselves tend to be of a better "quality" (quality here refers to the fit-and-finish if you will) and offers a wider range of patient support services.

I am not the biggest supporter of price-controls because I think it distorts true market force pricing which I think is the truest form of price controls there is.

I do think there needs to be proper supervision of of both government and private facilities to insure whatever is law, is met... But on the price side alone, I don't think the answer is price controls

As I'm from Hawai'i, I'd love to see a "local" place. That's plate lunch, mac salad, mahi mahi, stuff li dat

With the assumption that the correct tolls were paid, the toll payment wouldn't be an enrichment element for the driver. So it would only be the issue of time over distance.

Given what I suspect the math would be when you consider the crossover speed (the point where the time charge and distance charge are equal) if you calculated it, the driver probably did you both a favor.

However the hard part to assign a value is the value of your time..

I bring back bolts (rolls) of fabric from Jim Thompson.. Several of my friends whose spouses love to sew and the fabric from JT's is top notch and in the US, nothing close to it is available on a cost-effective basis.

WoW, Sorry to hear about your troubles, but your sharing has brought up some very important considerations to take into account. Any other suggestions on how to protect your cash when in Thailand would be greatly appreciated. And, I was wondering if it is possible to get a safe deposit box in a Thai bank to stash some cash (for emergencies), credit cards, and copies of passport and other important papers? It seems that this would be a good precaution to have cash for an emergency.

I thank you all for the suggestions posted so are. I appreciate them.

Thanks,

Nick

It's difficult for foreigners to get a safe deposit box in a Thai bank, but it's not expensive to buy a home safe. There are other alternatives. The key is to have an alternate source of ready cash -- like an account in a Thai bank, an alternate bank account, a credit card with a good balance, a good friend/family member who will send money Western Union -- whatever. Anyone who lives here should have at least three ways to get their hands on money in a hurry. And yes, keeping some money in a home safe is a one way.

My experience is that it isn't hard per se, but more to do with limited supply. I have one with Bangkok Bank, at their main branch. While i have several accounts with them, including a true credit card, I did have to show my work permit again when I signed up for the box and had to pay a refundable key deposit. The annual fee is auto-deducted from my account.

I did have to sign a bank form that acknowledges that I won't store things in the box are illegal - As I remember the list had things like drugs, weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, Thai cash exceeding B50,000.

You can access the box pretty much anytime the branch is open, but you must have your original passport - because that appears to be the "ID card" number they record on the box registry - in your possession to get access.