seeker108

Or try http://www.jobchiangmai.com/ You can post in English there but will need someone who can read Thai to navigate the site for you.

It was about Vat required to get a work permit but that advantage has changed. IN CM they require the company to be in the VAT system now so now no advantage except in CM the work permit takes a month to obtain and in Bangkok, its 10 days unless your company qualifies for the 1 stop center, then its 1 day.

Interesting. How does a company qualify for the 1 stop center?

Both, sort of correct. The Thai notaries seem to be licensed through an international notarial body rather than a Thai govt. body.

When I told the consulate that I needed this today and could not wait till Tuesday they finally told me that certain lincesed Thai lawyers could do it and they sent me a list of approved attorneys. I was able to reach 3 of these attorneys and 2 of them came in under 1,000 baht (one only after making it clear that his asking price was riduculous and I could get it done cheaper elsewhere).

I had called some other firms earlier and some of these smooth gents wanted as much as 5,000 baht for a 30 second job of looking at my passport and signing their name and putting their stamp. I had almost considered one of these firms for other business. Not a chance now.

seeker

Up here in Chiang Mai your office says that immigration is not yet accepting this. And I had already heard the same thing from a friend working with another firm up here as well.

After pointing out this law, Chiang Mai is still not accepting this update. This is Chiang Mai’s discretion. The only solution is to apply for the extension of stay based on business in Bangkok. This extension of stay permit once approved is of course valid everywhere in Thailand.

www.lawyer.th.com

so, for this do I need to register the business down there, with a Bangkok address? And what about the work permit? Does that need to be done down there as well? I do have a BKK address that I can use, but I am wondering if doing in BKK involves any other short or long term complications or expenses? I seem to recall from something you said earlier that there was at least one advantage that CM had over BKK, but can not recall just now what that was. Can you refresh my memory on that point.

Or maybe you are saying that I can do everything up here, but just fly down and go to the immigration office there when it is time to do the extension?

Thanks

seeker

I seem to recall a small bridge both north and south of Nawarat bridge, but maybe the south one is no longer there? Anyway, to be clear, which way and about how far from Nawarat bridge and which side of road when coming from Nawarat?

Hopefully they have some vegetarian selections?

Thanks Bytes. That is very helpful info for all Thai related needs and will soon use this, but for this it needs an actual notary. It may be that the Britih consulate can help with this. I am calling them now.

Does anyone know of an American notary public here in CM other than at the consulate? The price there seems to me to be high, but at this point, the main thing is that I need this long before next Tuesday which is the next time they are available for this service.

Any suggestions?

That is correct Ajarn. It used to be called Suan Dok (or Dawk). I think they may have improved the parking. At least there is some parking at the FMC.

Here is a fresh report from Maharaj.

After reading this thread during the past couple of weeks I decided to go to Maharaj (govt section, not private) rather than Ram. Not because I feared that I would be treated poorly in Ram, but I thought to see what it would be like in the least expensive of all the hospitals nearby, since I was simply going for a large battery of lab tests rather than brain surgery.

Impression: Excellent++

When I first walked in the general reception area I thought my experience would be like that of the OP. Every sign was in Thai (which I don't yet read). I was by myself with my own limited Thai speaking ability (you can figure all conversation that I refer to here is maybe 40% simple Thai from my side and 80% decent English from their side (or at least good clear pointing to where I needed to go).

There were a number of people surrounding many different desks and counters. I thought "OK, here goes" though it was almost "this was a mistake, get me out of here". I walked up to the nearest, least crowded counter and in Thai asked the lady there if she spoke English. The reply was the usual "nit noi" delivered in the usual very friendly way with the usual nervous look of "I will do what I can to help but don't expect much"

Anyway without much further ado she directed me to the nearby central desk where the crowd was largest and where they were thronging rather than queing, but in a very polite and patient way. Though at first I was still prejudiced by the initial report here and feared I would be stuck there forever, being ignored and again almost thought I maybe had bit off more than I wanted to chew. But again all went well. While waiting the few minutes to be noticed (and I am fairly sure I was taken sooner rather than later than I deserved) I finally did see in some sunken cubbyhole on the desk forms in English rather than Thai. The kind man at this desk helped me fill out the very brief form and directed me to another nearby empty counter where the lady there listened to what I wanted and quickly filled out more forms for me in Thai and directed me to the Family Medical Center (FMC) where I would need to register as a patient of theirs' and see a doctor there who could then prescribe the tests I wanted.

This whole process of entering a hospital new to me and speaking little of the local language while (intentionally) not having a Thai friend along took little more than 10 minutes. On entering the FMC I walked up to the empty counter where the nurse there read my papers and listened to what I wanted. She directed me to take a seat where there were about 20 Thai patients waiting (I was the only farang). Less than 2 minutes later I was directed to see a nurse for the usual BP and weight. Again, directed to take a seat. My only moment of panic came when I asked the BP nurse how much the doctor's appointment would be and I thought she said something about 500 baht. At this point I did resort to my mobile phone to call a nurse friend at the govt. hospital in Lamphun to talk to the nurse at the desk to sort this out. Clearly some misunderstanding from my side as she told me there would be nothing charged for the doctor visit. I would only be charged for the tests which I already knew would be cheaper than Ram.

Maybe 7 more minutes waiting and I was in to see one of the several doctors there. Warm, friendly, open minded and open hearted. We discussed the tests I wanted. For one obscure test that a Naturopathic Doctor friend recommended, seemingly not related to my diabetes condition at all, he actually went off for a few minutes and came back with some printouts from the internet regarding this test and what it measured. I was very impressed that he would do that.

Total cost at Maharaj FMC for all tests I wanted including 1 pre test doctor visit and 2 post test doctor's visits came to 1,400 baht compared to 2,600 at the private Maharaj hospital compared to about 2,900 at Ram compared to 16,000 baht+ in America.

But for me it is much more than just the money. At every step I was treated warmly as a human being by other warm, caring human beings. At every step I was treated as an intelligent human being who had as much right and more to decide what was needed for me as the patient. I could see that each doctor I saw had quickly evaluated that I had done my homework and was supportive and willing to allow me to make choices on how to deal with the condition. Enthusiastically, not grudgingly.

I have always been impressed by the Thai medical community that I have encountered. Such a great lack of egoism sadly not usually found in the west. Such a ready willingness to admit that they do not consciously posses all knowledge. And therefore a great willingness to expand their knowledge. This is not to say that they are all saints. I have heard sad stories similar to some told here where egoism had caused some doctors here to cause much damage and distress. I know I have been lucky, but I also know that the odds here are much higher of having such luck.

One other interesting note, that I found out today at the FMC, is that they have an American doctor that is there on Wednesday (and possibly Thursday and Friday, though I did not get this completely figured out yet). He has a Thai wife and 3 children and has lived here for a while. I look forward to meeting him. Maybe some of you know him already. Maybe one of you is him.

The FMC is located about 100 meters north of Suthep Rd and a couple hundred meters south of Ram Hospital on Bun Ruang Rit Rd. Tel: 053 945 463. I think you can just go straight there and register as a patient and bypass the central registration area where I started.

seeker

Same here. still no reply from Sunlabob.

DK - you only need 1 as I undertand it.

BP - sounds like consulting to me. Anyway, I think it is all how you define it when you incorporate. I'm sure sunbelt will make sure the wording is correct.

sunbelt - Has anyone actually been successfully processed for the work permit and 1 year extenion down there based on the new 1 employee rule for consultants? Up here in Chiang Mai your office says that immigration is not yet accepting this. And I had already heard the same thing from a friend working with another firm up here as well.

If it is working in BKK do you have any suggestion as to how your office up here can make this work up here in Chiang Mai as well?

Thanks

seeker

From the Valleys a couple of year ago...bit of Info... ...it works but is it allowed in LOS

Interesting question. Also interesting that they seem to ignore electric vehicles in the western countries which also pay no road fuel tax (unless it is done in some different way) and yet they are far more common than veggie oil vehicles.

Here in Thailand there is a general governmental support for renewable energy and in any case I do not think this sort of thing is in their mind as I have not heard of anyone trying it here yet. Anyone heard of anything here in Thailand along these lines?

Re the solar heaters, I have still not heard back from Sunlabob. I am working on several potential environmental development projects for a non profit organization and may need at some time a very large quantity of the best and most economical system of this type and so will be soon looking into this more seriously. I am most happy to share what I learn and even set something up to make this more easily and reasonably available here in CM.

I am just now waiting on information from a friend in BKK who recently researched many of the companies in China manufacturing these kinds of solar hot water heaters.

To run a diesel on 'used cooking oil' you don't convert the engine; you convert the oil.

Hi Mali,

That is also one option, but the better method is to do a modification on the vehicle (not actually the engine per se). The original diesel engine was actually designed to run on peanut oil until Dr. Diesel mysteriously died and it was redesigned to run on petroleum.

I promise to soon start a thread on just this topic of converting to run on straight cooking oil that has only had any water and organic matter removed. It is better for the engine than diesel or bio diesel and less polluting as well as a good use of what is currently a source of polution to the ground and ground water. Also it is less expensive than either diesel or bio diesel.

In the mean time if someone has an extra vehicle they would like to have converted, PM or email me and we might work something out.

seeker

This is the norm now, even for Thais around town. Some will try to get 20 or 40 or whatever out of you if they think you are a tourist. Oddly though it is still only 10 baht when coming into town on one of the longer distance runs (or 12 or 13 if coming from further out).

Hi all,

I finally arrived back in CM, but have been busy getting settled in (Anyone have a decent but very inexpensive diesel truck or car they want to sell? I want to do a conversion on it to run on used cooking oil).

Anyway, I recently emailed Andy and told him I was interested in setting up a distributorship/dealership here and asked him for wholesale prices. Hopefully this will help to bring down the final cost here because of wholesale price to me and bulk shipping. I will train someone locally to do the installation here in CM. If it does not work out well through Andy then I will try another way of getting them. Hope this helps, though it may take me several weeks to get this all worked out.

Seeker

Has anyone tracked down these Chinese solar hot water heaters yet?

Sounds like a "B" visa might be better for you. You do not even need to go to the expense of setting up a business as it already exists. You then get your extension on the basis of business and do not need to show any money in the bank. But you will need to pay income tax of about 30,000 annually. On the other hand your wife's tax burden should be reduced by the same amount as her business will be showing your "salary" as an expense.

One of the experts here can give you more details.

Update - I did actually receive the B visa the day after the Alabama honorary consulate received it from me. Just as they promised, they processed everything and sent back the passport on the same day that they received it.

Now with the 1 Thai employee rule in place, the only thing I would do differently would be to simply get a single entry 90 day B visa instead of the multiple entry. No need to get the more expensive visa as getting a company set up that qualifies one for a 1 year visa extension based on business is now less complicated and less expensive and should be easily doable withing 90 days

I'm in Chiang Mai at the moment ...

Going by JoeyBonaparte's post above it gets even better in Chiang Rai

Aitch

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Hi Aitch,

Actually I think if you look in some of the outer areas of CM you will find better rents. In Mae Rim, I had a very nice fully furnished townhouse, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, good size LR/dining combo area, decent Thai kitchen, tel line but no aircon (but could put in yourself) for 1,000 baht/month. I also found a new, furnished small house on a postage stamp plot for the same price (but no telephone as well as no aircon) In addition to Mae Rim perhaps Doi Saket or Sansai may yield good results.

As you say, you get what you are willing to dig out. You need to be able to be able to read the Thai "For Rent" signs or have someone else who can. Also networking with many Thai friends in the area helps a lot. Good luck in your search! I am putting out my own feelers right now as I will be soon back there.

seeker

I have seen a few posts recently where I wanted to refer them to sources of free classified ads (online or print) for the Chiang Mai area.

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One of the best free classified, written in Thai, is:

"Sue Klang" a free classified newspaper in Chiang Mai.

SueKlang Newspaper Co., Ltd.

420/5 Chiangmai Land

T. Changklan

Muang Chiang Mai

Telephone: (053) 283634-5

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By Free, I now see that you must mean it is free distribution as they charge 300 baht for a small classified.

Does anyone know of any Thai language, on-line or print media where one could place a free announcement or classified?

okey, the Non-Immigrant "B" visa letter, does that have to be from a Thai company?

In most all cases yes. Some Consulates will allow your own company in your own country to do so. We do sponsor a number of people who are looking to explore the possibility of investing in Thailand.

www.lawyer.th.com

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Greg, Kash, Steve and anyone interested in the 'B' visa

It seems that things have lightened up for a non-imm 'B' visa these days at least in US or UK. I spoke with 3 honorary consulates in the US and 1 in UK and they are quite willing to accept, on your own letterhead, an expression of your intent to open a business in Thailand to fulfill this aspect for the 'B' visa. I did this for myself and also for a colleage in the UK and we both instantly got the 'B' visa.

I would suggest calling an honorary consulate in your country and explain that you are going to thailand to open a business and see if they feel a letter from you stating your intent to open a business will satisfy them.

seeker

I put 12+ months for length of stay on my application and something like "many times during the past several years" for date of previous visits. I don't think the honorary consulates waste their time trying to needlessly pick holes in applications like a bored bureaucrat at an official consulate does.

I applied through the Alabama office and they sent back my passport with the multiple-entry non-imm 'B' visa the same day that they received it from me. Since they have not had the coverage here on TV like some of the others and since they are in a less populated area, I suspect they are less busy with applications than places like Houston or Denver.

Also it seems that for a 'B' visa, these days it is sufficient to express, on your own letterhead, your intent to open a business in Thailand to receive the 'B' visa. I did this for myself and also for a colleage in the UK and we both instantly got the 'B' visa.

Good posting Rishi. Fun to see everyone on the map. Had to put my old location for now. I'll be back in about 2 weeks and still looking for a place.

Hi Dustoff,

Sorry to hear about this problem of yours. I am surprised that no one has come up with any names for you yet. I'll give you what I can.

First I would suggest contacting Sunbelt Asia.

179 Mahidol Rd., Haiya, Chiangmai 50100

Tel: 053-283845, 053-277707

http://www.sunbelt-chiangmai.com

[email protected]/

While they probably do something like vet the kind of contract that you initially set up so that you do not run into this kind of problem, I am not sure if they handle legal actions on contracts they did not initiate, but they may. I would trust their judgement and honesty. I am so far quite pleased with work they are doing for me.

However, if they can not handle any legal action on this, they can probably refer you to someone who does. They do have a team of in-house attorneys. Even if they do not handle court actions it might be good to consult with the CM office and have them look over the initial contract to see where the problem lies and get their opinion on you or your wife's legal position. I think you are probably aware that having your wife, as a Thai, being the apparent one pursuing this will put you in a better position. At least that is how I understand the inner workings of the court system in Thailand. I hope she is on all of the legal documents. But I especially hope it does not need to go to court.

I know nothing about your landlord, but is it possible that he did not understand the initial contract? Or maybe he is feeling some seller's remorse and feels that you got too good of a deal. Then maybe he can somehow be shown that it was a fair deal and you have had to put a lot of money into making it nice now. It may be that if you and he with your attorneys sit down that the whole thing can be cleared up with a discussion (especially if he has no legal basis for his complaint). Of course first thoroughly go over the contract, and your understanding of it, and what your ideal resoluton would be with whatever attorny will be helping you. Maybe SA will help with this kind of mediation.

If using SA is not possible and they do not have a firm to recommend, I had previously heard from some people with experience in this that there were 2 honest lawyers in CM that they knew of. This was 2 years ago and I can only remember some details about one of them. Hopefully with this info you can track him down if necessary, or maybe someone else here will know who he is. He was maybe 5 to 7 km NE of CM, I think off Maejo rd (or possibly Doi Saket rd.). He had some sort of problem with his legs that confined him to a wheelchair. Can't be too many honest lawyers out that way that fit the description.

Finally, I just yesterday ran accross this firm's website: http://www.chiangmailawyer.com/

I know nothing about them, but the site looks good and it looks like they handle real estate law.

Good luck with all of this and I hope it turns out to be a simple misunderstanding that will clear up quickly. Sorry I could not be of more help.

seeker

I should also think getting the non-imm 'B' is a good route for you, especially in light of what has just been posted about only needing 1 Thai employee for certain types of businesses to get your 1 year business extension.

For good information on going this route read through this thread:

O To B Or Just Start With B?, what is B all about?

But keep in mind that the 'big' company no longer needs to be so big (perhaps only 1 Thai employee). Though I am not sure what this would mean in terms of a spouse or child visa. If Ian goes this route for himself would the wife be able to be a tag-on or would 1 more Thai employee be necessary? And what about the child?