lcp0761

 

As if anybody would carry their passport around on a daily basis. I keep mine in the safe when I'm there. A 2K Baht fine (almost zero chance you would ever be caught anyway) is a lot less than trying to get a temporary passport. Or better yet, just carry a photocopy, and then pay the "no immigration stamp fine" of 300baht (damn, inflation!) directly to the BIB.

 

There is a distinct possibility that the number of random checks will increase now there's enforcement of the 2000 Baht fine.
 

 

Hey --- Thai Police just got a raise!

First of all, I was previously pick-pocketed in Thailand and lost my US drivers license and my work permit card, in addition to cash, pics,...

When reporting the incident to the Thai police, they just scratched their heads with no degree of emergency.  Shortly after I reported my incident, 5-other families also arrived at the Thai police station with the same story.

So advise all not to carry your original passport.

Secondly, it is "crazy" to expect a tourist to go to Thai Immigration to stamp a paper copy.  If they authorize a paper copy, why not just have them stamp it upon arrival.  

Lastly, tourists don't have a Thai drivers license so this option is of no use. 

I still enjoy a visit to Pattaya and used live near there in Jomtien.It is true though that it attracts the worst of both Thai and Farang .I never found it dangerous ,but my Girlfriend of the day did get her bag snatched while she rode on the back of my motorcycle .I also got an expensive phone stolen while entering a bus in Bangkok.So far after 4 years in Chiang Mai ,i have nothing bad to report.

I agree - I have traveled/stayed in Jomtien for over 10-years and have had no problems.

While it does get the ocassional goofy tourist, all-in-all it's very comfortable and nothing like the Pattaya yahoo's.

Also, Jomtien is more family oriented, both falang and Thai.

^{As I am a newbie to the Thai retirement O visa (scheduled for US retirement Jan. 2015 and will be applying for my 1-year non-immigrant Visa this coming Sept/Oct), can someone give me an overview of what the 90-day Thai Immig. is about, what forms are required,...?}

Bottom line - what, if anything, does all this Thailand immigration reform mean to me as I posses a "retirement Visa"?

Editorial - for those tourist who want to extend their stay, the border run trips appear to be over. And rightly so. The Thai govt immigration regulations were too lax and allowed a haven for a terrorist, drug smuggler, or mafia/mob individual to reside in Thailand.

Bottom line - what, if anything, does all this Thailand immigration reform mean to me as I posses a "retirement Visa"?

Editorial - for those tourist who want to extend their stay, the border run trips appear to be over. And rightly so. The Thai govt immigration regulations were too lax and allowed a haven for a terrorist, drug smuggler, or mafia/mob individual to reside in Thailand.

Unless they get some form of monetary kick-back, they are not budging. And why, for a mere $10K Baht per month to risk their life?

Is there an associated corruption website or email?

SUMMARY: My wife has instructed her family that I do not like/want family/friends to drop by for a social "get together" and definitely when we move to Thailand in 2017 "NO" Thai family will use our home as a place to crash (neither for a night or longer). Don't care if it causes a problem with the family but I/we are consistent that our home isn't a bed-n-breakfast hotel.

My wife understands I don't like any surprises and no drama. I am consistent and firm with these ways, no exceptions.

As she has two (2) great boys from a prior marriage, we have discussed to push them for a strong education and when old enough to attend college at our cost. Post their college graduation, they need to find a job and look for their own funded residence.

Post they getting married, we will not be taking care of their kids. If they need to have kids it is up to them to raise them in their home, not ours.

BACKGROUND: My wife & I have been married now for 5-years. I am from the US and she is a Thai National. Since our marriage, we annually travel back to Thailand where she has a nice house about 1-hour north of BKK (in Nakon Nayok). When I/we retire to Thailand in 2-years, I/we will be buying a house fairly close to an Expat community. We don't drink alcohol or smoke, and like sports.

I previously worked/lived in Thailand for 2.5 years and know the Thai family ways of wanting to crash at a relatives house and eat their food.

As above, property value and gaurantee seem to be the indicators along with the relationship the borrower has with their bank....banks tend to check tax payments to confirm provided salray details are correct but how else would someone on 20K a month borrow 4 Mil

General Question --- will a Thai Bank give a farang a house/condo loan (say 30-40% of the residence purchase price - $2-3M Baht)? As I have a Thai wife but her annual US income is equivalent to my monthly income.

Re: bars being empty. Are the girls more hungry for the limited available dollars or do they have an attitude (i.e. supply of dollars vs demand of their services)?

Please articulate if there is a maximum Daily amount a Automated Clearing House or wire transfer can make in a day/time period to Thailand (Bangkok Bank)?

The transfer will be for a house my wife and I will be residing in.

Do I have to report anything to the US Government? If so, who/what?

When I purchase the house in Thailand, how do I remove the money from the Bangkok Bank for the prospective purchase? Will it be a Bangkok Bank transfer to the seller's Thai Bank?

Agreed ---

Mediation --- you are living in Thailand. Great views and normally cheap prices for most stuff.

Accept it for what it is.

Certain times I have my wife (a Thai national) purchase stuff for me. Even then my ticket gets rejected as they have a special color ticket for farangs. I pay the extra fee and go on.

The former PM was only a puppet for her brother. At the end of the day, Thailand and Thai people are better she is gone as we are through of her scandals, to include: two years ago floods, Amnesty issue, rice issue,...

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

A hard lesson in life but I would be proud if she was my daughter and made the same decision.

HM the King is #1 in Thailand followed by what is best for Thailand.

Don't care about red shirt or yellow shirt, but about Thailand.

Interesting that all the loyal red shirt followers are those individuals who are corrupt and milking Thailand for every thing they can get their hands onto.

Look at the former PM, scandal after scandal but she won't go to jail. She will relocate her residence to Dubai with her brother.

I had to open an account with bangkok bank in phuket to have a direct deposit account for my social security checks from the U.S. This was about a year and one half ago. they told me the same thing; I had to first buy an insurance policy from them which was over 3,000 baht. I then checked with Ayudthya bank and Kasikorn to see if I could get my government checks there. they said that it could be done but it would take at least one month to have access to the money as they would have to send the check to the U.S. to be cashed (?) etc. so I was stuck and had to pay for an insurance policy that I didn't want with Bangkok Bank. It has since expired and I haven't had to renew it.

I will be retiring to Thailand in 2-years from the US. My work allowed me to work in numerous overseas countries, of which I spent 2.5 years in Thailand (work in the security environment).

Question - re: sending your retirement check and direct deposit into the Bangkok Bank account, how does that work as I assumed the only option was to do monthly wire transfers.

Foreigner can't legally buy and own a house in Thailand.

Only option her name.

Disadvantage, she dumps you and keeps the house, which happens to a surprising number of foreigners with long term relationships the moment they move back to Thailand.

If she already owns a house in Thailand, why not live there?

I built my home 10 years ago before I was a Thai Citizen...100% in my name....the land was in my Wifes.

So what is the best method to send money to Thailand (looks like a wire transfer)? And does the Thai govt assess and charges for sending large amounts of money (i.e. $100K USD)?

By no way is Thailand perfect but that's the beauty of Thailand. You can either like the Thai way of doing things or not, but it has a great appeal.

Contrary to the popular phrase, "if it's not broke don't fix it", let the Thai people figure out what's needed based on their culture and style.

I am a proud American but by NO way is America any where close to being perfect; even good. The US has a lot of issues of which we can't handle ourselves; starting at the top.

ACTION: Allow the current Thai military commander to slowly review each sector and make his own assessment of what's needed.

Note --- corrupt prior PM and high Govt officials took down the country over the last past 5-8 years. Allow the process to work it's way without red shirt/yellow shirt influence. Also, I like the media ban as they are half the problem as they are funded by the party who has the largest wallet.

How about mortgage? How small downpayment is possible?

Buying a house on mortgage has been one option we ( I and thai gf, not married yet ) have been considering.

House and everything on her name, also loan on her name. If I stay here I would pay rent anyway.

As was previously mentioned (I'm not wearing blinders), we are in a marriage and am interested in providing a nice home for our family.

So, I'm not interested in renting or maintaining a mortgage.

I like the prior comment of protecting me from her Thai family coming after our house in the event she passes before me.

One thing I have learned about the Thai family (most Thai families) is just because they are close doesn't mean they have each others best interest. If they can take advantage of a farang, more the better.

Respectively, I would recommend Jomtien Beach area.

As a US Expat, I stayed there for approx. 5-years and still go back there.

Great food/local resturants. Walking distance to the beach. Local songtail's are available for transportation to go to Pattaya, if desired.

Numerous local shops

Jomtien Beach residence includes a lot of Thai's and European long term visitors.

It doesn't have any of the Pattaya party goers but does have some bars and night entertainment. if desired.

I run on the beach daily and never any problems.

Re: the comment on "registering our marriage in Thailand". Why is this an issue or a concern as we thought it would be best for her to keep her Thai name?

Thanks for your reply ---

The house she currently owns is located in a 100% Thai village (no falangs). My retirement preference, which she is good with, is to have a 2nd house closer to the beach near an Expat community.

You are correct a Foreigner can't buy a house but isn't there a process where she would be a 51% owner and I would be a 49% owner through a legal arrangement?

Note - re: she dumping me once we return to Thailand. As in any marriage, either party could decide they need to separate from the other.

I (we) will be retiring in 2-years to Thailand with my Thai National wife of 5-years.

We are considering purchasing a house in Thailand and am wondering if I should purchase it in both of our names versus to purchase the house only on my wife's name.

Advantage of both names --- so I can show for Thai Immigration purposes my financial contribution to the house (approx. $6M Baht) in support of my claim for a retirement VISA.

Advantage of only my wife's name --- probably cheaper and less complicated to take advantage of Thai National financial benefits.

Note - I am a US citizen and my wife is a Thai National and currently working on her US Citizenship (she will be a duel national both Thai & US). I previously worked in Thailand for 3-years as a US Govt employee. We were legally married in the US/never filed marriage documentation at a Thai Ampur office. My wife has not changed her Thai National status (from a Thai National to a US) thinking when we annually travel back to Thailand and retire, she will have full Thai benefits (i.e. medical, immigration,...). She has two Thai National boys from a prior marriage (6 & 8 years old). She also has a house in her name 1-hour north of Bangkok.

Question: should we purchase our Thai retirement house in only her name versus both our names? Please cite advantages/disadvantages of both.