skorts

I have separate Wills in Thailand and the U.K. drawn up by lawyers in each country. The following clauses were included: 1. Thai Will I REVOKE all previous Wills and Testamentary Dispositions. I HEREBY declare that I have another Will made for my properties in the United Kingdom which I declare shall remain in force and will not be revoked by this Will. 2. U.K. Will I revoke all earlier Wills and testamentary except my Will disposing of my assets in Thailand. Both Thai and U.K. lawyers know of the other country’s Wills and have each others contact details so they can notify the other on death

I have been using Medisafe for a few years: https://www.facebook.com/Medisafe.Pharmacy.Rama4 Used to use Bangkok Drug store but Medisafe are cheaper. I checked out a few others and none came close to Medisafe’s prices. They also have excellent customer service. They do a “free” monthly delivery to major cities in Thailand including Pattaya. Next Pattaya monthly run is on Monday 20th November. Highly recommended.

I recently paid ฿44,000 for colonoscopy and gastroscopy at Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai including multiple biopsies. Conscious sedation and I don’t remember a thing about it.

Totally agree. I have been to Kui Buri National Park and whilst I only saw 3 elephants it was a fantastic experience and a really enjoyable trip. We spent the afternoon being driven around in an open-topped truck with a guide and a driver. The guide often got out of the truck and went up observation towers to spot the elephants. We also spent time sat near a lake and watching an elephant come to drink at the lake was really special. Seeing even only one elephant in its natural environment beats seeing dozens in captivity - well it does for me. I have visited several elephant parks in different parts of Thailand so speak from personal experience. Khao Yai National Park would be my choice where I understand they offer a night Safari or a guided walk.

Thank you so much for the link DrJack54 - perfect!

I understand I need to submit a TM18 form plus: 1. Passport plus copy of photo page 2. Copy of visa / current extension of stay 3. Copy of TM6 Departure Card (as I still have a current one) 4. 2 x Passport size photos 5. Copy of my blue book/(condominium title deeds showing my name) 6. Copy of receipt of address notification I have been advised Hua Hin Immigration now require a few days to process the Certificate of Residence. Previously you could get it there and then. Presumably you have to leave your passport with Immigration whilst the Certificate of Residence is being processed?

I have been completing my 90 Day Reports on-line for some time. I own my condo and was registered on the old TM30 web site. I successfully registered for the new TM30 web site. I did not submit a new TM30 at that time as my next 90 Day Report was due in the next couple of weeks. I have subsequently submitted my 90 Day Report on-line and had it approved so it would seem that my TM30 from the old system is still acceptable. For now I am not submitting a new TM30 on the new TM30 web site and will see what Hua Hin Immigration say to me (if anything) when I do my annual extension next month.

Thank you, I have been to that office before for the Certificate of Residence. I heard in the last few weeks that you can no longer get a Certificate of Residence on the spot at Hua Hin Immigration and it now takes a week. Hopefully someone who has obtained one in the last few weeks can confirm.

Thanks for your feedback. How recently did you go? Is it still the same office outside at the main Hua Hin Immigration office?

Is it possible to get a Certificate of Residence at Hua Hin Immigration Bluport on the same day? What is people’s experience of how long it takes?

Thanks GroveHillWanderer - that is excellent feedback!

Hi Sheryl, I am due to get Zostavax in CM on Wednesday. Is is not worth getting?

I was hoping to just get the motorbike licence without taking any tests. Last time I was there for hours for my 5 year car licence renewal just to do the eye test and reflex test. But that was impacted by covid so hopefully it will be quicker if required this time.

I agree. I will go armed with all of my documents and see what they say. I think eye and reflex tests may be required.

I thought so too but as I only did them less than 2 years ago when renewing my 5 year car licence hoping they might waive them.

No problem taking the tests just don’t want to spend hours waiting around if I don’t need to. As you say the tests should be easy prays compared to U.K. bike test.

I am on my second 5 year Thai car driving licence issued by the Pranburi Transport Office and now want to get a motorbike licence. I have a full U.K. motorbike licence shown on my current U.K. drivers licence. Having not been to the U.K. for 4.5 years I cannot get an International Drivers licence. Can I go the the Pranburi Transport Office with my U.K. passport, Thai car driving licence, U.K. driving licence, doctors certificate and Immigration proof of residence and get a motorbike licence without having to take any tests? if anyone knows of an agent who can assist me please let me know. I have always done the licences on my own but think an agent might make this process smoother. Thanks for any help.

I totally agree. I have had a personal medical plan with my international insurer for 8 years after switching on a moratorium from a group/employer plan with them. I considered switching to another insurer recently to lower my premiums (using a broker) but all of the insurers wanted to exclude things that are covered by my current insurer. Biggest lesson I learnt is to find an insurer whilst you are in still in good health and stick with them. If you are in good health you can always look to increase the annual excess which keeps the premium down but still provides cover if something major happens. This can provide significant savings on premiums over the years if you are in good health. As you can select the excess each year it means if something came along during the year which you know needs expensive surgery/treatment but isn’t urgent you could wait until the plan renewal and select a lower excess the following plan year. And at the next plan renewal switch back to a lower excess if all is looking OK.

My U.K. banks allowed me to update my correspondence address on-line. Either by entering the postcode and selecting from a drop down list or entering the address manually. I updated my address across a dozen or so companies and apart from one all were done on-line. There is no proof of address required. Every organisation sent a letter confirming change of address to the new and old address I guess for security reasons to ensure the change of address is genuine.

Happy to help Carrbhoy. I have BTL property in the U.K. too so after 5 years as U.K. Non-resident living in Thailand and five HRMC annual self-assessment submissions as a U.K. Non-resident I am pretty familiar with the process. Likewise, with using U.K. Post Box. Please PM with any questions once you have had the opportunity to review things.

Carrbhoy I was in a similar situation to you becoming a U.K. Non-resident 5 tax years ago. Others have already answered how you are taxed on your U.K/any Thai income. As topt says you cannot use HMRC’s on-line system to file your annual tax return on-line as a UK Non-resident. HMRC list a number of software providers that can help. I have been using TaxCalc for the last 5 years: www.taxcalc.com It is brilliant and makes filing your return so easy. After setting up your details the first year it pre-populates so much of the required information in subsequent years. You can include details of your BTL property using the software. You can also offset the cost of the annual software licence as an expense against your rental property income. You may already be aware but there are different Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rules for UK Non-residents after being U.K. Non-resident for 5 complete tax years. I do my tax return filing myself using TaxCalc software but take advice when needed from the Fry Group who are expat tax specialists: www.thefrygroup.co.uk My contact who I met before becoming U.K. Non-resident is based in the U.K.: Dale Butcher Head of Tax Compliance [email protected] After 4 years of Royal Mail postal re-direction from my U.K. address, and not being able to renew again, I set up an on-line mailing account which gives me a U.K. residential street (not PO Box) address: www.ukpostbox.com I use this as it makes my life easier and I can manage all of my U.K. post on-line. As I am registered with HMRC as U.K. non-resident I have no intention of trying to claim I live in the U.K. when my state pension becomes payable and will advise DWP accordingly - I believe HMRC and DWP’s systems are now linked so the DWP may already know in any case I am U.K. Non-resident. Appreciate that means my state pension will be frozen once payment starts but regardless of how unfair that is I am playing by the rules.

RAM told me they don’t do covid vaccines, same with Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai. You can get the Moderna bivalent vaccine for free (for foreigners with work permit, students or long stay) at The Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital but best check with them before going as their Pfizer bivalent expired on 30th April 2023. person to contact is: [email protected] Vaccination centre is right next to Customer Relations desk on right hand side as you enter main building. Just go to the Customer Relations desk. Open 08:30 a.m. to mid-day on working days. Need to take passport and (any) vaccination certificate. In and out in 30 mins. Fantastic service. Just need to say you want the Moderna bivalent vaccine as they have Pfizer 1st generation (non-bivalent) and LAAB too.

Me and my friends too, very kind, helpful and he won’t be forgotten. . RIP Joe.

I switched on a Moratorium basis from a group policy to an individual policy with the same International insurer several years ago. This is the actual wording in my individual policy exclusions: “No benefit is payable for any investigations and treatment related to XYZ any underlying cause and conditions arising therefrom or associated therewith”. I guess this wording could be used for any medical condition and as Sheryl says the exclusions are far reaching as this wording demonstrates. I have recently tried to switch insurers with the help of a broker but decided to stay put as things covered under my current insurance would be excluded under a new policy. The thing I have learnt is to find a good insurance policy/company while you are still relatively young and healthy as switching as you get older and with pre -existing conditions becomes increasingly difficult.

Firstly, you are correct to assume I actually want a booster and am not one of the many who post things for other reasons these days. Thank you for your very helpful feedback. I contacted The Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital this morning. Seems I have just missed the boat as the Pfizer Bivalent vaccines they had expired on 30 April 2023. They also advised that those Public Hospitals in Chiang Mai that received the Pfizer Bivalent vaccines got them from the same centre and all have the 30 April 2023 expiry date. For those who might be interested, the vaccines currently available from The Chiang Mai Neurological Hospital are: - Moderna Bivalent - Pfizer (generation 1st) - LAAB They are open on official days (08.30-12.00). Just need to take your passport and previous vaccination certification (if any). I will keep an eye out for when the Pfizer Bivalent vaccine returns.