timendres

I think there might be one other thing going on here. The Thai government is getting quite desperate for revenues. They are frantically looking everywhere for potential income (spelled tee aitch e ef tee) To @chiang mai's point, I suspect the potential tsunami of money that would like to escape China is also a concern. Not so much to protect Thai nationals, but to prevent an unsustainable inflation that could jeopardize their banking system. I suspect that the ghosts of the Tom Yum Kung crisis still haunt decision makers here.

Having traded forex for several years now, I can say that, for me, it is a frustrating market to trade. That is actually why I like it. It is quite different from the stock market in significant ways. Most who trade forex use very high leverage, which means you better have an edge and you better have exceptional risk management. Or you will fail for sure. In terms of the exchange rate and how it affects us folks who transfer money into Thailand, I don't think anyone really believes they can predict the market with confidence. I think it is more like the lottery. People enjoy engaging in the process, and, they occasionally "win". What's not to like? It is the folks who make the mistake of assuming that a favorable exchange will remain that way that are most at risk. Folks like me who are on social security need to plan for serious moves down in the exchange rate. The rate will typically "revert" back toward the long term average, but you need to be able to manage those months that you are going to come up short. Best to squirrel away some baht while the rate is in your favor.

I lived in a townhouse in Siripot Niwet on Soi 81. I really enjoyed living there. The Century Mall is quite small, as Bangkok malls go, but it is decent and has a Tops. The very accessible People Park mall, with Gourmet Foods and Wine Connection is also nice. And, of course, the huge Lotus at the BTS station, which is also very convenient. I like that it intersects with OnNut proper, but it does create some crazy traffic at times. Taxis to "the action" were always available and always ran the meter. The exact opposite of getting the return taxi. Street food in the soi is lacking, but I think that is because of all that is available just meters away. There always seemed to be a nice breeze where I lived and it never flooded. (that is not true down the entire soi - we were on higher ground) I guess my only real complaint was that, like so many sois, there was no sidewalk of any sort.

What is going on is "macro economics" with bursts of speculation. If it were predictable, I would be purchasing an ocean-side penthouse. How long will this last? My "bet" would be at least until after the US election. If I was to guess, I would expect it to bottom out in the 31 handle. The chart looks a lot like the 3rd quarter of 2022.

The single re-entry permit specifies nothing. You can use it at any time during the year for any travel outside the Kingdom.

I have rented 2 apartments, 3 townhouses, and my current condo. In every case, I have gotten back all of my deposit. With one exception. My current landlord, from whom I rented my previous townhouse, took 6,000 THB from my 100,000 THB deposit, when I moved from there to here. I felt it was a fair assessment and had no real complaints. All landlords were Thai. All were exceptionally fair and reasonable.

Makes for one scary flight! Would love to know the back story.

I actually did purchase my company from another party. It is a mixed bag. The real risk, in my opinion, is to the purchaser. They inherit the company's financial history. In my case, that was a costly mistake. From the buyer's perspective, a new company, if possible, is always better. For the seller, assuming that the sale is complete and "clean", there should be little risk. However, if there is anything "lurking" in that company, the new owner might try to claw back some of the purchase price. I believe that, if you "cleanse" the company financially, and you remove your ownership 100%, you should be okay. Ideally, bank accounts are closed and re-opened.

If you are a registered company, there is also a process involving the royal gazette (IIRC), where the closure must be posted and a waiting period endured, allowing shareholders time to react. Think about a large company with many shareholders. Those shareholders need notification and time to react to the announcement. Not very applicable to a small company with two shareholders, but the same rules apply regardless. You also need to notify the DBD to unregister the company, and there is a process there. Be sure to close any bank accounts you have before you unregister at the DBD, or you will find it nearly impossible to close those bank accounts after. I timed my closing with the end of the fiscal year. I paid for usual audit, and, I think, another 22,000 THB for the accountant to handle everything mentioned above. That is in Bangkok.

My budget is based on 25 USDTHB. If it breaks that, all bets are off. Until then, happy days.

As @DrJack54 indicated, for your first application, you only need two months of seasoning before applying. However, after that, it will be three months before and after.

I think the exchange rate is one of the most commonly ignored risks of being an expat. I have a budget based on 25 USDTHB - which was the old "peg". I originally felt this was a level never to be seen again in my lifetime. The US Government seems hellbent on proving me wrong...

Holy smokes. That truck disintegrated!

I always wear my amulet when riding in those MiniVans!

If you took me from Thailand to the UK, I would murder you in your sleep.

You will have no problems with the Visa exempt. If you were to use it multiple times in a short period, then they will question why you are not obtaining the marriage extension.

Including simple hemorrhoids.

There are two types of people in this world. Those who can run another human being through a blender, and those who cannot.

The physics and engineering of these cranes is quite extreme. It is impressive that they don't topple more frequently.

I purchased a leather recliner from JAS and I like it a lot. They also have some nice looking sofas. They manufacture here in Thailand. They have a showroom on Ekkamai in Thong Lor, but also others.

Before TH, I was a programmer, mostly on a contract basis, with several brief stints as an employee. Started two companies along the way, both failed. When I came to TH full-time in 2010, I was working remote as a programmer for a firm in the US. Great salary, great work, lasted a few years. I then purchased a software development company in Bangkok. Work permit, Thai salary, decent work, did it for 10 years. Now retired. I have a BSEE that was essentially worthless, other than it being a degree, since I went straight into programming. However, way back then there were very few programmers, and demand was about to go parabolic.

7,000 THB per vaccine. Someone's making bank.

Men age like wine. Women age like milk.

In my experience, it has been the other way around. Doctors from the private hospitals putting in time at government hospitals. A friend was provided a quote and he explained he could not pay. The doctor suggested he go to the government hospital where the same doctor would perform the procedure at a much lower cost.

My WP issued in 2014, like @Ralf001's WP was very "specific". However, someone showed me a more recent WP (cannot remember the issue date or when I saw it, but I think it was after 2019) that did not have all of those specifics. And, if I remember correctly, the change to the law was not "just do anything you wish". I seem to remember that it required approval by your primary employer and some other conditions. But it did allow you to work for someone other than your primary employer. Or work for your primary employer, but at different locations and in different capacities. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can confirm...