richard_smith237

Good... This has being going on long enough. Where I'm not usually of the "hangem high deport em" brigade - in this case he's proven that he just does not want to be a 'sociable' part of the society within which he lives..... The dogs should be forcibly removed.... and yes, as he's not followed up after numerous warnings and regulations he's in breach of the law and should be charged accordingly - if that impacts his visa status (from a legal perspective) so be it - he's proven that he doesn't deserve to be around well meaning nice people...

'without any money' - does that just mean 'cash'... or cash and cards ? Could he have access to a Bank account i.e. take his Bank Card with him ? and if so, can it be tracked if he used it ?

Reading between the lines here it seems the family are living in Phuket and this lad is a 'run-away'... Three weeks is a long time though.. he's a foreign national (assume not a Thai - foreign national) - did he have is passport with him etc ? He could simply be working on an island somewhere etc... Hope he's ok... Pretty wrong to disappear like that so I wonder what was going on at home to drive him again like that - its personal stuff, but definitely missing from the story.

Your ability to sustain a well-mannered discussion is commendable and reflects a respectful approach to dialogue. However, your assertion implies that cults are inherently hostile, particularly toward those who depart, and that this conversation serves as an example of such behaviour. In forming this analysis, you overlook a crucial factor: people tend to have little patience for sheer absurdity. Hostility in discourse often arises from frustration rather than dogmatic allegiance, and this does not render the heliocentric model cult-like in any sense. Ultimately, debating someone who questions the heliocentric model (specific to our solar system) is an exercise in futility, as the argument is inherently asymmetrical. Science is grounded in falsifiable evidence, whereas conspiracy-driven thinking thrives on beliefs that evade falsification. When one side disregards empirical data, logical reasoning inevitably collapses into an unending cycle of denial and misinterpretation.

Never a truer word spoken... You took this part too far....

mio ???.... genius criticism there !!

I'm sure TPC's marketing team are beside themselves at missing out on a critical target demographic !!!!

No, it is not. There are two types of Visa that come with the Thai Elite Membership: a) Longer term and earlier memberships: Give an SE Visa - which is a 5 Year Visa sticker... 90 days is given with each entry which requires another 90 day extension of stay every 90 days (if you have not travelled out of the country). b) Shorter term and (some) later members: Give a PE Visa - which is a 1 Year Visa sticker and is renewable each year until the term of the membership has been completed (in this case 90 day extensions are required, 90 day reports are required). As the agreements with Immigration are an evolving process, a lot of what is provided with each new 'iteration' or promotions / marketing etc varies... Thus, to know exactly what type of Visa Sticker you get and whether or not you would need to extend every 90 days or every year depends on membership at that time of purchase.

Its almost an opposing approach between Government Schools and International Schools... - One is rigidity and conformity, no questions, rote learning. - One is openness, values and encourages open curiosity and individualism, encourages questions. The irony is that the State system has the blue-print for a better education at their fingertips - the obvious answer is they don't care enough... just going through the motions, as many state enterprises all over the world do.

And why do you think this would this be the case? And why is it not the same in international schools? I think this is one of those facets of Thailand that can be dumbed down and simplified as - the state schools are rubbish for the obvious reasons - Money !!... and that impacts the students. In greater detail: The disparity between Thai state schools and International schools comes down to several key factors, including funding, curriculum, teacher quality, class sizes, and management styles - many of the issues / differences can be easily summarised.... Funding & Resources Limited Budget: That state / government schools rely on government funding, which is often stretched thin, leading to outdated textbooks, poor facilities, and low teacher salaries. International Schools Charge High Fees: International schools charge high tuition fees (often 300,000–1,000,000+ THB per year), allowing them to invest in modern facilities, technology, and well-paid teachers. Teacher Quality & Salaries Low Salaries in State Schools: Thai public school teachers earn much lower salaries than teachers in international schools. This affects motivation and leads to high teacher turnover. International Schools Attract the Best Teachers: With better pay and benefits, international schools hire highly qualified teachers, both foreign and Thai. Many teachers in public schools lack English proficiency, while international school teachers are often native speakers or well-trained bilingual educators. Curriculum & Teaching Methods Rote Learning in Thai Schools: The traditional Thai education system still relies heavily on rote memorisation rather than critical thinking and creativity. Modern Approaches in International Schools: International schools use Western curriculums (IB, British, American, etc.), focusing on problem-solving, discussions, and project-based learning. Class Sizes Overcrowding in Public Schools: Many state schools have 40–50+ students per class, making individual attention difficult. Smaller Classes in International Schools: International schools typically have 10–20 students per class, allowing for more personalised learning. Bureaucracy & Corruption Government Red Tape: Thai public schools are controlled by the Ministry of Education, which is known for slow reforms, inefficiency, and excessive bureaucracy. Corruption & Mismanagement: There are cases where education budgets are misallocated or do not reach schools effectively. Parental Involvement & Student Demographics Public School Students Often Come from Low-Income Families: Many Thai state school students lack support at home due to financial struggles or lack of parental education. International Schools Have Privileged Students: Students at international schools usually come from wealthy families who provide extra tutoring, books, and global exposure, giving them an additional advantage. English Proficiency & Global Exposure Weak English Programmes in Thai Schools: Many Thai government schools struggle to provide strong English-language education, while international schools focus on fluent English instruction from a young age. International Schools Offer More Global Opportunities: Students in international schools are often exposed to exchange programmes, overseas trips, and a diverse mix of cultures. For these reasons Thailands growing middle classes are fighting tooth and nail to avoid placing their children in Government schools and sending their children to the best International School they can afford. There are a couple of 'other' Government Schools that do have a decent reputation, but again, corruption is involved... Triam udom suksa school is a well known top-tier government school that has an extremely high application rate... about 10,000 students sit the exam every year for limited places.... But, this school is still nowhere near the standards of the International Schools but is a good pathway to Universities such as Chula and Thammasat. So.... To answer Bobs question: why do Thai students (in Thai schools) not speak - Answer: because they are trained 'not to'....

After fast tracking through the airport etc... The transport is 80 km radius from various International Airports.... Those members who live in Areas such as Pattaya might be able to offer how they go about supplementing the difference.

Its like the fools who feel they have to chip-in when someone advertises their car for 2 Million Baht and they state that the car is just $25,000 in their home country !!!.... They'll never understand the utter irrelevance of their point.

My thought exactly. No country is worth USD 6 million. Is the 'collective forum' not able to get over the mistaken input of a $ symbol and just understand that he's asking 6 Million Baht ??.... Its not that challenging, surely ?

I thought I covered the 'its not for me' nonsense already..... Do you also post in best burger threads about how they're not your think because you are a vegan ?

I'm sure mines bigger.... ... Seriously though, on the similarly of membership, I'm not sure... I know that 30 years transfers on when I transfer mine. I know that another poster selling his Lifetime Membership Last year had it confirmed by Thai Elite that 'Life Time membership' passed along... So... it depends on the contract you have with TPE... The only way to get a firm answer is to e-mail them.

How may more years do you have left? Mine is lifetime... (for my life) ... but upon transfer - 30 years is transfered across.

Within the last 6 months I rejected 1.7 MB to sell on my membership.

Agreed... Its of no value to you and a number of other foreigners here..... Neither is an Aston Martin, a BMW or even a Ford Ranger..... You can argue you are fine getting around in TukTuks and Taxis... or even a Fino.... Recognise that you are part of a full spectrum of beings here, each with different requirements, needs and exceptions.

Someone who uses the services... I now have a free life time Visa.... because I've already used so much Golf, Massage, AOT Transfers, airport fast tracks, and health checkups.... Nope... its not like that at all.. Its like that to you. To those truly interested, its not just about the Visa, but the perks that come with membership to. I don't have to ever prepare a load of Paperwork to submit for my Marriage or Retirement extension.... I simply go to Immigration, give them a card, sing something an its done. The annoyance of course is the frequency which which I have do do this (theoretically 4x per year) though in over 15 years of TE membership I've only had to do this twice as I travel so much.

You mention the obvious as if its some kind of win... Pick one parent, one parent in the world who would not prefer a class size of 15-20 over a class size of 30-40... You present your argument as a virtue-signal, when really its simplistically obvious to the point of being dim....

On the basis of probability they exist in the highest numbers amongst the students in State schools. Of approx. 9.1 million pupils in Englands schools, heres a breakdown... State-funded schools (including grammar schools): 93.6% .... Primary schools: 50.5% (4.6 million) .... Secondary schools: 38.5% (3.5 million) .... Special schools: 1.7% (152,000) Grammar schools (subset of state secondary): 2.1% (188,000) Independent (private) schools: 6.4% (581,400) You have assumed an equal standards across the range - the 'Brightest' prospects exist in those with the best opporinity. For example: Gramma Schools requires an entrance exam (11+) and interviews, and take in the top 5-10% of applicant.... the rest go to State School, or if the parents have money, to a private school were they are afforded continued 'better opportunity'... Thus: the weighting of the 'Brightest Prospects' is by no means proportionately represented equally across the board - its weighted towards the Gramma and Private schools for obvious reasons.

Yes and you could also do it online Ralf is correct.. If you have the 5 year SE Visa thats renewed every 5 years for the rest of your life, then each 'entry' give you 90 days... You need to actually return to Immigration in person and get another 90 day extension. - This is one of (ok the one) flaw of the original memberships. Later memberships (i.e. 5 years) gave a 1 year visa which a member would need to renew every year... And obviously do the 90 day reports (online).

Certainly 6 Million Thai Baht would be closer to a realistic price. The equivalent of what the Op Carries is the Thai Elite Reserve priced at 5 Million Baht and is available by invitation only. - Membership is only 20 years. - Only remaining years can be transfered over.

There's no need to update the Passport number in your Driving License. There has been a thread on this before (last year I think) and the answers all fall on the general consensus of "Farang think too mutt" .... Your existing driving licence still has your Name, DOB, Photo - there is doubt its registered to you. I'm not sure why someone would 'want' to bother switching.

How much (time) transfers across to the other Party ? Also I believe Thai Elite take 10% of the prevailing rate upon transfer. Mine is a Lifetime Membership (same perks)... But only 30 years transfers across. I know some earlier cards transfer lifetime across in which case yours is an excellent deal. The Problem is, a lot of members on here who may not have the money, don't see the value. ... those who may will try and lowball you. I've rejected 2MB a few times when trying to sell mine - its worth more to me than that. Best of luck in getting a genuine offer.