richard_smith237

+1 Another poster in this thread mentioned that they were able to use their Yellow House Book as proof of address and still have their Passport Number on their Driving License because they didn't want the ambiguity of the 'Restrictions of use comment on the back of the license.

You'll need a Certificate of Address... and may be able to get one from Immigration, but usually need to have submitted a 90 day report (after being in country for 90 days). Thus... It may be possible to register your address with your local Amphur and obtain a Certificate of Residence that way... This popped up on another thread which heavily debated the usefulness of similar documentation (Yellow House Book) which can be used as proof of address at most DLT centres.

And you'd be wrong... Why would you make a complete guess at my Visa status just to try and disprove my facts... very silly of you... I'm on a Thai Elite Visa.... so nothing to do with a Non-O extension etc... and opening the account was nothing to do with the Elite Visa either, I could have been on a tourist visa for all it mattered... what did matter was the proof of address and the Yellow House Book served as exactly that... (no need to try and get proof of address from else where).... ... and as the accounts are opened with the Yellow House Book, the Pink ID serves as valid ID when I need to execute a 'counter transaction' and I don't have a passport with me.... (as I don't cary my passport around with me unless absolutely essential) Clearly you haven't 'cos you couldn't even get the right visa.... just a flawed assumption of yours. Erm... you are guessing and have no idea of that (neither do I though to be fair)... But Kasikorn accepted the Yellow Book 6 months ago without any issue whatsoever, so there is no reason to expect any other bank wouldn't. I'm curious though - what makes you think a Yellow House Book could not be used (would not cut it) to open a Bangkok Bank account today ??... anything other than just your opinion ? Well, usually you provide useful and pertinent information on visas... but on this subject we have clearly found your wading depth.... Pink Card alone never did... but the Yellow House Book and Pink ID did 'cut it'... Theres no reason to expect that it wont next time (I'm not in Pattaya where its not accepted). Any reports of people having their Yellow House Book rejected at the DLT in Bangkok ??? Or again, is that just your opinion ? I'll find out in 20 months. Then why bother entering the discussion in the first place.. You could go on, but you'll be shown to be wrong.

Thats been in discussion numerous times... with announcements that they are implementing a tax... Numerous announcements of such last year... But, as always, the announcements jump the gun and the practicalities are not considered, the 'plan' falls by the wayside. IMO - something like this could be implemented. - Travel insurance is included in the cost of a Visa. - Visa Exempt Entires pay a nominal insurance fee upon entry. - Visa on entry pays a nominal insurance fee upon entry. Enforced existing law that 'any hospital' (nearest) treats emergency cases (for at least 72 hrs or until moving them to a government facility is not threatening to life) - if they can't be moved the 'government insurance' (paid for on arrival covers this). Those who have their own medical insurance can of course be transfer to or stay at their private medical facility of choice etc etc... The issue as always... is the money... who gets it ??? nothing is done or improved here without someone getting their cut.

Nope.. no one is arguing that.... I think thats what some people project... They seem to project that those who have the Pink ID card and Yellow House Book feel they are somehow elevated about other Westerners here, more integrated or special etc... and that gets up their nose... BUT, thats just an imagined projection, a construct and nothing more. Which is great... and I'm sure you have an easy means to get a CoR too ... come DL renewal time Chonburi DLT doesn't accept the Yellow Book either, so the Yellow House Book is not useful for you in that aspect either.... But, because those in your sitation and location would not see any additional convenience to having a Yellow House Book and Pink ID it does not mean nationwide other Westener's wouldn't... ...as such your sweeping generalisation that 'the Pink ID (and Yellow House book) has only ever been a nice to have' is flawed... ...... for some people they're handy documents to have... for others they're not worth the effort it takes to get them.

No one has mentioned anything of 'exclusivity' except you... is that a projection of what you think those who have the Pink ID card think ?... you think that 'we think we are in an exclusive group'... if so, I can see why the projections of some have led to this objection and opinion of the card... but they are basing their bias on flawed imagination. I agree... if you want one get one, if you don't, then don't - but people have posted misinformation which is misleading. I see it as correcting the negative comments where peoples have said its worthless - it was worth it to some of us who have it. I've had the card for perhaps 8 years or so (can't remember exactly)... After the initial leg work, the Yellow House book and Pink ID have made some aspects more convenient... 'Helped' well, they've saved me a little time and money... For example... I can't get a Letter of Address from immigration as I never do a 90 day report (travel too much), and in Bangkok we need to have submitted a 90 day report before we can get that letter of address. The UK Embassy no longer provide the Affirmation of residence document. It is the Yellow House Book which has enabled me to get my driving licence renewed (at Bangkok DLT) without hoop jumping. Worked for me last time, and others. We'll see if it still works in 20 months when I have to renew, otherwise I'm in a bit of a sticky spot. That said, someone mentioned its possible to get a Letter of Address from our Amphur office - I didn't know that... so that is just one example of something I have learned from this thread. I used an example of when my Passport was in an Embassy for Visa purposes... I used my Pink ID to travel with. Its likely my DL would have been accepted though, who knows... But a Pink ID certainly was. I opened a Kasikorn account less than 6 months ago with a Yellow Book.... I opened a Bangkok Bank Account about 5 years ago with a Yellow Book... Not one mention of required for a CoR... so your 'won't even justify that nonsense comment' is well... just nonsense. I can carry out 'over the counter transactions' using the Pink ID ( no need to carry around the Passport when I go to a Bank ). I can't speak for you... You firmly believe you don't 'need' it... and I'd agree - no one 'needs it'... I don't 'need' it [Pink ID or Yellow Housebook] either... but thats where main debating point of this thread keeps popping up... Its people with a low reading comprehension who keep using words like 'need' and 'necessity'... No one is arguing that the Pink ID is needed or necessary.... Both the Pink ID and Yellow House book simply add a layer of convenience that makes them worth while having (in my Opinion) and I've provide example of that throughout the thread. IF you don't think they'd offer any convenience for you, thats fine... The 'debate' from my side has been targeting those who are spreading misinformation that they are useless.

Gym work as a trainer - my guess is you'll be lucky to pull in 50,000 baht per month, perhaps more at higher end Gyms. The Gyms my Wife goes to have Western Trainers (or at least they look Western - its possible they are are half Thai). Private trainer would make you more money, but then you'd have 'working in Thailand' issues. I'd hazard a guess and suggest that keeping your 'online clients' happy is a better earner than working locally. If one of you does get work-permitted work and the other doesn't.. then 'it is what it is' and I wouldn't worry about it, its just one visa issue out of the way. Obviously you need to do a lot more research, which I guess is what you are doing here...

I missed the bit in the OP's post where he states that he wants to study..... Assuming the Op is under 50. Its still a viable option and could give them a year... Learn some Thai, immerse themselves in the culture they enjoy so much. There's nothing wrong with that IMO... As long as possible is a little vague - 10 years... or does the Op mean a year, or 6 months even... ? If less than a year... DrJack's option is the most viable and cheapest option. If looking longer term... 5 years etc, the Thai Elite becomes the viable option, but far more expensive at 600,000 baht.

The driver of the car could have driven off and de-escalated... Why didn't they ???? Didn't want to de-escalate, didn't feel they needed to because they had a gun ? We're two men worried for the safety of the daughter and needed to press on ? Was the driver of the car even the father of the girls (Ann) or someone else who just claimed to be the father ? Was the Boy protecting the girl from her father or guy who said he as the father ? etc etc..

So you agree that he was sitting in a car and not in any danger to his life? No, I do not agree, he had the right to defend himself if he felt that his life was in danger. I agree with the right to defend himself... ... But, he was sat inside a car and had a gun... it does not seem that there was immediate danger to life or limb. The reports could be missing something or course and that the boy had smashed in the windows of the car and was about to stab the policeman when the shot was fired in self defence... but the story doesn't quite read like that. Was the Policeman a little trigger happy ?... perhaps... Did the boy have it coming... perhaps... just too many scenarios none of which are closed out because of the shoddy reporting.

Its been a well contested debate.... Interesting to see the opinion of the 'other side' and also some of the spin off discussion from which there are learnings to be had. Thankfully an initial troll disappeared after everyone just started ignoring him. In 6 months time we can re-hash it all out again !!!... No hard feelings, particularly to Neeranam with whom I personally have debated (argued) mostly with in this thread - nothing personal at all, I'd buy him a beer if I saw him...

You'll need to read through the thread for testimonials of the usefulness and convenience of the pink card. Some members seem to use it fairly often. I used mine to check into a hotel last month, and for a hsp visit this month, as I have Thai SS. Other members have nothing not absolutely necessary, as they simply eat, sleep, and defecate. If that's you, you'll definitely not want a pink card. Further, the process of getting one is also so hellish that the thought of it forces many members to tremble and soil their knickers, or diapers. So they troll every pink card thread to whinge and sour grapes and boast and falsely claim people are somehow criminally suggesting they themselves need pink cards--even though such threads have nothing to do with them. To be fair, I think he may have, as his initial tune was a throwaway comment... 'Just a novelty item'.... 'worthless'... so I suspect he's read the comments and has grudgingly accepted that some people have found the card, and particularly the Yellow House Book, useful and convenient. I think some who've made the negative comments suggesting the card is useless have done so without understanding that it could be of value to others and have instead doubled down on their generalisations.

Richard, forum rules require you to post a link to factual statements such as yours! Do you have a link, please? There... 5 seconds... https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30365540 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1311335/thailand-market-value-of-medical-tourism/

Very easy to dig out... with a quick google search..

That depends what you believe of the story... Was he [The Policeman] there with his friend, who was the father of Ann ?... Was Ann being mistreated and needed help from her father and a Policeman ?... or nothing like that at all... A lot of unknowns here... too many to start claiming one or the other instigated the confrontation - its just a very poorly written report that has us arguing based on some thin assumptions from poor information from a poor translation of what was originally a very poorly written low on info article in Thai.

Yes, way out of his jurisdiction. He was in his car at the time and could of driven away from the confrontation any time he wanted to. He could not have driven off, he was not the driver, he was the passenger in the other man's car. ... and also sat next to the car, as per the report (not that I expect any of this report is accurate at all anyway, other than someone was shot and died and a policeman was involved).

Go to an SCB Branch, complete a form and receive approval by text to mobile and e mail within a few hours. My limit is 2 mio THB but this can be changed on the APP. You miss out some key information there... The NDID service allows us to make 'protected transfers'... If there is fraudulent activity on our account we are still protected... the form you signed waves that protection, so, while you can make large transfers, if there is fraudulent activity on your account you are no longer protected - I refused to sign... The reason for moving the money in the first place was to shift it to Bangkok Bank which does permit NDID for foreigners and hence online transfers remain protected.

Very much so... Far safer to simply log on to their browser that way... I'm not sure what advantage any App on a PC give you unless its running widgets, but as far as I'm aware there is no such official App for a computer. With the Apps the Google Play store and Apple Appstore are safe aa their Apps are checked, on 3rd party websites ?? No.

I just want to point out at this time that the medical burden of tourists on Thailands medical industry (i.e. cost of unpaid bills) is 300,000 Million Baht a year.... which is 1.5% of the income tourists bring to the medical industry which is 24 Billion Baht year. So.. if foreigners stopped coming to Thailand, Thailands medical industry would be 23.7 Billion Baht per year worse off...

I had a couple of MRI's in the past year... For Outpatient stuff (such as imaging etc) - my insurance covers everything, but is self pay and claim back. The MRI at Bumrungrad was smoother... the nursing admin badgered me somewhat for payment, but I told them I wanted to pay in one bill, not 3 separate bills (initial consultation, MRI itself, follow up)... they were ok with that after I'd explained. At Bangkok Hospital (different issue)... they badgered me, I explained my insurance is self pay and claim back etc... I was asked about 5 times by different staff how I'm going to pay - it seemed that was all they cared about and I started to get irritated, they then asked for a deposit with my credit card which I refused and got annoyed... I asked if they were going to do the MRI or should I go else where (not my finest hour by my buttons had be pressed)... I've been registered and have used both hospitals for well over 15 years and have full payment history. It seems more than anything else these private hospitals are primarily concerned with payment, I get that. But when we've explained its self pay and we'll pay directly, have been registered for a long time etc it starts to stretch the meaning of 'care'... (IMO).

The buying the bike part is simple... I think you mean getting the bike registered in your name - which can be awkward for some. You will need the following: 1) Passport (as proof of ID) 2) Proof of Address It is this second part that can prove tricky for some and it depends on your visa situation, location and also your nationality. Options: 1) Get a Certificate of Residence from Immigration. - (n many cases you will have need to submit a 90 day report to get this, but its been reported that in some areas eg as Ching Mai you can get a letter of residence without submitting a 90 day report (hence, your location in Thailand comes into it) - Obviously, if staying more than 90 days, your Visa will need to be a longer term visa (such as Non-Immigrant Visa). OR... 2) Get an Affirmation of Residence Document from your Embassy (this is where your nationality comes into it), as some Embassies have stopped issuing this document, where as others only issue it on long term / resident visa's (this is where your visa type comes into it) 3) Work Permits (IF it shows your address. A lot of the newer work permits no longer show the address). All of the above becomes trickier if you are here on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry stamp, are British etc... then getting the required Affirmation of Address / Certificate of Address document could prove difficult. Thus: Provide your details and you may be able to get more specific assistance with this. - Nationality - Location - Visa Type

I don't believe so at all.. its not perfectly safe at all.. neither riding a motorcycle here as dangerous as some make out... I ride a motorcycle here... and follow my own strict rules... - Never while drinking - Never at night - Never in the rain (unless impossible) - Wear Gear (Full face helmet (or open if very travelling very locally), good gloves, footwear, jacket with back protector) I'm acutely aware that motorcycling is not 'perfectly safe'... we can only minimise the risk as best we can by riding intelligently.... Even riding as safely as possible, we're still safer in the flatbed of a pickup when its driven by a sensible driver. The issue of course then becomes, how well do we trust the driver if we were to be in the flat-bed of a pickup !!...

It obviously wasn't obvious to me. Not many people have a car and a motorcycle. Hence.... the losing marbles and slow on the uptake comment... ... I thought you were just 'thieving urine' actually... (taking the pee)... I just use one, and have done for many years. I was clearly wrong...

What many others do and get away with would be irrelevant to me - I certainly wouldn't want to be accountable for people riding in flat bed of a vehicle I am driving.... ... I have a 100% seatbelt rule in my car... Which of course, I've broken a couple of times when we cram 5 or 7 people into our car when going to a restaurant etc... But... In Bangkok, is there really any need for people to be riding in the flatbed of a pickup when there are so many taxi's and the sky-train. That said..... when considering perspective.. do we over react when we consider the safety of people being in a flat bed but ignore people on a motorcycle - surely being in a pickup-flat bed is a lot safer than being on a motorcycle ?????

Ah, understood... So the 'extra 1500 baht' is something you considered worth it to have them do the extra leg work for you... For Immigration extensions etc.. Yes, we have to be present (for 90 day reports not).