ronthailand

Just thinking about riding a provincial bus since my 'latest' near death experience gives me the hibejeebes....what a nightmare it was riding from Bangkok to Issan. I kid you not the driver shortly after departing the outer limits of Bangkok, put the pedal to the metal. In another hour, nearing the hilly area that starts as Issan the driver continually butted up against any and all traffic that was in the right lane with us at speeds that would have been impossible to avoid an accident of horrendous proportion had he or the other driver in front lost a half second of total concentration.

I still till this day visualize the impact, the pushing of the truck in front off to an angle and therefore causing our bus to skid sideways and eventually rolling over and over and over into who knows what. One thing for sure....the loss of life would have be staggering.

IF ANYONE OF YOU happens to know of someone in authority that could possibly get enacted this suggestion I have, YOU could possibly save MANY LIVES.

My suggestion would be to have a clearly stated sign on every bus (in Thai and English) that reads as having:

(1) a designated identification number (maybe Vehicle Tag) of THE BUS

(2) the emergency 24/7/365 phone number of the company that owns the bus

(3) the highway police EMERGENCY phone number (AND A MESSAGE THAT ALERTS PASSENGERS TO CALL AND REPORT ANY RECKLESS DRIVING...including speeding.

Thanks in advance for any help you or the moderators of this serious discussion can provide.

This is a F.Y.I. advisory for those who qualify for U.S. Social Security Administration Retirement Benefits and wish to make application by telephone. I emailed the SSA (Manila, Philippines) and asked for an online application source to download the necessary forms to apply for retirement benefits and received a return email saying that "SSA Manila was now taking applications for SS retirement benefits via telephone"..they require you submit in an email message to them, your FULL name, Date of Birth, Address and Telephone Number (and if you want direct deposit to your U.S. Bank Account...you can supply (later) your routing and bank account number when making application). They will then phone you to take your application over the phone.

Since I am a few months away from making application I will not be doing this just yet...however, I would be interested in ThaiVisa members experience with the new system should you try it. The "direct" email link for SSA Manila can be found and executed on the U.S. Embassy Bangkok website under the citizens services category....accessing SSA Manila via the embassy website will assure that you have a secure, legitimate link.

Planning a (first) trip to Siem Ream for myself and my Thai family. There will be 5 of us, possibly 7 if the 'monk grandfather and his monk friend' also go with us. We will drive ourselves to Aranyaprathet,, park our truck in what I hope will be a secure location and proceed to make our way to the Cambodia border and forward via Poipet to Siem Reap using the best available transportation for our large group. (??)

Any suggestions for comfortable, clean, reasonably priced hotel/guesthouse accommodations (not necessarily the cheapest)... with a SCENIC view and/or good location for my large group; and "any other travel suggestions" for Siem Ream from your experience will be much appreciated. (is prepayment required and appropriate for reservations...or only a credit card guarantee)??

Also, will my extended Thai family members need Passports or will their Thai National ID Cards be sufficient for the border crossing via land?

Has anyone experienced the Angkor Wat cultural drama show that they perform December-February?...is it worth the 'steep price' of 60-100 $USD per person; and can discounts be found?

I know I have asked a lot....but inquiring minds and thaivisacom members want to know also.

Thank You!

What travel documents are needed for Thai citizens to visit neighboring countries via land crossings? Is a Thailand Passport 'required' for travel to Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos?

Does anyone have any experience or expertise in changing a NON-O Visa (Married to a Thai National) to a NON-O-A (Retirement Visa) within Thailand?

I have had a NON-O Visa (Married to a Thai National) for the last 5 years, of which I have made dual trips to procure each year (1 trip to make the application...the 2nd to get the acceptance stamp)....Now that the immigration offices have changed and the distance is even further than the 175 kilometers I previously traveled (twice for each renewal anniversary date), I am pondering the option of a change to a RETIREMENT VISA as it requires only 1 short visit to the immigration office each year.

It is my understanding that the requirements (printed in Thai and English from my immigration office) state: NEEDED:

1. Application Form TM-7 with one photograph (4x6 cm)

2. Passport and a certified true copy of such.

3. Application Fee of 1900 Baht

4. Account Deposit in a Thailand Bank of not less than 800,000 Baht (for 3 months or longer)

(OR):

Income from Pension/Social Welfare or combination of not less than 65,000 Baht per Month (certified letter of income required from applicants embassy)

(OR)

A combination of Account Deposit and Pension/Social Welfare payment equal 800,000 Baht annually.

Can this change be made within Thailand as opposed to traveling back my home country?

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REQUIRE EVERY BUS TO HAVE POSTED THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE BUS COMPANY, THE HIGHWAY POLICE AND THE ROYAL THAI POLICE, ALONG WITH A MESSAGE THAT PASSENGERS SHOULD INFORM SUCH WHEN A BUS DRIVER IS PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT RISK OR THEY SUSPECT THE BUS MECHANICAL CONDITION IS UNSAFE.

Strictly you are liable for tax on money your earn and bring into Thailand in the same year,

unless the money has already been taxed at source and you country has a

dual tax agreement with Thailand.

For this reason the tax man usually takes no interest in retired foreigners.

Living off savings income is not taxable. Don't ask me why.

That's what I'm talkin' about !!! Anyone else with an uplifting response? Go ahead...make my day!

How much you offer for mine? :-)

Nice to check market value once in a while, especially as it'll be another 20 years or so before we can collect some decent sin sod.

If they have good teeth and are well mannered I can pay 'top baht'...lol

From my (limited) reading on the subject, it is my understanding that only (we) farangs living in Thailand more than 180 days of the year are required to file a tax return......my reading also concludes me to believe that "ONLY MONEY BROUGHT INTO THAILAND IS TAXABLE"....??

I have a pension paid by my former employer; directly deposited into my U.S. bank account, from which I access as needed. I do have a Thai bank account, and make periodic deposits.

Can anyone advise me on what actions are and are not necessary in order to stay in compliance with Thai law concerning personal income given my circumstances as noted above?

Can anyone offer me information as to where my wife and can I adopt a child....preferably a Thai/Farang child? You can email me at [email protected] if you have information. Thank You.