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We have our son's (born in 2002) original Thai language birth certificate from Mukdahan. 

For administrative reasons, we now need an English version of the same and our respective Embassy said that English versions can be obtained from any Amphoe.

Now, I just want to ask if somebody knows/can confirm that:

1.) I can get an English version when presenting the original Thai one

2.) I can get it in any Amphoe (not necessarily the one where it was issued)

?

Thanks for your feedback!

12 hours ago, Yinn said:

Ranong and Phangnga not have McDonald’s.

 

Scoffing about it because it is tasteless.

Wrong

https://goo.gl/maps/LbDV9HkXPn57ASV77

What's the budget? Do you have any Thai/International health insurance in which to include the newborn? Does your wife/the mother of the child?

My experience with a Thai/foreign Child born at a private hospital in Bangkok is great. I was covered with MSH International (Now LUMA) and the maternity was included for my wife (including all pre-natal exams) and it covered the baby from day 1 of birth until around 20 days (no additional premium). Of a 120k Baht bill at "checkout" I had to pay only the diapers. 

Subsequently, I changed insurance companies because the premium for my newborn was outrageous. I have now a European-type family international health insurance for my wife, her son, our daughter and myself with IPD and OPD and a maximum annual coverage of 350k EUR per person. They have paid all of my daughter's checkups and also all immunizations. Don't forget that the costs don't stop at birth. Vaccines and checkups for the first 2 years at a second-tier private hospital in Bangkok ran nearly 80k. 

If you have time to waste with a baby waiting your turn at a government hospital, good luck. Otherwise, a good health insurance is definitely worth it.

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Particularly for a baby, private hospitals  tend to unnecessarily overtreat. I've known them to literally hospitalize for a simple cold. IVs and all.  Private hospitals will also do an unnecessary c-section at delivery, more than 90% of the time.

Yes that's true so you need to be vigilant of this at all times. A common reason why kids are hospitalized in Thailand very quickly is because the health insurance they do have is for IPD only and thus no reimbursement if the kid is not admitted.

We have found our pediatrician at the hospital our daughter was born and after more than 2 years, she knows me fairly well. I will not allow her to prescribe any antibiotics if she cannot prove that the infection is bacterial for instance. Now, she gets it and mostly agrees with my approach, but saying that Thais usually request for antibiotics because it's all they know. 

13 hours ago, Pib said:

In the Makro's I visit here in the Bangkok area their signs say only Citibank (Thailand) cards are accepted....and specifically it might have to be the Citibank Makro credit card.

 

https://www.citibank.co.th/en/credit-cards/credit-card-makro-rewards.htm

 

All Citibank (Thai) cards will work at Makro. I have used both Citi Royal Orchid Plus Select and Citi Prestige cards. 

However, electric appliances can be paid with any credit card at Makro at a separate cashier (at least in the head branch at Bang Kapi). 

I just came back from HomePro and noticed that all extension cords now only come in simple hybrid form (US + Europe) and not full hybrid (US + EU + UK). Also, the price of the cheapest cords has been increased significantly (frankly, it does seem the quality has improved as well). But they all start around 350-400 Baht minimum. That is a big expense for a minimum daily wage worker.

Also, I'm sad to see the full hybrid go as they were incredibly practical in that I never needed to ask myself whether my few UK plugs from Singapore would fit. Now, I need another adapter.

Anybody aware of a recent change in regulation that led to this?

14 hours ago, 2long said:

Some think I'm crazy, but my philosophy is that the faster you go*, the harder you are to hit and the less time you're on the road.

Whenever I state this, people think I've gone mad. But it is the truth. People on motorbikes hesitating to go the proper speed to flow with traffic are at a much greater risk. I constantly see people on motorbikes going incredible slow or not even daring to move into the oncoming traffic at U Turns by accelerating properly so that they are exposed to much greater danger than somebody who uses the full potential of acceleration. Brakes are as essential as acceleration and speed can save your life. 

Fully agreed with this post on "knowing your surroundings" at all times and having a good portion of luck.

1 minute ago, lifeincnx said:

Each month I transfer above the 40K minimum in from the USA to my Bankgok Bank account. Curious as to what immigration required from you to verify? Printed monthly bank statements + bank book and/or a letter from Bangkok Bank as I'm doing my visa by marriage extension next month. Thanks in advance. 

I believe all they required were my bank book, 6 months statement printout. And the last 3 salary slips. A bit different for me as my income is from within Thailand. I also submitted my tax certificate.

3 minutes ago, natway09 said:

How many time I have suggested to stay on  B or retirement in particular if the requirements can be met easily. In your case you admit to not even leaving 400K in a bank account.

Should have left sleeping dogs lie

Why should I leave 400K in a bank account if I can meet their requirements with the salary??

4 minutes ago, Mattd said:

Off topic, however, I am very interested to know what your company's HR department are saying regarding the change back to the extension of stay based on work, after extending last year based on being married to a Thai?

I am in a similar situation, whereby last year I changed from work to my son, this year this is not possible and I need to change back to being based on work and HR are saying it is not possible to do this.

my WP is via the IEAT rules, so same as BOI.

Would appreciate knowing the feedback from your HR.

Why did your HR say it's not possible?

My HR called Chamchuri and they said that if I comply with all the requirements to get an extension based on work then there is no issue to change the reason of extension back to work instead of marriage. This seems logical enough. Assume I divorced but continued to be employed, I would be forced to go that route as well. My advice is to insist with your HR in getting real information. Sometimes they just state facts that come from their reasoning and not from real information.

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

While its your thread that's all fine, but you seem to have different people taking 'care of you' ....."my insurance broker does.." etc

Most average punters esp retired expats do everything themselves. Maybe try life in slow lane. Do an extension at CW or 90 day report. Or visit to obtain certificate of residence etc YOURSELF

Re the Thai pp. Yes efficient but aliens are not obtaining one. So bit side issue. BTW I can renew my pp in au at any post office. 

My insurance broker asks me if he should do the road tax renewal while renewing the first class insurance. Of course, I say yes. It's a free service. I have done it myself at the DLT head office for a motorbike before I started working. Very easy and not more than 10 minutes at the Drive Through Tax booth.

As mentioned, I have been doing my extension at CW last year. Paperwork was all prepared by myself. Never had to do a 90 day report because I leave the country every month. Certificate of residence is also not required since I hold a WP. 

So yes sometimes I choose convenience but I do know and have experienced the reality of it all.

4 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Same applies to renewing your road tax, Thai passports, i.d. cards, land transfer and so on.

While I agree with your post, I have to disagree with the efficiency of Thai road tax renewal (never go there, my insurance broker does everything and it gets done with copies of the blue book/green book he has on file, easy peasy) and Thai passports. The Thai passports office in CW is one of the most efficient government entities I have ever encountered in any country. They are friendly, well staffed and efficient in their work. Completion of a passport takes 1-2 days and is mailed directly to your home. Cost is 1,000 Baht. This is opposed to 2-6 weeks waiting time and 2 trips to the administration in the countries I have passports of.

Another exemplary government entity in Thailand is the PEA. Only great and attentive experiences with them. Very different from PWA.

Just now, ThomasThBKK said:

They aren't.

Same as 90 day reports - they usually just do it on your behalf.

No they don't in my company. I'm in and out of Thailand 1-3 times a month and usually spend every weekend in our house in another province. Our staff has no way of knowing my every movement and hadn't heard about TM.30 since last week as none of our foreign employees has ever been required to produce any TM.30 registration (including the ones having extended their visas and WPs within the last month or so).

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

So OP, for those on extension based on marriage you have to show 400k in Thai bank and then can use it afterwards? Spare a thought for single guys like myself keeping 800k in bank for most of year and I don't have to support wife and kid. And you think you have it tough.

didn't go the 400K route but rather the 40K Baht monthly income route as I normally don't keep my cash in TH. 40K income no problem to justify.

1 minute ago, jackdd said:

Every foreigner who is staying temporarily in Thailand has to be reported with a TM30 by the landlord / possessor if he stays there, doesn't matter where you get your extension, that's the law. Might of course be that one place does not enforce this law, but this might change any time.

I thought so too, but according to news reporting last week and our own information obtained by calling the BOI/large companies hotline, foreigners with extensions from One Stop Service center are exempt from the requirement. 

Question on this:

I have a Non-imm B visa with the latest extension based on marriage. Also a work permit. Total of 4 years.

I have never had to produce a TM30 but understand it might be necessary for my next annual extension due in Oct 2019. Every time I need a "residency certificate" in Thailand for banks or whatever, they are happy with the address mentioned in the WP which is my office address.

Now, for this constellation, can you please confirm that a TM30 form is necessary?

Also, I have never done a 90 day report during the last 4 years I worked in Thailand because I usually go overseas for work at least once every 2 months. So upon returning from overseas next week, should I report a TM30 form to my local Bangkok immigration? And as soon as I leave for more than 24 hours (domestically), upon my return I need to refile it (provided that I stay at a place that will notify the local authorities of my stay)? Is my understanding correct?

Thanks

2 minutes ago, Pib said:

Yeap, big companies like Tesco, 7-11, KFC, Burger King, McDonald's, etc...etc...etc...just love to sell franchises....they can't lose.  The only possible loser is the franchisee who opens a store which doesn't get enough business to stay afloat.

I don't know about the other ones but KFC in Thailand is run by only three franchisee companies (Thai Bev, Central Restaurant and Restaurant Development Co). No small-time business man in that network.

1 hour ago, Chassa said:

Villa Markets in Udon Thani no longer accept direct debits so they've lost me! 

I don't understand this?

They still accept cash, credit cards and VWallet right? What's the problem?

43 minutes ago, kiaora1968 said:

I'm using Line mobile (on DTAC network, but subscription only available online through the Line app). 179 Baht a month, 5GB high speed internet, and unlimited low speed internet, 150 minutes call a month to any network, and unlimited SMS. What I like is that I can decide when I want high speed or low speed internet. Example, when downloading or updating apps, I set the speed to "free" and I'm not using my 5GB high speed allocation. If I want to watch YouTube, I set the speed to "full speed" and use a few mega from the 5GB monthly allocation. Many other plans available (example for 279 Baht you have 20GB full speed and 300 minutes free call a month). Last bonus, if a friend refers you to the program, you get 10 Baht discount every month. And every time you refer a friend, you also get 10 Baht discount every month. So, if you refer 18 friends, you don't pay anything anymore. I'm currently paying 140 Baht a month, only! ???? Oh and by the way, I kept my old number while moving to them...

But DTAC mostly is overloaded and thus slow. I have experiences with DTAC both in Bangkok and upcountry (my wife was with them) and while I had high speed internet and good network with AIS, she was often left without. Now, we’re an all-AIS family.

19 hours ago, bamboozled said:

Do you mean the Honda HRV? I quite like that one but it is so new....not a lot used and the price is more than I want to pay. Has a lovely sturdy stance.

Thank you for your input! The Subaru XC or whatever it is is pretty cool too but I'm getting out of my league on price.

I own both a Honda HR-V and a Mazda 2.

The HR-V is not new, it's been around since late 2014 and there are used ones on the market. Mine will become available next year when we move out of Thailand.

The Mazda 3 is a great looking car and definitely feels premium compared to other cars in Thailand. However, their price is similar to an HR-V when new and equipped, so I don't understand why you'd consider a Mazda 3 but not an HR-V. Others have already said that Hondas will retain their value much more in Thailand.

Now as for versatility between the Mazda 3 and the HR-V, the Honda will win hands down. The magic seats are so useful and by folding the passenger seat back you can fit IKEA full bed cartons in it easily (more than 2m in length). The carrying capacity is almost cubic so more versatile than a hatchback where you lose much more due to the boot door. 

Comfort for rear passengers is also much better in the HR-V. The power delivery from the 1.8 Litre engine in the HR-V is certainly not overwhelming but more than sufficient for Thai roads. I routinely drive long distance and keep the odometer around 150 km/h for extended periods of time. There is still room for overtaking and the engine is designed to clock out around 190-200 km/h which is not doable over here. The Mazda 2's engine is exhausted around 155 km/h on flat roads (petrol engine). The Mazda 3, depending on engine choice, should be equal or better than the HR-V so plenty of power for all situations here.

Transmissions are different though. I have gotten used to the HR-V's CVT and actually quite like it as there is always power when you need it and it distributes linearly. Now you will need to rev it up but I believe that's no problem for the engine. 

For consumption, I am not sure for the Mazda 3 but my Mazda 2 can only take up to E20. The HR-V is full flex-fuel capable and takes anything you throw at him. I mix it up between 95 Gasohol, E20 and even E85 depending on usage and never had an issue. I normally get around 16-17km/l for 95, 14-15 km/l for E20 and 10-12 km/l for E85. It's just a very useful, comfortable and powerful enough car for every day use.

Hope this helps.

1 minute ago, wgdanson said:

From where did you learn such rubbish. I got one for 96 kph last week.

From various police men who told me that they'd pulled me over because I was going more than 120 (which was true). And experience.

I believe you got a ticket for going 96 kph. Where was that? What type of road (2 lane or 4 lane)?

Before declaring my statement as "rubbish", maybe try understanding that different people have different experiences. Besides, I have got no reason nor time to post something that wouldn't be true (at least to me). 

1 minute ago, sir charles IV said:

When buying second hand is there a way to check if finance is owing. In oz we can get that info readily but not sure here.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

Easy: if the seller doesn't have the original blue book, don't buy. If the blue book still has the bank listed as the owner, then it's still in the bank's name. Ownership transfer from bank needs to be done, otherwise I would not consider buying the car.

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Toyota, Mazda, Nissan or Mitsubishi

Why not Honda?