Jonathan Swift

According to what I’ve read thus far, no. But you may have to file a rax return here. But what if you don’t? How would they find out and track you down? That’s what I wonder. Are they motivated to become the FBI/IRS of Thailand? Do they have the resources to wage tax war against non complying low income expats? Or will it be a matter of so long as you don’t attract attention you stay under the radar?

In the US strict privacy laws will prevent any entity from accessing bank or financial information without the accountholder’s express permission.

Best to do letter and bank book same day, they will likely make you show a deposit for the day of your visit. At division 1 they send me downstairs to get it at BKK Bank branch if I didn't get it just before my queue came up. Also, Preferable to get a one year's account statement which you have to order several days in advance. I've had them debate with me about using bank book photocopy pages. If I were you I would accept the likelihood of having to come back the next day. The advantage of division 1 Chaengwatthana is that all bank branches, printers, and photo services are on the first floor and make your time more efficiently spent. What I do is I order my 1 year statement, which they will email to me in 3 days, I highlight all my monthly income transfers in yellow, and I get to immigration at opening time, I get my queue number, then go downstairs to update my passbook and get the account verification letter, then back up to immigration to wait out the queue.

They look the tm30 and tm47 up online if you filed online. Hotels and apartments all file TM30 online now, if you did your TM47 in person you need the receipt.

I believe it was the west who taught the Asians capitalism.

They can do it, there just has to be focus and motivation. I've seen amazing diligence and efficiency on the part of Thai people, yes, even in government agencies. Look at how they handled Covid. Like clockwork, and one of the safest countries in the world right out of the starting gate.

Wonder how they found this? A butt sniffing drug dog?

My gosh! Don't tell me you actually support all this "anti farang" persecution and prejudice? The double standard? [sarcasm not directed at you Mr. X] Well, these drugs can't come from inside Thailand can they? So to the Thai police - keep up the good work!

More anti foreigner persecution! Racism! Wahhhh. So where are all you whiners and complainers now? Did this shut you up? Nope. Because you can't fix stupid. Just remember this next time you want to trot out that "picking on foreigners" refrain.

Prosecute them for defamation. They don't care about the cultures whose pockets they seek to pick. They don't care about anything but enriching themselves.

Go back to sleep caveman. Woke means evolved. The term was coined out of resentment by the narrow minded of the progress of most of us making in the direction of humanity, which forces the rest to confront their ignorance, and they don't like it. The rest of us are growing with the times and recognize and respect women and their legitimate issues. And respecting Thai culture and their ways has nothing to do with woke. You clearly don't get that. Respect for the country and its people. It's not your country, it's theirs. Tinder is a huge corporation which cares nothing of the people pouring money into their pockets, cares nothing about the cultures to whom they are marketing. Go back to Soi Cowboy where you don't have to strain your limited brain and nobody cares about your woke, and you can be as disrespectful and crude as you like to women as long as you're filling the pockets of the ladyboys and bar girls there. Go where you're on equal terms in the sleaze and streets and where women think no more of you than cattle to be milked dry. Better yet, go back to the US and vote for Trump. If you're not from the US I'm sure they'll make you an honorary citizen, you fit right in. Go to your KKK meetings. Parade around with the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers waving your confederate flag and your assault rifles. Chain your women to the stove, keep them barefoot and pregnant, republicans love that. Hope you're not married or have kids to spread your narrow mindedness to. I came here with respect for the culture and thoroughly understand and support these women and all Thai people. The whole world has moved so far ahead of you that you'll never get it or catch up. Maybe that's why you have so much resentment - nobody likes being left behind in the dust 100 years behind the times.

You seem to have trouble reading. "Today, authorities raided and shut down a car rental company in Thalang District, discovering Thai nationals involved in money laundering," You can take night school courses in English and reading comprehension if need be, I recommend it. Meanwhile one thing for sure, Thais are superior to you because you're simply inferior to them, and to everyone else. The "crimes" you accuse them of happen everywhere, including YOUR home country. Quit whining or go back where you came from. It's not your country. Really. If you don't like it, leave. We don't need hypocritical complainers, we don't want to hear it because most of us are quite happy here, we can accept the way things are because we're better off here no matter what the flaws may be.

"Today, authorities raided and shut down a car rental company in Thalang District, discovering Thai nationals involved in money laundering," Wowwwww, Thai nationals being prosecuted. Now what will all the whiners claiming anti farang discrimination have to say about that?

If you came here not knowing how to cross the street I'd say you made the wrong decision. Maybe you should find a nice Thai schoolgirl or boy to hold your hand. And if you consider Thai people to be lowlifes how about looking in the mirror first, because you don't sound like you're much of a prize either. You're the reason why some Thai people don't like farang. In 10 years I've never had a problem crossing, if the driver sees you he's not going to hit you, long as there is stopping distance. You sound pretty clueless and hostile about the culture here. Do you whine about "racism" and the purported double standard as well? You should do us all and yourself a favor and go back to where you came from, people like you don't belong here.

If the license does not specify motorbike it is not valid for motorbike. A very commonly mistaken assumption is that you don't need a specific motorbike license; you do. And it's required that you CARRY the license, do we know if they had their licenses on their person? Also, that quote may be incomplete or out of date. Laws change.

Speaking of "not everyone is a English Spoken Writing person", it sounds like you not only misinterpreted the subtleties of English language in what he intended to be understood, you sound pretty downright rude and nasty as a person. He has a right to express himself, he wasn't rude or nasty, he insulted no one least of all you, and he doesn't deserve your attitude or your remarks. You actually proved him right - you clearly are not on his level. And you proved yourself right in that your lack of English language ability is a handicap when reading commentary written in native English. That's not an insult, it's simply a fact that people are not all equally intelligent. You're the bad guy here, not him. Nothing he said justifies your malicious response. But I won't tell you to shut up, because you like everyone else have the right to express yourself.

Oh, no, you won't see or hear any actual facts or evidence, that's beside the point. Never let the facts get in the way of a loud argument or ignorant statements

Having been ticketed twice in Thailand for no license while on a small rental motorbike I can attest that you need a Thai motorbike license or International license including motorbike. In either case, it's so cheap and easy to get that it's a no brainer. But anyone that doesn't actually know how to ride, including a lot of stupid foreigners here, should not even consider driving without an actual license and having passed the necessary tests

"considering Phuket is an island that is based on tourism and needs the tourist dollar to survive - you would think the locals would be happy about them being there," You reveal your "you'd think they'd be happy to have us" attitude, like they owe you a debt of gratitude just for your being there. That attitude is not welcome here. Maybe it's YOU. Did you consider that maybe they just don't like YOU or some other attitude you display? I don't experience anything of the sort when I go there, and I've been going once a year for 9 years. Covid changed the tone of things, but I don't take any of that personally. I HAVE experienced anti foreigner sentiment in some places, very rarely, but I don't take it as some big injustice. I can understand it on a human level, it happens in every country and has only gotten worse in the west. And your citing of facebook is really meaningless, there are forums for everything from the flat earth society to cannibalism. That said, I suspect your ability to interpret subtle intercultural social interactions is somewhat lacking. But by all means do try, I'll give you credit for that. Just don't presume you will ever really understand Thai culture.

I guess the only reason I read the comments is curiosity as to how many people of actual intelligence and common sense exist here (on Aseannow). The Dunning-Kruger effect: people too stupid to realize how stupid they actually are. People who love making loud noises but otherwise don't care much about what exactly they say. Just another constant drunken verbal brawl to them. So, due credit to you sir, as today's only adult in the room. I daresay I would buy you a pint any time. As to me, even having been here 10 years I don't consider myself credibly well informed enough to have a valid opinion on anything but my own country of origin (which I don't discuss here, see Dunning-Kruger) , and am not very prone to even speculate, although at LEAST I know that it IS speculation.

Your home country is better in what way exactly? Oh, they are better at hiding the corruption from the general public. I guess that counts for something.

I've had similar "made up on the spot" rules happen to me, although not recently, so do not be surprised. They seem at times to like sending people on treasure hunts and wild goose chases. They are relatively free to make up their own rules, after all it's a pretty boring job and that's all the excitement they have. I once had two immigration police officials come to my apartment to physically inspect it. Then it turned out they were two beautiful Thai ladies. When they saw my guitar collection and were surprised I picked up one and played a tune, then it was selfies all around. You could run your situation by a supervisor for clarity, I have several times had the demands and statements of lower officials reversed by superiors. Lastly, I am only speculating, but due to changes in income tax enforcement this may be the result.

And because that's how you got here then it's also why millions of others are here, and the commenter is therefore wrong because you say so based on your own experience of one person? I suggest you take one of those cognitive impairment tests, it appears you do not understand what you are reading.

Right, in that case maybe only 8 times each, depending on the guns used by the cops and how many cops. In actuality (American here) it very much depends on where in the US happens and whether it is a reputable police dept (yes they exist) or some rogue racist dept. More likely though, tased or dog bit if they didn't immediately drop the weapon.

"slapped with five charges". Rather cartoonish choice of words.