DUS

20 minutes ago, kmw said:

Hi all, just wanted to give an update, I was successful with my third metv back to back, you might remember on my seccond metv I got a bit grilled at suvarnabhumi, this time I decided to fly onto Chiang mai so immigration was at the transit area at suvarnabhumi, the officer didn't even blink an eye and I stamped in, I had the 20k thb with me as well, just in case

 

Will try again for a 4metv back to back in 9 months time, I really think I might be pushing my luck though 

Thanks for the follow-up!

I hope you won't  encounter any issues when you do your bi-monthly runs using this latest METV. Can imagine it will continue to be squeaky bum time whenever you get back into the country given the latest reports of denied entries.

Would be great to hear your experience if and when you use your 4th back to back METV next year! 

In any case, good luck and enjoy your stay!

Can I please piggyback on this thread with the following question:

My first ever 90 days report is (likely) to be this September. Does the first report have to be in person (doing mine at CW) or can even the first one be done by post?

2 minutes ago, CaptHaddock said:

Good luck with that.  Mr. Bannork's no doubt well-meaning comments are gibberish. 

 

You are a jolly fella. I like that ... 

50 minutes ago, CaptHaddock said:

To the OP,

 

Since you don't mention a teacher, I gather that you have been teaching yourself Thai.  If so, why did you believe that you could learn Thai by yourself?  Had you ever taught yourself a foreign language successfully?  Do you speak any language other than English fluently?  Had you met other foreigners in Thailand who became fluent in Thai on their own?  I am guessing the answer to all of these questions is a resounding "no."

 

Thanks for your feedback even though you are mistaken to believe that I have been only self-teaching and/or that I don't speak other languages fluently. 

Will certainly try working with bannork's tip and see if that helps.

Hi,

I struggle badly with pronouncing the high tone correctly. Depending on the word I  seem to regularly pronounce it as a rising tone. Even if I focus 100x on getting one word/syllable right the Thai speaker always says I am pronouncing it wrong (as a rising tone). Very frustrating! 

Example:

ค้า.

Despite my best effort I am told I pronounce it as ขา.

Now, I know that "in theory" the high tone starts at a higher than your normal pitch and then goes even a little bit higher from there. In a sense, as I see it, it actually rises in its pitch level. But, as I said, even when trying to get it right 100 times with a native Thai speaker next to me, I always get it wrong.

So, after a long time trying to learn the language I am about to give up. But in a last ditch attempt to save the 1 year already invested in learning Thai (obviously with minimal success) I thought I ask here. Maybe those of you who've mastered the language can give me some tips on what I could try to get over my issue with the high tone.

Cheers

DUS

2 minutes ago, chilli42 said:

... or if you beleive there is a reasonable chance that the worst case scenario is will materialize.

I like your optimism that you, in terms of your own investment decisions, have ruled out a "worst case scenario". It of course depends on how you define such a scenario (be it WW III or "just" a major financial crisis and disappearing trust in fiat money) but ok, as I said, I like your optimistic attitude and view on the state of world and financial affairs. ;-)))

It is my understanding that if you apply for a second extension it will be declined but you´ll be given another 7 days before you have to leave the country.

4 minutes ago, nasanews said:

So one can fly in the morning and come back late in the afternoon.   Correct?

Well, you could.... as long as you don´t need to get a new visa at the embassy.... which will require an overnight stay

Hehe, Brunolem, almost idential thoughts and write-ups. :-)

I just bought another 5 baht bar at my local dealer. 

I don´t consider gold as an investment, it´s a kind of life insurance. That said, it is a bit "pervers" since with life (fire etc.) insurances you hope you´ll never need or use it because it means something bad happened. LOL.

In terms of gold as an insurance, I see it as "if the big sh$t hits the fan" I HOPE that holding a substantial amount of your total net worth in physical (!!!!) gold outside the banking system increases your chance of (financial) survival. That´s MY reason for holding physical gold. In terms of investment and speculation I also do hold gold ETFs and shares of mining companies in my portfolio. But holding physical gold and owning ETFs and shares in mining companies are 2 completely different approaches/philosophies.

4 hours ago, Warren6 said:

Anyways I'd be interested to hear back from anyone regarding their payment process and how that went, especially those who purchased the Elite Easy Access package

 

Thanks again

Once you get approved you will receive a letter with the bank details. I transferred the money in the morning, emailed a scan of the payment slip to my sales contact at TE and a few hours later I received confirmation that they received the money and that was it. A few days later you'll get the welcome letter and with the membership number you can then arrange your meeting at CW. 

Very simple process.

If you fly into Bangkok I would make the transfer in advance so that you can inform them about your arrival. They will pick you up when you get off the plan, take you to immigration and have your visa affixed then and there. You will then also have the free transfer into town. 

Yes, but why paying money for external speakers when the Flow already offers very decent sound? Especially given the usage for "talk radio" only, I´d personally see no advantage at all of "binning" the Flow and to pay for BT speakers instead. But, yes, this is "imho" only.

Made me smile to read that you´re actually a LBC listener, as well. Love that station despite there´s hardly a day when either callers or one of the presenters don´t wind me up...... But it´s been much better since Katie Hopkins had to leave the station. But, ok, this thread isn´t about politcs so I better stop here... ;-)))

20 hours ago, stubuzz said:

Ok. I found it.  Select fund transfer ( at the top of the page) then manage account.

Thanks! Had always wondered where this "delete funtion" was hiding! Finally got rid of a listed account that had been an eye-sore to me for a looong time. ;-))

I have the Evoke Flow and wouldn´t want to trade it in for anything else that´s currently on the market. Why do you want to replace it? Just because it is a few years old or because you are missing features that you´d expect from a new device? 

I am just curious since you don´t have to "justify" your desire to replace the Evoke, of course!

I was surprised to read their comment about holding ISAs and quickly checked on .gov.uk. Here is what it says for those having ISAs when moving/living abroad:

However, you can keep your ISA open and you’ll still get UK tax relief on money and investments held in it.

That is what I thought the legal position was and I am very pleased it is like this.

45 minutes ago, somethingnice said:

I'm here on a METV

First entry will expire by the end of July

 

 

I found cheap round-trip ticket with Vietnam Airlines to Ho Chi Mint the same say (out in the morning, back in afternoon) for 2000 baht.

Will that be a problem to go out and back on the same day?

Suvarnabhumi --> Ho Chi Mint --> Stamp in / Stamp out in Vietnam --  Ho Chi Mint --> Suvarnabhumi

 

Then activate the 2nd entry on 60 days METV?

(Its a fresh passport, with only 2 visa exempt and 1 entry on METV)

Same day returns have been done regularly without any issues when returning to BKK/DMK. You will be fine....

Thanks for the update!

I just confirmed my appointment for 22 June. Looking forward to getting the visa affixed.

22 minutes ago, Gilles7733 said:

If we stay only one night in KUL then flight back to Thailand, can we get the 1 month visa exempt entry?

If you qualify for the visa exempt entry then you would indeed get another 1 month visa exempt entry (even if you flew straight back home from KUL the same day you left TH). That is of course, unless you have already numerous back to back visa exempt entries which *might* result in questions being asked by the IO etc. 

2 minutes ago, ronnieadurante said:

Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk
 

Sell your phone and pay the fine..... 

Just now, jeab1980 said:

Troll  post. Without av doubt. 

Of course he is! 

23 minutes ago, snowflake said:

I have over the last year lived here on a 60 day tourist visa, and let me tell you that there are costs with going out all the time. I do not work here and I am to young for a retirement visa.  I know that next year, in January I will severely look into the whole 5 year visa. I spend the better part of 6 months a year here, but just the hassle to deal with the local immigration is just worth it.

If I can also have a bank account and get a proper DL I am all set.

500000 is a lot of money, but over a period of 5 years it is not! Every time I go to Penang I spend at least 20000, yes, I don't have to spend it, but when I travel I like to do so with comfort...

nice hotel, 4 days, good food, entertainment, shopping for myself, the woman in my life, our baby boy and 11 year old daughter... it all adds up... plus the whole trip it self...  No, I am aiming for the whole Elite 5 year visa, makes it simpler and I might stay here more than 6 months a year then, if I manage to get some sort of WP on that visa....

 

You cannot have a WP with the TE visa and you wouldn´t need TE if you have a job anyway.

But the other reasons for TE that you are giving in your post are valid. I spent the last year here on TRs and I spend roughly 60,000 just for the trips. Plus the time! So the difference to the 100k it costs per year (for the 5 year version) becomes "very" small especially if you take into consideration the convenience and "piece of mind" that comes with the TE visa.

Just now, newatthis said:

Speak of the devil, it just arrived.

1 minute ago, anotheruser said:

Agreed. If you are going to use them to help open a bank account I would keep this in mind. I would be telling them now I intend to open an account and to schedule an appointment. If you don't need one fair enough but just friendly advice if you do. 

Cheers! Luckily, I´ve got 2 accounts already so will not rely on them to open another one anytime soon.