vivasamui

I'm against feudal class systems (Brit or Thai), so I just wave & smile to Thais before or after they wai me. That way I don't have to worry if some "pu yai" is going to be insulted by where my palms are positioned. I'm also older than most of the Thais I meet, so in most cases I'm the respected one (who pays the bills, too)

A former girlfriend told me just to wai her mom, but shake hands with her uncles because I'm a farang and they don't expect me to know how to wai. Sounded like good advice. I agree with all the comments about cringing when I see foreigners happily wai-ing children, servants, waiters, bar girls etc...

I wonder how the foreign waitstaff at Hooters Pattaya managed to secure work permits if being a tour guide is reserved for Thais; surely bar staff is a protected occupation no?

Hooters couldn't find Thai women with the right qualifications

What does your Sales and Purchase Agreement (S&PA) state? Mine for a condo purchased off-plan stated that final payment was due at registration (at the land office). I went to the land office with a cashier's check and left with a chanote unit title deed, and house registration blue book (tabian bahn). I certainly wouldn't have paid the final payment before going to the land office and receiving documentation of ownership. That's how the Sales and Purchase Agreement that we signed was written.

Regarding taxes due, again, that should be addressed in your S&PA. In my case, I didn't actually pay any taxes. According to the S&PA we were supposed to share the transfer registration fee equally between seller and buyer, but shortly before going to the Land Office the Thai government in an attempt to encourage real estate dropped this fee from 2% of assessed value to 0.1%. So it ended up being such a minuscule amount (couple hundred Baht) that the seller just paid the whole transfer registration fee. In my case the seller ended up paying all the other fees/taxes (1% withholding tax and 3.3% specific business tax). The first draft of my S&PA had all these fees/taxes being shared equally between buyer and seller. I asked it to be amended that only the transfer registration fee would be shared equally, all other fees/taxes would be borne by the seller. I was led to believe this is a typical and customary sharing of the fees/taxes due on registration in Thailand from Rodney Waller's "Buying Property in Thailand: 8 Steps to Success," which can be purchased at any Asia Books store in Thailand.

Finally, just have to add that I had a good chuckle when someone above called an off-plan purchase an off-plane purchase. I'm sure some who do purchase off-plan are indeed just off the plane.

Williamgeorge, read the post by skatewash. Twice. You should make final payment at Land Office and receive title, blue book, and sales/transfer documentation at the same time. The Land Office clerk writes your name into their record book. Is Pattaya or Bangkok different?

I'm amazed people are willing to part with millions of baht to buy property in Thailand without doing basic research. Waller's book will cost you 1000 baht!

I recommend that you read Rodney Waller's book "Buying Property in Thailand" It will have answers to all your questions, and others that you haven't thought of!

So I am not the only one confused.

Savannakhet sounds indeed like you want to apply for a new Non O visa.

Extensions are a completely different matter and done at the Thai immigration office for your place of stay.

And what does actually expire?

I guess the visa has already expired (ENTER BEFORE date) and you refer to the ADMITTED UNTIL stamp from your last entry to Thailand.

Please clarify.

There are different possibilities depending on your answer.

One probably being an extension (!) of your current stay for 60 days based on marriage.

Indeed, you are right, the visa has expired and I refer to the Admitted until.

I have not made an extension because I am not aware this is possible on this type of visa.

All I know is that I need to apply for a new 1 year multiple entry non imm-o visa but my passport expires 10 months from now.

You can extend your type of "Visa" at Immigration in Thailand.

60 days with no financials. That might give you time until your new passport arrives.

You can also extend by 12 months if you have 400,000 Baht in the bank or 40,000 Baht monthly income.

With your current passport you would only get 10 months.

Once you have your new visa in your old passport, you take your old and new passports back to immigration and apply to transfer your visa to your new passport.

Doe's really nobody have a health / travel insurance here? I'm really the only one?

Their travel insurance will probably reject their claim because the old lady started the fight by slapping the thai guy, after the drunken son fell on his face when pushed in back.

what's the difference between blue book and yellow book?

I own my condo and have blue book and chanote in my name. Do I still need yellow book?

If you have SCB acct and access to EasyNet, their online banking system, you could possibly open an online trading account with EasyStock?

You have to see your branch manager.

It begs to wonder how long it took before the parents or grandparents ever thought about where this poor child was. What a waste of life mostly due to poor parental guidance and supervision. If this was in my country those people responsible for this child would be imprisoned. Unfortunately here, nothing will happen.

could well be a tragic accident , seems they didn't leave her in the car unlike the following death in Australia -- say's she forgot her.

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/video/mother-faces-court-for-leaving-child-in-locked-car/vi-BBrjY6C?ocid=spartanntp

And slightly off topic but I would like to know why 90% of the incidents involving kids in cars, whether it be in sunshine or left unattended while parents are in gambling rooms, are Asian-Australians. Chinese and Vietnamese mostly. Normally very diligent and caring parents but some seem to have a brain snap when it comes to this issue.

Where do you get your "90%" figure?

Does the Aussie woman in the news clip look Asian to you??

The money transfer should be your last step. The information from angy, walker, and suradit is correct.

Take your time looking at various properties first. Do your due diligence.

I recommend a book by Rodney Waller, "Buying Property in Thailand, which also has information on how to make a proper funds transfer.

Haha. Sorry, I will limit my comments to questions about Retirement visas.

Didn't know there were other "non O" visas

Why are you all of a sudden using a consultant when you had no problem doing the extension yourself previously??

I extend my visa the way you did before. The only proof of residence they need is a Google map lf your current address!

What is this "non O"?

I have a non-resident O visa that I can extend yearly for another year at the local immigration office on Samui without leaving the country.

I've extended my "retirement " O visa at the local immigration office in Nathon, Koh Samui, 3 times in the last 3 years already. 1900 baht. Plus extra fee for single or multiple re-entry permits. No need to leave the country, but you need to report every 90 days. Simple, fast and efficient. The staff recognize me already, and I joke around with them in Thai.

Assuming you are retired, over 50 years old, have pension or other income or meet savings requirements (800,000 baht), all you need to show the immigration officer is a letter from your bank and your updated bank statement that proves your income/savings, along with your passport that has the O visa from the embassy. Be polite and dress appropriately for a visit to a government office.

I am not familiar with other categories of non-resident O visas.

you should be able to get 1 year extension (report every 90 days, but don't need to leave country) at local immigration office with your O visa.

that's what I do on Samui

Use ATM machine and your Aussie bank card. Get your bank to pre-approve A$1-2k daily withdrawals, or more if necessary for your wife's cosmetic surgery.

This is safer and more convenient than carrying a lot of cash.

Do Thai guys do construction work? Thought that was reserved for Burmese?

The guy confessed to 4 other attacks and this is the first time we've heard about similar attacks?? Oh, that might drive away tourists...

Yes, stupid Russian woman should know better than to wander around quiet areas in Thailand (or Mexico, or anywhere) late at night. And definitely no making out on the beach in Koh Tao with your boyfriend...

​Most readers here seem to assume that at 79 and disabled, your life is not worth living. If you have an elderly neighbor who has suicidal thoughts, why don't you take a few minutes from your "busy" life in Thailand and find out what's troubling him. Ask if he has any close relatives or friends he can talk to. Surely someone will miss this poor old guy and be saddened by his death.

Could any sugar cane farmers please tell me how the drought is affecting your crop this year?

Has this year's (2015/16) main harvest and crush started? I heard the total tonnage is down? What about the sugar content?

Thank you!

Thank you for posting.

Hi Canada, how is the drought affecting your cane harvest this season 2015/16? How about the other cane growers in the region (North, Northeast)?

What month does the harvest and crush usually start? How about this year 2016?

Thank you for the progress report, and good luck!