lannarebirth

I gad you are happy with you 45 Baht per Euro., a year ago is was over 50 per Euro

A year from now it will be 40. A year after that less.

Adichai>> If you really think the 30baht-scheme has helped the poor or the loans to everyone that wanted it has put the poor in any better position then they where in before, then you better wake up and do it quickly.

It's almost amazing reading this from (semi-) educated expats (and other signups) on this board.

Well those loans did give everyone access to buying cellphones. If only to stare at it at traffic lights. That's got to good for someone.

The Thai Baht isn't just strong against the Aussie Dollar - it is also strong against the British Pound. Am also slightly mystified by this given the political uncertainty however it may well be due to the performance of the basket of currencies to whose performance the Thai Baht is linked combined with the fact that the Thai economy is still expected to grow by about 5% this year.

As for the dip in Hotel bookings - what a shocker Singaporeans being put off visiting Thailand of late - after all those completely unxenophobic campaigns against Singaporean interests - not surprised Singaporeans are voting with their feet.

Lucky

Yeah, I think that's right. Staed growth is about 5%. Unfortunately inflation is about 5.9%. That means negative growth in actuality. I always wonder why investors never get that. The people printing more shares sure do.

The aussie dollar was close to 31 baht in November. It is now 27 baht. I want to return to Thailand in June so I hope it goes up again. Given the political trouble you would think the Baht would drop.

Anyone on this group with banking experience who can shed light on why currencies go up and down so drastically??

If I change $100 aust. and normally get 3000 baht, it is a nasty loss to get only 2700 baht. Mind you, I was in Samui in 1985 and got 15 baht per dollar after it was floated.

I also get seriously pissed when you get slugged for each travellers cheque you change. Before it was a fee for the whole transaction but now it is 15 baht per cheque plus the other charges.

There seems no alternative to banks. Cash is good but risky as it can be lost or stolen. Has anyone noticed how some bank workers will actually try to keep your small change at exchange booths?

Last time I arrived in Phuket early in the morning the girl who worked in the bank was actually behind the taxi stand and was changing money for punters straight off the plane at a much lower rate. At 6am people did not have much choice.

I pulled her up about it as she was offering 27 baht per Aussie dollar when the rate was 30+ at the bank she was supposed to be running. Many people leave their small change as a tip which is fine but when the person just pockets it I ask for it back. Some bank workers even have a cup by the exchange window for this.

The reason for weakness in the Aussie, New Zealand, and coming soon the Canadian currency is linked to what's known as the "Yen Carry Trade". For years now traders have been borrowing Yen (which had been declining)at zero percent interest and investing in the currencies and bonds of nations with weak currencies and higher yields. For a long time it has been a risk free trade. Traders were able to ride the appreciating currency, while also getting a good interest return on the investment. All the while as the Yen was decling, there fore making it a cheaper payback. Now with some stirrings of economic growth in Japan, and what appears to be an end of it's decade plus of deflation, all those trades need to be unwound and the money payed back.

The movement of this money (sdome say TRILLIONS in $USD terms) caused those non major currencies to appreciate higher than they might have otherwise, and they'll likely fall further. More than is normal, while participants hit the exit ramp. BTW, the Thai Baht is not linked to the $USD. I suspect it's strength stems from the Yens resurgence, being a named currency in the Yuan Index

basket, and the fact that the election has not played out yet. Regardless of that outcome I expect weakness. Buy the rumor, sell the news.

"Depends how knowledgeable the lessor or his lawyer are."

The more I learn the more I think this might be important.

If it SAYS the lessor can't do something....well maybe they'll believe they are bound not to do it in law.

The other thing that would seem critical is the choice of "friend" and a look at the "friend's" likely heirs.

In fact couldn't one have a bit of control by asking one's friend to specify an heir to the piece of land that one chooses oneself....it might be a second "friend" rather than a family member one might not even know.

Another thing to be aware of....

(ps this is Sleepyjohn logged in on a friend's computer)

The rules, available on immigration web site:

Conditions for permission

The foreign national must permanently possess the investment. If he wishes to change the kind of investment, he first has to ask for permission to change the kind of investment and may tghen change to a new permanent kind of investment.

So yes, you are probably not making any points with the immigration folks who have set this up to help those who are serious about an option below the age of 50.

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lopburi3,

Thank you for your comments and I believe you are likely right. Could you share the link to that passage of the immigration regulations with me please? Also, can you offer a suggestion of what I might do, short of tieing up all that money again and then getting a non immigration visa later> A friend of mine told me he received a non immigration visa simply by stating that he wanted to retire in Thailand and needed it first. Any possibility of pulling that off? Thanks for any insights you or others can offer.

Good evening. I'm a retired American citizen 48 years and 4 months of age, living here in Thailand. I initially came here 2 1/2 years ago on a multiple entry tourist visa good for 3 x 60 day stays. When that expired I needed to get a Non Immigrant visa. As I do not have a company here, nor am I employed, nor am I married, I opted to get an "investors" visa. It required that I have 3 Million Baht on deposit with the Federal Bank at the time of Visa application. I was specifically told by an immigration officer at that time it need not remain on deposit throughout the year. During the course of the year I used that money to invest in property here in Thailand. Some of which I still own, others I've sold. When it came time to renew that visa I redeposited 3 Million Baht in the account and went in for my extension. I was charged a 20,000 Baht fine for not leaving the money on deposit and was asked to sign a form stating I would leave the money on deposit throughout the year (something I was never asked to do the first year). Well, anyway, I took that money out too and invested it in properties and now it's time to renew again. I have the 3 million to redeposit and if there's a fine I'm prepared to pay it, BUT I can't help but think there's another, better option for me.

Friends have suggested I go to Penang and get another 3 entry tourist visa and extend each time for one month, solving my visa issue for 9 months (departing the country twice). That's OK as far as it goes, but 9 months after all that is over, I'll be 50 years old and I'd like to file for a retirement visa, which I'm told requires that I already have a non immigrant visa, which I won't have anymore. The truth is, if I get the investor class visa again and pay the fine I'll remove the money again. My Thai friends say I may be creating bad will, that may affect the consideration of my retirement visa down the road.

Can anyone suggest to me a possible course of action that doesn't tie up too much money and keeps me on the right side of the authorities?

One suggestion I received (since I have a Thai Drivers License and own a car in my name), is that I go to Penang and ask for a non immigrant visa, showing them I have plenty of money on deposit, but not enough for the investors visa. Since a non immigrant visa is required to own a car, my friend thought they might issue me one. Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,

Ken