CMBob

Not 100% sure on how he done it, but I know a guy that was out of the US for a few years and had dropped Part B. He was able to immediately start Part B back in the US using some special rules they have about enrollment periods. From my understanding being out of the country during the last enrollment period is a qualifier for a special enrollment period that will allow you to get Part B back immediately. Since I was not involved in this and got the story after the fact, I can't vouch for it but I see no reason for someone to lie about it.

Nobody is suggesting anybody is lying about anything. There are a few exceptions to the general rules. For example, if somebody is 65 or over and still working and getting health insurance through an employer, they don't have to sign up for Part B and there's no penalty or time lapse for them later when they do sign up for Part B. But for most of us who are fully retired or not receiving some extended health insurance from some employer plan, there are financial penalties for opting out and signing up later and you just cannot opt back in with "X" hours of notice (I believe your "opt back in period" for enrollment or re-enrollment relates to a time period of a couple of months before/after your next birthday). If your friend didn't qualify for any of the exceptions, maybe he just happened to get lucky with the re-enrollment time period (however, as to the monthly cost, I can't believe he didn't have to pay a higher monthly cost as a financial penalty unless he somehow qualified for one of the special exceptions).

For those moving out of the US and they are 100% they won't be returning to live there for any reason, I suppose paying for Part B would simply be tossing money down the drain. For me, while I live here about 9 months a year, I'm not 100% sure that I won't be returning as maybe I'll change my mind some day in the future. Plus I want that Part B coverage when I'm back there each summer.

Medicare does not pay benefits when out of the USA. But, if you want to return to the US for any medical treatment, you must continue to pay your monthly Medicare premiums. Also, my supplemental policy has coverage for the first 3 months, I am out of the country.

The supplemental policies to Parts A and B (no supplemental or Medicare Advantage insurer will cover you unless you're already paying into Part) that I've read have a very strict and limited coverage of anybody outside the US for the first 90 days only. It's emergency coverage only....and not even a very liberal emergency coverage.

You either opt in or opt out of Part B. If you opt in, you pay every month regardless if you're in the US or not (SS deducts it from your monthly check). If you've opted out, no supplemental or Medicare Advantage plan will pay anything as noted above. And, presuming you've opted out, you have to pay some significant financial penalties (much higher monthly payments) and will end up with a time gap in coverage that could present a real problem for some people needing immediate care.

If the old adage that "history tends to repeat itself" is true, it really won't matter what "old constitution" is resuscitated as it'll only remain on life support until the next little general decides to pull the plug.

With 19 or so coups d'état in Thailand since 1932 (which, if my math skills don't elude me, suggests one occurs on average every 4.42 years), perhaps they ought to come up with a better description or word other than "constitution" (a word which usually implies some sense of permanence or, at least, some lengthy existence). I'd vote (I probably shouldn't use that crass democratic term) to simply call it an "interim guideline for some."

Is it directly at canal road?

The Revenue (or Treasury?) building is toward the north end of the large governmental building complex on the southwest corner of where the 700 year road hits Chotana Road. None of the buildings in there are directly on the road (the Revenue Building faces Chotana Road but, like the rest of the buildings in that complex, is probably at least 300 yards from Chotana Road).

Im not sure but you may need a medical certificate too.

A medical certificate was required last year when I went from the 1-year temporary to the 5-year. And somebody just reported last week on TV that they also needed a medical certificate going from the 1-year to a 5-year license.

Edit: Whoops....just noticed that the OP is talking about trying to get another one-year license. Not sure about that one....but would guess a medical certificate is required.

If you don't mind, could you give the web address of the Revenue Department's online system.

The general department url is: www.rd.go.th

However, I used their login page located at: https://epit.rd.go.th/EFILING/LoginController?PRGID=L90T

Perhaps they scrap that idiotic system, or hire a programmer to make a new, working online version.

No kidding. A programmer with a modicum of knowledge could make an extremely efficient and easy online process. For example, by entering a number (perhaps your departure card number or passport number), a form would come up with all of your prior report's information on it. If no changes occurred (the only possible one would be your address), then you'd just hit the "No Changes and Print" button; or, if you changed addresses, you'd only have to fill in your new address and hit a "Submit and Print" button.

Now that would be easy (which, of course, probably means it'll never happen).

A year or so ago, we had a thread here about how to obtain a refund of the withheld interest (15%) involving some of the fixed bank deposits. The thread and general information is located here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/792009-interest-on-bank-deposit/

I had mentioned that I was going to try to get the refund online by myself this year so last Tuesday (January 12th), I gave it a try using last year's form as a guideline (given it's six pages and all in Thai, I needed that). I logged into the Revenue Department site (using my tax ID number as the username and the password I set with the Revenue Department last year) and then proceeded to fill out the online form (the form actually popped up with my name and most personal info already on it). Admittedly, some instruction page popped up which was all in Thai and that page required me to select what type of refund I was looking for - it had to do with bank interest withholding - and a Thai friend helped me figure out that part). Anyway, finished the form, printed out a copy, and that was it (heck, didn't even have to hit any "submit" or "enter" button at the end). Near the end of the form, I was given the option of having the check sent by EMS for 35 baht and I selected that option.

On Saturday (16th), I found an EMS notice in my mailbox. Headed down to the Phra Sing Post Office on Saam Laan this morning, retrieved the letter containing the check, and deposited the funds in my SCB bank account. What was slightly funny was about an hour after I deposited the check, I got a SMS on my phone from the Revenue Office announcing that they mailed out my refund check last Friday. No surprise there....

Also, for the last two years, I received a check which was actually a sight draft which, although you can deposit it, it took a day or two for the funds to be actually confirmed. This year, SCB immediately credited the amount to my account.

A rather quick and efficient process.

For a few beginning phrases, try this youtube video. It'll help you say hello and couple of other simple phrases in Northern Thai (Kam Muang, Lanna Thai, Yuan).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoDlEcWDd4g

Well Rupert Murdoch the owner of Fox news also owns them.

You sound as if you've never read the New York Times because, if you had, you would immediately notice the difference between high quality journalism and the garbage put out by the Murdoch empire. The Ochs-Sulzberger family has owned and controlled the NYT for decades and they have way too much class and integrity to ever sell it to Mr. Rupert.

I finally got off my backside and decided to get a Thai licence for car and motorcycle. As I have a current New Zealand licence for both it ended up being a very straight forward affair.

You didn't mention a medical certificate. Wasn't that required too?

A bit fuzzy to read but I'm guessing it's มนต์รักลูกทุ่ง

The first word (presuming I'm reading it right...it is a bit fuzzy) is มนต์, which is a word I'm not familiar with at all. My dictionary defines it as "a magic spell, prayer, or sacred words" but, on the other hand, maybe it's somebody's nickname. I also think that the entire name is taken from a Thai television soap opera (and movie too) so maybe there's something idiomatic there. Somebody else might know about that.

The last three words are "rak look thung." "Rak" means "love(s)" and "look thung" is the name of a genre of Thai country music most popular in the Northeast of Thailand.

Hopefully, somebody else can give you more information than I can.

I asked four different Imm. officers if they have stopped accepting 90 day reports by mail at the airport office and the answer is no -- you can still send 90 day reports by mail.

Thanks, Nancy, for the information - which corrects the one different report. I'll be mailing the reports this week.

If you had been following his advice for the last 5 years or so, you would have lost a lot of money.

Absolutely correct....and maybe it's for those people that the seminar is being presented (they surely would "proudly resent" his appearance...hehe).

On the other hand, given the nastiness on world markets today, maybe Faber would just claim his doom-and-gloom reports were just a wee bit early.

but your photo looks a lot more like the early 20th century.

You're closer. Using a reverse image lookup, his photo is of the Great Blizzard of 1888.

Would note that it's been acceptable to simply type in the TM-7 form (all capitals preferred) on your computer and print that out....which typically is black ink. But perhaps necessary to sign it in blue ink as noted.

"My point isn't to whinge (nor should yours be that I should hit the road)."

Why bother saying your point isn't to whinge immediately after providing a major whinge??? And some of what you're complaining about (the Thai minimum wage - about $2.77 an hour - nearing the US level, expensive medical or dental services, etc.) simply isn't true at all.

And then you have the moxie to suggest how we shouldn't respond to your rant. Okay, I won't say it but thought you might like some appropriate music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKvhxapM5zo

I think cheating is going on here, lots of new members signing up , I wonder why ?

This is an election in Thailand.

Only when I get my 300 baht! 5555555555

Just for the chef, here's a recent photo of me -

Perhaps a more recent photo?

The Moslem god is a pagan moon god which Mohammed found convenient to adopt for his new religion. Jehovah isn't.

From the dawn of time, man named anything he didn't understand as "god." Thunder, lightning, the ocean, disease, Bigfoot, or whatever. And, out of the hundreds/thousands of religions that teach that their brand is the one true religion....and that their "god" is the only one and true god....it's necessarily obvious that either all but one of those religions got it wrong or, alternatively, every one of them got it wrong. I vote for the latter.

I don't begrudge anybody believing anything they want ....hopefully privately....but I always marvel at the hubris of those who wish to argue that their fairy tale is truer than somebody else's fairy tale.

Incidentally the use of the phrase "your prophet" is offensive. Mohammed was allegedly "a prophet" (not that he actually did any real prophecy), whilst Jesus was the saviour of mankind.

Many non-Christian religions believe that Jesus was "only" a prophet and they have the right to believe that and call him that. And I hardly find that offensive. Everybody is entitled to their own fairy tale.

And so the bubble pops...

The people saying that no evidence was presented are in complete denial, the main evidence against them, DNA found inside the rape victim was presented by the prosecution and not contested in any meaningful way by the defense.

Absolutely untrue and reflects that you've not bothered to follow the trial or read any of the news reports about the DNA evidence.

Thanks all for the advice.

He did not ask for the blue book at all, I did have it in the car, but that's what's written on the ticket.

How do I get my drivers license back then? He took it at the stop. Will they send it back in the mail, or will it be at the traffic police station?

They'll have your driver's license there and they'll give it back to you when you've satisfied their needs.

Now, given you say you had your blue book with you and your mom was in the car with you, I might suggest you take your bluebook in with you, explain that it was in the car but the officer never asked for it, and maybe your mom can provide some approving backup. Be nice, smile, look innocent (hehe), and maybe (I doubt it, but it's worth a try) they'll give you a break.

Correction: Noticed I said the train station was west of there....nope, it's east (I knew better and screwed that up).

River corner of the big bridge and Wororat Market.

(Down from the train station)

Reference to the train station might be a bit confusing since it's a good mile west of there.

Pay the ticket at the Chiangmai Regional Traffic Administration Center on east (river) side of Braisanee (or Praisanee) on the west side of the river, immediately north of the Wawee coffee joint and approximately 300-400 yards north of Thaphae Road. it's pretty much right across the street from the Chiangmai Stamp (Philatelic) Museum and a few hundred yards south of the flower market.

....I did not need my hearing aids for that one what so ever....

Thankfully, my hearing aids allow me to turn them down....which I did substantially. I thought the movie was fine, nothing great but entertaining. I did notice that the 2 hours or so seemed to somewhat fly by so it must have kept my attention.

Of course, the questions the movie leaves unanswered pave the way for Start Wars VIII, IX, etc.....