notrub

On 1/4/2020 at 4:42 PM, Jingthing said:

Nice story. 

Congratulations. 

Is there any way to tell beforehand whether your brain will have a problem with that adaptation or not? 

The Dr. at Nithidol said my eyes were already imbalanced in their focal distance.  I have had the operation in Buriram and it all went 100%.  

On 12/22/2020 at 6:20 PM, faraday said:

http://polo.ktw.co.th/generators

 

Thanks very much.  Thanks Faraday.  I had thought these were pretty good and, according to Ruangsangthai, in Buriram, the supplier KTW is of very good repute.

Polo is a house brand of Home Pro and Thaiwatsadu (I think) but I cannot find out more about them on the internet.  A search just comes up with shirts and sports events.  I bought a big Polo generator and it worked OK (too big, sold it) and other of their products seem aright too but I would like to find out more about them.  Any ideas please?  In particular I am interested to buy an inverter generator of that brand.  It is very much lower price than a Honda (I know apples and oranges) but many of these sorts of generators seem to work OK.  It is for light occasional use.  Any comments on polo equipment in general or this generator in particular please?  And thank you.

22 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

So how come the actual amounts involved appear to have slipped your mind? Maybe because you had given the receipt the @luckyluke "treatment"?

My 'new' UK passport was issued 11 09 2018 and my razor sharp brain does not retain details of all the various service charges that  have occurred during the past couple of weeks, let alone the last couple of years.  How many times have you paid the inevitable 100 baht charge for the various small services at any bank?  The UK is pretty bad as they have subcontracted many consular services to private companies and anyway that government is cash hungry. 

20 hours ago, luckyluke said:

Maybe there is a scanning system able to read the authenticity of the stamp.

Never heard/read about someone encountering this situation.

18 hours ago, jomtienisgood said:

All Visa's are registered in their central computer system.....As are marriages and divorces.....

You must obtain a letter giving permission to leave and return from the immigration office otherwise your retirement vise is voided when you leave the country.  There is a small fee for this authorization but, you guessed it, I forget what it is.

22 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

 

It's people like you that cause the siht that we legit's have to be put through when doing an extension. They don't want us legit folk going into their office  and leaving with out some form of tea money being paid.  It's kind of crazy in that they go out of their way to put up obstacles to catch wrong doers but willing help to bypass the law.

By the way there is no fee for changing your stamps from your old passport to your new one. 

It was a modest fee of perhaps 1,000 or 1,500, I forget.  I got an official receipt for it.  It was not a tea money payment.  There are official fees for some government services in every country.  It cost 50 CAD to have my divorce papers certified by the CDN embassy in BKK.  The UK charges £ 25 to photocopy your passport.  I don't generally put myself in a position where a 'payoff' is required here but I don't argue about a 500 baht on the spot speeding fine is paid and no receipt given. 

Excuse me, but I am not a <removed>  thank you.  I research on internet, this site too, and speak to my lawyer about the best and legal way to do what needs to be done to live here in this country where I am a guest.  As difficult as it may sometimes be to jump through all the hoops here, there are far more devious governments in other 'respectable' countries, the UK & US, for example where those currently in charge are criminals and idiots to boot.

<removed>

13 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You could get the extension based upon marriage now in your UK passport and then later when the borders are open make a trip to a nearby embassy or consulate, apply for a single entry non-o visa in you Canadian passport and then enter the country using that passport and then apply for a new extension. Be sure you don't get a re-entry permit until after you leave the country and get a new extension.

I am on my 13th extension of stay based upon marriage and have not had a problem doing them. In my opinion it is the correct extension for me since I am here to live with my family not retirement.

Thanks Ubonjoe,  Looking at various websites it seems that the big advantage for a person already in possession of a 'o' retirement visa is the reduced income level required.  Are there more that are not self evident (the joys of not living in sin etc.)?  I see what you mean about extending my existing 'o' visa as a married person as the simplest solution.  Thank you.

On a slightly different subject, I currently have a usufruct contract on the land that I paid for and put in my partner's name.  I built a house and improved the land etc.. I would like to have a prenuptial contract to be sure we both understand our circumstances.   I don't plan to have a problem with our marriage but who knows what the future holds?  I would like this contract to acknowledge that I built and paid for the home we live in.  And that in the event of a separation she will leave and I will stay in our home until I die when it will be hers and the usufruct contract expires (as it will on my death).  I also want it to be clear that I do not want to go to a 'retirement home' when I get even older.  I would like to employ a nurse (if my wife is unable to look after me alone) and stay in my home.   Do you know where I could find examples of these sorts of agreements that I could look at and think about please?  I have a lawyer but I would like to have some food for thought before sitting down with him to discuss this matter.  Thanks very much for this and other advice you have given me in the past.

On 12/1/2020 at 3:13 PM, localexpat said:

Hello

 

I am due to renew my Retirement Visa shortly.

 

As my old passport is nearly full I obtained a new passport.

 

Do I need any documentation for immigration to use my new passport for the renewed retirement visa.

 

I did some research on this forum and it seems the embassy should issue a letter to transfer a visa. My activity is to obtain a renewal so I hope I do not need this letter.

 

Thanks in advance for any advise.

I went to the Buriram immigration when my new passport was about to be applied for.  They just said to bring the new one and the old one along with all the usual proof of income, residence etc., pay a fee of ?000 baht (I forget) and they would do it.  Just like that.  For an extra ?000 baht they gave me an extension 14 or 15 months at the same time rather than the 2 or 3 months that would have been usual according to the date on my original visa.  That was important as I had a problem then with the money part of the qualifications.  I had a payment coming some months ahead but needed to spend what I had on deposit to live.  Now I just keep 1M THB on deposit in a foreign currency Thai bank account for this part of the qualification process.   I am pretty sure that there was no input required or given from the UK embassy for this transfer.  Just go in well before you need the renewal or transfer and ask what they want.  Better to be prepared than refused on the day.

11 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

But the government (embassy) of the country your current visa is in does when you need it transferred.

 

You've got the info you need now anyway and IMO appear to be in a better position than a lot of threads started here (no rush, multiple options, financially solid) so best of luck to you regardless of which way you decide to go ????

Thanks for the encouragement.  My old UK passport finally expired and was completely full anyway.  I simply applied for a new one (BKK) and took it, and the old one, to the Buriram immigration office.  They stamped and noted details of my old passport and gave me a 2nd new retirement visa stamp dated 26 01 2019.  I provided all the usual proof of income, residence etc. information then too.  I did not contact the UK embassy for this process.  I had to return to France for a new knee at the time so I had a 'fresh' TM6 for the transfer.   I have never had to ask or even advised the UK (or Canadian) authorities when traveling to countries that require visas, Nepal for example.   I feel that I have finally figured out the system here re visas etc. and the biggest 'learn' is to be prepared and expect the unexpected.  I normally go into the immigration office a month before my extension is due to show them my details (bank book etc.) and ask if I need anything else different this year for my extension to be granted.  Getting permission to exit and re enter on a single entry visa is an important one as the retirement visa is voided on exit without this permission.  I learned this lesson the hard way.  Thailand rules can be confusing and difficult at times but they are pretty reasonable compared to some other countries, the UK for example.

Well, this has attracted some comments, thank you.  My 90 day (?) 'o' visa was obtained years ago in Surathani (not from a Thai consulate in a country outside Thailand) from the immigration office there and is 100% above board and correct.  I did it all without an agent etc..  I then got my retirement visa 'upgrade' from immigration in Koh Samui, following the required several month waiting period.  Also completely above board.  (I was living in Koh Phangan and that was my local office)  I keep 1M(+)  THB on deposit in a foreign currency account BKK  (in euros) and this is used as my proof of income etc..  I have a small pension that we use to live on and withdraw funds from the foreign currency account for house building and car buying etc..  Otherwise we live on my small pension.

I do not want to waste money on health insurance as I am very happy with Thai government  hospitals and still have French national health insurance if I need to go for something major.  I would prefer to drop dead rather than go for open heart surgery, or something, anyway.

I am not sure of the married status benefits other than the lower income requirements.  I would have thought I would have more security to remain in Thailand if the government decided to restrict foreign nationals living here long term.  I am 72 and have no intention to leave Thailand.  We have a nice home and live in the village where my partner was born.  Family and friends abound.

I am Canadian so I would like my visa to be in the passport of the country of my birth.  I would like to stay here in Thailand for the duration and feel that a marriage visa will provide more security.  I did need a fresh TM6 for the original 'o' visa and this will be difficult given current travel restrictions.  That is why I was looking into having my UK 'o' visa transferred to my Canadian passport and re registering as a married person at the same time.  If it were somehow possible.  Otherwise I can extend my current 'o' visa in my UK passport without any problems.  I have all the necessary to do so.  I am not sure of the implications of telling the immigration office that I am now married and would not want to relinquish my 'o' visa.  Thanks again for your comments.

2 hours ago, Salerno said:

Never come across this situation before. Given in the normal situation of a new passport you'd have to get a letter from the British Embassy (in your case) asking for the visa to be transferred from the old to the new it'll be interesting to see how it works out in your scenario.

The UK government has nothing to do with Thai visas.  What I would like to do is transfer my current visa to a passport of a different country.  Thai immigration are happy to transfer a visa to a renewed passport of the same country.  I have done this with no drama at all.   Thanks for your interest.

Thanks Ubonjoe,  My UK (renewed) passport is only 1 year old.  I decided to renew my Canadian passport and so have a new one of those too.  I moved my original retirement visa from my old UK passport to the new one without leaving the country.  They also transferred the TM 6 that had been issued for my old UK passport as part of the process.   I will be marrying my partner this month so when I renew my retirement visa in January I will change my status to 'married' or whatever it is called.  I will have to pay a fee (I think) and will also have to pay to become a 'married' visa holder.  My current visa is a non 'o' which I think is better than a non 'o'a visa.  The officer told me that with a 'o' visa I do not have to have health insurance and with a 'o'a visa I do.  Also I think an 'o'a visa expires after 20 years and a 'o' does not.  I would like to tidy everything up at the same time and I do not want to have a visa that is not as good as the one I have now.  At 72 health insurance is prohibitively expensive and I don't want to mistakenly wind up with a visa that requires it.  Does a 'married' visa require health insurance?  I have enough money in the bank and so do not require the amount on deposit to be reduced due to marriage.

I would prefer my visa be attached to my Canadian passport as I was born there.  I am a naturalized UK citizen and who knows what the current government there might do.  It would not surprise me if they decided to revoke citizenship of all foreign nationals for some reason or another.  They have been doing some pretty crazy things there lately.  Thanks in advance for any comments.

I have dual nationality.  My current retirement visa is in my UK passport.  I have my new Canadian passport (issued in BKK).  My retirement visa is up for renewal in January.   My partner and I are about to be married.  I would like to transfer my existing retirement visa to my Canadian passport and change it to a married visa.  The immigration officer who I normally see is away until February and I think he would be easier to deal with in rearranging my visa status etc..  Can I extend my retirement visa renewal for 60 or 90 days ? (until the officer is back in the office)   All this is honest and legal and I have money in the bank for a visa.  Any comments or ideas about how I can do this easily or anything else about this will be gratefully received.  Thanks in advance.

Hello again,  Thank you again, those who commented, on the welding etc. post.  Now I am trying to find a small generator and understand that an 'inverter' type is more efficient and desirable.  The small Honda generators i have seen run to 25,000+ baht or so and I would rather find something less costly.  Have had little luck on Lazada but have seen quite a selection at Global.  I don't know how to communicate about the inverter question, however.  Generator to be used for small hand tools, maybe a sludge pump and I will try out my new little welder too.  Weight is an important consideration as it would be used on the naa and have to be brought home every night by 1 person across rough ground.  All the youtube review and information sites are limited to US equipment not generally available here.  Any comments about makes, availability and just general information will be gratefully received.     Thank you very much in advance.

Thanks very much.  On my way to the consulate in BKK this AM.  I had not realised that it is the tail end of a 4 day holiday...   expect a long slow trip with all the people returning home......

Thanks Very much.  The person who warned me had been married in BKK and thought this was a requirement.  Our local amphur is very local and the fellow who runs is is very friendly and speaks English perfectly.  I met him when he informed me that, regrettably, I could not have a yellow book for the house that I built and paid for because my partner and I were not married. The elderly father of my partner was once the head man of our village and the whole family is well known and respected.

Member T.V., I know my partner very well having lived with her in sin for about 5 years.  Having said that, I recommend anyone entering into any kind of financial arrangement with their partner (buy land, build a house etc.) learn about a usufruct contract and arrange to get one.

My lawyer is  Sebastian H. Brousseau, LLB, BSc. and I strongly recommend him. 

We are planning to get married fairly soon.  My divorce documents will be authenticated by the Canadian Embassy on Monday (I hope!)  If we marry at the offices of our local amphur (Ban Mai Chaiyaphot) is  that totally official and legal?  A friend just told me that we must got to BKK to marry officially.  Is that true?  Thanks very much.

Thanks for your comments.  Any of you who have not tried Yoga could consider it,  Not too strenuous and keeps the body limber.

Anyone aware of yoga groups and/or instruction near to Buriram city or within striking distance of there. I attended Yoga classes with AGAMA in Kho Phangan for some time and would like to continue.  I am a novice and also too lazy to do on my own just now.  Thanks in advance for any comments.

On 11/12/2020 at 3:54 PM, nauseus said:

 

Please send details of this perfectly functioning fishing agreement. Urgent. Stop. 

Will this do for a start?  Anyway it is 13 11 2020 not December yet.

Thanks for sending the info on generator/welders.  The ones shown are really too big for my needs.  Where this little house will be built is at the far end of a rice paddy so weight is a big consideration.  Future use of a generator will be at locations accessible only on foot.  When it dries up we will have a relatively short window of access by truck or tractor and when it rains again that will close.  Thanks for commenting.

Well Ubonjoe, That was pretty easy and it works!  Thank you very much.

Take care

Well Far Flung,  That is quite a collection you have.  Great stuff.  I too once had such a collection but no more....  Is that a rosewood handle on the number 7 sitting on the bench?   Pretty rare these days.  The big Makita electric hand planer looks pretty good to me but so far have resisted. 

Interesting stuff that you are up to.  Thanks for contacting me

Take care, Burton

RE Finding BKK bank transaction details of your online banking account.  Someone posted a small note explaining that there is a selection option that is a 'ghost' selection on the upper right hand of the screen.  Selecting this will give details about that account of who was paid and when (deposits too).  I have BKK bank online banking and cannot find this option and also cannot find the post where it was recently written.   Does anyone know more about this?

I rarely complain about Thailand etc. but how one of the biggest banks in the country cannot provide detailed information about customer's transaction is beyond me.  When we request a service such as the visa letter there are multiple forms filled in and stamped and passport and passbook photocopies taken and stamped etc. etc..  All for the 100 baht service fee!  The amount of paperwork and ID verification taken for the most simple operation is enormous and yet they cannot provide what I would call a 'Bank Statement'?  Give me a break folks.  

I have plenty of stories about <deleted> banks in France, UK, US and Canada too, but don't get me started.

Happy to be here in paradise.

Take care and keep safe, as they say.