THAIJAMES

6 hours ago, oxysong said:

Whatever you do in Thailand,its going to cost a packet.identical situation in BKK hospital, after MRI,doctor missed cancer,flew to Delhi later MRI ..cancer found,too late

I very sorry to hear that.  Was it prostate cancer?

7 hours ago, elektrified said:

That is a very good point and I agree with this.

 

Also, urologists in Chiang Mai have an oddity that if an MRI is read by a radiologist in Bangkok that they don't know personally or have never heard of - they will not entertain the results in the report. When I brought my radiology report from the radiologist at Siriraj to my doctor in C.M., he would not even read it all the way through. He tossed it on his desk and said he had never heard of the other doctor and could not trust the interpretation of the MRI. When I went to the next urologist, his reaction was identical.

You bring up a good point. besides having the specialist in Bangkok interpret the results would it also be beneficial to have your urologist in chiangmai recommend someone that could interpret the results here in Chiang Mai by looking at the images.

Or do you think it would be better to trust the results in Bangkok and if any biopsy or other procedure is required just do that at a Bangkok Hospital.

58 minutes ago, CMoldie said:

Be careful with this. Yes, you probably can get the images on a CD the same day but they are not much use if your doctor in Chiang Mai has no experience of screening these high resolution images. The scan is only as good as the specialist who screens it. I speak from experience here.

If I had my time over again for the scan I had done in Bangkok, I would have a consultation at the hospital in question and have the results evaluated by a specialist in that hospital who was familiar with that type of scan, then wait to get the results and evaluation together or have them put on a CD and sent to me by EMS.

Thank you that is very valuable advice

I live in Chiangmai and before getting a biopsy I would like to get an MRI of my prostate.

I understand that Siriraj, Chulalongkhorn, and Bangkok General  hospital might have the 3.0 Tesla MRI, which is very detailed and can identify cancerous legions if any.

Does anyone have experience with getting an MRI with this scanner for their prostate?

if so I would really appreciate some feedback:

1. What is the hospital that you had the 3.0 Tesla MRI scan and approximate cost of the MRI and does that include the cost of the radiologist or specialist review.

2.  Would I be able to fly in from Chiang Mai get an MRI and be able to take back the results and CD back to Chiang Mai the same day?.

3.  Do I need to ask for a specific type of MRI test or would just mentioning a prostate MRI be enough

4.  What are you thoughts on the MRI?

Thank you in advance.

People naturally assume that actions are aimed specifically at them when in reality it's just the government trying to act in its best interest.

In the past it was relatively simple - mostly Western tourist, but now you have massive increases from China and soon-to-be India with populations five times more than the West.  Not to mention other countries.

I think it's in Thailand's interests to tighten Visa regulations to stop the hordes of people from completely over running the country and creating a burden in the future.

More is not always better.

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

They hardly support their own into old age and a foreigner with PR should perhaps be treated equally. It's not like the Thais have usually paid into the tax system!

Just because things are like that now doesn't mean Thailand will not improve in the future and take better care of their senior citizens as its economy improves and its tax base increases.

People are living longer. Someone applying at 50 could easily live to be 90. That same person may have plenty of money at 50 when they apply for a retirement visa.  But it's a real risk to Thailand to give somebody a permanent residence that you may have to support into old age.

Medical Care is becoming extremely expensive.  As it is a lot of retirees don't even have the 800,000 to put in the bank how would they survive for 30 or 40 years if costs dramatically escalate but their income stays the same.

If I was in charge I would be very careful about giving out permanent residency.

38 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Only one Blue book per household.

If the PR owns a Condo he can be registered in the book.

If the PR is married to a Thai he will be included in her book.

 

It's compulsory for a Thai and a PR to be registered in a house book, it's voluntary for foreigners.

All PR holders have a red book.

A PR holder can also own a house and be the only one registered in the blue book for that house!

As in my case. Just can't own the land.

So the wife could be included in the husband's blue book.

4 hours ago, Maestro said:

I find it not logical that a government-operated or other health insurance refunds the contributions made during the time of employment but the SS in Thailand strangely does this.

Social security is not just health-related but has to do about unemployment and retirement benefits.  So instead of getting retirement payments for the rest of your life you can get those payments in a lump sum.

My bet is that with people living longer and possible raises in the payouts in the future they are better off paying off people lump sums.

4 hours ago, NightSky said:

Are company directors allowed to pay SS here? 

 

I thought it was for employees only?

I have been doing it for more than 20 years

20 hours ago, BLUENILE said:

 

 

First, I always work with Thai lawyers on a success fee to handle any case.

A lawsuit was filed by be me against the Royal Thai Police in the Administrative Court for failing to issue my residence permit.

It was a long process, first started with negotiating to withdraw the lawsuit, which I didn't, then intimidation, I was declared a persona non grata, which has to be challenged in court as well, and as the police were without success, harassment was next in there playbook.

Now you will be surprised how much manpower the police has, wherever I traveled in Thailand police followed, if I returned from abroad, I was picked out of the line for throughout checkup.

Finally, it went to the Supreme Administrative Court for the final verdict where the court ordered the Royal Thai Police to issue my residence visa within 14 days. In fact, I picked up the resident book the very next day as nothing happened.

So at least in my case, the Central Administrative court and the Supreme Administrative Court is a straightforward institution where a foreign national can get right against a powerful government organization.

I remember your case as I was applying for permanent residency at that time and had waited eight years and was considering similar action based on your precident.

I didn't realize at the time that you were harassed and went through so much.

Congratulations on beating the system.

On 5/12/2012 at 10:00 AM, 1Gringo said:

I've been frequenting one particular garden supply shop behind Lotus. he's recently gotten perlite in but nobody around here seems to have even heard of vermiculite. and I tried lightening up the goop with perlite with no success.

coming from Lotus, there is a garden shop on the right far corner that sells no plants, just gardening supplies. It has vermiculite.  Either small bags for about 100 or big "kasop" bags for about 900 baht.   Can also be easily found on Lazada.

It really hard to buy the real ones when in the US you can get them for less than a dollar each.  Here they are about a hundred baht for the small ones.

Yok bakery does have local ones you can use for canning not so expensive but not the quart size.

1 hour ago, atyclb said:

 

 

guess this sort of impacts the myth of the beautiful polite well mannered sensible thai woman.  isnt there a separate topic about this myth?

30 years ago it was almost all male and the procedures were easy going. They started having women Immigration officers about 15 - 20 years ago and that is when things became much worse. 

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Under the old rules where we were allowed to spend the 800K it made some sense, as you were  then showing proof of funds to live on.

 

No longer.

 

Don't ask me what this does achieve. I couldn't tell you.

 

 

what was happening is that some people were using companies to temporarily borrow the 800,000 for a few days to get their visas.

Immigration became wise of it and therefore the new rules.

On 3/19/2019 at 8:08 PM, Jingthing said:

No. It's a valid option for some. I am concerned they promised time terms will fully be honored. Does the contract allow them to back out of that later without grounds such as criminal convictions? What about health insurance requirements? Isn't that a risk too that the Elite people will be required if when all long stayers are?

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

That was the concern when it was started 10 or 15 years ago they're still going strong so I doubt it.

In regards to bringing money earned overseas to Thailand.  If you don't have a company in Thailand, then there is no need to declare to tax authorities money that you bring in for your own personal use.

If you do have a company and this income was generated as part of your business, make sure the keep the money overseas until the next tax year and no tax is due. (crazy tax loophole but its the law)

If your company generates its income overseas and you manage wisely, you should pay almost no taxes.

However in my more than 18 years having companies here in Thailand I have been "investigated" a number of times.  (just called in to pay some more taxes)

Once every few years they see that you have not paid much taxes and they ask you to "contribute" by basically giving you a random amount of tax to pay. 

This amount has usually has only been  1-2 % of company declared income for that year.

I just pay it to avoid problems for a few more years. 

So in the overall picture it is a small amount.  But they will do this regardless if you have had a profit or loss for that year. (It has usually been when company did not make a profit)

So a lot of companies that generate money overseas or in cash just make sure that they are paying a few % in taxes to keep the tax people off their back.

Thats the Thai way of collecting taxes because a lot of people get their income in cash and they need to use other methods to asses and collect taxes.

On 8/2/2018 at 12:10 PM, Prince77 said:

Due to this post I checked with my accountant and was told, that there was a Change in the year 2009 - since then a director  / shareholder is not applicable to SS benefits. However, when the Person has paid in - and was registered before that Change this person still have the benefits like Hospital visits and retirement money.

 

As I paid - in long time before that change, I still have my social security card and was told that after resignation from company I could claim the retirement money.

 

Not sure as aleays if that is correct - I am a director and shareholder.

 

 

Thank you for checking up.  That brings some piece of mind for those of us that were registered before 2009.

I am director of my company and have been paying into social security for more than 15 years.

I didn't do anything special.

I have also used medical coverage a few years ago to test system without a problem.

I was also told that I am eligible to receive retirement income or lump sum.  (4500 baht per month)

Has there been a change in the law that only applies to new applicants?

17 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Now we know 1 ?

Actually the same year I was applying 3-4 other persons were applying in the same category (special circumstances).  I am not sure if they ever got PR.   Unfortunately not everyone reports back to thaivisa so there may be a few in other categories too for example, the expert and investment categories getting PR each year that we don't know about. ?

14 hours ago, jackdd said:

Can you give more details?

If you can show that you have been a special benefit to Thailand.  For example in the medical, educational, scientific, law enforcement, etc. 

You need to have a minister or secretary of the relevant government body to support your application.

I don't recommend this path, because of politics and ministers changing all the time.

You need to provide all kinds of proof to support your application.

I think I was put under much more scrutiny than average PR applicant.

Mine took 8 years to get approved.

10 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Since 2008 you can aplly for citizenship without the need to have PR for 5 years first. As for PR itself, there are many categories under which you could apply, but... We don't know anyone taken seriously let alone being granted one when applying under any other category than work. 

I was granted PR under the "special circumstances" category 3 years ago. ?

If you are thinking of quitting your job to get another job and will keep a work permit.  I don't think that would be any problem.

Technically your application is a snapshot of the 3 years before you apply.  So anything you do after that should be ok.  Even leave the country and come back on a tourist visa ?

However if the committee should question anything in your application, they might ask for further documentation.

In my case, the documentation requested was for the time prior to the application, even though they requested information 5 years after my application.  (it took me 7 years to get PR)

In Thailand anything can happen so if possible keep your work permit.

I myself got permanent residence under the "special" category which does not require the same tax return minimums like business or marriage.  Unfortunately with special cases, it becomes much harder as Thai bureaucracy has problems with dealing with anything not by the book.

I would go to immigration and give them your information.  You may be able to apply for permanent residency as per your circumstances now.

There are two categories available:

• Expert / academic category
• Other categories as determined by Thai Immigration

Then after you have received PR, your wife can apply for PR under your PR.