khaepmu

Just google Schwab International. They provide you with telephone numbers.

I have about 1,200,000 in Thai banks. I am retired and married to a Thai. I get about 50,000-55,000 month from social security and dividends from my US Exchange Traded Funds. Since I used to work in Thailand, the Thai government has allowed me to keep my government health insurance. It cost about 430 Baht a month, deducted from a bank account. The health insurance covers just about everything up until my death. We have a house, a car and no debt. Neither of us work. I doubt if we ever spend more than 50,000 Baht a month.

I am seriously thinking of opening a Schwab International account. I have called them and talked to them about what is involved in opening an account. I have no bills with my name on them but they said a bank statement with my name and address, even if it is in Thai, would be acceptable. They have Thai translators.

My Marriage visa extension will be ready on Dec. 2, as was stamped in my passport. If I am one or two days late would I be subject to some type of penalty or fine? The visa has already been processed and completed. It's not like it would be an overstay.

You guys have been providing very useful information. Thanks for taking the time. Actually, my wife is the sole beneficiary on my American brokerage account. The brokerage account said that if my wife got a bit confused as to the procedures to follow she could call them and they would provide a Thai translator to help her along. But I can't keep this account much longer as my brother is moving and he and his wife are quite old now so I am probably go with Schwab International. I was unaware of CRODA and the information that The Thai Consulate and the other sites you added. I am sure I will find them all helpful. Really appreciate it.

I guess I can live with the 15% tax deduction on a joint account. I wonder how this works when I file my income tax with the IRS. One reason I am leaning towards a joint account is because, according to Schwab, in the event of my death, my wife becomes sole owner. No will or probate involved. Now I use my brother's address in the USA for my American brokerage account. But his health is questionable now and his wife told me they might be moving early next year so I won't be able to use them much longer. I have a 'transfer on death' for my Thai wife my present brokerage in the USA. The brokerage account gave us elaborate instructions to follow in order to have the assets transferred to my wife's bank in Thailand when I pass. But I am afraid she would find it a bit complicated and daunting filling out and signing numerous forms at the US Embassy in Bangkok along with death certificates and translations.

Thanks for your response to my recent topic about Schwab International. Really useful info. Since I am an American, I thought it a bit strange that they would take 30% tax from my dividends. So apparently, after opening a joint account with my Thai wife and submitting a W-8BEN form, Schwab would deduct 15% from half of all the dividends. Not sure how that works. I have heard good things about Interactive Brokers and I am going to look into using them as an alternative to Schwab. The thing is, I generally don't buy individual stocks or trade them. I am, for the most part, long term and hold high dividend paying ETF's and closed end funds.

I have been considering opening a Schwab International Brokerage account as I have heard good things about it. Since I am an American retired and living in Thailand, I can no longer maintain my Brokerage account with Vanguard, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price etc. Actually, I have a brokerage account with a major American brokerage and, like many Americans, use my brother's American mailing address. But this is inconvenient and I sometimes worry about US address being discovered and then having to close it. I called Schwab International and was quite disappointed at how little the sales person at the other end knew about account requirements. What was more alarming were the tax implications. 30% withholding taxes on dividends. She then asked me if Thailand has a tax treaty with the USA. She said I would be required to send in a W-8 ben tax form. I asked her if those taxes on my dividends can be refunded if, after doing my TurboTax filing returns, I might not be required to pay any taxes. She was perplexed. She said I would need to get a Thai tax number as well. So apparently they send my information to the Thai revenue department. This is scary. I asked her if I could open a joint account with my Thai wife and she said no problem and, in the event of my death, she would be sole owner of the account. No will necessary. I liked this idea because my wife wouldn't have to go to the US Embassy with all kinds of forms and a death certificate to be notarized. So I am now having second thoughts about Schwab International but I wonder what other options I have. I love the idea of having an account and using my Thai address. They also provide good debits cards with no fees when used in Thailand and I can easily transfer funds my from the brokerage account to my Thai bank account. But 30% in dividend taxes is considerable. Most of my income form my present brokerage account comes form dividend paying etf"s and closed end funds.

Just got my 7162 two days ago. Didn't get one last year or the year before. Sending the completed form back airmail.

I Have been filing with TurboTax for the last ten years. Very expensive now but easy as hell to use as you can import all your etf's / stock purchases/sales/capital gains stuff from your brokerage. I always file a joint account with my Thai wife who has a TIN number. Had to renew the TIN number last year and have it verified at the UN Embassy in Bangkok.

My Thai wife and I had a very good will done by a lawyer in Korat. We have no kids. If one of us dies the other gets all our assets. There is some land and a house which I am not sure if I am not entitled to because I am not Thai but I am not concerned. The will was done in both Thai and English. If both of us die at or around the same time, my wife's niece, who lived with us for a number of years, is the beneficiary. She charged us 8000 Baht for both wills. I was told that if you are a foreigner, the will should be done in both Thai and English.

The last 2 years I did not get the the form. I have no idea why not. I made copies of the last time I got the form, about 3 years ago and used one of those copies to send in and attached a short note explaining that I had not received the 7162.. Two weeks later I sent a copy again just to make sure. Last year I sent an email to the the embassy in the Philippines asking why my form7162 did not arrive at my address in Thailand like it always used to. They just sent an email with a form7162 as an attachment with no explanation.

I went to Bangkok to the US Embassy to get my passport renewed. I wanted to go to Bangkok anyway so I went online, made my appointment, and when I got to the embassy it was super easy and fast. i filled out a short form, paid my fee, bought the required envelope from the Thai post office which is located just outside the citizen services section, printed my mailing address on the envelope and gave it to the clerk who told me it will take 4-6 weeks to get to my mailing address.

I am thinking of renewing my passport by mail as many of you are. But I might just do it in person like I did nine and a half years ago. My passport expires early November of this year. If my memory is correct, I remember making an appointment and then going to the embassy and getting my passport easily and quickly. You could even get your photos done there. I went on the embassy's website a few weeks ago and it stated that you have to go to the embassy eight weeks before for a new passport. Could that be right? I then emailed the embassy asking them how long in advance I should go to the embassy to renew my passport and they emailed me back the same website info. Eight weeks. I don't remember having to go to the embassy eight weeks in advance. So i guess eight weeks it is. I hope you can get the passport the same day.

What do you mean "they are quite strict in tax withholdings".