khaepmu

What IRS forms do you use to declare your Thai interest and/or  dividends? 

Your Windows License will Expire soon..your need to go to settings.....' keeps appearing on my screen. When I go to setting I am not sure what to do. I am afraid if I click on something something about renewing my licence I'll have to pay something. My windows 10 is a copy.

A valid work permit has your address in it, often printed in the back pages. You can use this as proof of address because a work permit is an official government document. It can also be used for the purchase and sale of vehicles and opening bank accounts. 

I finally got it. My work permit not only has my company name and address in it but my residence address as well. But my residence address, the one I use for my 90-day report at immigration, is tucked back on the last pages of my work permit. I never noticed that.  After all these years and three different work permits a colleague told me that that is why you can use your work permit as proof of address when renewing your Thai drivers licence. He has just renewed his drivers licence with his work permit as proof of address. The work permit is an official Thai government document with your residence address in it.  Silly me.

It seems that, according to previous posts here, if you have a valid work permit, you do not need proof of address. That seems unlikely.

Referring to the last post, I am wondering if one can open an account with Capital One (or Schwab) even though I live in Thailand but use my brother's US mailing address. I use his address for all my financial stuff in the States since it seems US banks and financial institutions won't accept opening  accounts with non-US addresses. I thought I might be able to fill out an application online, insert my US mailing address and then have my brother send me the card in Thailand. Maybe that's too easy.

If you renew your 5-year Thai licence and you have a valid current work permit, does that count for anything. A previous poster said  'ORIGINAL PRESENT RESIDENT ADDRESS IN THAILAND CERTIFY FROM EMBASSY / IMMIGRATION BUREAU (VALID FOR 1 YEAR) OR WORK PERMIT WITH ORIGINAL AND PHOTO COPY'.  'Work permit with original and photocopy. I am not sure I understand original and photocopy. Does it mean original address?

Actually, the last time I renewed my drivers licence I showed them my work permit which happen to have the same address that was on my drivers licence. They accepted  the work permit as proof of address. But if your work permit has your company name in the address, I doubt that they would accept that. (This was in pattaya)

If you go to the immigration office to get a proof of address document for a 5-year drivers licence renewal, do you have to bring proof of your residence to the immigration again( owner's deep, ID, lease) even though you have been doing your 90 day reporting for the past 2 years. I can't locate my landlord to get an updated rental agreement or deed. If you get a letter from the embassy, guaranteeing or verifying your address, would that letter be sufficient for proof of address if you can't get a letter from Thai Immigration?

A side note. A Thai policeman that we know told us that when a Thai reaches the age of 70, they no longer have to renew their drivers licence. It will never expire after the age of 70. If so, I wonder if this hold true for foreigners . Probably not.

Well the bank sends me the card as far as I know. I might call them and ask them to send the card to my Thai address. They have done this in the past. But having a foreign address is problematic these days. Actually, I want to open an account with one of the American Banks that refund the 270 baht charge when you use the Thai ATM machine. I think Capital One and Schwab are 2 banks that will do this. And there is no charge for international transactions.My present card/bank charge 4% when I use it in Thailand, not to mention the Thai charge of 270 baht I think. So obviously I rarely use it in Thailand. 

My US bank  has been sending my card to my Thai address for the past ten years. Never a problem. But I had to change my Thai mailing address to a US address because a number of US companies demand that you have a US mailing address when using your card. For example, Turbo tax wouldn't let me pay for my completed tax return unless I had a US mailing address when I submitted my credit card number. A few other companies likewise. Seems very strange in an age of globalization with over 9 million Americans living and or working overseas we still need to use a US mailing address. Why do they care what your mailing address is as long as they get a valid credit card number.

I now use my brother's US mailing address so when my present credit card expires it will be sent to his address and he, in return, will have to send it to Thailand. USPS priority mail at over $32.00 seem a bit expensive but maybe better safe than sorry. My guess is that if a dishonest Thai postal worker doesn't notice the credit card shape when handling the envelope your safe. Maybe just put the card between some paper padding until it's shape can't be detected. 

Actually, unlike 20 years ago, I have not had any problem receiving mail from the US. Bills, packages, Amazon books, Kindles, CD's, vitamins, Christmas,  presents including cookies, social security notices, Thai income tax refunds all seem to arrive intact. Don't think I would send cash though.

My US bank  has been sending my card to my Thai address for the past ten years. Never a problem. But I had to change my Thai mailing address to a US address because a number of US companies demand that you have a US mailing address when using your card. For example, Turbo tax wouldn't let me pay for my completed tax return unless I had a US mailing address when I submitted my credit card number. A few other companies likewise. Seems very strange in an age of globalization with over 9 million Americans living and or working overseas we still need to use a US mailing address. Why do they care what your mailing address is as long as they get a valid credit card number.

I now use my brother's US mailing address so when my present credit card expires it will be sent to his address and he, in return, will have to send it to Thailand. USPS priority mail at over $32.00 seem a bit expensive but maybe better safe than sorry. My guess is that if a dishonest Thai postal worker doesn't notice the credit card shape when handling the envelope your safe. Maybe just put the card between some paper padding until it's shape can't be detected. 

Actually, unlike 20 years ago, I have not had any problem receiving mail from the US. Bills, packages, Amazon books, Kindles, CD's, vitamins, Christmas,  presents including cookies, social security notices, Thai income tax refunds all seem to arrive intact. Don't think I would send cash though.

   I have mentioned this way of transferring funds from the States to Thailand before and some felt it took too much time and one could not  pinpoint the exact exchange rate. But every year I write a check to myself and deposit it in my Thai bank. The check is from my US bank account. It takes between 4-5 weeks to clear.  The exchange rate has always been favorable .My check is usually for  9,500 to 9,900 dollars and the fee from the Thai bank is about 500 baht. It has never failed  ( have been using it for the last 11 years) and I am hoping that this kind of transfer remains an easy option. 

About 17 years ago a local Thai government official came to my wife's house and said the date of her birthday on her Thai ID card and birth certificate and house registration ( I think these were the documents) had been mistakenly recorded. I went through the roof wondering how such incompetency could exist. She already had a passport  and we had been abroad a few times. She then had to go  through the tedious process of having the mistaken date of birth  corrected and then she had to get a new ID card with the correct date. I am hoping when she applies for a new passport she will not need the expired one (it expired about 14 years ago). I do not even think she still has it. She thought the Thai officials were hoping we would offer him some money so she wouldn't  have to go though all of the paper work to change the date. As far as I know, all she will need for the new passport is her Thai ID and house registration and possibly a marriage certificate because she changed her last name to mine after the marriage. And she has gone through the process of correcting the wrong date of birth. She is doing the passport application in Pattaya. Not sure if I have to go with her. I don't see why I would. 

I sent an email to the US Embassy in Bangkok telling them that I needed a new ITIN number for my Thai wife as her present number will soon expire and asked them what documents they would accept for proof of my wife's identity and what the IRS would accept. They told me to bring my wife's passport along with the letter that the IRS sent to me telling me that my wife's ITIN number will expire after 2018. They said they would certify the passport (or a copy I assume) and said that I could bring the passport to the embassy unaccompanied by my wife. Seems pretty simple. Just need a new passport as my wife's present passport expired ten years ago. And her birthday on her expired passport is different from her birthday on her latest Thai ID card. 

I am planning to take my Thai wife to the Korat  passport office to get a new passport. Her previous Thai passport expired years ago but an expat recently told me she must bring her previous (expired) passport in order to get a new one.  But it is nowhere to be found. I would think that her Thai  ID card and blue book house registration would be enough identification.

Thanks for all the replies but this has nothing to do with my wife  moving to the USA. I only want a new ITIN number for my wife so I can use her as a deduction when I file my tax returns with the IRS. And her present number will expire at the end of this year. I always file a joint return with my Thai wife ( I am retired and live in Thailand)and this saves me a little money, not much, because I am in a low tax bracket. But I have dividend and capital gain investments in the USA and must file. My wife no longer has a Thai passport--it expired years ago. So I have to fill out a W-7 (or she has to) and then send it to the USA with a copy of her Thai ID card which has her name and my last name on it. If it is certified in Thailand in the Thai language  will the  government people in the USA be able to read and Thai certification I wondering. I want to avoid having to take a marathon trip to the embassy with my Thai wife to get something stamped to say it is genuine. I have written  a brief email to the US Embassy  in Bangkok explaining my situation and maybe a 50/50 chance of a reply. 

I just got a letter from the IRS claiming that my Thai wife's ITIN number needs to be renewed. She needs  to have this number in order for me to claim her as a tax deduction when I file my US tax returns with the IRS. She needs to fill out a form W-7 and proof of her identity.  It is not clear to me if a copy of her ID card is enough or not. And if it is, I am wondering if it has to be certified by the US Embassy which would mean a trip to Bangkok and a handful of cash for their services. I certainly hope not. Her Thai passport has expired. I have been using her as a deduction for the past 18 years.  As far as I am concerned, this another example of needless government intrusion into its citizens affairs. Same as the FBAR nonsense. 

I have a close friend who guaranteed his relative's car payments. Meaning if they don't make their monthly payments he is responsible. But he no longer wants to carry this burden and wants to get out of it. The finance company told him he is responsible until the

relative gets a new person to  guarantee her. A local policeman said that that is not entirely  true but did not give him  any details. Is  there an easy legal way for him to get out being responsible for the payments  should  his sister fail to make them he wonders. He is, according to him, not really worried but they have had serious arguments about family matters. Any reasonable advice would be appreciated. 

Please, no sermons about taking on these kinds of responsibilities.

I live in a house with a small yard outside of Bangkok and attached to our house is a small store room. I left the door of the store room partially open and one morning there was a cat with four babies kittens huddled together. I really don't want any pets. I started feeding the mother and now it is used to my daily feeds (commercial cat food) and if it isn't fed daily it whines and whines. The kittens are now walking around and jumping on each other and are starting to eat small portions of the solid food that I put on the mother's dish. My neighbor told me to put them in a bag and put some stones in the bag and toss it into the nearest river or klong. Another more humane suggestion from a friend is to just stop feeding them.It is now two days that I have stopped  feeding them and they haven't gone anywhere. Their whining is even more intense. I must say, it is very amusing to watch the kittens frolicking and bouncing around. But kittens become cats. How to get rid of them I wonder. Today will be the third day that I don't feed the.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I have extremely limited computer skills and experience and often don' know what you guys are talking about. What in the world is a Key? I do not even remember what version of Windows I have. I saw Windows 16 appear somewhere on my computer. I received a questionnaire ( I use Hotmail)as a attachment from an acquaintance who asked me to fill it out and return it. After spending some time filling out the questionnaire I noticed I was unable to save it as  download or document. I opened it again and could not longer edit or type on the document. I then posted this TV correspondence and I was advised to try downloading  'WPS Office free Version." I did so this morning an I am now able to save and edit the attached document and I am able to ope other downloads and documents.I was reluctant to download anything like that that I am not familiar with but it works really well. I never heard of it before. By the way, my Windows stared to malfunction soon after I opened the Hotmail attachment. It might have picked up a virus from that. 

Regarding lost documents downloads. A few months ago I woke up and my laptop screen was all red. I couldn't do anything with it. No commands. I took it to the shop I bought it from. All my saved stuff had disappeared. Everything. The tech guy told me he could retrieve all lost the material and to come back in an hour. But when I got back he said he was unable to retrieve it. He couldn't understand why. He then told me to never agree to any window updates and he went somewhere.  I got a new pirated version of Windows and Office The guy went into the computer  and clicked 'not new updates'. But I still get updates. sometime. But now Windows does not allow me to save or edit documents.

To make a long story short, I guess my best option is to get a genuine Windows and Windows Office software package. I am wondering if they install the genuine Windows will I still be able to save  all my stuff from the pirated software.

What are we talking about price wise for a new genuine Windows software package. Can you recommend a shop in the Pattaya area that is trustworthy. Thanks a lot for all of your replies. Maybe WPS is all i need at this point.

My computer will not allow me to save, save  as, or edit any of my downloads or new documents. When I open a download it says "product activation failed." The Windows office software came with my laptop and it is not genuine. Of course I should have asked for a genuine Windows Office 16. I goggled this problem and it seems this will often  happens with pirated software.  This is the second time I have had a major problem with the software and my guess is the best solution is fork out and buy the genuine package- the real deal. @ months ago  I lost all of my documents. I took my computer to the shop that I bought it from and they assured me they could retrieve all of the lost info but after 2 hours they failed and told me not to download any of the Microsoft updates that are periodically sent. I am wondering if I can get my computer to save  and edit my documents and downloads with my present software (pirated) or do I absolutely have to buy the  genuine Microsoft package. I guess I am kind of answering my own question. Where might a good shop in Pattaya be for genuine Microsoft stuff be located? 

I am presently on my second one-year Non-O 'extension' ( I guess it is not a visa because it was extended in country.) 

I went to Laos about 2 years ago with company documents and applied for a Non-B. I got a 3-month visa to enter Thailand and work. I then extended it at immigration for nine more months. After the nine months was up I got a one year extension which will expire within about five months. 

What are my options when if I tell my boss I won't be completing my contract and will resign three months before the contract is up. I know my boss won't be too bothered about it because of the nature of the work. I have been told by other employees he usually asks for one's work permit and returns it to the Labour Department within a few days in which case I would have to leave the country and come back with a visa from Laos (possibly  a Non-O based on marriage). But could I go to local immigration where I got my Non-B and have them cancel the visa and could I then apply for a 60 day visa to visit my Thai wife? Could I apply for a retirement visa on the same day that I go to immigration to cancel my existing visa? And will immigration just cancel my visa without any questions? Do I need proof that I have returned my work permit? Or would I need a letter from my employer and if so, what if he doesn't want to write one. If I decide to go to Laos and apply for a visa to return to Thailand can I go overland to Savanakaat? I have read that Thai immigration  might not let me leave the country if my Non-B has not been properly cancelled. In which case I would have to fly to Laos. Apparently Thai Immigration at the airport won't bother about the Non-B not being properly cancelled. Would Thai Immigration at the airport actually cancel my visa so I won't have any problems applying for a new visa in Laos? I have also read that one can get a one week extension after one cancels one's Non-O visa. 

Lots of questions and thanks in advance for considering them.

Hi Johng. Thanks for your excellent reply and map. Did I get the name of the repair shop right? Something like 'P Jae Air'? Next to the Garmin shop. Not far from the Bridgestone store. If I am driving towards Bon Amphur from Pattaya on Sukumwit, would the shop be on the right or left. Sorry, my map reading skills need improvement. No matter, I am sure I will find it. 

Cheers

71 years old and go a job at a Thai University down south. In good health and look a bit younger. It helps if they are desperate.