orchidfan

Btw, I said I'd report after my pension transfer last night. No OTP required# ,but,as usual had to put in my password again. #When I explored further it seems that IF you select the option for 2 x authentication THEN it appears that they send you an OTP, doing that process. I don't....and I use a very good VPN showing me wherever and I guess, protecting the transaction. It arrived in my Thai bank in 8 seconds after. I hit send. For anyone interested, i also select "monthly living expenses"(sic) as reason for sending and it's never delayed or rejected. TIT...what would they know ,or care, what you do with the money after it's in your bank ??

Sorry, but what's the "normal " 60 day extension to a marriage visa/permission to stay? Recent "Normal" 1 year extension based on marriage at Pathum Thani IO, wife got Kor Ror 2 a couple of days before attending. Same every year. Bank letter and statements plus P/Book withdrawal on the same day as attending IO (BBL branch is on the way to Imm. ) No new tricks this year (mid December). Even dropped some of the old "stallers" like TM28, Details of when and where married , My mother and father's full names , penalties form, Previous occupation etc,etc. None.this year !!! Handed in ONE copy of the normal forms/photos at triage and the girls (for a small consideration) made whatever photo copies they wanted whilst we waited outside under the outdoor pavilion with the others. About 20mins later, called in to pay B1900 and obligatory computer photo, then was handed PP with "normal" 30day consideration period.....and receipt. Wife arranged specific day for home visit (convenient to us) for another small enticement ! The Boys and BMW arrived as arranged for coffee and cakes, more blab with 2 neighbors and more inside/outside phone pix (theirs) All finished in about 20 minutes. No dramas/surprises/new procedures etc. whatsoever at Imm office or home. Guess I'm a lucky old F....r

Really ?? The transfers I did a fortnight ago and all the previous transfers every 2 weeks this year did not involve an OTP . I'm doing.f one tomorrow evening so will report back. I have no objection to the OTP security measure (use it all thr time buying air tickets etc using my BBL Debit card......but they come to my registered Thai mobile number here. How.many expats here have ,or need, a functioning Australian mobile phone number ?

OTP?? I've been using Wise for years from Oz to my BBL account here. I DON'T have an Oz phone number. Yes, had to verify ID, then nominate your Oz bank account and any overseas bank accounts (or clients/customers ) to which you wish to transfer. Transfer money from your Oz bank# to your newly established WISE account (which has an Oz BSB and Account number). They notify you in minutes by email/App of your deposit being received and ask where you would like to send it. Usually arrives.in be BB.bank account in under 10 seconds. Bi "cooking a transfer" and getting your funds 2 or 3 days later. Wise's exchange rate is normally exactly or very close to the XE site at the point of transfer. Compared to taking it out of a local ATM I'm up hundreds of dollars saved. # Someone has mentioned previously that you don't have to do this Oz bank transfer to Wise but can do it directly from your bank. I've not done this and like the.quickly notified "money trail".which results from all concerned....including my.thai bank which send instant SMS of the deposit.made by Wise in Thai baht. PS.....NO OTP received by me from Wise or any bank conceded in this process. I use Westpac, maybe other banks differ.

Luckily Andrew the water to our 2 story house, 3 bathrooms and kitchen (they all are in this moo baan) and garden are fed from the underground tank (2000 or 5000 litres I think) via the pressure pump....so never any pressure problems, except if, as happened yesterday, the government water supply fails or is turned off. As I mentioned previously, we had no idea of this cut in supply (it is extremely rare here, maybe 3 times in a 5 year period ) so we were merrily using water everywhere until Mr Hitachi got hot and shut down. Thank goodness for that auto function and not burning out the motor ! Incidentally, since reconnection, the "mains" water seems to be at 3 or 4 times the previous pressure. (There is one tap on this mains line,in the garden, that I can turn on and check. But otherwise that water pipe runs underground only to our main storage tank.

I live in a gated Moo Baan (security entrance etc) in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok. Yesterday, the metropolitan water supply stopped for some unknown reason. Like all the houses in this Moo Baan, we have an underground water tank supplied with water by the MWS, and pumped to the house via pressure pump which, if it runs out of water and gets hot, automatically cuts off. So here we are with no water to the house as the tank had been (unwittingly emptied watering the garden, showers, washing the car etc)......meaning no showers, no water refilling toilets etc. A call to security was enlightening as they informed us "yes the water supply has been cu off !!! But now the good part, about an hour or two later along come a Fire Department water tanker going from house to house to see who needed water ( it was dark by now and mosquitoes out in force). Luckily I was out in the carport and hailed them down as they crawled along the internal road. Two guys jumped off and came over. First young fella only spoke Thai, but the older man decked out in red fireman's outfit took over and spoke near PERFECT English. He quickly assessed the situation and after a few intelligent questions, located our underground tank and proceeded to removed the very heavy concrete cover and tank lid and, bringing a long fire hose from the tanker, commenced filling our tank. I then re-primed the pump and we had water again. (Everyone inside ran for toilets) They then replaced everything correctly and ensured that I was happy that it was all fixed (he assured me that the "mains water would be back on again in about 20 minutes" - and it was !). As they were leaving, I tried to offer them B100 each for their hard work and good response, but it was absolutely refused - no matter how much I insisted. So, 3 things: 1/They knew what they were doing and went about it quickly and efficiently. 2/One at least spoke excellent English which made it all much easier ( on me....wife and family could talk to them in Thai but really had no idea what the problem was) 3/ They categorically refused even a small tip - a first for me after a couple of decades living here. Well done to those guys!!!!

Whilst living 70% of my time here in Los, I also have permanent ID in Hong Kong. Starting in Covid era, the government there has made several cash and "consumer coupons" in the order of $HKD10,000, $5000 etc,etc....and continues to do so now. It goes/went to EVERY legitimate HKID holder.....rich and poor (and there are lots of rich Hongkongers ) It was simply paid into your nominated bank account or a cheque left at your local post office. The most recent "consumer coupons" value has to be spent on local goods and services, and can be downloaded to one's rechargeable "Octopus card" which can be used on trains buses,supermarkets, ferries etc. Ok, there are only about 7million people there, however all these handouts have been achieved quickly,seamlessly and efficiently . The gov't and finance ministry here could learn a lesson from them (it's only 2hrs away). But, as we all know, they hate taking outside advice and prefer to re~invent the wheel every time. Lastly, during Covid, employees who were laid off were able to claim back their lost salary....from the gov't. Employers were compensated if they kept staff on. Again, all done very quickly and efficiently. End of sermon !

Why bother doing at the busy IO office when you can do it in 5 minutes# AT THE AIRPORT ?? # assuming you have the form already filled out with photo attached I've been doing it like this for years now fly regularly to HK, or anywhere o overseas. (Mostly at BKK, but a couple of times at DMK) Also, politely ushered to the front of the Imm desk by a uniformed officer. Maybe because I'm in my early 70's !

My Thai wife and I both live (on and off) in Hong Kong where we have permanent Residence status. EVERYTHING , anywhere (except a few restaurant names etc ) are in both Chinese and English. Also, everyone carries an ID card, which is often checked by cops on the street, on their beat, and always in 7/11 etc before selling alcohol to younger looking people. Like they SHOULD do here instead of the stupid selling hours here. Prostitution is not illegal there.....only running a "house of ill repute" is. They are not stupid....so why make it illegal? I'd say one of the places (of many) I've stayed and lived in worldwide......but a bit expensive.....apart from beer and wine.

Same. Same. Had (well educated and Dato status) Malaysian business friends visit Oz. On my brother's big launch they drank themselves silly on chardonnay and oggled/cuddled the bikini clad girls who had come along for the ride. Offended??? I don't think.so.

Gweilo is our nickname only in Honkers, to the Mainlanders we are Laowai (sic) filth. At least the Chinese coppers can probably speak English, which seems to be a problem for many (most) of the RTP !

In the bar areas that I've been to on the Mainland (as opposed to HK), the police patrol with 1metre long wooden sticks to keep everything in order. Seems to work.....there 😫

Where??? Medpark don't seem to be offering any!?!

I'm in HK at present (permanent resident for 20yrs ) and the locals had no choice....the lease was up and off went the Brits. After over 2 decades working here (although my Thai wife and I mostly live in our house in outer Bangkok ) I haven't noticed any "under the boot of the CCP". But I'm a Guilo, and not into local politics , but I think the British police did a better 'policing' job, day to day, than the present "force". Otherwise everything is about normal.

I'm 70ish now and had a very attractive 24yo tha lady come on to me very strongly....unfortunately she was my wife's younger sister 🤣🤣🤣

My 40yo daughter, wheelchair bound since 12 after an accident, visited me once in Thailand (near Bangkok ) but never again. No problems visiting me in Hong Kong or Singapore, but never Thailand again. Btw, she flies all over Australia and the world with her job, so she's no slacker!

No, Australians call it soccer too. There is soccer, Rugby (league and union ) And then there's REAL Australian Football !

I am currently in Hong Kong (have permanent HKID, but reside 90% in TH) and what a pleasure it is to be able to use English, and be understood! Shop/ bar staff, bank staff ,taxi drivers, police, train and ferry staff/crews etc,etc. Even though the colonial Brits are long gone m, English AND Mandarin are taught as mandatory subjects. (Speak, read and write both) And if you don't Pass, you stay down a year until you get it right . Of course Cantonese is their native everyday language, yet they remain proficient in English. I think Singapore is similar, and look at the multicultural mix that place is. Thailand has a long way to go!

I think you might have misunderstood. This over the PAST 20 years u.til this day. Not 20yrs ago. If you're going to hire a driver and Limo why even post / comment about taxis at BKK? Like I said.....never had a problem in the past 20 years !

I must be just lucky. Never had one taxi driver who didn't use the meter at Arrivals, BKK. That's over 20 years. And I usually give them a good tip when I arrive safely at my house....although they don't know that and seem not to expect it, when we start the journey.

Yes, correct ! The 4br, 3 bathroom, 2 storey, big garden house in Pathum Thani cost (20yrs ago ) about 1 mill $HKD. This tiny flat (2 br, 1 bathroom etc) now would sell for about 4~6 mill HKD !!! Crazy. But good location, next to an MTR exit. Tram, 5 mins walk away,etc. And as a Senior (or Elder person ) I go almost anywhere for $HK 2. Although airport bus is only 50% discount, but at 21 Hkd, not too bad. As you probably know, everything works here....power, internet etc, typhoon or not. But Thailand (thai wife) is a third of the cost, or less (especially medical...virtually free ) to live long term.

Well. He is 100% correct. I'm presently in HK (permanent HKID),and ,yes, I for one was here when the Brits left in 1997. And Kowloon was (still is) crap. Wanchai and LKF were where the action was. But Covid killed a lot of it, sadly. I have a large house in outer Bangkok and a tiny flat in Wanchai. So I know about "Tale of 2 cities".

The thing I've always found strange about this Embassy /Consulate "income thing" is that if you go in to make a stat dec, then my understanding was that you, and only you, are making a declaration, and the Embassy were simply confirming your signature and Identity ......... NOT SAYING that your declaration is true or false!!! Does.this mean then, that these Embassies not longer witness ANY stat. Decs???

I used Asian Tigers as well when we moved from Hong Kong to here (2016) They were excellent door to door. My employer (HK Govt) paid for everything so I had to submit 3 quotes for approval. Asian Tigers were the winners and I would thoroughly recommend. I am Aussie but not sure the AT operate OZ to TH. Have a search and find out. PS., I didn't pay ANY local customs fees or "agents".....they might have but the whole deal was one fee, 20ft FCL, packing and unpacking. Nothing lost or broken.. Good luck!

She is his SISTER not his daughter !