Mike Teavee

11 hours ago, Mansell said:

Clothes cheaper there than here.....where were you shopping here? I can buy shorts for a hundred baht.....shirts for two hundred.....sandals for eight hundred......and I checked out M and S here, I won't be shopping there any time soon.

I suspect you're comparing apples to oranges when it comes to quality,

How much in LOS for a genuine pair of Armani jeans (£100 in UK) or a Jack Jones T-Shirt (picked them up for as little as £5 / < 200 THB in end of season (winter) sales, doesn't matter to me it's 28-34 all year round here so I try to buy my T-Shirts on winter trips to the UK).

Even getting stuff tailored made is no cheaper in Thailand anymore, a (genuine) Hugo Boss suit tailor fitted (OK, not quite tailored made but same-same) in the UK £350, Tailor made suit in Bangkok using the best quality material they had 13,500 THB (£360) - The Boss suit is head & shoulders better quality & a better fit (better cloth = a better drop). 

Oh and the quality of M&S suits for the price is outstanding (wore them for years when I worked in the UK & they lasted for years) 

Thailand is cheaper if you're buying replicas/imitation.no-brand "Wear it a few times then throw away" stuff, but I doubt any cheaper than the stuff you can get in Primark (I wouldn't know, have never shopped there), but is much more expensive for quality branded stuff that's going to last you for years.

Straight forward answer is YES, as long as it

1. Comes over as an FTT (Foreign Transfer - How are you Transfering the money across as it doesn't always show as FTT with Transferwise)
2. Is transferred every month (Not 6k every quarter etc...)
3. Happens more or less around the same date every month

In addition to copies of your passbook, you will need a letter from the Bank showing the 12 payments & (depending on your Immigration Office) you might need proof of where the funds came from (Phuket is the only office that I've read are asking for proof of a Pension), which IO do you use?

Or just refresh the page (Hit F5 if you're using Windows).

On 9/7/2019 at 11:58 AM, wgdanson said:

True, but why would Lankies be using Cockney rhyming slang. Hmmmm. 

But yes, in the Urban Dictionary is has an example ' Fack me, I'm brassic this week cos I've eaten too many rubys'    LOL

I was born in Lancashire (Warrington, got "Re-Assigned" to Cheshire when I was about 10) & everybody there knows that if you say "I'm Brassic" it means you're skint... 

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I spent 60bht yesterday, 2 coffees at Nana bakery, haven't been out today 0bht.

Yesterday's spends...

• 83c (18 THB) Bus to work
• s$5 (110 THB) Breakfast
• s$8 (175 THB) Taxi to airport (Normally about 10c/22 THB on MRT but flying Thai Airways & couldn't be bothered with the hike from MRT to T1)
• 400 THB Taxi - BKK-2-Condo
• 700 THB Tower of beer (Met up with my mate, his gf & mine) 
• 350 THB Food for me & gf

... < 2000

Add in 7000 for flight (Last minute hence flying Thai & not SQ) 500 for fast track at airport (have an annual deal that costs 20,000 & use it 40 times a year) and we're still at less than 10,000 for what is obviously not a "Normal" day.

Unless you have extraordinary expenses (e.g. Octets in Private School), how anybody spends more than 10k a day, every day (Not holiday) is beyond me...

I figure a great budget is around 3k a day "Scratch" money - I'd be more than happy with that 

3 hours ago, racinkc1 said:

Is there any link or site you would recommend that has Thailands specific policies? I began reading the U.S's policies. But first things first. Do I even want a multiple entry visa? Let's just say I want to stay for a year and I would like to travel but if it complicates my citizenship then no go. Im really coming to study/live for a year and maybe someday invest and retire like many others. I also may want to travel or come back to the US during summer. 

As you've said you plan on doing some travelling in the region, I would recommend you look at a Travel insurance policy from somebody like World Nomads.... https://www.worldnomads.com/eu/ 

I know a few people have suggested getting an METV & this would be the best Visa option for your needs (unless you want to pay < 500,000 THB for an Elite Visa), but are you sure you're eligible for one?

1. Your actual Passport or Travel Document. (Passport or Travel Document must not expire within 6 months and contain at least ONE completely empty visa page).
2. One visa application form completely filled out  (Download)
3. Two passport-size photographs (2″x2″) (photocopy or photo taken from Photostat will not be accepted). Photographs must have a light color background with a full- face view of the person without wearing a hat or dark glasses and covering up shoulders Photos must be taken within 6 months.
4. A copy of flight confirmation/reservation , showing going from US to Thailand and leaving from Thailand (The name of the applicant must indicated clearly)
5. A copy of  bank statement for the last 6 months with a minimum balance of $7,000 (every months) (The name of the applicant must indicated clearly)
6. Hotel reservation confirmation (The name of the applicant must indicated clearly)
7. For non-US citizen, a copy of permanent resident alien card or a copy of valid US visa
8. A letter proof of employment ( **we don’t accept pay stubs**)
9. For students, full-time student status proof
10. For self-employed, business license or business registration indicating the applicant’s name.
11. For minor under 20 years old, please provide following documents
12. – Notarized copy of a birth certificate
13. – Notarized copy of marriage certificate , In case of sole custody notarized copy of court order must be provided.
14. – Notarized copy or original passports or ID of mother and father/ legal guardian
15. – Original letter of notarized consent for the minor to travel abroad from mother and father/ legal guardian
16. ***All supporting materials that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations and certified by an embassy only ***
17. For Nigerian nationalities and passport holders, Certificate of Clearance from NDLEA and authenticated by The Ministry of Foreign Affair of Nigeria and Royal Thai Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria

I'm assuming you don't have an employer so will not be able to meet point 8, there is an option (point 9) for Students but does "Online Student" count? Obviously the best thing to do is to check with the embassy 

To be perfectly honest, I think the best Visa for your circumstances/requirements is a one year tourist visa... for Vietnam... Easy enough to visit Thailand from there

Good Luck with whatever you decide & enjoy the journey ???? 

3 hours ago, adammike said:

It's the British Isles that's the geographical term,Great Britain is a political term I think!

Great Britain is actually an Island, as it name suggests it's the largest of the British Isles...

Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of 209,331 km² (80,823 sq mi), it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island, and the ninth-largest island in the world.^{[6][note 1]} In 2011, Great Britain had a population of about 61 million people, making it the world's third-most populous island after Java in Indonesia and Honshu in Japan.^[8][9] The island of Ireland is situated to the west of Great Britain, and together these islands, along with over 1,000 smaller surrounding islands, form the British Isles archipelago.^[10]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain  

...  but is also a Political term used to describe the Union of England, Scotland & Wales... So if Scottish Independence happens, then Scotland would leave Great Britain (The Political Term) but still be part of Great Britain (The Island) ???? 

Anyway the point I was originally trying to make was that Brexit impacts the whole of the UK not just England or Great Britain 

13 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

For now.

Politics aside, Great Britain is a geographical term used to describe the largest island in the British Isles so Scotland & Wales will always be a part of GB, just as they (& England) will always be part of Europe. 

42 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

If Article 50 is revoked, we stay on exactly the same terms that we're on now. Just like it had never happened.

Ahh bliss....

I suspect that there would be some fine tuning to the agreement (a bit like Cameron should have done to avoid the referendum in the 1st place).

32 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

did you forgot Wales and Scotland in purpose

No I didn't... England, Scotland & Wales are part of Great Britain.... Northern Ireland is not, therefore the UK is Great Britain & Northern Ireland... 

2 hours ago, alanrchase said:

London is just a small part of England.

Surely that should be London is just a small part of Great Britain? Or is Brexit really only an English thing?

Actually that should be "London is just a small part of the United Kingdom"  (Great Britain + Northern Ireland) 

On 8/30/2019 at 10:24 PM, IvorBiggun2 said:

Who said I was bored? The biggest joke in the movies was based on reindeer meat. But being non Skandi it didn't come off. Well not for me it didn't.

Sorry OT... 

I remember visiting a company in Stockholm, for lunch they took us to the Exec Canteen & served us Reindeer meat

    I said "You can't eat Reindeer Meet"

    My host replied "Why Not"

    I replied "Because it's Christmas"... Well it was December 20th so I wasn't about to eat Rudolf... 

Sorry back to Topic, I tried Carnival Row & fell asleep 1/2 way through Episode 1 which seemed to be a "Who Done It" type story line & woke up to a Civil War movie or something (I was watching it on Amazon Prime so the next episode automatically plays & I must have slept through 2.5 episodes).

Story line did sound interesting so will give it another whirl if it gets enough thumbs up on here ???? 

15 minutes ago, Solinvictus said:

If the TM6 has the same registered address as your previously completed TM30?  Still need to do a TM30 upon arrival?

 

Secondly, what about just doing a TM28 and reporting at the police station, would that be accepted upon return?

 

For Chaengwattana. 

Technically you're supposed to complete a TM30 at your local immigration office as well as the TM6 at the airport when arriving in Thailand but conventional wisdom seems to be only do the TM30 if you've got something else to do at immigration 

a TM28 is to change your registered (via a previous TM28) address so is not the same as the TM30 

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Did those people spending less than Baht 5,000 a day take into account accommodation, transportation, health costs, insurance, etc.?

 

I keep a record of my annual pension and investment income, as well as how much money I have in banks in Thailand and overseas - on my calculations I spend just under Baht 25,000 per day to live in Thailand.

 

 

Did you include accommodation etc... 

25,000 per day is approximately 750,000 per month, I split my time (10 days Singapore, 5 days BKK, 10 days SG, 5 days BKK etc...), I have yearly rents on newish 2 bed condos in both places within spitting distance to the MRT in SG & BTS in BKK, and including the expenses of flying in/out a couple of times a month spend about 1/3rd of that

Granted I have no debts/dependents, don't maintain a car (pointless in both places IMHO) & don't (directly) pay the GF but I do like a few bottles of wine per week & the odd mad night out and don't deny myself anything.

You

7 minutes ago, Selatan said:

On second thought, a Chinese-Singaporean female having a name Yin is possible if she's a Hakka. But that Yin also means Ying in Mandarin or Cantonese.

You're absolutely right, her name is Yin (with 1 "N")...

26 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Oh you boring guy.

No knowledge, but think know everything. 

 

Ask your thai friend (sorry forgot about that you don’t have thai friend). Ask your Thai wife about name “Yinn”. 

 

I not not going to answer you anymore. You make stupid “joke” about people die in the flood. 

You are so low. You pitiful guy, but I don’t feel pity for you.

goodbye. 

Yinn is the name of my Ex Chinese-Singaporean gf & she was absolutely stunning so I'm going to say Yinn means "Freakin Hot" ???? 

5 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

You're not extending a non O. You're extending your permission to stay and the only place you can get a permission to stay is in Thailand. 

Semantics... you're extending the permission to stay that your visa (or previous extension) gives you

Why bother posting such tripe???

59 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Beautiful place, hope the rain eases off so you can enjoy your trip there.

 

 

Back to the TM30, I sort of understand why Thailand wants to do it (Somebody arriving could put any address on their TM6, the landlord confirming this will help Thailand know where people are actually staying) but you can understand why it makes life difficult for genuine people, especially those who travel a lot (in-country or abroad).

 

I work in Singapore, spend 10 days there then Thurs-Mon in Bangkok... I arrive at 8PM on the Thursday and need to leave my Condo (yearly lease) at 3PM on the Monday, if I have to complete a TM30 then that's the whole of my Friday taken up with a visit to CW to confirm that I'm staying at the Condo which I've registered I'm living at previously & the address that I've put down on my TM6.

 

You can see how these rules "hurt" genuine tourists (Yes I have a Condo lease, but it's a holiday home to me so I do view myself as a Tourist when in Thailand, the Company I work for will not let me work anywhere without the appropriate Visa) 

 

I've already been impacted by the clamp down on too many Visa Exempt entries (come & go 20 times a year so had to get a Non-O (> 50) visa to avoid problems at immigration) so I hope you can also understand that it's not just the TM30, it's an accumulation of things that is making it very hard for "Good Guys" to choose Thailand as their home (or Holiday Home)

 

 

Edit to add: I'm waiting for docs from my landlord to enable me to register for the online system if I can successfully do this then I have no problems at all in doing a TM30 every visit, if I can't then I'll pay an agent 2,00 THB when I have to (E.g. Last time due to my yearly extension being due) & risk the fine the rest of the time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apologies for quoting my own post but I was too late to edit the typo...

Agents charges 2,000 THB (Including the "Fine", which pi55ed me off as I was well within the 24 hours but had to pay the same) to file a TM30, PM if you're in BKK & want to know the details of the agent (Suk Soi 24).

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Moon, am I correct re Savanaket not requiring money in bank. Might be bonus for OP

You don't need the money in the bank when applying at Savannakhet but will need it there for 2 months before applying for the extension so unless you're plan is to continue on 90 day Non-Os from Savannakhet best to put it in there when you go to get your 1st visa & then 60 days into it you can apply for a 1 year extension (You'll actually get 13 months as they'll start it from the end of the Visa/permission to stay not date of application).

13 minutes ago, ChomDo said:

Thanks for the reply. All our finances are in Thailand so I would have to transfer the money to my Thai account from Thailand. So you're saying this is OK but then I would have to travel to a neighbouring country's Thai consulate to apply for the Non O, I guess that's fine for me as long as it gets done. And any idea about my first question?

If entering on a Visa Exempt & converting you'll have to show the money came from overseas & there are no seeding requirements

If extending a Non-O got from another country, then the money needs to be in your account for 2 months prior and doesn't matter where it came from

As already advised, Put the 400K into an account go to Savannakhet get a 90 day Non-O Visa on the basis of being married to a Thai & 30 days before it's due to expire get an extension on the basis of being married to a Thai, the 400K would have been in your account for at least 2 months by then so will be acceptable, they won't care where it came from.

Alternative is to transfer the 400K from outside of Thailand & with at least 15 days on your Visa Exempt (or Extension) apply for the conversion - They will insist the money came from outside of Thailand but won't care how long it has been in your account

2 hours ago, Momofarang said:

Nah everyone on the planet knows that Eddy Merckx was a Belgian.

 

And Kudos to the Belgian Embassy, they are doing what they are meant to do, no more, no less. Every such complaint should be seen as a subsequent action with the media.

Sorry I had to Google who Eddy Merckx was (I'm obviously not a Cycling fan).

Now if you'd have said Hercule Poirot then we all know he's from Belgium (well he would be if he wasn't a fictional character) which is a part of France isn't it??? [Joke, in keeping with the fact HP is always asked if he's French ????].

Joking aside, well done to the Belgian Embassy for taking this forward on behalf of their citizens, I won't hold my breath waiting for the UK one to do the same. 

28 minutes ago, Humpy said:

So if I spend 23 hrs and 45 min away then that's OK is it ?

On a similar note, I arrive in Thailand on a Friday evening & leave 1st thing on a Monday morning, how am I supposed to report at CW during that time?

(Though I note in a different thread that CM has started opening at the weekends/Public Holidays for TM30 reporting).