Caldera

If I had children in Thailand and couldn't stay any longer, I would neither overstay nor leave them behind - they would come with me. If I had to bribe or kill to take them along, I would.

That said, I couldn't imagine to subject my own children to Thailand's abysmal education system, so it's a moot point really.

OP, luckily you had that engagement ceremony as a trial run for the real thing, in a way it was money well spent - if you draw the right conclusions.

Now that your fiancee and her family have failed your gold digger test, there's only one sensible option: run!

It's a great idea, I just don't think it will work. It's almost impossible to find Thai English teachers who can actually speak English (let alone teach it), and with coding it will probably be worse, because there's real money in using that skill commercially instead of teaching it.

Finally Boris will be put to the test. I predict failure of epic proportions, but hey, I might be wrong.

Those generals. One needs adult diapers and another one already shows signs of senility. Too late to retire gracefully!

You could always check their official website. Rule of thumb, slots for applications other than tourist visa can be booked without too much of a lead time.

I like a challenge. Although I had other plans originally, I will apply for a SETV in Vientiane next month and I won't use their silly little appointment system before heading there.

@marcusarelusWe all know that, but we also know that the median IQ in Thailand is well below 100.

8 hours ago, elviajero said:

It's resident, not "tax resident". The point is that if tax law considers you resident, how can anyone justify they are a tourist.

Okay. So I have been a resident AND a tax resident of Thailand since 2007. They haven't collected even one baht in tax from me. Why? Because their taxation is tailored towards favoring rich Thais with overseas income. Do you honestly believe I should feel guilty for exploiting that? I don't think so!

It's not even a loophole, you could drive the proverbial bus/truck through that "loophole".

I think if you went on Shark Tank, you'd find it very hard to justify your valuation considering your monthly profit and nature of your business. Not sure about Thailand though.

That many members of Thailand's public service have mental issues is evident just from watching them. The interesting question is, is that a prerequisite for the job or does their work deform them?

"Lt-Gen Sompong said he was promoting tourism, wanted cordial relations with foreigners and praised Thai immigration's reporting app as easy and quick to use."

Luckily he's not delusional. At all.

2 hours ago, giddyup said:

He's a scumbag megalomaniac.

You're just jealous.

I have nothing but contempt for certain kangaroo courts that I will not name.

2 hours ago, Lemonlime said:

anyways I never knew that this changes THAT frequently. I thought it is like other countries. All set, the end... for a looong time 

Just the way things are right now. Unfortunately it really isn't possible to tell you anything with certainty.

"PIBICS stands for the Personal Identification Blacklist Immigration Control System."

Approved by the Ministry of Acronyms, I sure hope.

1 minute ago, giddyup said:

Let them get their kickbacks, after all, it's supply and demand, but why make life even more difficult for those that comply?

Because the result will be that more people will want or have to use the agents. More kickbacks.

They won't be able to control it - and that's a good thing.

1 hour ago, pookondee said:

Im no investigational expert, but would it not be easy enough for police to catch the bad guys when they are blatantly advertising in plain sight?

Sure. And that it doesn't happen tells you everything you need to know.

Thailand 0.4, that system seems to be pure crap.

3 hours ago, time2093 said:

Sorry, But sounds like your just like many others who are living in Thailand on a tourist visa as no legitimate tourist stays 305 out of 365 days a year in a foreign country and calls himself a tourist.

Nothing wrong with that at all, as long as you don't do anything that a tourist cannot legally do. If you have the time and the money, you can be a tourist for a lot longer than one year (I'll hit 13 years in September).

So what's the deal at UOB besides those 50,000 baht? Any supporting documents needed to open an account, or just the passport?