RotBenz8888

Could someone recommend a good ENT specialist in Bangkok, preferably at Bumrungrad or Rama9 hospital?

When applying for a non o family visa in your home country, can you use a bank statement from a bank in your home country to prove your 400k funding?

On 11/10/2023 at 11:11 AM, megapix said:

Signed copy of Laos visa (entry stamp and visa sticker)

What is the process of getting that Laos visa?

The question is what'll happen to Bitcoin when Nasdaq crashes in q1.

9 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

That's a USD strength issue, rather than a Thailand issue

Is it? Looks like sideways since 2020.

Smalcaps havent move much either. Like emerging markets in general.

Does SET100 better reflect the oveall economy? Hasn't moved since ~2012.

2 minutes ago, msbkk said:

First of all the SET index in 1997 was at a level where it simply should not have been, there was a huge bubble at that time. As another poster has mentioned there was a property bubble, a lot of highflying stocks without real value went bankrupt and so simply do not exist anymore since that time. 

 

All SET indices are dominated by the same few huge corporations and do not really reflect the overall economy in my view. 

 

That crash was deep, but set recovered, yet 2007-now, SET50 has barely moved.

Do you know any better Thai stockmarket index?

Just now, Mike Lister said:

If you google, "developers warn over unsold homes" you'll see a Bangkok Post article that talks about the oversupply of unsold units and increased NPL's and borrowings. Almost certainly middle class Thai's are not the drivers of the housing market at present.

Then how come the whole market isn't imploding?

Just now, Mike Lister said:

There are some clues in the link below:

 

https://www.thailand-business-news.com/top-news/real-estate

 

Foreign property buyers mostly, Russians, Chinese and others, almost certainly not a majority being sold to middle class Thai's.

 

Cars will be mostly the native population of course who have easy access to credit. NPL's have been increasing.

To a large extent, yes. But if you go beyond the typical expst/tourist areas. You still Se a significant prosperity. Ive traveled to Nakhorn Si thammarat on a regular basis the past 15 years or so, I've seen the moo baan developments explode.  I seriously doubt its Russians or Chinese expats buying there. 

16 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

Is the middle class growing, what evidence do you have for that? If it is growing, it's growing on credit rather than on earnings, the GDP figures confirm that.

Then who do you suggest is buying all the condoes, houses and cars in Thailand? Chinese expats?

17 minutes ago, msbkk said:

While the SET 50 has 50 underlying stocks the weightings are not representative for the economy overall. Energy stocks alone have a weighting of close to 30% of the index. Another 25% are banks and communication stocks. Another reason is that stock prices do not always reflect the economy overall, expecially foreigners have withdrawn lots of capital this year. 

Do you know of any other Thai index that is better in terms of reflect the overall economy?

As a side note, interesting that HK50 also is at 1997 levels.

20 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

Equity markets like the SET are a forward view of the economy, selected companies have grown but most have flatlined. Pockets of private wealth exist but wealth across the board has remained flat, if not fallen. The Thai economy is dependent on two things, customs or goods exports which represents about 60% of GDP, and, international tourism which represents around 12%. For the SET to begin to trend upwards, exports would also have to do the same. That would mean that businesses are growing, new businesses being created and the demand for Thai products increasing. In general, those things aren't happening, there is a lack of innovation and quality levels are low. Another factor is that the wealth in the country is on the hands of a few. So whilst the likes of Central Group expands overseas, the vast majority simply don't grow.

 

 

Why is middle class growing property market sky rocketing etc? My perception is that they're economy is booming, or is it all an illusion?

17 minutes ago, Celsius said:

1997 property bubble

That certainly was a sharp drop, but once the Set recovered, it has stayed flat. From ~2007 until now, it's gone nowhere.

Thailand has developed significantly over the past 20+ years, with a growing middle class. At least on the surface, in Bangkok and provinces, it appears to be an enormous growth of people with expensive condos, houses, cars and spendings in shopping malls etc. But the SET50 hasn't gone anywhere since 1996. Any economist who'd like to explain how that is that possible?

40 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

Are you applying from the  UK ?  If so you need to look a little more carefully at what kind of tourist visa they might give you,  There is indeed a multiple entry tourist visa option available if one selects  "Tourism and leisure activities" as the reason for applying ,   BUT.....  If you state on your application that you want the visa in order to visit "family" then you will find that the multiple entry option is no longer there,  and only a single entry option is available  

 And for anybody thinking of disagreeing, don't bother as I have just checked on the UK e-visa website

 

On the positive side,  the application process for METVs seems a bit easier than before the recent changes,  there was no financial evidence required, or tax return or employers letter,  and no need to do a selfie holding ones passport,  at least that's how it was a month ago

Seems like theyre making it increasingly difficult for those with a Thai wife.

Hs anyone read something about this new rule on any embassy website?

1 hour ago, Lite Beer said:

Yes it does.

Not in London or Sweden. Perhaps different rules dependent on location?

On 11/27/2023 at 4:21 PM, UKresonant said:

If you are only needing 5 months at a time. The single entry non-O + 60 day extension is probably your best bet. 

In the UK they want £1000 on a bank statement for a single and £10000 in the bank for a multi entry.

(More stringent about giving the Multi these days) So your RTE will be similar probably.

If you have clear breaks of weeks  between single entries, especially if you return to your home country, don't anticipate it would be a problem...

 

The multi non-O is an excellent visa, when I had them previously, but I was returning to the UK often.

Sadly, multi non-o marrige does not exist anymore.

6 hours ago, mlkik said:

I have also received an email confirmation that multiple entry is no longer available. The advice was to apply for single entry and extend in Thailand.

 Doesn't work if one only stays 4-8 weeks at the time.

3 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

So I understand that the multiple entry option for spouse visa is no longer available. I travel from Europe to Thailand 4 times per year and stay 8 weeks each time. Would 4 Tourist visas per year be a better option for me now, perhaps less hassle and cheaper?

Funny enough, when I choose the "visit family less than 60d" choice on the online application, I'm granted a tourist visa😂. And there's a multiple entry option, valid for 6 months...guess I'm gonna be a tourist again after all these years.

Hello there,

What is your rank system based on, Ive made ~4000 posts yet I'm only a rookie gold member.

So I understand that the multiple entry option for spouse visa is no longer available. I travel from Europe to Thailand 4 times per year and stay 8 weeks each time. Would 4 Tourist visas per year be a better option for me now, perhaps less hassle and cheaper?

Ubonjoe, do you know why it says "User is Suspended" ? 

3 hours ago, Jack1988 said:

I don't know why but what I can tell is that immigration like to give a lot of stress!

I think I tried 20 times now, I'm about to give up. Such a waste of time.