scorecard

Reality is that the PR applicant needs to accumulate the needed application documents and the agent can do nothing more than check that all the documents have been added to the pile, translations (as needed and as indicated in the list of documents needed) is complete. In reality there is no need for the agent to attend any meeting / interview etc., and as already mentioned there is no NEGOTIATION. One more point, the specific list of documents needed to apply for PR is easily found on the appropriate website. The website address has been published here many times before. I can't quickly find the website address, can another member please share the website address. thanks.

A lesson here for others. The PR application is straight forward, but a lot of readily available docs are needed. Don't be intimidated by this. I've heard of agents claiming that there's complex negotiation needed during the process and it must be done by a licensed lawyer. All total absolute bull<deleted> - it's quite straight forward - applicants either meet the requirements or not. The most critical is proof of working 3 years continuously in Thailand with a work permit plus proof that the applicant has paid their Thai personal taxes for that period. Plus the applicant must be working with a thai work permit at the time of lodging the application for PR. Must also be proof that the work the foreigner is doing is valuable in terms of the development of Thailand and proof that the knowledge / skills involved are being passed onto Thai employees. There's more: proof that the applicant has no criminal record in Thailand or in their home country, proof of advanced education helps plus proof that the applicant has made contributions to the Thai Red Cross society or similar helps. Also proof that the applicant does have long-term self supporting financial strength. Also it helps for the applicant to go to the interview dressed smartly (long pants but no need for suit, collar and tie). Also at the interview some of the conversation will be conducted in Thai language, no need to be afraid of this it's usually quite simple Thai. No harm in wife (nicely dressed) going with farang husband to the interview but the conversation is usually 99% with the applicant. (I asked about this when I lodged my application for PR and got approved 27 years ago. The response: being married to a Thai lady is not a requirement and doesn't give the applicant any preference over single applicants. Further comment: 'The application for PR is about YOU (the foreigner) it's not about your marriage situation'. 200,000Baht fee - outrageous - cannot be justified.

From above: "...more than I would get in the US (or Australia - where I am also a citizen). I am a farang that has worked in Thailand for 30+ years, and have standard Social Security medical insurance as a result of being an employee in Thailand. Yes, for me that gives me priority and guaranteed medical care." Also very long-term and I am a continuing member of the Thai Social Security Injury and Sickness benefits scheme and I pay 432Baht a month. Excellent service. I agree wait time is a bit longer than a so called 'Thailand 5 star hospital), but it well tolerable. Also a citizen of Australia and I confirm the Australian Medicare national system is first class and basically free. Only better i've seen is a short stay in a Sydney hospital using my Australian Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA) gold health card (I am a Vietnam war Veteran). Superb medical care, best specialists and very professional very attentive nursing care, services, facilities. Totally free. Even a free taxi to go home.

Please share, what was the premium, and premium for this year?

'pro bono' I very much doubt that's in the story (deal). May take some time to be seen but have a little patience.

and ignorant.

Did he share his plan to converse with these folks with any appropriate person from the Thai gov't. Very doubtful, he sees himself above all.

Sorry but I'm not comfortable to share the hospital name, but the premises recently, for several months, had a 'special guest convict' in residence. At the time my son was taken there I was working on a project in Singapore, his buddy called me, I took the next flight back to BKK and went straight to the hospital. Took some time for the admin. to find his name and I was escorted (felt like an alien) to his ward, which had no air-con and no fans, just open windows. I mentioned that he had good health insurance which would more than cover the cost of an air-con room. A senior was called and explained (very arrogantly) that air-con rooms are reserved for very senior gov't officials and family. Plus 'you are farang, also your son so your son doesn't qualify for an air-con room. I explained my son was born in Thailand and his mother was a Thai citizen. response: 'I don't believe you it's illegal for Thai citizens to have farang family names'. End of discussion. I quickly bought many large floor fans and had them delivered to the ward. The Snr. nurse rejected them rudely and said in English 'mind your own business' and she called some labour staff to immediately take the fans away. Where they went I never discovered. I do realize that it would have been better to ask first but I was in panic to get some relief with some air movement around my sons bed and for others in the ward.

And there's other angles. My Thai son had high level comprehensive cover with BUPA (now owned by another insurer). Son got hurt playing football, got taken to a Thai gov't hospital. In prep. for discharge after several days stay and some surgery he asked for a med report to give to his health insurance company along with his claim. Then the jackals descended: - Have to give a sizeable tip to each of the nursing team for them to then ask the nursing senior about the med. report. - Was also told the nursing snr would require an even bigger tip before she approached the doctors involved for med. reports. - Was also told the 3 doctors involved would want to receive 10,000Baht each in advance plus a signed promise then would ultimately receive, in total about 60% of the refund from the health insurance company. In the meantime the hospital accounting dept had given him a bill nearly 200,000Baht. Son was quite intimidated and asked me what to do. I called the health insurance company, explained all of the above and asked for their advice. Response from health company: you have to decide and there's nothing we can do to help. Son then advised the hospital staff he had made a mistake, his policy had lapsed because family had not paid the most recent renewal, and he therefore had no insurance cover, and it was too late to renew. And he told them 'I don't want any med. reports'. Hospital staff then expressed anger and let him know, along with several nasty comments about farang (he is a Thai citizen but his family name is a typical farang name).

So sounds like it's highly dangerous for anybody to take / pay for any form of health insurance.

A big assumption on your part, let's hope that's not true.

Nothing confusing about the previous comment. The poster has strong negative views about previous / any military governments for Thailand, and I agree. You might like to remember that the Move Forward party won a very large number of seats at the last election way ahead of the next biggest number of seats. But military games / the military dominated senate ensured that a military general became the PM who achieved nothing over many years. Meanwhile other ASEAN countries have moved on and are doing well in economic / infrastructure terms: e.g. Vietnam and Indonesia.

matching colours by electronic identification in Thailand?

Your choice, there's a million brands on the market, some massage venues have a couple of brands, many just one brand. I just say 'cream', I should of course be more specific / more selective. On the other hand many customers say 'oil' and the reality is that the oil actually used is very probably very low quality cheap oil. (I don't ask for oil because I find it takes 2 or more showers to totally remove the oil and I really dislike the feeling of oil still on my skin but maybe others don't have this issue). I've never visited a massage shop which offered (put in front of the customer) a selection of brands of oil.

In some countries / states, school zones are seriously monitored plus in one state I'm aware of vehicles cannot go over the marked school crossing more than 25 km hr. Plus all must stop totally and wait when any pedestrian is about to step onto the markings on the road, and must wait until the pedestrians are safely on the opposite footpath area. Plus 24 hr cameras, which can be watched by anybody on the internet. Break the law and there's very serious punishment including license cancelled for life, jail. fines that will bankrupt the offender, and public shaming.

Further, given the total time since the 'accident' and the involvement of many officers, must be several hundred who have been bought in some way. So how could there ever be any successful court action.

Some years back I regularly flw TG. I never had a problem with the seats, I did have issues with their attitude.

Then study their website.

Not true, many director and snr. operational m'ment positions are filled by civilians. How capable they are and whether nepotism is involved is a different subject.

Your brain is on overdrive, slow down...

Agree, rubbish, it's not the average Thai woman. It happens in every country with both women and men.

Yes but be fair, this happens in every country.

But it often takes several showers with lots of shampoo / body wash to completely remove the oil. So I ask for cream massage.

Or call out loudly 'JEP' 'JEP' (hurts). That will usually reduce the power being used.

Towards the end of Covid- 19 I flew Singapore Airlines (SQ) from Sydney to S'pore, then on to BKK. Special repatriation flight, one way only, passenger needed to have special entry document to enter Thailand (I have Thai PR which made this easier). Very low fare. Flight departed late from Sydney because of childish behaviors of one Aussie lady who didn't have the correct Covid- 19 negative report. Arrived Changi late with 50 minutes to change flights and depart Changi on time for Bkk. SQ staff very organized and focused. I use a wheelchair, after all other passengers exited (50 in total) 3 staff quickly came on board and carefully / quickly escorted / carried me to the aircraft door and into a motorized wheelchair and headed quickly for the next departure gate. Reseated very quickly, ground staff and cabin crew very organized to ensure I / all passengers were comfortable. SQ hostie whispered 'I will get you a hot drink as soon we get to cruising level, do you prefer tea or coffee?' Coffee came as indicated and a box of 12 nice cookies. As soon as all passengers all seated for SG - Bkk leg the captain announced 'all check-in luggage has been transferred and is on board already, we are moving off now, about 47 minutes to do the flight change over. And he thanked all the cabin crew.