ShortTimed

Miami is arguably part of Latin America in culture.

It's not really on topic for obvious reasons.

For Americans it would be repatriation rather than expatriation.

For others it would be migration to Latin American micro region of a mostly non Latin American nation.

Also the USA does not offer a retirement visa.

Puerto Rico could be viewed in a similar way.

That said the Spanish I'm learning is useless in Thailand but would be vital to living in Latin America and also very useful and rewarding if repatriating to many areas in the USA.

 

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I am sorry.

I never thought about US requirements on visas. Most snowbirds from Canada only go for winter months and then return home.

 

Best wishes on your travels.

  indeed it's the altitude that causes fatigue...yer cardio - resp system will havta work harder until you acclimatize...I lived in andean Bolivia some years ago at around 8400ft, etc...athletes from different countries have complained about needing to perform in mex DF needing an acclimatization period...just take it easy and don't overdo the activity until things come to an equilibrium...   wish I had the pension income to live there, one of my favorite cities...

 

 

 

 

 

 Yes thinner air at altitude AND many pollutants in the MC air such as CO that more readily binds with the RBC than O2.

Google how to increase red blood cells or anemia to find recommendations to speed your acclimation.

 

Good luck.

 

 

Does Florida qualify as Latin America? It used to be owned by the Spanish and is largely Spanish speaking today.

Like many Canadians, thats where I plan to retire.




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There is no reason one would need to go through KL on the way to the US for a family emergency.  It's only entering Thailand which is a problem - and only at entry-points that don't follow the law.    They might harangue you on the way out - angry you used a law-abiding entry point to avoid their legally-unsanctioned agenda - but I haven't read about cases of "denial of exit."

 

 

 Yes I now understand what you are saying and it is very knowledgable and excellent advice but if a traveller has a R/T LAX-BKK then he can change the return date easily and may even get the change fee waived.

 

On the other hand, if he has a ticket R/T LAX-KUL and receives the news of family emergency while in Thailand then he basically gives up the return leg of this ticket and is forced to buy a last minute ticket BKK-LAX which are often higher priced last minute fares.

 

Many US carriers no longer offer bereavement fares and no discount for other related emergencies.

 

This is what I see when I apply your suggestion to my own circumstances. Yes, it is a workaround and possibly the only one available but it does have shortcomings to consider.

 

I am in the OPs shoes and really thinking the old Thailand that was a great budget travel destination friendly to expats is a thing of the past. For me looking at this place with fresh eyes, I see greater opportunity for the years ahead is nearby countries.

 

I would take the experience of the OP and use it as a motivator to visit other countries as a Plan B.

 

 

Given that the earlier issue was that they had suspicion you'd been working, this isn't a bad outcome. The fact that they did let you in means they've got no hard proof you did anything wrong. If flying in from the US, it'd be wise to go via KL, that way you're only looking at a cheap additional connecting flight and a worst-case scenario of being bounced back to KL where you'd definitely be allowed in and could enter Thailand again.

Yes but the extra cost of airfare is high. Its not just the local hop from KL but also the original ticket to KL is more expensive than the same airfare to BKK.

And then baggage fees.

And then the risk that if you have to return to the US for family emergency, you have this extra leg of travel necessary.

He was 13 when he left Thailand, his Mother is Thai. 

His questions to a Thai bank will be in Thai language, not English

 

Tanoshi,

Thanks for this additional information.

I don’t think many of us were aware of these circumstances of the OP being a Thai National returning home when we posted.

 

Since you have communicated with him by PM you are certainly in a great position to help.

Hello ShortTimed,
Thanks so much for your input.  I don't plan to make big decisions until 2 years of experiencing living in the flesh in Thailand.  I do have a positive attitude about life in general & I believe my first 13 years of life born & raised in a poor  family in Central Thailand gives me enough thick skin to be able to adjust to living conditions here.  
I thank you for your financial advice & truly appreciate it.
Jimlim

I have a feeling you are going to do great...and be very helpful to the younger generation in your extended family that can benefit from your experience.

Sounds like a good future!

Between 2008 - 2017 a total of 529 US banks failed and filed for bankruptcy.
How many Thai banks failed in that same period?

Key words: FDIC insured.

Of the bank failures you listed, any that were FDIC insured did not result in a loss to the customer as long as limits were adhered to.

In order to move all of his savings into a Thai Bank, does it have to be converted into Thai currency?

Now lets say he decides to return to the US in 6 months. What will the exchange rate be at that time?

What does the typical new expat know of Thai banks? Nothing.

Can he expect that his banking questions will be understood and answered by a staff that speaks fluent english? I do not know but he can with his US bank.

Lastly, and I don’t know if this is a consideration for the OP but it is for me. It is more difficult for someone over here to access my documents and make withdrawals from my US bank than it is for someone to do that to a Thai bank and if someone does gain illegal access to my funds through identity theft then I have US law enforcement to investigate.

Based only what I have read here, it sounds like many long time expats do not hold equal confidence with the Thai legal system.

Once the OP has been here awhile and knows he will be staying and has fully investigated the financial institutions in Thailand then he can move his funds here if he desires.

BTW, how many guys have moved to Thailand over the years with every intent of staying but then leave in the first 12-24 months? Through their own volition or failing to secure proper Visas, etc.

Sorry but when it comes to my finances, then I am careful.

If the OP has not spent stleast a year in Thailand then I would not suggest selling the farm and moving over here including transferring all savings into a local bank.

Read this forum. There are alot of disgruntled guys over here. There are also legitimate complaints that are hard for a western mind from a first world country to adapt to.

Just place your life back home on hold and come experience this place beyond the honeymoon stage and you could save yourself a bundle.

Plus your money is far safer sitting in an FDIC American bank and you don’t take a risk of losing to exchange rates.


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I dont 'know" but would think it unlikely.

You would need to approach the Customs dept directly and ask your question. Generally Thai (Govt.dept/stores etc) are excellent in taking the money but returning it is a whole other story.

 

Do let us know how you get on.

 

Charlie,

 

I paid the Import Duty at the Post Office.

 

Where is the Customs Dept? Google shows one on Khlong Thui.

 

Sound right?

 

Thailand is new to me and a bit tricky to navigate in many ways...Lol

 

Thanks

There have been no crimes committed.

Work is not in Thailand.

Only so many entries and exits per year for 2 years. 

I talked to Siam Legal. They confirmed the unlimited entries by air. They say however, you build a profile, thats what they look for. They recommend not going to another nearby country to gain entry, more bad profile. 

Siam Legal recommendations getting a Thai visa in the home country first.

 

I think I fall in this group.

Can you elaborate on a profile?

 

I think this is what the IO was searching out with my last BKK entry.

 

Plus I have long hair and beard. Is this a problem and contributor to negative profile? I had bad acne as a teen and the beard hides it but I could get a haircut. I do always dress very sharp though with no shorts or t-shirts or slop.

 

I will get a METV my next visit.

Google searches using terms like “Refund Import Duty” have produced terminology like Duty Drawback but I don’t think that applies here.

And some links to Import Duty are out of service.




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I would think unlikely to get a refund.. If you had refused it would be returned to sender. If you then wanted it sent elsewhere you would need to pay shipping again to that destination.

Thanks Charlie,

I framed the question poorly.

I wish to return this item to the sender (a clothing retailer in Japan) because it doesn’t fit. I am prepared to pay all return shipping costs.

I paid a rather large amount of Import Duty and VAT.

Would I have any recourse to get a refund of that Import Duty and VAT from the Customs Department?

Thanks

Another question about Import Duty.

 

The clothing I received does not fit and needs to be returned to Japan.

 

Is there a way to be refunded my Import Tax if I can show proof of my return shipping?

 

 

 

 

 

Long way around and 51 baht fare seem to contradict each other.

How long could it have been for 51 baht?


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Is there a line for you?
$2, walk away ....... how about $10, $50, $100, $1,000, $10,000 will you still walk away?
 
Just wondering where you draw the 'walk away' line.

I would consider factors such as on my home turf or in a foreign land with a different culture.

I would consider if it was night time and did I know the surroundings in case I needed to escape.

I would think about whether there were others nearby who would lend assistance.

I would factor in whether the other guy “may” have a weapon hidden.

But none of these things really matter because I long ago made the decision to never carry more than I could safely afford to lose. At night that is about $100.

Howabout you?

 
15% of all Thai adults have a license to carry a gun, open carry is illegal, concealed carry is allowed with a permit, carrying a concealed weapon with a permit and then using it in self defense is not aggravated murder.
 

Very good post.


I am not familiar with the original events except for what little I read here and much of that is conflicting.

A sisters testimony that the brother did not drink coffee at night is simply heresay.

It was mentioned there is CCTV of the deceased chasing the taxi driver. If that is true then the deceased failure to retreat means he shares atleast some responsibility for the future events.

I have now read of a few instances where farang make a big tadoo about amounts of a couple dollars. I don’t understand that thought process myself.

Nuts.

 

Just got the bill from EMS.

 

30% Import Duty and 7% VAT.

 

 

 

 

I'd had a receding hairline, slightly, since I was in my 40s. My wife pointed out to me the other day that I no longer had a receding hairline. On close examination, it was true. No idea why, maybe Thai food, maybe dumping my muck on a more regular basis. Now 65. Works for me.

Many of these Thai ladies I meet say I am very handsome and that I am not very pupui even though I have been quite hefty all my life.

So much nicer than my ex back home...Lol

Modern hair transplant techniquesdo work..........well it worked for me.

 

i was under the impression they did not work as a few celebrities tried it a few years ago with no success. maybe things have changed . 

 

I think many celebrity men have had hair transplants.

 

No way they have zero receding hairline at 40+.

 

Its the male equivalent of these women rightfully complaining society insists on an unreachable bar of perfection by airbrushing photos of models.

 

I just saw an article that even Victoria Secret photos are airbrushed to give them a narrower waist.

 

I completely appreciate a guy wanting to have a hair transplant and also the guy who says he is happy to be bald. A guy should do whatever makes him feel confident.

 

 

After reading through this thread I will start getting a SETV or METV.

 

I did not realize the risk of being denied and returned home with a loss of $1,100 plane ticket was a concern. I thought I was skookum.

 

As someone said earlier, I don’t understand why a warning or notification would not be made at departure or at some time.

 

But then I have no idea if even my own gov’t behaves similar so I am not criticizing Thailand uniquely but rather the practice.

 

Sure have learned alot in 24 hours of being a member.

 

Thanks

 

 

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Thanks for that lesson on Import Duty.

 

I think I want to decline delivery and have it returned to the merchant in Japan and they can re-send it to Canada.

 

Is there a penalty from Thailand Customs Office for declining to pay Import Duty and having package returned?

 

I should have done my homework before I ordered ;-(

 

 

Thanks Again

 

 

So i was slapped with 10% over 7600 + 7% on the whole amount. So in total i paid a little under 1.400 bt in taxes.

 

 

 

I do not quite understand this formula.

 

Is 10% for electronics or would clothing also be 10% ?

 

And then the 7% is VAT?

 

Would the VAT be refundable at the airport?

 

Also did you ship with EMS?

 

Sorry this is all very new to me.

 

 

Someone actually suggested doing this on a clothing forum but I said, “I bet Thai Customs knows how to use Google”.

Lol




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