retiredusn

I received my "OA" from the cons. in Houston, TX and would never have beleived the ease of getting it. For the Police check I went to the local police station and they did a wants/warrant search and then issued me a letter stating I had neither. (This was accepted) For the Med Cert. I went to the VA hospital and once again no problem and free just take a downloaded copy of the medical form with you.

For money I used my military tax form, and once again no problem. I strongly suggest getting the OA in the states and then doing your renewals here. Good Luck

I have never seen anything like what is being discussed. I have a little old farung wife and we go too a lot of different places and have also been treated the same as we treat with respect..........

There is no way she could have gotten the visa to the US without attending the interview.

I think this girl is playing you (and perhaps her husband too). With so many fish in the sea, why spend another moment dwelling on the one that is deceiving you at every opportunity?

She lies to the gov. she lies to HER Husband, she lies to you I would dump this scam artist and find yourself a decent lady. If she is cheating on her husband she will surly cheat on you

Nice thing about retirement is : We can do What ever we feel like doing and then we can sit back with a cold one and watch the wannabe retirees work and increase our yearly cost of living increases

Hello everyone,

after visting pattaya 3 times in the last 9 months (amazing place by the way!!) I have been comtemplating buying a bar or business over there, I would have enough capital to do this I have a few questions that maybe someone who has already done this could help me answer.

1) is it like a lottery, do all bars make money

2) can you live off one bar alone or would you need to buy 2 or 3 ?

3) what sort of money would be needed to do this to get a half decent bar

4) eventually I would like to live over there but maybe for the for 2/3 years I would be living in the uk, would this be ok or would I be asking for problems.

5) what are the typical profits you can make (ie low season - high season) per month ?

thanks in advance

Darren

Go see Andrew at the Derby Shire on Soi 6 he may be able to answer all your questions, Jim

I think it is great that you care and love your mother as you do, but what of the stress on her in regard to the travel? And what type of visa ect. can be applied for? I wish you the best of luck on your decision and I really have deep respect for your wife...........

I used the Solomon GPRS modem for three years out in the bonnies and had very little trouble. AIS has several programs to pick from as far as time wanted. I used the 900bt unlimited and it worked out well and you can pay in advance so your not doing the worry bit about monthly payments. Item is avail. from tela wiz. (ps) They provide a internet card for the modem or you can go stright time and use the card out of your mobil.

PHUKET CITY: German architect Frank Witzel is awaiting deportation following his arrest on June 22 by Immigration officials. He was arrested for working without a work permit while on a building site in Patong, and for performing work prohibited to foreigners.

Witzel pleaded guilty to the charges in court in February. He was fined 1,000 baht and handed down a one-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years.

Witzel explained to the Gazette that the events that led to his deportation began with his company, Modern Architecture & Design, and its Patong View Talay project on the Patong hillside.

The project, built on land that Witzel owned on the hill opposite the Esso gas station on Phra Barami Rd, will consist of 14 apartments priced from 4.2 million to 18.6 million baht each.

Witzel, 52, had designed the project, but when it came time to renew his work permit at the beginning of the year, he ran into problems. He first tried to go to the Phuket Provincial Labor Office to renew the permit, he said, but it was closed due to a holiday.

He said that when he returned, he was told that the work permit had expired on the holiday that the office was closed and was told that he would have to apply for a new permit.

He relayed the information to his staff, who failed to submit the application.

On February 3, he was called out to the work site by his development partner to answer questions about where pipes should be laid. At first Witzel declined since he had no work permit, he said, but his partner assured him it would be a fast job, and he drove out to the construction site.

Once there, he pointed out where the pipes should be laid, but suddenly found himself confronted by Immigration officers who had driven out to the site to do a “spot inspection”. Unable to produce his work permit, Witzel was taken to the Immigration Office in Phuket City and charged with working without a permit.

He was also charged with performing work prohibited to foreigners – specifically, working as an engineer and architect.

Witzel faced a penalty of a 2,000-baht fine and two months in jail, but when he pleaded guilty, his penalty was reduced to 1,000 baht and one month in jail.

Since he had no criminal record his month in jail was suspended for two years, so he paid the fine and was released. He thought that would be the end of it, he said, but he was unclear about the rest of the legal ruling, Witzel said.

However, he still had to deal with Immigration regulations that state that any foreigner convicted of a crime is subject to deportation. According to the Immigration Act, B.E. 2522, Section 12, any foreigner who violates Ministerial regulations can be prevented from entering the Kingdom after being deported.

Witzel said he was never made aware of those regulations and was surprised when he was arrested again June 22, thrown in the Immigration detention facility and told that he would have to remain outside the country for at least two years.

His lawyers – and he has gone through three lawyers so far – have been in negotiations with Immigration officials to try to reduce his time out of the country, and Witzel has been told that he may be barred from entering Thailand ever again if the Immigration officials in Bangkok deem it so.

In the meantime, Witzel, who had a heart attack and bypass operation in Germany last year, was transferred out of the Immigration jail after spending six days in custody and into Mission Hospital, and finally released again on bond, awaiting deportation.

Witzel’s German business partner has bought out most of his interest in the Patong project and his architecture firm. Witzel said he is afraid he stands to lose a large investment if he is forced to stay out of Thailand.

From the Phuket Gazette

Sounds like he was stitched up to me.

Me too

###### cry baby!!!He knew the risk and all was ok until caught now its They They They, Two ways legal or not legal he was not........Have fun at home.............

retiredusn, I suggest that you read the full details of the post before you post such benign drivel in future.

Suggest that you read between the lines ...........

Its only money

PHUKET CITY: German architect Frank Witzel is awaiting deportation following his arrest on June 22 by Immigration officials. He was arrested for working without a work permit while on a building site in Patong, and for performing work prohibited to foreigners.

Witzel pleaded guilty to the charges in court in February. He was fined 1,000 baht and handed down a one-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years.

Witzel explained to the Gazette that the events that led to his deportation began with his company, Modern Architecture & Design, and its Patong View Talay project on the Patong hillside.

The project, built on land that Witzel owned on the hill opposite the Esso gas station on Phra Barami Rd, will consist of 14 apartments priced from 4.2 million to 18.6 million baht each.

Witzel, 52, had designed the project, but when it came time to renew his work permit at the beginning of the year, he ran into problems. He first tried to go to the Phuket Provincial Labor Office to renew the permit, he said, but it was closed due to a holiday.

He said that when he returned, he was told that the work permit had expired on the holiday that the office was closed and was told that he would have to apply for a new permit.

He relayed the information to his staff, who failed to submit the application.

On February 3, he was called out to the work site by his development partner to answer questions about where pipes should be laid. At first Witzel declined since he had no work permit, he said, but his partner assured him it would be a fast job, and he drove out to the construction site.

Once there, he pointed out where the pipes should be laid, but suddenly found himself confronted by Immigration officers who had driven out to the site to do a “spot inspection”. Unable to produce his work permit, Witzel was taken to the Immigration Office in Phuket City and charged with working without a permit.

He was also charged with performing work prohibited to foreigners – specifically, working as an engineer and architect.

Witzel faced a penalty of a 2,000-baht fine and two months in jail, but when he pleaded guilty, his penalty was reduced to 1,000 baht and one month in jail.

Since he had no criminal record his month in jail was suspended for two years, so he paid the fine and was released. He thought that would be the end of it, he said, but he was unclear about the rest of the legal ruling, Witzel said.

However, he still had to deal with Immigration regulations that state that any foreigner convicted of a crime is subject to deportation. According to the Immigration Act, B.E. 2522, Section 12, any foreigner who violates Ministerial regulations can be prevented from entering the Kingdom after being deported.

Witzel said he was never made aware of those regulations and was surprised when he was arrested again June 22, thrown in the Immigration detention facility and told that he would have to remain outside the country for at least two years.

His lawyers – and he has gone through three lawyers so far – have been in negotiations with Immigration officials to try to reduce his time out of the country, and Witzel has been told that he may be barred from entering Thailand ever again if the Immigration officials in Bangkok deem it so.

In the meantime, Witzel, who had a heart attack and bypass operation in Germany last year, was transferred out of the Immigration jail after spending six days in custody and into Mission Hospital, and finally released again on bond, awaiting deportation.

Witzel’s German business partner has bought out most of his interest in the Patong project and his architecture firm. Witzel said he is afraid he stands to lose a large investment if he is forced to stay out of Thailand.

From the Phuket Gazette

Sounds like he was stitched up to me.

Me too

###### cry baby!!!He knew the risk and all was ok until caught now its They They They, Two ways legal or not legal he was not........Have fun at home.............

Came over to visit friends for two weeks, the wife and I went back to the US sold our house in three days and were back here in one month, "That was four years ago.

I'm an American (with a retirement visa) living in Thailand 8 months a year. Currently I am in the USA and my first O-A visa expires July 26th but I won't be returning to Thailand until Sept. 12.

Does anyone know what options are available for renewal ??

Which area do you live in???

Anyone who retires here and who can't live on 50% of their retirement income is asking for a problem. No one knows the future with regards to inflation (other than it will happen; but at what rate?) and of course the baht exchange rate. If you don't have a big cushion you're asking for trouble. For example, if you are retired here and from the USA could you survive an exchange rate of 20baht/dollar? I doubt this will happen but IF IT DOES can you survive?

On the other hand, if you can get your home built here and pay cash for a car and toys then your monthly expenses go down to zilch and you can live great and actually save money each month. Some of the posters here such as GaryA, Dr. Naam, and myself are in this group. I think this is the retirement group targeted by Thai authorities.

I would not live here full-time if I were less than 50 years old UNLESS I had a kick-ass job.

I think the 'endangered species' are those who have been living on the edge and now the edge is crumbling..........

The wife and I (both farang) live and will live in Thailand for a very long time. I am retired on a military pension and even if the bhat goes to 20 too one it is better than living at 1 to 1 in the US

JR Texas: What a horrible and totally boring place this will be if most of the posters here get their wish......it will be like living next to Rush Limbaugh!

Thanks for putting words in my mouth. Where did I say this was "my wish"? I'm only stating what I perceive to be FACTS. IMO there are far too many posters here who cannot see/accept the way things are.

For those who want to live on the edge......fine......just keep your whines to yourself when it all goes pear shaped. I could not sleep well at night knowing I was living in a foreign country and had money problems. I guess to each his own.

the edge crumbles.......the 'short money' sexpats and lager-louts tremble........

Funny that ...I have always had good service whenever and wherever I have been in LOS.......well most of time... mpr

I agree. Where else does the entire staff of the 7-11 stop what their doing to welcome you.

When in most restaurants I have exemplary service, I can't take a sip of beer without being topped off immediately.

When shopping I'm usually followed by one or two sales girls eager to help.

Even "Big C" has a helpful staff....though you may have to get someone's attention occasionally.

I believe Thailand is one of the most service oriented countries in the world.

Perhaps it's Tesco that needs help........Could it be it's British management's faulty training?

As someone mentioned all this yelling does no good "go to the Source" Tesco/mako and the rest all have web sites that have been very helpful to me. Try It

Carmine,

I am going to ask my friend if he is willing to do that. I think its worth a shot and even if it doesn't work, it probably won't hurt too much, and maybe they will ask for some more concrete proof.

There is no email contact on the letter.

Do a little work yourself and web search the state and local court. There will be a email address

I get mail sent to a US address and use a friend's US address for credit cards, bank account records, etc. I am sure alot of you do too.

Well, a bad case scenario has happened.

I got called for jury duty.

My friend has opened the mail and I can tell them I am no longer a resident of that county, but that must be signed by me and returned within 7 days. That ain't gonna happen.

I can also call them, which I am inclined to do. However, I am worried they are going to be freaked out that someone else opened this official mail, and also not believe me that I live in Thailand, and in effect, make me into a criminal. Remember, calling such a number is likely to result in talking to an officious clerk who has no power to change anything.

This bites. Any suggestions or experiences about this?

BTW, there is no way I can fly back there to serve in a jury and even if I showed up I would be eliminated very fast when I told them I was a full time expat in Pattaya Thailand!

My other idea is that calling them will just open a can of worms. I could have the letter sent to me in Thailand, sign it, and return it, and about a month later they would get the late letter. It would be invalid because late but at least the reason for it being late would be crystal clear.

Just happened to me from the state of Oregon and all I did was email the court telling them I was here in Thailand and not returning any time soon. I received a email back stating I was excused ..No problem.

We have a fruit farm in Trat and will be living there in a few years.

My wife and I had not planned on getting this old, but it has happened, and we are setting it up to live in Thailand, probably Chiang Mai, when we quit working. We are trying to decide when that will be. Sooner, or later?

We could do it as soon as September 2008 with 500K THB in the bank and a combined monthly income of 35K THB. We could squeak by on the retirement visa financial requirement with that. If we forego a planned trip to the region this year, we could have another 125K THB in the bank. After two years, our monthly income would increase to 55K THB. So, that's the "sooner" scenario.

Or, we could wait. If we retire in 2010, our monthly will be 65K THB and we should have an even million THB banked. That's the "later" scenario. Every year we put it off, our monthly retirement income goes up, and we bank more, but 2010 is as long as we will wait.

Which would you choose? Retire next year at 35K a month with 500K banked, or wait two more years and live on 65K with a million banked?

And, yes, we did not plan this very well at all, never expecting to live this long.

Since your from the US I would guess you are refering to social security benifits plus what ever savings. I retired early (only because I could) and have not regreted it at all but if you are sure of Thailand as a retirement home go for it...But I would strongly suggest you take care of the retirement visa (oa) in the US prior to coming here, that way the first hurtle is over and you do not have too worry about visa runs ect. Enjoy while you can Good Luck

Check out jsat.com

Looking at a map of provinces it could be defined as from SaKaeo through PrachinBuri and Chachoengsao and then drop all the way down to Trat.

btw thanks for moving this to best forum, though I wonder how many people look here :-)

btw2 where do people in Trat currently post local info/msgs?

rych

It seems too be moving. !!!!!!!!!!!!!We in the Chanthaburi area need something a bit closer to home

Getting my driver's license in Phayao, I was told by one person in the office that I needed a certificate of residence from Immigration, then by another that my work permit would suffice, and finally by a third that in fact I needed the cert. from Immigration. Fortunately I had both with me.

By the way, I'd always heard that the driver's test (road test) was easy here in Thailand but not so in Phayao. 4 other people took it with me, including 1 other farang, and we all failed! The tester let us try again & still most of us didn't quite do everything as required, but 3 of us got our licenses anyway. Good luck.

cheers,

we already have the 1 year licenses, which expire in July. The letter of residence is just so that my wife can get a 5 year one...

free download for the form on this forum all you need is house paper and passport same as orig. license Immagr. fee is free also

I should also say.. That when going to immigration ideally they want to see your house rental / lease agreement.. I had one but tried it on with the license to see how it went. I dont know if its 'standard practice' to accept a license.

On the resident certificat that you need for a thai driver's license there are two blocks to check; either for "drivers license" or "buy/car or motorbike" with that in hand from immgr. it seem to be no problem to buy a car I have bought two of them in my name...........Good Luck, and the form can be downloaded from thaivisa

amazing idea for a start up.

a retirment home for againg farrangs. with medical facilities.

can have a small girlie bar in the lobby and high speed internet cafe so they can keep bashing on thai Visa

The idea of a retirment home for ageing farrangs really is not that bad of a idea.

I'm about to do the same. My rule of thumb is

- to ship only items that are personal, therefore irreplaceable and of value to me. i'll just have to absorb the customs payment on those. for me this is mainly books, pictures, clothes, odds and ends

- other items of quality, made abroad, that i want and which, if replaced in thailand, would cost quite a bit more, because there is no thai manufactured equivalent of any quality, and the imports are expensive.

- everything else, and especially furniture it would be crazy to ship.

Like you I have no idea what customs will hit me for. The shippers would give no commitment or even estimate.

The wife and I shipped items we thought were important or could not get it Thailand. WE WERE FOOLs.

It was a lot of expense for nothing as most of the items were here available we just did not take the time to find. Either put the stuff in storage or get rid of it. Good Luck (it cost us another 5k US after arrival here

Pretty well the same as Thailand.

D. Tobacco

You are permitted to bring 100 cigars or 200 cigarettes (one carton) into the U.S. duty free. Cuban cigars are prohibited.

Source http://thehague.usembassy.gov/u2.s._customs.html

Thanks mate