diddlysquat

just to be clear, you opened a UK bank account from Thailand which has an UK branch address and a sort code?

Or, did you open up a Thai account with GBP facilities?

To be clear I opened up an account with HSBC in Jersey , which is part of the UK.

I have GBP account , Euro (2), US$ and Thai Baht.

I have never been to Jersey.

Sounds like you got an offshore bank account. Jersey isn't part of the UK however, and consitutionally, it is seperate.

At the end of the day though, if they can pay your pension into that, then well and good.

The main UK banks have branches in Jersey which to all intents and purposes operate as part of the UK network. But these are available to RESIDENTS only.

Many banks operate in Jersey to offer "off-shore" accounts to non-residents. It is my understanding UK state pensions or government employee pensions cannot be paid into these accounts.

This is part of what I was alluding to earlier , If they can send pensions to HK as Artisan reported why couldn't they send it OFF SHORE to Jersey?

EDITED>

I am wrong. UK state pensions can be paid into a Jersey off-shore account. Apologies for misinformation

Thailand, amongst other countries, does not have direct banking arrangements with the UK. Please note what I have just said; it’s got nothing to do with the UK banks or the British Government. It is not even possible to arrange a standing order to transfer money every month form my UK bank account to either of our two joint accounts in Thailand, and TAPS is not available also, because of this. My company pension provider, an extremely well known company in the UK (and the world), confirmed also that they could not make an automatic transfer every month for the same reason. One poster has suggested that you should investigate why the payment did not arrive in your bank account as The Pension Service insists that the money CAN be paid into certain bank accounts worldwide, including Thailand. This is NOT true.

So, I asked both my company and the UK Pension Service what they could do for me. They could send a crossed sterling order to me at my home in Thailand and, if I’m lucky the order would be here within a week……or get lost in the post! I would then have to deposit this order into one of our Thai bank accounts (probably as a foreign currency account in the relative Head Office in Bangkok) and the Thai bank would take up to 45 days to make the deposit available. Alternatively, they could send the crossed sterling order direct to one of our Thai banks and the wait would be the same ….or in the case of Beachcomber, more than three months!

My company pension and my UK pension could be sent by monthly automatic electronic transfer to other countries than Thailand e.g. New Zealand, Hong Kong, Jamaica, USA, etc….in all, 38 countries. Most of these suggested countries were geographically impractical but, what about Hong Kong, I thought? I contacted the Hong Kong branch of the HSBC, explained my predicament and received an extremely prompt, polite and encouraging response.

My UK company pension is paid directly into my Bangkok Bank a/c. The pension manangement company deducts 9.50GBP each month which is paid to their bank, Bank of Scotland. I have to do nothing.

I believe the process is not fully automated unlike if the payment was to say, Spain or Hong Kong and requires additional handling. This is possibly why UK state and Government employee (and some company) pensions cannot be paid direct to Thailand. Too much bother and risk of error, maybe.

just to be clear, you opened a UK bank account from Thailand which has an UK branch address and a sort code?

Or, did you open up a Thai account with GBP facilities?

To be clear I opened up an account with HSBC in Jersey , which is part of the UK.

I have GBP account , Euro (2), US$ and Thai Baht.

I have never been to Jersey.

Sounds like you got an offshore bank account. Jersey isn't part of the UK however, and consitutionally, it is seperate.

At the end of the day though, if they can pay your pension into that, then well and good.

The main UK banks have branches in Jersey which to all intents and purposes operate as part of the UK network. But these are available to RESIDENTS only.

Many banks operate in Jersey to offer "off-shore" accounts to non-residents. It is my understanding UK state pensions or government employee pensions cannot be paid into these accounts.

I think that any of the Big Banks based in the Channel Islands (and probably Isle of Man) will probably treat you the same way.

I have had good experience with HSBC but also heard good things about NatWest.

For the OP I would recomend HSBC Offshore until he goes back to the UK. I hear good things about Abbey National if you can start up an account when he eventually visits the UK. I think AN has been discussed in previous threads.

Cheers

Percy,

Do you have a UK pension paid into your Jersey bank account?

The final decision for granting a visa is with the consular officer. If the application sounds plausible the visa will be granted, something missing, than "may be" not.

Yes, I had two friends who, last year went through the procedures iwth O-visa and got extented permission to stay, based on retirement.

Right, OK, sounds good. Thanks.

Each consular office seems to make up its’ own rules from time to time –and nobody on this or any other site knows what criteria are being used at any time.

You can apply for an O visa on the basis you are considering retirement. Maybe it will be granted or maybe not. Probably not if applying outside your country of citizenship.

If not, or if you want certainty, simply apply for a single entry tourist visa and change to “O” retirement visa in Thailand. It is a very very easy process – doesn’t need a lawyer.

Hi nobuzz,

I think I will be in a similiar situation to yourself [ see my thread 'employment prohibited'].

Did you receive your visa from London or Hull?

Have you been advised which visa to get?

I assume the embassies/consulates in the region are not stamping 'employment prohibited' on the non o [marriage based] visa.

I don't think the missus will be to happy when I return from the UK tomorrow to tell her I'm off to Laos on a visa run!

As your current visa does not expire untill October I think you will encounter problems in Vientiane.

To avoid a wasted journey, speak to a lawyer. Try Sunbelt, a sponsor of this site. My guess is they can sort it out for you in Bangkok.

...When will they learn?

Never, some 16 years ago a lot of Taiwan-companies moved out from Thailand fo runclear customs procedures.

An acquaintance moved his production to the Philippines. They have been making plush toys under licence of European TV-companies. Everything clear for BoI but for the glass-eyes they finally had to hand carry from Hong Kong paying for weekly first class air ticket (talking about 60-70 kgs), over weight charge and 'duties' paid at Don Muang.

Axel.

You seem to know an awful lot. But I do not understand the purpose of your post.

Is Skipper right to challenge the charge of 80000THB?.

Squire Korat, Sorry if you thought I rattled your cage. Stick the dummy back in son, you'll get over it

This Thai obsession with long ears is a real puzzle to me.

Teletiger.The only way Squire Korat could stick the dummy back in is if he first extracted it from your posterior. And I expect it smells like the tone of your posts.

Many companies (not least Campina) are experimenting to determine which cattle and cross-breeding gives the best milk yields in Thailand. You would know this if you live near Chok Chai, as you say. Maybe your inbreeding means you also have long ears which cover your eyes and senses, and are leeching blood from your brain

Hi all

Im not sure as to what way or type off visa to apply for when the time arrives for

my move to Thailand........ill be in my mid 40s when im planning the move.

regards John.

We can only speculate what the conditions for issue of a visa will be in 25 years time.

Moderators, please throw these kite flyers back where they belong, namely on the general or farang affairs forum; this topic has nothing specific to do with Issan and is a waste of valuable cyberspace.

Whats your problem, son?

Its a daft thread wherever it is posted. Best posted here where few people will notice it.

Why do you need a Police certificate???

The idea is to keep out undersirables wishing to retire here. Seems to be working.

Well... got some bad news today... immigration can't do anything about the stamp once it's there.

I'll have to go and get a new visa. It seriously sucks.

Hopefully someone finds this useful to know.

Thanks for your ansers anyway.

Best,

NoBuzz

Over to you Lopburi3. What advice would you give to those issued an O visa other than for retirement over-stamped "employment prohibited"?

My advice Nobuzz would be to speak to a lawyer to get it sorted.

Confused..the bank letter, my bank accounts are from Hua Hin, where am I supposed to get a bank letter before the renewal date next Monday, can I just take all my 4 bank books to a Bankgok Branch here in Bankok, will that suffice, and what is the content of the Bank Letter about...now the panic button is close...Dukkha

As you are unsure what to do.

Go to every Thai bank where you have one or more accounts. Get a letter confirming the existence of each account and the current balance. Usually 200 THB per account per letter. Easy.

Photocopy all pages from the passbook for each account showing transactions for the past 12 months which will of course show you have, from time to time, been transferring money for your day to day expenses.

.

Together with a letter from your embassy which confirms you have overseas pension or investment income equivalnt to 65k/month you need have no worries about money.

The Nation Newspaper reported yesterday "that an increasing number of husbands have become victims of abuse from their wives. Many tolerating the battering for years before they seek help.

Men fear they will be seen as weak"

where can one go for help?

Korat Correct. Do you see yourself as weak?

Let's say, there are rules, although Thai - rules.

The best choice IMHO is parcel post. If it is not obviously valuable most parcel get through without inspections and end up at your doorsteps. (OK, there are cases where customs steps in and decides on duty)

If it comes in by a courier company, customs automatically will decide, the shipment must be valuable, otherwise, whyuse expensive service?

If it is a commercial shipment with proper invoice attached, the officer might accept the invoice, or decides undervalued and does an own estimation. Here the problem comes again, the officer decides on the value and the officers job is, to collect duty. S/he might as well base on previous shipments. The estimate is always to reflect a landed value, i.e. value of the goods, plus courrier or postal charges plus insurance premium and handling fee. Based on this the customs tariff shows a percentage for duty and on top you pay 7% for VAT.

Generally, I say, don't use post or courier, but have somebody to handcarry. If not, use the postal service. If courier and duty involved, ask for an official duty receipt, although they still will charge for customs clearance.

Axel.

You seem to know an awful lot. But I do not understand the purpose of your post.

Is Skipper right to challenge the charge of 80000THB?.

Good on ya.

For me, I got much better things to do then waste a couple of days to save $150 to say nothing of the agravation. I guess it comes down to how much is your time worth.

My time is not cheap...

TH

It is not simply a matter of money. It is a matter of standing firm on principle. I admire the Skippers perseverance.

You obviously want to impress, so how much is your time worth? You'll need to come up with a figure way in excess of 150 dollars for 2 days.

The stamp is simply there to ensure nobody thinks one can start working based on the visa ONLY. I.e. as we know; a work permit is needed in order to work here.

Actually, no. The stamp is there because London embassy and Hull consulate (maybe others) wrongly believe O visa CANNOT be used to obtain work permit. This has been established in another recent thread - and London recently restated this.

Re definition of snob...

Our old latin teacher said that snob is short for Sinus Nobilis ie. born without nobility.

A definition of snob could be someone who quotes Latin.

From UK 3-10days (usually nearer three). I live near a major city if that has any bearing. It has improved this past couple of years. Previously 7-21days. For the first 6 months at my present address my mail was regularly opened, resealed with an official rubber stamp and signature, but so far as I'm aware none "went astray" and nothing was removed.

All my mail is addressed in English.

Not my forum, and not for me to say whether it should or shouldn't be posted here, BUT....I enjoyed the first 3 parts of this saga and eagerly await the next.

I see it for what it is, a bit light-hearted fiction playing on the stereotypical view of a farang-thai relationship: the old fool being taken for a ride by a young Thai girl.

Of course as we all know this does not happen in real life.

You'll have to deposit the 400k in a normal savings account. It's a working balance and immigration will expect to see you using it. As long as it's topped back up every year for the time of renewal there's no problem. They will (likely) want proof that the money came from a foreign account.

I disagree.

Provided you are paying yourself through your Thai company minimum 40K/month (and declaring it for income tax) you can obtain an annual extension to your visa.

I read somewhere, but don't recall where that the reason for the under consideration period is that all extension on basis of thai wife have to be referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for appoval.

So Thailand is the 32nd happiest country in the world.

I think the Thais have a lot to be grateful in having so many farangs living here. We obviously brighten their lives

So Thailand is the 32nd happiest country in the world.

I think iff all the miserable farangs were deported it would jump 15 places

Take your pick

Maybe good news on the horizon for those of us without a WP who can only get a Visa Debit Card from a Thai bank.

Article in Bangkok post last week. Visa are concerned that although there are 12million debit cards in circulation in Thailand they are used almost exclusively as ATM cards, unlike in the west where debit card use for purchases is very high. They are in talks with Thai banks to look to encourage use. Maybe they will put pressure on airlines and hotel booking agencies (my preferences) to accept online use.

I have read elsewhere that some banks will issue a credit card without WP if you provide a security deposit equalling or greater than the credit limit. That rather defeats the point of a credit card, but I suppoes it solves the problem of using plastic online.

The Thai bashers have really been getting to me lately. Actually, I have found I am shying away from talking with foreigners who live here, mostly prefer tourist or Thais. Yeah, sure Thailand isn't perfect, but what good does it to go on and on and on about how terrible it is. Pack up, go home, what ever. Maybe I am stupid, but I enjoy my life and love living in this country, I might leave someday or I might not. It gets so old trying to defend one's positive attitude from the moaners, I try to avoid them, but seems to me there are so many it means I have to avoid almost all Farangs living here. I don't remember such a high percentage of miserable people back home, maybe it was the same but maybe I have gone native and developed a mai pen rai mindset and all the Farang negativity is just more obvious. frankly the longer I live here I think most of the biching is nothing but ingrained racism in our culture and people seem to have a need to put down others in order to try to elavate themselves or some such thing, which I have no time for.

Unhappiness or happiness primarily comes from within, complaining that the environment or one's surroundings is making one unhappy is a waste of time. If your surroundings are making you unhappy, change your surroundings (move). If the unhappiness comes from within, change yourself and your attitudes. But, please. stop trying to make everyone else see the world through sh*t-colored glasses and wasting people's time with constant unproductive attempts to change the world to fit your ideal.

A classic example of whinging about the whingers for the sake of whinging.

I suggest you are infatuated with Thailand. For you to love the country you must first acknowledge it's faults, and there are many.

Having said that I have to agree with you there are an awful lot of overly miserable people in Thailand and, like you, I am becoming less and less inclined to socialise with ex-pats.