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Brigham Young University has scientists? I thought science for a Mormon was like coffee something that you just don't do.

I had to do a google search on SWMBO. She Who Must Be Obeyed. I have learned something new today. Thanks

Sorry I am the wrong person to answer that question. I just accept the 800/400k requirement. If I would have had an issue with it I would have retired somewhere it was not a requirement. I personally don't have an issue with you using an agent to get around this but it would just add to my stress level at extension time if I did it.

Where are located in Thailand. I am currently living in Pattaya. I have not had any issues with immigration but the immigration officers seem very busy and don't seem to have time for any type of discussion. I just hand them my paperwork and they spend a few minutes reviewing it and then ask me for the 1900 baht. I get handed a number and told to come back tomorrow to pick up my passport. I understand why some people use agents just to avoid the waiting in line and the stress involved. I personally think the additional 10,000 baht seems like a high price to avoid a little stress. I do find the people that seem to find pride in the fact that they use an agent a bit strange but I also feel a bit of pride in the fact I can do it myself. I plan to move when my lease is up and hope the immigration office at my next home will be a bit less stressful. Being able to have a discussion with an immigration officer might be helpful.

I refuse to pay more for a cup of coffee than the cost of a beer so no Starbucks for me.

I hope the agents are still around when I reach an age that I am not capable of doing it myself.

I think he took the minivan from central. I think you may have missed the following line from his post. "The only option is to take a van from Central to Nong Khai border for 55 baht. Then you go stamp out of Thailand. Then take the old bus for 35 baht to the Laos border." I recently flew to Vietenin and did not have any issues with the visa on arrival. The 2nd form they only handed out at the arrival hall not on the airplane. I stepped to the side and filled it out but should have filled it out while standing in line like everyone else. The only issue I had was them not liking one of my $20 bills. I handed him another one and he accepted it so just paid the $40 USD. The airport had a different desk for e-visas so think it might have saved some time. On returning to Thailand I took the city bus to the friendship bridge that cost 12,000 kip and if I recall correctly the bus to cross the bridge was 15,000 kip. I did not pay anything to immigration on exiting Laos or entering Thailand. I had read there was an out of hours charge to go through Laos immigration I think it said before 8:30 AM but did not pay this at about 8AM.

I have not watched The Fabelmans yet but of the Oscar nominated movies for picture of the year is there a movie you feel is above average? I would put Top Gun Maverick as the best of the few I have seen but still don't think it was much above average.

If looking for clean air I would take Pattaya off your list. It may be an improvement over Bangkok but still pretty bad here.

I thought the $50,000 was the limit for the FATCA Form 8938 not for the FBAR. TurboTax told me I did not need to file 8938 but honestly I did not read the FBAR statement closely this year since I had already filed my FBAR.

I like it but don't think I could use it after 4 or 5 beers.

Thanks for all of these. The next time someone calls me a cheap charlie because I don't want to pay an agent to renew my visa I can reply. Yes I am a cheap charlie not a Moneybags Marty or Wealthy Willie.

I get called Jai Dee from time to time but never have got the Tu mutt added on or not even a mak. I guess I am just not a Lavish Lester.

I often read the term Cheap Charlie on the form but wonder is there a common term for a person that is the opposite of a Cheap Charlie? One I have heard is Two Week Millionaire but that seems more for someone on holiday and not someone living here. Would a Foolish Freddy be the opposite of a Cheap Charlie?

Are you talking about the site has made reacting to a post anonymous? If I click that I like your post it will just show that somebody liked your post and not my name.

I assume you mean this as a joke but hope you know that FBAR is Reporting your Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. This is required for US citizens that have a non US account with a value of $10,000 anytime in the year. Turbo Tax does not file this for you but is simple to do yourself at the following link. https://bsaefiling.fincen.treas.gov/NoRegFBARFiler.html

The biggest thing I would do is try and learn from my mistake and not repeat it in the future. I have made a lot of mistakes in my travels and try to learn from them. I try to acknowledge my mistake and move forward. You will not get a lot out of beating yourself up; rehashing the mistake or trying to get your money back. Accept your loss and find a place that fulfills your needs and I hope you have better luck in the rest of your time in Thailand.

Silly reporting! If you have a story about a tattoo at least have a picture of the tattoo.

This sounds a bit strange to have a condo setting empty just to use the recreation facilities or are you renting it out to someone. If that is the case sounds like you are gaming the system yourself by using the facilities that are meant for the residents and not the landlords. If you own all these condos and a Tesla why are you concerned about the trivial amount that it takes to charge a scooter?

I enjoyed the book by Fredirik Backman called A Man Called Ove but never know if I will like something I enjoyed reading being turned into a film. Today A Man Called Otto popped up on the trending torrents on 1337 so downloaded it and watched it. I thought it was pretty good and always seem to like Tom Hanks movies. It has a 7.6 rating on IMDB. I guess I should now download the original Swedish movie and see how it compares.

I believe the everyday train lease at 6:55 in the morning from Hua Lampong. I agree with @digbeth that unless you are a train lover it is the worst way to travel to Pattaya. I did the train in the other direction about a week ago and took a picture of the stops. I switched to the air rail link at Lat Krabang. After about 3 hours on the train I was hot and hungry. I thought there would be vendors selling things on the train so did not take food or drinks with me which was a mistake.

Thanks Dr Jack54. I just don't want them asking about insurance when I extend at the end of April. Was I correct in asking about the 1 year entry? I really liked the idea of getting one year but thought it might cause problem in the future.

I just returned from Vientiane Laos and am a bit confused by my entry stamp. I received a new Non-O based on Retirement while in Vientiane. I did not have a re-entry permit so assumed that it would kill off my 3 year old O-A but the immigration officer wrote O A under the visa-class on the entry stamp. I have attached a picture of stamp. The immigration officer initially gave me a 1 year time frame on my stay. I said I thought I would only receive 90 days. He then took my passport back and changed it to 90 days. At some point he drew a line through my new visa and wrote something on it but not sure if it is Thai or English. I did not notice the line through the visa or the O A until I was at the airport in Udon Thani. Should I be concerned about the O A on the entry stamp?

When you book a guesthouse in Pai or Ko Pha Ngan you should expect to be around a bit of pot smoke. Buddhists believe all of the things a person goes through in life cause suffering and they cannot do anything about it. Instead, they have to accept that it is there. Take this as a task in your meditation to accept your neighbor and learn from the experience.

https://www.dlt-elearning.com/ Is the link to watch the videos and a few simple question. It asked questions sometimes in the middle of the video to make sure you are still there. Turns out I did not need to do this. I was going from a 2 year to 5 year license and the lady said you only have to watch the video every 5 years.