mgjackson69

Any of you who say you are giving your Thai wife unfettered access to all of your bank accounts are a) fools or liars.

maybe you are incapable in any relationship....

I can't see any difference between an interracial marriage (legally and acknowledged by your home country) and a western one. It's all about trust, something you can't spell even.

I'm waiting for your reply.

BTW who are you then? The fool or the liar?

First, where is the mis-spelling?

Secondly, I am neither the fool or the liar.

When I was married to my first wife in USA, we kept separate bank accounts, and divided up the bills according to 1) who they belonged to, 2) by percentage of income. I actually took on a greater percentage of the bills than the incomes dictated; it worked out fine.

Money was never a problem with that arrangement. We both had what we needed and never had to argue about financials.

I provide my Thai wife more than enough money to run the household and have some discretionary money to spend as she wants. As I am responsible for the long-term financial well-being of the household, it is on me to manage the rest of my money. As I suspect many others have, I have other financial obligations, such as a son in University, some financial investments in USA, etc.

Trust is one thing, being pragmatic about different people's fiscal responsibility is another.

Not that it is any of your business, but my Thai wife and I have been together and very happy for 10 years +. It did not take long to get the financials settled; i e that it was not going to be an open checkbook. We have regular discussions about financial needs ("need" vs "want" took a bit of time to settle) and all is well.

I will put it back to you...would you give any Thai lady open access to all of your income?

Where were the immigration top cheeses when the shyt hit the fan.

Backing away from this as quickly as they can, without tripping over their own feet.

Buy the real thing, have something that works.

There is no legit "cheap copy of Windows".

One room, you have the paint and tools.....

Why not do it yourself?

To the OP, it depends very much on what you need it for. Only you can decide if it's worth the hoops you may have to jump though to get it.

It seems pretty obvious from the replies here that each Amphur has it's own criteria, so you can only ask your local Amphur, and it depends how well in you are with the local Pu Yai Ban as to how much his/her reference is going to cost you.

Personally I've lived here nearly 10 years and never needed one. I don't own my car and motorbike, they're both in my wife's name. Not a problem for me!

I got a 1 year and subsequent 5 year driving licence with "residence letters" from Immigration. The first one was free, the second one was 500 baht! I'm pretty sure my local LTD won't accept a yellow book as proof of residence for a licence, only the immigration letter.

I'm not intending to apply for permanent residence so I won't need it for that.

So I'm quite happy spending the rest of my days here without a Yellow Tabien Ban.

So it's up to you to make your own decision as to whether it's worth it or not.

There you have it. It is "worth it" or not to the individual. But an individual's perspective does not make it a "useless" document.

I have obtained driver's license with the "residence letter" and with the yellow tambien baan. For me, to not have to go to Immigration for a residence letter to renew a drivers license, or to register a vehicle (we tend to buy and sell on a regular basis), is "worth it" to me.

I see it this way...governments run on paper. Any official document one can produce can help; at worst, not help or hinder. Any document I can have in my possession is a plus.

As an example, I have used a photocopy of a cancelled work permit to open a bank account. So even a copy of an official document can be useful.

Any of you who say you are giving your Thai wife unfettered access to all of your bank accounts are a) fools or liars.

Normal? Change name? Oh boy, oh geez

Yep....change the name, it never happened.

<paraphrasing> "Oceania is at war with Eastasia...Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia, and allies with Eurasia"

As with all transactions of such sums... IF its a business transaction then your accounts are set up to deal with larger sums.

IF its a personal transaction (i.e. payment for a car) - then the Cashiers Cheque is the tried and tested method - its slow, its long winded, there are issues with crossing provinces, there is a delay in getting the cashiers cheque authorised, there is confusion as to what to do first... Pay in the Cashiers cheque before going to the DLT for transfer, or transfer first and they pay in the Cashiers cheque... whatever you choose, its going to take at least half a day !

Ultimately a transaction such as this requires a little trust and a little patience in each other. Additionally the issuing bank can be called upon to verify the cashiers cheque

Clearing of the actual check didn't take more than 10 minutes, but they charged me extra for it, as it was from a different province. Quite ridiculous as others have mentioned..

Funny that...I have often wondered the same thing.

When I explain to my wife that in USA, going to any bank with the name "Ethyl's Bank & Trust" is the same as any other, she has a hard time with that concept.

Each bank just as well be a standalone here.

Maybe the US is not the best example.. While Europe buried the checks back in the 80's, US kept the checking account system, and had trucks full of paper checks transported between state lines for clearing, instead of clearing electronically. I think they just recently scrapped this system.

USA is still an excellent example of "this is my bank", regardless of the location. This has been the case for a long time. I can go into any USBank branch (my bank) and do most anything I need to do, regardless if I am in Seattle or Sioux Falls.

As far as the "checking account system", it still exists in USA. But, checks do not take days to clear and are not hauled around in trucks. Checks are scanned and cleared electronically.

As an example, in USA I recently paid off an automobile loan. The loan was at the local bank in the hometown (my family is in the auto business there, but I bank in a different state). When I went in to pay off the loan, I offered the option of 1) do an ACH transfer to pay off the balance (the loan had been set up with automatic withdrawals from my bank each month), or 2) I can write a check for the payoff amount. The loan office told me it was much easier for her if I just write a check.

That was on Thursday afternoon...the transaction hit my bank on Saturday morning.

The ones who really got the wool pulled over their eyes on this one were the educated Bangkokians who think they know better than the baan nok (บ้านนอก) what is good for the country...the "reform before elections"/"anyone except Thaksin" crowd.

If they ever figure out how badly they were duped, it should get interesting.

Not to mention quite a few ex-pat TV posters. We all know who they are.

I notice they don't have much to say now as they may have realised they too believed all the BS coming out of comedy central.

Yessir...lot of <crickets> from that corner of TV...

I was chatting with a good friend (one of the aforementioned educated Bangkokians) at the beginning of this fiasco, and I asked him what is the plan for all of this? His response, "We will get Thaksin out and worry about the rest later".

I have put off querying him recently about his thoughts re: the current "administration"...but it will probably happen soon.

To clarify my position vis a vis Thaksin Shinawatra: I never thought he was an especially good or bad PM. I think for a smart businessman, he made a very big mistake re: the sale of AIS to Temasek. (BTW, funny how several years down the road that has come full circle and the ownership of AIS is for the most part back where it started).

Thaksin not paying taxes on the gains from that sale was found to be within the letter of the law. However, for a guy who is by all indications a very smart businessman, and already had more money than <choose your deity> anyway, he made a very serious error in judgement there. He could have said, "By law I do not have to pay taxes on this. However, as a gift and a way of saying acknowledging the contributions of the people of Thailand to my success, I will voluntarily give 10% of these proceeds to the people of Thailand". He would have never missed the difference, and might still very well be in power.

SIDE-LINE RANT:

What is it with bank hang-ups over different provinces? It's like they think they're in separate countries.

Could never get over the extra charges when withdrawing from your OWN bank's ATM in a different province. It's like the electronic wires have to go through some sort of magical reincarnation at the provincial border. Or that it takes extra little minions to push that cash thru the system at the border.

Transparent scam at best. Geez!

Funny that...I have often wondered the same thing.

When I explain to my wife that in USA, going to any bank with the name "Ethyl's Bank & Trust" is the same as any other, she has a hard time with that concept.

Each bank just as well be a standalone here.

Most things have been addressed, hydration, food, etc.

I would advise a few "day trips" (for lack of a better term) before going on the extended walkabout. For example, walk out for one day, find your place to stay for the night, walk back the next day. Do a few of those, in different directions.

Then try a triangular route....start from A, first day go to B and overnight, second day go to C and overnight, next day return to A. This will help you condition for longer times on the road, as well as getting you some experience in "foraging"....finding a place to stay, wash out your clothes and yourself, etc.

After a few of those, then you might be ready for the extended trip.

Walking 15K a day is good...but as was mentioned, you are returning to your base every day. That is much different than being on the road for an extended tour.

All that said, I have to say I am a bit envious...I have long considered doing an extended walking tour of <somewhere>. I almost did so several years ago while on sabbatical from a previous employer (we received a six-week sabbatical every four years, in addition to normal yearly holidays). Time constraints and other commitments prevented me from doing the walkabout then...too bad, I was 22 years younger and it not doubt would have been much easier.

The ones who really got the wool pulled over their eyes on this one were the educated Bangkokians who think they know better than the baan nok (บ้านนอก) what is good for the country...the "reform before elections"/"anyone except Thaksin" crowd.

If they ever figure out how badly they were duped, it should get interesting.

"Meet the new boss....same as the old boss...."

It is only "useless" to the naysayers.

Getting mine was very easy, a few forms, a bit of chit chat with the guy at the amphur. No passport translation was needed.

Also no tea money paid. The only expense was a box of beer for the local headman to come vouch for me....and my wife and I helped drink the beer anyway.

It was "worth it" (whatever that nebulous phrase means) for me not to have to go to Immigration to get a residence certificate to renew driver licenses, and to register my motorbike and truck.

I will do a pre-emptive strike here for the coming response of "DLT in Pattaya does not accept the yellow tambien baan for drivers license"...&lt;deleted&gt; Pattaya, I am not in Pattaya.

I would not bother with it.

Let it ride until the next renewal.

She will have lots of new friends, and long-lost relatives that she never heard of.

I have never shown an airline ticket when applying for a visa to any country, Thailand included.

Usually the application forms will ask for "dates of travel" or "estimated dates of travel".

Get the airline tickets to match the visa, not the other way around.

I guess when it comes right down to it, paying US Federal income tax is voluntary.

You do not have to pay it....but watch the fun ensue if you do not pay.

Oh no, this is the last Thailand needs. More US influence under the pretext of "free trade".

More Chinese influence would be better?

A simple question with a simple answer, "yes". Why the dozens of varying answers?

Because many people like to justify and/or add detail their yes or no answer.

and the OP likely would want more information than an simple yes/no. More validation/assurance that his laptop is not about to go up in flames.

Yeap, a simple Yes or No from an anonymous keyboard warrior don't always hack the mission....some additional info explaining the Yes or No is needed...and really desired by the person posing the question whether they asked for some details or no.

And sometimes those details given in support will show that keyboard warrior ain't got a clue what they are talking about. Some of the answers to questions seen on the internet, especially related to computers, are simply comical and completely wrong (but usually well intended).

Well, come now....everyone who posts on the internet is a financial genius, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, martial arts expert, Seal Team 6 member, etc etc etc.... surely you have learned that by now???

As per RAC in the UK 27% of male drivers admitted to driving in flip-flops while 22% wear nothing on their feet.

Both are legal.

Driving in bare feet in illegal in Canada for this very reason (loose shoes getting caught behind

the brake pedal) That said, many do, especially women who remove high heels.

Not true...it is not advised, but not illegal per se.

An argument could be made that if driving barefoot contributed to an accident, the driver could be cited for careless/reckless driving.

But it is *not* illegal to drive barefoot in Canada....nor in USA.

Let the USA bashing begin....

The headline says "...until June", while the first paragraph says "...until the end of June...".

Which is is?

A simple question with a simple answer, "yes". Why the dozens of varying answers?

Because many people like to justify and/or add detail their yes or no answer.

and the OP likely would want more information than an simple yes/no. More validation/assurance that his laptop is not about to go up in flames.