Etaoin Shrdlu

6 hours ago, khunjeff said:

Given how few people actually apply for naturalization here, and the fact that knowledge of Thai language was already a requirement (though winked at for the very wealthy), it's hard to see why anyone felt this was a priority that needed addressing at this moment.

Those were my thoughts as well when I read about this.

16 minutes ago, Morpheus42 said:

Was it difficult for you guys to get the PR? You tried more than one year? I read they are just accepting 100 people per country every year, is this true? Or just a way to earn some money under the table?

My PR was issued in the '90s when Chuan Leekpai was PM. It took about ten months from application until it was granted. 

It was simply a matter of paperwork and an informal Thai language interview with one immigration officer. I understand it is a bit more rigorous now and the fees have gone up substantially.

The quota of 100 persons is usually not filled for applicants from Western countries, or at least it did not back when I applied. I heard that it does fill up for some Asian applicants.

5 minutes ago, EricTh said:

What I meant is your pink Thai ID card.

 

I showed my 5 year Thai driving license and they still charged me foreigner fee. There's no distinction between tourist and non-tourist foreigner in entrance fees.

 

That was in Sankampaeng hot spring.

The only thing on my pink ID card that would differentiate me from non-PR holders is that my Thai ID number starts with 8. That's too fine a point for most people to pick up on except perhaps for immigration officers, PR holders and possibly some other government officials.

I have had some experience with showing my driving license at some privately-owned places and have gotten in at the Thai price, but not any government attractions. I don't expect that having PR will get me Thai pricing in most instances.

6 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

 

Now note that PR holders have number starting with 8. There could be a difference in acceptance if it starts with something else.

Naturalized Thais also have ID numbers starting with 8, so that may be why a PR's number is accepted when others are not.

10 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

That's not the case if you ask for 6 years (I think 1 year is 200 baht and 6 years is 1000 baht) alien registration red book validity. After that you can extend it every 1 or 5 years, up to you, which one you choose. However when lawyers are involved, they always go for shortest possibility so they can charge you again a year later. There are no photos needed for extension of red book.

After the first year, I've always opted for the 5-year extension as I've seen no reason to do otherwise.

Up until my most recent extension of the red police book, I had always been required to provide a new photo and they were duly affixed in the book. I was told the last time I went to extend it that after 20 years I no longer needed to supply one.

13 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Does your PR card contain a newly given Thai name in Thai script or just your English name? or both names are printed on the card?

 

Do you still have to pay foreigner's fee instead of local fees when entering certain places?

 

 

 

 

 

For PR one does not take a Thai name or get a blue Thai ID card.

My name appears both transliterated into Thai as well as in English in my residence certificate. The police book and blue tabien baan are both all in Thai using my English name transliterated into Thai.

I'm not aware of any places that would give me Thai prices based upon having PR, although some will do so if I show my Thai driving license proving that I'm not a tourist. Those are mostly privately-owned attractions. I don't think any government ones would do so.

Not much information to go on here.

What is the status of the marine cargo insurance? Has the insurer denied liability? 

If your policy is one of the low-cost personal accident policies that was marketed as a "Covid policy" it is unlikely that you will find an equivalent replacement. These are the policies that are causing an existential crisis for several of the smaller Thai insurance companies.

7 minutes ago, ThaiPauly said:

I was thinking that.....why I mentioned it.....I have made an appointment to see a neurologist on Monday and hope that if it is that then there is something that can help me

I have type 2, but so far no pins and needles.

I know someone who was given antidepressants for peripheral neuropathy caused by type 2. Also gabapentin gets prescribed often.

No issues with two SWIFT transfers this week from Chase in the US to Citibank Thailand. Both in USD and each well in excess of the equivalent of THB50,000.

2 minutes ago, wannascuba said:

R5, nice, a classic for sure. I had a 77' RD 400 and have been a 2-stroke addict since then. 85' RZ350 and numerous 2-stroke dirt bikes...

The R5 was great. I've always been partial to two-strokes. My RZ350 was also '85. Red and white. I've had four-strokes, too, but slightly larger bikes. '86 Kawasaki Ninja 600 and '88 BMW K75s.  Had dirt bikes late '60s and early '70s, mostly Hodakas.

5 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

It's spent AND it's not 'upwards of" anything. It was 3k THB and no one else is doing it, she is.

Sorry. My misunderstanding.

9 hours ago, jojothai said:

To my knowledge that is true.

I have a full international policy 20 years and i am sure it will not cover me for hospitalization if i am not sick.

Health polict and Travel policy will also not cover me for quarantine hotel when i return because it does not cover my home country.

The problen is not only with thai policies,

However, as reported there is a totally wrong attitude in many of the thai "necessary policies" which is just a rip off.

Often when something becomes mandatory, one loses a certain element of choice and the providers obtain an advantage. Insurance for visitors is no exception, but I think it unwise to come here on holiday or for a longer stay without either travel/medical insurance or the financial resources to address an expensive stay in hospital.  Travel insurance for visitors and health insurance for those staying longer is not a rip-off, although it can get expensive and one needs to choose wisely.

In an ironic twist, it is actually the Thai insurers that so many like to bash that offer a product that does cover hospital costs when one is required by Thai health authorities to be hospitalized when asymptomatic. I have yet to hear of a non-Thai insurer offering this cover, but I will concede that it is possible that some do.

Almost all off-the-shelf travel insurance policies stipulate that cover be taken out prior to commencement of travel. This holds true for both Thai and foreign insurers. I think your options for travel insurance are few, if any. I'm not aware of any Thai insurers offering medical insurance for less than one year.

9 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Mods, please delete. Duplicate.

4 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

An agent helping me get a visa to stay here would charge 10-20k (as represented here on the forum. I've never used 1) but this company only charged her 3k. (THB)

The application form is not difficult to fill out. I assisted my wife in completing hers and it did not take very long. You might want to take a look at it before you spend upwards of 10,000 baht for someone else to do it.

7 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 Which does speak well to  the OIC's review processes....

Quite.

I would also like to know whether there were any external influences brought to bear on the decision. Personal accident policies with a "hospital cash" benefit have been around for a long time, but the payout of 100,000 baht for a positive test is very high. Something like 1,000 baht per day for each day of mandatory quarantine would have been better aligned with this market. Something does not seem right.

According to this website, only nationals of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar can legally work as domestic help in Thailand.

https://nitipornpna.com/blog/is-your-domestic-worker-legal

But as with many things here, there may be a work-around. 

19 hours ago, wannascuba said:

I had an R5 back in the '70s and an RZ350 in the '80s.

My Thai/US children show both passports at the check-in counter and the check-in person appears to enter information from both into the computer. I think this info goes to both Thai and US immigration authorities. Thai passport is used to exit and enter Thailand and US passport to enter and leave the US.

Once Thai immigration asked to see one of my children's US passport to make sure that she had the right to enter the US as she was exiting Thailand. Usually this does not happen, but it can.

One of the most important factors that the interviewer will want to understand, but which isn't mentioned in any of the documents your wife will need to submit, is whether you have sufficiently strong ties to Thailand to overcome the suspicion that once you both get to the US you will stay.

Things that work in your favor include having a job and work permit or other proof that your ties to Thailand are strong and continuing. The interviewer may ask to see your passport to determine your visa status and how long you've been living here, so make sure she brings it with her to the interview.

When my wife successfully applied for a visa a few years ago, the interviewer showed little interest in my wife's documents, but asked about my status in Thailand, how long I had been here, whether I was working and for whom I worked. No questions about my wife's employment, assets or the like.

Apologies if you are already aware of this.