grtaylor

What I'd like to do about the income question (but I probably won't, as the last thing I want arriving back in the country is hassle at immigration!), is to leave it blank, wait until they ask me how much I earn, and then ask them how much they earn!

G

I arrived here on Jan 10 and the old TM card was still in use at DM, where have U used the new one DaveYo?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And a friend of mine arrived on the 8th and got a new card!!!

Anyway, its progress in some ways, I guess. Its only taken them almost 15 years to remove the nonsense about the income tax clearance certificate!

G

There's a branch of CD Warehouse in Emporium (BTS - Phrom Phong station), but its no better than the other branches. However, right next to Kinokuniya book shop (same floor as CD Warehouse) there is a small shop (can't remember the name) which has a very interesting and "different " selection of classical music CDs and DVDs, including a lot of opera DVDs. Expect to pay FULL price though!

Graham

OK - thanks for that - maybe I do need to change to a TT&T line.

If I have a good friend who is a Khunying, would a supporting letter from her help?

Thanks for the information, but I already have a TOT line, and don't want to change to TT&T.

Is there no option for TOT, or is nobody on this board using it?

What are the options for ADSL in Pattaya with a TOT phone line?

Any information or experiences would be useful.

Thanks,

G

Bought a two-year old Toyota Soluna 1.5 GLi two years ago from a second-hand dealer on Patanakarn Rd. It had a complete service history, and had been owned/serviced by Toyota Leasing (leased to one driver for two years), only 25,000Km on the clock (no fiddling - it all added up on the Toyota receipts). Cost me around 450,000 Baht, and its been the best car I ever owned.

Graham

I followed a Google link to the page below, offering free SMS to members of the Forum.

http://www.thaivisa.com/586.0.html

I am a member - I am logged in - but WHERE is the link to SMS, I just can't find it!

Any help appreciated,

Graham

Thanks for that info.

Does this report to the Credit Bureau apply to Thai citizens as well, or is it just another example of discrimination against foreigners?

Cheers,

Graham

A colleague of mine told me the following, so I said I would ask on the forum here if anyone had experienced anything similar.

He received a letter in Thai which appeared to be a list of CC transactions. The secretary in our office (who's English is NOT good) said it was a thing for the government. On asking at the bank, he was told it was a report of all his transactions for the year which they have to send to the Central Bank! They said they do this for all foreigners. Is this true?

A couple of months ago he tried to pay (using the same SCB card) for a subscription to one of the European Lotteries. He got a letter back from the european agent saying that their attempt to charge it to his credit card had been rejected. Is the bank entitled to tell you how you can spend your money? Do they have to report how you spend it to some higher authority? It all sounds very "Big Brother" to me!

G

I was refused car hire in the UK with a Thai Licence (I'd left my UK one at home), not just because it was in Thai, and I didn't have a translation, but because it doesn't classify vehicles in the way that european/international licences do, i.e. Category A B C D etc. The friend I was with had to use his Italian licence instead

On another matter, someone earlier said you can get an international licence at the "main post office". I assume this means Charoen Krung. Does it still require the (very expensive!!) letter from the embassy?

Graham

Thanks lopburi3 - thats the sort of feedback I was looking for

G

Thank you, I understand that retirement means no work.

I was questioning the second part of what dr_Pat_Pong said here, i.e. "You are eligible to apply for PR now, but only as a retiree and work will be prohibited".

dr_Pat_Pong says I can only get PR as a retiree (am I misunderstanding the quote above?) - and opalhort says that as a NON-IMM "B" visa holder (legally teaching with a work permit and teachers licence), I can apply for PR and continue working.

Two different answers. Well, maybe my initial question was not phrased clearly enough.

Anyway, I am not planning to retire for at least another 5 years. So, the second part of my question again - which will be cheaper and less hassle in the long term?

1 PR now and then retire when I have enough money OR

2 Continue on NON-IMM "B" and get Retirement Visa when I retire?

I'm just after a gut reaction here.

Thanks,

G

Hmm . . unless I've misunderstood you, I'm now very confused.

I have two friends at work who are applying for Permanent Residency (with the school's help) and intend to continue working with a Work Permit. Are you saying they can't do this? The school hasn't told them they will have to retire!

All I am asking is which of the two ways is the best way forward *for the future*, in terms of ease and long-term cost.

G

I have had a work permit, therefore on one year extensions, for the last 9 years.

G

I'm working in Thailand, legally, with a work permit. I've been here almost 14 years, and intend to stay here for good.

As I am now over 50, and could get a retirement visa (if I had enough money to retire!), which is better. . . . ?

1 wait until I retire and get a retirement visa?

2 apply for Residency now?

Any thoughts/advice/experience welcome

G

A friend of mine (UK citizen) who has worked here for about 8 years in the F&B business (work permit all the time) got residency last year at the first time of applying - with no difficulty at all.  I don't think the issue of his "partner" came into it.

G

Union Language School

I have no direct experience of them, but I have heard it said they are the best.

However, many of the students there are fundamentalist Christian missionaries, so, it depends whether you would want to be associated with people like that.  Personally, I wouldn't!

If you are taught by a native english speaker, then you may acquire a good accent (depending on what particular native English accent it is!), but what you don't get, unless the teacher is a qualified and experienced ESL teacher, is an understanding of the grammar, and why ESL students find the language difficult.  One of the best ESL teachers at my school is a german (with a degree in English), who really understands the problems of learning English!

Its high time that the language schools were put under the same rules as the international schools (i.e. teachers require a degree, certification and experience for a work permit), and that, in order to attract well-qualified and experienced teachers, they started paying them a realistic (in foreign terms) salary.  You can earn twice as much for the same job in Vietnam, but, only with the right qualifications.

I read on another website that they're now issuing 5-year Thai driving licences instead of just 1-year.

Can anyone confirm this?  My licence expires in October, and it would save a lot of hassle if it were true!

Cheers.

G