LogicThai

Not sure what exactly you are referring to. I switched from Section 33 to Section 39 a few years ago, and everything seems to be fine. I have never attempted to activate (i.e. use) the medical benefits, but I assume it is still all there. I pay my dues every month, and the SSO website reflects the fact, lists my hospital of reference, etc.

I figure that, even aside from the ban on owning land, buying property in Thailand is not an attractive solution. We rented a really nice townhouse in a condo in South Sathorn (Saint Louis), which was built in the late 90s. Very large, excellently maintained, ideally located. The rent was reasonable for what it offered, and it was not for sale anyway (the entire condo and the 10 townhouses belong to the same owner, who does not sell to anyone). Still, even though the rent was not insignificant, it was a good ratio for the price a place like that would fetch. Now, we have moved to the suburbs (Bang Wa), in a moobaan, which is a horizontal condo, somehow. The townhouse we rent is nice and modern, well-maintained, and the entire place is well-run (security, services, etc.). Our rent is only 25% of what we paid in Sathorn, and even here, it is a very favourable ratio to what the owner would want for a sale (I know, he already asked if I did not want to buy). We own property in Samui and upcountry, but for residential use in Bangkok, renting is a better option for us.

I am considering switching from Non-O (RE) to Non-O Spouse or Parent of a Thai citizen. This is mainly to acquire the ability to get a work permit if I need to, and possibly to apply for Thai citizenship eventually. Still, the reduction of mandatory funds from 800 to 400,000 would be valuable too.

Totally. I have been there for 15 years, they are still among the best. I just had my first big work done since multiple root canals many years ago: extraction of a molar, bone graft and an implant. All done in the very best possible way. Naturally, this is not cheap, but they speak excellent English, their equipment is top-notch, they keep methodical records, and they give you options.

Back in the day in our house in Singapore, that was built like a pre-war bunker with near-impossible wifi propagation, I solved the issue with Power-line communication (PLC), or rather Broadband over power line (BPL), i.e. using the house's own electricity cabling to propagate the internet signal from plug to plug. One plug for the router, and as many plugs as needed for access points. It worked like a charm, and it provided speed identical to cabled ethernet (which it is, in essence). Some plugs have a wifi repeater built-in, to support mobile devices. In our condo in Bangkok, which presents the same challenge, I installed a Mesh solution, which works fine, but eventually I asked the management to install a second router directly accessing my home office. It required additional outside cabling and gutting of ceilings, but it works like a charm. We now have 2 different wifi networks, but that's not an issue for me. I think that Broadband over power line (BPL) is a hidden gem, that solves the problem without requiring any hacking.

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Hi. we have a villa in Koh Samui, that is only occupied infrequently. It is not cost-effective to go full solar, but I am wondering whether it would make sense to have a minimal installation to supply power to the pool pump, which is the only piece of equipment that runs irrespective of occupancy. It should be quite a frugal installation, with no battery (no need to run the pump during the night). Any thoughts?

I had several colonoscopies since reaching my late 40s, the latest recently at the Japanese Hospital by Samitivej, Bangkok. Excellent patient experience. The best thing about the whole matter always is the immense relief one feels afterwards, having been told that one is good for another 5 years.

The Yellow House Book has a field for Name of the Father and one for Name of the Mother. The only official document that they would accept for that was a full birth certificate. The Amphur is Bankruat. They showed me the file where they keep all the documents of the foreigners to whom they issued a YTB, and they all had provided a birth certificate. There was no way out of that requirement, and my embassy would not legalise the birth certificate that I already had, which obviously was the exact same as the one I finally got sent to me from Europe.

Well, I needed a Pink ID for SSO, for which I needed a Yellow Tabien Ban from the Amphoe, which needed an original birth certificate, legalized and translated and the translation legalized, from the city hall in my home country, then Ministry of Justice, then Royal Thai Embassy, the whole lot couriered to me in Bangkok. That's what I needed an attorney to do for me. From there, I had the whole lot (and a legalised and translated copy of my passport from my embassy) legalised at MOFA. With that, the Amphoe issued a YTB and a Pink ID, and I went to SSO with the Pink ID to elect to move from Section 33 to 39. Worked like a charm eventually, but it took months.

You do need a Pink ID to register at SSO and have them switch you from Section 33 to 39. They need a 13-digit ID number, which Thais have but foreigners don't. Quite possibly a Yellow Tabien Ban might do, but a. one would need to convince the SSO staff of the fact, and b. YTB is the hard piece to get anyway. Pink ID is straightforward after that.

I did the exact same thing. Upon leaving employment in Thailand, I elected to stay under the Thai SSO, which is a simple thing to do ... if one has a Pink ID. Like many others, I had previously considered getting one, but the requirements for a Yellow Tabien Ban looked very onerous. In the end, I did it though, which had me appoint an attorney in my country of origin to perform the legwork, and then myself going to MFA etc. Good thing there was a 6-months window, because I made it with less than 2 weeks to spare.

The Yellow House Book has a field for name of the parents. Hence the requirement, which implies a fresh Birth Certificate (although one was only born once, a birth certificate from 3 years ago is not acceptable), legalised, translated, and the translation legalised etc. Indeed a lot of hoops, but that's the only way.

You must have met a very different bunch of Singaporeans than I have. Still, I lived and worked in Singapore for 5 years, and I currently work for a Singaporean company owned by Singaporean Private Equity. I deal with them all on a daily base, and while I will readily agree that they have good technical skills and much better fluency in English than anybody else in ASEAN, most of them fail in critical thinking. There are exceptions, admittedly, but the worrying part is that the most mentally agile and creative seem to be the older ones, those in their 40s and 50s. The younger ones are quite lethargic and disengaged. Overall, the education system in Singapore delivers what it was built to deliver: a qualified and docile workforce. The Thai education system was meant to do that too, but it largely fails at delivering a qualified workforce. On the docility side though, it seems to fare much better, which is all the powers that be care about.

I am an insured person under the Social Security Act, under Section 39, having been previously an employee under Section 33. I see this as a safety net for later years. Currently, I am still covered by international healthcare insurance, but naturally this will come to an end eventually, while the Thai SS scheme will go on until the end (as will the equivalent in my country of birth). As healthcare coverage goes, this looks like excellent value, guaranteeing extensive benefits without limit of age, provided one pays a nominal monthly contribution. An insured person is entitled to receive the following benefits: Injury or sickness benefits, including health promotion and disease prevention Maternity benefits Disability benefits Death benefits Child benefits Old-age benefits Never having actually availed myself to the benefits though, I wonder how extensive the cover actually is. Is it totally free? Are all conditions covered? Is it better than the universal scheme that most Thai citizen enjoy? First-hand experience and feedback would be welcome.

It may save you a lot of hassle to go to a SSO office and ask them to register you there. They definitely will need your Pink ID and whatever other documents they'd want to see (Tabien Ban, Bank Book, whatever).

I'd say yes, assuming that you are under 60 of age.

I concur with much of what was said before. No obvious red flags yet, probably worth a test drive, but plenty more and better fish in that sea. At worst, that 38 years old lady can be a gateway to Thailand and Thai ways, especially for a newbie. But absolutely avoid any sort of commitment for now.

Yes. A 5-floor townhouse, in fact. But benefiting from all the amenities (pool, gym, garden, security, concierge, ...). A pretty neat deal, I think.

Our condo in Bangkok was built in 1991. The standard of building was much higher back then. The place is owned entirely by 1 family, who live on the premises. They are very vigilant, and the staff are busy maintaining the place. There is wear & tear, obviously, but everything works. Rent is not cheap, but it is value for money. Presumably, something similar can be found in Pattaya?

My financial advisor just wrote to me ahead of our quarterly conversation next week, and he mentioned the following: I will find out more when I talk to him, but this sounds potentially interesting, at least as another diversification opportunity for my portfolio.

I don't know, but I would assume so. The Non-O Marriage requires more paperwork and Immigration needs to perform a home visit, which adds a delay to the process. But I would imagine that if justified, they can give you a short extension, or a conditional permission to stay "Upon Consideration" or whatever suits their process. Nonetheless, it is advisable to go to your Immigration Office as soon as possible and ask them what to do. Be polite, calm, dress appropriately, smile and wai, and see what they have to say. There are many horror stories about Thai Immigration, but in my experience, they have always been perfectly reasonable and helpful.

Well, what I did was getting a Non-O Retirement, for which the documents were simply my passport, the letter from the bank, the bank statements, a copy of the bank book, and my wife's ID and Tabien Ban. My Non-B had been cancelled and I had 15 days to apply for something else (the Non-O Re in my case). Immigration in Buriram was great, they handled all the paperwork, I just had to sit and wait 45 minutes or so, then the IO made me sign all the forms, and that was it. Cost was 2,000 Baht (as it was a new application, not an extension), and 3,900 Baht for the Multiple Re-entry stamp. The IO indicated that it would take longer and require more paperwork if I wanted a Non-O Marriage or Parent of a Thai child, and that if I did not need a work permit, it was very advisable to stick to a Non-O Re.

I did, and the Head Office said the same. Anyway, getting a Pink ID is a hassle, but it is a good piece of kit to have if living in Thailand.