teelac777

Same thing with many hotels, so there's no way out when a fire happens and a lot die.

31 years ago when I landed in Suk some canals were already filled in, then condos were built in their place.

Most S-E Asian capitals are sinking for mostly the same reason if it's any consolation. 

Take away the sex tourists and foreign gangsters and there won't be much left, so be careful what you wish for.

Earlier this year the forecast was 15 million tourists for 2022, then 12 million, now 6 or 7 million.

Thailand and several ASEAN neighbours are now paying the price for the ever-changing requirements and endless hoops to jump through, while many Euro countries are almost back to pre-pandemic levels.

Takes a long time to get a customer but just one false move to lose him.

Watch out for those with disproportionately  large feet and hands 

On 8/13/2022 at 6:07 PM, DineshR said:

@PibThank you very much for your helpful comments. I apologize if this is taking too much of your time but it truly is much appreciated.

 

- On the 2 methods you mentioned, clearly the IDD route would not be preferable for me since the transfers would be in baht. 

- I currently send US$ from my bank in the US to Bangkok Bank (Bangkok based account though I live outside Bangkok). I send this money using Bangkok Bank's swift code and my account number. As far as I know, I get charged US$4 at the US side and approx US$6 on the Thai side which ties in with the $10 you cite. However, this is not a special/restricted account as I am able to conduct transactions (mostly US$ to Thai baht conversions) online. When I need baht in the province I live in, then I transfer it from the Bangkok THB account to my local branch THB account and there are no charges associated with this transfer.

- Can I not use this same method with my social security payments ??? It is in direct contradiction to what you have said where swift cannot be used to transfer US$ because my transfer receipts for the US$ transfer clearly shows a swift routing code - 

 

Routing ID: SWIFTBKKBTHBK

 

I have read other threads in this forum on the ACH vs swift issues but I never did dig into it because I never had any issues with direct transfers and the whole issue was complicated.

 

I'm probably getting ahead of myself here since I am not even at the first call stage.

 

With respect to the mailing methods, I will check on the inter embassy transfers when I go to the embassy for notarizing the documents.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Just saw this post @dinesh

For 10 years I've been withdrawing locally from ATMs here in Vietnam.

Ok, the Thai ATM $6 fee is big, but at least it's simple.

I bank at a local credit union in the US instead of one of the fancy banks.  I pay $1 total for each withdrawal, so if practical you can research another US financial institution. 

I started SSA 3 years ago and the Baltimore office made a mess of it and rejected my claim.

I live in Vietnam. 

Later I learned that Manila handles all applications for Asia, engaged them and it went smoothly.

I receive direct deposit to my US bank like clockwork each month.

Just forget whatever you've done with Maryland thus far and work through Manila.

Email:  [email protected] 

9 hours ago, arithai12 said:

That.

Or you could consider for a moment that the biggest world market is in weapons and associated activities, and to sell them you need to stir conflicts. From this perspective, things make more sense.

Yes for sure.

I hope, just for fun, the US has an exit strategy in place prior to starting the fireworks.

Let's not forget who started this January 21, 2017 when his first call as President went to Tsai Ing-Wen.

I can't imagine what the US thinks it will gain by continuing to poke the panda.

I'd have hoped after the 20 year long failures in Vietnam and Afghanistan, the US would have finally caught on.

10 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

I really like to know where to get it. 

Closest place I know is around the famous fountain in Vientiane but I wouldn't be surprised if it's sold in Isaan

On 7/26/2022 at 12:34 PM, redwood1 said:

I think Lao Dark beer is even better and it cost under 100 baht...

On 7/26/2022 at 12:34 PM, redwood1 said:

I think Lao Dark beer is even better and it cost under 100 baht...

Lao draft lager has always been the best kept secret, so your comment on dark Lao is unsurprising.   Price is right too!

Who would want to visit and pay for 3 months accommodation up front or deceive authorities through the kluges mentioned?  Half the fun is in winging it on a long vacation.

No other ASEAN country has such absurd requirements, just go elsewhere and you'll be welcomed.

On 7/21/2022 at 8:26 AM, ezzra said:

Is there a true and authentic VN restaurant here in Bkk that run by VN people and not copy cats that serves the real Vietnamese food including the famed Pho soup?...

Foursquare has a list, you can google it up and see reviews.

On 7/20/2022 at 4:13 PM, howerde said:

If she is in the UK what is her immigration status?

Not the case if he registered a marriage in Thailand then it is automatically recognized in the UK, if divorce proceedings take place in the UK then all assets anywhere in the world can be taken into consideration(Scotland an N Ireland might have some differences.

See if you can talk to her and see what she wants

And get a consultation with a UK solicitor as mentioned 

The Thai marriage certificate must be translated and submitted to British consular authorities and will be registered in the UK upon validation.  Not automatic, so unless the UK spouse did so the marriage doesn't exist under British law.

https://thaivisa-express.com/is-a-thai-marriage-recognised-in-the-uk/ 

10 hours ago, arithai12 said:

I don't know if 40M will be a reality again, but they never were people with 60d or METV.

The majority of the 40M were Malaysians on short weekend hops in the South, and Chinese on group tours which got their visas sorted out by agenices in China or on arrival.

 

Frankly, the list of 11 "documents" seems easy peasy, considering that some are just copies of pages in your passport or flight bookings. When you consider that you actually do not need to travel to a consulate in person, I'd say it's not a big hassle at all.

Compared to all the countries we can enter for 3, 6, 12 months with only a passport, it's uhhhh no thanks.  Bank statement for 60 days, good grief what's next?  A note from mommy?

4 minutes ago, howerde said:

If she is in the UK what is her immigration status?

Not the case if he registered a marriage in Thailand then it is automatically recognized in the UK, if divorce proceedings take place in the UK then all assets anywhere in the world can be taken into consideration(Scotland an N Ireland might have some differences.

See if you can talk to her and see what she wants

And get a consultation with a UK solicitor as mentioned 

I just looked it up and no fault divorce is now in place in the UK.

Your wife would be entitled to 50% of assets acquired during the marriage.

Surprised to see that Thai marriages are automatically recognised in the UK, that is not the case in many countries, thanks.

Whatever money was spent or squandered while marriage and business were intact is water under the bridge.  I would scrap the Thai lawyer idea in your place.

You were married in Bang Rak, but if your marriage was not registered in the UK it does not exist in UK law.

What is wife's immigration status in the UK?  If your marriage was registered and she entered the UK as your wife, you need to move assets and legally separate quickly or she may try to grab half.  Maybe that's why she's in the UK.

If you can prove that assets in hand in UK were acquired before marriage then maybe she has no legal claim on them, depends on any "no fault" laws in play.

On 7/18/2022 at 10:10 PM, George36 said:

This is what is required for a 60 day tourist visa.  ????????????

Then the days of 40 million visitors won't be coming back.

Seems all the ASEAN tourist destinations think they'll be the one to attract the 2-3-4 week big spenders but there are not enough to go around. 

On 7/17/2022 at 1:10 AM, George36 said:

Figured my update concerning LA Thai Consulate might be appropriate to be posted her also.  
 

“Update:  No travel agents have any updated knowledge of how to navigate the Thai E Visa site.  Worked with five of them.

 

Right now, you must download 11 supporting documents for the visa request to be submitted.  The documents are below:

 

- Bio Page of Passport

- Passport Photo 

- Declaration

- Travel/Flight Booking

- Proof of Accommodations

- Bank Statement

- Copy of license

- Flights. Redundant from above

- Passport pages for international travel for last year

- Driver’s license.  Redundant from above

- Picture with me holding passport info page

 

In the application, you identify the Thai Consulate that serves your area and THEY process the application.  The purpose of the driver’s license is to identify the right consulate.  You cannot get in touch by phone and no walk-in is allowed.

 

Anyway, I spent three hours yesterday working diligently taking pictures, making reservations and downloading one page in each category.  It was challenging as I am not a “download” knowledge kind of guy.  Lol.

 

i was successful in submitting my application for the Tourist Visa and it is in processing as of 7/15.  I fly out on the 16th if August so plenty of time.  Figure they will come back and want more stuff but, at least, I got the process started.  
 

Ubonjoe, please correct anything that I have wrong as you, always, have the  superior knowledge.  This is just my experience.  Thanks.”

 

 

I'm blown away that all this is required for a 6 month tourist visa, and wonder if  there are many takers, especially given the steep price.

"Right now, you must download 11 supporting documents for the visa request to be submitted."  The documents are below:

- Bio Page of Passport

- Passport Photo 

- Declaration

- Travel/Flight Booking

- Proof of Accommodations

- Bank Statement

- Copy of license

- Flights. Redundant from above

- Passport pages for international travel for last year

- Driver’s license.  Redundant from above

- Picture with me holding passport info page

The InterNations definition of expat is a skilled professional on a professional assignment, hence the positive scores on living costs.

Retirees, nomads, entrepreneurs, those who go abroad and start a business or find a job, and wanderers paint quite a different picture.

I wonder if they'll ever catch on to the notion that other places offer beaches, babes, beer, and good food, so they should seek ways to attract more foreigners instead of more dual pricing which drives them away.

So does every other developing ASEAN country....

I don't think the people in the region with such lofty aspirations actually go anywhere.

If they did they'd soon see that the French, Spanish, and Italian rivieras, Cancun, Bermuda, Tahiti, Hawaii, etc etc get the high rollers because they're worth the money.

And yesterday the government reported the Phils inflation rate at 6.1% thus far in 2022.  ????

Expatistan says Ho Chi Minh City is 24% cheaper than Bangkok.

Looks like the stats here were taken from Expatistan, categories are identical. 

Some comparisons are not really accurate, e.g. every business and many residences offer free WiFi in VN.

Maybe the odd very wealthy foreign tourist would pay US $250-300 per night to stay in a hotel in Thailand, but not many.

For that kind of cash it's easy to go to the French or Italian Riviera, Cancun, Tahiti, Barbados, etc