wildwildbill

Wow, my post has mushroomed! Thanks for all the comments.

I will probably keep the account open, but with a minimum amount of money. I am a little wary of Thai banks after a friend had his ATM card cloned and someone emptied his month's salary just after he got paid. Instead of guaranteeing the money (like a UK bank would) the staff in the bank suggested his girlfriend might have withdrew the money and washed their hands of all responsibility. 

Personally, I have never had any problems with Thai banks (in terms of fraudulent withdraws at least) but curious to know other's experiences. 

Leaving Thailand soon and want to keep my Bangkok Bank account open. They said I need to keep at least 2000b in it and make a deposit every six months. Is it worth keeping open bearing mind it will only get used every year or so for a holiday? How secure will my money be is my main concern, even though it will be a rather small balance kept. Cheers!

OK. Thanks. Any idea what charges there will be? Can't see any mention of charges on their website. I am guessing it will also take a few days to transfer?

So send via Bangkok Bank but request a GBP transfer via Swift? 

Any ideas what would be the safest and cost effective method to send a six figure (Baht) amount back to the UK? I have a current account with Bangkok Bank. Thanks!

The Chinese income goes into my Bangkok Bank account but my Thai income goes into SCB. 

Hi again! My visa is due to expire on the 23rd July, so plan to do a border run this week and get my final 90-day stamp. 

My current Thai income is few thousand short of 40K per month. I also have a small UK rental income as well as another income of 10-12K Baht per month from China. Can this income from China be used to get the visa, or should I not declare this and just park 30-40K in a Thai bank for a couple of months? I'd rather not transfer UK money into a Thai bank account unless I can help it. 

Not looking to transfer a huge amount. Basically looking to 'rest' some UK money in a Thai account to get a visa extension and want to transfer it back again after the visa has been issued. I currently work and have a WP but don't earn quite enough to meet the visa requirements, so need to 'rest' the shortfall in a Thai bank but don't want to get hammered on fees if possible. 

Any ideas what is the best way to transfer Baht to a UK account or exchange? Transferwise only appears to work the other way. Thanks. 

Thinking of a night out there Saturday. What's the deal for late bars and clubs? Any recommendations?went five years ago and it was pretty lively in places. Cheers!

I have 2002 Honda City that I usually run on 91 gasohol. I also have a 2010 Honda Wave and a 1976 Honda C70 that I also usually run on the same fuel. Recently I tried 95 gasohol in the City and the Wave, making them both noticeably nippier and last night I also put 95 benzene in the C70, leading to similar results. So, my question is, are these fuels safe to use on my vehicles long term? I know 95 is a higher octane fuel but don't want to do any long term damage for a little bit more speed. Thanks!

Thanks. Had a look and its about $25. I have emailed them about the bikes and are waiting on a response. I have a Thai licence which I believe is valid in Vietnam? If I get the green light I will buy in the morning before my flight. 

Off on Friday for 4 days. Currently reside in CM. Want basic cover for healthcare. Plan to ride a motorbike. Any recommendations? Cheers!

On 07/02/2018 at 9:38 PM, elviajero said:

Your employer is referring to an extension of stay. As you are married you can extend your stay based on marriage or your job/WP. 

 

You should, if you can, extend based on marriage. You can legally work. That way your permission to stay isn’t linked to your job and isn’t affected should you stop working.

 

You’d  need 400K in the bank, or an income of at least 40K pm if applying as married. Your Thai income can be used. Or a minimum income of 50K pm if applying as an employee.

There were no financial requirements for the O visa originally, are you therefore sure they are needed for the extension? 

On 08/02/2018 at 12:00 AM, Happy enough said:

extend it on your non o if you can, i'm assuming you must be on over 50k a month. the company prefer most people to extend on working as they have a little control over you although it's no big deal if you were to leave them. just hassle getting a new visa and extension. 

I don't earn 50k but with UK rental income I will be over 40k. This should be OK?

38 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Your employer is referring to an extension of stay. As you are married you can extend your stay based on marriage or your job/WP. 

 

You should, if you can, extend based on marriage. You can legally work. That way your permission to stay isn’t linked to your job and isn’t affected should you stop working.

 

You’d  need 400K in the bank, or an income of at least 40K pm if applying as married. Your Thai income can be used. Or a minimum income of 50K pm if applying as an employee.

There were no financial requirements for the O visa originally, are you therefore sure they are needed for the extension? 

Hi all.

I am currently on a multi-entry 90-day Non-Immigrant O visa, which was issued based on being married to a Thai. Since acquiring the visa, I have started work in LOS and have just received my WP. My employer would now like to extend my visa for a year based on me now having a WP, basically to stop the need for border runs. If I do this, would I remain on an O visa, and what situation would I be in visa-wise if my employment circumstances changed in the future? 

Many thanks!

Hi there. Anyone had experience of getting paperwork for an old motorbike? I am planning on restoring my wife's 1976 Honda C70 which she has owned for over 11 years, but it doesn't have a green book or any paperwork, only the original back number plate. A company on FB offered to help for 45k! Any advice? Thanks

Healthcare is proving a massive headache out here. Here with the family for a year or so. I am a UK citizen and my wife and daughter have dual Thai/UK citizenship. We had some travel insurance that I was planning to extend when plans became clearer, but that has now expired. My wife seems happy to rely on 30 Baht healthcare, so was wondering what people with actual experience with the system think? I am going to have to get something sorted for myself too. My experience of private healthcare treatment out here hasn't been particularly great, as they seem to throw a lot of pills at you regardless of your condition. 

Bought a 2002 Honda City today for 95,000. Its in pretty decent original condition with one family owning from new and 172K on the clock. Will probably need a few baht spending on it to get it how I want it but it was a million miles better than the re-sprayed old wrecks I saw for not much less.

Took nearly four hours to transfer ownership. Why do the Thais love admin and queues so much?

Yes I think she is on the grandparent's house book for CM province, which is where we are planning to stay. Will double check.

Rang them up yesterday. Said I have savings but may look for work to extend my trip. They advised that I fill out a form and declare that I am living off savings then contact them if I find a job. 

Planning on spending a year or so in Thailand with the family very soon. Both my wife and daughter are dual Thai/UK nationals and my wife has been living in the UK for most of the last nine years. My wife seems happy to be covered by 30B local health care and thinks our daughter would be eligible too? She has a Thai birth cert and passport but was born in the UK and has only been to Thailand once for a month's holiday. Getting extra cover looks expensive so not quite sure what to do. I will be getting basic backpacker cover insurance for a few months to see if I can get a job with healthcare cover or extend for a year if not. What to make sure everyone has basic cover so appreciate anyone else's experiences.

Got my passport and visa back today. Here's what I sent and what it cost:

Sent

Passport

Application form

Two photos

Copy of wife's passport (photo page and outside cover)

Copy of wife's ID card (both sides)

Copy of marriage cert (both sides) 

Self addressed envelope 

No need for financial details, house book, child's birth cert etc...

Costs

Visa fee - £125

Post Office fee for postal order (Why you can't send a cheque I don't know) - £12

Special delivery - £6.75

Passport photos - £5

Return postage - £10 (some profit there for the embassy)

So all in all it cost £158.75. Better than a trip to London and took Three working days. 

Think I am going to get in touch with them after reading this:

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jul/22/student-loans-company-punishing-graduates-additional-rate-rise

Wow, this could open up a big debate on who should pay for educating people. its a bit of a mad system where its business that need the skills, but the burden of training costs falls solely on the individuals. Anyway... any recent experience of Student Finance England whilst living abroad. If it makes any difference I think I will probably earn around half the annual £21K threshold whatever work route I take.