nigelforbes

Sadly, I don't drink alcohol so no, I don't know. ????

Chiang Mai

I have to attend, I'm told it's the one thing that cannot be avoided

I pay 7,500, it works for me.

Several documents don't change, year on year, once scanned there is no need to give the agent new copies because they can simply print off the ones they have.

I'm happy for you. Previously, at various points during retirement visa extensions, over the past 25 years, I have: Been told to go home and return with a copy of my lease in order to prove where I lived. This was before proving your address was a standard feature and was almost unheard of at visa extension time. I lived over 50 miles away at the time. In Phuket, instructed to obtain a bank letter dated the same day when my bank was HSBC in Bangkok. This involved flying up, staying overnight, collecting the letter first thing the next day and taking the first flight back to Phuket. The Immi officer didn't even glance at the letter and left it in the envelope. Been asked to go out back and make additional copies of so many different documents that it became seriously unfunny. As soon as one copy was brought back, another was requested. Year after year for several years. Spent several hours teaching the Immi. officer basic accounting. My UOB bank book of fixed deposits, each page containing a different deposit, totaled far more than the 800k that was required, some matured some still open. The bank letter confirmed only the 800k so the question was, what was the remining money and how much did it total? Not any of your business you might say but she insisted on a reconciliation of the amounts. No dear, you can't count that one because it has matured, I said. Well why is it still in the book, she said and where did the money go! Again in Phuket, the officer demanded I produce bank statements covering one full year of transactions to demonstrate my living expenses, even though I had over 10 mill. in fixed deposits. When the need arose for us to queue in the parking lot at 4 am, in order to get a queue number, I said enough is enough and decided that from then on. a visa agent was the way to go. History has proved me right.

A will must be written in the native language of the person the will belongs to, no matter that it is subsequently translated for Probate Court purposes. If it is not, the will can be challenged on the obvious grounds that the person did not know what they were signing and the will becomes invalid and subject to the laws of succession.

This is dangerous advice which may or may not be correct as it stands. The real question is why would a person not wish to write a conventional will when the risk of doing so is virtually nil.

A will over rides the law of succession which only applies if there is no will.

Never pass up any opportunity to have a form filled out, preferably in triplicate.

I use a well regarded and well known legit agent and have done for ten or fifteen years. The agent already has scanned copies of our wedding certificate, channotes, passports, ID cards etc etc, none of that stuff every changes and is needed every year. None of that is indicative of there ever being a problem, why would it. I do have to produce an updated copy of my fixed deposit account every year, along with a new bank letter, without those two things I wouldn't get my extension.

I rest my case m'lud.

Accurate observation, wrong cause:

Why is that important?

Do you always answer a question with a question?

Did Pornthip receive commissions?

Unduly and unnecessarily harsh. First and foremost Pornthip is a highly regarded forensics expert, any skills she may or may not have in the assessment of technology are almost certainly anecdotal! Secondly, per the article quoted in the OP which you clearly didn't read: "Porntip, who formerly headed the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS), said her role was limited to defending CIFS officials who used the GT200. “I didn’t say that the device was good,” she said. “But I understand that officials got peace of mind when they received a device that was used as a bomb detector overseas.”

Indeed there have been problems at CS although not many of them have been traditional banking type problems, the client confidentiality issue was a biggee which was more cultural than banking. And whilst the graph above does look thought provoking, it also is a good example of the impacts that covid had on the banking industry! If you go a bit further back in time you can get a better perspective and see the various impacts of other US banking related events, on the CS share price. https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/CS/credit-suisse-group/stock-price-history

Before anyone mentions it, yes, equity markets have become very volatile. This is NOT a function of what happened at SVB, nor what happened at CS or any other bank. Options contracts tied to just under USD 3 trillion of securities are due to expire from yesterday onwards. "Quadruple witching, as its known, happens when equity futures and option contracts tied to individual stocks and indexes —- as well as exchange-traded funds — all expire on the same day. Some option contracts expire in the morning, while others expire in the afternoon. This typically happens four times a year, roughly once per quarter". Expect extreme market volatility for about one week. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-stocks-set-for-wild-swings-as-trillions-in-options-contracts-set-to-expire-friday-bf31c751?siteid=yhoof2

I'd lost track of how many rate rises the US has had in a short period of time, this graph brought it back to me. Five increases in eight months, and four were 0.50% or 0.75%. What is stunning is that something like the SVB failure didn't happen sooner and that the bond valuation issue wasn't forced into the open sooner. The problem was arguably nine months old, before Joe public even became aware there was an issue. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/03/17/fuse-lit-next-global-crash-going-explode-first-real-question/

The beach from HH town immediately South is wide, tidal and clean, it's very popular for swimming all the way down to the large hill outcrop you see at the end of the beach. There's also a host of hotels just off that beach, many with swimming pools, you may be able to buy half day passes for pool use at some.

If ever I get to the point where it appears I might enjoy having a day at Immigration, kill me, don't ask questions or wait, just do it.

The will would have to go to Probate Court regardless, the Court would appoint a new executor/executrix. Your existing will remains valid under any circumstances, unless you void it. You could, redraft your existing will, naming a new Executor or Executrix, along with a second choice in case your primary choice also dies. Or, you could leave things as is and let the Court appoint the Executor/Executrix, or, you could write a codicil which amends the current will and names the new Executor/Executrix. A codicil is really just a mini will and explains what changes you are making and why. It will have to be signed and witnessed by two witnesses (they dont have to be the same ones that witnessed your will, which is probably just as well I imagine).

Tell the bank you don't want a Resident bank account, you want a Non-Resident account, that way they will not be able to sell you insurance. Most people are unaware non-resident accounts exist and the banks don't like to advertise that they do. Ask them.

If you only look at CAR at some big banks you'll naturally get one view, look across all the big banks and you get another, look across all banks and you get a third. Which is why I quoted 14% across all banks.