Nibor1945

George has this list here . check to see if anything is close to you.

Thanks sbk.

I saw a similar list on a previous search but this one seems to be more comphrehensive, still nothing for people living in the middle of the Central region. There seems to be a lot of new offices opening around the country but it seems to take ages before they get "listed", hence my request for local knowledge. looks like that office in Ayuthaya is the nearest based on present knowledge, many thanks to you both for taking time out to help.

Regards Nibor.

Thanks Oswulf.

What about the rest of you "Central regioners", which offices will you now have to use?

Care to share?

Nibor.

Hi.

Due to the latest movement of the "goalposts" It now seems that we have to report to our nearest Immigration bureau office as opposed to the "office of our choice" previously enjoyed.

I have posted this question in the visa section but on consideration thought a bit of local knowledge would be more productive.

For the past 12 years I have made the journey down to Bangkok for my annual visa extention of stay, now it appears I will have to submit my next application at the nearest local office. I made an attempt at finding a list of local offices and failed dismally, I expect other people will be in the same situation which is the reason for information on locations for the central area as opposed to my specific need.

In my case I live in Saraburi province on the border with Lopburi, so Lopburi city is much nearer to me than Saraburi city. However I've no idea where I will have to submit my next application as I have no knowledge of any immigration facilities in either province?

Anyone care to share their knowledge for the benifit of us central region denizens?

Thanks in anticipation. Nibor.

I would like some more info please - just got to work out how to send a PM

have just PM'ed you...so you can use the "reply" function....

Hi. I think I've just PM'ed you asking for some info (not very good at all this technical stuff), what with the news of the changes in which immigration office I can now use to extend my Non O (marriage), and now learning of a requirement for a N.I. number for the Thai wife I'm having a bit of a "bad news day".

Hi.

Having just done a quick but very frustrating search for locations of local immigration bureau can anybody advise me on the nearest office for me living on the Saraburi/Lopburi border. For the past 12 years I've had to make the journey into Bankok, the thought of starting the process again in a new venue does not fill me with great deight. Still at least I may be able to drive my own car to this one, which is something my blood pressure would not allow in Bangkok! Time we had some much heavier "Goalposts". Thanks in anticipation.

Nibor.

Hi. This is good news for me, as I retired to Thailand after making 34 years contributions to the state pension scheme. I reach the age of 65 on 18 July 2010, so I squeezed in to qualify for the reduced years contribution rate by 3 months!

I have contacted the DWP (department of Works and Pensions) recently and as far as I understand would receive (based on todays rates) 84 pounds sterling plus another 60% for my Thai wife (married in Thailand). When I "pop my clogs" she will continue to receive a portion of that 60% the amount varying on her age and the age of our children (if my wife was under the retirement age she would continue to receive it until the youngest child reaches the age of 19). Payable to an account in Thailand, The amount we receive would stay at that rate untill returning to live in England. If you return to England for more than a month you can receive the full current amount until you leave again.

As I understand it if you leave England for more than 3 months your pension is "Refrozen" at you original frozen rate! You have the option of paying your contibutions as a lump sum to boost your years up to the Basic State Pension rate, that works out at approx 350 pounds sterling a year (ish) for those unfortunate enough to be young then the goal posts are receding into the distance and for someone of say 48 ish, they are now looking at receiving their pension at 67 years.

I am now catagorised as being (not normally resident for tax purposes) but of course all income derived from the UK is taxable inclusive of my pensions.

I am certainly no expert as you can see by my ramblings, but it does give you a rough idea. Will the real experts take into acount that I am the product of a Brotish Secondary eduction before shredding me.

Compliments to the wife, wish I had that amount of patience. Shouldn't the mode of transport be two "Brit bikes"?

By the way having read some of your earlier threads, if your planning on doing a HALO with the amount of metal your carrying, I would suggest opening a bit before 200. Otherwise you would be earning one as opposed to doing one! Could never understand the compulsion to jump out of a out of a perfectly good aircraft?

I enjoy your posts by the way, a breath of fresh air in a sometimes heavy environment.

respects. Nibor.

Yes, with the benifit of hindsight it was the right move at the right time. No, life is not perfect but when has it ever been.

This is where my family is and where (I'm not ready yet) a long time in the future I hope to die. There are some "bumps in the road" for our host nation on the horizon but they are "growing pains" which will pass.

On a lighter note, if I need intellectual stimulation I ponder on the origins of my wifes latest cryptic remark or indeed some of the TV posts.

Any foreigner who makes political noises in any country will of course attract the attention of those responsible for the security of that country, that's their job. The sons of Carnivore do not only reside in the good old US of A. We have to abide by the rules if we wish to live "in peace and harmony". OK waffling over with, I like it here!

I frequently read posts on TV which discuss worries people have about Thai government hospitals. I would just like to share my positive experience in our local hospital where my son was born 4 days ago.

I found the staff to be very professional and efficient and they went out of their way to be helpful. We booked a private room for the duration of our stay and it was really nice because I also spent the whole time with my wife and baby. The room was clean with air-con, a large fridge and TV; it even had HBO. We also had free WI-FI so I could use my laptop.

The bill for this was 1,800 baht for the four days; and probably didn't cover much more than the air-con.

Hi,

Congratulations on the birth of you son. My own experience of Thai government hospitals was similar, both of our children were delivered by "C section" and each time we had a private room in local government hospitals. The first child was born 11 years ago before the advent of the 30 baht medical treatment card, total cost was B7000.00. Our second child was born after the introduction of the 30 baht scheme, all we had to pay for, was the private room (much the same as you describe) 4 days at 700 baht a day (total) B2800. Treatment and supervision was excellent.

I must add however I was decidedly unimpressed by the public wards and would definitely "go private" if that was the only option! Both the hospitals I had experience with, were in the upper and lower central region.

People who show the depth of their sincerity by typing RIP instead of rest in reace!

is it so difficult?

I would expect it is more acceptable to write "RIP" than "rest in reace"? If I am wrong I will take myself to one side and give myself a good talking to.

Has anyone heard about this? Expats pretending they are involved in share dealing and have a legit company, when its all really a scam.... CW

Hi colinwilkes.

quertz started a thread on "streetsmarts" and the range and complexity of scams out here are pretty awesome. My advice has and will always be "don't trust anybody until proven otherwise".

By the way the name you are using is familiar, so I sent you a PM, no scam attached honest guv!

^

Samui, that's exactly my plan you're outlining there.

Happy Birthday Qwertz.

Now you qualify for the "Old age pension" you can consider that option, and remember if you marry you get 60% more!

Unfortunately that's frozen from the day you start to live here. I've got 2 years 364 days to go (discounting leap years) before I catch you up in the "pensioner stakes".

Back on topic, the days just fill themselves up for me, but being a parent does contribute to that. Filling the day should not be a problem for a retiree here, if it is then retiring is not a good option and certainly not to Thailand! I must agree that being old does have advantages here (respect-wise), certainly more than we would receive in our home country.

December 1994, no regrets yet!

Hi.

Strange indeed! After 12 years and 2 children, I've normally found all that is required is a photocopy of my passport which is signed by me to acknowledge it's correct. Perhaps some lines have been crossed and they want confirmation of your address? Although i never had to provide such proof for my childrens birth certificates or hospital registration.

I am part way through an appraisal period for a visa extension. I am supposed to go back to Ranong immigration on the 25th. We have just had a call from Immigration in Bangkok, they now want me to go up there. They say they want proof that the money I get comes monthly. That's not the problem. What is the problem from my point of view is, I am already paying 22% tax to the vampires in the UK. Now immigration are saying I am liable to tax here too. Is this correct or are they trying it on?

The visa I have applied for is to support my Thai wife, not a retirement visa.

There is a double taxation agreement between the UK and Thailand. Since you are paying tax on your pension in the UK, you should keep your P60 that your pension provider sends to you at the end of every Tax Year. This is proof to the Thai Authorities that you have already paid Tax in the UK, and if you show this they cannot ask for tax to be paid again here. However, If you declare yourself non-resident to the UK Tax Authorities so that you do not pay UK basic Tax, then you are liable to pay Thai Income Tax. Depending on your income, it is possible that Thai Tax may be higher or lower than the UK, so you should check this out. If you want to avoid, but not evade, tax altogether, you could consider living in two Countries and organise your residencies so that you only spend 180 days a year in each Country with a balance of a week to be spent on holiday or on business trips in a third location.

Currently I work in Libya where tax is only 3.75% for 9 months per year with 3 months total in Thailand, so no tax to pay.

I am in receipt of UK pensions and also "Non resident for tax purposes" but that only applies to income generated outside of the UK. Income (pensions etc) generated within the UK are subject to UK tax at the standard applicable rates. There is a "Double taxation" agreement between UK and Thailand and I am not taxed here on income from UK.

Well his problems are over now, the British press are reporting his death due to complications from the scorpion bite on his thumb. Condolences to his family. RIP.

I've only seen 2 kinds of women here in Thailand. Those looking for a LT relationship and those available for shorter periods of time if the economics ar OK. You say you don't want a long term relationship so you're automatically relegated to that group of girls you claim to not like. IMO, you either need to start liking money girls or you need to start thinking a little bit more long term.

Sums it up nicely, good Thai girls aren't on the short term dating scene.

5 holidays in 4 years, decided on the 3rd holiday. Ex pat for 12 very short years, still no regrets about my decision.

What a pleasingly cosy thread, can anybody join this mutual admiration society?

OK slot me in as a "Mr Bean with campaign medals" and a penchant for shooting people in the head at great distances!

What colour catagory does that place me in?

Actually this thread is making me review some of my previous perceptions of BMs, where's Bendix's "Jack the ripper" scapel today?

Sorry but long gone are the days of Diesel=Slow-Motion driving.

I've got a 3-litre D-Max, yes its heavy and yes its a truck, but one thing it isn't and thats slow. Put me next to the average wannabe boy racer in his honda whatever & its bye bye.

Unless such honda has a k20 in it, or even better the type R. One think is for sure a pickup has NEVER smoked my civic, and yes they have tried.

Try it on a muddy farm track! It's always been "horses for courses" you will of course leave most of the pickups behind after 180kph, but the new breed of 3ltr turbo diesels are certainly getting a lot faster off the mark.

I'm looking at a 1997 ISUZU Supercab, enine is a little loud, but had some great mechanics check it out people I trust, and they say it's mechanically sound for now. He's asking 180,000, I talked him down to 160,000, and he said he will take care of name and title changing on the deed, 10,000BHT seems expensive, he will go as low as 150,000 but then I have to do everything. Is it worth it, or is he just trying to scam an extra 10,000BHT? Any help greatly appreciated!

Thanks

P.S. forgot to add, the odometer say's 61,000 in a ten year old car, lol wonder how many times that's been flipped!

Hi.

The transfer Tax should be a percentage of the vehicle value, this is decided by the vehicle licencing office based a set scale of values. I can't remember exactly what the percentage is, but for example a 1999 Sportrider which I said cost B390,000 was valued at the vehicle licencing office (for transfer purposes) as having a value of B500,000 and I had to pay B2500. transfer fee (approximate figure). certainly for a B160,000 value vehicle, B10,000 is excessive and a scam is indeed suspected.

As has been mentioned, Isuzu engines are generally very harsh sounding. an odometer reading of 61,000kms in a 10 year old pickup is odd indeed! have a look to see that the engine number is the same as in the log book or you will have big probs transferring ownership.

Its absolutly a good option.

My only problem is that I prefer auto gear for 2 reasons:

I regullar drive on the left side (same in america,the opposite side).

and I can be more focus on driving with automatic gear ..

There are Toyota Sport Rider automatic Transmission 4WD versions around, but they will of course be RHD in Thailand and you will have to search harder to find one for sale. The height of the vehicle is a bonus in that if you are driving in one of our nieghbouring countries which has "driving on the right" you can see over most of the traffic. I owned a RHD car in Germany for 3 years without to many problems.

I was a Christian (non-practicing) until I married a Thai wife, over the 12 years of our marriage I sort of drifted into Buddhism. Our children are being brought up as Buddhists (it's more a part of everyday life than religion) but were enrolled in a Catholic "Bi-lingual" school which helps to open their minds to the fact that there are other religions out there.

I try to explain that extremism in anything (including religion) is dangerous and certainly counterproductive, thereafter it's pretty much up to them to make their own choices. I believe that providing you have shown that there are alternatives and provided sufficient unbiased information, you have done all you can in that respect. Certainly forcing an opinion on a person (big or small) will lead to a rejection of that opinion/point of view.

Go here: http://www.onetwocar.com/index.aspx

It's in Thai, but I've found it the best used auto site. Try search parameters for your price range, etc..

On the front page is an Isuzu trooper for 400k. Something like that, an older SUV maybe.

I've recently bought a 1999 Sportrider for well under B400,000. An excellent people mover, and certainly more economical than my car (old mazda 626). I live in a rural area and have actually needed the 4WD in the recent rains, certainly a good and more versatile alternative to a car if you don't like pickups.

To put a Thai slant on this thread, with the dietry difference taken into consideration most of the original post could be applied to the average Thai child a mere 20 years ago!

To Qwertz, Quote "sausages "!

Only if you had enough coupons in your ration book.