TroubleandGrumpy

Looks like they are cracking down on all the fraud committed by 'new arrivals' who claim benefits and have undeclared incomes and assets. There is a reason they are travelling all the way to UK to claim political asylum/refugee, and it aint the weather. I recall the UN complaining when Thailand refused to let a boat load of 'Muslim refugees' land in Thailand. Thailand cost guard told them to eff off and pointed their guns at them - saying there is a Muslim country right next door to where they came from, and there is another one just down there. Thailand apprehends all BS 'refugees' who get through and locks them in UN shelters until their claims are approved or disallowed and the UN takes them away. However, Thailand does a lot to support the genuine refigees that are coming over from Myanmar. How do they tell the difference? Most fleeing Myanmar are mainly women and children and some old men (the men stay and fight) - fake refugees are mainly young and middle aged males.

I would go see a registered financial adviser and get their advice on how to achieve what you want now, and how to achieve what you both want after you 'depart'. Same thing for assets and finances in Thailand - talk to an expert (but do not give any specific details - such as personal details (other than names) and account numbers etc.

It astounds me that Thais use Facebook and Line for commercial transactions and dont have a clue about the dangers. What are they teaching them in schools ......... never mind, silly question.

TTL ............................ Third Time Lucky

Yes indeed there are several extremely wealthy Thainese families pulling strings behind the scenes. But what you are talking about is Politics and how the political game is played in Thailand - here it is very obvious and very naive. In the West there are political 'experts' who are employed by wannabe politicians and their Parties. Those experts know all the rules, regs and the ropes - they are given everything about a politician and his/her family and they are the ones who would have said to Pita 'you better sell off those shares now'. In Asia those advisers/experts tend to be inside the families - and in Thai families the only ones I see with such advisers and expertise are the Shinawatras. They are building a dynasty of political power and wealth - and at the moment they are the only ones that I can see doing it. Like the Bushes and Kennedys - but unlike in the West where the political systems do not favour dynasties, here in the East it generally does. Yes I also think MFP will be back if dissolved, but their 'IP' will be lost if they are disbanded - and PT (guided by Thaksin) will be seeking to pick off a lot of their seats that they won at the last election. Thaksin is back for 2 reasons - to see his family and die in Thailand, and to guide/influence the future of the Party he created and to put them back into power. There are many seats MFP won in the North that MFP won and they will be targetted by PT. The thing you raise regarding the wealthy wanting more is related to their families. Here in Thailand, and most Asian countries, they are building generational wealth for their future generations. In the West it tends to be a man who make all the wealth, and then the following generations spend it. In the East they are building wealth for the future generations based on the past wealth that they received.

Thaksin is doing everything he can to prepare PT to win the next election, which will be after the new Senate is appointed and in place, and their views/requirements found out (2025?). MFP will be the PT's junior partner in a coalition if they dont win enough seats by themselves. PT will by then have Thaksin's Sister/Daughter as their leader and next PM.

Exactly - and that many Expats are not planning for that astounds me. And those guys are the ones who caused/gave excuse for the Thai Govt to enforce mandatory medical insurance for some Visas for everyone (and maybe more Visas in future).

The system is what it is - to change it (including military involvement) means getting inside the sytem and changing it. I agree with your points - but just because the system did not do want you wanted it to do, does not mean you are right or wrong. Politics is a dirty game - and MFP were very naive - they were taken down by their political opponents. Pita has ascaped (unlike Thanathorn before him) but the MFP Party is in serious danger of being dissolved - all because of the tactics of their political opponents. It does not matter that how that was done is unfair - politics is unfair. Demanding a change and criticising the current system setup, aint gonna make things change - MFP did not know how to 'move forward' and they were played by politically smart opponents. Example of what they should have done - Pita agrees to stand down as leader and PM of MFP/PT coalition - separately deals with the case about being excluded for 'owning' shares. They nominate a leader/PM from the MFP/PT coalition that is acceptable to the Senate. Then after the Senate elections in May/June 2024, the MFP challenges for the position of PM with Pita as the nominee (given he wins his case). PT either agrees of they have to form a coalition with the Military Parties. Doing that this year was obviously needed in the powerr vacuum created with MFP refusing to back down. But doing that in 2024 would be electoral suicide for PT. Another Example of how to do things in Politics - The return of Thaksin. Smart clever and achieved with a minimum of problems to Thaksin himself - slowly slowly while planning ahead. This current trip to Chiang Mai is part of that. That is how smart clever politicians plan ahead and get things done. Sister next year - maybe even later this year.

I was told recently that there is 500K Expats living long term in Thailand and each spends on average around 1 million baht (some much more). That totals 500 billion baht per year, every year after year. At the going rate of 50K per tourist spend in Thailand, that equates to 10 million tourists. Maybe they should spend a little time and money trying to both keep the Expats living here now staying here, and to encourage more to come and live in Thailand??

Buy from a reputable dealer near you (service/repairs etc.) Avoid tents and other 'stack and pack' type dealers (all cars, no room to move). Toyota has a certified used car offering - same as BMW - but they are over priced. Negotiate the price hard - it is a buyers market right now. One2car is very useful to ascertain the market prices - use them to pick an exact car and model and year that you want (sedan, SUV, hatch, etc Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, etc) - before you start looking. Then try to find that car nearby at a dealer. If/when you do take it for a test run - some places will advertise cars that were sold last year just to get you in there and then offer other cars - walk away from those ones. Take your time - low kms - service history - 1-2 owners only.

One of the downsides of living on an island or in a remote location - the availability of high level medical services. Something all Expats should take into account when getting towards the later years (60+).

Same everywhere. You cannot change the system unless you are inside the system. Attacking it from outside only makes in stronger - and the system has mechanisms in place to protect itself. Mechanisms that stop opponents getting into power, and mechanisms to stop those in power that want to change it. The only way to beat the system is to know the system and its defences - and getting inside is the best way to do that (the only other method is extremely destructive).

Wrong. There is no right and wrong in Politics - there is only what it takes to get into power (win election) and what it takes to then use that power (Government). MFP did not win the election - they won 30+% of the vote. They should have been far more pragmatic and prepared - but just like the idealistic schoolchildren now going to jail 'for a cause', they were taken down by smarter and more experienced political operators. Hopefully, MFP have learned their lesson and if they survive this dissolving of the Party wisely (Pita was cleared), then they will learn and also be smart enought to be able to take control after the next election. Only then can the system be changed - only from within. Screaming and protesting about what is right and wrong is irrelevent in Politics.

IMO the MFP and all the University protestors were stupid - and I said that at the time. The only way to make changes is to be in power - MFP should have focussed on getting elected. Once you are in power then you can make changes, but to get into power means being smart about it and/or lying about what you will do when in power (that is called politics).

Go and ask them in the local Immigration Office with the wife. If you are 'caught out' by a home visit after 1 or 2 years, the downsides are big. Tell them she is going for 2-3 months every 6 months, and that the kids are staying with you. It should be fine as per comments about looking after the children. If for some reason the IOs are not OK with that, then switch to a retirement extension (and maybe best to use an agent).

Thanks - So that is a No and a Yes. Plus keep records to prove it, just in case ever audited in the future.

Cannot argue with that - and yes I would only buy a toaster on Lazada that I have used before in Aust.

Question - Expat who remits 2 million baht in one calendar year. Does an Expat have to declare the whole 2 million baht they remitted into Thailand in that year, and then details what is savings and what is income. Or does an Expat only have to declare in a tax return the part of the 2 million baht they remitted that was 'income'.

Buy on Lazada - plenty of good brands - have brands/models sold overseas (all made in China anyway).

My very first WTF on first visit to Thailand many years ago - I was walking with a GF and a bloke did that standing in the bushes as he watched her walk past. I was angry and was going to punch his lights out, but she stopped me and just laughed at him as we walked away. I had a lot to learn. Still do.

Lucky you - many others (including myself in Chiang Mai years ago) not so lucky.

You didnt answer my question yesterday Bob - when are you leaving??

Many years ago when we saw Thais filing up their water guns in a creek, we have actively avoided this rubbish with the water. I am sure the Thais have the immunities and can handle dirty water in their face (they swim in when young), but us Expats over 50 are generally not so resistant to bacterial/fungal/viral infections.

I was expecting (hoping not) another video showing atrocious behaviour by foreigners - thank goodness not.

As the vast majority of Expats know, surveys and reports are written using the money paid for by the contributors. In other words they are 'paid advertising' and we all know it. Very few true independent surveys these days - if any. But Thais dont know that - and this works in Thailand - the Govt and Thai media lap it up. Plus of course the draconian defamation laws here make it impossible to actually criticise any Thai person or company - fairly or not - criticism is illegal. Who can ever forget that UK jopunalist forced to leave after publishing a story about a person/company that was found to be in breach of UN human/employee rights - the factr that the story was true was irrelevent - he was found guilty of defamation. I know SFA Thais know about that story - but they all know not to criticise those in authority or power.