Equatorial

The correct sequence is as follows (hyphens added to separate the components): 003-44-0800-1912 1877 77; the 800 UK based numbers require dialing 0800, not just 800. I get an error message in Thai language, indicating that this number has international calls disabled. Apparently that is an option that UK based 800 numbers can use. Sounds like your best bet is to use one of the services that other posters suggested.

What kind of medical certificate do you need to get a DL?

That's simple - some people value their time more than their money. People have been known to tip girls to scratch their backs (and more). Can't argue with that!

Are there any steps that one needs to take to ensure that the wife gets the money in the bank (e.g., the 400k or 800k financial requirements for visa), in case of husband's death?

I just dialed a US 800 number and it worked fine. Please post the number you're trying to call, including the country and area code, I'll try and dial it and see what happens. (I am assuming that it is a business rather than personal phone number and that posting it does not violate the board rules.)

I hear you! I have LINE on my phone, but only because some of my friends insist on using it. Atrocious application design, horrible user experience, no support. I tried to convince my contacts to switch to WhatsApp which is a clearly superior product, but here in Thailand everyone (including farang!) appears to like LINE. Big long sigh...

That's what I like to know! Can they just pull 10,000 or 100,000 Baht out of your bank account whenever they want to?

Corrected URL: https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/financial-world-expects-policy-reversal-on-taxation-of-foreign-income-repatriated-to-thailand-502050 It's an interesting read. The last Q&A from the article:

No I have not. At 3 Bath per minute direct dial, if I need to make one or two 10-minute phone calls a month, to an overseas bank etc., that's 30-60 Baht per month. It's not worth my time downloading yet another application and creating yet another account.

I disagree. They call it harmony, because they want to somehow turn it into something positive. In reality, it's pretense and avoidance, pure and simple. Nothing to do with harmony. Unresolved conflicts continue to exist and simmer inside. Being suppressed, they just resurface later, with much more destructive force.

Generally speaking, I would agree. But not in this case. This is not a matter of talking to anyone - this is a matter of using the available technology. At technology, I'd say that we farang are much superior to our Thai wives. I figured out the USSD codes, signed up for the 00500, queried the rates, and dialed the overseas numbers entirely without my wife's assistance. And I can say with confidence that it was a lot easier for me to figure out than it would be for her. Here is what Grok has to say on this topic: And here is the AIS response to the international rates queries:

I think the OP wants to offload all of the hassle to the agent. Ideally, hand over the passport (and the fee) to the agent, and come back a few days later to pick up the passport with the fresh EOS. The agent does not need to go to another province etc.; just walk the passport to the local office, wait in line, hand over the paperwork, and get the passport with the EOS from the IO. Nothing nefarious. No rules broken. No bribes paid. This type of service is commonly used in Europe. Maybe not for visa, but for a variety of interactions with the bureaucracy. You're just paying for the service in order to avoid wasting a day dealing with the bureaucracy.

1/ They came back the next day and asked for an additional document that was not on the original list. I just checked, they asked for "An Invitation Letter from the Family Member." (I was applying for marriage-based Non O.) I submitted that additional document the same day. I received an email with the approved e-visa 6 calendar days after I submitted the application. 2/ Yes, at the time of submitting the application. 3/ I don't know if I had to be. But I was so I didn't give it another thought. I do not recall being asked where I physically reside. But I would be extremely careful with applying through a country where I am not physically present, as I suspect there must be some rules about this. And if there are, I suspect the penalties for violating those rules might be stiff. Maybe someone with first-hand knowledge can elaborate.

That makes sense. I'll take it one step further - using the "reasonable person standard," a person who fulfills the requirement has no reason to suspect that bribing an official is taking place. Bribing for what? The "reasonable person" would think that he is strictly paying for the agent to do the legwork. OTOH, I seriously doubt that the "reasonable person standard" even exists in Thailand!

พยาน (phayan) - a witness [noun] (a legal term) Learned that yesterday at the local police station. Luckily I was there only as an observer rather than in a starring role...

I applied for Non O at the LA consulate and I don't know if this is true for other consulates and embassies, but the consulate web site listed exactly what document they required for Non O. It was an easy process to follow. Surprisingly so

I'll try to rephrase the OP question. (In fact, I've been wondering about it myself.) Does using an agent to get an EOS, for logistical reasons (a.k.a convenience) rather than for reasons of non-compliance with the requirements, involve any risk? I don't know the answer, but I think it boils down to one thing. Given that the applicant fulfills the EOS requirements, the only way this can be "risky" is if the act of using an agent rather than doing the legwork in person is prohibited by law, rules, or regulations. I do not know the answer - to answer it would take someone familiar with Thai law. My guess would be that, given a large volume of EOS' processed for applicants who do not fulfill the requirements, the risk for someone who actually does fulfill the requirements and only uses an agent for convenience, is negligible.

Sorry to hear that. If you have a way to see your itemized charges it would be interesting to know what happened. After I make an int'l call I always look at my itemized charges and so far I haven't had any issues. On postpaid, the 003 rate to the US is B2.5, compared to the 00500 service at B3. I used the 003 service exactly one time. The quality was atrocious.

First, you have to enable the 00500 calling for your SIM: Enable international calling via 003, 005, and 00500 - *125*3#send Optional: check the rate: Check “00500″ call rate to another country – *005*0*country code#send Then, you can call by preceding the country code with 00500 prefix, e.g. 00500(country code)phone number Not sure what the UK rate is; the US rate is 3 Baht per minute. Let us know if this worked for you. (I have postpaid AIS SIM, not sure if it works on prepaid.)

Welcome to the ASEAN forum!

I agree with that, to a degree. We have our values, and I will stand up for my values, when practicable. (Of course, I am not going to risk my life over a restaurant review...) That is wise. However, there are way to express values without getting into a conflict situation. Last week I was having dinner at one of the better restaurants in town. A vendor entered from the outside, and starting walking from table to table, trying to sell guava to the restaurant guests. Pretty annoying, but I didn't say anything. Ten minutes later, another vendor came in and did the same. When I go to a restaurant, one of the things I expect is that I won't be bothered while eating my dinner. Thais may not expect it. And even if they do, they will just smile and say nothing. That's the Thai way. I got up and went to talk to the owner who was sitting behind the cash register. I told him that I like the restaurant and I am enjoying the food, however, there are these people coming in from the outside and bothering me while I'm eating dinner. I didn't frame it as a complaint (because I know well that Thais would perceive that as conflict). I framed it as a question, "Is this normal?" He smiled, and said, "Yes. Sometimes." I said, with an incredulous expression on my face, "Are you serious?" May not seem like much. But I made my point. We all owe to ourselves to stand up for ourselves.

A combination of those. I have been using Google Pay with Revolut and WISE virtual debit cards. I like the security of the digital wallet, and the fact that this way the money never touches the Thai banking system. Now that I know that Thai banks may be charging the incoming transfers - another reason to keep doing that. You can't use the digital wallet everywhere of course, but it covers purchases at the big stores.

I have been following this extremely entertaining exchange for a few days now. I especially enjoyed this last post, which effectively says - DTA's take precedent over Domestic Law. Therefore, Domestic Law must be followed when contradicted by the DTA. This is on the par with Zen koans. I appreciate the way @The Cyclist stimulates meditative contemplation and facilitates enlightenment by disrupting conventional thinking and helping us transcend the limitations of logical reasoning.

That's simple - iPhone envy. @JakeC is absolutely right - if you have a relatively recent iPhone model, hardware-wise you're all set. All you need is to add the additional SIM.

Understood. Btw, one thing that I have not realized until now is that timing is important. My EOS anniversary is mid-June. That means that I must be physically present in Thailand at least some of the time during the May-June timeframe. This really sucks, because late spring and early summer is the time that I like to travel overseas - and now I won't be able to do that. At least not without juggling the EOS renewal appointments, etc. My current thinking is to exit without a Re-Entry Permit and time the next Non O so that my EOS starts in January. That is the timeframe that I'd rather be in Thailand than anywhere else (mostly because of the weather), so it won't disrupt my travel plans.