Galong

I'm planning on visiting my family in Virginia next summer. It's likely my last time visiting. My Va driver's license expires in Oct of the next year. I read that every other renewal has to be in person and that it can only be renewed one year in advance. I'll be longer away than that. My last one was by mail, so this one will probably require an in-person visit. I don't really need a driver's license per se, but I do need some form of photo ID other than my passport. Va and many states are going towards something called a REAL ID. Has anyone here been able to get a DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) Photo ID online? I'm pretty sure I've got all of the documents/statements required. I also read about the USPS offering a photo ID that is just as usable and easier to get than dealing with the DMV. Any insight on potential other photo IDs would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't looked over the entire site. Can you eFile on the IRS site? TurboTax had a glitch the last two years that made it so I couldn't eFile. I had to mail it by post. 🤦‍♂️

It aligns with the 'make money any way you can other than working for it' mentality. This will, of course, backfire for almost everyone.

Every video I've ever seen on this subject looks like safety is the absolute last thing on their minds. They always look off-their-tits drunk too. I'm surprised accidents don't happen more often.

So your answer is to do nothing for fear of pi55ing off the offenders. They could post signs stating that on a certain date these will be the new rules. This could discussed in the classes and handouts could be given to students for the students who ride bikes and to other students whose parents pick them up. I live next to an elementary school I walk my dog there every afternoon and talk to a few of the teachers. I've brought this up and they said something should be done. Something COULD be done at the school level in coordination with the police in my opinion (starting with written warnings, etc), but I've only lived here for 31 years, so I'm sure I don't know as much about the subject as others.

EXACTLY! Now, I don't want to live in a police state, but there has to be something between that and what we've got here. The cops don't really do anything in Phuket other than stop ever foreigner at the Chalong roundabout. One very effective and fairly easy thing they could do is wait outside of every school and when the motorbikes come out with driver/passengers not wearing helmets, give them a ticket. When underage kids come out riding a bike, take the bike and call their parents. If the parents gave the bike to the child to use, then they should be in legal trouble. Do something about the steady flow of motorbikes riding down the wrong side of the road at the Koh Kaew intersection. Most of the riders aren't wearing helmets. PATROL... ACTUALLY PATROL!!! The only time we see the police force in action is when some VIP is in town. Where on earth are the cops the rest of the time? [rhetorical question]

The weather inequality is caused by retirees.

I did a bunch of facial scans and every time it seemed like it would pass, but then got a message to do it again. I changed the lighting and did everything I could think of and nothing worked. A message to do a video chat came up so I clicked on that. Everything was completed in about a minute. I was able to sign into my IRS account very soon after that.

"pay Thai tax like Thais" ?? Out of all of my Thai friends and associates, I only know a couple who actually pay taxes. The others certainly make enough to owe taxes, but have zero interest in doing so and also have zero fear of any consequences. This is Thailand. This is how stuff works. This new tax scheme is, in reality, designed to milk money from foreigners under the guise that there is inequality in Thailand. Those who came up with this scheme are from the elite families that cause the inequality. The hypocrisy meter is spinning and starting to smoke.

I still get them, but they're delayed more than usual.

This is pure speculation. As a court case, you wouldn't have an argument other than "he's the boss, so he's responsible for everything" 🤦‍♂️ So, you're sure he had a "long-planned coup"? This again, would be an assumption or speculation.

Sorry, not any evidence that this was linked to Prayuth. There are plenty of people who could be responsible.

Yep, I registered ID.me using my AIS Thai phone, which is registered in my name. They didn't ask for proof of that, but I have it in case they ever do. My two US banks, Schwalb and Capital One allow me either my Thai number OR my Skype (VOIP) for codes. If they stop allowing VOIP, I hope they still allow my Thai number. They should. As a backup to that backup, I made both accounts joint with my brother, so if it ever comes to that, they can send the code to his US mobile number and he can tell it to me. Geez, you'd think as the world supposedly becomes more open and free, banks and verification systems would realize and accept that not everyone stays where they were born. We're not looking to do anything illegal, that happens in-country enough already. We're just trying to do what you guys want and to do it by-the-book... nothing nefarious. 🤷‍♂️

If you're serious, name ONE political opponent that suffered such a fate, please.

I have a regular BKK Bank account with an ATM card and a Direct Deposit account that is dedicated to US Social Security monthly deposits. When I set it up three years ago I was expecting that I would have to personally go in to move to take money out, but I can do it online. If they change this in the future, I hope they give me a bit of notice... I wouldn't be surprised if they don't. 🤦‍♂️ I do yearly SSA Form 7162 "Proof of Life" submission. That should be coming in anytime now.

But he didn't try to tax expats and retirees, so there's that. 😉🤔

It looks like the site is down, see https://www.isitdownrightnow.com/ssa.gov.html

Did you set up a different 2FA? You could try that. It shouldn't make a difference, but perhaps trying a different browser might help. I've run into this before and did these two things. Let us know what works for you if/when you get it sorted. Good luck. 🤞🤞

To those of us here and to those outside who are paying attention, everything he does could easily be seen as turning Thailand into a 'handout' society. I see nothing he's done or proposing that enhances the Thai work force to improve. He's done nothing that I've read to improve the educational system in the kingdom. It's all been pipe dreams and talk of more hubs. 🤦‍♂️ Bring back Prayuth. His ineptness was somewhat harmless and it would be refreshing to have him back.

My only two experiences have been flawless. I couldn't get the facial scan to accept me, but after several attempts, I just clicked on the video verification. I had to wait about two minutes.

Success! I used my ID.me to sign into my IRS account.

It's cute how they're claiming this isn't targeted at expats, yet none of my Thai friends know anything about this new enforcement or care because they know they're not going to be affected. Also, it's pretty rich having the elite preach about inequality in the kingdom when they are the cause of it. 🤦‍♂️

Has anyone else created an IRS account using ID.me? My ID.me account has my Thai address and Thai phone number associated with it. It didn't matter with the My Soc Sec site. To create an IRS account, I read to go through the ID.me site. I did all of that and am now at the 'wait for a verification' email. The last time (when I originally signed up for ID.me) the email came quite quickly. This time it's much slower. How long have you guys waited for your confirmation email previously?

I'm not sure if that's Uncle Sam or Uncle Somchai in your case. 🤔 I have a Direct Deposit account with BKK Bank and just shifted some money around online today.

Yes, ALL energy should be spent going after the REAL criminals instead of us working stiffs. Casting a net over the ocean to catch a certain few fish is both insane and the certain fish have been warned and are probably taking measures to avoid the net.