srowndedbyh2o

Thanks for the info bkk mike. Some of my wifes family live in Bangkok. One sister works in an office and uses a computer at her work. Another sister has had some schooling in business office work, but is not working at this time. I just felt that having a PC at home would be helpful as far as learning and staying familiar with PC’s for office work. I have thought of sending them an old iMac that I have, but I figured it would cost too much to get it into Thailand (or would it?). Plus, the iMac would be of no use as far as learning about computers for office work.

Check this out: http://www.tv5.co.th/tgn/advertise.html

I’ll have the family look into what a basic PC computer in Thailand will cost. Probably have them go to Pantip Plaza. I think with all the shops there, they should be able to find a place to set them up with all they need.

Thanks again for your help.

Thanks rickvan.

I did a search and see AIM 5.5 is a free download. Does the user have to be signed up with AOL to use this? Can AIM be downloaded to a computer in Thailand and be used with whatever Internet service is available locally?

Also, do you know if this is something that may be available at Internet Cafes? Sorry, but I’ve never used a Windows PC so I am unfamiliar with them.

I use an iMac computer here at home in the U.S.A. and I would like to set up “iChat” with “iSight” so my wife can have audio/visual conversations with her family in Thailand and avoid all the long distance phone bills. I know Thailand is mostly all Windows PC’s. Is there a program available in Thailand for a PC that would allow this type of communication? Is it something that can be found at an Internet Cafe (my wifes family dosen't currently own a computer)? Even just the audio communication would be great. My wife calls family in Thailand regularly, so being able to talk over the computer would save a bundle. With all the money saved on phone calls, we could buy a basic computer for my wifes family to use in their home.

Thanks

Many years ago when I was staying in Thailand there was some sort of Women’s club that would sell used books over at AUA in Bangkok one day a week. I think it was Wednesdays. It was years ago, so I don’t know if they are still doing it. The selection was only fair, but always changing, as I believe all the books were donated. I found it fun to browse, as you never knew what you might find. The prices were certainly very reasonable.

Wasn’t sure which forum to post this, as it is a question of both a legal matter as well as a health question, but:

I am an American, and my Thai wife and I live in the US. All of my wifes family live in Thailand.

My wifes family lives in SiSaket, and when traveling between Bangkok and SiSaket they usually use the train, but for some reason back on about the 18th of this month they decided to go by bus (a private bus company, not the government run bus) . Well, the bus got into an accident. There were some fatalities, but luckily all of my wifes family survived with what appeared to be minor scrapes and bruses. Now some 9 days later, my wifes brother and sister, although still a bit sore, appear to be doing ok. However my wifes mother is still complaining of pain and unable to attend to her usual daily chores. She also has been having some difficulty breathing when she lies down to sleep. I told my wife to call her family and have her Mother go back into the hospital for further evaluation, just in case they overlooked something during her first exam at the time of the accident, and to be sure there are no further complications that have developed.

In the US if someone is involved in an accident such as this, the bus company would be responsible for any medical care and bills resulting from the accident, and the person suffering injuries may also be entitled to some other compensation.

Does the same hold true for Thailand? My wife is telling me that after the initial exams at the time of the accident, my wifes family will have to pay out of pocket for any further medical care, and that they will try and get the bus company to reimburse them later. Is this how it usually works in Thailand?

My wifes family are your typical Isaan farming folk, and I am worried that as such, when they go the doctor/hospital on their own, they may not receive the same medical attention as, say a Thai businessman may receive. I don’t want to see them taken advantage of, and want them to receive all the medical care and compensation they are entitled to.

Opinons, comments?

Has she kept up her Thai ID card ? 

Yes, she has kept all of her Thai paperwork in order and up to date.

The only reason she had never applied for US citizenship years ago was the conflicting info we had received from various sources, including the Thai Embassy and the US INS, and we never wanted my wife to loose the right to own poperty in Thailand.

Thanks again.

We actually started the process of US citizenship for my wife back in May of 2003. Just waiting on immigration to give her an appointment date for her final test, so we should be reaching the finish soon. Previous info I’ve gotten from other sources suggested my wife would loose her Thai passport when she became a US citizen, which neither of us were too happy about. Looks like it will all work out well, and we will be able to have that home in Thailand... someday.

I have a lot of spare time as my business is simple to run.

Sounds good to me!! What sort of business do you have?

Sorry to keep going on this subject, but I have a follow-up question regarding entry/exit stamps in passports and “samran”s response:

The main thing to remember, is that your wife should still enter and leave Thailand on her Thai passport everytime she visits, otherwise she will be subject to immigration control. 

Seems the same holds true for entering the US. What happens when she re-enters the USA? If she shows her Thai passport, they will ask for her “Green card”. If she shows her USA passport, it will not contain the visa stamps showing where she has been. Does she just show the US passport in place of the “green card” with all exit and entry stamps entered in her Thai passport? Doesn’t seem like the US would let her come and go from the US without entering some sort of stamp in her US passport, yet an entry stamp without a stamp showing where she has been and for how long doesn’t make sense either.

Thanks to all for the feedback. It’s been a great help.

Now, if I could just figure a way to retire early, so I don’t have to wait so long to move to Thailand!!!

I’d like to get some opinions on Thai/US citizenship for my wife.

I am a US citizen and my wife is a Thai citizen. We have been married and living in the US for about 12 years. My wife has kept her Thai citizenship as we were hoping to someday purchase a home in Thailand, and thought that her keeping her Thai citizenship would make that easier.

When it comes time for me to retire, we have always planned on moving to Thailand. I will need to rely mostly on US Social Security for income, and figure the money will go farther living in Thailand than the US. As I am 10 years older than my wife, my main concern is income for my wife after, and assuming I die before her. Even as a Thai citizen, my wife will be able to collect my Social Security after I’m gone, however, I recently was informed that in order for my wife to continue to collect Social Security, she will need to return to the US for a period of time each year. As a non-US citizen, if she stays out of the US for more than a year she will lose the Social Security benefits. With a limited income, the cost of traveling to the US each year would be a real burden for her, plus as my wife gets older it will become increasingly difficult to make those trips (solo, as all my wifes family are in Thailand). If my wife becomes a US citizen, this will no longer be an issue, as she will be able to collect Social Security same as any US citizen. However, if she becomes a US citizen, then there is the issue of her owning property in Thailand, visa requirements for here to stay and live in Thailand, and also the cost of medical care as a non-Thai citizen.

Any thoughts, opinions or personal experience would be greatly appreciated.