SurfRider

.

"So does this mean that the rent I receive on the house I own and let out in the UK is NOT considered income by Thai Immigration?"

You're conflating foreign investment income with foreign investments. They're two completely different animals.

If you can convince your Embassy that you have foreign investment income and Thai Immigration accepts the letter, you're good to go.

My point was that foreign investments far exceeding the 800K Thai bank deposit requirement should be allowed without having to liquidate assets, pay taxes on the revenue, import the money into Thailand, and allow it to rot in a Thai bank.

All of the speculative comments about annuities, retirement requirements in other countries, etc., is off topic in this thread.

.

.

You missed the point - Expat Investments in other countries ARE NOT considered income by Thai Immigration. And if you don't believe that, try explaining a complicated investment portfolio to a Thai Immigration agent . . .

.

.
"Another point worth bearing in mind is that pensions may not necessarily be the sole source of income for those of us living in LOS on retirement extensions."

That's very true and Thai Immigration's simplistic, juvenile, and outdated assumption that all Expats must have a pension or they're not qualified to live here is ridiculous.

Many have investments outside of Thailand that FAR exceed the 800,000 bank deposit requirement or the 65,000 per month Thai income requirement. To have that money rotting away in a Thai bank would be a very stupid and irresponsible investment decision.

If I were to liquidate 800,000 Baht worth of investments to deposit 800K Baht in a Thai bank, the Tax consequences would be catastrophic - not to mention a loss of dividend income to the tune of US$1600 per year (48,000 Thai Baht)

As long as the Thai immigration system insists on sticking their nose into the private financial affairs of Expats living here, they also need to modernize and streamline their requirements for validation of Expat incomes.
.

.
"Why not have Honorary Embassy Wardens in each region or province. These wardens would be trained and qualified in the notary process and could also help the embassy with other matters that now require a trip to Bangkok or Chiang Mai"

EXCELLENT IDEA! But I suspect the US Embassy would have some regulation that would prevent this from ever happening. The US Embassy has always seemed to be very amenable to accommodating their Expats wherever possible, so I wish you the best in presenting your idea at the September meeting.

Pattaya, for example, has 4 or 5 such Wardens and it would certainly make things much easier for Expats who can't travel.

There's also a Visa service business in Pattaya that obtains income letters for Brits at a cost of only 300 Baht - no trip to Bangkok. I contacted them about providing the same service for non-Brits, but they were not interested. It would be great if a service such as this could be established for other Expats.
.

.
With respect to the Thai Immigration income reporting requirement-- the heart of the problem lies directly with Thai Immigration.

Expats --particularly ones who have been here for years-- know very well how much money/income is required to live here. It should be none of Immigration's business how much income an Expat has, nor the size of their bank account. There should be NO REQUIREMENT for any Expat to report this personal and private information.

I lived in the Philippines a few years back. Their Immigration couldn't care less about the income or financial resources of any Expat living there. The Visa renewal process was so simple that all you had to do was to take your passport to a reputable travel agent once every 6 months - they would have a runner take it to the Immigration office to be stamped. Cost was only US$15 (460 Thai Baht) every 6 months. For $2 additional, they would deliver the passport to your residence.

I never stepped foot in an Immigration office and never even knew where it was located.

Best of luck with Thai Immigration ever becoming this considerate and accommodating with their Expats . . .

.
"This does seem to be a fundamental inequity with the affidavit system of issuing POI letters IMHO. Would not US Embassy staff be prepared to undertake personal visits to applicants who were not fit to travel to Bangkok for affidavit-swearing purposes"

Basically a good idea, but I'm sure the the US Embassy would claim that they have neither the staff nor the budget for such an undertaking.

The best they've been able to offer is outreach programs four times a year to several select outlying areas from Bangkok-- where a limited Embassy staff travels to those areas and provides minimal such services. These outreaches are VERY MUCH appreciated by US Expats.

The problem with the income letter process at the US Embassy is that they require that the letter be notarized - which means that the Expat has to personally sign the letter in the presence of an Embassy official. That requirement should be modified for handicapped people, but it is hardly likely that the US Embassy would do something like that, unfortunately
.

.

"This change does not affect anyone that is not USA Nationality."

That statement is ABSOLUTELY not true.

Both the British and Australian Embassies provide income verification letters for their Expats (and probably many other countries also).

.

.

"Interestingly officials have stated that online trading (stocks shares etc) does not need a work permit"

What if I wanted to pay a Thai to help with clerical duties for my online trading (much like hiring a maid or house keeper)?

WP needed or not???

.

.

I suggest the Samsung Galaxy Grand - Does most of what the more expensive Galaxy phones do, but for 10,000 Baht less. Currently on summer promotion in Thailand for 11,900 Baht. It only came out in February, so it's not well known yet locally. I bought one and love it. It's also dual-sim in case you have need for two phone numbers.

http://www.samsung.com/th/galaxygrand/

.

.

"What is it?"

It's an onion "appetizer" created by a restaurant in the USA. Supposedly serves 6 people, which puts the calories at around 500 (335 without dressing) and about 100 Baht per person at state-side prices -- Much cheaper here I'm sure, if it could be found - and obviously not intended to be daily fare. Probably not much different than a large order of onion rings.

.

.

"This is surely meant to be shared buy a group of people?"

I would hope so, but nevertheless, it's always fun to read the knee-jerk off-topic opinions of the Nattering Snobs of Negativism on a subject like this . . .

Only two on-topic responses so far.
.

Has anyone seen this "delicacy" available in any restaurant in Pattaya / Jomtien?

Probably a heart attack on a plate, but very popular as an appetizer in other parts of the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blooming_onion

.

"If only they could tell us the truth. Who's controlling the media?"

The Pattaya media is running scared of the corruption that is rampant in Pattaya. In March of 2012 a well known local American businessman was arrested for extortion.

The only Pattaya media outlet that dared to publish the story, The Pattaya-One newspaper and website, was "ordered" to remove the arrest story at 10:00pm on the night following the arrest.

There was much speculation on ThaiVisa.com about who got through to Pattaya-One and muzzled them -- The publisher posted this explanation on ThaiVisa:

"It was quite amusing really.

As soon as I published the story on Pattaya One, the phone calls began......I told them all that the story would not be pulled so they moved on to my Thai partner. A "top of the tree" Thai called him and we made the decision to pull the story.

At the end of the day, protecting my businesses is far more important than a single news story"
.

.

I'd recommend the Samsung Galaxy Grand - Save yourself 10,000 Baht - Only 11,900 in Thailand

http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-grand-unlocked/4505-6452_7-35558251.html

http://www.samsung.com/th/promotions/commart2013/hhp/

.

.

Might be worth taking a look at the Samsung Galaxy "Grand" - Came out only two months ago - on summer promotion in Thailand for 11,900 Baht - I bought one - very happy with it.

http://www.samsung.com/th/promotions/commart2013/hhp/

.

Chiang Mai

Jomtien re-filling station

More Pattaya Songkran Mayhem . . .

A Couple of "Happy" Celebrants . . .

.

Enjoy Your Songkran Baht-Bus Ride . . .

.

Save yourself the trouble - just wear one of these ...

.

Let's see if we can make her crash her motorbike . . .