davehowden

On 10/19/2016 at 11:25 AM, NancyL said:

 

Jim, I advised him to go to a lawyer to have a will properly written -- that costs about 5000 baht in Chiang Mai for one that's produced both in Thai and English.  Be sure the lawyer doesn't name himself as Executor.

 

I didn't say anything about Probate, did I.  The cases I've been involved with have been with properly drawn Final Wills with simple assets of Thai banks accounts and personal property contained in a rental condo.  No vehicles.  Probate was avoided and funds were released by the bank to the Executor to disperse to the named Heirs.  Incidentally in Thailand, the Executor can also be an Heir.

 

Incidentally, I've heard lawyers here in Chiang Mai quote 20,000 baht for a simple probate if it's a clean situation with nothing more than vehicles and Thai bank accounts.  Maybe it does go as high as 50,000 baht if real estate is involved.  I don't know.  

Nancy, would you be kind enough to advise which lawyer in CM you have found to be fair and "honest", thank you.

1 hour ago, Esso49 said:

I have had 2 out of 3 responses from the FCO regarding my requests under the FOI act.  Although I orignally said that I would publish the replies, given the current regime within TV for publishing some factual items I felt it more appropriate to publish those replies on another forum which I shall not name, but a Google search should find them for those interested.  Needless to say the actual data provided by the FCO, throws much , if not all of the TV conjecture as to the cessation of income letters from the BE,  into the  bin. It is obvious as to why the BE took such actions and the information/requests highlighted the major issues which triggered such actions.

The two requests identified on the "whatdotheyknow" site shows both rejected as they would take more than 3.5 hours/ cost more than £ 600 to respond to, in essence "get stuffed".

28 minutes ago, Psychic said:

It's a little amusing after 171 pages here that when I open TV I see and ad for retiree visas "no 800,000 baht deposit or 65,000 baht income needed."

 

Not sure this sort of thing is helping.

????

I would comment but I would probably get a lifetime ban !!

2 hours ago, Thaidream said:

It's not that they rejected the Embassy letter- the applicant could not provide a guaranteed income flow.  Then it was determined that Phuket would accept  a Government Pension but unsure about military pensions. Of course-that makes no sense because all military are paid by a government- so a military pension is a government pension. And what about  a retiree who worked for a Corporation for 40 years and  has a guaranteed annuity for life.  Phuket's interpretation is not even logical and it is easily pointed out. 

Who does the head of Phuket Immigration think pay's his pension when he gets it. Since he is a government employee- I would have to bet it was the Thai Government.

"Who does the head of Phuket Immigration think pay's his pension when he gets it"

More likely the Thai mafia will be paying his pension !!

28 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Sorry Dave, I read it as mail first time around, and not email.

 

I should have gone to Specsavers   ????  

No problems.

Specsavers, now that would be an expensive visit from Issan!

15 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Online is even easier.

From the BE website:

"Or Email your application and documents to [email protected]

13 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

I paid the Embassy price plus a fee for them to take it to and from the Embassy. Nothing crooked just saved me going to the Embassy or relying on the local post system!

Or even email it in ?

17 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

Why would anyone in Britain care about problems British pensioners have in Thailand?

I'm sure there have been problems for pensioners retired in other countries, but, I've never read, seen, or heard about them.

Worth a try I s'pose, but, it's a real long-shot.

If a piece in the SUN could be linked to loss of "Thai Income" in some way I am sure it would get some attention from the Thai authorities. Something like "Put your retirement plans for Thailand on hold, better check out the Philippines instead, where the time deposit is USD 10,000 and not the USD 24,468 required for Thailand. It does not need to be too factually correct, just interest grabbing!

http://www.philembassy.no/consular-services/visa/special-resident-retirees-visa-srrv

I see the "Affirmation of Marital Status" booking slots are going fast !!

https://www.consular-appointments.service.gov.uk/fco/#!/british-embassy-bangkok/oaths-affirmations-and-affidavits-/slot_picker

5 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Except today our IO told us 28th Dec would be the last day to submit an Income letter from the BE.

IO where ?

FYI

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1061503-british-embassy-statement-on-income-letters-officials-knew-about-problems-in-may-and-say-that-us-nationals-will-also-be-affected/

Made a transfer from my Wallet (which had been credited with a returned item) to my Thai bank account. On inquiry after 4 days with nothing being credited I was told it could take up to 12 days. Suggested they use a computer for the transfer instead of sending a letter.

I am thinking of buying a garden cultivator for circa 4000 baht including shipping from AliExpress. Does anyone know if I will need to pay customs/ import duty on top of this figure?

Many thanks.

As this topic is 'Chiang Mai Immigration" specific it should be in the Chiang Mai Forum ?

The concept of standardization of rules as regards Thai Immigration is a leap too far, everything is "my patch" based at officer and location level.

On 25/10/2016 at 6:35 PM, YeahSiam said:

 

You've been drinking too much of the Kool-aid

The UK economy is far, FAR from "sound".

Like every other major Western economy with, perhaps, the exception of Germany, Britain is awash with debt; household and public sector.

Manufacturing accounts for less than 12% of GDP and, more worryingly, its service economy is over-dependent on a City of London that's shown itself to be particularly vulnerable to financial shocks.

Much of the country's wealth is directly linked to real estate market lunacy and, despite the Bank of England's efforts to keep the plates spinning, Armageddon is inevitable.

Maybe not so awash with debt as some places ?

"At the end of FY 2017 the gross US federal government debt is estimated to be $19.5 trillion, according to the FY18 Federal Budget."

UK debt to GDP 90.6%

USA debt to GDP 104.17%

A brief report on my 5 yr renewal process yesterday (Aug 11th):

I went to the Lamphun office as I have always done.

What they required:

- Passport

- Copy of main passport page

- Copy of visa page

- Current Thai drivers license

- Residence cert

- 605 THB

The entire process including queue times as well as watching the 50-55 minute video was 1 hour and 20 minutes.

I had to:

- Perform the reaction test

- Perform the color test

- Watch the video

NOTES:

- My prior 5 yr license expired on my birthday a few weeks ago but they didn't seem to care about that.

- Even though they stated that my new license would be good for 5 years it's actually printed as saying the next 6.

- Watching the video I learned two things:

1) Everything in the video they said not to do the majority of the Thai drivers do all the time.

2) I didn't know it but new vehicles with the red tags are not allowed to be operated at night time.

Cheers.... happy motoring...... and be careful !

17 November 2015 at CM

5 year renewal, exactly the same requirements/ tests/ video as above plus copy of TM6, also got 6 years by renewing just after expiry of old license, cost 655 THB including the photo etc.

Did they also mention that there was no imminent danger from the Greenland Ice Sheet.

"The meeting acknowledged that it was necessary to recruit more foreign workers if domestic workforce was insufficient."

Jeez, these guys are worth every penny of their salary!

There could be a few fishermen coming free soon?

Bangmai,

Thanks for the information, I will take a look but I am swaying against it.

Beau,

Thank so much for the information.