JimGant

Interesting observation. To your knowledge, was there ever a point during the revolutionary war where the parties said, let's sit down and discuss a compromise to this mess...? By the way, we won the bloody war, so "favour" is now spelled "favor." ????

You too. Majority?

Yeah, it's not a coincidence, and, yes, you're certainly no financial expert. Using the world's baseline currency, my US dollar, we're 6% better off than we were against the baht this past 8 years (32.3 vs 34.3). And that's certainly a better snapshot of how the baht has been behaving over this time frame, and whether or not there has been any currency manipulation. Sorry the pound has sunk against the baht, but that's certainly not due to an 'unelected PM and his soldiers' manipulating the baht. Brexit has certainly been involved in the pound's deterioration, as well as other British missteps. Blaming Prayut for your diminished pound is absurd. But, yeah, if you want to blame your financial sorrows on the coup, have at it.

Well, replace "elected" with "legitimate" -- elected wasn't a process in the 18th century -- and we have the American Revolution. So, certainly there are situations where the sitting government needs to go -- for the betterment of the citizens. Thus, glad I'm the product of a coup, and not still a Brit or Old Worlder. Yeah, a little too dramatic. Prayut is not G. Washington. But neither is he that butcher next door in Burma. Living in Thailand since he came onboard hasn't affected my life at all, nor that of my Thai neighbors. I still maintain that a democratically elected follow on to Yingluck would not have made a noticeable improvement to Thailand's situation in 2022. We'll never know, however. Democracy in today's world ain't what it used to be -- switch on your reality button, and temper your idealism thoughts.

Ok, I stand corrected. Nevertheless, I still pose the hypothetical -- would Thailand be better off today with a democratically elected follow-on to Yingluck? We'll never know; but there didn't seem to be a lot of able bodied leaders available for election. And had there been, with today's democratic procedures, the right guy probably wouldn't have won, as giving the vote to everyone only results in flawed results, due to flawed thinking processes -- and maybe, in Thailand, a bribe or two. Just look at the US today, where an amazing number of voters have become cultists. Hard to get a warm fuzzy feeling with the results of their votes..... (Churchill, you were wrong.) I guess as a Yank, I'm happy with coups, since our country started out with one, against the British government. And ending up with the best leader available -- the most senior general in the country. Thus, an illegal beginning, resulting in a general as leader -- hmmm, maybe Prayut ain't so bad (as I still think he has the welfare of the Thai people as his priority, which, I'm sure, brings some groans from the peanut gallery on this forum). No, in today's world of screwed up democracies, even old established ones, having a benevolent dictatorship seems the best solution in some situations.

Just curious..... If you're here on an extension of stay emanating from your O-A visa, how is it that you have a two month gap in your TGIA coverage? When you got that extension, presumably Immigration would only give you a 12 month extension if you had matching 12 month TGIA coverage..... What am I missing?

And what might that be? Seriously. I can't remember any bloodshed, or any indefinite imprisonments. Certainly nothing like what's going on in Burma now. Would the country have been better off, had Yingluck been allowed to continue? Maybe. Maybe not. Prayut, I believe, has had, and continues to have, honorable intentions (but his beginnings were tainted, and this will be the only factor in many folks' minds). Unfortunately, Covid has prevented any meaningful progress, from him or from anyone else in his position. Yingluck would have experienced the same roadblock. Prayut doesn't have warlord intentions -- his intentions, I believe, are honorable; and he'll retire soon enough. Then we can compare him to his successor. Bloodless coups are ingrained in Thai culture. Most, actually, have been for the betterment of the country. These have been the equivalent of impeachments. Maybe America can learn from this, should Trump get re-elected in 2024 -- with a little luck, it won't be bloodless.

Yes, and thankfully so. It's nice to have high ideals. But to have these ideals trump realpolitik would have the US void of the "friends" it needs around the world to keep matters to the US's advantage. And keeping Thailand the friend that it's been ever since the King offered elephants during the Civil War makes complete sense, regardless of what the idealists think of their current government------ ------which, by the way, comes across squeaky clean in their last election, compared to the US, with their insurrection and deaths at the Capitol. No, the US is in no position to criticize the current Thai situation -- at least they don't have a Thaksin cult similar to the Trump cult. Yes, it denies some freedoms allowed in the West; but so too does Singapore (which the NGOs also attack, but we never read about it, since it's such a non event in this part of the world with managed democracies). No, the US and Thailand make a good friendship fit. Just hope the State Dept keeps on its realpolitik path, and doesn't deviate into idealism, as it did under Obama. Hope Prayuth and Biden had a good meeting.

My O-A based extension ends Sep 12, 2022 -- but I'll be applying for renewal before Sept 1st (under the 30-45 day lead time provision). Will I need the new coverage requirement, which means a premium of 69000 baht vs. 17000 baht for the old 40/400k coverage? Or is Sept 1st the cutoff date for when renewed extention begins -- or cutoff date for application date?

If you're a Yank, and the only reason for a Thai tax ID is to get back your withholding on bank acount interest -- forget it. Just enter the withholding amount on the tax credit line on your Form 1040 -- and viola, you get your Thai tax withholding back without expending any shoe leather on Thai bureaucracy. You don't even need to file the tax credit Form 1116, if your credit is less than $600, filing jointly (and the Form 1116 is easy to do, if you need to). Yes, the rules state, if you can get a refund, then you don't qualify for a tax credit. But, hey, reading Asean Now, and other Thai forums, I find that to get a refund, I need a Thai tax ID, and further reading gives examples of this being impossible without a work permit, which I don't have. You'd never get audited for a piddly tax credit -- but if you did, just print out an Asean Now response about no-can-do. Ethically bereft? Naaa. You're still paying the same amount of tax; but in this case, Thailand gets to keep the taxes, and the US doesn't. Seems fair, that the country where the interest is earned gets first taxation rights.

Why? What does registration do for you? Just write out a Will in long hand and, although not required for long hand wills, have two witnesses (not your beneficiaries). Record the signings, yours and witnesses, on your cell phone camera, then a thumb drive. If you trust one of your beneficiaries to pay the other one his half, then make him a co-signatory, then upon your death, have him clean out most of your account (but don't close), either in person or on-line (assuming you set up ahead of time his account as a receptor for transfers from yours). The bank won't know you're dead, so this shouldn't be a problem. But, if so, your Will will allow probate and eventual settlement with both beneficiaries -- for a substantial fee, no doubt. Thus, the Will is an insurance policy, should fait accompli of emptying your account not work. Possibly identify a lawyer ahead of time that will handle probate, should it be necessary. Give his phone number to your executor, presumably one of your beneficiaries. If it has to go the probate route, you'll need your Will translated into Thai -- but no need to do this prematurely, if probate is not necessary. But, you'll have to trust either the lawyer or executor to have a fair translation accomplished -- wonderful opportunity to swap in a new beneficiary....... .......never mind, as you'll be dead.

If he pre books a wheelchair, he's putting no one out -- surfeit of wheelchairs and coolies to push. Nancy got me thinking -- after going business class these last few years, due to old age and arthritis, being pushed to the business class lounge, then to the airplane -- makes complete sense when you weight the cost of that ticket. Cheers, Nancy.

Doesn't quite pass the sniff test, if Thai authorities really were trying to put in place the requirement that farang long term stayers were financially solvent. But, if there are no losers with this wink wink, who cares.

Presumably, that's their 800k, not yours......? So, we're not talking about overriding length of time requirements, but overrriding the requirement that you have 800k available to you in Thailand. I seriously doubt an IO has the authority to wink wink this requirement, as it was put into effect to preclude too many indigent farangs wandering the sois. But I doubt that's a realistic potential problem, so once again corruption is good --IOs can afford Mercedes and farangs can keep their 800k in securities. Everyone's happy, except Big Joke, who saw this for what it is -- blatant corruption. However, he forgot to weigh the benefits that his actions were attempting to yank from the IOs. Surprised he didn't end up with a horse's head in his bed -- or maybe over here that would be a water buffalo.... But he was dealt with.

PharmaChoice. I use them for medications long ago prescribed (7 yrs) in the US, plus a few recent Bangkok Hospital prescriptions. They don't need a prescription for any of the maintenance ones I take, write in nice long hand the details on their letter head receipt, and sign it "pharmacist" I file this with Tricare, and have never been denied, even tho' the stipulated filing should be on machine prepared documentation. I've even slipped to filing 6 months worth, when usually they look for 3 month -- no problem. But, point being -- if you're going to file with an insurance company, handwritten receipts, plus a credit card slip, might suffice.

Well, Bangkok Bank NY makes this all transparent. You just do a domestic wire transfer to Bangkok Bank NY, using their routing number and using your Bangkok Bank account number from your Thailand Bangkok Bank. BB NY will wire the money to Thailand, where you'll get the BB TT buying rate in effect at the time (a rate just slightly south of the interbank exchange rate, i.e., a very competitive rate). This TT rate is exactly what we got back when domestic ACH was allowed -- and the other fees are the same, including a $10 upfront fee for amounts over $2000 and a .25% backend fee (max: 500bt). The only other fee may be one from your bank, for sending a domestic wire -- domestic ACH normally didn't have fees. As a comparison, I sent via Wise $20k today, with their rate of 33.985. Promised amount, to arrive Apr 26, is 674,976. The last BB TT rate, Friday, was: 33.76. Had I wired to BB NY and the effective TT rate was still 33.76 when the money hit my account in Thailand, I would have received 674,362. Of course, the TT rate probably would have changed -- for better or worse. Plus, I didn't incorporate any domestic wire fee that many banks charge. Anyway, pretty close comparison, so ease of execution would seem to be the tie breaker.

Could care less if you lose money on your transfers, but I do get annoyed with erroneous advice on forums. Here's one of many warnings about converting to baht at home:

Did a Wise transfer today of $20k and this reminder still pops up. I use Bangkok Bank, so this didn't apply to me. But for those considering using Wise, and don't have accounts with one of these three banks, heads up. [And it would seem other transfer methods would be similarly affected -- any discussion of this on the forum that I'm missing?]

Wrong. You always take a big hit if you convert to THB in your originating country.

Sounds like the OP might of have used one of those agents who magically eliminate the requirement to have 800k of your own money in the bank at any time. Obviously, this makes having the 800-400-800 requirement impossible to document -- at least with legitimate bank statements. And why some on this forum have argued that once you go this type of agent route, you've checked into Hotel California. Sounds like the OP's agent used his friends at Immigration to overlook the missing 800-400k from the beginning of last year's extension. OP should now be clear of needing an agent next year -- if, of course, he now complies with the 800-400-800 requirement.

Yeah, but if your're going to your bank to do an ATM withdrawal, why not go inside with your passbook and withdrawal slip? We need about 100k in baht per month, so the wife goes to our bank at the first of the month and goes to the counter to get this amount. I guess she could stand outside the bank, at the ATM machine, and do 4 withdrawals -- suffering sore fingers and nasty stares from the line behind her. But why? I guess if the dollar had appreciated since our last WISE transfer, then, yeah the Visa rate would give a better FX rate. But this seesaws over time, so a better FX rate over time is irrelevant. But, if traveling, this ATM discussion is relevant. Otherwise -- unless you don't have a local bank account but only your foreign ATM/debit card -- ATM withdrawals are inefficient.

This is a co-signatory account. I set up my 800k savings account used for Immigration with my wife as the co-signatory. They (Bangkok Bank) will issue a new passbook, with the wife's name and signature imbedded -- but invisible unless under UV light. Thus, a single account as far as Immigration is concerned. But, the wife can march into the bank with the passbook and withdraw from my account -- or legally do so with on online withdrawal...... ....... unless, maybe, if I'm dead. 'Cause, this co-signatory clause is a form of power of attorney (POA), where in the West, expires upon the death of the principal. So too in Thailand? Nobody on this forum seems to know, from several related threads. Solution? Remove the money quickly upon the principal's death. The bank has no legal requirement to freeze the account unless they know of the death. And why would they know, as that's not something they monitor, unless you're some kind of celebrity. And, furthermore, if you're also the sole beneficiary for this bank account, who's going to cry foul? And who knows --- maybe a co-signatory does have rights after the principal's death. I don't worry too much about this. Even the accounts without co-signatories that we have will be swept out soonest after death. And all these accounts have the spouse as sole beneficiary. Who's to press charges?

Indeed. When women's lib hit the US back in the late 60's, I fortunately was getting more and more time in Asia; and the Asian feminism was such a welcomed relief from the US "ladies" backlash. Just lucky to have all my fingers, when I mistakingly opened the car door for one of these unfeminine monsters.

Indeed. The correct realpolitik decision for a non-world power. I'm sure their thought process paralleled that of Singapore, who also abstained. Keeping good company, I would say.

Why would I want a Thai authority in the loop at my embassy? When I die, someone will deliver my Will and passport to the US Embassy (or consulate), who will determine from the Will my next of kin to be notified. My Will is in English, which the Yanks dealing with this will appreciate -- they could care less if there's a Thai version of this Will. (The only translation the Embassy wants is the Thai death certificate translated into home country language.) And the US Embassy won't notify gov't agencies back in the US of your death, including the SSA. And they certainly won't go looking for beneficiaries. Hopefully, you have a Will, have the beneficiaries listed, and these will be dealt with in probate. If not, intestate procedures will sort out the beneficiary drill. The Embassy is completely hands off with this. The only reason i can think of as to why your friends' Wills were unacceptable is that they were missing a vital format element, like two witnesses, or date signed, or it had erasures. And if these were home country Wills, which are completely acceptable in Thailand, as long as they include the vital format elements -- perhaps they were written as to exclude Thailand assets, i.e., they were written to cover only home country assets. I don't know. Something strange here. And, yes, the Wills must be translated into Thai -- but only if they're to go through probate. My Will exists only in English, as I don't foresee probate in its future. But, if I'm wrong, the probate lawyer can get the translation. And for sure -- the US Embassy/Consulate could care less if your Will is translated into Thai.