NancyL

I hope Sheryl stops by to clarify, but I believe the window of opportunity for the clot-busting drug to be given is about four hours -- however minutes count. A quick internet search said the rule of thumb is "save a minute, save a day" of disability. It's imperative that someone get to the hospital as soon as stroke symptoms start.

This medication is not going to be in an ambulance -- the best course of action once stroke symptoms start is to get someone to a major hospital as quickly as possible -- often a tuk-tuk is the quickest way -- rather than waiting around for an "ambulance" to show up.

I wonder if this poor man had his blood pressure checked regularly?

OK, I think I've figured out how to upload the cute, winning photo of the campaign. Here is the winning endorsement.

Hubby and Mr. Bitey.

OK, breaking news. My family has decided to endorse my candidacy, but only if means they get to eat dinner before 9 pm. Oh wait, how do I post a photo? I've got a really cute one of Hubby just about to drop Mr. Bitey on his head.

I don't have long, it's almost 9 pm.

Agreed, Immigration won't accept a joint account. The question was about releasing joint accounts to the survivor. Hubby and I have a joint account for "household" expenses. We also have individual accounts. In my case, it's for the retirement visa. His is just for a reserve in case I kick the bucket and he has to have quick access to funds to get me torched.

To answer the question about whether a bank will release funds to the beneficiary without probate, it depends on the bank and the beneficiary. Maybe.

Yes, I've liked Nong Khai for a holiday. Kanchanaburi also. Don't know if I can live in a place without very many western women, though, but might be OK for western guys.

A senior official at CM Immigration told me today that effective December 1, it is no longer possible to do the first step of so-called two-step process to turn a visa-exempt entry or tourist visa into a 90-day non-immigrant O visa which is then extended during the final 30 days for one-year as a retirement extension. This is the so-called "two-step process" for getting (in effect) an in-country "retirement visa" and Chiang Mai was one of the last places in Thailand where it was still possible to do this.

Now, people will have to go to Bangkok for the first step of the process -- i.e. converting the visa-exempt entry or the tourist visa into a 90-day O visa. You can still do the second-step, the 12-month retirement extension here in Chiang Mai, since this is no different than what all the retirees do every year when they say they're "renewing their retirement visa".

Has anyone tried to initiate a two-step conversion since December 1st in Chiang Mai? What have you been told? Have you gone to Bangkok to start the process? I understand you make application and then have to return 15 days later to have the visa and entry stamp put into your passport. Is that true?

Mods -- could you please keep this in the Chiang Mai forum, because this is a major Chiang Mai related development.

Also, it throws a major monkey wrench into production of the long-awaited video of the 22 October Talk of Immigration Officials at CM Expats Club. Today they told me it's "ready to be posted on the internet", but this new development has to be explained with subtitles. At the time of the talk, the two step process was done in CM and that's the way they explained it. I suppose we could just be vague with the subtitle in the video, but I'd like to have it be as useful as possible, rather than just saying "the next five minutes are out-of-date"

The immigration offices will be open on Dec 24 and 25, but closed Dec 31 and Jan 1. Christmas Day should be a little on the slow side at your local immigration office.

Dario77, have your friends made inquiry at CM Immigration as to whether they can convert their tourist visas to non-immigration O visas?

Short answer is yes.

We came over on tourist visa <removed promotion of a company>

All sorted and we are now on a retirement Visa.Just done our first 90 Day report.

Keith.

Just figured out that Keith did this before the apparent change in rules in Chiang Mai on December 1, where now the conversion from a tourist visa to a 90-day O visa has to occur in Bangkok. He said he's now on a retirement extension and just did his first 90 day report, so the conversion would have occurred before the December 1 rule change.

Got in under the wire, Keith!

Yes, I agree that it is strange that there haven't been reports of this being the case yet.

Two trips to Bangkok two weeks apart isn't good news.

There was a post after December 1 of a couple people doing a conversions in Chiang Mai -- I'll go back and find those and see if they can clarify when they did the conversions.

My source was Pol.Sen.Sgt.Maj. Suranuch Srilapetch and I made a point of clarifying December 1st with her. Definitely not January 1st.

I'm understanding why Jingthing is sitting it out this year. One little misstep last night and everyone is piling on.

Part of the problem is that David, Costas and I run in different circles on Thai Visa. I'm from Chiang Mai and venture into the General, Visa and Health forums on a regular basis, where I run into Jingthing who is a valuable contributor to those forums. Why he even ventures into the Pub is beyond me.

I appreciate his nomination and it was fun to be out ahead for a while (I think), but I really should get back to my real life.

Besides, I haven't figured out what's the prize anyway? Obviously, the cost of nomination is having tons of insults hurled at you.

This explains why Chiang Mai Immigration was sitting on the release of the video filmed when they spoke at the CM Expats Club on October 22. They had an inkling this was coming. Now we have to figure out how to edit around this change.

This is part of why I'd like to get a better understanding of what CM people are suppose to do now , so we can include it in the video.

Just learned from a senior official at CM Immigration that as of December 1, it's no longer possible for someone over age 50 to convert 30-day visa exempt entry or a Tourist Visa into a 90-day non-immigrant O visa as part of the so-called "two-step" process of gaining long-term permission to stay due to retirement.

Now someone will have to go to Bangkok in person to make this conversion. They will be able to use Income Letters or Declarations from Chiang Mai Consulates or letters from Chiang Mai banks as proof of financial worth.

They can complete the second step of the process in Chiang Mai, where they return during the final 30 days of their Bangkok-issued 90-day non-immigrant O visa and secure a 12-month extension of permission to stay due to retirement. Viola -- they are now officially a Chiang Mai retiree!

Question now -- tell me all about the process of applying for a conversion of visa-exempt entry or tourist visa in Bangkok. Where do you go? What time of day should you arrive to get in the queue? Any special tricks or pitfalls? Am I correct in assuming it's the same requirements with regards to forms, photos and fees?

Alan Hall was never active in a Chiang Mai Rotary Club. He is gone from Thailand -- has been for over a year and the CM Expats Club is being operated under a new constitution with an elected board and new rules. His leaving Thailand has allowed the CM Expats Club to be totally remade into an organization that is truly guided by its members and serving the community.

And calling him a perv.

Oh dear, did I say that? I had intended to say he might be exposing his children to people like that. I'm sorry David. I should set a midnight curfew.

The video was made about three years ago and I can see that I've put on some weight!

For a New Years Resolution, I should stop messing around on Thai Visa so much and go back to exercising at the gym.

OK, we need an independent agency to make a transcript of the video. Any volunteers? The comment starts at about the 0:57 mark.

And there's a chilled bottle of champagne in the refrigerator for anyone who gets it right!

Yes, talk with the bank manager now about their policy with joint accounts when one account holder dies.

Hubby and I didn't like what we heard at Bangkok Bank -- basically we couldn't get a 100% assurance that the survivor would be able to immediately draw upon the entire amount of the account, so we maintain other accounts just in our individual names. These sole accounts aren't ATM accounts -- they're the higher yielding orange passbook accounts, but we can get immediate access to them, it's just that we give up some of the interest.

Well, I'm the head cheerleader for retiring in Chiang Mai, but it really is a good place to start your retirement. It's easy to get settled here. Many activities for retirees. No need to spend your days perched on a bar stool. Lots of schools and tutors so you can immerse yourself in learning the language and then you'll be better equipped to go out and really explore Thailand.

You can pick up new hobbies or refine old one like computers, photography, bridge, golf with groups of other like-minded retirees. Or you can throw yourself into community service with the Rotary clubs -- there are something like 14 just within the city, most Thai, one that's mostly foreign retirees.

You can do all this in a fairly compact geographic area, with easy access to world-class medical care, dining, malls, etc. Sure, no beaches, but there's a nice lake and nature trail at the reservoir and pleasant waterfalls a short drive away.

Well, OK I'd had a long day and a few red wines. I think David's twins are cute. I just don't think it's a good idea for him to be showing them to the entire world on a public forum where someone could piece together details about where he (and they live). They can't give their informed consent to be shown to the entire world and these posts stay on the internet for a long time. That part of my post I think is still valid and deserves to be mentioned.

Some of the other language I used to describe David's actions was out-of-line and for that I apologize.

At no time did I say anything inappropriate about the twins. They're adorable.

As you state in your vid your major expense is booze:burp:

You're misquoting me AFT. I said food and beverage is our major expense but it would be less if we didn't drink beer and wine.

My point was the interviewer was wrong to start asking by about housing expense -- at 12,000 baht/month (at that time) it's less than the grocery and restaurant bill and would be even if we didn't drink alcohol.

Well, OK I'd had a long day and a few red wines. I think David's twins are cute. I just don't think it's a good idea for him to be showing them to the entire world on a public forum where someone could piece together details about where he (and they live). They can't give their informed consent to be shown to the entire world and these posts stay on the internet for a long time. That part of my post I think is still valid and deserves to be mentioned.

Some of the other language I used to describe David's actions was out-of-line and for that I apologize.

At no time did I say anything inappropriate about the twins. They're adorable.

I missed your posts, but kind of glad as I have got the gist of it now.

I used to come onto the forum after one too many, but I stay well away from computers and Forums, social networks and emails. I used to embarrass myself after recalling my actions, comments, commitments ......

I have taken up public streaking instead - far safer and more fun.

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

NEVERDIE FOR PM, erm Poster Of The Year I mean.

It was too cold last night for public streaking. Besides, I'd scare the elephants into stampeding.

Oh, I agree the NOK is definitely entitled to the funds. It's just I'm surprised that this advice was given for a large account. A small account, yes, but a large one -- surprising. But, I've not dealt with every bank in Thailand. And yes, with a small account, the bank is allowed to start charging "account maintenance fees" that will eventually eat away at an unclaimed account, but not with a large unclaimed account.