simonphuket

So far I have been using my European funds to invest in crypto currency. Used Bitvavo, easy and quick.

 

Now looking at investing from Thailand. I have several bank accounts here. Which crypto trader do you recommend? I not want to keep a seperate wallet, keep it with the trader is most convenient.

Thanks Schlog. also link to dailynews.co.th.

 

That area near the waterfall is not safe, often punks hanging around there.

A lot of police present in the Ao Yon area right now. Seems like a sandbox Swiss tourist lady, travelling alone, was murdered either yesterday or this morning.

Anybody has any news on this?

Phuket open per 1st July, but restaurants&bars cannot sell alcohol until 31 July? How does that make any sense....

Fyi just announced, the alcohol ban for restaurants&bars just extended till 31 July

Actually it's not really dubbed C.36.3 ????

Internationally it is called something different...

13 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Really? Do you live in Thailand? Because your allegation is at utter variance with what I have experienced in Chiang Mai. And given the low incidence of covid, reality  doesn't really support your contention.

I manage a hotel here and we just had a conference with over 120 participants from all over Thailand, though mainly BKK area, with a big party, top-singers, and nobody was wearing a mask! Most of the hotel guests refuse to wear a mask here. I was in a club in town recently, it was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder and not a mask in sight. 

At the local market nearby, none of the locals wear masks nor gloves, not even in April with the lockdown we had. If lucky the mask is under the chin.

 

The colleague of my brother in law in Had Yai has been diagnosed with Covid 2 days ago. Waiting for it to appear in the news now. (Mods feel free to cut this if you wish, i cannot provide a link but have first-hand information)

My 4 yr old boy is going to the Kajonkiet in Paklok and he is very very happy there, learns a great deal. Every day he has 2 Thai and one native English teacher. There is a larger Kajonkiet between the Monument and the Thai Watsadu, also catering for your 7 yr old. Have no experience with them however.

Hi,

We, family of 2 + a 4yr old, will be moving from Phuket to Samui, somewhere end of March 2016.

We would be needing a (not too large) bungalow in a quiet area with min. 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living, parking space for the car(s), naturally fully airconditioned. Long term. Our jobs will be in Chaweng, but as we both have a car, we are somewhat flexible. Close to Panyadee or Montessori school would be advantageous.

Thanks,

Simon

Hi,

Unfortunately my cat has scratched the bonnet of my neighbors Fortuner. I guess it will need to be repainted, naturally at my expense .

It is the previous model, in a beige-metallic finish. Anyone can give me an estimate of the financial damage I can expect? Any recommendations for a quality, but not too expensive shop would be appreciated. I live in Phuket, area Heroin Monument.

Many thanks

http://www.numbeo.com/pollution/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Netherlands&city1=Amsterdam&country2=Thailand&city2=Bangkok

Serious question, I think we can all agree that most vehicles here emit more exhaust than in Europe with its strict regulations, catalyst converters and so. Sure many taxis use LPG, but so in Amsterdam. If the research is correct, one can only conclude that all these eco-regulations, eco-tax and what all, are worth nothing, and do not contribute at all to a cleaner environment. Or am I missing something?

So as the list of "Careers Aliens do Not" was complete gibberish, I googled to look for the old list of "forbidden jobs". I then stumbled upon this official government website: http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/work-permit-thailand.php

Actually this is quite embarrassing too. Just to quote some:

"It wont take a long time for the falangs to grow as numerous as the chillies down the markets of Bangkok." Seriously? This is an official government website?? I suddenly very welcome here in this country.

i have just got a new passport at the dutch embassy, you can keep your passport and they will clip the photo page and any empty page, they will not touch your thai visa pages. than after5-14 days they will mail you your passport by EMS only(bring envelop with 50 baht stamp on it) all very easy, dont forget to download the mailing consent form on their website

rick

Hi Rick,

Thanx or the info. Too bad the link for the Mailing Consent does not work, so I cannot download this. Hopefully they have this form at the Embassy?

cheers,

Simon

Hi all,

My current passport is about to expire and as a result I need to fly to BKK and apply for a new pp. The standard procedure is that during the application process, which takes about 2-3 weeks, they will hold on to my old passport. I assume to transfer some stamps or so to my new pp,. and to invalidate the old pp. After that, I have the choice to fly again to BKK and pick up my old+new pp, or have them send it to me (need to leave an envelope with 50 thb stamp at the embassy).

Some questions: in case I leave my old passport at the embassy, I do not have any valid id anymore. Is this allowed, and can I still fly back?(silly question probably)? I never actually paid much attention if they indeed check my pp on domestic flights, but I recall they do . Would just a copy of my pp be sufficient or can the embassy supply some kind of paper?

As the postal service in my district is 100% guaranteed... never to arrive(!!)..., does anyone know if I can use a more reliable postal service, where I can track the parcel, eg EMS or UPS?

Many thanks for any help

One of my hotel guests mentioned yesterday that she heard 2 bangs on the night from Friday to Saturday somewhere between 1 am and 3 am, seemingly coming from the sky. She did not think of this, until now the authorities are saying that the plane might have changed its course more west... Hmm, should she report this? People always start to hear or see things...

£5000 is around 250,000 baht... Wow, i remember when I first came to Koh Phangnan. 300 baht/night for a bungalow on the beach (do not stay in Haad Rin), fantastic local food, booz, smokes, no thai girls but backpackers (no $$ exchange hand lol). Spent less than 30000/month and had a fab time. Have fun, be street-smart, stay within the law, kinda...

The zoo is a total disgrace. I tell anyone here, at the resort that I work, NOT to go there. Btw, on-topic, even with my workpermit, social sec. card etc, they charged me farang price, my wife thai price. That was a few years ago when she still had to pay 80 baht... Same at many venues, for example the Royal Palace in BKK. I nowadays refuse to go to any place that tries to pull this trick. Discrimination based on color, not spending power....

Simon,

Judging by your post it would seem that it is you who needs to make a serious attitude adjustment !

I have been renewing my extension to stay for some years now at the Phuket Immigration Office. I have never been treated with anything but courtesy by the I immigration officers and by choosing my time of attendance with care can be sure of spending no longer than 15 minutes in the office.

I have, however witnessed, many rude and arrogant foreigners who's behaviour, were I an Immigration Officer, would result in my being very angry!

Sorry but I have been very polite whilst waiting there. It is afterwards, reflecting on the things, that made me annoyed. Your judgement is way off. You do not know me, I am maybe too kind and gentle, according to my friends.That may be why they think they can take the mickey out of me? It would also not explain why others were also met with a disrespectful attitude (as described in my other posts in this thread).

Choosing time, can you please advise what time is the best? I tried 09.15, 10:45, 13:00 and 13:45. I could not see any difference in attitudes, except that early morning it is more quiet. I am open to suggestions.

@lopburi3, yes, they were volunteers indeed.

I suggested that this was not needed and he curtly replied that I should shut up and listen to what he was saying and that was what he wanted. I had to go back home to Patong to get the book and get the copies he wanted. This of course took some time and I managed to see him again in the afternoon and he had me going up and down the steps, on 5 separate occasions, to the copy room underneath for various copies of anything that took his fancy just to show that he could do it. None of which by the way I have ever been asked for before.

Exactly what I have experienced. The last time they told me I needed another paper, I had a question about another type of visa, and they bluntly refused to talk to me anymore, I had to get this paper first. The farang Immigration Officer tried to ask the question then on my behalf (it was a valid question, while I am at the IO, I try to get some info for my other colleagues), and he was told to go away and not bother the Officer anymore.

I must say, of the 4 Officers, one seemed to be a nice bloke. He was the only one with just 2 strips instead of 3. Guess what? He had been elected employee of the month for the last 6 months

Sorry to hear of your problems. One person's experience, I guess.

Having been to the Phuket IO now over 10 times in the past 2 years, I have never encountered any of the issues you've experienced.

Is it efficient? Well, I am typically in and out with my approvals in 15 minutes but I always have my paperwork perfect. How do i do that? I phone first and of course research or ask questions on TV.

Bad attitude - just smiles from most of the personnel and sometimes an especially efficient officer who says nothing.

Everything you mention sounds like a different office to me. Strange.

To those who hold everyone at immigration in contempt but smile and act polite notwithstanding, maybe your fake attitude is not as good a ruse as you think it is.

Why would anyone visit IO 10 times in 2 years? You must be applying for a different visa. I've never had problems with TR or B visa, however this Marriage visa requires different docs, different rules, different IO officers (the 3 back rows, at counters 4,5,6) and apparently, they not like us to marry a decent Thai lady, and work here, instead of taking them back to our countries... As said before, my papers had been prepared all according to a list they had given me before. Not in 2-fold but even 3-fold, with some additional papers and photo's of our house.

Besides that, why would they treat the farang Immigration Officers so badly? Dismiss the with disrespectful hand-gestures. This was one of the this that shocked my wife. These people are trying to help(!), are older than the Thai officers, yet not seem to get any respect.

You are confusing visas with extensions of stay - you already have the visa entry and a permitted to stay from that entry - now you want to extend that stay (nothing to do with visas) for one year on basis of Thai wife. For that you will need the normal financial proof of 40k per month income or 400k in bank for two months, marriage certificate/copy, copy of marriage ledger entry (current), wife and her ID card and home register, if children there birth certificates, photos in and outside home, map to home, some proof of living there (rent/bills or such), copy of your passport/visa/permitted to stay/departure card and perhaps witness to verify your living together and other paperwork. This with the TM.7 application, 4x6cm photo and 1,900 baht fee obtains an under review of 4-6 weeks before the final one year stamp is made. This is done each year with same general paperwork. During year you must report address every 90 days if you do not exit Thailand. If you do travel you must obtain a re-entry permit first.

Now, that is an explanation I understand, and correctly describes what I am trying to achieve. Of course I have all papers you mentioned, even in 3-fold..., yet that was not enough. I do realize that it is at the officers discretion and they are entitled to ask for additional documentation.

I smile friendly, wai high, dress politely, be as humble as I can, and am almost willing to bent over for them. Yet, inside I despise these arrogant fools and will sincerely smile if something terrible should happen to them.

Hi all, thanks for all the replies and putting up with my long complaint. I just had to get if off my chest.

I did have all the docs as requested, the frustrating part is that every time they come up with something new, that was not mentioned before. I had tax papers from last year, and suddenly they also need it from last month... They failed to mention this on the previous visit. These kind of things ( this was just one example) is so tiring.

I had a non-B and am trying to change this into a non-O. I am tired of doing visa runs every 3 months and every year having to leave the country. Also, it is now harder and harder to get a 1-year non-B visa. With the non-O I can just go to the local Immigration Office every 3 months, more easy.

There appears to be some misunderstanding here as both visas are non immigrant and both allow only a 90 day stay. What you appear to require is an extension of stay for one year (do not have to leave country but have to make 90 day address reports). So now the choice is for employment or marriage. The same visa can be used to apply for either but supporting documents will be different. For Thai wife extension you also have the money in bank (400k two months) option available.

To be honest, I have no idea. I explained them my situation, they in return gave me a list of documents to prepare, which I did. According to them, it is for a Marriage visa, which also allows me to have/apply for a work-permit. For a B visa, there is no need for marriage documents, so I assume I am getting an O visa?

The Extension of Stay for 1 year, based on a B visa, required the employer apparently to have x Thais employed. As some of my colleagues already have this Extension of Stay, we do not reach the quota for me to apply for this. Hence the Marriage visa.

lol, does this makes any sense? At the Immigration Office, even the foreign officials have no clue and give different answers... It appears to be complicated

"...we again both take a day off from work...."

Have I missed something here?

Hi Darrel, "both", as they expect both my wife and me to show up every time. Taking time off myself is one thing, but for her to explain that to her employer is harder .

As some said, Phuket might be the problem. Too many farang to deal with, some of whom might not understand the "cultural differences" too well. Then again, they know they are in a powerful position and like to exploit it too. Their uniforms are full of "military?"decorations.... for what? Preventing another officer for stapling himself? Recycling paper? Letting farang wait for at least 2 hours?