Bobcat

From reading the application forms and accompanying material, this years test will be extremely difficult. There is no letter writing section (becuase it was found that peoplewere simply memorizing format letters) and there will be a spoken portion as well. The examiners have come to realize that people simply study to pass the test and this has been deemed by the MOE to be an undesirable state of affairs. Accordingly, this will be a very detailed exam to see if people are able to communicate (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in the Thai language.

The breakdown of this years test is as follows:

Dictation (30 minutes) - 20 marks

Comprehension (60 minutes) - 30 marks

Essay Writing (90 minutes) - 35 marks

Reading and Spoken test (no set time) - 15 marks

It will be a killer for sure. Students are expected to even know about Thai literature and poetry. After I read all of the info on the website, I feel a bit nervous to say the least. But you know what they say - สู้ๆ

This is a no-brainer as far as I am concerned. Bring your parents to Thailand. They will have their son, their grand-daughter and lots of love and caring. Don't stick them in a nursing home.

Neeranam, yes you would use the word "ka" if you are a female speaking on behalf of your female friend. However, the OP would use the word krup in the above context becuase it is he (male) that is the one speaking to the Thai person. He would not need to say "ka" - his female friend would use that particle if she spoke to the Thai person herself. What the OP (male) is telling the Thai person is "thank you", which is "korp khun" only. In this particular context, the polite particle "ka" can be omitted. However, of course you can use "ka" as well to emphasize that your female friend is being very polite.

I agree with Kat!

BambinA, yes, absolutely - the words you have added make the sentence so much smoother. Thank you!!

I wonder if this might work - เขาฝากบอกขอบคุฌด้วยนะครับ "kao faak bawk korp koon duay na krup". You might drop the "na" if the situation was a bit more formal. Yoot or Bambi, would this sound natural to you?

The exam is being held on Saturday 17 December 2005. All details, including where, when, details of the exam itself, as well as an application form that you can download, are available online at http://bet.obec.go.th/

Good luck!

Bob

Sunbelt is absolutely correct.

If you are a director resident in Thailand then you are required to have a valid work permit for each company.

http://www.thaivisa.com/513.0.html

This should help.

Cheers,

Bob

You should contact Tony Ja, of "Tom Yum Goong" and "Ong Bak" movie fame. There was a large farang bad guy in his last film. You'd be perfect for something like that. Find out who the directors/producers of those movies were and contact them. You never know.

I have tried to find information about the test on the internet, but there is not much available. I will be calling the Ministry of Education to find out more information. One of the things that I have managed to find out so far is that the 3-hour test (conducted, I believe, at the Ministry of Eduction) is divided into 5 components, each worth a certain number of points, for a total of 100. The breakdown is as follows:

Writing a Letter - 20 points

Writing a 33 line (one A4 page) composition on a given topic - 30 points

Dictation - 20 points

Comprehension test (reading a passage and answering multiple choice questions) - 20 points

Reading a passage aloud to an assessment officer - 10 points

I will post more information when I find out.

Cheers,

Bob

I am also planning to do the Bor6 exam this year. I believe that the exam is in the middle of December. I am currently trying to obtain more information and I will let you know when I find out.

Cheers,

Bob

No, you do NOT need to have PR first and hold it for a minimum of 5 years.

Basically, there are two ways to apply for Thai citizenshih:

1. Obtain a PR first and after possessing it for a minimum of 5 years apply for citizenship. The application will solely be based on being a long time resident of Thailand.

2. Staying for a minimum of 5 years in Thailand consecutively means single enty non-immigrant visa with annual extensions of staying permit in the Kingdom. Apply for citizenship on base of humanitarian reasons and/or being beneficial for the country, her culture and her people.

It is very difficult to find reliable information about applying for citizenship. I have been informed by the police unit in charge of such applications that the only evidence acceptable to show point 2 above is to have your name in a BLUE tabiann baan for 5 years prior to application. As far as I know, following discussions with the loacl authorities when I obtained my PR, a foreigner cannot get his or her name in a blue tabiaan baan without PR.

So, the plot thickens.

Bob

I have recently sold my condo and used Khun Joe at Bangkok Home Real Estate Co. Ltd. (http://www.bangkok-home.com). He is very professional and speaks English fluently. I sold my condo within 2 weeks of it going on the market.

I am planning to sit the Bor 6 exam in December this year, and was wondering whether anyone sat the exam in 2004. I would be very interested in any tips, suggestions etc.

Thanks,

Bob

Well, I can assure you that the lawyers are totally wrong. Most Thai lawyers are clueless. I have just been through the entire process with the Land Department, and have reviewed all of the relevant laws and regulations in detail. I can assure you that if your name is in a tabian baan for one year prior to selling your apartment (and assuming you are selling within 5 years), you only need to pay 0.5%. I urge you to contact the Land Department and ask for copies of the relevant laws and regulations.

Does the same special business tax apply to a Thai national when she sells a condo she owns?

Yes, this applies equally to foreigners and Thais - although it is easier for a Thai to get their name put into a tabian baan - as this thread shows.

Also, just to clarify, the special business tax doesn't apply at all after you've held the property for 5 years.

Yes, the blue book they gave you is the tabian baan. Unless you have permanent residence (PR), you will not be able to have your name put into the blue tabian baan book. However, as the previous poster mentions, there is a yellow tabian baan book for foreigners. Make sure you get your name into this book! Otherwise, if you sell your property in the future and at the time of sale you cannot show your name has been in a tabian baan (either yellow or blue) for at least one year before the sale date, you will have to pay 3.3% special business tax on the sale price - as opposed to 0.5% if you have your name in the tabian baan book for at least one year prior to the date of sale.

Cheers,

Bob

Do you have to present your red residence book together with your passport?

No, only passport and blue residence book. No need to bring the red residence book with you when you travel.

Another point, you still have to report your whereabouts every 90 days (at least I do, and so do other people I know who have PR). This started to be enforced last year (in Bangkok at least).

I was also curious about this so when I received my PR earlier this year I asked the immigration officials about the need to continue the 90-day reporting requirement. The official ripped the little white departure card from my passport and threw it into the rubbish bin. She said that as a holder of PR, the 90 day reporting requirement no longer applies. So I have not reported since. Also, now when I return to Thailand from abroad, the officials at the immigration desk at the airport no longer staple the departure card in my passport anyway.

I was also told by the immigration officials at the airport that PR holders should use the line designated for Thai passport holders. I was reluctant to do this at first for fear of rejection , but now I use the Thai passport holder line each time and I have never had an issue at all.

Cheers,

Bob

For me, the benefits of PR are as follows:

1. Security/peace of mind

2. No more 90 day reporting

3. No need to send money from abroad when buying a condo.

4. Ability to apply for Thai citizenship in the future.

5. Name in tabian baan

Number 1 and 4 are the most important to me.

Cheers,

Bob

I would take their offer. 8,000 Baht difference isn't that much, anyway. Get the job, get over here and start working. Once you have experience under your belt, getting a better paying job down the road will be easier.

Do not tell them you have another offer. It would just make you look pathetic.

I say - go for it!

Check out the http://www.bangkok-home.com website

Really professional agents who speak great English. Ask for Joe.