chanwit

I just purchased my copy of Windows 7 Pro at a shop at in Fortune Tower (at Phra Ram 9 station).

It's easy there to quickly jump from shop to shop and compare prices.

I found the range from over 8000B to 6390B. I paid 6390B incl. VAT but later I found a copy for 6290B.

The package is in a generic white cover with all black text saying it was for new computers only and untended for use buy system builders only.

There was a notice that it would only install in certain Asian countries.

The DVD would not upgrade from my unlicensed Windows XP and required a Full install.

The custom install deletes all programs and files and setups.

I performed the automated file, document, and setup backup with the included software but I took my desktop back to the shop where I purchased the computer to install Windows 7.

The install cost me 300B and took 3 hours well worth the money and time because they reinstalled the original software program bundle that came with the new computer.

A lot of rules and procedures have changed lately and I need some fresh information about adding my name to a Tabien Baan book.

The wife and I went to the district office in Baang Bua-Tong yesterday as a first attempt to test the water.

I asked my Thai wife first to ask to add my name to the Blue Tabien along with hers and the child's name.

I was told by the home loan officer that I could add my name to the Blue book.

A young lawyer said I would have to have a Yellow book; but the rules are always changing and not even the lawyers can keep up.

The person at desk 3 at the Baan Bua-Tong office I think said this:

I am American and I need to get the usual costly letter from the American Embassy that closely matches the need for my name in an address book.

I guess the people at the Embassy know what you need when you tell them why you need the letter.

It has to have the name of my parents and address and some other stuff.

The district office said it had to be translated (another cost).

I also need to bring 3 size 1 photos (smaller than the passport or visa photos). The photo shops have a display with the different sizes.

I will also need the other usual stuff like copies of my passport and visa pages and the wife's usual stuff.

Has anyone done this recently and post the results?

I still don't know what book I would be registered in. My wife and I use sign language to communicate and she relayed to me as best she could what the District office said.

Try Amazon

What's your best guess: If you buy a Thai version of Windows 7, will it be able to switch to English and back to Thai?

This is for the Thai wife (Thai Language) and the Farang (English Language) using the same computer at home.

Okay, my car and motorbike 5 year licences expire in a couple of weeks. Could some kind soul explain what PHUKET transport office requires....reading through the rest of the threads it seem to vary from province to province. My main questions are, will I need a medical certificate and the 100Bhat address certificate from immigration?

Cheers

geoffphuket

I can understand why there are so many different stories told about the Thai DL and renewals.

I didn't know that a medical certificate was required until I was at the main office in Bangkok.

They handed me a check list which I include here as an attachment.

The highlighted lines at the top say this is for:

RENEW THAI DRIVING LICENSE BY YOURSELF

CHANGE TO FIVE YEAR LICENSE.

Line No 1 Requirement (Highlighted by them) says:

ONE - YEAR THAI DRIVING LICENSE

EXPIRED NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR.

So I guess if you were starting at the temporary 1 year license you would not have to renew to the 5

year license until year 2 which in effect would be 6 years if you didn't renew until 1 year after expiry of the 1 year license - WHEW!

In your case the requirements may be different because you already have the 5 year license.

Also in my case I had to have a much more expensive letter from the US Embassy stating my address because I have only been in Thailand for 1 year on a NO visa and never had to report to the immigration office every 90 days about my address; only 90 day border runs.

This year I will have a visa 1 year extension and have to report address and status every 90 days which would allow me next time to just get the cheaper address certificate from immigration.

You may not really know until you visit the Land-Transportation office.

Phra Peter's book about meditation, One Step at a Time which has been out of print for many years is now available.

For anyone interested in meditation, it is an ideal primer.

Where would one buy this book or borrow. It appears to be in English, right?

Just renewed my licence after my one year expired. As other posters have already said, all that was required was a med certificate, passport copy, WP copy and 655 Baht. The funny part is that while the girl was printing the new one, she made a mistake and only made it valid for a year instead of 5. She realized her mistake, cancelled the one year one and reissued me a new one.........the funny part is she made the new one valid for 6 years!

Before I came to Thailand a year ago I was able to fine the Medical Certificate form on line in Thai and had my doctor sign it in the US.

I can't find the link now and I need to get another certificate signed by a Thai doctor so I can renew my temporary Thai license.

I went to the main transportation office in Bangkok a week before my temp expired and they said to come back after it had expired up to 1 year.

I think I want to have the blank Medical Certificate form just in case the local clinic can't understand what I need.

On the subject of shipping to Thailand, is it better to write the address in Thai or does a transliteration work ok?

Do you think a package that has a Thai address written in English have to go to a holding place waiting for translation?

is that far from apart, map is in thai... i do not even see where is the old and new builiing on that map...

everything moves? just some thing ?

not really clear...

why not cancel that all 90 report shit and save as all some time and money

I am using a legal service (a Thai lawer) to help me through the Marriage extension visa process.

We will go to Suan Plu on Sept. 17.

The lawer said that Suan Plu is still opened to people outside of Bangkok.

Only the people that live in Bangkok have to change to the new location on Chang Watana.

I am in Nonthaburi

The question is: besides booking fee 50,000 THB (that is OK) the seller requires 200,000 THB on making contract one week later.

I wonder how it can be becasue approval of loan by bank takes 3 weeks. So how we can sign the contract and pay contract fee without making sure we can get a loan?

Is it normal practice in Thailand?

My wife (and I) just bought a house with a developer in Nonthaburi. So far what you said sound familiar. I guess we were going on blind faith because we wanted the house so much and the project had Siam bank backing. There were many new requirements, one after the other before the bank finally approved the loan; each one dragging you past the point of no return. We talked with many new home builders and they all had discounts and payout plans on paper. The average was 20,000TB reserve fee and 10 months to pay out a down payment. In our case the down payment was 50% because I'm farang.

Don't forget, a loan from a bank will require a life insurance policy for the amount of the loan. If you are contributing to the loan payoff that will probably be another hurdle to jump.

I would like to hear more details of the type of the money transfer being talked about here.

From the states I have only been able to get money as a Wire Transfer if someone in the US wired it in person at a bank.

I have heard that Citibank has an on line deal that you can Wire money from your Citibank account via the internet. The only hitch here is that you have to be IN the US to set up a Citibank account to use the on demand. on line Wire transfer.

There is the case where you can get a Cash Advance from a credit card directly to your bank account. There is a 3% of the amount charge plus some smal bank fees. This happens immediately. Just give your card to the branch manager and they do it for you and update your bank book.

Of course you have to have a Thailand bank account and that means you have to have a Work Permit to open an account.

I opened my account with Bangkok Bank which didn't require a Work Permit.

Kasikorn requires a Work Permit. I checked on that just today. (I had heard that they didn't require a Permit)

A Thai Siam bank official told me that Bangkok Bank no longer offers Bank Accounts with out a Work Permit but I have not checked out this new information.

The wife and baby need to visit a local district office to take care of some name change business.

We are closest to Amphur Bang Bua Thong and the sub division of Bang Yai.

How do I find the address and phone number of offices in Bang Bua Thong?

...or any office for future reference.

Why not drive to Bang Sue and park in the free car park. Get the underground (half price if you are over 60) to Lumpini. Exit to Sathorn. You come out by the Life Centre...good food in the noodle shop there by the way. Then get a taxi about 41baht to Suan Plu or you can walk it in ten minutes.

ps the free car park is the otherside of the railway line..if you don't know how to get there I'll tell you. There is a quick way off of Prachachuen Road, take the left to Sameanmaree Temple (spelt a bit like that).

I Googled Bang Sue MRT Bangkok and got this map link

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source...=16&iwloc=J

I guess the parking is a little less than MoChit. I need to try these places when I'm alone in the car. I tend to have to make many U-Turns to get to my destination which is confusing for my Thai wife. It makes her dizzy.

But you mentioned a half price for over 60 (I qualify) How do I get a card for this?

or just drive to samutsakorn office

very easy to find, and hardly anybody there.

When driving on Rama 2 coming from bangkok

take first ext into samutsakorn, after exit follow the road into samutsakorn

after 200 meter you will see a sign which says to go left for immigration office

samutsakorn_immigration.kmz use google earth

Thanks for the extra information but I didn't see that Samutsakorn handles immigtation for farangs livng in Nonthaburi which is where I live.

OK, I've zeroed in on the target Suan Plu.

Now, all things considered, it would be better for me to drive to Ayutthaya.

That decision being made because of the maze I have to follow to get in to Bangkok city;

i.e. Drive from home to The Mall parking garage on Ngam Wong Wan Rd., Taxi to Mochit Terminal, BTS to Silom Rd, and then Bus to Suan Phlu. (probably about the same time and less hassle)

You can use room 507 at Suan Plu.

There is apparently no office in Nakhon Pathom because nobody has made a post saying where it is at and it is not on the immigration werbsite list.

See this page of the topic about immigration office assignments for info on room 507.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2760456

OK, I've read links that parking is a problem at Suan Plu; no problem, take a Taxi.

I've also read that Room 507 or some say Room 509 is not moving to the new location; great but

Where is this infamous Suan Plu? A Google map or an Address would do fine.

I need to extend my NO 1 year Visa for a new reason of Thai Marriage during 2009.

This is my first extension and the original one expires in July 2009.

I found on this site, great information about the Ayutthaya Immigration Office but I think I am closer to Nakhon Pathom.

I live near Bang Yai, Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi.

Forgot to mention that you will not have online access to your Bangkok Bank account unless you have a joint account with a Thai National.

There are many good reasons just to have your single name on the account.

I think the Extended stay regulations say your bank account cannot be a joint account.

I never had a problem without the internet access.

It sometimes is better to do payments in person because I'm not skilled and don't trust the online payment system here.

Chanwit

I have my account with Bangkok Bank.

I don't have a work permit. My experience is that Bangkok bank is the only bank that you can open an

account without a work permit.

Bangkok bank will offer you a savings account and an ATM card with no minimum balance.

They have all been very friendly but you do need to go to a branch in a large shopping center

because the smaller branches and smaller cities are mainly used to handleing the locals.

I've always found someone at Bangkok Bank that speaks enough English.

You just have to be patient.

You need to go to an embassy, in my case the U.S. Embassy and optain a letter that states you want to open up a banking account; there is a fee of course.

Take the letter and your passport to a larger branch with your passport and money and open the account. They gave me my ATM card on the spot.

The usual fees for ATM vary with you home country bank but usually comes out to be about 3%.

If you have a bank that doesn't charge ATM fees you will get money back. In my case I have Wachovia which has been taken over by Wells Fargo and they refund me the ATM charges.

Bangkok bank will give U their SWIFT code and you can have money wired to your account without a Bangkok Bank charge. Bank of America charges $40 for a wire which can be as much as $100,000 or more. Other banks charge $50 but there is no Bangkok Bank charge for receiving the money.

If you need a large amount fast I have Bangkok Bank do a Cash Advance from my US bank account and I get it right away. The charges for this are more as any cash advance is but there are many reasons why having the money by a certain date out weigh the cost of the advance. I think the charge was about $125 for a $5000 cash advance. It comes out of your checking account just like an ATM advance.

ATM withdrawals have a daily limit of 20,000 baht or so.

Love that Bangkok Bank, Chanwit

That is exactly what I needed and the Marriage Visa is the next step.

We had to speed up the Marriage Certificate because we are bank financing a new home.

They will only finance 50% and I had to transfer 50% to my Thai bank account to pay out

the 50% in 10 monthly payments.

After having done that they wanted to see marriage certificates before they will loan the

other 50%.

One of the requirements in the Replys was:

"What you need is the following.

2 x Visa form TM 7,filled in with two photo's"

Can I find this TM 7 online and have it filled out before we go to the Thai office?

My wife gripped at me (a little) for not knowing about the Thai form for Farang they gave us at Bang Rak office she had to fill out in Thai. It was basically the same information that had already been translated from the form I received from the U.S. Embassy.

BTW where can I go to beg for the Marriage Visa? I am in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi.

I have a car and know the rail system and the bigger cities probably have handled farang issues before.

Thanks again, Chanwit

What are the monthly income requirements to apply for a marriage visa?

I'm confused at the conflicting information that I get doing web searches.

Some say 800,000 TB in the bank or 65,000 TN per month income or a mix.

Other searches state 400,000 TB in the bank or 40,000 TB per month or a mix.

That's a big difference. I need to apply for a marriage visa.

I was married to a Thai Lady on Valentine's Day 14 Feb 2009.

I currently have an 1 year NO multiple entry visa that has 6 mos. left on it.

Chanwit