stbkk

I was able to open a standard savings account for my sons at age of 15, at both Bangkok Bank and Krungsri. They needed to have their Thai Id cards updated from master to Mister before they could get an ATM card though.

5 hours ago, Michael Hare said:

I have no TM number because I start my journey in Thailand. If I gave the hotels my new passport, there would be no record of it in the Thai system anywhere. My new passport (two months old) is completely clean with no stamps in it. Not even a reentry visa because in these times I won't be traveling overseas for many months. Hotels definitely don't need your passport number if one has PR. You can even let your passport expire, as it is only needed if one is going to travel overseas. 

I am sometimes asked for copies of my passport and the current visa page. Now it is many years since I have not had a valid reentry visa, since I travel a lot on business. But my current one runs out in a week or two, and is not going to be renewed for the foreseeable future! Even my accountant (who knows all about my PR) asks for it saying some government offices (or more likely, the people they deal with in those offices) ask for this. I'll let every body know what transpires! Also, does anybody else get asked for this, or are they just picking on little old me!! ???? 

I wonder what all those anti money laundering bots are making of this thread....

2 hours ago, rasmus5150 said:

If I have to listen to Kenny G when i die - I'm gonna live forever........

I hope I go stone deaf before I go.

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

that's normal at my house but i understand what you are getting at.

Sounds like your getting back to normal. Great. Love your posts, keep it up as they say, ????.

PS. I voted for you last year, so it wasn't my fault you didn't win.

Even before the virus stuff my stepson was having great difficulty getting a gap year job before he went to uni. International school educated, completely bi-lingual. <deleted> IGCSE grades admittedly, but not even an interview at Starbucks etc. TIT.

I did read somewhere that the heat and humidity makes it more difficult for the airborne droplets that contain the virus to stay airborne, and consequently (in theory) they would infect fewer people.

Seems to make some sense, and would explain the slightly lower infection rates in hotter countries. Although I have no confidence in the government figures from Thailand, at least.

I'd also leave things as they are, unless you absolutely have to do it for some reason. As we all know, trying to do things that are 'unusual', even if technically possible/legal in Thailand, is often a recipe for disaster!

Thanks to all for the replies. My son has a tutor now, and seems to be doing better.

The other advantage of living 'closer in' (e.g. On-Nut, Phrakhanong) is that as you mention, you are doing  a reverse commute so the sky train journey would be much more bearable. 

Much better to have both if you are entitled, I'd say. My son leaves/enters Thailand on his Thai passport, and leaves/enters the UK on his UK passport.

On ‎2‎/‎10‎/‎2020 at 8:32 AM, Preacher said:

It is enough that only 1 parent accompanies the minor for the passport application, but the mother will still need to give permisison. She can do that at any amphur, where they will legalise her signature.

Being the legal father is not enough, unless you have sole custody awarded by the court both parents need to give permission for the new passport.

Slightly different to my experience in the Bangkok Thai passport centre last month. My ex-wife went with our 15 year old son to renew his Thai passport, and they phoned me saying I had to go to sign the application as well. So in our case they wanted both the Thai mother and British father there.

36 minutes ago, topt said:

Did you notice any particular good prices on gloves/shoes/apparel by any chance? 

I wasn't looking for shoes or clothes to be honest, but there were lots of sales on pretty much everything as far as I could tell. Some shops/stalls were discounting a lot, and some nothing at all, so if you go and look I'd expect you to find some deals.

And the answer is - Yes it is definitely closing, in March.

I was there this afternoon (Sunday), and asked a lady who runs one of the stalls that I have known for a few years. She said there will still be selling going on in February, but not much in March.

Some of the shops are closing completely but some are moving to a new building close by. Its up the far end of Soi Thaniya and turn right apparently, just on Rama IV. Not quite so convenient for the skytrain/MRT, but still OK I guess.

Three floors are still pretty much as I remember, although with a lot of sales going on.

Steve

Hi all,

I am thinking about selling my Alpine membership.

I am one part of a 3 person 'corporate' membership, which is registered to a close friends Company (he's British, and a long term resident here so its a stable/safe company. He has also just got his Thai citizenship, so is not going anywhere soon!).

The membership is also lifetime (not time limited like many here), so can be transferred/sold on.

Its a great course and club, and despite the hi-so reputation has a pretty friendly environment.

The only reason I'm thinking of selling is that I've just come back to playing after a few years off with shoulder problems, and my old group have pretty much all left and/or are now playing elsewhere.

I only want to get back what I paid for it 15 years ago, and looking at their current prices it is a huge saving on new lifetime memberships.

PM me for more details.

Steve

STA does not allow their teachers to tutor their own pupils, apparently. I guess the logic is that they should be doing that job in class?

Also my son is not particularly happy with the (new) maths teacher, and thinks he would be more comfortable with an outside tutor. 

Hi all,

I hope somebody can help me or recommend somewhere I can look for assistance.

My son is in Year 11 at St. Andrews International at Ekamai in Bangkok. He was in the accelerated Maths group in Y10 and has already completed his IGCSE Maths (normally a 2 year course) in 1 year getting an A. He is now doing an additional Edexcel 'Pure Maths' IGCSE, (again in one year), which is apparently much harder (IB Core level), and would like some extra tutoring for a few months to help.

Mainly with calculus, but some other topics as well possibly.

Our location is mid-Sukhumvit, Phrakhanong/Ekamai, but travel would not be an issue if it is on the BTS/MRT.

Is there anybody out there who can help, or does anybody know of someone who might be able to help, please?

Must be a fluent English speaker, as although my son is bi-lingual he says he would be much more comfortable dealing with this complex subject in English.

PM me with any information, please.

Thanks very much to all, and wish all of you a happy and prosperous new year.

Steve

My direct personal experience (as previously documented on this thread, sorry I can't be bothered to go back and find the exact posts), admittedly from a number of years ago (most recent application was made in 2008) is as follows:

I know personally a total of 5 PR's (including myself), and what happened was this:

3 did their own applications 100% without the aid of anybody other than wife/own company support. None of these were asked for any 'support'.
 

2 had their applications processed largely for them by lawyers/agents provided by their companies. (Big international companies, in both cases). Both of these paid substantial additional sums to the lawyers/agents which may or may not have been passed on further up the food chain.

Worrying if personal applications are now being hit upon also.

3 hours ago, thedemon said:

The same for me. Not required by the police to renew my Alien Certificate.

 

But a Tabien Baan is required to issue a new Certificate of Residence at immigration.

 Yes, when my blue book (the certificate of residence, to give it it's correct name!) was full I had to show the Tabian Baan to get the replacement (now a white book, confusingly).

On a topical note, I seem to remember that many of the England world cup winning rugby team of 2003 were 'obese' according to BMI, simply because of their large amounts of muscle. I certainly wouldn't have mentioned that to any of them in person...

I have an electronic body fat machine (cost about 3,500 Baht at central chitlom a few years ago), which I have a bit more faith in. I don't rely much on the exact measurement, but use it to keep an eye on the direction in which I am moving. Up = bad, down = good!

I'm not sure if this is still the case, but when I looked at doing this with my stepson (natural father was already dead), I found out that an adoption in Thailand was not recognised in the UK, so I didn't bother going any further with it.