jayboy

On 10/10/2023 at 8:27 AM, Crossy said:

Don't panic (yet), it's only money brought into Thailand that's taxable and you may be protected by the Thai-US double taxation agreement.

 

I wonder who is going to police this.Consider the example of a resident 180 day+ foreign pensioner has never submitted a Thai tax return but in future intends to use a foreign credit card to cover as many Thai expenses as he can, eg hotels, big ticket purchases, ATM cash etc. His objective is to reduce remittances from overseas through the banking system to a minimum just in case he is required to pay Thai income tax.

But how exactly will he be compelled to submit a Thai tax return and join the Thai income tax net? Is it voluntary - if so not many takers. I don't see how this will work.

On 9/20/2023 at 6:04 PM, zzaa09 said:

What we should be paying attention to is the growing influence of BRICS and the ever present and real downgrading of the U.S. Dollar as a standard currency reserve the world over......all of which is being fast degraded as we speak. Things are changing quickly to the detriment of the traditional Western/Anglophone influence....perhaps for the betterment of the real world.

Nonsense.The addition of Saudi Arabia gives BRICS a boost of sorts but is accompanied by much dirty baggage.China is facing a financial crash and Russia is a stumbling mess.South Africa is. ...well, no need to elaborate.Brazil is globally relatively unimportant and the rest of the new recruits don't amount to much even though Indonesia has long term potential.

The U.S Dollar is not even threatened, let alone replaced .Still the currency to hold when times are hard.

It's true that Western influence is declining but it is a remarkable exercise of moral inertia to suggest this is for the betterment of the real world.

On 8/28/2023 at 12:17 PM, qualtrough said:

This is akin to a white person in Kenya getting upset because Kenyans didn't regard him/her as belonging to one of the tribes that compose that country.

It's not quite akin.Kenyans are comprised of many tribes but all - stretching a point - have an origin within the country.Despite the propaganda Thailand is by no means ethnically homogeneous and is made up of different "tribes" many with origins elsewhere, some having more influence than others.One tribe dominating many sectors of national and commercial life by and large pitched up in Thailand as relatively recent immigrants.Of course the authorities here over the last century have successfully built up the image of one big Thai family (I'm not knocking this - it's an important achievement)

I've known several farang who have obtained Thai citizenship.None found it particularly difficult, just a bit of a slog.As to whether they are regarded as fully Thai, my hunch is that they are.They wouldn't have made it to citizenship if they weren't fully integrated.

America is different because the US is a nation of immigrants.

My Apple watch is paired to my Iphone with a local provider (AIS). If I purchase AIS roaming for my forthcoming trip to Europe, will my watch still be paired when I am there?

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Where do you get your insider wisdom from? Or is it just in your imagination?

 

It's called local knowledge, long experience, a diverse Thai network, wide reading and respect for expert opinion (and a willingness to challenge one's own prejudice)

You should try it sometime though I appreciate the lazy, half thought out approach is easier when confirmation bias is in play.

On 8/26/2023 at 9:49 AM, mark131v said:

Waffle, waffle, bs, nowt wrong with the malingering bastard but then again unless you are a complete retard we already know this, bought and paid for....

If only he had legislated long ago for a retrospective pardon for all his crimes, like another person I can think of who should probably be in the slammer.

50 minutes ago, damian said:

The truly insulting thing about this story is that those who made it up believe that we will believe it.  

 

Yet still, some will gather at the hospital forecourt to hold vigil and present flowers and get well soon cards. 

 

Weapons grade pathetic.

I think you make a key point.Nobody believes a word of this.Those who propagate the lie know that nobody believes a word of it.Yet they don't particularly care.This is a situation built on lies.But I believe there is a fear lurking - which relates to what the Thai people might have to say at the next General Election and the sham democratic Constitution may not save the day.

On 8/12/2023 at 10:28 AM, thaiowl said:

I have PR and got a new passport a few years ago. I just went to Chaengwattana with old/new passport, Residence book and red book. Just say at reception "new passport" and they will give you a queue ticket for E. If I remember rightly, they just put a few stamps in my new passport/residence book and that was it.

It is not actually necessary to go to CW if you are a PR with a new passport (unless you need to go anyway for new endorsement and multiple re-entry.)

You can travel with the old (with the stamp) and new passport.Immigration are quite happy with this.Then go to CW when you need to.

The situation has changed over the last fifty years with the advent of mass tourism.Before then, farang were generally much respected by Thais but they were mainly senior business managers, academics or independently wealthy - and almost all resident in Bangkok.Critically, they were better educated and a higher social class than most farang today.They took full advantage of all the usual Thai delights but were much more discrete. The English for example had the reputation of being gentlemanly, partly because many residents were from this background but also because many Thai royals/aristocrats were educated in England.To apply this gentlemanly description to most English expats today would of course be laughable.

Many of the comments on this thread are skewed because they reflect only one part of Thai society - the money grubbing peasant class whether encountered in the bars of Pattaya and maybe later in some rural village .They don't reflect the charm and good manners of Thais as a whole (and I'm not of course referring in my money grubbing comment to the vast majority of Thai villagers who have no connection with foreigners)

One characteristic is that normal Thais like to be able to "place" a foreigner. Who is he? Why is he here? Where was he educated? Do we have acquaintances in common? Does he look the part? What job does he do? The peasant class is less demanding in its curiosity.

26 minutes ago, BritScot said:

Nonsense, utter Nonsense!  Your assumption that retirement visa holders or married visa holders fit into your pigeon logic. First the minimum requirement is to give thai banks £10,000 - £20,000 of their money until they leave or die, they will spend millions in setting up their home (house 2 million up and vehicle 1 million up) so their initial investment into the Thai economy is about a minimum of £100,000 of foreign currency into thailand with minimum of £10,000 - £20,000 a year of more foreign currency every year. If you think this is peanuts and Thailand doesn't need it wow!!! Very twisted attitude. Think it's called being racist! 

Unwittingly you make my point for me.

5 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

Why should they give you PR if you’ve lived here for 10 years & are too lazy to bother to learn the language? .
 

This is a very common misunderstanding, namely that the Thai authorities attach much priority to retired foreigners speaking reasonable Thai. Frankly they don't care much about this: of course it's part of the PR process but by no means the most important.To the extent the authorities consider - which they don't very much - retired foreigners (I'm referring mainly to the guys in Pattaya, rural Isaan and other such habitats) the main impulse would be to ensure they are financially solvent and can meet their obligations without calling on the Thai state for support.

2 hours ago, Cricky said:

My daughter has both Thai and Australian passports.

Her mother recently took her to City Hall for an ID card, she got the ID then they went to the bank and opened a bank account with Kasikorn bank.

 

The problem is that both her Thai ID card and bank account have her middle name misspelt. 

So passports have a different middle name (misspelt) to her ID card and bank account.

 

Looking for thoughts on best way moving forward. 

 

Cheers

I've had a similar experience  - I assume you are talking about the English language middle name reference.I'm not sure there's much practical impact (unless Kasikorn is being awkward). The key document is the Thai ID card.She could simply ask the Bank if they would like to amend their records - up to them to decide.

I don't think it matters what the passport says as long as the Thai version is correct.Foreign immigration don't care and Thai immigration probably don't either.But when the opportunity arises make sure the name is the same in Thai ID, passport, bank records etc.

I need to make a quick visit to Jakarta (3 days) for a friend's wedding.I have British Passport and am based in Thailand.

Do I need to get the e-visa obtainable online for a 30 day stay or is there another visa free option for very short visits?

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/02/opinion/thailand-election-move-forward.html?unlocked_article_code=PHIODiL_bhuvXrGatgJygHshU0h_XrinfN0zZJWuCjHE411BVswpdy2l1uGeNpAyF7bHTnLPewlLQzoaBdLpGggjKicQO6WBVGA-xrPDK37HB3_5XEfdnZOizISizgDBv29Xo4u1T9hMxdQsTGcYWU5GdtgSE3URN1cavxYD--NdfTqf3J-ZySFLqXAdM4DjrA62dZQmq3Lk7rtUqa2IREXFNbCdarxVxxl0H9PfL7M2bO-TQEHgW-i74RLDnZs-IZ8TCr873JBXIB00d0Xhzmjsz1Jvs1byc-cb81XY0vNQBkmDrK_vAcVOQOS9LklZrkNWIrcdNUusJW0TOA7Kf1yhS9v0sYNX&smid=url-share

Article from the New York Times provided with newspaper's permission