jayboy

Then you have been fortunate.It is by no means everybody's experience - take a look at the many examples provided on this forum. I note you miss out the need for ID in banking/finance, a critical area for many and one where a passport is invariably required..A couple of years ago my Pink card in one instance was not accepted at airport check in.In any case the fact that you have had to invoke a supervisor on some occasions rather confirms my point.

Depends what you want to do and how sure you are the Pink card will be accepted for the purpose you have in mind.Even a casual trawl through this forum shows that the Pink card is baffling (and not accepted) by many Thai officials and functionaries. There are many cases where it makes sense to keep a passport in the back pocket, if only to remove a slight doubt. I accept there are some folks who enjoy nothing better than a long boring argument with some overworked Thai functionary about the validity of the Pink Card. Takes all sorts. The good news is that the Pink card is becoming slowly more accepted for ID purposes.The direction of travel is clear and my guess is that within a few years this storm in a teapot will be no more.

You draw the correct conclusion in your final paragraph.However to suggest the benefits outweigh the risks in the context of Covid vaccinations is akin to saying the benefits outweigh the risks in flying in an aircraft - though the latter is statistically more risky. With respect your first paragraph doesn't make much sense and anecdotal evidence/ uninformed gossip need not be taken seriously.

This is good evidence based advice. But I have a question (vaccination sceptics please don't bother responding).What happens after having taken the second booster?

Every ten years in my case.Thus every ten years a couple of hours admin notifying banks, telephone/internet providers of new passport number.Not too much of a hassle.

And when the banker/official/policeman turns up his nose at your pink card, are they satisfied when you tell them you don't carry a passport as a matter of principle?

Ridiculous.If you have the time do it yourself. If you don't or can't be bothered, get a trusted legal firm (not one which caters for gormless expatriates) and enlist your secretary to help with paperwork. Actually if you have a really good secretary she could probably handle it by herself.As to fee best to agree up front.I would say no more than Bt 50,000. It matters not a jot.They don't care whether you have Thai friends or not.It's just possible they might ask in the interview - just say you have friends in the neigbourhood and that you enjoy their company. The Pink ID card is not recognised or accepted everywhere but the situation is gradually improving.Practical advice if an important transaction required is to keep your passport in back pocket just in case.

At what age can a Thai citizen shortly to start university in Bangkok open a full banking account with a Thai bank? By full banking I mean getting internet banking, an ATM card, the bank app etc.

That's the usual response on this forum, but for me using a lawyer worked well.He had been our company employed lawyer dealing with immigration for many years.There was no overcharging or pocketing of funds. As a matter of interest do you have any idea of how much very roughly the police general was paid? I hope so.But the evidence seems mixed.

Point taken.I recall hearing recent developments on the lines you set out - there were certainly no issues of this sort when I applied. Interesting that we were being told on this forum that after the military coup the logjam of PR applications was loosened up by the Ministry of the Interior.Now we hear that corruption at Immigration on PR applications - never a concern before - was ramped up.Perhaps it's like getting a Covid jab - favourable developments for a bit before the pesky virus re-asserts itself.

Although your friend was successful, there is I suspect a definite danger in invoking high level bureaucratic/police/armed forces support for PR applications unless you know exactly what your sponsor's reputation is in the Thai pecking order (and you never will).I agree that, as regards immigration matters, a police general's support is safer than most but, given the maelstrom of internal politics, one can never be quite sure.Given that the police general's intervention was not "free of charge", it would present an opportunity for a hypothetical rival to make mischief or worse.Why exactly are you doing this for this unimportant farang etc etc? I wonder how much the "consideration " actually was.If I was a Thai police general it would have to be very large indeed to make it worth the slight risk. I have never heard of a PR application being rejected where the applicant fulfilled all the criteria.I suppose in a border line case - say a salary on the low side - it might be a sensible option to invoke support from outside.Otherwise my inclination would be to put in the application and wait.There doesn't seem to be a downside to a longish wait.

Quite so, though there are many places in Thailand that offer excellent experiences for the discerning traveller. As for Pattaya, its fate will be determined by economic forces.

I occasionally watch Buzzin Pattaya.The presenter seems a bright and personable cheeky chappie type but negative impressions remain.The whole scene he depicts is resolutely down market - geared for the tattooed gor blimey ex London cabbie type. A sophisticated visitor would avoid like the plague.Secondly the tours of the area Buzzin Pattaya shows underlines how scuzzy and downmarket the whole place is. Sex always was the engine that drove Pattaya but in the past there were some redeeming features.All gone now.

Good advice and in line with the best medical advice. Having said that I've noticed that middle class Thai parents almost always seem to take their Covid affected children to hospital/clinic and are then invariably prescribed with several drugs sometimes antivirals as well.The option of having them recover under parental supervision at home without medical intervention doesn't seem to occur to them.Obviously if there was any unusual symptom a visit to the hospital/clinic would be justified but in most cases the symptoms are as you describe. I've been here long enough not to question weird Thai customs openly.But I did mention to a Thai friend that a Covid affected child of a my relative in the UK was treated at home without visiting hospital.I was floored by her reply." What you must understand that we Thais really love our children."

No, he wasn't.What you have said is not only untrue but libelous.If you disagree please provide details.Otherwise just keep your absurd allegations to yourself.

That's odd.Since the endorsement has expired, why does it have to be cancelled?

A friend has had 2 AZ vaccinations and a Moderna booster, the latter 5 months ago. She had been going to get the 2nd Moderna booster at the same private hospital.The opportunity has come up to get a free Pfizer booster.Is there any issue? If there isn't, is there at least a preferred option to get a second (paid for) Moderna jab?

Liar he may be but he's a first rate columnist who earned an excellent living by his pen.He's not particularly upper class - less so than David Cameron for example.If you describe stonking election victories as "worming his way into power" you might want to brush up on the British constitution. I'm not a fan of Boris Johnson but silly uninformed criticism confuses the issue.

It would be interesting to do a cost benefit analysis on the insurance issue.My hunch is that the problem of foreign tourists lacking insurance cover and/or being unable to pay hospital bills is relatively small.Does anyone have the numbers?

In my experience if you are issued with a Thai credit card when holding a WP, it will not be cancelled once one has retired.

I notice that in my Mor Phrom App under Digital Health Pass that there is an expiry date six months after the date of my last vaccination.This appears to relate to the EU Digital Covid Certificate/Under Test. Does this have any practical significance?

Like many here who have remained in Thailand for 2 years or more, my thoughts have turned to home trip for 10 days or so to the UK, probably in October. I thought I might treat myself to a business class ticket since my usual BA Premium Economy isn't available.Any recommendations? My provisional list in order of precedence - Qatar Eva Air Emirates Lufthansa KLM/AF Thai Budget not more than Bt 130,000.Don't mind breaking journey.

Much talk on both sides of military partnership, and need to address security threats.That may be true of the United States but Thailand has no security threats or even potential enemies. Thailand will always kowtow to China and as to its traditional enemy Myanmar, the military rulers of both countries are as thick as thieves. Theoretically Thailand could eliminate its armed forces altogether on the lines of Costa Rica but more realistically a minimum force needs to be in place - internal security, border patrols, modest army, ceremonial and assorted marching around activity. etc. Total spend by the Thai armed forces is approximately US$ 7 billion p.a.This could easily be reduced by about 75%.

Given the huge discrepancy in drug prices between private hospitals and pharmacies. I wonder how cost conscious but comfortably off middle class Thais approach the issue.I'm thinking of Thais who have a monthly income - just plucking numbers out of the air for illustration purposes - between say Bt 75,000 and 125,000, ie those can afford private sector medical treatment but who are also cost conscious. I certainly know of one Thai who has an arrangement with her doctor whereby he tells her the drugs needed and she then buys them outside, thereby avoiding paying hospital prices for drugs.Is this common practice?

Thanks.Yes that's the best option.I may check my local Apple repair setup first.