jayboy
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36 minutes ago, edwinchester said:"Eligibility for this visa requires a level of commitment to the local economy"
Which appears to be exactly what those on marriage and retirement extensions do year after year so why not, at the very least, extend the doing away of 90 day reporting for this group as it has been for those with the Smart Visa?
Many retired foreigners (mostly oldsters with limited finances) take this view - essentially that they are nobly bolstering the rural economy with purchase of pick up trucks, motor cycles, houses for their partners, and of course the endless flow of their pensions and savings. They believe this is somehow a significant contribution to the Thai economy.It really isn't and certainly the Thai authorities do not regard it as such.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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Article from the New York Times provided with newspaper's permission
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32 minutes ago, Pib said:In an effort to improve its customer relationships, the company is developing a new CRM system that will focus on communication through social projects (CSR) while incorporating ESG principles in its management practices
That's reassuring.
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1 hour ago, paddypower said:I disagree.
Assuming that PT is giving the shaft to MFP, I refer to the results of the election, at wilki, which translate into a country, roughly split down the middle.
%'s of those casting votes (Ignoring the really small parties' %'s )PT: 28.86UTN 12.55BT 3.0044.41MFP 38.01as far as the number of MP's elected, I don't quite understand how the ''List MP's '' system works. It sure screws up the results, when comparing the %'s of votes a party receives, v.v. the number of MP's elected. For example - BT got 3% of the votes and 14% of the 500 MP's elected. who cares, I guess - most political systems stinkI was referring to the percentage of Thais who are eager for political change which the electoral results partly reflect.Fifteen years ago I would have put the percentage higher for those more or less comfortable with the status quo, say 40%. What's changed - apart from the obvious point - is the near universal contempt for military interference in government but also and equally significant, the revolution in the thinking of the young - even the educated wealthy middle class.
All very subjective I agree and the resources and cunning of those entrenched in power shouldn't be underestimated.It's a long game.
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1 hour ago, paddypower said:
I assume you meant to write '' . If we DON'T want things to stay the same, things will have to change'' ????
No, I meant what I wrote.It was an allusion to famous quotation from a young aristocrat in Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's great novel , The Leopard.In other words, putting it into a local context, the unelected elites {no need to spell out the details) who control Thailand will have to accept there are major changes ahead which will diminish their wealth, influence and power.If they wish to retain a significant portion of their current favourable position, they will have to negotiate and compromise.It is called enlightened self interest, admittedly not a commodity in great supply in Thailand.
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2 hours ago, zzaa09 said:
Still astounded that we're caught up in this fabricated red-shirt/yellow shirt nonsense.
What they do well is continue to keep us divided.
It reflects a real division of interests so it's is not nonsense or fabricated.Yes, unity should be the aim but that will involve painful compromises - a massive reduction of inequality on one side and the rejection of unfeasible populist policies on the other. If we want things to stay the same, things will have to change.
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On 7/28/2023 at 7:25 AM, paddypower said:
one half of the population against the other
More like 10% against 90%.
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2 hours ago, scorecard said:
That's interesting, maybe their 'criteria' has changed but 27 years ago I asked the Immigration senior who conducted my interview if being married to a Thai lady made getting PR more easy?
His response 'Not really because we assess you / are you the type of foreigner we want to have holding this status, and we don't assess your wife at all, so not really relevant.
That's 27 years ago, maybe that's changed.
I think we are effectively saying (and were advised) the same thing.I chose the option which seemed simplest.
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1 hour ago, Jingthing said:
Passe question.
Is it? As a supporter of marriage equality myself, I would have thought it well worth asking since in the UK at least civil partnership provides all the legal protections of marriage. I suppose the difference is essentially an emotional one, and that of course is important.
It's a minority opinion but some distinguished gay commentators, such as Mathew Parris, prefer civil partnerships over marriage.Here's Parris on the subject:
"I no longer see civil partnership as second-best to marriage. There’s a clarity about it: simple, and shorn of the baggage and hoopla. The estate is to become open to heterosexual couples too, and I offer you this firm prediction: more and more younger couples will choose it. Already I can think of three (straight) couples, friends who haven’t married because there’s something about that word they recoil from.
The church (most of it), Islam and much of Judaism wish to define “marriage” their way. I say let them. Leave them to bark at intrusions on their terminology. Give them their word and their barbed wire, and let us find our own words."
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1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:
In your view 80K USD may be a low level for the West, EU and UK, but for Thailand that's around 225K Thb per month. How many Thai's make that type of money, ergo why its an amount they decided to use as the WP amount. How many working expats, working here in Thailand also make that kind of money, the answer would seem to be just a small percentage and why those that make this type of money on a pension are looked at as wealthy, for Thailand at least.
How many pensioners make almost 8K USD a month on there pensions? Again its a small percentage.
I'm not sure that comparing required income for LTR wealthy pensioners with Thai levels is relevant.As for corporate expats working here I can assure you that the level is often far above (2 or 3 times or much more) Baht 225,000 per month especially when benefits in kind (often taxable) are taken into account.
The point of the LTR scheme is to attract high potential foreigners who would like to relocate to Thailand long-term, the purpose being to help boost economic development and stimulate overseas investment in the country.The other categories of the LTR scheme are consistent with this aim but not the "wealthy pensioner" category.I think its great that some pensioners are able to take advantage of this scheme but the BOI rationale remains obscure.
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As a matter of interest what is the rationale behind the "wealthy pensioner" category particularly as the financial criteria for income have been set at a relatively low financial level?
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10 minutes ago, oldcpu said:
I suspect (but could be wrong) its a lot easier to get a Yellow Book than it is official Thailand PR status.
Er, you suspect correctly.
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44 minutes ago, Neeranam said:
The reasons for this could be multiple.
It most probably is because of the attitude of the foreigner, or maybe lack of spoken Thai.
There are many ways around this. Firstly, don't start criticizing Thai culture and their lack of whatever. Learn Thai culture and how to over come these hurdles. It might be by bring a few donuts, or using the name of someone of influence you know.
Alternatively, tell them you need it as you are applying to become a Thai national, showing them the checklist that is issued by Special Branch police. Tell them that if they refuse to comply, you'll take them international court.
I know you are a converted citizen but I wonder how much you know about Thai culture. Who but a mad man would dream of criticizing Thai culture in front of a public official anyway? It is certainly not necessary to bring donuts or any other kind of tasty comestible or for that matter to invoke some influential person. (Most foreigners and apparently some converted citizens have no idea what a public official would regard as an "influential person.") I don't think it's necessary to comment on how a public official would react to being threatened with the special branch or, ludicrously , with an international court.
What's needed is to be an affable nicely behaved and appropriately dressed farang ideally accompanied by an educated middle class/upper middle class Thai.Then if everything is in order you will almost certainly get what you want.
Incidentally as someone who is a long time sceptic on the pink card's usefulness, I don't think one need pay too much attention to the obviously inappropriate wording on the card's back.It's an anomaly that most understand, at least those who have ever heard of it.
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5 hours ago, Tuvoc said:the main benefit of PR - free medical care.
Not true.There is no free medical care that goes with PR.
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3 hours ago, HaoleBoy said:I've heard the international schools are trying to block Pitha's daughter from attending now.
Nonsense
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17 hours ago, Foxx said:
7/11 is owned by CP ALL. CP ALL is owned by the Chearavanont family. No connection with the current senate or the military, AFAIK.
So much to unpack here.Won't comment on this particularl family but the small group of business oligarchs are entirely part of the structure opposed to any change to Thailand's sham democracy.
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29 minutes ago, Pib said:
especially when you have a Thai spouse.
Irrelevant.Makes no difference to the (not very high) standard of Thai language required.
29 minutes ago, Pib said:I did some serious googling on the PR requirements I came across several very creditable websites that gave good details
No you didn't because there are no "very creditable websites" giving details of PR.Most are appalling and are littered with errors including the one you quote which wrongly suggests a work permit comes with PR.The only source that can really be recommended is Asean Now/formerly Thai Visa (this forum) which gives all the information the applicant needs to know.It's a a lot to wade through but all the information is here.
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16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:
But PR status is achieved on a points system and being married to a Thai spouse 'gives you points' and the language requirement is no longer 'mandatory' - an applicant can accrue points through other means.
There is a points system but I have been assured by an unimpeachable source that exceptions are made from time to time if a candidate flops in one or more categories including the Thai language test.In truth they couldn't care less for example whether a candidate is married or not or whether he has a patchy educational background.What does matter in these iffy cases is the amount of tax tax paid.If a well connected/ non crook farang has paid buckets of tax over the prescribed period, he will get PR - even if not generating enough points in other areas.
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1 hour ago, DD25 said:Maybe it's the quota of 100 people / year that's the catch.
That has never been a constraint for Westerners.
1 hour ago, 007 RED said:Can you provide any evidence/link that the Thai language requirement is waived in the case of being married to a Thai spouse please.
It isn't.
27 minutes ago, Hummin said:Maybe because we do not know future requirements for long term visa, and want to make sure our investment in family, business, land and homes is not on jeapardy because we one day can not meet the requirements for long term visa such as marriage and retirement.
This is the heart of it.The list of PR benefits is rather thin but the peace of mind it provides is incalculable.
8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:Not so much PR for PR's sake and longevity of stay etc... But as a route to citizenship.
Is it not possible to go straight for citizenship and avoid PR altogether? Personally. I am not interested in citizenship though might have been 30 years ago.
10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:One of the 'brick-walls' many of us will face in the future is the prohibitive cost of private health insurance.
If we can secure citizenship, then Thai health care becomes a viable alternative.
I had never considered this aspect but I see your point.
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In 1787 Thomas Jefferson wrote:
" What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
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On 7/11/2023 at 11:05 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:
In my 33 years of experience, those are the nicest Thai people that there are.
They really aren't.
Are you qualified to get the new 4 year SMART Visa in Thailand?
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
Unwittingly you make my point for me.