jayboy

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.

I have a problem with my Apple watch which needs resolving.Where is the best place in Bangkok to take it for repair? I suspect most Apple agents may not be that familiar with watch issues.

It's true my experience was all before 2019 and I had heard rumours of creeping corruption in processing PR applications.But what you report is very depressing.

This is contrary to the experience of everyone I know who has PR. I do not know of one person complying with the very clear criteria who has failed to achieve PR.If you do not comply (working the required period on the right visa and paying the right amount of tax, being the most common obstacle), the Immigration Department will tell you it's not worth proceeding with the application. Did all the people you know that failed comply with basic criteria?

Your suggestion to lead with the pink id would be more compelling if most officials were familiar with it.Since I've had one the typical reaction when produced is profound bafflement.To be fair my sense it is now being more widely understood though the golden rule for the time being is bring along another form of id just in case.

Whether it's a bit early or not depends on when one got the first booster, and is nothing to do with being jabbed in Thailand.For those who received a booster in December, the second should be in the next couple of months (four months after the first booster according to the Thai government guidelines referred to.) Maybe it's just me but I've come to dread calling Bumrungrad about vaccine issues.The response is either bewilderment (back end of last year) or at best a fob off from the charming and polite army call handlers.A friend has suggested it's best just to walk in there and inquire personally.

I expect most people will pay greater attention to the considered advice of the governments of the USA, UK and Thailand (among others) who recommend a 4th shot (or 2nd booster) for people in specified categories. Actually I believe your post to be thoroughly misleading for a wide variety of reasons.