jayboy

I'm bemused by the complete lack of information on Covid 19 vaccination arrangements on the websites of the major Thai hospitals/vaccination centres/expat oriented medical clinics.We know that in the next few months the Thai government will allow private sector hospitals to give vaccinations.I am very well aware that at the present moment there there nothing specific to say.Nevertheless, in view of the great interest and concern, it would seem obvious for the need to flag the matter on hospital websites, even if the message now is just to "watch this space." Yet there is nothing that I can see at all.

6 hours ago, scorecard said:

If there's an immigration officer hanging around in the 'waiting' lines area, just hold up your 'Certificate of Residency' book (PR book), there's a good chance (no guarantee) the officer will take you to a faster passport line/desk.

 

Yes, I've also had that experience.The busy immigration officials monitoring the lines of the jet-lagged always seem to be particularly helpful in guiding PRs to the best desk for a quick exit.

26 minutes ago, rimmae2 said:

Have used the autogates more than 100 times on departure and same on arrival? Where is the legal requirement to obtain a stamp and on departure only, entry only or both? 

There is no such requirement, hence my question to the original poster.

Incidentally I'm impressed by your record at the autogates.I've only used them a few times with a success record of 50% or so.I eventually twigged that given the frequent technical difficulties (maybe solved now) with autogates I actually wasn't losing any time by using the normal immigration desks.I've always managed to get rapidly through immigration by joining the shortest queue - even the diplomatic one.Nobody seems to mind.

15 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Sometimes

That was my point.The pink card does not always work. A passport always does.I do agree the pink card will continue to be more generally accepted in the future.

15 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

That was one of requirements for me to no longer be a tax resident in my country of citizenship.

 

Care to share which country? Thai PR has nothing to do with tax - other than having paid it to qualify nor necessarily much to do with actual residence in Thailand - other being here at least one day a year.

15 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

I did and know several others

I'm not referring to PRs' use of automatic doors.It was your reference to the necessity of stamping the blue book that stumped me.

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

No questions asked when opening a Thai bank account when using pink ID (which has number that doesn't expire - so no need to keep updating it when passport is replaced).

 

Passport still sometimes required

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

For many (country dependent) it is also a prerequisite to avoid tax payments in country of citizenship.

Dream on

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

still need to get stamped in the blue book after passing the automatic gates.

Er, don't think so.Nobody I know with PR has ever done this.

2 hours ago, Delight said:

If you google

'permanent residence Thailand 2021'

 

Then you will get your answer.

 

In general terms the Thai government are only interested in young people. They want young entrepreneurs.

All applicants must be able to speak and understand  the  Thai  language.

 

I believe(but not 100% sure) that if this status is granted then you lose  your birth nationality.

This in turn will mean you will lose your state pension-if applicable

 

 

 

This must set some kind of record, 6 fundamental errors (that I counted) in a very short post.

On 3/12/2021 at 2:05 PM, CharlieH said:

At 72 whenever he does take over it wont be for very long that's for sure.

Not sure about that at all given his genetic inheritance (mother, grandmother, father) for very long life and healthy lifestyle (non smoker) and not obese.Could easily last another 25 years.

1 hour ago, Red Forever said:

Are you saying that UK has no problem with increased cost of living, political clusterfeck and thinly masked xenophobia? Credit to you though for pointing out the Socialist policies of inflation linked State pension and free healthcare.

I agree with much of this.However the point of my original post on this subject was to puncture the silliness which uncritically portrays Thailand as an earthly paradise and the UK as a wholescale disaster.Both countries have their strengths and weaknesses, and I love them both - though not uncritically.

On 3/16/2021 at 12:26 PM, cmarshall said:

In response to your vacuous criticism let me repeat the essential point: 

The gold-standard responses were those in East Asia and Oceania, by countries like South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia — countries that saw clearly the gravest infection threat the world had encountered in a century and endeavored to simply eradicate it within their borders. Mostly, they succeeded. When it mattered most, no nation in what was once grandly called “the West” even really bothered to try.

Not BS.

Thank you for posting this excellent article.

8 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I am an immigrant here and nothing like most of the immigrants in the UK. I had to prove paying tax for a few years, criminal background checks, interview with National Intelligence Agency, Ministry of Interior, Special branch police etc. 

So what? I wasn't comparing immigration procedures.I was referring to the irony of Brits who give immigrants in their own country as the reason they emigrated to Thailand.In practice these people do not actually do proper work in Thailand and thus never get on the road to Thai citizenship.

22 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I'm not sure how to interpret your comment. Suffice to say IME the expats here that complain the most are also the least adaptable.

I'm sure you are right about this and everything else on this topic, including the interesting proposition that Thailand's appalling pollution can be dealt with by installing air purifiers in one's condo. Incidentally I know exactly the the type of Brit that emigrated to Thailand to escape immigrants to the UK.

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

The Brits I know here all say they got out of the UK because of the miserable weather and the influx of immigrants. Perhaps they have a touch of xenophobia too.

The problems you cite can be easily dealt with. I just run air purifiers in my condo to get air of acceptable quality while the smoke season is on. I ignore the politics, none of my business, certainly I don't experience xenophobia from any woman here. Quite the opposite.

Ever increasing cost of living? Condo prices and rents have not changed in the last ten years. If anything, they have gone down. Unless one can only survive on imported foods alone, those prices have not shifted either. Fruit and vegetables in season in the local markets are as cheap as ever.

My inflation-linked pension keeps rolling in from Australia, the 800K baht stays in the bank year round. Allowing for the cost of flights and accommodation, ( don't mention quarantine ) it's now actually cheaper for me to have my medical needs attended to in Thailand.

I'll let the vibrant culture go through to the wicketkeeper, any country is what you make of it yourself.

 

 

 

Congratulations.You seem to be exactly the kind of person that flourishes in Thailand's expatriate culture.

9 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Now heres another example of how things can vary. I went to a Hotel a few days ago, they didnt ask for anything! Nothing at all. Just the wifes ID was enough. Thailand ...geez.

It depends on the class of hotel.Five or four star tend to ask for it.As you say majority very flexible or will only ask for wife's ID.

On 3/5/2021 at 2:24 PM, CharlieH said:

Personally, it was easily obtained, better to have than not have

This sums up the position well and succinctly.I believe that its value will increase as years go by and it is more widely recognized.I have been assured its use in line with government policy.The problem at present is that one can never be entirely sure whether it will be accepted as ID or not, and thus need to carry one's passport just in case - which defeats the object of the exercise.I must confess to fibbing when checking in to a five star hotel which asked for my passport.I said the pink card was all I had with me (untrue - the passport was in my pocket). They accepted the pink card albeit reluctantly.

17 hours ago, AlexRich said:

I would pay to get the vaccine of my choice. I believe the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only one shot? But I’d probably go for Pfizer as it’s been around longer and appears to be very effective with few if any side effects. 
 

I wouldn’t want the Chinese or Russian vaccines, I just trust western medicines more ... both appear to be safe and work well.

The Russian vaccine is safe and very effective according to The Lancet.

7 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Wouldn't necessarily disagree with the findings....only draw back is that it gives a nice little 'out' for the atrocious handling of the pandemic in the USA, UK and Brazil.......

Does it though? I would have thought the overwhelming evidence that obesity and overcrowding are among the key factors adds to better understanding.But those who are simply interested in weaponising the COVID pandemic for political ends certainly will be a little deflated.

Sent an email yesterday to VFS seeking an appointment (gave 3 dates/times for last week of March). When should I expect a reply?

22 minutes ago, polpott said:

555. Scottish Conservatives won zero seats in 1997, one seat in 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2015 GEs. A long and honourable history indeed!

Thatcher didn't go down well in Scotland.Before then the Tories were a powerful element in Scotland for over a hundred years so educate yourself on the history. With respect you are really missing the point.In living memory the Tories were the leading party in Scotland in numbers of voters.You miss out the 2017 GE in which the Tories in Scotland out polled Labour and achieved only about 200,000 votes less than the SNP'S 980,000 votes.A proportional representation system would make the Tories a force to reckon with - not that I support PR.

I'm not suggesting the Tories are a threat to the SNP any time soon but it's just silly to pretend they're not a very significant part of the Scottish political culture and have been for a long time.

27 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

I think what you refer to is conservatism with a small C. There is no doubt that there is a sizeable number of people in Scotland, especially in the rural communities who hold more Presbyterian views, and many who still vote Tory out of faithfulness to party if not personalities or current policy. 

Actually I'm not referring to social conservatives but to Scottish Tories, not the same thing at all.Even in the recent General Election when the SNP triumphed as never before, the Scottish Tories managed at least half the SNP's vote total.With proportional representation - not that I'm arguing for it - they would be a very sizeable force.With Labour in Scotland a dead horse, I'm pretty sure the SNP leadership isn't complacent about the Tory threat, all the more formidable if independence is achieved and the SNP (shades of the Brexit Party) has served its essential purpose.

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

If the tories weren't so despised in Scotland, they would have more seats. Its as simple as that. 

 

I'm not sure the Tories are so despised in Scotland in the way you suggest.I think Johnson is but that's a different matter.There's a long and honourable history of Scottish conservatism, fiercely proud and independent epitomised by the great John Buchan who said every Scot should be a nationalist.The SNP leadership is now left leaning and they have the wind behind them, even with present shenanigans and they will do well in May.But I wouldn't rule Scottish Tories out, even after independence - if it happens.They are Scots before they are Unionists.

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

If she was as bad as you say, I guess we will find out soon enough.

 

Comparison is not deflection, nor am I responsible for the comparison that many people seem to be making. Nor will I be responsible for the conclusions they draw - a woman who actually stands up to scrutiny. 

Comparisons need to be made but not the ones you make in your attempt to deflect.The most worrying one is that England it would be unthinkable for the Crown Prosecution Service to interfere with a House of Commons Inquiry in the disgraceful way that has occurred in the Scottish equivalents.Even admirers of Sturgeon, of which I am one, need to recognise something stinks in this business.