bangkapi

l needed 2904 baht to get stitched up and 740 baht to get the motorcycle fixed. And they threw in an oil change and a new spark plug. And the taxi ride to the hospital was 60 baht.

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

see what you will need if you have a motorbike accident and end up in hospital.

I kind of like that it is so difficult to get the PR.

It keeps a lot of riff-raff from staying too long.

In spite of it, we still have more than our share of riff-raff here.

The process at the airport goes a lot easier if you stop at a local police station and make a police report of the lost departure card.

Just report the bloke to immigration and wash your hands of his mess.

You don't need a visa solution as much as you need a tax solution.

My 84 year old mom and 64 year old sister are doing much better in the USA than they would be doing here.

For me it is the opposite.

Twenty years in Thailand and twenty-six years in Asia. 

I go back once a year for five to six weeks to visit my aged mother and brothers and sisters.

And I usually gain 5-6 Kg when there from eating pizza, hamburgers, and other yummy stuff.

Also, I buy vitamins and chocolates and shoes that I can't get here.

As long as there are annual property taxes, I am of the mind that you never really own a house or land in the USA.

9 hours ago, moe666 said:

get that500 thousand baht 5 year get out of jail card

These days, you can get 10 years for the 500K.

Look into that.

Regretting now that I paid 500K for 5 years elite option.

The 20 year at 1 Million baht option includes everything except for the limo ride to and from the airport, which I could do without.

I leave tips now to the AOT driver and baggage handler that amount to more than my taxi fare to the airport.

I will probably inquire to see if they will allow me to pay another 500K to switch to the 1 million 20 year option.

Pay the money.

It's easy..There is a special place to get the clearance form (in English) at the police headquarters at Ratprasong area across from Central world near Siam BTS

Just as MoChit is the best place to get a drivers' license, Pattaya is the best place to do a 90 day report.

Just use 2 million of that 10 million and get a 20 year Thailand Elite Visa..

And then you have 8 million that you don't have to gamble with in Thailand.

I just noticed the past couple of weeks when I go to the post office to mail letters that all Thai people have to put their National ID card in a slot before posting letters and packages.

The Thai National ID cards all have what looks like RFID technology.

Today was the first time that I was asked to show ID. They accepted my drivers' license, but it didn't go in the slot. The foreign lady in front of me didn't have an ID and they let her slide.

I'd like to know if this transition is taking place nationwide.

Observations?

It is much easier in Thailand than in the USA. I got my last 3 passports here. And the last one took less than a week. Just download and fill in the form and bring it with your old passport and the photo to the US Embassy after making an online appointment.

They will not contact you. Just call them after one week. It absolutely will be ready in under 10 working days and will be dated from the day you submitted it at the embassy.

To minimize time at Chaengwattana, I use a five year Thailandelite visa and fly out of the country before any 90 day reports are due.

In the old days, I would always arrive before opening time to minimize wait time.

My brother, who is a medical doctor says:

Most people who take reasonably good care of themselves can coast through their 70's, but everyone has at least one big "medical event" in their 80's.

Why doesn't your boyfriend man up and buy you a Thailand Elite visa for 500K baht so you can come and go for the next 5 years with no questions asked?

If I ever get myself a nice Filipina girlfriend, that's what I'd do.

Clearing at the airport is always best.

One time I was driving my motorcycle on Rama IX and blew by a group of police (one of whom was waving me down to pull over). A chase ensued and he caught me on his motorcycle about 2 km down the road.

The infraction was not being in the far left lane. He asked for a 200 baht fine after I showed him my Thai motorcycle license. I told him that I'd give him 200 if he gave me a receipt and 100 if he didn't.

It cost me 100 baht.

But if you spoke Thai clearly, isn't that an indication that if you were overstaying, it would be a very long overstay?

I'm thinking it's a possible shakedown opportunity of only newbies who could not speak Thai and didn't have their passport with them.

They need to make the process less of a hassle for sure.

I've gotten away with not reporting and then when I left by flying out of the country, the non reporting infraction/fine was ignored.

Due to being American and not wanting to have 800,000 baht in a bank account that I have to report on my FBAR every year, they pushed me to the Thailand Elite Visa.

I'm just glad I don't have to ask anyone that question.

I have the 5 year Thailand Elite Visa and have thought this through..

Theoretically, you can extend it to 6 years if you stay that last year in Thailand.

You cannot leave the cage.

The minute you leave, you're going to have to come back on another type of visa.