jimky

I use my chase credit card regularly on Lazada including a few times today. It gets declined only on rare occasions and then works again after. In the times it gets declined I use Bangkok Bank account transfer to pay.

I make over 100 purchases on Lazada per month. My default payment method is my US credit card from Chase. Occasionally the card gets declined and then I use bank transfer. 1-2-3 Service using Bangkok Bank mobile app.

They got grabbed at about 5pm

I have lived in Udon for 11 years. Here bars had closed before the emergency decree and businesses that were 24 hours (7-Eleven, McDonalds, etc.)  were ordered closed 10PM to 5AM before was a National curfew. Anyways.. Now Alcohol is banned 11-30th. In the city everyone wears masks. Temp gets taken to enter almost everywhere; social distancing set up at banks etc. Most restaurants are takeout and delivery only. Is still a few markets where stands are near each other, and a few places to eat that are not distant (only a few). Many of the big hotels have been ordered closed. Some are set up on govt. contracts. For example, Prajaktra Design Hotel is being used for any medical workers that require quarantine. Curfew STRONGLY enforced.

8 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

 

Brilliant. And the patient went to the hospital on public transport, probably infecting people along the way and in the hospital. All for nothing.  How sad.

You are VERY wrong!

I did my annual marriage extension today at Udon Immigration. Everything same as past years. I was extended for 1 additional month and told to comeback then to get my one year stamp. There was no mention of bringing back my bank book or anything like that.

In the process of getting my wife and stepson green cards. Earlier today the Thai police clearance arrived in the mail, but I'm just looking at it hoping it is the right letter. It is addressed to US, and has case # on it, but it doesn't really say they don't have a criminal record, more just haven't been a threat. Just wanting to make sure this is the right thing as it looks pretty simple/basic. If someone who has done this can just lightly describe the letter they got, and used that would be appreciated. Just trying to confirm in advanced that this is the correct one.

Did my fifth annual extension of stay based on marriage application today at Udon Thani Immigration.

Most significant thing to report is I was questioned extensively about notarized income statement from US Embassy. Same officer that did my last few had to check with someone else. I had both talking to me when the other said a new rule since August is the US embassy needs to stamp a document that shows income: "this letter.... can't use anymore". But then after a few minutes she asked if I had anything else could give her. She wanted either the receipt of having paid for the notarization or the appointment slip. I didn't save either so no go on that. She printed something in Thai (I don't read Thai well) and told me to sign it (I did but no idea what). Then said "okay, next time bank book." and that was that. Proceeded as normal.

I was in and out very quickly. Same officer seems to look at me each time I walk in door and is always friendly but we don't really talk. She called me next even though I had just walked in and appeared to be a queue in front of me (not sure why). She went through the application very quickly other than that one snag. This time I just put 2,200 baht in the clip at the end when signing the paper instead of normal 1,900.. I was charged 100 baht for copies once like 4 years ago, also another time during 90 day report asked to do a temple donation (was in envelope to seal and stuck 20 baht in it and put in the box) but other than that never been overcharged. I felt like she was doing me a favor taking me ahead of everyone else, and was very impressed with how fast it was. I was out of there about 30 minutes after walking in the door, exciting considering I had trouble even finding a parking spot.

Some added info:

- brought a witness who was used. This was new three times ago they needed a witness. Take their ID, tabien baan, ask a few questions, print them out and have them sign. Have read other reports of people not needing this and see many others go in without one, but for some reason three times ago was requested from me, thus have brought one ever since. Immigration has never visited my home before. Maybe this saves them the need.

Documents needed:

TM7 completed twice w/ photos

Passport - copies of all pages of the passport (in past was only certain ones, this time they photo copied and had me sign the ones missing as needed them all).

Marriage Certificate

Marriage Log - forget what this is called, the other form given when doing the marriage.

Wife's name change document

Wife's ID

Wife's tabien baan (house book)

Children's birth certificates

Income letter from embassy - which again this time was questioned, told not valid, but then used along with something else in Thai they had me sign.

Map to House

Photos with family - (1. Outside home, 2. living room, 3. bedroom)

Everything signed in advanced makes it faster. That's it. Was very easy. Feels like it took me longer to write this post than it did to do all that.

I'm not sure on embassy letter issue. Using the money in bank is no issue for me and will just do that next time. But just more a heads up for others going this route, I have no idea really what that conversation was all about.

Providing the I-864 comes some point after the first step (not given with the initial I-130). Is that correct?

I just booked some flights. Going to Bangkok later this month to file the I-130. Then will go to the US mid June to mid July to get a US drivers license, and probably change a utility or two at my mother's house to my name, for showing steps to establish domicile. By that time hopefully next step will be here waiting for me when I get back.

I have self employment income visible on tax returns that will continue and I will be the only sponsor. The issue is getting my tax transcripts. I requested once via phone (3 months ago), once via form (3 weeks ago). I might mail in a third party transcript request to my Mom's house if I don't get them soon because so far none have shown up.

Was just reading and the instructions seem to have clarification on a couple of your questions: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-130instr.pdf

The translation says translator needs to certify it is correct and by certification is competent to translate to English. Here in Udon Thani the translator I use stamps it with some sort of certification about her business and includes a business card and brochure. Most translation services probably provide similar.

As for the relationship part. The list has a bunch of letters that all marked next to them

.... -or

.... -or

So seems having just some of them should be fine.

I'm haven't started this process yet (getting ready to now) so take my comments lightly, but.. I suspect you have what you have and most likely is enough.. For me is the same deal. House is in her name only. Bank accounts are separate. But...

We have a couple dozen matching passport stamps. A child together. Thousands of photos. Joint US tax return. I can't see for us that aspect being a problem.

Not sure if needed or not but can have any translation certified by Ministry of Foreign Affairs which would make it "official".

I'm US citizen by birth. Me and my wife been married over 5 years living in Thailand the entire time.

Can you guys who just did this advise exactly what I need to do to start this process? As in the specifics of the first step.

I think this is filing form I-130 at the UCIS office in Bangkok. Do I need an appointment or do I just show up and do it. Also do I need documents other than just that form? Does my wife need to be with me? (We live in Udon Thani and our children need to go to school. Would be easier if I can go alone for the first step, but if better she comes than I'd bring her too).

Also in the I-130 for my own addresses, do I use our address in Thailand as my address (which is same as her) or should I use my Mom's address in the US.

++++++++++

One other question perhaps won't know: Her son (my stepson) age 15 will be included on the application. Do I need to fill out separate I-130 for him too?

Thanks in advanced for any responses.

Macau they charge fee per bag and the meter rate for large taxis is higher than small.

WhY does ministry think they would be stopping or started just for songkran?

Because for a huge percent of the population it is true. It is not directed to kee mao, but to the many laborers who drink on nights off, and then do the typical binge twice a year for New Years and Songkran. This year was especially the case with Songkran running Mon-Wed.

Minced Pork (pork = mu) with basil, rice, fried egg not spicy. Give them:

กระเพราหมูราดข้าว​ไข่ดาวไม่เผ็ด

I can relate this. I'm the same way.

In the city I live I've never had a problem with police at all. At traffic stops often they see I'm farang and just wave me on after checking ID. Seem more concerned with getting money from Thai people. Other dealings have all been very good. Once was trying to kill someone (Thai) that "borrowed" money without permission. The officers that arrived on scene showed mix of being scared to just looking at me confused. They calmed us down and let us drive ourselves to station. At station chief was like yeah you can't do that but he spoke nice. Then scolded the other person. To me he was more like yeah I understand I'd be pissed too. He worked out a contract for agreed repayment by other guy, and no further violence/retribution/collection by me right there and had tourist police help make it a dual language contract. Then told the other guy if you miss a payment I will arrest you. Told me if he misses a payment to come see him. The guy did pay, thanks to help from police. No one asked me a bribe.

This all said... when I travel.. it is a way a different story. The very first time I went to Bangkok got pulled over with the officer demanding 2,000 baht, and I did nothing. I was confused though and just paid it. Since then new policy...

1) as much as it sucks, when I get pulled over for something i know I did (speeding or w/e) I'm almost never near home and am passing through. I just bribe way out of it. Having to come back to some city I might be passing through 250km from home and 250km from where I'm going to pay a fine and get license back, doesn't really work for me. At legit stops (ones with a bunch of officers / road blocks, sometimes army too) the officers often seem nervous. Do it like a drug deal 555. I don't even say hello, when he approaches I hand him my license first and have a few hundred baht in hand visible then just ask thao rai khrap direct with eye contact but spoken like a whisper. If he says something larger than is in hand, I act it out as confused, say mai mee.... (pause) nee mai, offering what is in hand. He often looks stunned maybe like this is too easy, and then takes it in same motion giving back license and that's that. Never met one that didn't take what I offered and let me go.

2) if I know I didn't do anything, I just pretend I don't understand a word he is saying (no matter what language is used). Then pull out big notebook with # for tourist police written large and pull out phone. In these cases most often I am just told to go. One single time I had a tourist police meet me at police station and I left paying 100 baht (unofficial) there just to concede and go, and on way out gave the tourist police lady 100 baht (she was nice, this was just a tip given outside) - in this case they insisted I ran a stop light down the road.

So yeah I'm part of the problem too. Corruption when suits me, fight it when it doesn't. Really though corruption is just too convenient not to utilize when solves things fast, and is too inconvenient to fight for being standup and doing it official. Now if they had legit tickets that could be paid on spot with receipt sure I'd pay those over paying a lesser amount in bribe. Truly, it comes down to convenience for me.

Living in Udon Thani, in years past there was always stuff going on extra days when Songkran spanned the weekend. Last year however I was quite surprised. Outside entertainment areas there was only a very small number of people out splashing on Saturday the 12th. Then as it fell over the weekend the 16th was an official holiday too. On that day I took my children to go play at a friends house on a main road. We ended up not doing so because we would have been alone. Everyone was dry with no one else playing Songkran in sight. So last year, despite the weekend, here it was mostly only the annual official dates April 13-15 that much went on.

, but I can't say "I love Thailand". To me it is just home. Also even though I can read and write Thai, have many friends, can laugh and joke with them etc. I'm always going to be viewed as a second class citizen here.

Of course it isn't home, you have a right to stay in your home, but no right to stay in Thailand at all.

Always amazed by foreigners who want to think Thailand is their home.

No it isn't.

PS

Nobody views you as a second class citizen.

You aren't any class of Thai citizen.

Not sure if this from coming in my 20s before having built much of a life somewhere else, but I certainly don't consider the country I hold a passport for to be home. I'm very certain unless extradited or something I'll never return there. Other than the passport I have nothing else related to there (I don't even really have many farang friends anymore, couple acquaintance maybe 3 friends). So, should I still call that home, or just say that I don't have a home?.

This is just semantics and wording issue. Yeah some small remote possibility I can be kicked out of the country and can't freehold land. As far as what effects me that's all and is minor. Those don't change where I consider home to be.

Most are probably unhappy because the cultural differences are massive.

In my case I think I understand and accept or agree with the bulk of those, have integrated about as far as I can go thus far, but I can't say "I love Thailand". To me it is just home. Also even though I can read and write Thai, have many friends, can laugh and joke with them etc. I'm always going to be viewed as a second class citizen here. It is reduced some by having decent social circle, but if you end up with relationship / family here you'll just have to wait and see. Out and about every now and then (frequent enough) run into people that make fun of me saying all sorts of things assuming I can't understand them while smiling and giggling. It might come off as friendly if don't know better. I just deal with this. Whatever.

So cultural differences (which I don't even touch on in this post), and being a minority in a racist society can make someone unhappy easy enough.

Then there are also others that keep mostly only fellow farang as friends and mostly end up dealing with idiots, or a holes. I don't mean this disrespectfully to anyone on an individual level, but on average, it is not the best group of people that end up migrating here.

Just recently they were talking requiring finger prints, DNA (even maybe sperm samples), health insurance, and life insurance for an extension. Now you can just check in with the local 7-Eleven. I like this new government. Well done.