Serge

Yes, you must bring your wife for the 1 year extension.

Serge

Where can I find WLAN 802.11g equipment for sale in Chiang Mai?

Antone have good experience with any Chinag Mai vender of 802.11g stuff?

Serge

Dion

Now I am reaaly confused! How is it that you have stated an; Elite Card Holder will be able to own land when the following quote from a newspaper states;

Sakol Thongkham, the Government Coordinator of the TAT, told the Gazette that the most a card-holder could expect would be that the TPC would hold the land on his or her behalf. It is not our aim to allow foreigners to own land, K. Sakol said. “Indeed, we would be unhappy if people bought the card only because of the land issue.[/ QUOTE]

Posted: Mon 2003-11-10, 23:14:54

BANGKOK: Reports that foreigners who buy the one-million-baht Thai Privilege Card will be able to own land have been denied by a senior official of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) parent company of the card issuer, the Thai Privilege Card Co Ltd (TPC).

The reports suggested that the government was moving to allow card-holders to buy and own up to 10 rai of land for a home.

But Sakol Thongkham, the Government Coordinator of the TAT, told the Gazette that the most a card-holder could expect would be that the TPC would hold the land on his or her behalf.

“It is not our aim to allow foreigners to own land,” K. Sakol said. “Indeed, we would be unhappy if people bought the card only because of the land issue.

“It is not possible for a foreigner’s name to be on a land deed – the owner must be Thai,” he explained. However, if requested by a card-holder, the TPC, as a Thai entity, will “own” the land on behalf of the foreigner and issue a certificate of “possession” to the foreigner.

“If the cardholder wants to transfer possession to another foreigner, then it must be on the same condition, that it is for a home only. But if the transfer is to a Thai then of course, the Thai person may own the land outright,” K Sakol added.

He offered a faint hope that, in future, card holders might receive some sort of ownership privileges. “We will try to find the best way for members to own land – not 100%, but will do as much as we can.

“We want to built on the confidence of members but if we can’t do this, we will revert to the old system of [holding land on behalf of card holders].

There is a level of comfort in this, he pointed out, “because [TPC] belongs to the government.”

But, he noted, “It is very difficult to change the law to allow foreigners to own the land outright. Our project doesn’t means that we want to sell land or the country,” K Sakol added.

He said that information about the land-holding facility had not been iposted on the TPC website at www.thailandelite.com because TPC is still waiting for the procedures to be put in place.

So far, the company – launched in October – has sold about 300 of the million-baht cards, most of them to people living overseas.

Benefits of membership include fast-track immigration services with automatic one-year permits to stay and special deals and discounts on hotels, restaurants, golf courses, spas, shops and transport, including private aircraft and helicopters.

For more information, call 02-6528325 or 02-6528304 during office hours or visit http://www.thailandelite.com

Source: Phuket Gazette

If one of the reasons for aquiring the Elite Card is not to own land (K. Sakol said. “Indeed, we would be unhappy if people bought the card only because of the land issue') or have some sort of Visa advantage (see my previous post) then, with all due respect Dion; PLEASE do some selling here!

What are the advantages of aquiring the Thailand Elite card the card does not afford any value added?

Serge

Dion,

Now I am confused. The Thailand Elite website states;

(3) Members are exempt from the Entry visa requirement, with automatic permission to stay in Thailand for five (5) year. Members are also exempt from the requirement to exit Thailand to renew their entry visa, but are subject to visa application fees as stated in the Thai Immigration and Neutralization Service duty charges.

The new visa category is for both business and tourism, each entry is for 90 days, and can be extended an additional 90 days at the local immigration office for a fee of 1,900 Baht.

Given this information; If someone desired to stay for the full 5 years without leaving the contry, would this require a visit to the the Immigration Department every 90 days only to be faced with a fee of 1,900 Baht every 90 days thereafter?

If one was to sit down with a calculator and calculate these additional 90 day fees over the period of 5 years, where is the benefit in the Elite program with regards to the new Visa?

What am I missing here?

Serge

Cheapscate = Cheap Charlie

[While we're at it, does anyone know why UBC can't sell advertising? Who's preventing them? With advertising dollars, they could afford to bring down the prices and buy some up to date programming. Most of what you see on the Discovery Channel/National Geographic etc. was produced years ago. Its especially humourous when you watch the tech shows and they are discussing what exciting gadgets might just be around the corner and its some outdated piece of equiptment I bought two years ago...]

Bob,

When IBC; now UBC applied for a operating licence the land based TV sations complianed they would suffer due to the loss of advertizing revenue to the satelite service so, in order to protect the exisiting TV stations UBC was granted an operational licence and only permitted to broadcast without commercials.

In practice, we as UBC subcribers are the group which keeps the land based TV stations in business.

How about getting the SMS feature going!

Serge

Hi Steph,

You do not need a work permit in order to purchase a car, however, a Non-Immigrant Visa is required if you want to purchase and have the car registered as the owner in your name.

There goes Frank again!

Now it is you Frank who is stereotyping and generalising.

Stay cool. Everybody loves Americans!  Feel better now?

Frank,

I hope you have taken the time to fully digest "Why Do They Hate Us? by Warren S. Apel, American Embassy School, New Delhi, India" a 2003 winning essay which Rambutan has posted.  Food for thought, is it not?

I suggest you consider another trip around the world one more time only; this time listen, respect and fully understand other people's opinions and feelings. If you undertake another trip around the world and listen, you will hear; "why do people hate the USA"

Have a good trip! ???

"Government for the People by the People" Is this not part of the Constitution of the USA?  Now someone suggests Brian should not sterotype Americans.  Who else do you blame for US policy if not the people?  The people vote for their leaders don't they?

I have always been amazed by Americans who ask "Why does the world hate Americans?"!  Nevermind the sentiment in some asian news. I am not a young man and have traveled the world. Let me tell you, the vast majority of the population in our world are not in love with the USA!

I for one, totaly agree with Brian's option.  Let's put it to a vote, why don't we!