ProThaiExpat

Simbo:

Your post suggests that you don't realize that immigration expects you to spend the 800,000 in Thailand. They expect you to draw down 50k or more a month for living expenses from that account, it can't be in any form of fixed investment account.

They not only verify the money when you obtain your one year extention, they want to see the spending on a monthly basis. If they don't see your living expenses being draw from this account, they will investigate further as to where you are getting your living expenses.

They have stated in their web page that they are after people who are working illegally in Thailand and people who are able to live here without any visible source of income, ie. your not drawing down on your account, is who they are after.

As far as inheritance is concerned, a farang can inherit land or have it willed to them but they must sell it to a Thai within a "reasonable" amount of time.

niagrejo..... The mafia is at work in Pattaya as well. Notice the line of empty songtel parked at the curb opposite the temple on the main road to Jomtien beach.

There is a starter that directs you into a waiting songtel, that won't leave untill he is jammed, that could be more than ten minutes in the heat.

I just walk past them and about a half block up the road another songtel will pass by, either not a member under mafia control or one that has made a right turn from the beach with one passenger.

Same game on the return from Jomtien. I refuse to wait in a songtel until the driver decides when he will leave. So walk up the road a hundred meters and there will be another along where you don have to wait.

Hopefully enough farang will boycott this "system". The Thais are like sheep and do what they are told so it works, but not for me.

Interesting question. I suspect the only use for the sold passport would be for a quick exit from Thailand and perhaps entry into the U.S. if the photo is changed and the passport holder hasn't entered into or exited the U.S. since the biometric detection system has been in place.

Clearly, your report of the stolen passport would have to be within a reasonable time from the date you sold it and your police report would probably require some foreced entry, unless you said you just lost it, it was pickpoceted, etc. but then the report would be in a day or two of it being sold. Thus its value would be limited.

Of course, if the new owner was caught using it, you would be "given up" and then your question would be germaine as to the criminal penalties involved. Aiding and abetting an illegal entry or exit from Thailand or the U.S. would be enough of a penalty for me.

I guess is there is not now or will soon not be much of a market in selling passports due to the biometric identification systems installed in the U.S. and soon to be installed in Thailand, at U.S. expense.

Perhaps entry into a country where the passport gains admittance wihout a visa and then a stay over in that country would be possible, but biometric identification is sure to make that a thing of the past soon.

I was at the one in Pattaya on one of its first days and it was very culturally interesting.

I was with a Thai and preceeded down the line. Knowing what to do, I followed my sandwich and got it right. My Thai friend placed the order and then went away to a table so "staff" could make it. Well, all confusion broke loose, and the on scene manager/trainer started to blame the Thai girl for mixing up the order with another customer who started in the middle of the line, etc. etc. etc.

I was joking with the manager afterwards and suggested that he set up signing so he could train the "customers" to follow their sandwiches during preparation so the condiments could be added as desired. I suggested it was hopless to expect his Thai staff to discipline the farang customers to stay in line, tell them what to put on their sandwich, etc.

In time, even Thais will learn how to order and have prepared a Subway sandwich.

Something we don't even think about when we have that experience. I must admit some responsibility for not realizing, in advance, a Thai in a Subway for th first is bound to not get it right.

Bash and mrmnp:

The wong international ice maker won't be in the stores or available from the service center until June 1.

Doisake...... Have you considered wireless and GPRS?

I have that service through AIS for 850Baht a month and it is more than satisfactory. 40 kbps but more than adequate for residential, non-commercial use.

While education doesn't always insure quality or honesty, keep in mind that Thai lawyers have an undergraduate education in law, not the rigorous education or tough bar examinations found in many U.S. states.

The one "lawyer" I found from the U.S. Consulate list and confirmed with ad in Chian Mai magazine was of such poor quality as to be embarrassing. He was instructed by the land office how to record my lease-back and mortgage document.

When I questioned the simplistic and inarticulate verbiage he explained it was in the translation and Thai law is code law, not common law as in the U.S.

He charged me 40k for two documents and he presence at the recording. He required a ride back to his office, explaining he had given his car to someone for the day, he had taken a Songtel to the land office. I have since learned his fee was exhorbitant.

He was honest. but it was the efforts of the land office staff who got the documents right. He didn't really understand the principle of sale lease-back and I doubt he had much business law experience.