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Student or Work?

Featured Replies

Well... I am going to go to school for learning Thai. The foundation I volunteer for also offered to get me a work visa. Does one or the other give me more benefits like a REAL bank account with online banking, able to get a Thai driver's license, or anything else I should be aware of and might enjoy? I am 45, retired on a pension, USA citizen, and plan to live in Thailand forever. No, I can't afford an Elite plan. lol.

You can get a bank account with online banking with any kind of visa.

Are the foundation going to get you a Work Permit as well?

  • Author

You can get a bank account with online banking with any kind of visa.

Are the foundation going to get you a Work Permit as well?

No online banking with tourist visa (Bangkok Bank, anyway.)

Yes, they are. Does that do anything for me?

If you can get a non-o visa, work permit and extensions through the foundation that would be much better than getting a non-ed and extension for attending school.

You can attend school with any visa or extension of stay.

  • Author

If you can get a non-o visa, work permit and extensions through the foundation that would be much better than getting a non-ed and extension for attending school.

You can attend school with any visa or extension of stay.

Define much better, please? What does it buy me?

You can get a bank account with online banking with any kind of visa.

Are the foundation going to get you a Work Permit as well?

No online banking with tourist visa (Bangkok Bank, anyway.)

Yes, they are. Does that do anything for me?

You may of been told no no online banking but that is probably not correct. Have you tried to set up online banking. Just use your ATM card at a machine to get it started.

If you can get a non-o visa, work permit and extensions through the foundation that would be much better than getting a non-ed and extension for attending school.

You can attend school with any visa or extension of stay.

Define much better, please? What does it buy me?

I does not buy you anything.

It does allow you stay in the country without a problem and it certainly would cost you less than going the ED visa/extension route. You could enroll in a school and set your own schedule of classes to attend and would not need to pay for 400 hours of study that you would need to get the ED visa and extensions.

  • Author

If you can get a non-o visa, work permit and extensions through the foundation that would be much better than getting a non-ed and extension for attending school.

You can attend school with any visa or extension of stay.

Define much better, please? What does it buy me?

I does not buy you anything.

It does allow you stay in country without a problem and it certainly would cost you less than going the ED visa/extension route. You could enroll in a school and set your own schedule of classes to attend and would not need to pay for 400 hours of study that you would need to get the ED visa and extensions.

I like that =)

If you can get a non-o visa, work permit and extensions through the foundation that would be much better than getting a non-ed and extension for attending school.

You can attend school with any visa or extension of stay.

Define much better, please? What does it buy me?

I does not buy you anything.

It does allow you stay in country without a problem and it certainly would cost you less than going the ED visa/extension route. You could enroll in a school and set your own schedule of classes to attend and would not need to pay for 400 hours of study that you would need to get the ED visa and extensions.

not to mention the possible bribes the school may ask for at extension time and the miscellaneous testing of your Thai language skills at Immigration when trying to renew extensions. take the volunteer route....much easier

  • Author

You can get a bank account with online banking with any kind of visa.

Are the foundation going to get you a Work Permit as well?

No online banking with tourist visa (Bangkok Bank, anyway.)

Yes, they are. Does that do anything for me?

You may of been told no no online banking but that is probably not correct. Have you tried to set up online banking. Just use your ATM card at a machine to get it started.

Yup. Tried. Told no in person and atm.

  • Author

Any way either of these can affect my disability pension from USA? The idea is I will take walk-in lessons when I am able, and I volunteer when I am able. No way to have a set schedule in my life, but I would be buggered if SSDI said going to school or having a work visa is grounds for ending my pension.

Try another branch or another bank - preferably in a shopping mall.

Any way either of these can affect my disability pension from USA? The idea is I will take walk-in lessons when I am able, and I volunteer when I am able. No way to have a set schedule in my life, but I would be buggered if SSDI said going to school or having a work visa is grounds for ending my pension.

No way it will and SSDI will not have any way to know what you are doing in Thialand. Just no work for money.

You may of been told no no online banking but that is probably not correct. Have you tried to set up online banking. Just use your ATM card at a machine to get it started.

Yup. Tried. Told no in person and atm.

The branch where you opened the account has messed that up by blocking it. Perhaps complete this form and try again. http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBankThai/Documents/Site%20Documents/iBanking/iBankingApplication.pdf You may be asked to show proof of address.

Any way either of these can affect my disability pension from USA? The idea is I will take walk-in lessons when I am able, and I volunteer when I am able. No way to have a set schedule in my life, but I would be buggered if SSDI said going to school or having a work visa is grounds for ending my pension.

I see no reason either one would effect your pension. You will not have a work visa you would have one for doing volunteer work. Not sure how they would ever know about it anyway.

If the SSA finds out you are working, that may be a problem come CDR time. It doesn't matter you are not being paid. Have you had a CDR yet?

Edited by BKKSnowBird

  • Author

If the SSA finds out you are working, that may be a problem come CDR time. It doesn't matter you are not being paid. Have you had a CDR yet?

Had one 3 years ago. Was so sick and the mail timing that I turned in no papers. Read on Internet that is ok to do as.burden of proof is on them. I received a letter saying that they did the review, did not find any evidence of me working, going to school, or improving, and I still get my benefits. I have more bad days than good, and as I read about SSDI and working, the site clearly states they recognize we all habe good days and might make a little money which is ok to a certain $ amount. School is looked at as being "work" because it has a schedule, but I could put in the review a letter from school that it is walk-in and private lessons. Just want to minimize risk and stress.

If you have not as yet opened a bank account in Thailand I would question the need for you to have one with the current FBAR and other reporting requirements while on disability pension and a 'work permit'.

Maybe if you got a US based account that reimburses foreign ATM transactions, you could go without any bank account in Thailand.

If you have not as yet opened a bank account in Thailand I would question the need for you to have one with the current FBAR and other reporting requirements while on disability pension and a 'work permit'.

Maybe if you got a US based account that reimburses foreign ATM transactions, you could go without any bank account in Thailand.

Why would that be a problem. I doubt he will have $10k or more in the bank.

He is not going to be paid so I cannot see how the work permit comes into the picture,

He could even have his payments direct deposited into his Bangkok Bank account via the NY branch.

If you have not as yet opened a bank account in Thailand I would question the need for you to have one with the current FBAR and other reporting requirements while on disability pension and a 'work permit'.

Maybe if you got a US based account that reimburses foreign ATM transactions, you could go without any bank account in Thailand.

Why would that be a problem. I doubt he will have $10k or more in the bank.

He is not going to be paid so I cannot see how the work permit comes into the picture,

He could even have his payments direct deposited into his Bangkok Bank account via the NY branch.

I do not pretend to know how SS disability operates but I personally would want to avoid any situation that mentions the word 'work' paid or otherwise. As for any bank implications, if he has no bank account in Thailand he then absolutely has nothing to worry about. For FBAR purposes and W-9 the Bangkok Bank NYC office is considered a foreign bank not a domestic bank.

... and I definitely do not have SS payments deposited directly to a foreign bank Bangkok Bank included but have the funds deposited to a US bank and then I transfer them if I so choose to my Bangkok Bank account.

Edited by JLCrab

If you have not as yet opened a bank account in Thailand I would question the need for you to have one with the current FBAR and other reporting requirements while on disability pension and a 'work permit'.

Maybe if you got a US based account that reimburses foreign ATM transactions, you could go without any bank account in Thailand.

Why would that be a problem. I doubt he will have $10k or more in the bank.

He is not going to be paid so I cannot see how the work permit comes into the picture,

He could even have his payments direct deposited into his Bangkok Bank account via the NY branch.

I do not pretend to know how SS disability operates but I personally would want to avoid any situation that mentions the word 'work' paid or otherwise. As for any bank implications, if he has no bank account in Thailand he then absolutely has nothing to worry about. For FBAR purposes and W-9 the Bangkok Bank NYC office is considered a foreign bank not a domestic bank.

... and I definitely do not have SS payments deposited directly to a foreign bank Bangkok Bank included but have the funds deposited to a US bank and then I transfer them if I so choose to my Bangkok Bank account.

I made no mention of the New York branch being considered a US bank. I have not been asked for a W-9.

I have my SS payment direct deposited to my Bangkok Bank account. Works great for me. No need to deal with a US bank to get my money sent to me.

You are not on a SS disability pension one of the the principal requisites I believe is the inability to work.

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