Bob

(Some or all of the following comments may relate to US citizens only) Because the term ended on my fixed-term account I keep at SCB (Siam Commercial Bank) for retirement visa/extension purposes, I renewed a new fixed-term account today and, as part of the process, had to fill out a W-9 (standard US form titled "Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification") and another internal SCB form (titled partially in English: "Form for Declaration of Status as U.S. Person or Non-U.S. Person). It was no big deal but obviously is part of compliance by the bank with the FATCA legislation. I'm guessing SCB will require all US citizens (and perhaps some others) attempting to open an account to fill out at least one of the forms. As noted, it was easy and was handled routinely and quickly. Contrary to a few of the "sky-is-falling" folk who were basically predicting that Thai banks would no longer deal with US citizens, it appears that all that will change is the addition of a new form or two.

Heck, he might be referring to me. I have the mind of a 12-year-old although my body is the same age as biguybi's!

A lot of the disagreement stems from some people's terminology of what a "visa" really is or isn't. Some say it's permission to enter a country, others say it's both permission to enter and permission to stay, and others say it's simply a permission to stay. Immigration (or at least the officers I've talked to) think of it as permission to stay or be here. For those who only ascribe to the first definition (a visa is only permission to enter), I obtained years ago a Non-Immigrant O (90-day) visa (and, yes, that's exactly what the stamp is labelled) at immigration here in Thailand after being here for a month on a Tourist Visa issued in the US. So I'd guess that particular immigration office subscribes to the second or third definition only. I hear tourists all the time say they obtained a "30-day visa" at the airport. I understand what they are saying and have no need at all to carp at them that "No you don't! You don't have a visa at all. What you have is an exemption."

Correct terminology in some situations is indeed preferred; on the other hand, as long as there is no confusion, insistence on the "expert falang" terminology sometimes baffles me. Nobody that I know of that has what the experts call a "one-year extension based on retirement" calls it anything other than a retirement visa....and none of us are confused by the terminology. And I refer to the "expert falang" terminology as it's typically only those "experts" who get their feathers bunched up when another falang doesn't follow the specified words. As I've noted elsewhere, I asked a couple of immigration officers whether my stamp (the one that allows me to stay here for another year) is a "retirement visa" or an "extension of stay." The first officer responded "same same." After hearing that, I mentioned that some falang get a bit irritated when other falang refer to it as a "retirement visa" versus an "extension of stay." Both officers chuckled while the second officer said "falang baa" (and he made it clear he wasn't referring to me).

No, there's no need really to stay in Thailand for any given length of time; however: (1) While this isn't currently a problem for you (you have a multi-reentry permit), everybody needs to remember that they need a reentry permit whenever they leave or their retirement visa (one-year extension based on retirement) is null and void upon exiting the country. (2) You don't have to do the 90-day report unless you're here 90 days in a row. For example, if you leave the country every 89 days, you never have to do one. Every time you re-enter Thailand, you're 90-day time period for address reporting starts anew. For example, I just got back September 3rd so I'll have to go do my 90-day report by December 3rd (actually, I can do it 15 days before or 7 days after the date). (3) You have to renew your retirement visa (or, some would say, obtain a new extension of stay) before it expires. You can do this up to 30 days prior to the expiration date. (4) My only concern (which may not be a real concern for you, I'm not sure) is that I have to show some proof of residency to obtain my one-year extension here in Chiangmai. I have shown a copy of my lease in the past and that's been sufficient. Others, I'm told, show a copy of their yellow book (or whatever it is shows they own a condo) or, I've heard, even a recent utility bill showing your name and address. So, if a given person is hardly ever here or only stays in hotels when one's here, I'm not sure how one could comply with this requirement (which may vary depending on where one lives in Thailand). I do note that you said you rent a condo; if so, a copy of a current lease would certainly be sufficient anywhere. You note that you're initial extension of stay is for 15 months. I'm guessing that you obtained a Non-Immigrant O which was good for 90 days and at the same time you obtained your one-year extension based on retirement which became effective (started) when your 90-day deal expired. That's how I did it too in the beginning but annually you'll only get one-year extensions at a time. I'm not sure if I've answered Chillout's question as it seems a bit confusing to me.

What is saddest to me is that almost all Thais don't really give a damn. Reminds me of the few Thais I asked in a neutral fashion what they thought about the 2006 military coup. The standard answer was: "It's not my business." Of course, I find the proceedings exceedingly distasteful because I was raised with those crazy foreign views that democracy is the best (but not perfect) avenue to choose a government, the military must be totally subservient to the civilian government, everyone is entitled to free speech (about everybody) and freedom of assembly, and other silly falang ideas.

Whoops....sorry for missing the "mai toh" (tone mark) over the first letter. Didn't notice it before. Yes, it's wise to pay attention to the tones (and tone marks) although very often even Thais don't pronounce them very well until near the end of a sentence.

I voted "full time" although I do spend up to 4 months a year (i.e., summers) back in the US.

Heck, "somtom" or "somtam (with the "tam" sounding like "tom") is how most Thais would spell in English the infamous "somtam" salad, famous all over Thailand but essentially one of the basic food groups in Isaan. I'd guess that's the simple answer as to why the owners chose that name. In Thai, it's spelled "สมตำ" and refers only to the infamous Thai pounded salad made with green (not so ripe) papaya.

I'm not sure what you mean by "submitting" photos. In any event, if (not sure) you're talking about the photo that shows up to the left of your posts, you do that yourself in the account settings. Click the little down arrow next to your name (upper right on the page) and then go to My Settings. I think the photo deal is at the top of the list.

As a matter of fairness, Michael, there was nothing in my post that expressly or impliedly suggested that the information is "useless." But perhaps I could re-phrase part of what I said by simply noting that my favorite wealthy friends are those who don't feel the need to continually remind me of their status.

At some point in the future, it would be nice to see an elected (the underlining is for stress) leader in Thailand stand up and publicly proclaim that the military is totally subservient to the elected government and that any new coup makers will be treated with the proper criminal charge (i.e., treason). The notion that these military thugs have any right to cancel an old constitution or draft a new one to their pleasing is simply ludicrous to me. Sadly (this being said clearly from my western point of view), essentially nobody in Thailand has the balls to even suggest that these boneheads are doing anything wrong.

I don't know who you're hanging around in Thailand but I totally disagree with you. Thais in general don't suffer bad food (which is why it's such a good idea to go eat where all the Thais eat) and I have yet to meet one who has ever given me any indication that smell trumps taste. I'm almost guessing that the Thais you've heard this from are misusing some English words or you've failed to pick up what they've really meant.

I'll let others debate whether it is or isn't a "stupid" question; however, I'm wondering more as to why the OP would want to know if I or others ever bareback. Aussibi?

Michael, I happen to disagree and agree with Joeblo's comments. On the one hand, I resent the hell out of anybody telling me or anyone else how much I should tip, that I tip too much, or, worst of all, the really lame (my opinion) occasional comment on the boards that "you're ruining it for the rest of us!" So, in my view, it's none of Joeblo's or anybody else's business as to how much you, me or anyone else tips. I probably tip more than average but that's because I choose to do it and it's nobody else's business. On the other hand, I don't have a habit of dropping information about how much I paid for something, how much I tipped somebody, what 5-star hotel I stayed in, how many gabillion suitcases I have, etc., etc. Your intent may be purely innocent but providing that kind of information oftentimes doesn't come across very well. But, as they say, up to you.

As noted, some of you have said your "bit elsewhere" and, given Neal was not a poster here (or at least not a regular poster), what's the point of rehashing all that on this board? Please....just a request.....keep the praising/trashing of him or each other elsewhere.

Damn, you're tempting retaliation from two fronts there. The New "Yawkers" might string you up for suggesting they have anything to do with Jersey. And, as for those in New Jersey, their horizontally-challenged governor might either sit on you or close one of your bridges (hmmmm.....do they actually have bridges in Texas and, if so, do they all slant to the right?).

Would somebody staying at a hotel in Thailand at the moment ask the hotel desk what exchange rate they're offering to purchase/sell US dollars and/or British pounds and/or euros? Would be interesting to see what the current spread may be.

Hmmm.....I didn't know about the Hunger Games thing. I thought the three-finger salute was simply camouflage...

Hate to keep this thread going but you still haven't responded to the question posed - why, given his claimed purpose, did Snowden release any information regarding US spying on non-US citizens. As for spying at the UN or spying involving other world leaders, I certainly hope NSA is doing that! That's the kind of stuff which I consider to be legitimate national security.

None of usl can cite decisions by the FISA courts as those proceedings are entirely secret! But would note: (1) I share some of the same concerns you have regarding what the US is doing with respect to its own citizens and I'd like to see a open investigation by Congress to hopefully discover exactly what is happening and, then, having a healthy debate as to whether what they've done is legal and/or whether we (the citizens) want them to be doing that. As you may know, the administration is expressly saying that only "metadata" has been collected with respect to US citizens and that no actual content of telephone calls or emails has actually been collected, listened to, or heard (with some exceptions - where court orders have been issued and/or where the NSA collected the information on foreign soil and it just happened that the foreigner was communicating with a US citizen). Well, I'm with you in that I don't particularly trust any government to tell us the whole truth so a fair and open investigation ought to occur. (2) You (Khun Khortose), are attempting to slide off the question posed. It's not at all illegal for the US, for example, to listen in to phone calls occurring in Europe, Asia, or wherever (that's not to say I approve of it). We know (or let's assume it's true) that the NSA was listening in to the phone calls of the leaders of Brazil, Germany, etc. Okay, given Snowden's alleged claim as to why he's taken the actions he's taking (to alert the American people as to what the NSA is doing to American citizens), please explain why Snowden would tell anybody about the foreign activities. I watched the entire Snowden interview (and parts of it more than once). While Snowden seemed to be sincere in most of what he said, I personally didn't buy parts of it. And, although Brian Williams is a nice guy, I personally thought he did a lousy job of interviewing Snowden. If the interview was just a platform to allow Snowden to have his say, then, okay, I'd think Williams did a good job; however, if Williams thought he was in any manner playing the role of a cross-examiner as to Snowden's obviously rehearsed lines, he failed miserably in my opinion.

Well, we part company on that issue. I think it's extremely important that we know that what allies are saying to our face is the same thing they're saying in private. If the US has the ability to listen in on phone calls of every world leader, I'd consider it malpractice if we didn't do it. Not all these "allies" have always been allies (and, if history is any judge of it, some of them likely won't be again). And, although I have no proof of it, I'd be rather dumbfounded if all other countries (including allied countries) who have the ability to do so aren't doing the same thing themselves. But this is a side issue and perhaps you could explain the justification for Snowden allowing the release of that information. It's not very consistent with his claimed purpose for all of this (to alert the American people as to what their government is doing to them).

Geez, there's just a slight difference between a politician not fulfilling promises made on the campaign trail (especially when he ended up with a Congress that wouldn't approve anything) and somebody violating an oath such as Snowden took. Of course, I'm using a whole lot of understatement when I say a "slight difference." What I also don't understand at all is why Snowden released information about what the NSA is doing outside the US (listening to phone calls other world leaders are making, for example). Releasing that type of information is not at all consistent with his claim that his only interest is to encourage a healthy debate about and/or changes to US governmental snooping on its own citizens.

For some, Orion is somewhat difficult to find when all one knows is that it's part of the Kalare/Galare food center on the east (river) side of Chang Klan road in the middle of the regular night market. It's easier to find if one knows it is located on the north side of Soi 6, Chang Klan, almost immediately opposite the Le Spice restaurant.

I'm a bit dumbfounded by what seems to be the one-sided (black or white) views (he's a "hero" or "patriot" versus he's a "traitor") regarding Snowden. Subject to learning something else about his motives, I don't view him as a "traitor" given it currently appears that he disclosed most (but not all) information so as to inform US citizens as to what he felt were unconstitutional invasions of privacy by the government (NSA). I say "most" there as I totally disagree with his releasing any information about what the NSA was doing outside the United States. But I have difficulty considering him a "hero" given I don't believe he made substantial efforts to release the information here in the US (i.e., as of yet, I don't find his statements on that issue to be credible) and, additionally, rather than stand his ground for his beliefs (as, say, Daniel Ellsberg did), he ran. He took a fairly serious oath of secrecy and he knowingly violated it and for that he ought to pay (although, if I was the sentencing judge, I'd tend to be fairly lenient absent learning something new about his motives and/or finding out that his actions caused substantial harm to some people).