Stay on the Main Street. It’s just like home. MACDONALD’s, Starbucks, Dominos, KFC etc. Prices are around double US. If you want to see the real Thailand and real Thai food and people about 100 kms south of Chiang Mai is a good place to stay.

@Kool ******

of the marriages you attended and saw the dowry what amounts were there. The most I have seen Thai/Thai is 100k and 1 baht gold. I have also seen 9000 baht. Interested to know.

So sod is still payable in some areas of Thailand. However it is usually around 6 to 10k baht and maybe 1 baht of gold. The gold is better as you can actually see it around your wife’s neck. Cash tends to be spent by the family with the attitude plenty more where that came from. The higher rate of sinsod is usually paid to educated (university degree) girls from a good family who are virgins. Virginity loss greatly devalues these girls in Thailand. They are unlikely to have Tatoos or even know what a bar is let alone worked in one.

If the girl is divorced with kids and a hostess background sinsod should be minimal. They will get nothing from a Thai so the families push them towards falangs in the hope of getting a new house or some security and a car. Good luck and tread carefully

My advice. If you are going to get divorced leave the country and get a 60 day tourist visa. Then come back in and get your divorce. You then have the balance of 60 days to decide what you want to do.

I think they want the signature from SA verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. It’s a double check. 1 the signature is genuine and 2 the fee paid has been remitted to Bangkok

I use Lloyds. Transferred my address from UK to Thailand and also changed to my Thai phone number. No problems

the school have to agree to your wife staying under your visa since they could be liable for any costs arising. You can’t get her on your visa without their agreement.

I would leave 1000 baht that will easily cover the annual 300 - 350 debit card charge which is the main reason accounts get closed.

Try Lazada or Shoppee. It’s easy to set up an account.

Technically yes but very few people have ever been asked to prove it!