Michael ******

Depends what you are driving, if it’s a car a license in English is fine for up to three months, if it’s a motorbike you need an IDP so they can see if you are licensed to drive a bike. Tourists renting cars at the airport are not required to have an IDP, and you are very unlikely to get pulled over in a car in any case.

10 months ago

What are the best visa options for an American wanting to bring his Thai girlfriend to the USA?

Michael *******

Consular officials , assuming you get past the gatekeepers , will work on the assumption that she will do a runner once she is in the US. Your challenge will be to convince them that ain’t going to happen, lots of sound ideas in earlier threads that you need to package together. Good luck.

10 months ago

What are some recommendations for places to stay near Phuket Airport with good nightlife?

Michael *******

@Henrik ****

not yesterday it wasn’t 🤔

10 months ago

Can I use financial products like CDs to meet the 800K baht requirement for retirement in Thailand?

Michael *******

I use SCB Easi Pass offers 2.5% and acceptable to Immig even though there is no passbook all online bank provides letter and statement

10 months ago

What are the options and considerations for insurance when living or traveling in Thailand?

Michael *******

break the bank but for something serious it expensive to provides piece of mind, if you are coming here to live different discussion there a numerous policies avail for long term expats most of which can be tailored to your needs

10 months ago

What are the options and considerations for insurance when living or traveling in Thailand?

Michael *******

If you are traveling on vacation it is sensible to take out travel insurance , a hospital visit won’t break the h

10 months ago

Are gifts up to 20 million baht from foreigners to their Thai spouses exempt from tax?

Michael *******

@Ben ****

dangerous assumption - remittances are visible under Common Reporting Standards and penalties and back taxes can be painful it’s a personal choice whether to pay taxes as it is in any other country - getting caught is another matter and social media is certainly not the kind of forum to discuss tax evasion

10 months ago

Are gifts up to 20 million baht from foreigners to their Thai spouses exempt from tax?

Michael *******

@Kenny ****

they won’t deduct tax at source if you are a tax resident 180 days in a calendar year you are obliged to file a tax return and declare remittances and pay tax unless there is a DTA and you have paid tax in your home country - or you can ignore and hope you don’t get caught but all remittances are visible to authorities.

10 months ago

Are gifts up to 20 million baht from foreigners to their Thai spouses exempt from tax?

Michael *******

@Kenny ****

yes from 2024

10 months ago

Will US tourists need authorization to visit Thailand starting December 24, 2024?

Michael *******

@Randy *****

it’s called declining birth rate , Singapore and Australia are effectively socialist and they have fully automated immigration, UK is now socialist and I don’t see them getting rid of e-gates - reality is jobs like this will disappear due to lack of people to fill them it’s called progress 🤔

10 months ago