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is Thailand's online newsletter read by  expats and foreigners living in Thailand and neighbouring countries. It is the only such visa guide to border openings and up to date info on companies, immigration laws and changes to various laws in Thailand. It is also a source of useful information on dos and don'ts if you are in business in Thailand 

NEWS FOR 2002 APRIL
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ALL BORDERS ARE OPEN Mae Sai IS ALIVE AGAIN?For info call (053) 277-510 ChiangMai or (053) 731-008Mae Sai (055)563-002-4 Immigration close: 6-8th April for Memorial Day & 13-16th April for Songkran.

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BUYING IN TACHELIK & BRINGING BACK TO MAE SAI : Beware when buying goods over the border in Tachelik & please don't listen to vendors as its rubbish.  There is a duty free? liquour shop down the alley before the Myanmar passport entry Office. They say you can buy as many bottles as you like but you can only buy and take back 2 bottles. If you take more you will be fined 1000 baht per bottle plus have the lot confiscated. Cigarettes are max 2 cartons as well but again buy at the Duty free and always ask for a Tax receipt with their name on it and stamped. If not refuse to buy from the shop. This is a racket between the Customs and the shop but check the rules with customs before you travel across as some people have been jailed the night even buying the cigarettes in Tachelik? The jails are not comfortable here.

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CHANGING BAHT TO US DOLLARS: The Banks say a maximum of $US600 can be changed and they will try to give you all $100 bills. If going to Cambodia check all the bills so that they are OK---no rips in them as they will not be accepted. Money changes in Thailand make all sorts of excuses not to change high denomination bills for smaller ones so you can get stuck with these. Also keep away from 1989 and 1990 $1000 bills as many banks in Thailand may refuse to take them (counterfeits). 

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MAE SAI: If caught with extra goods coming across the border by customs and you ask for the Tourist Police they will inevitably say they are at a Conference in ChiangRai or elsewhere. They only want to extort money from you. Stay cool but insist and you will find the fine at the start will inevitably drop. Keep these numbers handy as you never know when you will need them. Tourist Police  ring ChiangRai: 053-717-779 or 053 717-796. ChiangMai 053 248-130 & 053 248-974 Mae Hong Son 053 611-812. If on the Highway and you need help Tel: 1193 

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SHOULD YOU HELP AT A ROADSIDE ACCIDENT: being a good samaritan may not be as good as it sounds. A foreigner who helped a certain road accident victim get to hospital found out when the patient woke up that this same person said he lost a gold rolex and relieved of his 2 baht Gold necklace. The accident victim concocted the story.  The foreigner got the blame and the foreigner had to pay even though this foreigner rolled up to the accident site 10 minutes after it happened. Should you help???

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COMPANY SOCIAL WELFARE TAX: All  companies in Thailand must be registered to pay welfare tax for your employees monthly and yourself on work permits. This means you need to pay monthly tax based on 3% earnings of yourself who is on a work permit and employees with 3% government fees. basically it will cover yourself and employees for medical for the year including free dental care. You can also choose the hospital in your area. Make sure this is done as you will be issued with ID card for health services and is basically a health plan for you. If on a work permit then you must have this.

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NIGERIAN SCAMMERS: Now they have there own page on our website: [ Scams ]

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NEWS FOR 2002 MAY
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ALL BORDERS ARE OPEN For info call (053) 277-510 ChiangMai or (053) 731-008 Mae Sai (055)563-002-4 Immigration close: 6-8th April for Memorial Day & 13-16th April for Songkran.

NEW COMPANIES: We received a directive that new Thai Companies were to show their share registration capital in money terms. This came into effect on 15th May 2002. However briefly this system cannot work as many foreigners do not have company accounts so the Commercial Registration Office now says for Companies increasing their share capital they must show this money in the bank ONLY.That means if you increase your share capital from 1m baht to 2m baht this money must be in your account.  Some foreign owned Thai companies are being told they must run at a profit when in fact they are running at a loss. This is not good news.

YOUR YEARLY AUDIT: All companies have untill the end of the month to file there yearly audit. Approx costs range from 8500 baht to 15,000 baht. In Chiangmai as well as other areas of Thailand some audit companies have been auditing over the maximum of companies eg. 300 companies is the limit. This has mean't late comers have had to go to other audit companies to fill their yearly returns which means finding a reputable audit company. The Thailand tax department are now looking closely at foreign based companies. 

USING A COMPANY TO BUY YOUR HOUSE & LAND: This has been one of the easiest ways to buy a house in ones own Company name. Bear in mind that foreign ownership is still limited to 39% it is a convenient way to safeguard your house using a company. However you must pay taxes each year and also you now must carry on some sort of business as you may be faced with a penalty. This means you cannot continually run your company at a loss and the company must also be doing something in the way of business not just for owning a house for convenience.

NONIMMIGRANT VISAS FROM VIENTIANE & SINGAPORE: Are limited to one entry but again have all the paperwork ready and letter from the company employing you. As usual all consulates close to Thailand apart from Penang will not grant multiple visas. The further you go from Thailand the easier it is including the retirement visa which is now 50 years when you can apply for a non immigrant "O" visa but only at a Thai Embassy abroad.

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NEWS FOR 2002 JUNE
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The Burmese borders are all closed until further notice: Ranong, Mae Sai & Mae Sot.

NON IMMIGRANT VISAS IN PENANG: You need the following documents when applying for a multiple non immigrant B visa. 1/. 2 photos; 2/. Company papers with memorandum and shareholders list including tax certificate 3/. Resume of the person applying; 4/. Letter of invitation from your company 5/. your work permit & copy of .6/. copies of your passport & passport stamp. Apply only in the morning 9-12PM then pick up next day 3pm but if you decide to take the 2.40pm train back to Bangkok next day ask them if you can pick up at 11.30am next day & this will be on your receipt. This allows you plenty of time to get to the Ferry terminal. Take Bus 7 or 136 which will drop you by the street where the Embassy is. Directly across from the outgoing bus stop cross the road to catch the ingoing bus.   1.05 ringit Bus 7 & 95 ringit Bus 136 takes you to Immigration and you can catch on Penang Road or at Komtar Bus Station. Taxis are always at Thai Immigration too & no queues now due to many countries not allowed a visa. The Buses will take you right to the ferry. Price for a taxi 8-10 ringit one way. Cheap, safe Chinese Hotel White House Hotel 25 ringit a might right on Penang Road but popular with expats & near zero backpackers. Across the road are more up market Hotels but here you are central to everything. if you need to see the city and want the pleasure of a trishaw go to the Bayview Hotel at the end of Penang Rd & ask for Koopu Sami and Indian trishaw driver. He is honest, dresses in new white sneakers, t shirt & denim jeans Koopu will show you any sights you want without ripping you off --- mention our boss's name Tama (Kiwi NZ) as they have known each other for 35 years.

LABOUR OFFICE ON THE WARPATH: Some readers have mentioned being told to make a profit in their Thai companies. A bit hard if you can't & if told to cook the books you could be in for even more trouble. Also having work permits revoked due to withdrawing and topping up businesses with their Visa cards? Strange as it might sound please make sure you use a proper accountant for your books who also has an auditor for you. Ask these questions as you may be sorry later when they fine you. This is important. Yearly audits will cost around 8500 baht up to 20,000 baht which is far too steep but which many will try to charge you.

If you have any questions feel free to ask us. We are here to be of service to you our Thai Visa News readers. Our thanks to Asia Trading Post Co Ltd our sponsers.

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