Best usages and practices in Thailand

As a business owner in Thailand operating a small but global company employing 10 plus Thai nations, it is important to know to you will never ever be anything else but an expat and a complete outsider in Thailand. No matter what your international standing is.

You are completely disposable. So understanding this basic principle you can maneuver and do international business here.

I have one solution to a problem. I have a US and International drivers license. Often because I am Farang the police check points pull me over, on my motor bike. Many have the tendency to extract a donation. I now have two Thai drivers licenses. It's funny to see the occasional disappoint when I present my Thai drivers licenses.

Also keep your TM 30 stuff straight. In the Chiang Mai District they are doing over kill with TM 30 violations.

No matter what, even however wrong some one is, never raise your voice.

I work in a Law office and it surprises me how many people come to Thailand and then try to make a business here to suit western ideals. It is obvious to me that they never do their due diligence or their math. They have a dream but in Thailand it is not easy to realise that dream if you do not do your homework. There are many pitfalls and so be prepared. If you do make a business then Thailand can be very rewarding and then you will reap the benefits and start to accumulate assets. Like a condo, house, car, money in the bank.

Then you need to know how to protect your assets. Again if you dont do this properly you will loose them.

Everything you do in a foreign country needs to be legally structured and contracted to protect everyone.

So many foreigners do not have a Will to protect their assets and their distribution to heirs should something happen to them.

People say they are to young to die, however many young foreigners die in Thailand each week, from a variety of reasons.

When there is no Will then the legal nightmare begins.

I specialise in International Probate and deal with many countries in different languages, therefore I know the difficulties these unexpected events bring.

Death in another country is not someone wants to think about and so thankfully there is the internet so that a friend or relative can get useful information and HELP should an event like this occur. Look on the internet and bookmark us -

Black Jack where are you located and your contact information.

Hi
not sure I can post this so here goes Thai888 Law Company

all info is here

we work all over Thailand

thanks

So far, I've found that it's best to keep a positive mindset and sense of humor.
Yes, some attractions cost more for foreigners than for locals, and so on. Just accept it about Thailand, it is still a wonderful place, though not perfect.

In Bangkok anyway, rather than crossing a busy street (and risking life & limb!), first look to see if mass transit (BTS etc) have already built a tunnel or bridge over the road in question, normally toll-free and often with air con.

Interesting.  I'm in Chiangmai and in 2 years plus never stopped at checkpoint.   They only check windshield stickers.

Hi Bill,
What do u mean by MT30

Excuse me that was TM 30. The new law in Thailand is that they want to travel all "visitors". Immigration requires that they know everywhere you stay in Thailand, I guess in which you are paying for the lodging. Every commercial lodging place is required to report to immigration your entry and depart dates. Every landlord is required to report to immigration your lease. Supposedly if you leave one area and stay commercially in another and then return to your point of origin, you have to report to immigration. All of this is done on a TM 30 for of the government. Failure to comply is a 1,600 baht fine, of course payable to immigration. Immigration seems to be enjoying collecting money. I presented my lease as documentation that I did not have a TM 30 violation and they refused to accept my lease as valid documentation. I was livid.

Thanks for the reply and  the comprehensive info.

I suspect this is a long term thing, re the TM30. When I was there for a couple of weeks and just scribbled the name of my hotel in Bangkok on the immigration form without the address.

This is not a Thai thing, many countries require this of their visitors.

The TM 30 is semi new to Thailand. Within the past six months the Chiang Mai district has used it to bring large amounts of revenue. (This process is for those, I'm somewhat guess, who are staying in excess of 90 days, when one reports to immigration.) A I understand it the fine was supposed to be paid by the owner of the property. As is the case many property owners refused to pay it and in order to be in compliance the Farang ended up paying for it. This is even reaching back 10 years when a long term resident didn't have to deal with the TM 30. But immigration in it's wisdom has found a new way to generate revenue on the backs of Farangs. To some extent it is back firing. Farangs are now moving out of the Chiang Mai district or moving to move visa friendly countries. Yes, this process is something of a world wide process, but for now immigration is using to make money.