Stense commented : A tourist is a short time visitor on holiday, (in US, vacation), but in Thailand we are all "tourist/farang," in spite of having lived in the country for years!! In most other countries you get a resident permit, the best you can obtain in Thailand is the One year retirement permit , "work" and Expat.(if you qualify); who is the big spenders, those coming for two weeks or us taking in on an average Bath 100.000,00+ every month on a Thai bank account with 0% interest How many hundred thousand FOREIGNER have Thailand as their first home Thai Immigration can tell the Thai how much WE contribute with, understandably including HOW many Thai mouth each in this in other countries "Residents" feed BUT ARE THEY WILLING TO DO THAT, better is it persons on the FORUM who knows the figure? Each 3 months we are dealt with as "prisoner"on probation at The Immigration this in spite of having lived for years; Invested in property, spent the money we have saved in public and private pensions during long working days at home. Saving for our old age, in Thailand are suspicious individuals, as the Thai not do "same same" In front of an average immigration officer with a monthly salary of Bath 12.000,00 he /she is free to behave as an the Uniforms their power This officers harvest a huge income as money collectors, firstly for the country as well as their own pockets. Should not their clothing and behavior be accordingly How many, I indicated a "few hundred thousand" is to be found in the group I dear to name as "Resident " The Immigration office in Bangkok knows, they have copy of all individual files: Our Thai bank books, Certified income from our Embassy or Consulate, our health certificate, our residence a.s.o. Why do they not even dear to tell how many we are in this "one year" Retirement, Expat (work permit group) Tourism, 6% but is our contribution included

Sean Moran commented : [quote="Stense":3jh49m2o]A tourist is a short time visitor on holiday, (in US, vacation), but in Thailand we are all "tourist/farang," in spite of having lived in the country for years!! In most other countries you get a resident permit, the best you can obtain in Thailand is the One year retirement permit , "work" and Expat.(if you qualify); who is the big spenders, those coming for two weeks or us taking in on an average Bath 100.000,00+ every month on a Thai bank account with 0% interest How many hundred thousand FOREIGNER have Thailand as their first home Thai Immigration can tell the Thai how much WE contribute with, understandably including HOW many Thai mouth each in this in other countries "Residents" feed BUT ARE THEY WILLING TO DO THAT, better is it persons on the FORUM who knows the figure? Each 3 months we are dealt with as "prisoner"on probation at The Immigration this in spite of having lived for years; Invested in property, spent the money we have saved in public and private pensions during long working days at home. Saving for our old age, in Thailand are suspicious individuals, as the Thai not do "same same" In front of an average immigration officer with a monthly salary of Bath 12.000,00 he /she is free to behave as an the Uniforms their power This officers harvest a huge income as money collectors, firstly for the country as well as their own pockets. Should not their clothing and behavior be accordingly How many, I indicated a "few hundred thousand" is to be found in the group I dear to name as "Resident " The Immigration office in Bangkok knows, they have copy of all individual files: Our Thai bank books, Certified income from our Embassy or Consulate, our health certificate, our residence a.s.o. Why do they not even dear to tell how many we are in this "one year" Retirement, Expat (work permit group) Tourism, 6% but is our contribution included [/quote:3jh49m2o] I have a spare hankerchief if you need to borrow it...

JPWard commented : My Girlfriend is a teacher in the "New International School Thailand" Asoke and they are linked with Bath University UK and teach I-GCSE. I may be biased but I am forever hearing of special events that reflect both Thai and other Cultures as well as issuing all studients with a table pc making lessons homework more organised! Studients are from UK, America, Japan, Austrillia, Thailand, India to name but a few...... Johny