Automatic two month Tax filing extension for US citizens living overseas

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien residing overseas, or are in the military on duty outside the U.S., on the regular due date of your return, you are allowed an automatic 2-month extension to file your return and pay any amount due without requesting an extension.
There is additional useful information on the above linked text.
If you had $10,000 or more in a foreign bank account at any time during 2018 You need to file a Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR).  Deadline for filing  FBAR is April 15. FBAR can be filed online สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Power Outages are a fact of life

Two power outages in recent days. 

One lasted a few hours. Even though it was quite hot I was able to keep comfortable with a portable usb fan.  I have an extra battery just in case.

During extreme hot days I take the fan with me to a football game

A mobile wifi and my laptop had plenty of power so I could continue watching television.

Some power outages occur at night.
It's a good idea to remember where you stored your flashlight.

When plugged in the charging indicator acts as a perfect nightlight

Experienced the longest power outage a few years back during the floods, slightly over 24 hours.

To date I have not seen the need to purchase a generator, on average outages last two to six hours.



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Visa Jitters diminished

Just renewed my yearly visa and starting my 17th year in Sakon Nakhon.  The process was a bit slower than usual. All officers had to step out for a photo opportunity which lasted a "Thai five minutes." 

The greatest delay was caused by multiple clerks processing with only one set of rubber stamps.  The fact that I'm not 100% recovered from bronchitis did not help my mood.

I do the monthly income method with no difficulty.  Even though all this recent visa news does not concern me, it's still unnerving, waiting till the other shoe drops: 

The recent financial requirement announcements most likely will be further modified since they are no cure for the money lender problems they are supposed to fix. The requirement has been enacted, but a procedure has not been clarified.

One source indicates the bankbook can not be in the name of the spouse, another source indicates joint accounts are acceptable
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Will it solve the problem or create more corruption?

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Will the balloon fly or get shot down ??

"... one of a number of measures being considered ..."
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Birthday greetings X4

Started early morning with a visit of one of the locals stopping by to collect a birthday present.

Early afternoon had a pleasant visit with mister Bob and wished his wife Kat a happy birthday.

In the evening I was the first to arrive for Dan's birthday party with free food and drink.  That gathering turned out to be very pleasant.  I stayed for a few hours, then rushed off to a final birthday bash in my own neighborhood.

190128 Dan's BD

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Of course we also played quiz night. the question was: "What grumpy old man also celebrated his birthday that day." It took a few additional hints till Dan remembered "TOM."


Facebook link ↴

 

"Proposed changes include abolishing 90-day reports and introducing 10-year visas for foreign retirees"

Superstar Cop ‘Big Joke’ on His Rise and 
Plans for Expats,Visas khaosodenglish
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Official Translation (in part)

"... police order 0029.173/Wor 4950 - titled  ‘Supporting evidence of income for visa extension in case of family members and retirement’.

I wonder whether the order needs to be published in the Gazette to become official, since this is not really a change in law, but rather a change in procedure. Time will tell.

Rumor has it there were some embassy letters with falsified information, and these may be the people departing Thailand.

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Night market video and more about insurance

   Amazing Food was back in town
  for another video
   of one of the city's night markets








  The news video is from earlier this week
  with the lead story being insurance

 Thailand Travel Shield insurance
 was introduced  a few years ago with the intent
 to require all tourists entering Thailand
 to have travel insurance.  Making it mandatory
 has not been enforced to date.
 TAT launches travel insurance Tuesday, July 29, 2014
 Shield travel insurance policy covers persons age 1 to 70. 

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181228 Did I get this one all wrong? Mandatory health insurance for expats in the making

The article is  O-A visa Specific.
The argument here is  my misconception I have had all these years that I was renewing my O-A visa yearly.  The yearly 'extension of stay is not a O-A visa, it is retirement extension: 'Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom.'
Based on this article insurance requirement is only for O-A visa which is only valid for one year Details are still being formulated. Will details remain O-A specific or address all long stay visas? 
The article has created over 31 pages of comments and questions at Thai Visa  
Insurance for foreigners had been tried under previous administrations, none seemed to have survived   
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Football, Christmas, and an anniversary

Had the option to attend three football games Saturday.  Took the first offer which was the U-15 game. Some of those players sure looked a lot older than 15.
These young guys played fiercer than their adult counterparts.  Quite a few injuries and a few referee reprimands

181222 U-15 Sakon 1 Mahasarakham 2

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Tha Rae Christmas Festival gets in high gear tonight Dec 23

TAT advertises the longest fireworks display ever this New Year

Celebrating one year without cigarettes today. Used to smoke two to three packs a day.

The trade off has been weight gain on 10 kilo.

Due to injuries I have to limit my exercise to avoid pain medications. I hope to get some help with the aid of a tens unit. Used on for many years during my working years.

My picture diary keeps on growing

Had planned to create a slideshow of 2018 when I realized that I still had quite a collection of unedited photo albums on my hard drive

Uploaded a series of pictures of a local temple to facebook which promptly  asked me to identify these characters. 

I do not identify any persons in my photos.  Facebook does that automatically, occasionally  it's wrong

It wasn't all that long ago (November 1st, 2016) that the U.S. government came out with a directive that you could no longer wear glasses for passport pictures.

Facial recognition software had problems identifying people with glasses. 

Still today at Thai 7-11 stores software has problems identifying faces with glasses.

Not too far in the future, you won't need a wallet. You can already board a plane without a boarding pass, facial recognition handles all the details, including charging the flight to your bank account. The challenge here will be identical twins.

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Christmas Rush at the US Embassy: Fifty dollar notarization stamp special. Embassy full day ends at 2 pm

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: <acsbkk@state.gov>
Date: Fri, Dec 14, 2018 at 3:03 PM
Subject: Message for U.S. Citizens: Notarial Day

  

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to offer a full-day of notarial services.

Date:  December 20, 2018.

Time:  0730-1400

Place: US Embassy Bangkok 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok

           

There will be approximately 400 notarial appointments available. All services will be provided by appointment only.  Please visit us here to make an appointment. 

Fees for notary services are $50.00 USD or 1700 Thai Baht per notarial stamp.

To expedite your service, please bring exact change or consider paying by credit card to facilitate the movement of people through their appointments.

Please arrive with your passport, a copy of your passport and documents filled-out completely, correctly, and NOT signed. Documents can be accessed through these links:  Notary– including Income Affidavits

New Facebook group : Expats in Sakon Nakhon

x
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Water level down slightly

August 3, 2018

August 15, 2018

December 3, 2018

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Horst Menzer Funeral Services

Had med Horst some years ago, but not for some time as he did not mingle much with other Expats and did not reside nearby. 

No shortage of friends as noted by the attendance at his funeral service. His ashes will be scattered on the Mekong river today.

Again it's apparent to point out to all expats, single or married, to have a 'last will and testament.'

If such documents are not available a body is not released until appropriate documents have been processed.  This can involve body storage and other fees.  Of course there may also be legal arguments as to who inherits your property.

It's important for expats to have two wills (testaments): One for your home country and one for the country of your residence 
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181109 Horst Menzer Funeral Services, Saturday 9 am, Cremation approx 11 am

at Wat Pha Suttawas 

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Horst Menzer deceased

Information is still somewhat sketchy at the moment. Horst died Saturday in the hospital, age 78. 
Will update as further information becomes available

Pictured on the left with Eddy in May of 2008

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Message for U.S. Citizens:

 

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to provide services in Udon Thani.

Date: 7 November 2018

Time:  12:00pm – 3:00pm  Venue: Centara Hotel & Convention Centre Udon Thani


Address: 277/1 Prajaksillapakhom Road, Amphur Muang, Udon Thani 41000, Thailand>Hotel phone: +66 (0) 4234 3555

E-mail: cud@chr.co.th

No appointment necessary, services are provided on a first come – first serve basis.

read entire notice at https://th.usembassy.gov/consular-outreach-udon-110718/
reสกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

US Embassy notice

NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2019, U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai will no longer provide the income affidavit. We will not notarize previous versions of the income affidavit. For more information, please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF 266KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 419KB). We will continue to notarize income affidavit forms through the end of 2018. Thai Immigration Bureau officials confirmed that they will support early visa renewals for U.S. citizens during the transition period. The income affidavits are currently valid for six months.
Embassy link
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