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LOL...GOP stands for grand old party and refers to the Republicans. Gary is obviously a staunch one and likes to take a poke at the Democrats whenever he can. BugD took the bait and fired back. But, as James Bond above said, no point bickering. However I have little hope that the bickering will ever stop.

You mean obtain an address like that and declare residency in that state? Such as Washington, with no state income taxes. Is it legal, do you know? And do you happen to know the name of one of these outfits?

It's clear to me, I hope it is becoming clear to you. If you had done a post anything like what I did above then no followup would have been needed at all. You are beginning to sound like a sore loser...why? What matters is that something important to some people was cleared up. This wasn't a competition of any sort, and I wasn't criticizing you.

You may be able to get away by renting a box at one of the private mail businesses. You just use a "suite number" and a street address, so no post office box appears in the address. Of course, someone will have to pick up your mail regularly. As for Scottrade, it is a cheap company and, what is worse, it behaves cheaply. I thought of opening an account with them many years ago, but after I talked to the branch manager I got the sense that they are rigid a--holes with no sense of accommodation for individual needs. I walked away. You are better off without them.

This post was split off from “International Transfers” because it really had little to do with transferring money. It explains in brief the reporting requirements for U.S. citizens who hold financial assets in other countries. FBAR (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) FinCEN Report 114 This what I was talking about with MM. EVERY US citizen has to file this report if they hold more than $10,000 in foreign accounts. This applies to expats also – the limit is the same for everyone. It is NOT filed with the IRS. I will provide a link which explains more. It is filed electronically and

Both of us were guilty of writing without having all the info. Expats ARE required to file FBAR if they hold more than $10,000. I am creating a separate thread - this has little to do with the present thread. I will include basic information, as well as a link for you - or anyone - to verify the information. It can be useful to other US citizens living here.

I am not finding the info you are referring to. Maybe go through that page whose URL I gave above...it has some numbers and email info if you want to know more about FBAR? Since I am not in the expat category I am not looking into it too deeply. The same page has the following para, with no reference to expats not having to file FBAR with a higher than $10000 level: "For non-resident U.S. taxpayers presenting a low compliance risk, the IRS implemented new streamlined filing compliance procedures effective September 1, 2012. The procedures are designed for non-resident U.S. citizens, incl

US law is pretty draconian in that respect. I can use stronger terms to describe it, but it won't strengthen the argument. US citizens always have to file their tax returns - in other words report income and pay tax on it, wherever they are. Unless they are exempt for specific reasons. Even if they are taxed by another country on the same income. If there is an agreement with a country on avoiding double taxation then they may not have to pay that tax. And there is another way of avoiding double taxation, but there is no getting away from reporting to Uncle Sam. If you are living on savings

I did see it. Does it invalidate anything I said...it doesn't look like that to me? Here is a link to the IRS page on FBAR. It seems it was always around, and a new version was recently introduced. Sorry, I have just reproduced the hyperlink. http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Report-of-Foreign-Bank-and-Financial-Accounts-FBAR For myself, I am going to depend on my IRS filing to meet the provisions of this form. (The IRS has asked the $10,000 question in previous years too.) I am not going to worry about that FATCA thing. You should do your own rese

From what I have read, you will need to start the process all over - 1 year license, etc. They give a year's grace period. But I would wait to see what other board members have to say based on their experience. Sometimes the "rules" that we see on websites - which is where I got my info - are not exactly what happens on the ground.

OK, that's the answer I was looking for. So it looks like it IS possible to get a 5 year license with a tourist visa. I guess I will roll the dice and see what turns up!

I think you will need to do some more research, or perhaps hire Gary's accountant for a year. It is very easy to get lost while using something like Turbotax, or some other self tax filing system. I have been using those forever, and still find myself getting sidetracked every now amd then. From what I can tell, FATCA mostly impacts institutions - foreign institutions. I will not swear to it, but this seems to be the law that, among other provisions, forces foreign banks to report US citizens' desposits. Quote below from ThomsonReuters: "Who does it impact? While FATCA certainly affects

Just to make sure, do you mean they gave you a 5-year driving license while you were here on a 1, 2 or 3 entry toursit visa?

Thanks...but this is what one website has to say about it: "According to a number of web boards and "all about Thailand" booklets the only way to get a 5 year driving permit is to let the old licence expire first and report to the DLT a day late. "Nonsense!", we've been told and proven."

Has anyone with a tourist visa been able to obtain a 5-year driving license? I am getting inconclusive info on the web, and a search on here did not do much to resolve the issue. On top of which a long-time resident told me that the driving license office does not really care about a tourist visa and will grant a 5-year license after the initial one-year temporary license is close to expiration.

If a person does not have a work or retirement visa, then most bank managers ask for the residency letter from immigration. It involves putting together some paperwork and a 300-baht (these days) bribe, but it is pretty easy to get. The letter itself is supposed to be valid for a month, but I have used an old one to open an account. On a more humorous note, one time I wanted to open an account at the government bank. I did not have a residency letter and it was not important enough to make the trek to immigration. Instead, I stopped by at the bank branch every few days and praised the (wom

The answer is probably somehere on the board, but I couldn't find it. A friend made me nervous by saying that there are restrictions on issuing back-to-back tourist visas by consulates/embassies. Granted her knowledge was third-hand, but thought I'd check. To clarify, if I obtain a three-entry tourist visa, then go back and apply for another after the third segment has ended, will the consulate require a gap in between? This is with specific reference to the U.S. Haven't found anything on the consuate website, but still want to make sure. Thanks.

Thanks for the info...a point or two I want to clarify. You opened the Bangkok Bank account here in Pattaya? So when you asked your US bank to transfer funds to Bangkok Bank in New York, you used the account number given to you in Pattaya? Sometimes they ask for an address - you gave the New York address? Did your US bank ask for a routing number or anything like that?

Is the operator a woman? A thrust-worthy woman would be enchanting.

Where is it?

I am not sure what your first question is asking. Taking a stab at it, almost all international flights depart and arrive Tom Bradley, or Terminal B. I do not think you can go from domestic to international without passing security. There are seven or eight terminals at LAX, and they are not connected., though they are next to each other. So if you flew in on United, you arrive at Terminal 7. If you are taking EVA out, you have to go to Terminal B, which means exiting 7 and taking a shuttle.

Renovation at LAX's Tom Bradley terminal, or Terminal B, has finally ended it seems. After years of tramping through dismal corridors, the departure portion, seen below, looks more like modern airports. Not sure what Arrivals is like. The walkways are lined with the usual expensive stores, and there is a food court with several vendors. The images below are of the walkways, with one of the food court, and another of the gate waiting area..

I looked it up...it's called kopi luwak and is the most expensive coffee in the world. It's not your domestic cat that processes it, but a civet, which eats the berries, and passes the bean out. I have never seen it around, but evidently a cup costs $30 in the US. Someone is shitting me, at that price.

If you just want coffee then, yes, McDonald's has vastly improved its offering. But many people are really looking for coffee confections with foam and lord knows what else. That's okay, each to his own. I am no expert on that stuff, but it is possible McDonald's falls behind in the confection department. Starbucks has many many types of coffee. If you tell them exactly what type you want you will get a good cup. I have not been impressed by the coffee shops I have been to in Pattaya - but I drink basic black coffee. Benjamits, for instance, roasts its own coffee (you can buy beans or groun

They are doing their job...as they learned it in their country. It is irritating but there are less offensive ways. I just smile, shake my head and refuse to shake hands, and that does it.