[Bank accounts holding ThB 800,000?]

2 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

A few hours a year. Not really a hardship is it?

I guess that depends on how much you value your sanity and your risk tolerance for dealing with bureaucrats.

[Has Thailand’s reopening plan failed?]

2 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Mexico

India? Japan?

[Bank accounts holding ThB 800,000?]

57 minutes ago, malt25 said:

Why would anyone use an agent ?

Maybe to avoid dealing with mind numbing bureaucrats?

[Chonburi Governor releases orders around Covid-19 and food and beverage establishments in Mueang Chonburi district]

6 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

I remember that...2 YEARS ago! 

Exactly....

[Chonburi Governor releases orders around Covid-19 and food and beverage establishments in Mueang Chonburi district]

11 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Oh well, back to square one it is, will this madness ever end.

Only two weeks to flatten the curve........

[Fugitive former PM Thaksin suggests Thailand needs a "smart leader" - HIM!]

8 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

Thaksin was as corrupt as any "leader" before and after him.

But Thailand was a more free and better place then.

 

Was a way more free and better before him

[Using US credit card with Lazada-Kasikorn issue]

4 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

"What's in your wallet?"

 

Sucks when things one gets used to, change.

 

I'd talk to Lazada first, then Kasikorn, then visa.

 

I think Schwab offers fee-free SWIFT international transfers. But maybe that's account tier related? 

 

Do you have a Schwab Visa ATM Debit card? If so you may be able to do a teller cash advance, which is completely fee-free and gives the great daily visa rate. Best method available. Daily limit is $15,000 (in THB equivalent).

 

 

 

Which bank do you do that at? Anytime I have tried getting a teller cash advance, I am told no can do with a debit card, only a credit card.

[Phuket hotels desperate as "insured" foreign tourists with Covid denied coverage, refuse to go to hospital - "Hospitel" shortage admitted]

5 hours ago, samtam said:

....and very very soon. Give it 2-3 weeks.

I seem to recall way back in Feb 2020 something about it will only be two weeks to get this under control......................

[Thailand’s Minister of Public Health officially proposes to Covid-Center to postpone resuming “Test and Go” until at least the end of January]

7 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

You are deluded.

 

people are dying from Omicron.

Where?

[Extension of Stay based on Retirement]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You have to apply for the the the non-o visa prior to having less than 15 days remaining on the 30 day visa exempt entry or the 30 day extension of it it. Then when the non-o visa you would get a 90 permit to stay it allows. Then during the last 30 day ot the 90 you would apply for a one year extension of stay (it not a visa) based upon retirement.

1. The medical insurance is only required to a apply for a Non-OA visa at a embassy or official consulate in your home country or country of legal residence.

2, That is not correct and retirement visa does not exist. A OA visa or a non-o visa is issued for retirement.

3. Some banks will issue one but it is not easy. Many people use an agent to open the bank account. You old account might still be open if you left enough to pay the maintenance fees after it had been dormant for a while.

 

Joe

I have heard that at Jomtien Immigration you can apply for the 1 year extension 45 days before the 90 day visa expires. Is that true?

[Omicron panic decimates Thai tourism "high season" - foreign tourists cancel, events scrapped, flights stopped, insurance woes]

2 hours ago, ozfarang said:

But hospital admissions are not increasing dramatically.

Australian cases nearly doubled over night but hospital admissions only up slightly and ICU and ventilator case were down marginally.

If Thailand follows a trajectory similar to Australia then their health system will cope

Maybe take a look at South Africa? They have determined that Omicron is a dud.

[New Thai Imm 90 Day Reporting Software Solution same old Rubbish]

What is the downside of not doing 90 day reports? I know that you can get fined between 2000 and 5000 baht depending on circumstances. Can you get deported? Can you be refused an extension? If you are on a 1 year extension for retirement and you don't bother to report until the next extension is due, do you simply get a 2000 to 5000 baht fine and then another extension? What is the worst that can happen for simply not reporting?

[Israeli tourist who spent four days on the run after testing positive for COVID arrested in Koh Samui]

4 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

 

I think I would look elsewhere for my evidence. This person has been sanctioned by his peers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_A._McCullough

Covid-19 misinformation

Some of McCullough's public statements contributed to the spread of COVID-19 misinformation.^[7][4]

McCullough testified before a committee of the Texas Senate in March 2021, posted to YouTube by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, in which he made false claims about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, including that people under 50 years of age and survivors do not need the vaccine and that there is no evidence of asymptomatic spread of COVID-19.^[27]

Posted on the Canadian online video sharing platform Rumble, McCullough gave an interview in April 2021 to The New American, the magazine of the right-wing John Birch Society, in which he advanced anti-vaccination messaging, including falsely claiming tens of thousands of fatalities attributed to the COVID-19 vaccines.^[46] In May 2021, McCullough gave an interview in which he made claims about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines which were "inaccurate, misleading and/or unsupported by evidence," including that survivors cannot be re-infected and so do not require vaccination and that the vaccines are dangerous.^[28]

Sanctioned by his peers? I believe that he would wear that as a badge of honour.

[Israeli tourist who spent four days on the run after testing positive for COVID arrested in Koh Samui]

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Can people with no symptoms infect others?

Not according to the most published author/doctor in medical history: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/dr-peter-mcculloughs-5-most-important-truths-about-covid-19/

[Thailand may cancel Test & Go due to Omicron: Anutin]

43 minutes ago, James105 said:

That's an excellent idea.   Even though these policies (and similar) have failed in every single country every single time they have been tried, that is no reason to expect that they will fail again and this could well be the time that they miraculously work and demonstrate that humans can indeed overcome nature.   

Definition of insanity?

[Pizza in Pattaya]

Drifters cafe. Thin crust, real cheese, wood fired oven and on the beach in NaJomtien. Great company, music and decor.

[Thailand announces new measures for foreign arrivals, New Year countdown details]

2 hours ago, PuaSai said:

Because this "vaccine" is not truly a vaccine.  Supposedly before a shot is considered a "vaccine", it goes through "years of testing."  If I can find the document I have from the CDC I'll show you this is what it says. (It is attached) This "jab" supposedly only lessens the symptoms to yourself if you catch the virus and because these vaccines were released so quickly, the long term side affects are unknown.  We know some people have had serious side affects such as blood clots and people have died.  

 

COVID is not going to disappear.  So, do what you can do to live your life the fullest.

Careful there: you are posting against the narrative.......

[Car Sales Surge on COVID-19 Concerns]

4 hours ago, Dionigi said:

went to buy a new toyota last week and was told 3 to 4 months wait. JIT doesn't seem to be working.

Any new vehicle I bought over the years in Thailand was the same. You ordered it and then got it a few months later. 

[SURVEY: Will the night life entertainment return? When?]

23 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Whiskey & Go Go?  Is that a misspelling or a trade mark issue?

I guess they cater to Yanks and the Irish as opposed to the Scots, Brits, Japanese and Canadians.

[Test & Go My view]

On 12/10/2021 at 3:11 AM, starky said:

My view. Had all my ducks in a row. Took screen shots of the pdf files so they were jpg. files opened a Gmail account as had read that it worked best with the server.

  Uploaded documents total application time 5 minutes. Received a message instantly saying my pass had been received and given a code number so i could check progress. Was told it could take 3-7 working days. Received my Thailand pass 4 hours later.

  As with most things related to the world under the pandemic ie quarantine, restrictions, imaginary " hurdles" the people doing all the whingeing mostly have not, will not and do not try and do it themselves. They are crying about something they have no experience in

 As for RT-PCR tests. Anyone who can not have a test and have it directly emailed to them within 24 hours is an absolute Muppet.

  Total cost 130 AUD for my RT-PCR test in Australia. 205 AUD for my test and go package at Novotel Suvarnabhumi, with 24 hour hour testing regardless of when your flight arrives and results within 6 hours after which your are free to go.

  Zero stress, zero hurdles, zero drama and reasonable pricing. Not ideal for a family travelling I will admit but for the normal person the additional cost is sweet f.a..

  So if you do your research, have the organisational skills of a 6 year old can read English and can afford a couple hundred dollars the test and go system is a breeze. 

   

The Novatel Suvarnaphumbi sounds like a great option. How did you book your stay there? Through their website or another?

[blacklisted for 12 months while on elite visa.]

10 hours ago, Pravda said:

Can't afford? Do you seriously think that? Yes, I'm overwhelmed with jealousy. It's a glorified tourist visa. It it wasn't would there even be such thing as 90 day reporting, overstay on a visa that allows you a 5 year stay, blacklist and a fine. Wake up!

 

As for benefits get more useful benefits with my wife's SCB card.

 

 

You are absolutely right. I had an Elite visa. Benefits other than the visa itself? None

[blacklisted for 12 months while on elite visa.]

11 hours ago, fangless said:

And so he paid how much  of a fine for missing all those reports?

The answer is peanuts!

(if I remember correctly it is about 1500 Baht no matter how many reports you miss) and no record on your passport!

Generally 2000 baht, but can be up to 5000 baht

[blacklisted for 12 months while on elite visa.]

11 hours ago, EricTh said:

So this elite visa is not really 'elite'. Why pay so much when we have to exit from Thailand every 12 months? It's ridiculous.

No need to exit, can extend another year at any immigration office.

[blacklisted for 12 months while on elite visa.]

16 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

A lot on the EV don't even know that you still have to do 90 day reports as well. In some cities, there is an agent that will do it for you free of charge, included with the EV fee. But ya, even though you are paying so much, don't really expect to be treated like an elite or that it really gives you any special status or get out of jail free card.

It is nothing more than a glorified tourist visa.  But it is really the only option for someone under 50 yo that wants to stay longterm without having to marry a local.

['Do your own research / I do my own research' has become code for conspiracy theory followers]

20 hours ago, Phoenix Rising said:

You're right and it's the most dangerous trend in modern history. When relatively well educated people turn away from facts, reason and science the outcome will be a disaster for democracy.

It happens everywhere but is most prevalent and visible in the US.

 

Will America’s disregard for science be the end of its reign?

America is not a democracy and never was. It is a republic.