[Question about US Veteran healthcare in Thailand]

Hi am wondering if anyone can answer this for me.

 

I served 4 years in the U.S. Navy and got out with a Honorable discharge about 10 years ago. I have never registered with the VA but am now residing in Thailand.

 

Is it possible to use your VA healthcare benefits from inside Thailand? Would this be something where I could walk into a hospital in Thailand and use this? Or would I just have to pay for normal private insurance? I am trying to research this online and am unclear. Thanks!

[U.S. embassy in Thailand rejects citizens' appeal for vaccines]

We left America to live in Thailand.

 

They don't care about us.

[Car insurance prices for multiple vehicles?]

Hi there 

 

I am trying to understand how it works in Thailand when insuring multiple vehicles. 

 

Is it the same as insuring 1 vehicle just x2 or is there a discount for a multi car policy. 

 

If I currently have a Yaris and I pay 12000 for 1st class insurance then go out and buy a new Toyota truck how much is that going to add to my insurance bill approx. 

 

Thanks couldn't find the info online. 

[Total gridlock at Thai Banks]

7 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Wasn't Monday a bank holiday?  The big branches would have been closed and therefore everyone would descend on the smaller mall based branches to do their "business".  Just a thought.

 

Correction - perhaps not, maybe they were just catching up from last weeks holidays.

Yeah it is hard to remember all the holidays. Last weekend was a long holiday. Seems like every week there is a holiday! 

[Total gridlock at Thai Banks]

I was in Central on Monday and had to take care of some business at a few Thai Banks. 

 

It took me about 1 hour to get to the bank teller at one bank. 

 

Once I was done with that bank I had to go to another it took me about another hour. 

 

Total gridlock at the Banks in central they need to get more staff so they can take care of the customers.

 

[Moving to Pattaya April or May 2021?]

I am currently in Sakon Nakorn and wondering what kind of hoops I might have to jump through to move back to Pattaya?

 

Now with the recent news that covid is getting worse is this going to be possible?

 

Can we still travel throughout the country or are there travel restrictions for inter provincial travel?

 

This covid situation is so frustrating. 

 

Thanks

 

 

[Danger of Lightning Strikes in the country?]

I have heard stories from family and friends that locals have been struck by lightning in the past.  

 

We live up north in Isaan and am wondering if this is a real thing to be worried about?

 

My Mother in law always turns off her cell phone when there is a lightning storm. 

 

My wife wants me to unplug all the electrical devices and not use the computer until the storm has past. 

 

I have been in Bangkok and Pattaya on high rise condos during lightning storms never a problem.  Is living out in the country a lot more dangerous for lightning?

 

Does anyone have any insight into this? Is there a real danger or is this being over exaggerated? 

 

Thanks

[Thailand Elite members warned about overstaying]

7 hours ago, ukrules said:

 

Lol, I got a new 5 year license, nearly 6 years in fact as I did it shortly after my birthday for the second time on the TE visa just a few months ago.

 

So you're quite wrong there.

I am not wrong about this look it up. I have a letter from Thailand Elite explaining this also I was in the DLT on the phone with Thailand Elite asking why are they only issuing me a 2 year license since I already have a 5 year license and am trying to renew.  They might issue you the 5 year license because they don't see a lot of those Elite visa's at certain DLT offices and are not familiar with the rules on that visa. You just got lucky.

[Thailand Elite members warned about overstaying]

A Thailand Elite visa can only get a 2 year temporary drivers license when applying for a license renewal not a 5 year. All the others get 5 year doesn't make someone feel very "Elite"

 

If you want to switch to a another visa later on like a non immigrant 0 when your visa is about to expire you have to leave the country which normally would be doable but with covid makes it a pain. Why not allow us to change the visa categories in Thailand if we meet the requirements?

 

When you apply for the elite visa the clock starts when you pay for the visa not when you enter the country. So if you paid for the visa then waited 1 month your membership would be already used for 1 month. Why not start the clock when you enter Thailand? 

 

And of course you have to pay the 1900 baht to extend every year. That should be waived. 

 

Also they raised the cost of the visa to 600K baht for the 5 year during a pandemic when it is hard times for a lot of people not happy with that!

[309 new Covid-19 cases reported, most found in Samut Sakhon]

So much for the numbers going down like we hoped!

[Renewing Drivers License during COVID 2021]

Hi there,

 

I live in Sakon Nakorn and am wondering how I can renew my 2 year drivers license during covid?

 

My wife was telling me about logging in online but that is just for Thai people or someone that has a 13 digit ID number which most farang don't have. 

 

So can I walk into the DLT with the correct papers and renew my license?

 

Do I need a appointment?

 

Also I heard in the past about getting a extension from the DLT and you could drive around with a expired license due to COVID and that was no problem since you can't renew?

 

If that is the case would the police give you a problem with a expired license? Also if you got into a accident would the insurance not cover you because your license is expired?

 

I have lots of questions about this and it is as clear as mud.

 

Anyone have the facts about this?

 

Thanks!

 

[Question is rental contract needed?]

7 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Get a contract just to be on the safe side you never know what happens, she might be your girlfriend now but who knows 6 months down the line

She is my legal wife. If the relationship were to end I would not want to stay at her mother's house I would move.

[Question is rental contract needed?]

Okay so I am going to be moving into my Thai wife's mom's extra house for awhile maybe 1 year.

 

Will I need them to make me a rental contract since I am not really paying them rent to stay there?

 

In the past I have always rented from landlords and had a rental contract since it was not a family members house. 

 

Is a rental contract necessary to show immigration or can I just have my wifes mom go with me to immigration with all her house papers to show she owns the house?

 

Thanks

[Requirements for a Thai to finance a house]

So I am curious what my wife's options are to finance a house in the future she is Thai.

 

She has a little shop that makes a very modest income. I make good money but am a farang so obviously I am not going to get financed. 

 

How hard would it be for her to get a loan to buy a 3 million baht house? I just want a option other then forking all the money out in cash at once.

 

Is this possible?

[90 day report paper same day as visa extension expire date??]

6 hours ago, ReadySteady said:

Korat Immigration also gave me a less than 90 day report back date aligned to my extension expiry date.  

 

But they did give me a new, full 90 day report back date when I renewed the extension and I didn’t have to do the 90 day report as well 

 

Doing the extension here resets the 90 day clock.

Okay cool just trying to understand this since I have done these before in Bangkok and Pattaya and they always give a full 90 days. 

[90 day report paper same day as visa extension expire date??]

How early do you guys go back to do your new visa extension? Obviously you don't want to wait until the last day that they put on your 90 slip. I was thinking 1 week prior to the extension expiration date.

[90 day report paper same day as visa extension expire date??]

2 hours ago, Puccini said:

The expiration date of your visa is not related in any way to the due date for the notification of staying in Thailand longer than 90 days.

Yes I know I have lived here for 8 years and never had this happen until now.

 

I am reading online that some immigration offices in the "sticks" do this they will not extend your 90 day report beyond your visa extension date.

 

Strange and not the way it is supposed to happen but nonetheless that's what they do.

[90 day report paper same day as visa extension expire date??]

So my visa expires on September 1st and when I went to do my 90 day check the paper also says September 1st and has a stamp. " Permit same day visa finish." This was done at Udon Thani immigration. I have a Thai Elite visa.

 

Normally when I was staying in Pattaya if my visa extension expired before my 90 day paper they would still give me a full 90 days. The two are separate and the 90 day cycle has nothing to do with the visa extension. 

 

Is this okay I have never seen it done like this where the 90 day report was put as the same day as the visa expire date. 

 

Thanks

 

 

[Extending Thailand Elite Visa COVID-19]

1 minute ago, dode57k said:

Hi, am I understanding this correctly? If you have a 5 year Elite visa for example you can get a 1 year extension of stay based on that?

I have a 5 year Elite visa. Every year I have to get a 1 year extension stamp but due to the covid-19 situation I was concerned about things being more difficult but looks like everything is normal for a Elite visa if you are already in Thailand.

[Extending Thailand Elite Visa COVID-19]

I just got a reply from Thailand Elite.

 

Greetings from Thailand Elite Member Contact Center....

As per the inquiry on Stay Extension, please be informed that  you can do the 1-year stay extension at immigration in your province by booking with usat least 5 working days in advance. The extension can be done 30 days in advance and before the expiry date of your arrival stamp.

 

The required documents for Stay Extension as below; 

 

 

• 2 Inches X 2 Photos
• Departure Card (TM.6)
• Elite Membership Card 
• TM 7 form for stay extension
• The receipt of TM 30 (Notification of address)
• Service Fee 1,900 baht paying to the immigration officer.
• Certified letter issued by Thailand Elite / will be sent to you 1-2 working days before the appointment date.
• Passport with valid Elite visa

Should you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to advise us. We are available to serve you 24 hours.

[Extending Thailand Elite Visa COVID-19]

If you are a foreigner living in Thailand on a Thailand Elite visa will you be able to extended your visa as usual due to the Covid-19 situation?

 

I sent a email to Thailand Elite about this waiting for a response. Has anyone had to extend their Elite visa yet? 

 

Thanks

 

 

[PE Visa (Elite)]

It would help to try to answer the question if we know what is your home country. 

[Thai govt and Immigration confirm second visa amnesty - no need to do 90 day reports or extend visas]

I just did a walk in 90 day report in Udon 2 days ago. Is this for the whole country or just certain immigration offices that you don't have to do a 90 day report????

[Pattaya is the best place in Thailand!]

9 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

Utapo 30 minutes away. I live on the Darkside, most people over here are Thai, in fact probably the majority Issan. Most of the people I associate with on a day to day basis are from Issan. Have made some great Thai friends here.

 

I agree with every single word of the OP particularly, and some people won't understand this, edgy. I need edgy in my life, I've always had it and my life would be boring without it.

 

I looked all over SE Asia for somewhere to lay my hat, then, on deciding on Thailand, all over Thailand. It finally came down to CM or Pattaya. With hindsight, boy am I glad I decided on Pattaya. Never been happier and live life to the full.

Amen brother! I will be back in Pattaya soon can't wait. 

[Pattaya is the best place in Thailand!]

Okay so this topic is going to fire some people up for sure but lets roll with it!

 

I can't stand the tourist snobs and hippy backpackers saying that Pattaya is a dump!

 

I am a 10 year expat living in Thailand I have been all over the country. I have lived in Pattaya for 7 years but am currently living in Isaan and will be moving back to Pattaya!

 

I have been to Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Sakaeo, Phuket, Krabi all over Isaan and many of the islands so I feel like I have a pretty complete view of what Thailand has to offer.

 

Okay so why do I think Pattaya is the best.

 

1. It is centrally located in the country. This is a plus if you are too far north like it Chiang mai you are isolated from the rest of the country. If you are too far south same thing hard to get to Bangkok unless you jump on a plane.  I like driving in the car and only taking planes if absolutely necessary. 

 

2. It is relatively cheap in comparison to other places in Thailand. Bangkok and Phuket are more expensive. If you are looking for nightlife it is cheaper in Pattaya!

 

3. It has a more edgy feel! That's right I said it! This is not a backpacker destination with vegan pizza like Chiang mai! You come to Pattaya to get a fat beer gut and have a 20 year old girlfriend! AMEN 

 

4. It has the beach Sure the beach is not the best but it is there and you got it! If you are really craving a better beach drive on down the coast a little bit and go to Rayong or Sattahip. 

 

5. The party is off the chain Some places in Thailand have some clubs and nightlife but not like Pattaya. Everyday all the time it doesn't matter if it is a Tuesday night you can party like it is Saturday night!! Basically the party never stops it is always on tap.

 

6. Pattaya the darkside is awesome If you don't want to live on the strip then you got options drive your farang butt a little bit further out past the train tracks and you have entered THE DARKSIDE. There are plenty of housing options that are affordable and awesome. So you are close to the nightlife action but not too close!!!

 

7. Not a massive smog problem like Chiang Mai. Sure you got some pollution but the air isn't toxic like Bangkok or Chaing mai the Pattaya sea breeze blows it away.

 

8. Pattaya doesn't close down like other cities at night. There are a lot of cities in Thailand that close down early so all you get to experience is the hot day then go to bed and do it all again. Nothing should close until 4 AM and Pattaya has you covered in that department!

 

9. More Farang friendly This one can go either way but I like the fact that Thai people in Pattaya see farang more regularly. When you go to some more remote areas of Thailand they can look at you like you stepped out of a flying saucer. With more exposure to Farang they know how to do deal with us better in business and overall treatment. 

 

10. It isn't boring!!! Let's face it if you live in the sticks it is boring. It might be fine for a few weeks but after that come on! I have lived in Isaan for about 8 months and can't take it anymore. I will be moving back to Pattaya city baby!!!!