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CMBob

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Posts posted by CMBob

  1. I renewed my US passport by mail just last month and I recall there was a series of questions you have to answer first to determine if you can renew the passport that way.....and one of the questions is whether you want a new passport with the same name as your existing passport.  If you answer that question "no", then the site concludes you are not eligible to do it by mail.  I'm guessing there is an alternate way to get it done (an in-person interview?); however, I have to agree with others here that changing your name from the exact name appearing on one's existing passport, driver's license, birth certificate, bank records, vaccine certificate, etc., probably isn't worth the hassle or potential problems unless one needs to do it because of a legal name change.

     

    Would note the mail deal (here in Chiangmai you can't do it any other way) is very efficient.  I mailed (DHL) the old passport with paperwork and bank drafts to the Bangkok embassy on a Monday and received the new and old passports back by mail (EMS or some similar service) 12 days later.

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  2. 4 hours ago, SammyJ said:

    Thank you -- may give it a try--can you tell me where inside CM Ram did you go?

    I have no clue about current supply but simply message Chiangmai Ram Hospital (via their message deal on their website) and they'll likely respond within 2 hours or so.  I did that several weeks ago on a Friday and ultimately was told to show up (4th Floor) there Monday morning where I paid for a Moderna booster....and ultimately came back the next morning to get the actual jab.  Cost was 1,650 baht.

    Contrary to one comment, yes, they do care about timing of your booster (i.e., you're not getting it if you're #2 jab was Astra or a Chinese vaccine that was less than 3 months ago.... or less than 6 months if your first 2 jabs were Pfizer or Moderna).

     

  3. I opened an account at the Bangkok Bank branch at Kad Suan Kaew about 2 months ago....and they will open an account there for you provided you have the visa the OP mentions (or a Non-O) or extension thereof.  You'll need your passport, your address, and telephone number but there's no need for proof of residency or other documentation.  None of the other items mentioned in the post by fangless above were required.

     

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  4. I would guess you could get the RT-PCR test at any hospital.  I know you can get it done at Chiangmai RAM hospital......3,500 baht (with results later in the day if you're tested in the morning or results the next morning if tested in the afternoon).  I understand from reports that the cost at other hospitals can be as low as 2,700 baht. 

     

    If you arrived on a Monday, I'd think the following Friday is only 4 days away, not 5. 

  5. 1 hour ago, JomtienEats said:

    I think you're on-topic. Sounds like I'll need to sort out a TM30. Where did your friends get the extension btw - airport or promenada?

    Both I and friends got our extensions at the Immigration Office near the airport.  I have no clue if the satellite office at Promenada does any extensions (haven't been out there in years).  

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  6. 11 hours ago, JomtienEats said:

    .....Bonus question - are they still looking for TM30s in CM?

    Somewhat off topic.....but just a week ago CM Immigration required a copy of the TM30 when friends got a 30-day extension to a visa exempt entry.  I personally was required to produce a copy when obtaining an annual extension based on retirement earlier this month.  Don't know whether its required for a covid extension but I'd guess it is required.

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  7. Given the test on arrival would not test positive if one caught covid on the airplane trip over, there really is no reasonable basis not to take the test.  

    Note:  "I don't want to", "I'm worried about a tracking chip", "I could care if I caught covid on the flight over and then spread it to others", etc., would not constitute a reasonable basis not to take the test.   

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  8. 30 minutes ago, Fore Man said:

    .....Does anybody know where the required PCR test can normally be administered and its results issued in time to comply with Thai Immigration stipulations and/or airline requirements?

     

    When I came back from the US (originating in northern Michigan), there were absolutely no labs, hospitals, or clinics that offered the RT-PCR test other than "within 72 hours"; given I had to fly to Chicago and then to San Francisco to catch the Singapore Air flight, I had no choice but to get the test in either Chicago or San Francisco (I ended up getting it on a Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco with results received the next day mid-morning which was adequate for my flight at 10:05PM that very night).  I found the clinic offering results within 24 hours on the net at a rather hefty price ($399.00) (they would also do same day results for more money).

     

    Because I was a bit confused as to when the Thai 72-hour time period started/ended, I called the Thai Consulate in Chicago....and they clearly explained to me that the 72-hour time period ends when your first international flight leaves the US departs (and not when I departed on domestic flights).  

     

    As a final note, I had to go through the Certificate of Entry routine and was rejected the first 3 times because I inserted the flight info from Singapore to Phuket in some part of the form - whereas it turns out they wanted the flight info for my first international flight out of San Francisco.  Maybe part of the reason I made that mistake is I've filled in the arrival/departure (TM6) card 30+ times in the last 20+ years and have always inserted the flight info for the last leg into Thailand and not the flight info for my flight out of the US. Hopefully the Thailand Pass online application is clearer so people don't make the mistakes I did.

     

  9. If I were you, I'd definitely talk to somebody at AA to make sure what the current rules are.....would ruin your trip if you showed up at the airport for your flight time to find out you have a problem.

     

    However....from AA website regarding travel restrictions:  "SEPANG, 6 October 2021 - In preparation for the full resumption of its domestic and subsequently international flight services, AirAsia Malaysia (flight code AK) has made it mandatory for only completely vaccinated adult guests to be allowed to board its flights, effective immediately. Guests under the age of 18 if unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated must be accompanied by fully-vaccinated parents or guardian." 

     

    If those are the current rules, you're fine; otherwise, maybe not.

  10. OP, your friend didn't apply for a Tourist E-Visa in the US (via Embassy in DC) as there is no requirement for a medical certificate or criminal background check for a Tourist Visa.  She applied for a different visa (perhaps a long-stay visa which does require both?).  

    I do trust that your friend is aware that the ThailandPass approval is also needed and totally separate (and that requires application, proof of vaccination, the $50,000 covid health insurance, etc.).

    And, yes, as noted by tonray, she can still just come in without any visa and get an exemption for 30 days (which she can extend here for another 30 days). 

  11. 19 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

    My question is if you had 2x shots this year how long will you be considered vaccinated for when it comes to travel?

    Just yesterday, read an article about the new Khao San Road rules for entry for both Thais and foreigners. 

    One has to be double vaxxed to get in and there's a requirement for a swab test (with 100 baht fee) for those

    who's double vaccination occurred more than 6 months ago.  Logically, given that all the vaccines lose

    effectiveness over time, we'll likely see more stringent requirements based on how long ago one was vaxxed. 

    It's the possible travel requirements that concern me (could care about getting onto Khao San Road).  

     

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  12. While I have no idea what the ThailandPass certificate looks like, the prior Certificate of Entry which I entered with had this language at the bottom: "Note to airlines: Flight changes (due to flight delay or cancellation ONLY) are permitted within 72 hours from the original flight time without the need to issue a new Certificate of Entry, provided that all other required documents are still valid."  Hopefully, whatever approval you get with ThailandPass may have similar language.

  13. 58 minutes ago, david_je said:

    ....Upon arriving Bangkok visa exempt, did Immigration ask to see ticket out of Thailand within 30 days (or whatever period of stay your passport allows) and 10,000 baht in funds?

    Would you please confirm this is full list of required documents for Non-O conversion:

    --Bank guarantee letter, and it’s the same letter needed for OA extensions

    --Copy of bank passbook pages. How far back should that go?

    --Rental agreement and hand-drawn location map.

    --TM.87

    --Photo

    --2,000 baht

    By the way, did officer ask why you were converting from non-OA to non-O?

    Thank you again.

     

    As I noted, I converted from exempt entry (via Phuket Sandbox entry, not Bangkok) to a Non-O (not from an Non-OA to a Non-O....which I doubt is even possible).

    Besides the TM form, a photo, copies of relevant passport pages, bank letter dated the day before verifying the funds, copies of bank book (in my case, it showed years of maintaining the 800k - but I have no clue how far back that should go), and fee.  I was not asked why I was converting to a Non-O*.  And I didn't provide or was asked for any copy of my rental agreement or hand-drawn location map (which I believe may be requirements at times relating to visas/extensions based on marriage).  

    *In my case, I've held annual extensions based on retirement for over a decade but, as my annual extension expired while I was back in the US, I came in visa exempt (coming in with a Tourist Visa would also have worked) so I could convert to a Non-O which, ultimately, is for the purpose of getting back on my annual extensions based on retirement.  I've never held a Non-OA visa or extension (my original visa back in 2009 was a Tourist Visa which I converted in-country to a Non-O).

  14. Converted last month from exempt entry to a Non-O at CM Immigration....and, although they saw a bankbook (Siam Commercial Bank) that held the 800k for years, they didn't see any evidence that the money originally came from abroad....nor did they ask for any such evidence.  So my guess is the OP is okay there.

     

    For the OP's benefit, the Non-O is not a "retirement visa", just a 90-day Non-O visa.  The annual extensions you can get based on that are extensions based on retirement (although many call that their retirement visa).   

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  15. Have no idea about a "specialist" for an inguinal hernia repair but I had one taken care of at CM Ram Hosp about 3-4 years ago.  Mine was done simply with a scalpel as mine didn't merit anything fancier.  Was in by 9AM and went home at 4PM.  No issues, no pain, and, remarkably, can't even find the 3 to 4 inch incision location after a year had passed.  

    Total cost (which I think included some pills, maybe pain pills) was 58k baht.

     

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