bttao
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Posts posted by bttao
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RE: US Health Insurance Valid anywhere in the World
I have my retirement insurance with BCBS which also handle the Medicare part.
So my Health Insurance takes care of health issues in any country abroad through a CORE, set up by and for all the BCBS in the US :
BCBS GLOBAL CORE SERVICE CENTER, which handles all the billings for Services rendered overseas on par to services rendered in the US.
My question is; had anyone heard of this or used it , and how to find out if it is accepted by the new health set up in Thailand, as a valid Health Insurance?
My BCBS will increase the maximum pay out from $1,000,000 this year to $2,500,000 starting 1/1/2020 per subscriber... ( I imagine all the BCBS in the US will do the same for this category of subscribers.)
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5 hours ago, Jingthing said:
I am so happy that you're posting here!
For a number of reasons.
You are real person that has the real life perspective of having lived in Latin America before, having lived long term in Thailand, and now moving again to Latin America, namely Mexico.
Please keep posting here as your new Mexican "adventure" continues.
As far as your house rental in Toluca, yes I think your description sounds about right, lower middle class. I'm sure people will notice the bars on the windows. Are there good neighborhood amenities nearby (shops, services, parks, etc.) or not?
Bars on windows is so common in most old world countries ( practice which Mexico /Latin America kept ).... it has nothing to do with today's crime.
In the US we have dogs for security...
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2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:
For Vietnam it depends upon your nationality.
For most nationalities Malaysia allows a visa exempt entry up to 90 days.
US?
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Thanks.
So Multiple entries come in handy, if you want to visit often SEA countries, and as much as you want, considering the cheap air tickets over there... unless they change the rules.
Do VN and Malaysia have entry (visa) fees in or out?
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On 1/13/2018 at 5:35 AM, elviajero said:
All extensions of stay are 1,900 baht.
Re-entry permits are; Single 1,000 baht, Multiple 3,800 baht.
Is there an expiration date on the re-entry permits?
the single Re-entry (1)... but how many do you get for the Multiple 3800 baht?
And when you leave : you stop the 90 Days reporting...
but how long can you stay out of Thailand?
Let say you get a Retirement permit and you leave within 2 months: can you stay 6-8 months out of Thailand and re-enter with a permit without a hassle? (before the expiration of the recent 1 Yr extension of course.)
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4 minutes ago, seancbk said:
The Immigration officer has a computer display that shows things like total number of entries, days in country etc
Getting a new passport does not help.
Getting an immigration officer who is in a good mood probably helps. I always look for the women as they appreciate a friendly smile and are less grumpy (in my experience).
Can you pick and choose?
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6 hours ago, Russell17au said:
Ubonjoe, there is a article in the Samui Times dated today about new visa regulations causing a headache for non immigration expats.
Maybe some of this could be the reason for the OP entry refusal. I was going to copy it but I was not sure if you would allow it so maybe if you look at it and see what you think about posting it
I don't see any harm to copy and paste the web site of the article.
Here it is:
http://www.samuitimes.com/new-visa-regulations-causing-headache-non-immigrant-expats/
DON"T PANIC...
It seems that the article in question is over 3 years old according to some comments there:
"This is an article from 2014! Follow phuket times link in article to verify this!"
2014 Saturday, May 10, 2014 1 time in year +
listed date in article.
"This article is woefully out of date - written in 2014."
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2 hours ago, bttao said:
I think the "Elite Team" would have the answers to the above questions... and if they will accept you (due to age).
As far as the new Passport is concerned : it will not show where you have been before.
The Thai Immig will have no clue about where you have been, unless he brings up your file on the computer and if they are up to date, he will see the history of your crossing into and out of Thailand
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22 minutes ago, Austrian26 said:
....
What IF i get rejected the next time, will i be able to purchase a Thailand Elite Card from outside the country/ or have a chance to come back anytime soon ?Planning to get a new passport, but will my long stays show up in the system ?
Is there even a legal way to deny my entry ?
I know many officers like to claim, that its not allowed to stay more than 180 day as tourist, however Thai Elite Visa allows a Tourist 365 days?
Thanks for your help.
On 12/17/2017 at 7:38 AM, kmw said:I think the "Elite Team" would have the answers to the above questions... and if they will accept you.
As far as the new Passport is concerned : it will not show where you have been before.
The Thai Immig will have no clue about where you have been, unless he brings up your file on the computer and if they are up to date, he will see the history of your crossing into and out of Thailand
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Supervisors at the helm of the immigration department don't seem to be doing their job (unless they are part of the corruption going on).
All they have to do is read the posts on this and other forums to get the full picture of what is going on and where.
I don't think any other country has such a messed up immigration rules which differ from one office/region to another...
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2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:
Nothing needs to be notarized. You only need to sign every copy you submit with your application that is what certified means here.
Thanks ubonjoe.
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20 minutes ago, BritTim said:
I know someone who recently arrived in Bangkok, checked into a hotel there (no fixed lease period) and applied for a conversion informing Chaeng Wattana immigration that he was staying there while looking for a permanent place to live. They were quite happy with that.
It takes about 2 weeks after the application for the conversion before you go back to receive the 90-day stamp, but there seems no problem if you want to leave the hotel after the application.
Thanks, Tim .... helpful to know.
Do you need to notarize the photo copies immigration ask for ( like the Passport pages)?
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6 hours ago, JackThompson said:
If your country is on the visa-exempt list (USA, right?), you get in with no visa at no cost with a 30-day stay. Those who pay for VOAs generally get 15 days only.
Yes, though I would apply a few days after arrival, so if they want something you don't have, you have a chance/time to get it.
1900 Baht - same office (Chang Wattana) as you use for the Conversion - though a different queue in that office. Or ... see below.
You should have 10K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks on your person (not just plastic) and a flight out within 30-days. The issue with the flight out is most likely to be an issue when boarding the plane. The required cash is unlikely to be asked for at the Thai immigration-checkpoint, but could be.
Per above, don't wait to apply - 15 days is the minimum. You will need proof you live there (lease / contract) so that they will serve you. I would stay until receiving the Non-O.
After getting the Non-O, you could move, and apply for the 1-year extension elsewhere.
When you move to HH, be sure to file a TM-30 and a TM-28 form with that immigration office upon arrival. They may only want the TM-30 (varies by office), but I'd offer both. After you have officially re-located to that area, you could then apply for your extension there.
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Thanks Jack... it is getting clearer in my head going thru this maze.
How long does it take to get the Conversion to 90 days Visa? (for planning on how long I should get the accommodation lease for).
Can you get a lease in a hotel for 2 weeks.. the time to assemble all the forms needed (including Income Affidavit from embassy which will be needed for the 1 year extension later on, rather than returning to Bangkok for it, since it's valid for 6 months), for the 90 Conversion to Type O (to take/show Immigration)?
Do I need to notarize all the copies of the passport pages the immigration ask for?
"The issue with the flight out is most likely to be an issue when boarding the plane."
so , may be I need to have a ticket ready to Malaysia/Vn on Air Asia in case?
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3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:
You can apply for 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) entry at immigration and then an extension of stay based upon retirement during the last 30 days of the 90 entry from the visa.
You must have 15 days reaming of your 30 day entry or the 30 day extension of it.
General requirement are here for the visa application. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80
Thanks ubonjoe.
I need some clarification please:
A- I get an entry 30 days Visa..( at the airport). (1,000 B?)
B- I apply for a 90 day Category O Visa, before the 15th day i am in Thailand.(2,000
(at the Immigration downtown)
C- I apply for the 1 year extension for Retirement within the last 30 days of the Category O visa for Retirement purpose (2,000
(Immig Downtown)
Is this how it works?:
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Thanks.
I decided I wasn't going to the nearest (honorary) consulate in Miami (300 miles each way) and spend 2 -3 nights there, because it has to be done in person: no mail-in, and they are open only for 2-3 hrs M W F... which means I have to stay 2-3 nights in a hotel in Miami (my least favorite city).
The consulate requires having an accommodation reservation in Thailand as well as a non refundable round trip fare ( an open ticket - refundable one, would cost twice as much or more).
1- Do they require Accommodation Reservation/ cash needed (at BKK airport) for the 30 days Visa.
2- Would it be a good idea to stay in Bangkok in the vicinity, for 2 weeks to get prepared and apply for the conversion ; between US embassy and Immigration in Bangkok (they seem to be 30 minutes apart... and it would be ideal if I can find a hotel halfway between the 2).
3- Would there be a problem, if after applying for the conversion, i relocate to HH /Cha Am... or should I stay around until I get the answer?
TIA
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Can a Visa Exempt, 30 days at Airport be extended /changed into a 1 year Retirement Visa?
If so... What steps to take to do it?
How much would it cost to charge a Service in Thailand to handle it for you, if it's more convenient/less stressful ( and just provide them with Income Affidavit/passport)?
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41 minutes ago, Briggsy said:
I tend to find that it is a passport full of Thai stamps that is the 'alert' for officers at airports rather than the computer record.
I will find out later this year.
maybe because you spend a good part of the year in Thailand, that the immig kept asking the same stuff , and didn't know how to handle it: to him, it's odd that a 48 yr old man staying/visiting that long must be up to something... but could not figure it out, and which should have been handled in the first place by the authorities delivering all those visas : embassies/consulates.
i wouldn't visit more than twice each year for the next 2; to preserve your chances of getting a retirement visa.
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Do they ask during renewal for fund transfer proofs (for the previous year), for those who choose the affidavit Income?
It seems logical if they want to see proof of fund transfer for the 800K Account... don't you think?
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15 minutes ago, JackThompson said:
In general - yes. But that depends on how far you are from Bangkok (can day trip?), your embassy's letter-cost, and how much money you could make with your 800K if not tied up for 3+ months in the bank + xfer-fees, if moving it in and out.
Thanks...
Returns have been less than 0.005% for almost 10 years now (since 2008)... so interest is irrelevant nowadays.
One may as well keep it in a regular passbook with withdrawals on demand; to satisfy immigr.
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8 hours ago, roobaa01 said:
the stipulation by the immigration quotes savings and or/fixed account , however funds to be accessible immidiately.
some immigration offices require to see a second savings passbook detailing monthly expenses.
wbr
roobaa01
can you show them ATM transactions slips instead of a second bank passbook?
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What 's the return rate on a fixed term account Vs a regular account with withdrawal at any time?
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After looking at the renewal/extension cost of the 1 year stay for a Retirement Visa, it appears to me that the best way is to have the 800K with BKK , rather than doing the affidavits from the US Embassy and the Thai Translations which would triple the cost of the renewal when one adds the trip to BKK and a stay in a hotel and other expenses...
So, with the 800K in the bank the cost will be just the 1900 baht and the bank statement FEE (100?), whereas getting an Income affidavit would easily add up to 6000 baht and time consuming.
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I was watching a video how to use BKK mass transit system ; and among things mentioned : people over 60 years get 50% discount... but you have to get your ticket at a window not a machine...
Does that apply to expats as well (the 50% discount)? and RR/1st class?
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1 hour ago, elviajero said:
duplicate
Sorry... I forgot the work part....
But It takes more paper work than Retirement:
(at the Immigration downtown)
O/A visa and insurance experience today
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted · Edited by bttao
I think I am going to pass... and not waste my time on Thailand.
From what I gathered lately, Vietnam and Cambodia are gaining momentum in replacing Thailand as a better place and less hassle for retirement.
It seems there is an ever greater exodus from Thailand by long term expats in that country, due to the latest changes in immigration... and it would be too late to reverse that trend later...
I wonder how much foreign currency Thailand gains/receives from those expat retirees every year?