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calbts2

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  1. I got the same "come into the office immediately message" and I went into CW and was told that now every time you leave the country and reset your 90-day - your first report back in the country cannot be done online - it must be done in person or by mail. This has nothing to do with TM30 or your type of visa. The online report system is not informed when you leave and return, thus the schedule that it keeps is thrown off and must be reset manually. After the first 90 day report back, you can resume using the online reporting system. Again this was for CW - don't know if it applies in other provinces.
  2. Non-O. I converted in Thailand from a Visa Exempt entry. Before the health insurance requirement, I would have preferred to get a NON-OA to keep my money in the USA. But now forget that - Non-O is the better option.
  3. I got my Filipina wife's non-O dependent in Vientiane but that was in 2017. We were also married here in Thailand. At that time I think I used the income affidavit but do not remember what financial proof I showed them at the time. You probably now you need to have the 800k seasoned for at least 2 months and show your bank book to the embassy but maybe not. We also got married in Thailand so no need for MFA legalization. I showed them the Thai marriage certificate/documents. She was give a 90 day Non -O and then converted that to a one year extension in Thailand later on.
  4. They just cut off all US Citizens due to FATCA. I am quite disturbed since I used they a lot for the past 2 years and just went in earlier this month to re-verify all my KYC info. I guess now I will just have to use my wife's account.
  5. If you are that scared I would advise instead coming back into Thailand over land via Nong Khai, and fly back to Bangkok from Udon Thani. The Laos land border entries are generally the most "hassle free" to get back into Thailand. I believe there is direct bus service from Vientiane to Udon Thani.
  6. I always either rent a car at at the Phuket airport or bring a rental car to Phuket. It pays for itself after half a day. All tourists flying in should do this. Taxi and tuk tuk prices on Phuket are one of the biggest ripoffs in all of Thailand.
  7. Umm I don't think so - https://www.airlive.net/breaking-russian-airlines-ordered-to-stop-selling-tickets-to-russian-men-aged-18-to-65/
  8. This is spot on. I have actually been successful obtaining two 10 year B-2 tourist visas here in Bangkok for 2 different wives 10 years apart. All the time I have been living in Thailand on marriage/retirement visas. I was not allowed in the last interview (I was in the first one nearly 15 years ago). Most of the questions were about my living status in Thailand - not hers. Once they conclude that I have been a Thailand resident an have no intention of moving and living back in the US - the Visa is issued no problem. Also do not bother using an agency for the B-2 visa as there is nothing more they can do for you than you can do on your own. It is a complete waste of money.
  9. For me and many expats living here for a long time it is more out of habit to use AEON atms as they not long ago were fee free vs the Thai Banksters ATM cartel. And 220 baht just to withdraw your own money is a total ripoff no matter how you look at it. Actually though now Wise is becoming a real competitive option to get cash from overseas as lately my transfers have arrived in minutes - even on weekends. And the exchange rate is usually better than the daily VISA/Mastercard rate.
  10. I don't know if they are out of business but they have recently been removing their just about all of their ATMS from central Bangkok. For example they used to have ATMs at Terminal 21, Tesco at Fortune Town, Big C Ratchada, and Central Praham 9 - All are gone now. I only now know of one AEON ATM not far from where I live - Big C Rama 4 - and who knows how long that will last.
  11. I have been using Satang Pro for about 1.5 years now and fund it locally via promptpay / Bangkok bank. Overall they have been pretty good and reliable. I never keep any crypto on the exchange unless I have a limit order pending. I use a Trezor Model T and a Ledger Nano X for cold wallet storage(ordered direct from the manufacturer) as it is way to risky to keep anything on central exchanges now. I was using Voyager in the US for over a year but thankfully I withdrew almost all my holdings off of there one week before they halted withdrawals and are now in bankruptcy. I never would have guessed that Voyager would go bankrupt while a Thai exchange Satang would still be going. Bitkub is worthless as their KYC process was a nightmare and I never got approved after months of trying. Zipmex refused US Citizens so I am kind of happy to hear they are having problems and I hope they go under.
  12. I have been using Satang for just over a year and so far so good. Very convenient sending fiat via promptpay from my Thai bank accounts. I tried to register on Bitkub at that time and after many back and forth emails with me sending more info to them, they finally rejected me for no logical reason. Also tried Zipmex and they refused me from the start for being a toxic US passport holder. By the way - you might try Kucoin as I got kyc approved through them. I cannot link any bank accounts with them but I can send crypto and stablecoins to my account and withdrawal.
  13. Vietnam is targeting a full reopening by April 1, hopefully this will be the real turning point now as Thailand will be completely shunned by any sane tourist when travel to most of the surrounding countries do not require multiple pcr tests on arrival, forced hotel quarantines, and getting a special pass just to enter. https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/02/03/vietnam-intends-to-reopen-for-international-tourists-in-march-or-april/
  14. The dominoes are falling all around Thailand. The Philippines just eliminated all quarantine and arrival tests for vaccinated travelers as they have come to their senses. Watch what Vietnam does as that in my opinion will be key in forcing Thailand to get rid of all of these useless tests/quarantines/insurance as so much face will be lost. These other countries will get their tourist industries recovering faster while Thailand's reputation and self inflicted economic damage deteriorate further. My prediction is by July(maybe sooner), Thailand's hand will be forced into opening up 100% which includes all land borders.
  15. Yes, I long for the days of Yingluck. She was not perfect (no leader is of course), but Thailand was such a better place pre-2014 - especially for expats. It was so easy to stay here even on monthly visa runs. Even since the junta takeover it has been one thing after another making it harder and harder to stay here: First there was the ED Visa crackdown. Next was the appointment of Big Jerk to head of immigration which lead to harder financial requirements and elimination of Income affidavits for a few key countries for retirees. Then came the implementation of mandatory useless health insurance for the OA visa which turned it from being of the the best retiree visas (in that you could keep all of your money in your home country) into being worse than the NON-O which has no insurance requirement. Starting around 2015 or so and ramping up before covid hit were numerous reports of frequent Thailand travelers being harassed and some deported while holding valid tourist visas. This type of treatment from Thai immigration officers was unheard of and practically non existent before then. Now with these draconian border closures, quarantines, testing, etc. - it has never been more difficult to enter the country and with this governments "blame the foreigner" sentiment, I don't see this attitude changing until they are swept from power and a new government can come in and start to repair the damage they have caused. Charging an extra tourist fee when Thailand needs every tourist they can get has got to be one of the most idiotic policies ever put into place. I feel for locals here in the hospitality industry as they have been economically bankrupted and destroyed by the decisions of this government.
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