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Years ago, a Pinay could leave the country with me (American) to visit other ASEAN countries and no CFO was needed. Is that still true?

I am in Thailand and have been for 11 years. I am going to start traveling in Asia and need COVID insurance that covers at least Thailand and the Philippines. I'll keep my 1yr retirement visa here with multiple reentry. Not insured now, but expect would need to return.

Web sites only seem to cover 1 country (Thailand) and if I search specific for Philippines, I can only find insurance for leaving the Philippines. I am from USA but not a resident there, so the USA insurance sites will not sell to me and have extreme rates anyway.

Age 51

Anybody have a good lead on all-Asia COVID insurance bought in Thailand?

On 2/7/2022 at 8:06 PM, Pib said:

Change to SSA International Direct Deposit (IDD) which can be sent to any Thai bank--to any type of Thai baht acct....like a regular Bangkok Bank savings account...no restrictions to include having a having debit card.  IDD uses the SWIFT system versus the standard SSA direct deposit which uses the U.S. ACH system (i.e., routing numbers). 

 

Below topic gives more info....such as comparing IDD vs ACH direct deposit.

 

This is amazing. The idea behind SSA having to go to a "locked" account accessible only by personal appearance is foreigners will die unreported to USA and someone keeps taking their payments. The banks were having to pay the USA back. Simply switching routing methods... amazing. Thank you for another amazing tip, Pib! 

I need some money short term for major medical. Any chance a bank will loan or give a credit card with a retirement visa? I can show good monthly income deposited to BKB every month.

8 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

This is not correct. Transfers or regular deposits are acceptable, as long as they are monthly and regular, and originate from outside of thailand.

Yes. I just found this out. I applied with sdfcu and should know in a few days. I will simply have them transfer or wire to my regular BKB account the minimum visa amount each month and use ATM in the Philippines.

Also, Ian, the BKB executive at the NYC branch mentioned above, is having someone look in to an easier solution. It may be that with the right contact, one can email proof of being out of the country and they will route the funds to regular account. I will post a new thread with details about this when I know.

Thank you again!

Thanks for all the feedback. I should be more specific:

To get a retirement visa, direct deposits every month are needed (not transfers or regular deposits.) Thus, a couple of years ago, I gave up my USA account and just let it come to Bangkok Bank so I qualify for my visa. 

No, you can't have SSA deposits to a regular account. They see it from the USA government and send it back. If you have never had it DD before, you may get away with it a few months.

Since I do not have a USA drivers license or physical address and every "open an account online" in the USA requires these (will not allow passport as ID), I can not open an account until I get there and can walk in to a branch. Since I am going to the Philippines first, 1 or 2 months pay will be stuck here in Thailand. (Foreigners can not open a bank account in the Philippines unless they have residency status.)

SSA also needs time to change accounts. I have had it take more than 30 days. 

Here are my 2 options:

* Find a way to access the frozen funds in Thailand based on the fact that I am out of the country so can not go to a branch

* Or, if someone knows a bank in USA that I can open an account with while in Thailand using my USA passport and Thai address (or family USA address) then I am better off... going back to that convenience is worth the extra visa fees of not having DD of SSA

US Social Security gets deposited into an account then each month the person must go in person to a branch to access the funds.

What to do if I travel for a month or two out of Thailand? I asked at the bank and called HQ and was told, "Don't know."

I use BKB.

A Bangkok Babk account that accepts USA Social Security payments is necessary for my retirement visa. I have to show all 12 deposits to keep the visa.

Of course, an SS deposit account means a monthly visit to transfer the money in person to my normal spending account. No online access, etc as you have to prove in person you are alive to access the funds.

Now I want to travel for a few months. How can I get my money each month since I can not go to a branch? I can't have it deposited elsewhere or I don't qualify for my next visa renewal.

Asking at the branch and calling they had no understanding.

On 7/9/2021 at 10:47 PM, Tanomazu said:

You could get her in on education visa for a year, for studying Thai. Classes are now online, so she can be located almost anywhere and then make a trip for the renewal.

Make a trip to where given COVID conditions?

On 7/8/2021 at 1:27 PM, bradiston said:

Got a mate who got his ph gf a volunteer visa recently. Cost him a few baht though. But she was already here with him from way back. Prior to that, ed visa but schools all closed now. 

She wants to take more advanced English courses. All language schools are closed, not offering online?

I have a retirement visa here. Phils is still closed to tourists. Any way my Phils gf can come live here without having a job?

After months of never getting the 1st disbursement which was to be automatic because on SSDI, I filled in the Web site and despite my having direct deposit, got a check sent here to Thailand. Told would take a month to clear Bangkok Bank but was only a week and the exchange was cheaper than postage.

Is there a round 2? I don't keep up on the news much.

By far, what are the biggest common legal issues facing foreigners normally and now with COVID?

To clear things up, this is an implant with no need to stay there. Cheaper in USA, yes: free. Here? 1M Baht and low qualifications even at Bumrun. Govt will not touch it. Sukhumvit does not have the skills but will do it. Bumrun advises go home.

I will just wait out the covid.

Married to a Thai on marriage extension. No re-entry permit at this time.

I need to go to USA for a few days to weeks for surgery. Question is, will I be allowed back in?

51 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Because immigration can ask about the reason you are changing to retirement and they might want your wife's approval.

It is touch and go after you get the divorce since you would technically be staying on a invalid extension.

 

One can easy justify the saying never trust a Thai woman. In this case, I can expect she will be 100 percent supportive in helping me get the retirement visa. 

I think we will do a paper divorce to satisfy church. Renew the marriage visa if there are issues getting retirement visa, and keep working the retirement visa angle until approved. Only then go to the Anphoe, and, honestly, why divorce at amphoe if neither of us is in a hurry to remarry?

I should note she is willing to sign a quit claim of joint assets back dated one year, and a recognition that the marriage is considered disolved, but not registered. Totally private. No government intervention. Leverageable in court if I ever need.

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The Amphoe cannot do anything. They cannot stamp your passport or do anything else. Many people have gotten a divorce and stayed until there extension expired and left the country to get a new visa to start all over again.

I did not mention a re-entry permit. I only was trying to confirm you and an extension since you wrote you had a visa.

My suggestion is to try an hold off on doing the divorce until you are 50 years old to change to an extension based upon retirement.

Thank you, Joe. You are always a source of great compassion and understanding of the ways of the land.

If the Amphoe will not do anything, why delay the divorce? I can get a retirement visa on Dec 16, and the current visa based on marriage is good until Dec. 27.

I need the divorce to satisfy my church. Think I want to spend 5 months with female companionship? 55555555555555555555555

{smiley}

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If you have valid multiple entry non-o visa it would remain valid until it until it expires.

It on a extension of stay based upon marriage it ends on the day your divorce is finalized. But nobody but you or your wife would inform immigration about it.

If you could wait until you turn 50 to finalize the divorce you could change the reason for your extension to retirement.

The Amphur will not stamp my passport, enter in immigration or other computer records, ...?

 It is based on marriage, yes.

Are you saying to get a multiple entry permit first?

I am getting mixed messages about what happens to my visa when we go to the amphur to divorce. Some sites and people say my visa will be canceled immediately, others say it is good until it expires on December 27.

What is the official ruling on this? Obviously, now is not a good time to try and get a new visa. I will be 50 years old a few weeks before my current visa expires, and I plan to get a retirement visa.

Ok... So receiving SSDI  as I do, and it being direct deposited to Bangkok Bank, the USA fed can do the international format. I suspect it goes through the New York branch anyway, but I always get it at the same time I would if a USA bank. Very fast.

Thanks for all the advice to use the non-filers site, but what is the URL? Also, can I have the stimulus deposited to my USA bank instead?

On SSDI with direct deposit to Bangkok Bank. No stimulus yet. Web site has no info for me, but says SS recipients do not need to file.

Advice?

On 4/30/2020 at 10:10 PM, amykat said:

 

7 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

The system obviously failed, the Thai woman should get everything, my wife told me so.

The only reason he got that much was the proof of transfering money in stages related to making payments. Without that, he would have got nothing.

That is the culture. While totally "unfair" to us westerners, it is not our culture. It is not OUR legal or lawful system.

Getting an agreement before handing over money may make you sticky sh... but if you care about your money, be realistic. 

I have a Thai woman who cooks, cleans, runs errands, and does my medical stuff. I want to get her decent medical care. What would that cost?

Seen on the curb today. Any idea what model? Google was worthless. lol.