wwest5829

8 hours ago, Alphim said:

I heard it was due to be announced, officially, next week.

Yes, I saw the advertisement also. Fall back position, get a marriage Visa.

10 hours ago, Alphim said:

Thank you, I am having a re-think about the O-A, perhaps I'll go for the O.

What is the 11,400 baht annually you are talking about.

O-A Visa holders must have required insurance. Currently, the same people having an O Visa are not required to have this health coverage. So, my plan is to exit Thailand and re-enter Visa Exempt, then seek an O Visa for reason of retirement. The 11,400 baht is the lowest cost (200,000 baht deductible) Thai insurance meeting the minimums of 40K out patient, 400K in patient coverage.

21 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Me and all my mates got phone calls. It is important to answer all calls even ones for which you don't recognize the number. None of my mates, via expatvac, got emails or the like. 

 

Yes, after not hearing anything more from Expatvac (after the initial affirmation that I was successfully registered), I sought further clarification here in Chiang Mai. I learned that the Honorary British Consul was working with a group of volunteers with the Chiang Mai Provincial Health Office. Through this contact, I was walked through registration on "the Chiang Mai Wall" and issued an immediate registration number (later required to present when the public notices went out giving information of when and where to report for the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine donation from the US. I was in the first group called as a matter of age and pre-existing conditions. Currently, they have announced 18 years and up for Pfizer first shots. Both the Honorary British Consul and the American Consulate has sent out the info.

17 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

Yes, I am registered online through expatvac. It was a struggle to get the first dose but I got it.  But no second dose as written despite having an appointment card.

 

I don't know why I'm getting disapproval smileys from some in all honesty! I'm just telling the truth.

 

Oh well, either it will happen or it won't, and the district health office will arrange alternatives if not. I guess I can sit out another few months if needs be.

 

 

I have had both doses here in Chiang Mai. Agree, did not hear back from Expatvac except message that I was successfully registered. Then told by US Consulate and Honorary Brit Consul here to register with the provincial health department. After that, all smooth.

Over 18s Pfizer Vaccination for Foreign Residents in Chiang Mai: Ticket Holders Only

Tuesday 19th October 2021
Vaccination Centre Promenada Mall
08:30-12:30 – Foreign Residents Over 25 Yrs Age (YOB 1996 or earlier) Ticket Holders Only
13:30 -14:30-  Foreign Residents 18 - 24 Yrs Age (YOB 1997 - 2003) Ticket Holders Only

Please obtain free tickets via Eventbrite App at these links:

Foreign Residents Over 25 Yrs Age
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/over-25s-promenada-pfizer-vaccination-expats-chiang-mai-8-tickets-189396168037

Tickets available for following times:
08:30-09:30 09:30-10:30 10:30-11:30 
11:30-12:30 

Foreign Residents 18 - 24 Yrs Age
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/18-24-yrs-promenada-pfizer-vaccination-expats-chiang-mai-9-tickets-190269831187

Tickets available for following times:
13:30-14:30

Do not forget to bring to the vaccination your:
- Passport
- Eventbrite E-ticket
- Consent Form, filled in prior to arrival (see below).

Terms and Conditions Apply 

This Pfizer vaccination is only for foreign residents in Chiang Mai who have never been vaccinated with any vaccine before

Only one ticket is allowed per person.

This vaccination is for expat foreign residents NOT migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos. Migrant workers will be vaccinated under a separate program.

You are advised to arrive 15 minutes before your ticket time. There is no need to arrive earlier than that.

In order to reduce delays for yourself and others, please could you:

1) Pre-register with Wall of Chiang Mai, if you have not already done so at: https://reboot.chiangmaihealth.go.th/CMCVR/ and note your 13 digit ID number.

2) Print out and fill in the Consent Form prior to arrival. Full address is not required only District and Sub-District. Form can be found at this link:
https://www.chiangmaihealth.go.th/cmpho_web/coronavirus/Consent_Form_Eng.pdf

Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office would like to emphasize that this vaccination is only for individuals who have not previously been vaccinated. Registrations will be checked and fraud will lead to ineligibility for all future vaccinations from the Royal Thai Government. 
All guidelines at the vaccinations will be strictly enforced, and customers eligible for vaccination must comply with the above criteria. Individuals who do not comply will be turned away and asked to wait for a later date.

On 10/12/2021 at 1:19 PM, mommysboy said:

I don't think so, but:

 

Well, I turned up at the allotted date, time and place on my appointment slip and nobody was there- I mean the whole station was empty.  The hospital admitted error in admin then sent me to the new vaccine center and that was closed too. So, we went to the District Public Health Office who also went through the sorry, sorry, wai, wai routine, but also said there is no Pfizer for me but there may be some more around the 21st- maybe!?.  I also had similar substantial problems even getting the first dose.  Even if they do get a vaccine for me, the level of incompetence means that I'm not at all convinced it will end up in my arm, based on previous experience.

We are still having Pfizer distribute to foreigners here in Chiang Mai. Hav to be registered online.

I listened to a member of  the group issuing this warning on the basis of the long study. Of course everyone is in different circumstances. Nothing new regarding me. 5 by-passes in 2005, heart attack resulting in stent and 2 additional angioplasties in 2015. Feeling fine BUT, hmmm, colesterol meds, hypothyroid meds, blood pressure meds, Concur and baby aspirin. So, I listen to my Cardiologist. Interesting, I have found I cannot use any additional aspirin, for a headache, for example. If I had done so, I woke up looking through blood spots in my eyes … yikes! 

10 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Another crazy report from US. Why would anybody take meds, if they do not need it? Insane!

Prophylaxis … action taken to prevent disease, especially by specified means or against a specific disease. As in taking vaccines ….

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

THailand, all over the world known for the sexindustry has a law that sextoys are illegal... I suppose in the law is written that only living materials are allowed.....to protect the industry

I have had an unsubstantiated theory since first visiting Thailand that the laws dealing with toys or porn was an effort to restrict this so as to encourage employment … if you get my drift.

Had my two shots out of the USA donated allotment. Thai wife scheduled for the paid Moderna at a hospital here in Chiang Mai (hopefully next month). Thai Stepdaughter scheduled for Pfizer at her school this month.

52 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Laws for Thailand are made in Kentucky? Get back to cooking fried chicken!????

Did I state this somewhere? Thought the discussion was allowing for a free discourse of our understanding of the right of self defense in the use of deadly force. As to the case at hand, not enough is known in order to make an informed opinion.

Having lived in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and held a Concealed Deadly Weapon License, it was my understanding that the use of deadly force was only warranted in defense of life (your’s or another’s life), not in order to protect property. Of course, every case must be judged on its own presented evidence. My understanding was, if someone forcefully broke into my home that would present evidence that I was in fear of my life and thus had a right to use deadly force. If I had invited someone in or no forced entry was involved and a fight ensued, that would be a different matter. The burden of arguing defense of life would be harder to demonstrate to a jury. Currently, I would cite my 5’5” height, age, and heart condition as why I had the needed fear … I also keep a deadly weapon in the house and would have no psychological/moral issue with a defense resulting in a death. As to the current Swiss defendant … the jury is, by right, still out as not enough evidence has been sorted through … IMHO.

15 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Thailand doesn't seem to realize that most foreigners who come to Thailand are backpackers or poor retirees because the cost of living is lower.

 

If they are rich, there are better places to go to where the culture & language are more similar and the visa extensions easier to do (instead of endless copying of documents) and also NO 90 day reporting.

I do agree that a major consideration for my retiring to Thailand in 2011 was a lower cost of living and thus being able to maintain a working middle class comfortable retirement. Still, with maintaining a 1 million baht brought into the country each year, I do not that I am a poor retiree. Yes, I note you said most not all. I really am curious to know, if fact, what the average western retiree in Thailand spends per year and an estimated net worth.

I certainly is Thailand well but … same mindset of have seen in housing prices. Nice if you can get it and there certainly are people out there with the big bucks as we have recently seen in the report of who is buying up condos. Just how many are there … how many can Thailand attract in completion with other luxury destinations? My vote would be to aim at, no not the beg packers, rather the vast majority wishing the working middle class who are looking for a unique, exotic vacation … or in my case, retirement destination. Or, of course you can keep building and leaving constructed places all but empty … I believe China is also seeing some of this.

31 minutes ago, Taxi said:

If you selling or giving away your phone, do a full factory reset. Just "deleted is not completely deleted the data is still there and can be restored with the proper tools.

Señal decade ago, I remember we had access to programs which would overwrite your storage two or three times. Whatever happened to that idea or is it no longer necessary?

8 hours ago, Henryford said:

That's the problem with the 65k a month method. You only need one month not to show as an international transfer and there goes your extension visa.

I have not had problems using the 65K a month for a decade through October 6, 2021. As for Immigration? Thai wife, I think they might want to help straighten out any one month “glitch”. Just my guess …

7 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wonder how much of the money used to buy the condos here by Chinese folks is dirty money from Ill gotten gains, scams, or from government stooges.  

Hmmm, I would be tempted to smart off but in light of both the Panama Papers and the recent Pandora investigative reporting ...

3 hours ago, moe666 said:

even for tourism americans are down on the list, easier to go to mexico for a trip

 

You have to rememberwho has been teaching the manors in china the last 30 or 40 years. They killed all the people with manors and education. The manors have been taught by the wild and wooly farmers and people who use to carry around the little red book.

can't speak to today but when I was looking to retire from the US a decade ago, other countries on the list were Mexico, Panama Canal Zone and Ecuador. never mind the reality deniers, the USA has been a bi-lingual country since taking half of Mexico, then add in Puerto Rico and Cuba pre Castro.

15 minutes ago, Stupooey said:

The surprising thing to me is seeing the French in fourth place. One would have thought that they would have been more attracted to the countries in the old French Indo-China, where they would have a chance of being able to communicate in their own language (I've found myself before having to speak French in Laos to make myself understood), and also be able to appreciate the baguettes! For every Frenchman I've met in Thailand there must have been about 20 Scandis: perhaps the latter don't buy condos.

Difference in the form of government???

8 hours ago, hioctane said:

Wow. The Chinese own 10x the second closest!

Nouveau-riche. China has been able to position itself as the number one world producer of low cost goods through a centrally controlled economy and, in a bit of irony, earning capitalist profits from the capitalist west.

Ready to do our part once the Thai wife and Stepdaughter are vaccinated (projected Pfizer/Moderna). Recommend the government reinstitute subsidizing hotel/resort/home stay costs from 25 - 50% (subsidy going directly to lodging business based on the documented booked stays. My income is limited, I am a retired resident but not one of the wealthy that some want to focus on attracting to come into the country. Still, my comfortable monthly budget of 65,000 baht does allow for occasional stays during school holidays or long weekends.

18 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

My first thought was Bali, because of the Julia Roberts movie. No doubt in my mind that every western woman on the planet watched that and planned to go there in search of Mr Perfection.

Have enjoyed the movie numerous times. Wish all the happiness I have found in retirement in Thailand.