HC82

Thanks for all of the advice!

Most of the larger Thai banks offer USD or multiple foreign currency accounts accounts, I suggest you have a chat with Kasikorn or Bangkok Bank. Bangkok Bank may suit you since they have branches in New York and London which makes international transfers easier. As for keeping currency in USD in Thailand: unless you have a work permit here you will need to open a non-resident account vs a resident account, best talk to the banks for their individual requirements and latest up to date BOT rules on this. In the case of HSBC Thailand a non-resident account allows foreign currency to be imported and stored, converted to THB at a later date if needed or transferred back overseas, however, you will be unable to deposit THB into any linked non-resident THB account. Resident accounts by contrast present difficulties in sending foreign currency out of the country unless a very narrow and specific set of conditions are met - I personally find it easier to maintain a resident and a non-resident account but at different banks.

I've been told many times by many people never to bring any money into Thailand that I do not intend to spend - and to never invest any money here that I am not willing to lose.

Keeping with those principles, it seems having only a resident account would work out fine. Anything above what I intend to spend (or invest) in LOS, I'll keep in another country. Once the money gets here, it stays here.

From BangkokBank.com...

1. What is a Foreign Currency Deposit (FCD) account?

A FCD account is a deposit account which accepts funds in 13 major foreign currencies. You can withdraw, deposit or transfer funds without converting them into Thai baht.

Great news, thanks!

From BangkokBank.com

1. What is a Foreign Currency Deposit (FCD) account?

A FCD account is a deposit account which accepts funds in 13 major foreign currencies. You can withdraw, deposit or transfer funds without converting them into Thai baht.

Stay with HSBC - the best ! Ask to open a USD account with HSBC in Thailand if you not already have.

I have been with them a long time and I will stay with them, but I also need a secondary account that will allow me to keep money in USD.

What are my options? Do any of the Thai banks allow this?

Currently I keep my USD with HSBC but would like to open up a second account, with a leading Thai bank or financial institution.

I do all of my day-to-day banking through Thai banks, in Baht, so I wont need to use the bank often. Just as a safe long term place to keep USD, in Thailand.

Thanks for any recommendations.

Thank you Buddha.

I guess Lord of War got it wrong then. When Yuri Orlov gets captured by a US agent in Lord of War, he is allowed to go free because, according to the film, the US needs guys like him to supply weapons in places the US cannot be seen supplying weapons.

Could be low. Could be she is lying to you. You are the only one who can tell us which of these is more likely. Which ever is more likely is probably the case.

Just wait and see, if she's running around she is running around and this type of thing will happen often.

I could care less how the plane looks. I want a nice smooth flight.

I took Thai a few weeks ago from BKK to Phuket and the plane kept making loud cracking sounds the whole flight. I thought the plane was going to split in two in mid-air.

Looks like Nok is going to get my domestic business, ugly paint-job and all.

FB and many other websites are quasi-blocked by True. They re-direct to the True social network page. I have found that it happens mostly when I include links in my posting on a forum. If I remove the link it works fine. I can then edit the post and re-insert the links.

Facebook is just a lost cause, usually works if I try a different browser though. Once it stayed blocked for a few days.

I don't think this is censorship so much as them trying to steal social-networking type traffic.

Thanks Mario!

What happens if you overstay a few days on your ED Visa extension? Is the Visa automatically cancelled? Or do you just pay a fine at immigration when you finally go in for the extension?

My exact situation is that I have been in Thailand one year, having come in on an ED Visa and received three subsequent extensions. I remembered my expiration date incorrectly and am now overstayed by two days.

Thanks in advance!