soisanuk

The Pattaya City Expats Club has the following on their Expat Recommended Health Providers web page:

Agree, Pupen's is very good. I do believe they take bookings, but not for weekends including Friday. Also, agree with post regarding Bang Saray - you will need transport, but better atmosphere. The one I have gone to (forget the name) is on a pier out over the water, so a nice view.

It has been a few years ago that I used their Baht Remittance Service. It took about 11 days from the time I sent money from my USA bank to Bangkok Bank's NY Branch and it arriving in my Bangkok Bank account in Thailand. The process: 1 Downloaded the Application which is a pdf form, completed it, and emailed it to the NY Branch along with the Identity page from my passport. [link for doing the download is on their webpage https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Transfers/Transferring-Into-Thailand/Foreign-Remittance 2. Using my USA bank on line banking, I ordered a check* payable to the NY Branch and had it sent by snail mail to the NY Branch's address. 3. The NY Branch after depositing the paper check, waited for it to clear. 4. The NY Branch then converted the dollars to baht** and transferred it to my Bangkok Bank account here in Thailand. 5. Although they remitted the money to me based on the emailed application, at the time I used the service, they required the original be sent to them by snail mail and if not sent, they would not not process any future transfers. [In looking at their current information, that appears to no longer be a requirement, but that may have been in info I received confirming approval of the application] * Personal checks mailed to them are not acceptable, but they will accept it as a bank money order if sent by your bank [I confirmed by email with them beforehand that they would accept my USA bank's issued paper check] - see Item 11 under Terms and Conditions which are on the 2nd page of the Application Form. ** They will send US dollars if requested, but according to their website, the fee will be $55 [IMO unnecessary unless being sent to a US Dollar account rather than a baht account - when I did my transfer, unlike US banks, the exchange rate used by the NY Branch was the same as used by their HQ here in Thailand.

When I set up a joint account with my Thai partner at Bangkok Bank several years ago, I was asked if I wanted it to require both of our signatures to withdraw funds or only one by either of us. We chose either one of us and also not to have an ATM card, only the bank book. It is my understanding that even if you have a will designating your beneficiary for all your bank accounts, for them to get access, the executor must still use an attorney to apply to the probate court for an order to be given to the bank allowing access. Since I wasn't sure whether being a joint account that the joint owner would also be barred from taking the funds without the probate court order if I died, I advised my partner to quickly take the bank book to the bank and withdraw the funds before the bank was notified of my death. However, it was my partner that died first - being 26 years older, that was not anticipated. We had needed the funds earlier for something else, so there wasn't much in the account. It was a few months later that I was at the bank and informed them the joint account holder was deceased. They said I had to close the account, they had me withdraw the funds and they closed the account. Nothing was said about needing a court order.

Correct! The NY Branch does have other methods for doing transfers referred to as: - International Automated Clearing House Transfers (IAT) - Baht Remittance Service - Domestic Wire Transfer The Pattaya City Expats Club has a web page describing the change from domestic ACH to IAT and the 3 methods shown above - https://pcec.club/BangkokBankNY. The web page notes the Domestic Wire information is old and that one should check with the NY Branch to determine is they still accept Domestic Wire Transfers.

This is posted on the Pattaya City Expats Club website:

The initial drop down window doesn't show it. You need to scroll down - it is the last item in the "purposes" on the list.

Earlier this year, after renewing my passport, I filed a new TM30 and later did the 90 day report in person. For my next 90 day report, I did it online - no problem. Next month, I am due to file another one which I plan to do using the online system.

Yes, she is in business and has been recommended by several expats. The Pattaya City Expats Club has contact information on their Expat Recommended Businesses page: https://pcec.club/SERVICES

I did my extension renewal at Jomtien in June. I use the income method. Since I didn't keep the passbook up to date, I obtained certified bank statements from which Bangkok Bank branch prepared the usual letter listing all foreign (FTT) deposits during the previous 12 months which in the past was all that was required. However, this time the IO wanted the certified copies of the bank statements in addition to the letter (I had those copies with me and gave them to him). He told me that next time, I needed to keep my passbook up to date so the statements would not be needed. In addition, it is my understanding that if the passbook is kept up to date, the Bank branch will use that to prepare the letter without the need for bank statements.

CareFirst is the Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP organization that handles FEP overseas claims. They have done so for the 20 years I have been living in Thailand. However, they do contract with other companies to handle overseas claims for them. On January 1, 2024 they switched from GMMI to Geo-Blue. GMMI was great as was their predecessor. When GMMI took over, claims processing was a bit slow for the first couple of months, but improved rapidly. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya dealt with them directly for my inpatient care and usually paid their claim within 30 days of receipt. For my outpatient care, I paid the Hospital direct and filed a claim for reimbursement which was usually approved within 3 weeks and money transferred to my Thai bank account within 5 days after that. I have quarterly monitoring visits when my maintenance prescriptions are also filled (90 day supply) that amount to about US$1,200+. For my claim filed in January 2024, Geo-Blue took 2 1/2 months to process and upon approval, another 14 days until the funds were deposited in my Thai bank account. For my claim filed in April, they took 3 months to process and again another 14 days before the payment was deposited in my bank. My latest claim, filed July is still pending, but based on previous performance will also take a long time. Based on my contact with CareFirst about the extreme delay in the April claim, I got a reply that they were aware of the problem and were working on remedying it -- Considering this poor service has been going on for more than 6 months since the change over, I'm having doubts on their ability or willingness to get things corrected.

This morning, about 7am, I initiated a transfer through Wise from my US bank to Bangkok Bank. I received the usual email that money was on its way and should arrive around 2pm today. At 2:02pm I received a text message from Bangkok bank that the money had been deposited to my account.

Since the app is downloaded to your computer, my suggestion is to uninstall and download/install it again.

If in Pattaya, the Pattaya City Expats Club meets every Wednesday at the Holiday Inn Pattaya located at the north end of Beach Road - a friendly group. Their meeting program starts at 10:30am - many arrive around 9:30am to visit with other expats before the meeting starts. More information on their website - https://pcec.club/

A month or so ago I had a similar experience. Wise advised that I would receive money about 2pm the next day (I use long stay in Thailand as reason so they will use Bangkok bank and not their other partner bank). The next morning I received the usual email the the transfer on its way (transfer was from my US account to Bangkok bank account). Around 2 pm no deposit. Next morning I contacted Bangkok Bank (no response) and Wise (they said to give it 3 days then contact them if it had not arrived). I did arrive at 2pm - a day late - delay appears to have been with Bangkok Bank.

If I recall correctly, the rabies vaccination for dogs and other domestic animals is good for only 1 to 3 years, then they need to be re vaccinated. Since the dog that bit you had the shot 6-7 years ago, it would was no longer effective.

The Pattaya City Expats Club has checklists on their website for documents required. They should be complete, but remember that the Immigration Officer can sometimes require something in addition. I use the 65k baht per month method and used that checklist. All were accepted an nothing additional was required. The Jomtien Immigration Office now requires you to show evidence that you have a TM.30 on file - if you cannot provide the evidence, they will most likely require you to file a new one. I did a TM.30 early his year upon moving to a new residence. I included a copy of the TM.30 receipt with my documents and noted that the Immigration Officer looked it over and used his marker to highlight some of the information shown on it (likewise on other documents submitted). The PCEC's checklist can be found here: https://pcec.club/CHECKLISTS-Extensions-of-Stay

The Pattaya City Expats Club has a webpage listing the documents required and process at Jomtien Immigration Office: https://pcec.club/ResidencyCertificate/ As noted, if being used for both car and motorcycle license, tick only one of those on the request form and you can use it and a photocopy at the Dept of Land Transport Office to obtain both licenses. However, you will probably need a another original certificate for purchasing a vehicle especially if the transfer is being handled by an auto dealer. If buying from the owner, the section in the Land Transport Office that handles it is separate from the driving license section and will most likely want an original residence certificate.

If you are in the Jomtien area, VIP Visa will do it for 200B - I had them do mine along with getting stamps transferred to my new passport (500B). They were recommended by a friend that used them for his stamp transfer. It did involve a trip to the agent to drop off the passport (all they needed) and pick it up - but more convenient than going to Jomtien Immigration, getting queue number, wait, etc. - well worth the 700B total. They are located on Jomtien 2nd Road near Soi Boon Kanchana intersection - you can use Google to get more information.

Agree! When doing your first extension of stay to a Non-Immigrant O Visa, Jomtien will set up your next 90 day report to be 90 days from date of extension application. Future renewal(s) of your extension will have no relationship to the 90 day address reporting date. When you do the 90 day report Jomtien gave you, your next report will be 90 days from the date you report which can be from 14 days before to 7 days after the due date. The fine for late filing can be up to 5000 baht but Jomtien normally fines 2000 baht.

I did my annual extension at Jomtien on Thursday morning (20 June) arriving at 8:30 am. There was no line at the info desk and my queue number for desk 8 was #3. They did give me two documents to sign along with blank copies to "use next year" - the acknowledgement of penalties for overstay and similar one for knowing the need to visit Immigration if any changes in my status for obtaining the extension. It was then direct into the main building to to desk 8 for a 5 minute wait for the IO (one was processing another person and mine wasn't at the desk yet). He went through the documents (I use 65k monthly income - USA, so no Embassy letter). I obtained my bank letters the previous day (Bangkok Bank - passbook not kept up to date during the year so I had ordered bank statements one week previously which the teller used to prepare the letter listing foreign deposits for the preceding 12 months). I did do a transaction that morning at the Bangkok Bank branch near Immigration and then updated passbook - I don't recall the IO even looking at it (the previous year I didn't update on the day I renewed and there was no question raised). The only issue was in the past they were satisfied with copies of passbook pages (even though not regularly updated) and bank letter listing foreign deposits. However, this time, the IO wanted the bank statements (which I had with me and gave to him). I departed at about 8:45am with instructions as usual to pick up passport the next day after 2pm. One change was he said I did not have to return in person and that my Thai companion could pick up the passport for me - which they did the following day.

If applying at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration, you do not have to have it printed front to back - they will accept it as 2 separate pages. Also, if doing it there, the photo can be handed to them separately and they will do the attaching. They do require that you include your telephone number on the form - usually at the bottom of the 2nd page.

That link notes it applies to those using the FEP Basic plan: "For Part B, you pay a premium. FEP Blue Basic members who have Medicare Part A and Part B can get up to $800 with a Medicare Reimbursement Account." I and I would expect many of the FEP insured residing overseas have the Standard option. Thus it appears that would not apply to them.

Yes, there is an increase. For each year you have opted out, it is 10%. Since I opted out 15 years ago, that would mean a 150% increase in the Part B premium if I should return to USA. If I recall correctly, you can opt back in March of each year. Since I did not pay a premium during those 15 years, it would take some time before I hit the break even point. When I researched the matter at the time I made the decision to opt out, FEP Blue would still cover any USA medical costs at 85% up to the amount on medicare's fee schedule; and I would be responsible for 100% of any charges in excess of the fee schedule. I also found that by law that if you are medicare eligible but do not have Part B, outpatient costs allowed to be charged to you cannot exceed 115% of the medicare schedule. Considering the above and that I did not intend to return to USA, I decided that opting out of Part B was the best course of action.

I presume this was for non emergency treatment. As for FEP covered inpatient treatment when you have medicare, yes they cover 100%. Once you are on medicare Part A, FEP Blue offers supplemental cover paying inpatient medical costs not covered by medicare. Since medicare generally does not cover you outside the USA, FEP Blue will cover 100%. In my case, I opted out of Part B as I was living in Thailand and saw no reason to pay the monthly premium for Part B. FEP Blue continued to be my primary health care insurer for outpatient care paying 85%. If you opt out of Part B, the only change is that FEP Blue must use the medicare schedule for limitations on cost. Considering that medical care in Thailand is considerably less than USA, limiting the cost to the medicare schedule has no adverse affects.