soisanuk

I received a letter dated 11 May from BCBS FEP stating: I expect the claims volume is normal and the cause really is either the inexperience of the GeoBlue processors, insufficient staff, or both. If I recall correctly, GMMI had similar issues when the started. Adding to that, when they first started, BCBS FEP was performing a second review to assess their the quality of GMMI's processing of the claim before giving final approval for payment. This may also be the case with GeoBlue. With GMMI, it sorted out after a while, but I don't recall the delays lasting 5 months as it now has with the change over to GeoBlue. As to the guarantee letter, I request the hospital to direct bill for inpatient care only. For outpatient, I pay the bill and file a claim for reimbursement. This reduces my out of pocket cost as my Hospital, if they are direct billing my USA health insurance substantially increases the cost from what I incur if I "self" pay. Thus my 15% copay for outpatient care is more if I have them direct bill FEP. .

Thank you Sheryl. I fully agree. I use Circadin (melatonin) as a sleep aide. It was prescribed for me a few years ago when I was an inpatient at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya for a lung infection. At the time, it was also suspected I had sleep apnea and this was confirmed by tests supervised by their doctor that specialized in in sleep disorders. She prescribed the cirdadin to help me sleep. I have used it ever since when I have trouble sleeping. Although not 100%, I have found it to help me sleep more often then not. So this thread was of interest, especially if there were other medicines that might be 100% effective. Yesterday, I had another medicine suggested to me by a fellow expat. He says he uses hydroxyzine. Looking up both hydroxyzine and gabapentin online, I noted they are used primarily to treat other medical conditions and not as a sleep aide. Also, they are not recommended for those with certain medical conditions without first consulting with a physician. Since I do have more than one of the cited medical conditions, for now, I will continue with melatonin.

Yes, they are exceedingly slow in processing claims. My claim last January took over 2 1/2 months to process and then it took over 2 weeks from the "date paid" until the bank transfer was rec'd in my Thai bank account (normally, that took 5 days when GMMI was processing). My current claim they rec'd on April 10 shows as still "in process" in their online tracking system.

The Pattaya City Expats Club updated their Latest Immigration Information website page on 8 May 2024 to say the following:

Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration: If using the 65k monthly income method will want a letter from your Thai bank listing all the foreign deposits to your account for the past 12 months. They will then check to make sure there was a deposit of at least 65k in each of those months. It is my understanding that Bangkok Bank can provide the letter using your passbook - listing the deposits with an FTT code. Otherwise, they can use bank statements for each month (I don't keep my passbook regularly updated, so I have always ordered statements for the preceding 12 months and they use those to prepare the letter. In addition to the letter listing the deposits, they will also want the usual bank letter verifying the account (required whether using 800k deposit or 65k monthly income). If using 800k in your Thai bank account for renewal, they will accept copies from your passbook showing all transactions (no net entries which occur if you do not keep the passbook regularly updated). They will check to make sure that your balance remained at 800k for 3 months after your previous extension and for the 2 months before your current application and that in the months in between, the balance never went below 400k. If you have net entries, they will want to see bank statements for the 12 previous months; it is my understanding these have to be certified by the bank. I have always obtained the both letters the day before going to Immigration (early morning before bank branches open) with no difficulty. They may want to see your passbook showing a transaction on the day you apply (apparently depends on the Immigration Officer as last year I didn't do so and there was no problem).

Correct. My branch is on Phratamnak Road (2nd road becomes Phratamnak once you go past South (Pattaya Tai) Road traveling toward Jomtien). For the past several years, I have obtained my bank information from the counter at Tesco Lotus South (now closed - so next month when I need to obtain again, I will get from another branch). As mentioned, if you will need 12 months of statements, give yourself time - Bangkok Bank Branches can only provide 6 months, so they must order more than that from Bangkok HQ. This takes at least 5 business days.

The Pattaya City Expats Club has a webpage with information on getting a Thai IDP which is obtained at the Chonburi DLT (the Banglamung DLT - near International School- does not issue IDPs. The PCEC webpage URL: https://pcec.club/Thailand-IDP/

In Pattaya I have obtained circadin at both Fascino and D Pharmacies.

Some do and some don't. Whether it will work depends on whether your financial institution. My bank added a 2nd tier security check in for online access - code sent by phone or text message (previously the had done this by email, but did away with that option). I use a Skype VOIP USA phone number (US$40 per year fee) as my number for my banks & credit cards. After the switch I selected text message and did not receive it. I then selected phone. Likewise, I did not receive a telephone call. So, apparently they could detect it was a VOIP number. Using their 800 number, I changed my phone number to my brother's mobile number in USA. I arranged for my brother to give me the code using Facebook messenger so I could use it to to gain access. I also encountered this when my retirement personnel system switched to a similar 2 tier log in. Only in that case, when I entered my Skype VOIP USA telephone number, I immediately received a message that I they would not accept VOIP telephone numbers.

When sending US dollars to a Bangkok Bank account, they charge a conversion fee - it 1/4% of the amount received with a minimum fee of 200 baht and a maximum of 500 baht. My US bank a few years ago instituted a system in their online banking to do int'l transfers for a US$5 fee, BUT to use it you had to let them convert the USD to baht before sending. When they started the system, I did a comparison for sending US$ 2,000 by their system and by Wise. The result was a deposit of US$50 less by my bank's transfer vs that by Wise. So my US bank's exchange rate was in essence a "hidden fee." Bangkok Bank NY does have a baht remittance service (doesn't use the ACH system, you have to send them a paper check). I used it once as a test in case I might need it as a backup system. They converted the USD to baht before transmitting and charged a US$10fee (US$60 if you want it sent in USD). The exchange rate the NY Branch used was the same that Bangkok Bank would have charged here - so no hidden fee as the NY Branch did not use a lower exchange rate. Since the transfer from the NY Branch was in baht, the full amount was deposited in my account here (no conversion fee).

As noted in my previous post, the following is on the list (sign) at Pattaya Immigration's 90 day address reporting desk: That seems fairly clear - it makes no mention about Visas. Using a multiple entry visa doesn't change the fact that you will need to do the next 90 day report at Immigration; not online as a new TM.47 will be required to show your new entry date into Thailand which will start the 'clock' running again for the 90 consecutive days to the next report.

The renewal time seems to vary - the renewal application with photos are sent by the Embassy to the State Department. So the time it takes will depend on the volume of passport renewals being processed at that time. My friend that did his own said it took 11 weeks for him to get it. This was several months ago. My friends that used Key Visa received their passports after 4 weeks in one case (his was applied for about 4 months ago) and in the other it took 3 weeks (his was within the last 2 months). The Embassy's website, if I recall correctly, says the mail in process will take 6 to 8 weeks.

90 day address reporting is required when you remain in Thailand for 90 consecutive days. If you leave Thailand, the 90 day clock starts anew when you return to Thailand with the entry day being day 1 of the count. It has nothing to do with the type of Visa you may be using.

The Pattaya City Expats Club has just posted this on their "latest Immigration information" webpage: It also included a sign posted at Pattaya Immigration 90 day address reporting desk:

Key Visa's fee is all inclusive -their fee, the passport fee, and postage (mailing to Embassy in Bangkok and prepaid postage for return mail envelope). They handle everything - only two visits needed - drop off passport, provide information they need for application, sign a blank renewal application form, provide passport and photo (they will take the photo, but they prefer you to bring in your own), pay the 10,000 baht fee. The second visit is to return to pick up the new and old passport. Note: they will offer to have stamps transferred for a fee of 2,500 bah - BUT you can do that yourself (no fee at Immigration) or use other less costly agents. While other agents will not do the passport renewal, they do provide other Immigration services such as the transfer. Another friend of mine who is mobility impaired did his renewal using the mail in process to the Embassy. He used an agent to go to Immigration to transfer stamps from the old to the new for a fee of 500 baht. As to the previous comment regarding using an agent for "hand holding" is not always the reason. For those that can afford it as were my friends, they chose to pay a fee for the agent to handle everything. They did not want to have to make a round trip from Pattaya to Bangkok to "drop off" their passport (as I understand it, you first need to get an appointment online beforehand and will not be admitted into the building until 15 minutes prior to your appointment time). Further, they didn't want to be bothered with what they considered a "hassle" to do it themselves by the mail in process. As often said here, its Up to You!

The passport is mailed to their office and they call for you to pick it up.

If you are in Pattaya, the only Agent that I know of that will handle USA passport renewals is Key Visa on the soi adjacent to Big C South - use Google to search for their web page. Two of my friends used them very recently to renew their passports because they didn't want to go through the mail in process themselves. The first one to use it recommended them to the 2nd one. The first one said he went to several agents in Pattaya, but found that only Key Visa would do USA passport renewals (they also handle UK passport renewals). Their fee, includes passport renewal fee and the postage, is 10,000 baht. The first one received his passport after a 4 week wait and the second after a 3 week wait. The first one also used them to do the transfer of stamps at Pattaya Immigration for a fee of 2,500 baht. The second one planned to use them, but was waiting until next week when they could also do his 90 day address report as a visit to Immigration is required when there has been a change in passport numbers. They said they would do the 90 day for an additional 500 baht. However, that friend has now decided to use a different agent for that purpose - VIP Visa on Jomtien 2nd Road near Soi Wat Boon intersection - as a mutual friend who went through the mail in process lives in the Jomtien area and used VIP Visa to get the transfers done and was charged a fee of 500 baht.

I agree with the above. When you return and go to do your 90 day report afterward, make sure that you don't have the old "TM.47 Receipt" still in your passport and it will most likely not be checked, i.e. IO looking at your departure date and comparing it to your previous reporting date. They will most likely will only look at your last entry date to make sure you are timely making the 90 day report (14 days before and up to 7 days after being in the country 90 consecutive days - entry date is day one).

Jomtien Immigration for the past few months has ignored the rule that says no TM.30 is due if entering using a Re Entry Permit and returning to the same address. They were requiring a new TM.30 if you left and returned to Thailand regardless of whether you used a Re Entry Permit and returned to the same address. In some reports, they apparently imposed a 1,600 baht fine but not always. They also were allowing 72 hours instead of 24 for making the report. HOWEVER, there there may be a recent change - the following is posted on the Pattaya City Expats Club's webpage for the latest Thai Immigration issues:

The 90 day report is required if you remain in Thailand for more than 90 consecutive days. Thus, the report would be required. However, if you have no plans to visit Immigration after getting the 60 day to visit spouse extension (which will be at a time you have been in country 60 consecutive days (30+30)), you could skip doing the report as Immigration upon departure from Thailand does not check for 90 day reporting.

Here are two Thai Embassy/Consulate sources showing 6 month validity required for obtaining a Visa: https://cgchicago.thaiembassy.org/en/page/tourist-visa-requirements Single Entry Tourist Visa • Your actual Passport or Travel Document. (Passport or Travel Document must not expire within 6 months and contain at least ONE completely empty visa page) - include a copy of "picture-page" of the passport. http://www.thaiembassyjakarta.com/en/consular-services/important-information-on-visa-application/ Passport with at least two blank pages left, valid for at least six months from the expected date of arrival in Thailand. Here is a link to an Aseannow.com thread that comments on less than 6 months is okay for entry into Thailand (it also has several comments saying 6 months required along with comments that that information is incorrect. - https://aseannow.com/topic/1294708-passport-validity-requirements/ IMO the references to the IATA website requirements, which is used by most airlines to determine eligibility for entry shows that if you have a passport that expires in less than 6 months but later than the period of stay in Thailand, then entry will be permitted, e.g.

I believe the rules changed some time ago. Now, upon entry, your passport only needs to be valid for the length of stay (30, 60, & 90 days for Visa Exempt, Tourist, & Non-Immigrant). However, if you are applying for a Visa at a Thai Embassy or Consulate, I believe the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still requires you to have 6 months validity.

I quit using the North Pattaya Road Best a long time ago - no place to park. It used to be you could park on North Road fairly close to Best entry door (not many spaces, but I usually found at least one available). Then they made it no parking for that whole area of North Road near Best. The very few parking spaces behind Best were almost always full, so I gave up on shopping there.

It was several years or so ago that I had a passport expiring (April) before my normal one year extension period ended (July). Immigration gave me an extension up to the passport expiry date (April). When I received my new passport, they transferred my stamps and further extended my stay to my previous annual renewal date of July with no additional fee charged for the further extension. Subsequently, they changed the rules. If your passport expires in less than one year, they will grant an extension up to the expiry date of the passport. When you receive your new passport, they will transfer stamps but not extend the current period of stay. Before that period of stay ends (usually 30 but in some Offices 45 days before) you can apply of a one year extension of stay and pay the fee. Thus creating a new annual renewal date. For example passport expires in April, normal extension renewal is July. Extension will be granted until April. When a new passport is issued the stamps are transferred and before the April expiry date, you apply for a new extension, pay the fee, and the extension will expire one year later (April). I just renewed my passport as it was set to expire in April 2025 with my next renewal due in July 2024. I have just now received my new USA passport and will transfer the stamps at the same time as I do my next 90 day address report in early May (I have to do the address report in person as it cannot be done online as passport numbers will not match with previous online reports). I renewed my passport more than one year before expiry date so that my next renewal will continue to be for a full year (July 2025).

The process at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration for getting the initial Non-O Visa and subsequent extension are shown on the Pattaya City Expats Club website at: https://pcec.club/Applying-for-Non-Immigrant-O-Retirement/