tpiety2

On 5/1/2024 at 9:04 AM, atpeace said:

I'm not charged for international wires from my US bank and have been using Bangkok Bank's New York branch for wires the last 15 years. 

 

Why not send the money directly to Thailand to avoid the $10 Bangkok Bank's New York branch charges?  I think the same "telegraphic transfer buying rate"   would be used regardless.  Am I missing something?

What US bank do you use that has no int. wire fees? If you send direct to your Thai BB acct. you would have no $10 US BB fee or US bank wire fee only the .25% Thai BB fee. And yes you get the current TT exchange rate. My US Chase bank charges me a $40 wire fee.

I was told that back in '68 an Army friend of a friend use to bring pockets full of Star Sapphires from CM 

back to the States. He was stationed here in LOS during the Viet Nam war.

So, I am wondering if said gems are still about and abundant. If so where and how much etc.? 

I plead ignorance on the subject and am asking for some friendly info.  

I don't know about CM but here in Phitsanulok Tops has unlimited free delivery for a 250 baht purchase if you are a member of Tops Prime for 99 baht a month. 

They deliver by Grab in an hour or 2 or by Standard delivery scheduled up to a week in advance. It really works quite well.

How could it work? Sharing username/password? what if each wanted to watch the same game etc,? have you done it before... hmm, many questions? 

It always amazed me why in the US, with twenties in the register, many say they can't change a hundred.... what else are you going to do with twenties besides make change?

23 hours ago, TimBKK said:

Medisafe Pharmacy - can search them here, lots of good reports.  Based in BKK but operate mostly online although they also schedule delivery “runs” where you can have your item delivered in person - Chiang Mai scheduled for 30 April.

 

https://www.facebook.com/Medisafe.Pharmacy.Rama4

Have used several times with no problems.

 

 

 

Medisafe is cheap, easy and to your door, just message them what you need and they'll give you prices and ship it, you can ask for generics as well. Shipping is usually only about 30 baht.

Super Glue has worked for me and lasted years.

Looking for sound info, advice, links, tips, insights and useful friendly suggestions on Flying back to the States.

My wife and I have vaccines and her US visa, we plan on leaving on or about 3/31 give or take a day and returning

2 to 6 mos. later hopefully closer to 2 months than 6 months.

So helpful info on leaving and returning to Thailand appreciated, perhaps someone whom has recently made the trip

and has tips to share or someone who has frequent flyer miles going to waste and wants to sell them etc. etc. etc..

Thanks for any and all good advice.

1 hour ago, monique25 said:

UPDATE: I was today at the policestation as the lady said yesterday from elite visa callcenter. The police there didnt spoke english so i called the Elite Visa Callcenter, Then they talked in thai language. I didnt understand what they said. He gave me my phone back and the lady said that the police will drive with me now to the shop so that i have to show them the shop. It was 2 Police officer in their motorbike. One was in the front and one behind their motorbike. So we drived to the mechanic. When we was there they was talking again in thai language. So i didnt understand what they said.  Then when they were talking the lady from elite visa was at the phone and called me. She said to give my phone again to the police officer. Then they were talking again with the police. Then the lady said that the owner said that he told me yesterday the price in the beginning. I said that this is a lie.  I never would accept it if it were 700 Baht. She said also that the owner didnt threatened me. I said to her that he said yesterday if i dont pay the 700 baht that they will not give me my motorbike. So in the end the lady from the callcenter said what i want now. I said that i dont want this expensive tire. So then they talked again with the police in thai. In the end she said that they will put my old tire and rubber there and will pay me back my 700 baht. I saw that they still had my tire and rubber from yesterday. So i aggreed with that. They put my old broken tire and rubber back and paid me my money back. The Police gone and all was finish.  After that i drived to my mechanic where i go everytime but yesterday he was close. Today his shop was open. I showed him the broken tire. I paid the same price like last year. 150 Baht for the tire and 120 Baht for the rubber. So total 270 baht. So i am very happy again. I also told him what happen yesterday and that they charged me 700 baht. He asked me if i have Line. I said no. He said to install LIne. I installed Line and he took my phone and type his phonenumber or something inside. He said if next time i have problem or if close to contact him in line.  He said always come to him if i have problem with motorbike. No go another he said. So that was a really happy day today. Now i will drive to BIG C cause i have to do some shopping. Have a nice day everyone and thanks all for your answers and help. 

I think you got the pretty face discount, most mechanics(men) are easily swayed by pretty women.

sounds great.... if I only lived in CM.

On 9/5/2020 at 10:42 AM, elektrified said:

That's nonsense.

 

We ship to the USA all the time by DHL. (He is asking about shipping from Thailand to USA, not the other way around). There is an exemption of 24,000 THB or 800$ USD to the USA. Nobody pays any tax on shipments valued up to 24,000 THB. DHL is excellent and extremely reliable. Customer support is 5*****. And, they are cheaper than UPS or FedEx.

Nonsense 5555,

Shipped from US to Thailand. 

DHL called me and literally asked 

for 3800 bht "under the table" 2800 for customs and 1000 for DHL. Not Nonsense, it is 100% true.          DHL openly and clearly said "3800bht, under the table". DHL excellent, my ass! Thai Customs openly said DHL is very unreliable. huh, I had a common experience according to Customs.   

What ever you do don't use DHL. They will openly ask you for money "under the table".

A Customs officer told me he constantly has trouble with DHL.

If you use DHL be prepared to pay and pay and pay.

I paid 3700bht to have less than 1 kg shipped from the US. DHL called me and literally asked 

for 3800 bht "under the table" 2800 for customs and 1000 for DHL Upon speaking to Customs,

Customs said the package had already been released to DHL and there were no charges.

Bleed the pump.

Well, I spoke to immigration here in Phitsanulok and there is good news and not so good news. The good is I will not need a re-entry permit but I cannot renew my extension of stay before I leave in January(not so good), you can only renew 45 days prior to my April expiration. So I save money on leaving but when I return in July I must go to Immigration at Chang Wattahana and convert my tourist visa to a 90 day non-imm O for 2k baht and then when that expires Phitsanulok Immigration will sell me a new one year extension of stay. All in all that is cheaper and less work than getting a new Visa in the states.

I will get a free notarized income affidavit from my US bank before returning to save having to go to the US Embassy in bkk and pay the ridiculous $50 notary fee for one here.

I'm pretty sure this is all correct having talked to immigration but if I am missing something please feel free to offer advice.

I would recommend that you (if possible) get a Non Immigrant O visa in the U.S. If doing the conversion in Thailand, it will not be done in one day. After you apply for the conversion at Chaeng Wattana, you will have to come back 14 days later to pick it up.

Also, I am almost certain that Bangkok Immigration will not accept an income affidavit from your U.S. bank, only the one from the U.S. embassy in Thailand is accepted (or tax papers if income is from within Thailand). And remember, you will need two income letters one for the conversion and one for the extension, and while I don't know about Phitsanulok Immigration I would be very surprised if they accept anything other than the embassy letter.

Sophon

Ah I C... P-lok immigration failed to mention 2 visits to BKK immigration which is a long way from P-lok.

The stateside Non O as you and Vagabond mention is sounding better and better I will be calling the

Honorary in the Florida first thing when I get back.

As to the Income affidavit P-Lok immigration supplied a list of documents to be submitted for the conversion

and the #3 proof of income option states " A document proving foreign remittance OR

the guarantor letter from the Embassy or Consulate proving the 65k baht per month pension."

Soooo I'm thinking a Social Security and Pension statement of income letters combined with a notarized proof

of income affidavit from my US Bank should satisfy them, but if not I can always go to the Embassy and have

whatever I say notarized as gospel.... for $50 of course.

It would be interesting to see if Thai Imm. would accept actual proof.

Thanks for more good advice Sophon.

I'm not sure about other countries but back in the US in '06 and '07, before I started getting my extensions here, I was able to get an 1 year non-immigrant type O multiple entry visa twice from 2 different honorary consulates through the mail. Back then, only you needed to be was over 50 and no additional requirements. Some consulates at that time were still issuing them even though they were discontinued so I had to call a few of them. The only issue one might have is that you had to leave the country after every 3 months of stay.

Good suggestion, I will call the Honorary in Coral Gables where I originally got my Visa.

But leaving Thailand every 90 days from Phitsanulok is a non-starter for me.

I will have to investigate this further... I'll have 6 months stateside to get answers

Where do I find a list of Honorary Consulates in the US? I may need to call more than one like you.

Thanks BTW.

I'm leaving Thailand in January for 6 months. Is there a safe responsible place to store or leave my car while I'm away?

I would prefer a place that would keep the battery charged and start the car every few weeks if possible.

It would be a plus if they had drop off / pick up service at the airport but not required.

Any sensible reasonable suggestions appreciated?

And furthermore if you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit then your current one year extension is cancelled on departure. The 1,900 baht extension does not cover any re-entry, you must apply for and pay for a re-entry permit. A single is 1,000 baht, multiple 3,800 baht.

Thanks all for the info which now poses a new question. I'm leaving in January for 6 months until July 2015

and my current extension of stay expires in April. So how does this all work and what do I need to do in order to return and maintain my retirement visa / extension of stay status.

You have a very tricky situation. You must ask your local immigration office if you can renew your extension 3 months in advance. Might be possible, depends on the officer you talk to. Might be best you apply for a completely new visa in your home country and start a new one year extension when back in Thailand. I'm not sure, talk to Immigration better.

Dang... I will go talk to my local immigration, they are usually agreeable and easy to talk to. I sure don't want to

have to renew my Visa in the States, I don't live near an Embassy. Thanks for letting in some light, Darkside.

Well, I spoke to immigration here in Phitsanulok and there is good news and not so good news. The good is I will not need a re-entry permit but I cannot renew my extension of stay before I leave in January(not so good), you can only renew 45 days prior to my April expiration. So I save money on leaving but when I return in July I must go to Immigration at Chang Wattahana and convert my tourist visa to a 90 day non-imm O for 2k baht and then when that expires Phitsanulok Immigration will sell me a new one year extension of stay. All in all that is cheaper and less work than getting a new Visa in the states.

I will get a free notarized income affidavit from my US bank before returning to save having to go to the US Embassy in bkk and pay the ridiculous $50 notary fee for one here.

I'm pretty sure this is all correct having talked to immigration but if I am missing something please feel free to offer advice.

And furthermore if you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit then your current one year extension is cancelled on departure. The 1,900 baht extension does not cover any re-entry, you must apply for and pay for a re-entry permit. A single is 1,000 baht, multiple 3,800 baht.

Thanks all for the info which now poses a new question. I'm leaving in January for 6 months until July 2015

and my current extension of stay expires in April. So how does this all work and what do I need to do in order to return and maintain my retirement visa / extension of stay status.

You have a very tricky situation. You must ask your local immigration office if you can renew your extension 3 months in advance. Might be possible, depends on the officer you talk to. Might be best you apply for a completely new visa in your home country and start a new one year extension when back in Thailand. I'm not sure, talk to Immigration better.

Dang... I will go talk to my local immigration, they are usually agreeable and easy to talk to. I sure don't want to

have to renew my Visa in the States, I don't live near an Embassy. Thanks for letting in some light, Darkside.

Maybe I'm confused but I'm under the impression that when you get an extension of stay that the extension of stay for

1900 baht is good for extending for a year and one re-entry and the other 3800 baht extension is good for extending for a year and multiple re-entries.

Please advise if you know for sure that this is not accurate. I'm leaving in January and I've been thinking my re-entry is

covered with my last 1900 baht extension.

you DO NOT get a 'free' reentry. You must pay for a single (1900) or multiple (3800).

And furthermore if you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit then your current one year extension is cancelled on departure. The 1,900 baht extension does not cover any re-entry, you must apply for and pay for a re-entry permit. A single is 1,000 baht, multiple 3,800 baht.

Thanks all for the info which now poses a new question. I'm leaving in January for 6 months until July 2015

and my current extension of stay expires in April. So how does this all work and what do I need to do in order to return and maintain my retirement visa / extension of stay status.

Maybe I'm confused but I'm under the impression that when you get an extension of stay that the extension of stay for

1900 baht is good for extending for a year and one re-entry and the other 3800 baht extension is good for extending for a year and multiple re-entries.

Please advise if you know for sure that this is not accurate. I'm leaving in January and I've been thinking my re-entry is

covered with my last 1900 baht extension.

There are just so many problems with U-Turns throughout Thailand. Sure, not every major intersection can be Traffic Light Controlled BUT...

If they installed ROUND-A-BOUTS instead of U-Turns, it would be a far more Cost-Effective way of "getting around the problem."Thais

Thais have no concept of round a bouts or how one works they treat them like 4 way stops.

Will someone please teach Thai drivers to use a Circle.

When your talking cheese's I have found a NZ Gouda that is excellent they also have a good Vintage sharp cheddar and an almost reasonable facsimile of Swiss. It usually runs 185 baht for 200 to 250 grams at Big C or Lotus but some Makro's have it for 169 baht. However the Makro on the Super Highway only had he Gouda on the 23rd and I bought 4 of the 6 to take home with me so ' pickens are slim' at CM Makro.

It is Mainland brand from NZ and while maybe not gourmet I love the Gouda and Sharp Cheddars.

Breaking in? What a horrible phrase, she's not a bloody horse!!

Exactly my point. OP has changed that to now Training.

Other phrases that come to mind "bloody whorese, whorese's ass, slut, lying cheating low life scum sucking pig, etc. etc..

Sorry you disapprove of my choice of terms for describing my feelings. Give me a break!!!!! Remember Sticks and Stones will break my bones but Names Will Never Hurt Me.

Most people get "broken in" in life by something or someone. It's often the man wrapped around the finger (broken in) by the woman, or by PC speech/society, or a boss etc..

However I choose to be the Man and do the breaking in, teaching and training instead of being P W'd and broken in by the woman. I feel entitled a little leeway in characterizing her... however wrong or misguided you think my pain has made my characterization.

I'm guessing one of you has never been properly broken in and the other has been broken in many times.

Otherwise why would you defend a woman that has done this despicable hurtful thing and disregarded the rules of decent and civil society. Why?

Unfortunately there is much pain and suffering involved when one does what she did, and now she is begging my forgiveness and to come back to me. The way she feels she couldn't care less that you choose to defend her she would probably take you to task for attacking me because she knows she was wrong and the cause of this mess. and deserves whatever she gets.

EXACTLY... I didn't mention it before but I don't think I want to spend the time and effort to find and break in a new GF/wife. Finding the right woman is expensive, exhausting and time consuming, yes there is fun to be had in finding that ONE of many but at some point you get awful tired of the search. It is easy to find candidates but sorting them out ayyyyhh.....

Funny I was at this point when I met my wife. It was a new woman every week or month or two and I had grown tired of searching for THE ONE and I thought then that I would go the rental route, when I met my wife(THE ONE) and 3 years later here I am again seriously considering renting from now on.

Must have been something in the 'breaking her in process' that made her go off with another falang.

most of the girls I've met have been well and truly broken in!!

My condolences, sorry about your luck, sounds like all bad...

maybe I should say teaching or training and not 'breaking in' but it all amounts to the same thing,

if you've had wives or GF's it makes for a much happier man if he can get what he needs from them while he's with them.

Oh... and it's difficult at best and hard work to say the least in finding a woman worth having/keeping long term.

Hence the attraction of the daily/weekly/monthly rental.