david_je

On 4/19/2025 at 10:38 PM, scoutman360 said:

I have signed up with NOW Health Intl. No claims yet. But I got no replies to multiple emails when I needed to expedite my annual renewal for visa reasons. When I reached out to the broker AOC (France), he was quick to make things happen. Thumbs up for the broker, thumbs down for NOW.

Did you switch from April to NOW? What did you see as benefit? How did cost and coverage compare? Thanks.

On 2/15/2025 at 11:32 AM, FantasticMrFox said:

I logged into the April app today (Feb 15, 2025) to check policy documents and according to the General Conditions for My Health International dated September 2024 (Ref:MHI Cov 24S1, on bottom left of cover page), Thailand is shown as Zone 3 per snip below.  Last year, some people reported that Thailand has been moved up to Zone 2, but some still showed Thailand as being Zone 3.     Zone 3 premiums should be cheaper than zone 2, so I hope that the this will be reflected in this year's premium.  

 

The General Conditions in my April portal also say zone 3, but the broker says that is outdated and the 2025 General Conditions (p.6) say zone 2.

I have Essential policy with $500 deductible up for renewal next month, when I turn 68. New premium is $4912, 18% increase from previous year (I have not claimed in the 3-4 years I have had the policy). Broker AOC (France) says that remains price-competitive compared with other insurers, but one called Now Health Intl may turn out to be cheaper and more stable in long term.

Would appreciate hearing from other April France customers what they are doing.

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, you are describing CW.

I did same extension last Nov 5 with appointment.

Your list seems complete.

They will not insist on TM6.

 

I provided TM30 and lease agreement. (they took both)

I did not provide a TM47, however the previous year the doc check chicks ask for that. Just ignore them.

 

I provided a 12 month bank statement. 

Don't see the point of a 3 month statement.

You can provide copies of bank book pages back to last extension and that should be acceptable.

Mine was refused couple years back as couple of months zero transactions. 

You can obtain all photocopies of passport etc L1 at the copy stalls.

You say "retirement extension" and they know exactly what pages to copy. 

 

Report CW few days ago...

https://aseannow.com/topic/1351950-trip-report-chaeng-wattana-14-feb-2025-retirement-extension/

Thank you, v. helpful. Wonder if really need to make small withdrawal just before getting Bangkok Bank statement, or just update book in ATM and photocopy that page (along with previous 12 months)? Also, the link you sent mentions photocopy of "original extension" -- is that the very first time you extended the Non-O? I don't recall this being required before.

18 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Which immigration office?

 

There have been reports of some offices wanting Google Maps maps now. 

Sorry, at CW. I have edited title. Thanks.

I will do next week. Money in bank method. Would someone with recent experience pls confirm documents are same as when I did last year:

   -TM.7 with one pic 

   -Passport plus copies of photo page, TM6 front and back, last entry into Thailand, last year's extension 

   -Bankbook (updated the same morning and 100 B withdrawal) with copies of front page and last 13 months of transactions

   -Bank letter (which included a separate statement of previous 3 months)

   -Various forms you get when collecting a TM.7 at the front desk with all the horrible things that await you if you break the rules

   -Hand drawn map of apartment location

  - Last 90-day report 

Fee 1900b.

Thank you.

I have booking to extend later this month and would appreciate hearing of any changes in procedure, documents required, etc.

Thank you.

6 hours ago, rwilem said:

You hit the red 'X' to cancel your pending submission. OK, you say you submitted it day early? Then go ahead, hit the 'X', cancel, and immediately do another submission. Then wait it out, and monitor the result at the site. Good luck!

 

 

I canceled and resubmitted right away, approved in 3 days. Thanks.

9 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

In CM if you submit it too early they reply that you have done so and tell you when to resubmit!

Happened to me approx 90 days ago!

I did not get such msg but I resubmitted and approved 3 days later. Thanks.

On 1/15/2025 at 11:48 AM, Liquorice said:

Absolutely correct.

Many foreigners quote 15 days before and up to 7 days after the due date for in person reporting, which is not the same as 'within' 15 days before, or 'within' 7 days after as Immigration state.

If quoting before and after dates, it should be 14 days before the due date and 6 days after the due date.

 

1. The foreigner makes the notification in person, or authorizes another person to make the notification (The notification must be made within 15 days before or within 7 days after 90 days notification due date)  https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/90days-report/

'Within' includes the due date.

I did make this mistake and filed it on Monday, 15 days "before" the due date. So I should have filed it on Tuesday. I wonder if that is why it is still pending today. There is a red "X" under the Cancel column. What does that mean? 

Anyone been in this situation and did you cancel and do new notification? I deal with CW in Bangkok.

15 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

2. And, on top of #1 above, all of my successful trials/tests doing domestic wires thru the BKKB  NY branch occurred AFTER BKKB NY had stopped accepting traditional ACH transfers.  So I have no reason to think anything has changed with their handling of domestic wires since then...

 

 

From what brokerage did you make the transfer using BKKB NY as intermediary? How recent was this? Did you select BKKB NY as intermediary or did the brokerage? Perhaps the brokerage sends in the required IAT format? Two reps at Vanguard could not tell me if Vanguard does or not. Thanks.

I'm thinking that, for transfers from Vanguard or other brokerage to Bangkok Bank in Thailand, while you can no longer use Bangkok Bank NYC as correspondent/intermediary via the old ACH (a domestic transfer), you can still use them as intermediary for international wire using their SWIFT code. Is that correct?  

3 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

 

 

Wow! Way more complicated than I imagined.

 

Can't imagine many folks are using that option.

 

Back in the day I did use the 'old' ACH method, which after being set up (link between my BofA account and BBL/NYC) with a couple of small transfers, was quite easy to use...done on line , with funds arriving in a day or so.

 

Now I use SWIFT to send USD from Fidelity to BBL/THL. Free of charge, other than the BBL/THL sliding fee, for the TT rate. 

 

 

Do you use Bangkok Bank NY as correspondent bank for Fidelity transfers to Bangkok Bank in Thailand, same as you did with old ACH system?

10 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The last time I checked with BKKB, the original method of doing domestic ACH transfers from a U.S. bank account to the BKKB NY Branch and then onward to BKK TH NO LONGER functions.

 

However, what WAS still functioning last time I checked was the ability to send a DOMESTIC wire transfer from your US financial account to BKKB NY and then onward to BKKB TH.

 

When you send the domestic wire, you use the routing number for the BKKB NY branch and then the account number for your recipient BKKB TH account.

 

BKKB NY and BKKB TH both charge some relatively small fees for handling the transaction. .

 

Sorry basic question, but how do you initiate the domestic wire from a Vanguard brokerage account to BKKB NY using routing number for onward transfer to BKKB account in Bangkok? Have you actually done this and what were fees like? I thought only option was intl wire, and Vanguard Intl Wire Option Form requires a SWIFT code for corresponding bank.

On 9/13/2022 at 2:37 AM, Wake Up said:

Final answer verified today.  Vanguard has a special relationship with JP Morgan Chase to be their intermediary Bank as Dante99 information above is correct.  JP Morgan Chase has agreed to not charge the Vanguard client a separate fee to be the intermediary bank. Vanguard prefers their clients use JP Morgan Chase as the intermediary bank. 
 

But you can also use Bangkok Bank NY or any USA Bank that has the swift relationship with Bangkok Bank Thailand. 
 

I decided to use JP Morgan Chase as the intermediary Bank because they do not have a separate charge and their relationship with Vanguard. 
. 

That you can use JP Morgan Chase or Bangkok Bank NY as intermediary -- did that info come from Vanguard? Over the phone, or is it in a Vanguard document? Bangkok Bank NY also did not charge a fee as intermediary, at least when I last made transfer from Vanguard a few years ago (for high-asset clients of Vanguard, only fee is from Bangkok Bank in Bangkok for receiving the transfer), so seems using either is the same cost-wise. Is that correct? Have you made a transfer using JP Morgan Chase and can confirm no problem? Did you need to notify JP Morgan or Vanguard that you were using them as intermediary, or did you simply input their SWIFT code on the transfer form? Thanks.

On 11/28/2024 at 3:20 PM, david_je said:

Yes, I did let Citi send THB. You mean if I elect to send USD to Bkk Bk, it arrives in baht currency (not dollars) but at a better rate than if I elect THB?

On 11/28/2024 at 4:03 PM, JohnnyBD said:

Yes, if you select the option for Citi to send USD, Bangkok Bank will convert the USD to THB when they recieve it at the TT Buying Rates which should be much better than letting Citi send THB. Give it a try next time. Check the link I sent for the current Bangkok Bank exchange rates. My wire transfers arrive the next day. The rates change several times per day. Good luck...

I just rechecked and Citi transfer page only has one option, send in USD. And the rate this morning was 33.3667.

2 hours ago, tjintx said:

 

Re. exchange rates, Bangkok Bank uses close to market rates (you can look it up on: https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/View-Rates/Foreign-Exchange-Rates

 

 

For intl transfers, would that be their "TT buying rate" in that link? Thanks.

1 hour ago, tjintx said:

 

I believe it is the Swift code you use rather than a routing number, see https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Transfers/Transferring-Into-Thailand/FAQs

That FAQ also says "If you have a US bank account, you may be able to transfer funds to a Bangkok Bank account in Thailand via your bank’s internet banking service, using Bangkok Bank’s New York branch’s 9-digit routing number."

If so, that would seem to be cheaper. I don't pay fee for international wire from my Citibank account, but Citibank exchange rate for transfer (33,3667 at moment) is bad whereas I assume if go via Bangkok Bank NY it would be at more favorable Bangkok Bank rate.

I wonder if in addition to using that routing number, you need to tell them to deposit into your account in Bangkok -- besides, of course, giving them your account number.

1 hour ago, TimBKK said:

You need a better bank, or brokerage - I use Vanguard, no fees for outgoing international wire transfers, electronically via BKK Bank in New York.

It is only no-fee if you have a certain amount assets in Vanguard, correct? Do you know what exchange rate they use for this?

1 hour ago, TimBKK said:

Yes, this is how I currently send transfers, exactly as you describe.  

That is good to know, thanks. I need to re-link the accounts for transfer -- pls confirm I put Bangkok Bank routing code 026008691 as routing number? (Pls excuse this very basic question but I want to be sure.)

Other poster says BoA no longer provides this, but I guess Citibank still does?

I used to transfer funds from my Citibank account in NY to my Bangkok Bank account in Bangkok using ACH transfer via Bangkok Bank NY branch, using  their routing number. I have not done so in several years and wonder if still  can be done. Thanks.

On 8/1/2024 at 1:38 PM, DrJoy said:

I did it with Krungsri today morning

 

Krungsri Central Plaza Ladprao, Bkk

Have you also done counter withdrawal from any other Krungsri branches, or other banks? Was this with US-issued debit card? What exactly do you say to the teller, what is process? Thanks.

Can someone identify a specific bank branch in Bangkok where they recently successfully did a counter withdrawal with a foreign ATM card? Pls say if there was a fee and what exchange rate they used -- rate set by the foreign bank that issued the card, the local bank, etc. Thanks.

8 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

So-called counter withdrawals are a very long-standing method of foreigners obtaining Thai baht cash here that became particularly popular in recent years as the Thai banking industry, presumably in cahoots with the government, began jacking up the per withdrawal Thai bank ATM fees to the current 220 baht level, which from my past checking was one of the highest national ATM surcharges out there.

 

gamb00ler's post above did a pretty good job of explaining the basics of how it works.  The advantage is it allows you to avoid the 220b Thai Bank ATM fee. Another advantage is the withdrawal amount can pretty much be as much money as you have in your checking account linked to your debit card, unlike the typical 25-30K THB limits that apply per withdrawal for most Thai bank ATMs.

 

The potential disadvantages are several:

1) you have to deal with Thai-speaking bank staff who may or may not understand what you want.

2) Some branches and/or tellers will claim they can't do the counter withdrawal and they either don't have the necessary machine or know how to   accomplish it. I haven't found any absolute pattern to that, it seems to be hit-and-miss as a general rule. So it might involve some branch shopping to find a cooperative branch.

 

FWIW, you don't have to actually be an account holder at the bank company where you're trying to do a counter withdrawal, although presumably being an account holder with them should help. The transaction is pretty much just like making a POS purchase with your debit card, except instead of buying items, you're essentially buying Thai baht. In my experience, you can either ask them to simply give you the THB cash you want and they'll hand it over to you. Or, if you have an account with that particular branch, they should be able to instead simply do a deposit into your account for you for the corresponding amount.

 

As always, you do need to be mindful of fees. As time has passed, several of the Thai banks I believe have begun charging their own flat fees for counter withdrawals,  SCB being one of those, and Krungsri also last time I checked, but I think for only one of the two major card types, and I can't recall OTTOMH whether it's for
VISA or MC branded cards.

 

Also, if your home country bank charges a foreign currency conversion fee on foreign POS purchases or ATM withdrawals, that same percentage fee would apply for a foreign counter withdrawal. I've also seen, as best as I can recall, some U.S. banks also starting to charge their own added fee for counter withdrawals, even those done in the U.S. with domestic banks. So that's also something to check on/watch out for when you go to use any particular bank's debit card here.

 

Lastly, most people general should NOT attempt to do counter withdrawals here with foreign CREDIT CARDS, because doing so often is going to result in added fees for foreign currency conversion AND what can be very steep cash advance transaction fees (a percentage of your withdrawal amount) charged by your credit card issuer. That, and, the credit card issuing is going to have interest start accruing on the amount you advance as of the date of the transaction, without the typical one-month grace period that normally applies for regular credit card purchases.

 

And as noted above, to do a counter withdrawal here, you'll typically need to bring and present your original passport document to the bank teller.

 

 

Thanks for that. I do worry the teller will not understand counter withdrawal, and wonder if there is a Thai phrase or explainer that I can present to them. The exchange rate would be the one used by the Thai bank, not the foreign bank that issued my ATM card, correct?

On 12/20/2024 at 3:39 PM, gamb00ler said:

I have done many counter withdrawals at Bangkok bank but none for about 14 months.  I used to do a counter "cash advance" at any BKK bank but now they don't offer that service at the smaller mall branches (according to a teller).  I was told by the manager at a standalone BKK bank branch that they would do it if the VISA card had my name on it.

 

The exchange rate for all purchases, ATM withdrawals and counter withdrawals is the same for that day.

 

Make sure your debit card does not charge foreign transaction fees, otherwise they may be better options for getting your US funds to Thailand.

 

Here's how I did it:

I would check the VISA web site for the current exchange rate.  I would then calculate how much Thai ฿ I could get for a maximum limit withdrawal.  I would round that amount down to the closest 1K in ฿.  I always planned to deposit the whole amount to my BKK bank account.

 

I took just my passport, bank book and debit cards to the teller and and requested the amount of ฿ I calculated and told them to deposit it all to my account.

 

The teller would run my card through a machine that looked the same as stores used to use for credit card purchases.  A slip showing the transaction details would be printed which I had to sign and add my phone # as well.  The teller also made a copy of my passport ID page and had me sign it along with the deposit slip.

 

It took about 10 minutes at the teller window.

Thank you for that. I plan to use a US-issued Citibank ATM card for the withdrawal, not a credit card to get a cash advance. Is the bank book necessary? I am outside Bangkok at moment and don't have it with me.

On 12/1/2024 at 7:56 AM, bamnutsak said:

 

The OP might be better off doing a counter withdrawal? Where you withdraw your daily limit ($1,000? $1,500?, $2,500?) in one go.

 

Google: counter withdrawal site:aseannow.com

 

I could barely get 20,000 out of a new BBL ATM "slot" style, it took significant force to pull the cash out. Obviously, the "trough" style offers less physical limitation.

 

Given the 200 baht minimum fee (0.25% of the transfer amount Baht 200 Min., Baht 500 Max) for incoming SWIFT transfers, and the lower TT rate (34.07 - TT vs. 34.16 - Visa/~ nowish), it is probably better to eat the ATM fee for withdrawals up to ~ $750.

 

Amounts greater than that require may two pulls, and a 440 baht total fee. So go with a SWIFT transfer or a counter withdrawal.

 

This assumes that the ATM fee is NOT reimbursed, no foreign exchange fee and no SWIFT fees.

 

 

I did Google and read a few of the other posts, but I am still unclear what exactly a counter withdrawal is. I go to the Bangkok Bangkok teller and tell her to withdraw a certain amount of USD from my (US-based) Citibank ATM card and deposit it into my Bangkok Bank account? I had never heard of anyone doing this. The advantage is it's no-charge, I don't pay the ATM fee if I did through ATM? What about in terms of exchange rate? Thank you for advice.