george

UPDATE: Source: https://visaguide.world/news/thailand-introduces-higher-visa-fees-for-new-zealand/

It's pretty good, but it's not yet launched in Thailand as Meta is having issues with the Thai script in their language model, they will fix that in the coming months and launch here. There are ways around it though.

As a side note, the "visa friendly" Thai Consulate in Sydney, Australia, is launching e-visas from March 19, 2024. https://aseannow.com/topic/1321230-thai-consulate-in-sydney-au-launches-evisa-from-march-19-2024/

The Royal Thai Consulate in Sydney has today announced they will stop issuing "sticker visas" and go live with eVisa online applications from March 19th, 2024. The Sydney Consulate will only accept applications from people who live in NSW from that date. You can apply until Mar 9th, 2024 the 'old way'. As of today there is no mention of any visa fee increases on their website https://sydney.thaiembassy.org/ The Royal Thai Consulate in Sydney has long been known as the "easy" consulate in Australia, compared to the more "strict" Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra. Canberra is also moving to e-visas, to be announced later. As a note, recently The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand raised visa fees by 600%. ASEANNOW are monitoring the visa situation at all Embassies and Consulates and will post updates as they happens -- ASEANNOW 2024-03-01

We are working on an update when MFA has one. Sorry for the delay.

That depends on your banks policy. Tip: Try Kbank next time…

Some Thai banks are slower. I have found Kbank to be the fastest on inward remittances.

Nice day today.

Correct! Revolut does the same.

Bangkok Bank and all other commercial Thai banks convert to THB automatically when your foreign transfer arrives in Thailand. They do so as they can't deposit foreign currency in your THB bank account. Simple, and this is the correct way to transfer money to Thailand. Never send in THB.

Here you can compare WISE with Revolut:

Just instruct sending bank NOT to convert to THB. Tell them clearly that your local bank will do the exchange to THB.

And regarding money transfers, here is a fresh compare, WISE vs Revolut:

You get very bad exchange rates! Don't do it.

Here is a comparison between WISE and Revolut, you may find that they are similar but also has a lot of differences, like exchange rates:

Thanks for highlighting that Wise strength (will add it in the OP). Does anyone know if Revolut is that fast as well.

@johng You have of course right to believe that. I have the right to disagree and don't believe that. But who knows really?

Google Ads in search results is by design "pushed" above the regular search results. They are marked with "Sponsored" or "Sponsored Ads". If a site is well SEO optimized they appear unlabeled on the first search result page below the sponsored ads. Could be a logic reason that they are good at SEO or have high traffic which their algo also pushes them higher in the SERPs (Search Result Pages). Or do you believe, or have evidence, that Google are prioritizing the search algorithm for their "partners" or others?

I have a near friend in Thailand who got a stroke only 5 days after his 5th Covid shot at the time. Last shot before stroke hit was a Pfizer. He has to learn to walk again on crutches, ands has been in a wheelchair for a while. Not sure if you can count this as similar to long Covid, but it's scary.

They only snail mail the physical card to Thailand at your request, but require an address in your home country, on file (TIN tax reasons).

The visa/service revenue for Thai Embassies differs from the Thai Consulates. The Thai Embassies remit the visa/service funds to Bangkok (to MFA/Govt.) while the Thai Consulates keep all visa fees to cover their costs for keeping office and pay staff etc, like a business. Some consular posts are huge businesses (one perfect example is Thai Consulate-General in Penang, who can laugh all the way to the bank. Thailand has one of the largest network of Embassies and Consulates around the world servicing Thais abroad and issuing visas to foreigners. Not sure how the "revenue split" is with the new e-visas. Could be a potential disaster for many of them, and a few had to close already, which impacts Thailand's service levels abroad. Could worsen with the e-visas. I have no idea how much revenue RTE Wellington has though.

Thanks, it looks like Google is supporting several different organizations with free ads. Are you thinking WHO and other organizations they are supporting isn't worth it? From https://google.org: Quote: OUR MISSION We bring the best of Google to help solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges — combining funding, innovation, and technical expertise to support underserved communities and provide opportunity for everyone. End quote

Much discussions is going on on the forum regarding regular bank alternatives. Let's take a closer look at Wise and Revolut's key features, and where they excel for ASEAN NOW members: Wise (formerly TransferWise) Core Strength: International Transfers Uses the mid-market exchange rate, the fairest rate available, resulting in lower fees compared to most banks. Transparent fee structure, you see upfront what you'll pay. Supports a massive range of currencies. Fast transfer speeds, often within a few seconds, up to a few days. Multi-Currency Account Hold balances in over 50 currencies. Get local bank details in 10 countries (US, UK, Eurozone, Australia, etc.) to receive money like a local, minimizing conversion fees. Debit Card Linked to your multi-currency account for spending abroad with low fees. Business Account Tailored features for businesses making international transactions. Revolut Financial Super App Traditional banking features: Accounts, debit cards, spending abroad Hold balances in over 50 currencies Budgeting and analytics tools to track your finances. "Vaults" for automated saving towards goals. Cryptocurrency trading (limited selection). Travel insurance, lounge access (premium plans). Junior accounts for kids (premium plans). Tiered Plans Free plan with basic features and limits. Premium and Metal plans increase limits, unlock perks like cashback, insurance, and more. Exchange Rates Uses a live exchange rate, but can add markups, especially on weekends or for less common currencies. When to Choose Wise: Prioritize low fees and transparent pricing for international transfers. You frequently work with multiple currencies. Need local bank details in various countries. When to Choose Revolut: You want a wide array of financial tools in one app. Budgeting features and saving tools are important. You might be interested in cryptocurrency (though do your research!) Premium features like travel insurance and lounge access appeal to you. Additional Considerations: User Interface: Both have user-friendly platforms, but the design may come down to personal preference. Customer Support: Both have support channels, but response times and quality can vary. It's worth checking online reviews. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual financial needs and priorities. It's always smart to compare their current features and fees on their websites before deciding. Websites: Wise Revolut

Wise is good. You can apply for Wise here.

Interesting claim, could you please provide link/s so I can read more about this? Thanks!