george

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!

Increase: 600%

This topic continues here:

https://www.mfa.go.th/en/publicservice/5d5bcc2615e39c306000a316

This topic is regarding visas obtained from Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand.

UPDATE: We have now checked most of the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates in Scandinavia, Europe, US, Canada and Japan and none have replied to us or published notices on their websites yet. Waiting for answers from Penang, Kota Bharu, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore and a confirmation from MFA. MFA has so far been very quite and don't want to talk so much "for now".

UPDATE: Answer from Royal Thai Consulate, Sydney, Australia: "Good Afternoon! Please wait for our official announcement regarding the visa fee."

UPDATE: We are now waiting for price hike info from Royal Thai Consulate Penang and Royal Thai Consulate in Kota Bharu. Also waiting for official response from MFA Consular section regarding possible worldwide fee increase details.

We now got confirmation from Royal Thai Embassy in Doha, increase as of March 1 but not near so steep increase. Single tourist visa 1700. See attachment:Doha-Announcement_Consular_Fee-3.pdf

I can now confirm that the visa fee increase at Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand is correct. See email attachment below. Now I'm waiting for more info from MFA if this is a worldwide visa fee increase or not.

I didn't say MFA will do an announcement by today, but I expect an answer from MFA press office by today, so we hopefully get some clarity. Highly doubt NZ Thai Embassy is the only consular post which announces this huge increase in visa fees. Makes no sense at all.

Ouch, that will hurt a bit 🙂

MFA is the head of embassies and consulates. Immigration Bureau has no power over Thai embassies and consulates.

This has now gone off topic. This topic is about increase of visa fees at Thai Embassies and Consulates abroad, and NOT about any changes in requirements regarding extension of stay or monetary requirements for visa extensions.

As of December 2023, Revolut is not a bank in the UK. It is an e-money institution that has been offering services in the UK since 2015. Revolut is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under electronic money regulations. However, it is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Source: Wikipedia

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