Jeffrey346

2 hours ago, keithet said:

I just went to Bangkok bank at Changwatana and they said they needed a embassy letter explaining my funds from overseas because I don't have a work permit because I don't work. 

Try another branch..

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

Yes, it is proof of where you live but at certain Immigration offices is is not an acceptable proof of where you live. They prefer the rental agreement or utility bills and whatnot. Yet another one of those arcane TiT and YYMV thingmies for you.

 

Good to know you have their hotline on speed dial. I'm not calling anyone.

KK Immigration accepts the YB as proof of where you are living. Never heard of an IO that doesn't.

If you have a yellow book, do you still need to do a TM30?

3 minutes ago, SooKee said:

That's why I said unless you are with Bangkok Bank.  Meaning IF you are with BKK bank it will show as an international transfer.  Not sure what's so har to understand about the sentence? But at least one poster has experienced a rogue transaction that didn't, presumably because another routing bank was used, as opposed to their normal route of direct to Bangkok Bank.

My apologies..  missed that.. I understand that banks do make mistakes. In fact, I had BKK Bank print all last years international deposits that were sent to BKK Bank NY. 4 were missing. They checked and determined that they were coded wrong. They corrected it and revised my statement. 

9 minutes ago, SooKee said:

What's not true?  Go back and read it again!

 

Unless you are with Bangkok Bank (and even then there is no 100% guarantee) a TW transfer is highly likely to come from a bank within Thailand.

 

However, in other threads at least one poster has had a TW deposit to BKK Bank NOT show up as international, I suspect because they used a different partner to route the funds.  So there is a danger, regardless of how small, that TW deposits to BKK bank will not show up as international for everyone 100% of the time.

I called BKK Bank transfer dept and was told that TW is considered an international transfer. My mobile app shows the same. 

1 hour ago, SooKee said:

 

Any bank can.  The point that was actually being discussed above is when using Transferwise and proving the source of your funds for TI extensions under the new regulations.  Unless you are with Bangkok Bank (and even then there is no 100% guarantee) a TW transfer is highly likely to come from a bank within Thailand (e.g. a local transfer) and therefore will NOT show up in a statement or any other document that the bank can produce as a transfer from overseas, as far as the receiving bank is concerned, it wasn't.  So it was suggested by others that folks might be able to track back to the next bank in the chain to get details of the international nature of the transfer.  From speaking to Bangkok Bank, not gonna happen.  Is that clear enough now? 

Not true.. BKK Bank shows TW as an International Transfer.

If you use BKK Bank's mobile app, click on your last TW deposit and ir clearly states International Transfer

21 hours ago, colinchaffers said:

TransferWise do not transfer money internationally, they have local accounts and pay it locally. 

True, but BKK Bank does show TransferWise transactions as an International transfer. 

19 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I also use Kasikorn and have been getting letters form them confirming transfer of funds from abroad for years, ever since an IO required it of me for annual extension (apparently wrongly, but they did ,and to avoid problems I've just gotten it every year since). So I know the process.

 

It is true that Kasikorn records all transfers, domestic and international in the same way and branch staff cannot tell the difference. However, the head office generates something called a "Credit Advice" that clearly shows the path the funds took, see example below.

 

You can get a copy of the Credit Advances from the head office and also arrange to get them in future routinely, which you should do. Then when it comes time to get the letter from your branch, show them the Credit Advices and explain that you need that information included in the letter. Since these are official Kasikorn documents they will not have a problem accepting the info, but it may take a little discussion to explain what you need them to write. Once you get the letter keep a copy to show them the following year.  I have done this every year for more than 15 years.

 

Transferwise is a more complicated problem because they do not transfer directly to banks other than Bangkok Bank.  So for people with accounts elsewhere, the money comes into Bangkok Bank in Thailand and from there is a domestic transfer to another Thai bank. So only Bangkok Bank would have the record of the funds origin.

 

This is what a Kasikorn Credit Advice looks like:

 

 

TransferWise has the ability to print a PDF showing all your transfers. The PDF shows the amount, time and date of the transfer and the Bank and account number the funds are transfered to.

I would think this is sufficient backup evidence. 

28 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

This may (or may not) be true. While I value privacy and abhor spying and invasions of such...those protections are just gone now. The USA has become a paranoid propaganda machine. Overreact and ultra-afraid of almost everything. However, we do know that the USA spies on it own citizens and it's allies. I KNOW this from personal experience, not to mention they have been exposed and admitted it. RE: Edward Snowden and Wikileaks. Everybody is spying on everybody, but the USA only condones it when they are the ones doing it. 

 

If one needs luck with a Huawei device, then I'd surmise such "luck" is needed with any and all devices. I'll take my chances. 

Huawei and ZTE are confirmed offenders. Spin it anyway you wish.

47 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Not so with Huawei. Android OS and system updates regularly. Own 1 now and 1 previously and both impressive. Will buy again when needed. (Gave the first one to a friend in need and it's still going strong). 

Perhaps so.. but according to US security agencies, Huawei is known to have spy software embedded on their devices and share information with the Chinese Gov.

Good luck with your Huawei device.

1 hour ago, cardinalblue said:

I got a 90-day non immigrant 0 in Portland....can do same in the non big 3 consulates elsewhere

How long ago? I understand that the small Consulates no longer issue Visa's. 

2 hours ago, whimsicalmike said:

I was using an LG G5. Got tired f the battery capacity as i use it a lot including WI FI and bluetooth on always, the GF in CM loves haveing the camera on for long periods. The battery would need charging twice a day. I saw some chinese phones with huge batteries and went with a uleFone Power 5.

Huge battery, 13AH, only charge every 6 days or so. Fast charge to full under 3 hours

The GPS is far more sensative then the LG.

Has 2 sim slots so no swapping when i come and go from Aus.

Camera is a big improvement over the LG.

Sound output is very good

It uses a very new chipset running 8.1 android and is very responsive.

No bloatware

Overall I find it a huge improvement with the only downside is the weight, about 350 grams.

I paid about 7,000 baht imported from HK

Over the years, I have tested many Chinese phones including the Elephone and Ulephone. The issue is they never update the OS or security. If you have a problem, they are impossible to service outside of China.  IMO, not a great investment.

2 hours ago, pennine said:

I have a similar problem. Kbank recently updated their mobile app with the result that while fund transfers still work, top up does not. The reason is that it now requires Android 6 or higher to work and my Samsung E5 has Android 5.1.1 which as far as i know, cannot be upgraded. They also mentioned something about the app not working with rooted or jailbroken phones, whatever that means.

Rooted means total access to the phone's OS which would allow you to adjust security and remove apps. Samsung E5's are not rooted.

If you were rooted, you can install any version of Android... but you can't.

Android 6 is the issue. You should upgrade to the Xiaomi.

4 hours ago, Coota said:

I have an Xiaomi smartphone Redmi 4A which I have had for about 2 years. Great phone for the price but the battery life is deteriorating quickly as the phone gets older and I can't replace the battery.

Also, I was using the KBank app on it which was great but, about 4 months ago the KBank app stopped working and after inquiring with KBank was told that the app would not work with the phone because the phone had a fault with it's internals, the term was "gang rooted" or something similar, I say that because the term reminded me of a gangbang. Apparently the phones workings have been altered or are not Thai approved.

 

I don't think I will buy another Xiaomi for that reason alone as the KBank app was terrific.

If the App stopped working.. it's not the phone. My BKK Bank App stopped working last week.  contacted BKK Bank. They asked I take the phone to the branch where they  put some code 5 digit code and the App started working again.

9 hours ago, nchuckle said:

Also note that if you are watching say bbc or other foreign tv stations which require a vpn ,once you try to chrome cast it to the big  tv and because it thus goes back via the router the vpn disguise is lost and it is blocked . Unless anyone has found a way around this? 

Never had a problem when using a VPN

12 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Government hospitals are ok with the yellow book, if you have 1 it is acceptable.

If you are a paying. Not if the Gov is paying.

13 minutes ago, khwaibah said:

 

Not at my Gov hospital.

Does the Gov pay your hospital bill. If so you will need the pink card.

Gov hospitals now require the Pink ID Card. They need it to recover fees and payments from the Gov if you qualify for free medical care as I do.

I was told the Gov also uses it to track your medical history.

13 hours ago, possum1931 said:

I have been with my wife for 13 years and 8 of these are through marriage, and I can assure you I have not married any of her family. I know it is just a figure of speech. The only thing I have ever been asked for was my wifes brother asked her to ask me if I could let him borrow my motorbike for a few hours as he knew myself and my wife were going out together in the truck.

That was the only time any of her family has ever asked me for anything in the 13 years I have known them.

Ditto...  My wife's family asked me for help once in 11 years.

1 hour ago, madmen said:

There are a thousand threads on Google about it. They love the heat around a washer and the smell of food IN The washer draws them to nest around it. They need water so condensation and proximity to sink makes your washer perfect

And yes they get inside the dishwasher! Google is your friend

No big deal just spray regularly around the washer. Just because you can't see them doesn' mean they are not there
 

In Thailand, they don't need heat.. there is plenty of that already here.. My DW door stays shut.. Trust me, there are no roaches inside, under or around my it. All my drains have S Traps, no roaches getting in that way.

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I think you are calling the SSA FBU a family support unit. I have never heard of a FSU.

From the embassy website. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security/

"If you are living in Thailand, you MUST contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) located in U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines directly."

The FBU has been in Manila for many years.

I have tried contacting the FBU via email numerous times.  Other than the automated response that states they will respond in  5 days... They never respond.