bprhodes

I am willing to grossly overpay for a vaccine at a private hospital, but wouldn’t get the Chinese or Russian jabs even if they are free.  I would fly back to the USA first.

2 hours ago, paddypower said:

Never had any problems here in 24 years. but, I use 2 foreign bank credit cards (for magazine and internet service subscriptions) and 3 Thai bank debit cards. why would anyone buy anything, using a credit card ? all consumer products (incl. autos) can be financed cheaply here.

I’ve had large medical bills, using a cc buys me a month before my insurance pays me back.  Also I get reward points, and there is no foreign transaction fee.  I agree, gotta pay the bill on time every month.

4 minutes ago, Oldie said:

I had US cards too (lived for a while in the US). But when they expired I couldn't get new ones anymore because I couldn't prove that I still have an address there. So be prepared.

So far renewals have happened automatically with the cards sent to my mail drop, then forwarded to me.  But your right, I may eventually have to establish a “residency” with my son at his address in the US.  Hopefully by then he moves to a no income tax state.

16 minutes ago, Pib said:

Having a US address on file (a.k.a., mailing/billing address) is why you've had no problems in online ordering.   But if you have a foriegn mailing/billing address on file for the US card you will run into situations where you US card will not be accepted for online buys.  And highly unlikely you could add a US card  with a foriegn billing address to  US PayPal acct  and similar payment systems.  That's based on my experience in having US credit cards which have my  US address or Thailand address.  For in store buys the billing address doesn't matter...works fine.

For just this reason I have avoided revealing my Thailand address to the CC companies.  However, they might catch on because I keep renewing the travel advisory.  I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.  Life would be much easier if I could afford to maintain a USA physical address (preferably in a no text state)  even if it is a dumpy small apartment that is vacant 95% of the time.

10 minutes ago, Pib said:

I expect you have your USA address onfile with those 3 cards?

Yes,  but it’s just a mail drop, not a physical address.  I switched to the mail drop from a physical address when I moved to Thailand.  Not sure if I could open a new account with the mail drop address.  Nowadays banks and brokerages check for a physical address and when I try opening an account online I get a message that the address is invalid.  The money laundering laws are making it increasingly difficult to maintain a US financial presence. 

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

 

Also, many outlets (particularly online) won't accept foreign cards and with a Thai card you always know how much you will be charged.

 

I have 3 credit cards from the USA and have never had an issue using them in Thailand, online, or anywhere in the world.  The exchange rate is always excellent if you tell them to use Thai Baht on the charge.

14 hours ago, tropicaldoc said:

You might try Tastyworks.  They are expanding overseas.  They are quick to respond to email, etc.  Might also try Schwab.  They can be contacted via chat on their website.  Good luck.

Tried to register with Tastyworks, but they will only accept a physical US address for US citizens.

Thanks for the suggestions.  Schwab’s listed $25000 minimum scared me off.  As for IBRK, I opened account, but there was no option to switch to the Lite version.  When I dug into the listed eligibility for Lite, it said you needed to be a US resident.  

I am interested in opening a brokerage account, either here or with an international broker.  I am a US citizen but a Thailand resident, so most  brokerage accounts in the USA are not available to me - it seems you have to prove a physical presence in the USA to open an online brokerage.  I have tried InteractiveBrokers.com, but for non-US residents you have to  have a "Pro" account, which has monthly maintenance fees for accounts less than $100,000.  I will not be an active trader, I just want to stash my excess money someplace (mutual funds, or maybe some stocks/bonds) that will result in a better return than a savings account (and give me a little entertainment).  I would like to hear suggestions from TV investors.  What brokerage do you use?  If you have a local investment account, which one do you use?  I need a low-cost brokerage with no maintenance fees and low minimum deposits.   Thanks!

19 hours ago, cdemundo said:

I am moving to Thailand soon, I would like to keep some options open if things in Thailand don't work out for me.

I would like to keep my professional license and my credit union membership that require a CA mailing address.

 

Anyone have experience with mail forwarding/physical address service in California?

Are these a good solution?

Is there a better alternative?

 

Thanks Cdemundo

I have been using virtualpostmail.com for several years.  Great service.  I use that address for my SchoolsFirst credit union account.  But one caveat is that the VPM address will not show as a real address for any service that checks.  For example, you can’t use it to renew your CA drivers license, or open a brokerage account.  But I have US credit cards that use the VPM address without any issues.  VPM can even be used to deposit a check on your behalf.  Feel free to DM me if you have questions.

Does anyone know which office, airport or Promenada is issuing residency certificates and what are the current docs needed?  I need to renew my 5-yr DL (car and M/C) this month. 

Exercise is not for living longer, but for feeling stronger, having more energy, and feeling younger while you are alive.  

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Can't find a list of inspection workshops.

Maybe this search helps (a dozen or more in CM city):

https://www.google.com/maps/search/ต.ร.อ+เชียงใหม่/@18.7760818,98.9692131,13z

(the ones with the "ตรอ").

 

Look out for the yellow cogwheel:

Thanks, very helpful.

Two Questions:

Given the Covid situation is the Chiang Mai DLT office open for renewing motorbike registration?

I’m  pretty sure I also need an inspection, any recommendations for a shop that can do both motorbike inspection and take care of registration?

20 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Another source of confusion (which may not be germane to you, personally, though) lies in item 6 which gives the misleading impression that retirement extensions are only granted to those with original non-O visas - with the implication that those with original non-OA visas are out of luck, even with a valid TGIA-approved health insurance policy!

I think the list that I posted is specific for Non-O, they must have a different list for Non-OA.  

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

You can prove your income by proving a transfer of 65k baht into a Thai bank from abroad for the past 12 months to apply for your extension. For some unknown reason it was omitted from that piece of paper you posted.

Many people have already done it at Chiang Mai immigration.

I just got a new 3 mo. non-o In CM this month, after entering Thailand in March.  So how can they require 12 months of transfers?  It should be only 3 months, no?

Does anyone have a recent experience getting a 1 year extension of a non-o visa at Chiang Mai?  As I related in a recent post, the do not allow the income method for USA citizens (no affidavit), but the said they do allow an extension using the income method (w/o affidavit).  I have attached their checklist where item 7.3 speaks to the income method.  But the English translation is confusing as you can see.  If anyone has recent experience with this, or a Thai version of the rules, it could be very useful.  I will be extending in June.

I’m currently on a 30 day VE entry.  Tried to apply for a conversion to non-O visa at CM, but failed because they do not allow income method, only 800K in bank.  The IO suggested I apply for non-O outside Thailand.

So where is best/cheapest/safest place to do this?  What are the requirements?  

I previously had an O-A visa, and used the income method to extend 5 times.  To avoid the health insurance requirement, I have been planning to convert to an O-Visa.  Last week I returned to Thailand from the USA after exiting without a re-entry permit (so as to kill off the O-A visa).  I entered last Friday on a 30 day exempt.  I carefully assembled the paperwork needed as outlined at this link:

https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

I went to Chiang Mai immigration today.  After waiting over 1 hour in the queue, I reached the front desk only to be told that Chiang Mai has their own requirements, which I have attached.  The main differences:  1. Blue ink only!  2. two copies of all documents 3. Income method not allowed, must have either letter from embassy, or 800,000 baht in the bank (this one may make me leave Thailand) 4. TM30 receipt.

Only other option I was given was to leave the country and apply for the O Visa (can't be US, they do not offer an O visa).  Since this is not a good time to be traveling, this is probably not an option.  In a word, I am f****d.  

Chiang Mai Rules.pdf

13 hours ago, Lodestone said:

 

What is your source/link for this?

I have a source, the paper is undergoing revision, its already been peer reviewed:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3550308

I flew back to the USA about 10 days ago.  Uneventful.  Many people were wearing those nearly useless masks though.

This requirement is to make sure no one coming in from a virus hotspot is trying to slip in by lying on their arrival card.

My Chiang Mai home is 3 years old.  After about 6 months the stones of my facade started falling off.  They were “glued” to the gypsum board that forms the walls of my steel frame house by workers who didn’t know what they were doing and probably used the wrong glue (looks like the same stuff used to glue down floor tiles). Today I tried to replace the missing stones using silicone as the glue.  I discovered to my dismay that 10-20% of the stones are loose and ready to come down anytime.

I need to think about a redo.  I could have all the stones removed but then I would be left with all the glue adhering to the gypsum board and that would have to be removed somehow too, or I might have to have all the gypsum boards removed and start over.   
 

Does anyone have any suggestion on either how to affect a repair or an alternative to the stone facade?  I like the look of the stones, but they were relatively expensive.  I’m NOT a DIYer, so for any repair or replacement I will need to hire someone.  I need ideas for a permanent, worry free, good looking, economical solution.

I am amongst the unlucky ones who have been extending an OA visa (based on retirement) for several years.  In spite of having outstanding health insurance from the USA (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) which fully covers me without limit in Thailand, it appears that I will need to change to an O visa. I am NOT married. 

My current permission to stay runs out in March, 2020, I have no unused reentry permit.  My plan is currently to travel to Mai Sai in early February 2020 and walk across the border and then re-enter on a 30 days visa exempt entry.  Then the following week I will apply for a conversion to an O visa at Chiang Mai IO.  Then at the beginning of May I will apply to extend my permission to stay for one year.  

Further notes: I will use the income method and I have been getting >65 K transfers into my Bangkok since January 2019 (properly labeled).  I live in a house I built on land owned by my adult Thai son, and I have an usufruct on the land with my name on the back of the Chanote.  

My Questions:

1.  Is my plan better (cheaper/faster, less hassle) that getting an O visa in Laos or Viet Nam?

2. Any special requirements for entering on the visa exempt at Mai Sai (cash, on-ward tickets, etc)?

3. What are the current requirements at Chiang Mai for converting a 30 day visa exempt entry into a 90 day NonImm O visa based on retirement?

Any constructive suggestions will be much appreciated!

17 hours ago, wazzadg44 said:

I have brought into Thailand , thru Swampy ,6 months supply of two prescription medicines on many occasions. Always in carry on luggage and never been asked/searched once. Both are available here but terribly expensive. The Australian PBS  helps with the cost.

I order from iHerb.com.  Free shipping and if you keep the order under $50 it comes straight through.  If over $50 I have to go into town to pick it up and pay the duty.