Manassas

Cutting a pretty substantial tunnel through the mountain out by me.

Getting older and thinking it's time for a ride-on mower. I looked for one a few years ago but they were unavailable. Some import restrictions of some sort. Has anybody seen any available around the Rai? Thanks. Cheers.

22 hours ago, Sheryl said:

If the country you refer to is US, a PCR is not required, Antigen test will be accepted. Also - if the US - it is nto 24 hours but rather anytime the day prior or day of departure. See  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

 

At last report no PCR facility at th airport but can get rapid Antigen test there. See this thread and call to verify as they seem to shut down at times without warning.   https://aseannow.com/topic/1247683-looking-for-assistance-finding-out-bound-covid-test-near-swampy/?fbclid=IwAR3OwEUKtppuTq9wo9UTKIXk7sLcbvSM4OtRn2nKjCs0AklVXIHWez9cKQ0

 

Yes, Sheryl, it is the US. I was convinced they would drop this requirement before I left, but they haven't as yet. Reading further I see the antigen test will qualify. I've just got to get a plan to get this done before heading to airport with result report in hand.

Thank you very much.

My own crazy country wants a PCR test within 1 day of departure. I read somewhere that there is a 24-hour facility within the airport, but haven't been able to confirm that. Does anybody have tips on getting the PCR test before departing Thailand? Thanks.

Thanx

The Sandbox program lists Chiang Mai as an approved entry point. However, using the govt link and Agoda there are no AQ hotels listed. Can anybody speak to this conundrum?

Probably been asked before, but couldn't find an answer. My regular health insurance (USA Blue Cross) covers me overseas. How do I show it meets the $50,000 minimum. Print a copy of the actual policy? But the policy just says I'm covered, it doesn't have dollar specifications. Any help here? Or easier to just buy AXA or some Thai expensive insurance??

Planning my trip now and have same question.

I just heard that David Bailey from Chiang Khong (formerly Phuket) passed away. Sad news.

Formerly, I used to route money to my Bangkok Bank account via the NYC branch. Worked great, then it stopped. I used Transferwiase once and it worked. But I don't need much so I reverted to ACH online directly from my bank. That worked, but the last one didn't go through. What's the option now? Is transferwise still working?

PS I'm in the states at the moment so going to the bank in person is not an option.

Looking forward to that being completed. Will shorten my drive to Chiang Rai. In the meantime I've been avoiding that route due to all the construction.  

Agree with many suggestions depending on location, for downtown my favorites are Le Patta and Wiang Inn, if price not a concern Le Patta for sure.

The Technocom/Dell flagship store just off the Mengrai circle. Good service and passable english.

7 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

Best thing to do is continue your Blue Cross coverage even when on Medicare.  Most individuals have to have a private supplemental policy to cover Medicare deductibles and co-pays. 

 

FEP encourages you to continue your cover and use them as a "supplemental" policy and waives all co-pays, and deductible amounts

 

They are not being particularly generous to you, since they really want the USG's share of your monthly premiums

 

Most importantly since Medicare is not accepted here in Thailand, Blue Cross is accepted either through direct billing at some hospitals or you pay and get reimbursed for all others

Thanks. I already planned to keep Blue Cross as my secondary but get medicare A and B when its time. That should cover anything in the states. In Thailand, I've just payed cash to the hospital, submit the one-page bill online to Blue Cross and get reimbursement within 30 days. Works great. But wasn't sure if Blue would still pick up Thailand claims. Blue cross doesn't care if you're a tourist or expat, they pick up claims from any major hospital.

My (federal) blue cross works great in Thailand. But I'm approaching 65 and will be forced to sign up for medicare. Medicare doesn't pay in Thailand, but will FepBlue still pick up "overseas claims?" Can't tell from website. Any former feds with experience in this?

1 minute ago, ripstanley said:

When the Hotel files a TM30 then that is your new place of abode according to the TM30 system. It then has to be updated by you lodging your TM30 to adjust the TM30 system to show you are back at your home. I was explained this by Immigration in Phayao in 2017. The officer actually showed me the screen that my place of living was a hotel in Chiang Mai. The TM30 system does not pick up any information from other immigration systems. 

Thanks. 

54 minutes ago, Robinsons said:

try this links for more infos:

https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/

 

for me its to difficult,i give it up...????

Robinsons

I was looking at the immigration website. Hotels are required to file the TM30 as are individuals hosting a foreigner overnight. But if the hotel has already filed the TM30 I don't understand why the individual would have to file another. 

On 7/31/2019 at 11:37 AM, Robinsons said:

Today I was at the Chiang Rai Immi Office for a new one year Retirement Visa Extension with all my perfect prepared paperwork...

Some days before I came back from a short holiday trip from Phuket and has not filed the tm 30 form...

I always was thinking the tm 30 is need to file only when back from outside thailand...

was thinking wrong,so I have to pay the fine of 800.-Baht!!!

in the future all around Thailand ALL the thai immi offices will see ALWAYS the filed tm 30 when you come back from an domestic trip to your registered thai homeadress!!!

this can be done online also,if it works...

alltogether I was in and out of the immi office within 1 hour,when I finaly got my new stamps for another year.

sorry for my poor English.

robinsons

I had heard about this apparently new requirement to report even a 1 night domestic stay away from your registered address. Had not heard about an attached fine. Where precisely is this online reporting system?  Seems a bit of a bother.

7 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

Yeah we're keeping both, but as soon as my Thai son, who is also a US citizen told Mom he wasn't coming back to Thailand after graduating college in Chicago, the game was up!

 

Now Thailand is a snowbird vacation spot for a few months a year, the US is home

By coincidence, wife wants to give adopted daughter a shot at grad school in US. I think she would stay. A lot of young Thai, especially women are appreciating the personal freedom of the west and away from the village.

One of the clinchers for me, is I can get a house near the beach in the US that is better built, cheaper and with better legal protections than I can in Thailand. Thailand's not the cheap retiree dream it used to be.  

Thanks GinBoy. I'll give them a call. Sounds like we are doing the same thing. Keeping the TH house but sending a good portion of household items back to states. Not to mention the winter clothes we've kept.

Both the US and TH are changing - and not for the better. I like the idea of having 2 homes set up so I can move when I want.

PS I gave up on Virginia, but have a nice spot on the gulf coast.

The issue seems to be Netflix TH trying to block VPNs accessing foreign content. Their reasons for doing so make no sense. So they have some kind of detection software that often trips over ISP and browser settings making headaches for customers.

With Disney after their customers you would think they would consider subscriber satisfaction more. 

I've decided to get that second house, but after lots of searching have decided to do it back in USA.

There are lots of shipping/moving companies advertised. But anybody with experience have recommendations on moving companies to ship household items to USA?

Thanks

Thanks for all the suggestions. I found a tip in a thread somewhere and it worked for me. Just go into google settings and deselect automatic configuration.

Have no idea why this worked, but hope it may be of use to somebody else.