Greenwich Boy

If borders do remain closed might be worth considering a Special Tourist Visa. More paperwork and conditions than a normal tourist visa but not that complicated. Allows a stay of 270 days without leaving the country.

I had to show proof of double vaccination to get in to the Chiang Rai flower festival at the weekend!

In Chiang Rai for a couple of days up from Chiang Mai. I knew there was a flower festival near the bus station but could find few details. Is it an annual event and what are the dates? Had a pleasant night with food and music next door, I knew nothing about that. Is that on at the same time as the flower festival or did we just strike lucky. Did get asked for proof of vaccination. My booster cert in Thailand was not enough, I needed proof of original jabs. I had my cert from the NHS in the UK with me so no drama. All very polite. Cheers

I got the same message from my provider in November. I use CurrencyFair which is similar to Wise. A summary of the mail was anything over 50k may have to do go via SWIFT and could take longer and be more expensive. Multiple transfers of less than 50k would be fine. Don't shoot the messenger here as I am not exactly sure what SWIFT is, just reporting what the mail said.

I got a similar email last year. I use CurrencyFair which is very similar to Wise. The gist of the mail was if you wish to send more than 50k, send it in multiples. It did not state a limit to the number of daily transactions but I have not tested it.

I cant find the link, sorry. Member Katatonic has quoted it on page 5 of this thread. I have read it on a number of FB forums. Good luck.

TP can be used for delays of up to 72 hrs. Bring your flight forward, new TP

Perfect thank you. Just the info I was after. If you can think of any specific places for $500 much appreciated. Not sure I could handle anything too exciting for a bit, I have been in Chiang Mai since April!

Currently in Thailand but preparing for the worst in case Covid extensions are discontinued or the smoky season drives me nuts. As Cambodia is one of the few places open (it was the last time I looked!) considering Phnom Penh for a couple of months. Any suggestions with regards areas or even specific properties? Looking maybe Sisowath Quay direction. Don't need much. Clean, decent wifi and walking distance to food and drink. Ideal budget 10k Baht or less a month. Many thanks

Not quite that simple. I am stamped in till mid Feb. If I wait till the announcement and it is a 'no' then I have one day to get to immigration and hope it is not rammed and an extra bit of paperwork has not been sneaked in to the requirements. As it is I will go a few days before and get it done. At Chiang Mai for your first Covid ext your 60 days starts from application so I will only get till mid March. Had this confirmed by two mates who have had covid extensions and one agent so don't shoot the messenger here. No big deal. If it is continued I will just go again in March. Hopefully by then I get get back to Oz to see the family.

I just wish they did not leave it until the day before to announce the continuation or not of covid extensions

I am stamped in till mid Feb. I think the extensions will continue but not prepared to risk it and wait for the last day announcement. Will go a couple of days before 25th to get an extension. My view is 1,900B is worth it to avoid a last minute panic and catching an officer in a bad mood.

Ram. I took my passport and a print of my NHS vaccine records. The whole process was not much more than an hour. I had not pre paid, just walked in. I have a certificate with a 6 number followed by 0000 so I am in the system now. I foolishly forgot to ask about dosage but as my date of birth is wrong on the cert I will ask when I go back next week. If interested just go to 4th floor reception.

Think the rule on 2 Pfizers is the second one must be six months ago. My second one was nine months ago. Both done in UK. I showed a print of my vaccine cert, paid 1,650B and got a Moderna booster in Chiang Mai last week.

Good question. My 2 Pfizers were done in the UK so not being in the Thai system I did the walk in and pay method. I hate needles and nurses so got myself in to a bit of a sweat so did not realise that my date of birth is wrong on the cert (3 blood pressure tests before they let me go!) I will check the dosage when I correct the cert next week.

Very much a Chiang Mai specific answer but we seem to be swimming in boosters. Your initial two jabs determines what your booster will be as long as the second jab was over three months ago. The only odd one is 2 Pfizers (me) which leaves you not eligible for a freebie yet. As my second jab was 9 months ago I paid 1,650B for Moderna at a hospital and got jabbed on the spot. Very efficient.

Selfish maybe but it bodes well for covid extensions continuing.

Similar experience with Ram yesterday. I had 2 Pfizers in the UK with the second one in March so would rather nor wait for a freebie booster. 1,650B and very efficient but check your cert, mine has the wrong date of birth.

Had my Moderna booster yesterday and have just looked at cert. Glad I did as date of birth is wrong! As a previous poster it shows as my first jab as the first two were done in the UK. More paper to carry around. No mention anywhere of dosage. I will ask when I get the cert corrected.

I use a firm called Currency Fair for my transfers. Similar to Wise. A few weeks ago they emailed me to say that transfers above 50k Baht may have to be sent via Swift and may take longer and result in additional fees. This being a change at the Thai end. To be honest I have no idea what Swift is and my transfers are less than 50k so did not pay much attention, just reporting what they said.

I have friends done Covid extensions in CM. There is no need to go on the last day. I would be uncomfortable doing that for any extension. The issue is that for your first Covid extension here you get 60 days from application date with subsequent extensions tagged on. You also need to do the 15 days under consideration unless you use an agent. My info is only up to date as of last week!

I liked the buses for the convenience. I dislike the faff around getting a songtaew unless you just want a very short trip. I tried to get one from the train station to Maya last week. I got the full list of excuses Nimman very busy (I asked for Kad Rincome Huay Kaew) Cant leave yet, not enough customers. Very long way. 100B but must drop other customers first. I was not expecting a 30B ride but you do wonder if it worth the effort. I walked round the corner, got a Grab for 90B

I have been a Singapore Airlines fan for over 20 years. When Emirates started flying out of Stansted I used them. I got stuck in Bali when the Covid poo hit the fan in March 2020. The only flight I could get out was with Qatar. I flew back to Thailand with them in May. They really are very good and will have my business if schedules suit (I am paying myself and sit in the back of the bus)

I fail to see the relevancy here. I have been here on a STV since May and am no digital nomad. Anyone who satisfies the requirements can get one. Do they really think any self respecting nomad is suddenly going to declare income he receives because he has a STV? I may be missing the point but unless it is a new type of visa this is not a story at all.

I am with you on most of that. I will be going on the Friday before. This will be my first Covid extension. Friends of mine who have done this in CM have got 60 days from application date on first extension but 60 days tagged on to subsequent extensions. Time will tell. I agree that until land borders open Covid extensions will continue but I am not prepared to wait until announcement.