polehawk

Now we have a plan. My wife will present her expired Thai passport when we arrive at Bangkok Airport. As a backup, in case we incur static from the Thai officials, she can get a 30 day tourist visa upon arrival. That should allow plenty of time for her to get the new ID card and passport up in Udon.

Thanks to all for the responses.

My native Thai wife is a dual citizen and holds (or held) American and Thai passports. The problem is that her Thai passport (and ID card) expired a year ago and we want to return to Thailand in the near future. We checked the Thai Embassy website and it appears she would have to appear at a Thai Embassy or consulate here in the US in person to get a new passport because the new ones include a chip and they would need to take her fingerprints and, I'm guessing, DNA sample. Also, lacking a valid ID card with a now required chip would be a problem. The closest consulate to where we live in northern Michigan is the Chicago consulate.

We are wondering if we would run into legal hassles from Thai Immigration if she obtained a 60 day tourist visa on her American passport to enter Thailand and then proceeded on to her hometown Udorn where she could apply for a new ID card and passport? Anyone have experience or knowledge in this matter?

Yes, you need both a health certificate and export permit from the AQS not more than 3 days prior to traveling abroad. A health certificate from a vet is not valid.

I'm not sure if only an up-to-date Rabies shot is sufficient for the States. How about the other vaccinations? Are they mandatory? You can check that out on the following website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_states.shtml

Nienke, thanks for the timely and helpful info. From the link above, my cat only needs the rabies vaccination so we're all set there.

I called AQS for directions to their office and the English-speaking guy says they are located 3 KM from the Arrivals/Departures terminal. Here is their info:

Animal Quarantine Office:

Suvarnabhumi Airport animal quarantine station.

Free zone Area,CE-1 building 1st Floor. (This office is not by the arrivals/departures, it's off in a seperate property lot, looks like a bunch of warehouses.)

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Racha Thewa Sub-district,

Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province 10540

Thailand

Tel: 02-1340731,

Fax: 02-1340732

open 8:30am-4:30pm, (12-1pm closed for lunch)

Anyone have experience taking a cat FROM Thailand to the USA? Taking my cat back to the USA next month with me (as carry-on baggage, already booked) on Delta from Bangkok-Tokyo Narita-Detroit. What documentation will I need? The cat has a current up-to-date rabies shot, so far. Thought I could obtain an International Health Certificate from my vet here in Udon but he seems as confused as I am and gave me a letter (in Thai) concerning the cat's health and vaccinations. Do I need to get the proper health certificate from the Animal Quarantine Station at Suvarnabhumi or from a vet within a few days of our departure? Will I need a Export License or permit from the AQS?

My sincere condolences to Mrs. Robertson and her family at this sad time.

Respectfully submitted.

Wife wants to go out to the village on last day of Songkran when they do the splashing of water on hands of the elders and I will be happy to drop her off and pick her up later. Otherwise, I'm staying home with a beer in hand while my pit bull and ridgeback patrol the property. Some protection, they bark and wag their tails at the same time.

I haven't been through as many Songkrans as some of you in this thread but my experience does go back farther than most. I was working in Udorn in 1967-68. Came back to Thailand to work/live from 1971-74 in Udorn and Pattaya (U-Tapao). More recently, have spent the last two years in Udon (retired). Have Songkran celebrations changed over the years? I think so. Things are a lot crazier now with the water brigades along the highways, general drunkenness, mayhem on the highways, etc. We used to think that the GIs stationed in Thailand were responsible for escalating the pouring of a glass of water on someone to riding up and down the streets in town with fire hoses and pumps on the backs of their trucks but just an opinion. Thais may have been doing the same long before the American GIs came here. I do remember that it was relatively safe to ride my motorcycle to/from work during those years with no problems but sure wouldn't try that nowadays. On the plus side, it is great that so many Thais travel from all over the country (and the globe) to be with their families for Songkran holiday(s).

Enjoy, everybody.

I will be renewing my retirement visa in late July for the first time and plan on using a pension letter with declaration of more than 65,000 baht monthly income. Does Immigration want the pension letter to be dated less than one month old or will they accept a letter that I'm thinking about getting when I go to the US Embassy on other business later this month, i.e., a three month old pension letter? I will be dealing with Nong Khai Immigration in July.

You can apply for an O-A visa in your home country using funds in that country. Police report and medical would then also be required. On entry into Thailand you will receive a one year permitted to stay stamp; and if you got a multi entry type O-A visa you can freely travel during the one year visa validity and if you enter again just before it ends you will receive the normal one year permitted to stay stamp - so in effect you have two years before you will have to have the bank account in Thailand and visit immigration to extend your stay here.

lopburi3,

Interesting post and hope I'm not misconstruing what you are saying. I arrived in Thailand from the USA last September with the multi-entry type O-A visa and got the one year permitted to stay stamp at the airport Immigration. If I go to Laos, say tomorrow, when I re-enter Nong Khai will I get a new one year permitted to stay stamp which would be valid until April 2, 2008? Also, will I get a new stamp each time I leave and re-enter Thailand until just before the O-A visa expires without, hopefully, getting a hassle from Thai Immigration when doing the 90 day report? I definitely like the idea of keeping the bank account in the states for two years but want to be sure that the Immigration people won't be interpreting it in a different manner if I can.

Thanks,

polehawk (in Udon)

Hi all. This is only my second post to this forum but thought I could provide some up-to-date info regarding the Non-Immigrant Type O-A Multiple Entry Visa for those of you applying in the U.S. I reside in Tampa Florida (Honorary Counsel in Miami) but chose to deal directly with the Embassy in Washington DC after receiving some questionable information from the Honorary Counsel's Office. The Consular Officer (at the Embassy) asked me what I was going to do in Thailand, to which I replied RETIRE. He asked my age (59) and then asked if I had reviewed the Embassy website (I had). He then asked me to send in the following:

1. Passports

2. Application form w/photos (3 original forms)

3. Biographic form (original + 2 copies)

4. Medical Certificate (notarized original + 2 copies)

5. Criminal Background Check (certified original + 2 copies)

6. Latest Bank Statement (showing at least $20K original + 2 copies)

7. Money Order to cover costs

I also enclosed a Express Mail envelope and preaddressed label, and Thai Marriage Certificate (original). I sent the package out via overnight Express Mail on 1/27/05 and received our passports with Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visas on 2/5/05.

I found the whole process pretty easy.

I assume my wife and I will be good for a 1 year stay in Thailand (reporting in to Immigration) WITHOUT having to make the much talked about Visa Run every 90 days.

We will be leaving from Tampa on 2/26 for Bangkok and then on to Udon Thani where we will begin the task of building our home. Any comments, suggestions, advise, or questions would be appreciated.

Amazing. I used fdimike's posted experience as a guideline and got unbelievable service from the Thai Embassy in Washington DC. I sent my passport, application forms, medical certificate (gave my doctor plenty of time to get it notarized), criminal background check (certified original), latest bank statement which showed more than the required 800,000 Baht, and a money order for $125 by Federal Express Next Day Air on Monday, 8/28/06, and just now (8/31/06) received an Express Mail envelope with the Non-Immigrant Type O-A Multiple Entry Visa which is valid for one year. I realize that I will be required to check in with Immigration every 90 days, of course.

If you send three of everything (original plus two copies), you should be on your way. Embassy lady said they no longer require the Biographic Form. Looks like that form applies to Laos or Cambodian refugees anyway.

I'm glad that I didn't follow the Miami Honorary Consulate's misinformed directions. Lady that answered told me that I needed to send copies of my ROUNDTRIP plane tickets even though I told her I was applying for a retirement visa. Also, she told me to send $125 for the visa plus $75 for costs so they could send everything to Bangkok. I heard enough and decided to follow fdimike's path.

My wife, two cats, and I will be leaving Florida on Sept. 20th for Udon retirement life.

THANK YOU to fdimike.

Ron

Tuffy, a belated congrats on getting your pooch into Thailand and persevering through all of the hassles with the airlines and gov't officials. By now, ol' 100+ lb Shep has probably already started earning his kibble & bits by causing the local kamoys to give your place a wide berth.

Sheryl, after reading through several threads it looks like you have already experienced what we are facing when we bring our cat with us in the near future to retire in Thailand with us. Information given by everyone has been very helpful, btw. I'm a little unclear on one issue, however. I have the rabies certificate in hand but what about the health certificate? Is this an extraneous document or is it actually required by the airline (Thai Airways) or the Thai customs/animal quarantine officials? Do they even ask for it? If required, how many days before the departure date does this health certificate have to be signed by the gov't veterinarian?

We also have a Sherpa pet carrier and plan on bringing our cat on board the plane with us. On our last trip to Bangkok in April, I watched a lady with her cat in a similar type of carry-on bag breeze past a group of customs guys who were busy yakking to each other so I may try to do the same. Just want to be prepared for all possible roadblocks.

The first thing you need to do is find out the restrictions and requirements for the airline you will be taking to BKK for pets. Depending on the airline you may need to request space/ apply for paperwork 2 weeks prior. Some airlines only accept health certificate 10 days prior.

Tuffy, were you saying that some airlines only accept health certificates that were obtained within the 10 days prior to the scheduled flight date? Thai Airways?

Also, was it really necessary to get an endorsement from a government veterinarian authority on the health certificate signed by your pet's vet or did it even matter once you reached Bangkok?

Well, if it's a case of mites then there's a good chance of recurrence. I would ask the vet to do a microscopic exam of the ear debris. My cat (feral from birth to about his first year when I gave him a home) had same symptom of intense ear itching about 5 years ago and the vet diagnosed mites so Novlamite was prescribed. Found out it's not easy to get a wild cat to let you put drops in its ears but it effectively cleared the problem.

In 1967-68 I worked at Camp Friendship outside Korat for Philco-Ford Corp. Then again in 1972-74 with Federal Electric Corp. I still visit Korat occasionally the last time about a year ago.

Spaniel,

Like they say, small world. I worked for Philco-Ford, mostly in Udon, from 1966-68 and then with Federal Electric from 1972-74 in Ubon, Udon and U-Tapao. I was a Installer Craftsman with Philco and a Tech Controller with FEC. I did get to visit most of the IWCS sites while I was with Philco, including a month or so at Korat.

I'm still working but wife (Thai) and I are planning on retiring in Udon if everything works out in the near future.

I like your ballpark figure of about 20,000 baht per year a whole lot more than what I figured I was seeing and will check out AIA. Might be that the quotes I saw were actually annual premiums? Thanks for the info.

Mia noi=5,000 baht/month? If I include this one in my budget, mrs polehawk has informed that I will definitely need medical insurance.

but at least the ducks will be fed

ducks??? hmmm, mia noy. mrs polehawk. medical insurance. AFLAC !!!

Are you sure that's the monthly premium? I asked my sister-in-law, who is in the finance/insurance business, and she recommended AIA. She said that the annual premium for a 50 year old male with top coverage would be about 20,000 baht per year. You have to pay the full year the first year, but can pay monthly in subsequent years.

Caveat: this was a translated conversation, so I'm not entirely sure about the details....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like your ballpark figure of about 20,000 baht per year a whole lot more than what I figured I was seeing and will check out AIA. Might be that the quotes I saw were actually annual premiums? Thanks for the info.

Mia noi=5,000 baht/month? If I include this one in my budget, mrs polehawk has informed that I will definitely need medical insurance.

Well the resturant is open and I had my first try today, it was excellent, the best I have had in Thailand and it is right here in Udon in't that good thing at aleast for me. They were either not happy with thier mMargaritas yet or maybe to happy thye kept trying receipes LOL

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One more reason for me to retire in Udon Chimichangas and margaritas!

Years ago I used to frequent Mexican restaurants in Bangkok on Sukhumvit and in Pattaya. Seems they had Thai midgets standing out in front of these places, trying to hawk up some business for the establishments. Seemed kind of weird even back then.

Anyway, thanks for the restaurant tip/review BB and Ray.

Back to medical care expense. I realize that situations (age, health, number of dependents, etc.) vary but wonder what ballpark figure to budget in as a monthly expense? I visited BUPA and Thai Health Insurance websites to get premium quotes and got sticker shock. My quotes were from 16,000 baht and up per month, depending on deductibles and coverages

It's possible that I might have misread the charts but can anyone relate their actual experiences in obtaining a health care insurance package?

Regards

polehawk