burlap

16 hours ago, DineshR said:

Hello,

 

Many years ago when my wife was incapacitated and required nursing help, I had a live in nurse who was my wife's caregiver. We would go back to the US every year and I have applied for US visas for actually several different caregivers over the years and they were all granted visas.

 

1. Apply for a non-immigrant visa. (B2)

2. The application should be made by you as the employer. The non-immigrant visa form is self explanatory and quite easy to fill in though you will need all the details of your caregiver as required in the form. The US address, and the person she will be visiting in the US will be you. Use your email address in that application not the caregivers.

3. Purpose of the trip is to take care of you. You should write a cover letter stating what your disability is and why you require a caregiver and that you will cover all her expenses.

4. It will ask you if the applicant intends to work in the US - answer is NO.

5. Application is prepared by you and relationship will be employer.

 

That's pretty much it. The form itself is quite simple - just need the data to fill it in. 

 

I've taken 3 different caregivers to the US over the course of almost 10 years and have never had a problem.

 

Good luck !!

Thank you!  Do you happen to remember if I will have to meet any income requirements?

 I'm a retired American citizen who's been living in Thailand for many years.  I may need to go back to the USA to deal with some medical issues.  It is very dangerous (to my health) for me to travel alone.  I have a caregiver in Thailand I'd like to accompany me.  She is 52 years old and probably doesn't qualify for a tourist visa.  Is there any  special category whereby she might be let in?  Thanks.

On 1/10/2022 at 7:38 AM, sezze said:

Thats rather strange , unless you are a Thai . Most people here are people living in Thailand or going holiday Thailand , and also most people birth nation is much further away then a few 100km .

It doesn't mean that we shouldn't limit our consumption , if i see many peoples electric bills over here , there's still a lot of work to be done. 

I think that 'Most people here' aren't 'here' at all.  They're bored and angry living in the UK or the US.

On 1/10/2022 at 8:43 AM, HarrySeaman said:

To be clear, some definitions and abbreviations.

 

ICE: Internal Combustion Engine.

HEV: Hybrid Electrical Vehicle - a non-plugin vehicle driven by a combination of an ICE and an electrical motor.  Electrical energy is provided by batteries that are recharged by the ICE recharging or regenerative braking.

PHEV: a HEV that you can plugin to recharge the batteries.  Usually these also have regenerative braking.

PEV: Plugin Electric Vehicle - a fully electrical vehicle, driven only by an electrical motor that uses electricity from batteries that are recharged by an external electrical power source.

 

The amount of pollution produced decreases as you go down the list.

 

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?

 

Which comes first, the PEV or the charging network?

 

What is needed is a commitment by governments and the auto manufactures to jointly build out a charging network and covert to manufacturing only PEVs within 5-6 years, not the half assed 2035 commitment of the USA.  An ICE vehicle, HEV, or PHEV will be practically worthless then.

 

China is basically making this 5-6 year commitment.  Unless the other countries make the commitment then Chinese EVs will be the dominant cars being sold worldwide in 5 years.

Rumor has it that Tesla is negotiating with Malaysia about building a large car factory there.  If that happens Tesla, and its Chinese competitors wild fill the country with charging stations pretty quickly

On 6/12/2022 at 10:42 PM, scoutman360 said:

I thought about using this option also. But the price was a little high. Now I just use my sister's number and she texts me with the security code every time she gets it. 

I actually got a Skype number, but the bank won't let me register it, I get a message saying that they can't verify I'm the owner of the account.

I'm an American citizen living in Thailand.  I'm having trouble logging onto my bank account .  The bank wants me to give them  an American cell phone number they can send an authentication code to (SMS). I don’t have an American cell phone account. Is it possible to open one while I'm out of the country?  I have been here for 15 years now, and I have no plans on returning to the US.

I am a foreigner (US) who is staying in Thailand using retirement extensions.  I have not left Thailand for more than 10 years - I live in Bangkok. I have received the first vaccination with an appointment for the second on October 12.  A Thai friend wants to rent a car and drive to Hua Hin and stay in a hotel there for 3 nights.  Am I allowed to do this? 

Thanks.

I'm 68 yrs old with some health problems that make travelling home to America dangerous for me.  But I'm, afraid to not be vaccinated.  It looks like private shots won't arrive until October, and the government websites won't register anyone without a "pink card" or taxpayer ID#.  Is it possible for me to get this 'pink card' and if I do get it, can I then register for the vaccine?  

I'll have to find someone willing to put me on their tabien bahn, right?

Thanks

On 6/23/2021 at 10:31 PM, Disparate Dan said:

Evidence for this? And where are you?

Like many others actually IN Thailand, I have a jab scheduled.

Whether I want it is not something the embassy would not get involved in.

Many people have said that they received or are scheduled to receive a shot.  How did you do this? I've done everything I can think of, I've registered at several private hospitals who say they probably won't have any shots until October.

I've Filled out the form at ThailandIntervac.com only to be delivered to a calendar that wouldn't let me make an appointment ALL dates were marked as 'full'.  For the last 4 days, the web site has not been working.

I filled the form at 

https://www.medparkhospital.com/en/page/covid19-vaccine-survey

and they said nothing available, they will email me if things change.

I'm 68 yrs old & have some health issues that make it impossible to return to America right now.  How can I ge a vaccination?

Thanks.

I

I'm a 68 yr old American with health problem. I've been i Bangkok 12 years now, I'm basically on self quarantine, waiting for a vaccination.  But I have a problem: in July I'll need to renew my retirement extension at Chaeng Wattanna.  This terrifies me.  Waiting for hours on end indoors with thousands of others, sometimes in tight lines - almost nobody following social distancing rules.

On the other hand, I don't want to overstay, and have to leave the country to get a new visa because travelling alone is very difficult for me because of health issues.

My question: Is it possible to hire an agent to go CW and get my extension without me actually having to be there?

1 minute ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Ok...then one of the lo-so private hospitals or clinics who will soon be giving our vaccines like candy or somtum.

The lo-so hospitals are fine.

Just now, Pattaya Spotter said:

Or a government hospital. 

My understanding is at the government hospitals you won't be able to choose which brand you want.

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

 20 to 1 it's 3,000 for the 1st jab, plus Dr fee, nurse fee, admin fee, and 5,000 baht for the 2nd shot, plus Dr Fee, nurse fee, and admin fee, total range 9,000 to 10,000 baht.

 

Long live the baht and farang who can afford it of course ????

 

If you're concerrned about money, don't go to one of the big shiny new mega-hospitals.  Go to Bangkok Christian, or St. Louis.

5 hours ago, uhuh said:

You are right. But if everybody thinks like you exponential growth will start

(think NYC).

Please google "exponential growth".

Most people don't want to stay in places where corpses are in the street  (Wuhan, NYC - they put them in refrigerated trucks - , Guayaquil, Manaus), and where hospitals send away desperate people looking for help by the thousands. 

 

If you are taking no precautions you are the reason for this happening. So please stay in a country far, far away from me.

I am an old man with health issues and fear of death - you better believe I take precautions.  I was more interested in the accuracy of these numbers.  Because most of the known cases are old - they are no longer contagious - probably no more than 50 contagious people in the entire country, and most of these people are already quarantined.

What did Thailand do that was sooooo much better than the rest of the world?

Everywhere I read the total number of cases in Thailand is about 3,000 - most of which are no longer contagious.  In a country of over 60 Million people this is basically zero You would have basically NO CHANCE of catching the virus in Thailand, even when taking no precautions.  Or, am I misinterpreting something?

On 4/21/2020 at 7:14 PM, DrTuner said:

Corona, dengue, flu, PM2.5, drought, usurpers, unemployment, economic crash, it just keeps getting better. What's not to like?

On 4/21/2020 at 7:14 PM, DrTuner said:

Corona, dengue, flu, PM2.5, drought, usurpers, unemployment, economic crash, it just keeps getting better. What's not to like?

The Buddha said there'd be days like these!

On 4/15/2020 at 12:00 PM, petermik said:

Just announced Thai airports closure extended until 30th April.....

On 4/15/2020 at 12:00 PM, petermik said:

Just announced Thai airports closure extended until 30th April.....

Airport closed, what does that mean? when I go to Kayak.com & search for flights going BKK - LAX in late April, plenty show up.  How can that be if the airport is closed?

I've been staying in Thailand the last 10 years with Visa Extensions.  I have about 4 months left before I need to renew.  Do I need to leave the Kingdom?  Will I be able to renew?

On 6/11/2019 at 8:10 PM, Tanoshi said:

Based on retirement?

yes

15 hours ago, jacko45k said:

The order I saw was very specific. 65,000 baht transferred to a Thai account each and every month for 12 months. 

If you can get an IO to accept an average all well and good, but he is within the regulations to reject it. 

I think it can be 65,000 or more, the important thing is that the amount is approximately the same every month.

Good News! My wife said the agent who denied the visa was obviously in a very bad mood and we should try again. So she got up early and put food in the monks' begging bowls and had me make merit as well. We then went to the immigration office and registered as before. While we were waiting we went to my bank at Chaeng Watthana and told the employee there about our problem.  She suggested I make a small withdrawal from the ATM, and keep the receipt.  She then made a 1-year history of the account, ending with that day. She highlighted all the overseas deposits and totaled them (slightly over 1 million Baht.). She also highlighted the withdrawal we just made and told me to show the ATM receipt to the agent.  (I didn't understand why this was important, and the agent didn't look at the ATM receipt.)

The new agent also said I didn't qualify because there were two months with no payments and 4 months with 2 or 3 payments.  When it looked like all was lost, my wife got emotional and made a little speech about, what a good guy I was; how difficult it was to even understand the rules let alone follow them; how for the last 8 years I've consistently brought money into the country and spent it; how I've not caused any problems; etc.

To my amazement, this worked! the agent made me attach to our file a handwritten note stating how I now understand the rules and next year I will follow them.  She then snapped my picture and took 1,900 baht, had us wait 2 more hours then returned my passport with a 1-year extension! My wife immediately took me to the office shrine where we thanked the Buddha.

I went to Bangkok immigration office to get my ninth retirement extension for my visa.  This was the first year I had to document my income - before I just got a form notarized at the US embassy stating my income.

They rejected me because they wanted to see 12 monthly (or 24 bi-weekly) deposits in my checking account.  They also wanted these deposits made on the same date, and for the same amount, in other words, what you would expect to see if you were receiving payments from a government pension program.  I was receiving money from rental property, so the money would arrive on different days (usually on the 3rd - the 7th)  and sometimes the amount would vary, for instance sometimes the tenant would pay for a repair and deduct the payment from the rent.  However, the total for the year was over the required amount.  They said they wouldn't accept this.

I told them I had applied for Social Security in January, but it might be September before I start receiving payments.  But the first payment would be retroactive to January.  I'm afraid this first 'balloon' payment will be ignored, and I will have to wait until I get 12 'regular' payments before I can apply again. That will be September 2020.

So, I'm going to try to get the marriage extension instead.  I plan on opening a new bank account and depositing 400,000 Baht in it.  Then wait a month leave the country and get a new Non-Imm O and return, and after the money has been in the account 3 months apply for my extension.  I have some questions:

1. Does the 400,000 Baht have to come from out of the country? (It did, but I'd have a hard time proving it.)
2. Is any special type of bank account required?
3. Am I allowed to use any of this money? Next year I'd like to use my Social Security income to qualify.
4. Where is the easiest place to get a Non-Imm O visa? Hong Kong OK?
5. Do I have to purchase an entry/exit permit to leave (and return) the country?
6. Am I forgetting something?

God, I'm confused!  For the past 6 years I just took my income statement I got from the US consulate in Bangkok to the immigration office, along with some forms, picture, passport, and some copies to the immigration office where I waited around for several hours to talk to one of the nice ladies in a military uniform and, voila, a visa extension for another year in paradise would appear in my passport.

But I can't do that anymore because the US consulate won't verify my income.  So this Feb, when I qualified for Social Security, I applied online.  I also opened a special Bangkok Bank account for the Social Security deposits. Almost 4 months later (last week) I got a call from a Social Security agent in the Philippines to verify my info was correct. He told me the US office would contact me in another 4 months (end of September) and I would be getting a payment retroactive to the beginning of the year.  

The problem is my visa expires near the end of July so I will not have any deposits in that account yet.  I have about 400,000 Baht in another Thai bank account, and I have a third account that has approx. 70,000 Baht deposit from the US every month for the last 3 years (but the balance is low - I pay the bills with this account.)  Another problem with the 400K account is that the money was money I transferred from the third account, so it probably can't be used because the money came from Thailand.

So it looks like I'm not going to be able to renew my visa, right?

I met a woman who has a small shop Near the Phloen Chit BTS station.  She says if I give her 20,000 Baht she can make these problems go away and get me my extension.  She swears everything is on the up & up, but I've got my suspicions.  

Any suggestions?

PS I have a Thai wife and I'm partially disabled by a chronic illness.  I have very little money and no place to stay in America.  I'm afraid the trip might kill me.  My wife is also my caregiver, but she has no US visa and probably can't get one.  The thought of traveling without her not only makes me lonely but terrifies me.

31 minutes ago, elviajero said:

If he has a Thai mother, he is Thai by birthright.

 

With proof of his Thai nationality he can easily get a 1 year extension of stay from immigration.

What would be 'proof of his Thai nationality?' His mother has lived in the US since before he was born and is now a US citizen.  I'm not sure she's kept her Thai documents current.  She'll be visiting here the end of April for 3 weeks, maybe they can do something together then. if he can figure out a way to reenter the kingdom before then.

3 hours ago, alex8912 said:

I’m confused. OP when your son announced “Hey, they gave me 3 months instead of two, this must be something new!" Were YOU present?  Didn’t you know tourist visas are only for 60 days?? 

If that is not the case and you did NOT hear him say this didn’t you think it was strange he was still in Thailand after 60 days? Or again you did not know anything about TV length? 

I was surprised and I did ask to see his passport which he wasn't carrying.  Both he & his GF swore they saw the date and they thought the reason he was given 3 months had to do with the fact he was coming off of an educational visa which somehow changed things.  I didn't understand how this would work, but I just chalked it up to me getting old and not keeping up on things.  Having said all that, you are right. I should have been more careful.