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pasak

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Posts posted by pasak

  1. On 1/7/2024 at 2:49 PM, MangoKorat said:

    For many years I've always changed my UK £ to Baht in Thailand - the rates available in the UK are laughable.  Rates in Thailand can also vary quite a lot - the banks at the airport rip off tourists and need calling out on this.  Change your money at one of the banks on the arrivals concourse or in the main airport at your peril - go downstairs near the train station and you'll find the same bank often giving 4 or 5 baht more! Kasikorn for example, has a booth right next to Super Rich orange and adjusts their rates to be the same.

     

    In recent years, like many I've changed my money at one of the 'Super Riches' - green or orange in Bangkok.  However today, with a visit pending I checked out the rate at the green one and its 43.75 - 43.65 orange. If you can get your hands on £50 notes its slightly more but if you have a Wise account, even after taking their fees off, the rate works out at 43.88.  No brainer, no queueing at Super Rich or having to risk carrying large amounts of cash - just transfer before you go.

    Superrich Green is the only place, everything else including the orange is a scam. GBP50 the best denomination. Pick your moments you can trade in and out, the spread is that tight!

  2. Bad though it is, it is not significantly less littered in countries that should know better. I think it is largely a generational thing. Although the youth think it's cool to be environmentally aware, they are the main culprits. The minimum you can do is not throw or allow anyone around you to throw rubbish and pick the odd bit up when you have a spare moment.  

  3. 6 hours ago, StevoLe said:

    I don't know if it is true, but I've seen posts that suggest that if you enter on a Non O spouse visa, your first extension must be based on marriage.  After that you can change to retirement extensions.

     

    Hopefully someone can confirm.   Non O spouse visas not requiring insurance seem the best option initially.

    I've read that you can switch to a retirement visa from the first renewal date. That application should be be made within the final 30 days of the initial 90 days of the non 0 visa. I will probably make my application a few days before. The avoidance of mandatory insurance was also my main reason for opting for the spouse over the retirement.

  4. I got my Non O Spouse Visa a week ago. The Embassy sent a PDF file notifying approval and giving data of visa and applicant. No instructions from the Embassy come with the file although one assumes one is to print this out and show it to the airline at origin/customs at Suwarnaphum. At that point the customs officer presumably puts a stamp or sticker in the passport upon sight of the document and QR code. Are these assumptions correct?   

  5. 6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

    Your wife will need to write a statement that  she wants you to apply for the extension and you will be living with her.

    I am applying from the UK, not extending in Thailand. Since we will be staying in our house, I was thinking she could write a statement on a scanned copy of our Tabien Bahn that I will be staying with her at this address. Whatever she writes, should it be written in English or in Thai? If the system allowed more than a single document I could provide Tabien Bahn, Chanote and the letter separately. Any ideas gratefully received????

  6. 39 minutes ago, RetroGTAndrew said:

    I uploaded .jpg screenshots of .pdf statement downloads (Royal Bank of Scotland & Nationwide) for our applications and they were granted without any problems. Mine came through in 3 days, wifes took a week, possibly due to being born in Thailand and having changed her name (didn't use her Thai passport due to having no vaccination record against her Thai name).

    The online application pages are somewhat confusing as to whether .pdf or .jpg is needed, I just tried one and if it wouldn't upload tried the other format.

    Andrew

    On the non O visa application form here in the UK there are two places to submit financial evidence: #4 & #10 of the final page. It appears you can only upload one file per place. #4 is about financial evidence and #10 is to do with bank statements. They both amount to the same thing. I suppose I could upload the uncertified statements in one place and go to a different bank for stamped and certified statements in the other place. How did you interpret it? 

    I have to say that the poor spelling, syntax and grammar across the whole application form beggars belief. You'd think someone would come up with the idea of reorganizing it for the betterment of everyone concerned.

  7. 3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

    Hit post to quick in my previous post,

    Your wife will need to write a statement that  she wants you to apply for the extension and you will be living with her.

    Where are you applying for the visa at? 

    You could upload anything that has your address on if it there is a embassy and official in the country where you are applying at.

     

     

     

    5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

    Hit post to quick in my previous post,

    Your wife will need to write a statement that  she wants you to apply for the extension and you will be living with her.

    Where are you applying for the visa at? 

    You could upload anything that has your address on if it there is a embassy and official in the country where you are applying at.

     

     

    I'm making the application in the UK.

    You've cleared up the "letter from spouse". It's not actually an extension (yet), it's the initial visa although it amounts to the same type of letter.

    What should I submit as "Residence permit". It is a question with an asterisk so it must be answered. I suppose my passport once more.

    As for the two question about Financial Evidence & Bank Statement, I could either submit the same bank statement or possibly add another one from a different bank.

    Proof of accommodation could be her/our Tabien Bahn, I guess.

    Are there any threads on this or places to go for support? The Thai Embassy don't answer their phone.

     

  8. 11 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

    You only need 20k baht in a bank to apply for a non-o visa at the embassy. That is the standard amount needed for a visa application.

    Just USD600 for a 90 day visa application from abroad?  I'm just reading "Bank statement showing GBP10,000 minimum". Don't know over what period and whether July only will suffice.

    I don't know if you're familiar with the e-visa application but the final page is quite confusing. 4 (Financial evidence) & 10 (Bank statement) seem to ask the same question.

    Letter from family is an odd one. I suppose my wife hands me a letter inviting me to my own house in Thailand? ????

    Another one: "Applicant must apply for e-Visa via specific Embassy/Consulate conforming with his consular jurisdiction and residency. Applicant is required to upload document that can verify his/her residency".  Should I just provide my passport (again)?

     

  9. I'm doing the Non O, 90 day Spouse visa application now. When it comes to providing financial evidence (not earnings, just money in the bank), what period of time do they require because in the manual they just say "bank statements", nor do they state the minimum amount? For example, do you suppose that a July 2022 bank statement (one month) continuously showing approx USD200k would suffice? If not, what do they need? I googled this but didn't find anything definitive.

  10. 1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

    Obtaining a non O retirement in own country would require 90 day insurance.

    To avoid that some would obtain a non O marriage and later change for extension based on retirement if that was a better fit. 

    If your end game is extensions based on retirement using money in bank method..... personally I would skip obtaining non O in home country.

    Would enter visa exempt and obtain non O retirement inside Thailand.

    Easy as you already have Thai bank account in place. 

    Thanks, I'm fairly committed to the non O as I've already bought the single air ticket. I guess I'll enter as non O marriage to avoid the insurance and renew as non O retirement after 80 or so days.   

  11. 1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

    Your plan is fine.

    After you enter Thailand you will open a Thai bank account which won't be difficult given that you will have a non O.

    To apply for the 12 month extension you would require 400k in the bank for two months prior to application.

     

    Perhaps you already have the bank account in place. 

    Thank you, great to get confirmation.

    I have the bank accounts with sufficient funds in my name both abroad and in Thailand. I could opt for either or move from marriage to retirement once in Thailand if it offers greater benefit though I guess it'll be the same in that respect.

    I forget but I think I must have had the Multiple O when I lived in Thailand full time. 

    When we moved to Meuang Prachuapkirikhan I used to do my extension at Dansingkorn, on the Burmese border but I heard that might have stopped now and if so the nearest would be Hua Hin. Either way I hope I won't need to go to Bangkok to do it. 

  12. I am travelling to Thailand in October and staying for 3 years. I am married to and travelling with a Thai national. I meet the financial requirements both in my country and in Thailand.

    I have bought a single air ticket to Bangkok which I believe is acceptable in conjunction with the Single Entry Non-O visa I was intending to apply for (no need for a return ticket, please correct me if I'm wrong). 

    I am guessing I would need to extend the visa just before the 90 day expiry date and that I would thereafter be permitted another 12 months. When I get to the end of the first 12 months can I extend again for another 12 months or how would I extend my stay? 

    Am I correct in my assumptions and am I going about this in the right way or should I apply for a different visa at the outset? 

    Thank you ????

  13. 1 hour ago, internationalism said:

    The website has some technical issues. It is unclear what you pay in total. The price is presumably per person. The hotel I contacted charge THB8,000 for a couple including everything. A cheaper one might be THB7,500 but not much difference. The bulk of the cost is for collection and testing.

    I get what you say about not paying up front in case they relax the rules.

  14. 1 hour ago, Conrad65 said:

    Just purchased 30 day cover from FWD through TQM using this secure link https://tqm-app.com/static/thailandpass/index.html

     

    ThB 650 using international debit card and two step verification.

    Yes FWD and TQM is the same policy, same price. THB 650 for basic, THB1,700 for fancy. AXA is about THB2,200 but includes addl cover. FWD are responsive, will probably deal with them for the THB650 cover. 

  15. 6 hours ago, internationalism said:

    insurer in FWD. The TQM are just brokers.

    Buy directly from FWD or some other, reputable broker.

    FWD doesn't quote covid policies on their website, to have to send them enquiry

    https://www.fwdgi.co.th/product_covid.php

    I got reply from my insurer:

    "... the plan from FWD sounds good as that is a good price. We unfortunately do not sell any plans from FWD. We only have MSIG and they are more expensive than FWD."

    I've messaged FWD asking for best price for minimum required covid cover for 30 days TP. If no luck I will go with AXA along with the lemmings (THB2,200).  

  16. 5 hours ago, internationalism said:

    no, average hospitalisation for covid is some 300k (thai includes the governmental and private) - according to dr Anutin.

    If symptomatic with intubation, ventilation or ICU, and for weeks, that might exceed 700k (some $20k).

    Light version was good enough for T&G (covering $50k, instead of an earlier $100k).

     

    if you are staying in thailand for long/permanently you might think of 1 year policy for 4200b than just one month for 650b.

    Yes sorry, I realized later that 700k equates to USD20k so about right. I'll look at FWD. 

  17. 4 hours ago, internationalism said:

    no, they are not for thailand pass. Just room.

    for t&g start from 3800, includes transport and pcr.

     

    So back to the drawing board. Where can I get a list of the t&g packages? THB3,800 (is that for a couple?) is cheaper than the THB4,800 + THB3,200 for second person (Total THB8,000) that I have just been quoted by Centre Point Chidlom. Also they quoted more for 'room only' than I could get on Booking.com TIT. Any recommendations?

  18. Reasonably nice hotels in the Ploenchit/Rajdamri area and listed on booking sites are calling themselves SHA EXTRA PLUS and charging USD40-60 per night but what does this mean? Does it automatically mean they will collect you from the airport and give you the RT-PCR test within the room price or does it mean that for an extra fee they are capable of doing so? 

     

  19. I've just checked this TQM insurance company. Loads of dodgy reviews. There must be guvmint/immigration investors behind it. "...lied to me...others had experienced the same", "purchases private information to solicit customers", "sent 8,000 bht and no response for two months, think I have lost it", "very unprofessional, barely speak sense" LOL & TIT

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