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“Fake K-pop stars” who are making millions for their agencies. In the kingdom of K-pop trainees(more like slaves) are signed to a minimum of a 7 year contract where the agency controls everything they do. The training is brutal and in the end even some of the successful acts leave with pennies on the dollar. Lisa is a rarity because she is the first foreign born woman who has achieved this kind of success in the K-Pop universe. This is an incredible accomplishment because she overcame a lot as a “way goo gin” (Korean word for foreigner) woman. Even if she was independent doubt Thailand could afford her at this time.

Based upon my recent experience in the US, I departed at LAX in late September and going to a Walgreens or CVS are not great options for a time sensitive Covid 19 PCR test. I went to a international travel oriented clinic for the PCR test with a 24 hour result guarantee. There are Covid 19 testing centers and clinics all over the USA that are geared up for providing quick PCR Test results. Some can provide results in as short as 3 to 4 hours but they are expensive($400 to $500).

How to book an international star for an event: 1. Discreetly contact her agency and inquire about her availability 2. If she is available then quietly negotiate her fee 3. If she is not available or the price is too high(I tend to believe this is the real reason) then the public never learns and no one in charge “loses face”. I cannot imagine YG Entertainment(Lisa’s agency) would have agreed to her appearing unless the fee was worth their time. Members of her group, BlackPink, have millions of dollars in endorsement deals with many international companies(next time you buy a can of Pepsi just look who might be on it). I would classify this as a failure in Business 101.

"exit stamp". Thanks JerryMahoney. I am going to upload that when it comes time apply for the new Thailand Pass.

Jerrymahoney, thank you for pointing this out but I wonder how the LA Consulate will define "just traveled out"?

I found this important piece of information on the Los Angeles Thai Consulate Website: . Non-Thais who are fully vaccinated (i.e. travel at least 14 days after completing required dose(s)), have a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result (issued no more than 72 hours before travel), BUT have stayed in the US (or in countries listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand) less than 21 days, can enter Thailand through Sandbox Program and MUST stay in SHA+ hotels in Sandbox area for at least 7 nights. I am planning my next trip to Los Angeles early in 2022 and was planning on staying 14 days but based upon this requirement I will have to stay at least 22 days in order to avoid a 7 day quarantine. I really do not understand the reason for this 21 day stay requirement? Anyone have any thoughts for the 21 day stay requirement?

Ok, keep in mind things change almost on a daily basis. I flew from BKK to CNX two weeks after completing my 2nd tour in Quarantine: 1. Fully Vaccinated with Pfizer and 2nd shot was more than 14 days before flight 2. My 2nd PCR Test while in Quarantine was within the 72 hour flight departure window. At the BKK check-in counters there various QR codes one must scan and enter your personal information for tracking purpose. Each domestic destination has it's own specific QR Code The Check-in agent will want to see either proof of full vaccination or the 72 hour Covid 19 PCR Test. I showed her both. Upon arrival at CNX all passengers must do the following: 1. Show the Text message that confirms you have entered in your information for the tracking app 2. Then as you exit baggage claim there was a checkpoint where a member of the Provincial Health Ministry will ask to see your proof of vaccination or the PCR Test result. 3. If a passenger does not have proof of vaccination or the PCR test then he or she is directed to a table and a swab is inserted into your nostril. If you get swabbed you cannot leave your residence until you the get result of of CNX swab test. I presented my vaccine card and was waved through. Keep in mind this was two weeks ago and things could have changed because now Chiang Mai has had a recent surge in cases. Based upon what I saw at CNX airport I will probably just stay in Chiang Mai until my next international trip.

If this is mistake then it is still on the LA Consulate website. I just checked now: 7. Applicant must have a bank deposit of 7.1 no less than 1,200,000 Baht or 7.2 an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income (pension) of not less than 100,000 Baht, or 7.3 a deposit account plus a monthly income (pension) totaling not less than 1,200,000 Baht.

EricTh, I should have elaborated on my comments. It is either 1,2 or3. Flying from BKK to CNX at the time I flew was more restrictive. It might be different now because of the surge in cases in CNX. It appears the entry requirements for interprovincial air travel might be dynamic. Since I had proof of being fully vaccinated(this means your 2nd vaccine shot was more than 14 days ago) then I got the "you go".

I have lived in Chiang Mai for five years. Took a one month trip back to the US for vaccination and noticed that nothing has changed. It does not matter when or if Chiang Mai opens(Nov, Dec or Jan) it will be the same: quiet. More people are out and living their lives but as for foreign tourists? Not so much. Took a domestic flight from BKK to CNX and the aircraft was almost full but over 90% were Thai's. CNX airport has check point to ensure all domestic arrivals are: 1) Fully Vaccinated 2) A negative PCR test within 72 3) Go to the table and get your nostril swabbed then wait at home for thetest result. Foreign Tourists have been mostly absent in Chiang Mai for almost two years and I do not see many coming back anytime soon. Also, many of the local businesses would have a hard time gearing up to deal with an increase of foreign tourists. I went into an Amazon Cafe yesterday and there was one girl working behind the counter. She had to take the orders, take payments, and oh yeah make the drinks. "Ready for Re-opening"???

I guess whatever it takes to win? Some Asian countries will never have a Miss-Insert name of Country, be of mixed descent. I have seen a Miss Korea of mixed descent and a few years ago Miss Japan was half Japanese and half African American and this created some controversy in the "Land of the Rising Sun". This is pretty much is an admission that English Proficiency in Thailand is abysmal.

Best flight on Thai was in 2007. LAX to BKK and back nonstop on the Airbus 340-500 in Premium Economy. This was everyday. It was great and the price was the same as United in Economy(in those days United flew the route LAX-NRT-BKK). Since then I have flown Thai Smile a few times and only complaint with the low cost version of Thai was no cash refunds for cancelled flights. During the pandemic both ANA and JAL have operated consistently to and out of BKK.

The conflict is because the OA Visa on the consulate website is in two different locations. The old Financial Standards(800k and 65K) are listed in the Visa section. The new standards(1.2 Mil and 100K) are listed under the E-Visa application section. I would bet the E-Visa standards will be what an applicant has to prove in order to get an OA Visa from now on. Also, the new insurance limit of 3 million is also under the E-Visa section as well. Doubt very few OA visa’s will be issued from now. I am still able to qualify under the new standards and if I had to I could get another OA. As usual, not consistent because this is what the DC embassy states for the OA: O-A visa: US or Thai bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht. In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank (an original copy) is required.

One thing to consider is where is your transit location? I got a surprise because I am transiting in Singapore and they have PCR Test requirement just to transit. Singapore’s transit PCR Test requirement is more stringent then the COVID 19 Test entrance requirement for the USA(Anti-gent or PCR test 3 days before departure). Singapore’s transit Covid 19 Test requirement is PCR Test only and within 48 hours before departure.

I have Pacific ‘Cross Visa Friendly Policy(Covers 19 related treatment). The maximum coverage limit is 3.5 Million. But the annual premium is not friendly. Between the ages of 55-60 the annual premium is now 61,000 Baht. Obviously it will be higher for someone who is over 70. This policy already meets the new requirements for 2022.

I recently got a real surprise from Singapore Airlines. I booked a one way to Los Angeles from Bangkok and thought “3 days from departure Anti-gen or PCR test” will meet the US CDC requirements for entry? I was wrong because buried deep in SIA’s website is this: Transit Passengers at Changi Airport must have a negative PCR test within 48 hours before departure. Singapore requires a PCR test just to transit. Double and Triple check the requirements for Entry and now Transit. The two could be different.

This movie is based on a true story. I'm looking forward to this movie but unfortunately it is being produced by Apple TV. in 1967, John Donohue was a 26-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran working as a merchant seaman when he was challenged one night in a New York City bar. The men gathered had lost family and friends in the ongoing war in Vietnam. One patriot proposed an idea many might deem preposterous – one of them should sneak into Vietnam, track down their buddies in combat, and give each of them messages of support from back home, maybe some laughs – and beer.

1. OA Visa application requires compliant Health insurance for the duration of the Visa(1 year). 2. The Insurance Company that provides insurance coverage for Emirates Passengers I believe is based in Europe. If this is true then a “Foreign Insurance Certificate” is required with signature(s) from Insurance Company upper management. If these two conditions can be met then a Thai Embassy or Consulate should be able to accept the Emirates Insurance coverage for the OA Visa Application.

I have used my Combination (OA Visa and Covid 19) insurance policy to exit and enter Thailand twice this year. Pacific Cross provided me with an endorsement letter that the clearly indicated the policy will cover equivalent to $100,000 USD in Covid 19 related illness medical treatment(s). The Policy has a coverage maximum of 3.5 Million Baht. Doubt it was a coincidence that the new OA Visa Coverage limit for September 30,2022 is at 3 Million? Yes, the annual premium is not cheap but at this point Pacific Cross appears to be a solid company(this could change once I have to file a claim)?

This absurd requirement would be impossible if an applicant had never been to Thailand? Very few hotels anywhere in the world(even in Thailand) rent out a room for 12 months. As a matter of fact I might just go on Agoda or Expedia and see if a one year booking is even possible. So far the Los Angeles Consulate has never asked for something like this. At least not yet?

I know a retired Amy NCO(not disabled) who was able to get care from Chiang Mai Ram Hospital in CNX through Tri-Care(the hospital billed Tri-Care Directly).

Not being paranoid because I have seen “procedural or innocent” answers turn into a nightmare for some. Based upon my experience in Law Enforcement for over 20 years I have seen a number of innocent people get caught up in investigations even though “if you do nothing wrong then you have nothing to worry about”. Anytime a representative of a governmental agency says this then worry. The information I gave to USAA sets up parameters for all future banking activities. This will establish a pattern and any deviation from this pattern could trigger an alert. IF the alert is only for internal bank monitoring then “no harm, no foul”. But if this is reported to the US Government? Well then? Or I could just be paranoid? 555 ?

Maybe in the past. The last two years with USAA have been difficult(in my case and maybe not in your experience). Collecting the kind of information USAA wanted from me appears to be intrusive. It is obvious this information will be plugged into an algorithm that will monitor my banking activities. If nothing comes of it then "all good". But information and data about persons and institutions are the new global commodity. A commodity that can be use for other than it's intended purposes. Also, if this information gathering exercise is to comply with the Patriot Act and Federal Anti-Money Laundering Laws then obviously various federal agencies can access without a warrant. I believe in the privacy of my personal information(banking and otherwise). Of course if any Federal Agency wants to investigate and collect information about me then do what the law requires: GET A DAM WARRANT AND LAWFULLY SERVE THE WARRANT.

“USAA Bank. Have no idea why OP would not say.” Because I have developed a habit of not naming institutions while i am in Thailand. Just trying to stay consistent while i am in LOS. Besides I gave enough hints to make it easy. Been with them for 33 years and the last two have been very disappointing. Losing trust in them and discovered not so easy to open an account at another US Institution while I am sitting in CNX.

3 Million Baht for Inpatient Coverage. $100,000 USD for Covid 19 Coverage? Coincidence? $100,000 USD now converts to just slightly over 3 Million Baht.