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djeetyet

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Posts posted by djeetyet

  1. I just got a 1-year retirement visa, changing over from last year's "Support Thai child" visa. Some questions and comments:

     

    1. They DEMANDED a 3-month Bank Statement (generated by the bank) - along with the usual verification of account and balance document from the bank and copy of relevant bankbook pages. Have others had to do this? 

     

    2. For next year, the immigration officer said I'd need a full 1-Year (!) Bank Statement. Anybody else encounter this?

     

    3. The immigration officer said it would be "easier" for next year's visa if I kept the 800,000B in my account ALL YEAR, and never let the balance fall below. This page does not seem to mention this requirement - https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/retirement-visa  What do you think? Can any immigration office require 800,000 in the bank at all times?

     

    4. I was required to provide a map and was informed that an Immigration officer would visit my house in about 3 months!

     

    5. I had to leave my passport there for the "Big Boss" to sign, and return in a week to pick up my visa stamped passport

     

    I will visit my local Imm office and double check these months before next year's renewal. Have others encountered any of the above requirements? It seems the Requirements / Criteria are totally different from one office to another!

  2. I will be applying for a Non-Immigrant Retirement Visa in early April, 2025. My landlord made the TM 30 online, but she says there's no option to print/download from her smartphone. Don't I need to have a copy of the TM30 when applying at my local Imm office? If already answered please post link to thread - I searched and couldn't find one. TIA.

  3. I know this is very late, but can someone confirm that immigration offices are open tomorrow, May 1st? I know it's Labor Day and it's a bank holiday. But the other day I was at my local immigration office and was told to pick up my visa on May 1st. I double checked with them, asking wasn't that a holiday, and they said that they would definitely be open. However I am doubting if this is true. Does anybody know for a fact that local immigration offices are going to be open, or closed, on May 1st, 2024. I live an hours drive away from the office! Thank you.

  4. How can I call the IRS 1-800 toll-free from Thailand? I am using Skype on a PC. I know that I am supposed to call during "local time" hours, but how does that translate time wise for us living here in Thailand? I called at 6, 7, and 8 pm Thai time, but keep getting that they're closed and only automated services are available. 

    I have the "267-941-1000 Monday through Friday from 6am to 8pm Eastern time" info, but it's NOT toll free.

     

    Thanks

  5. 2 hours ago, TheAppletons said:

    Have you tried using the card in an ATM to make a withdrawal?  If that works, then it's employee error.

     

    (Since Schwab refunds 100% of all ATM fees, I'm wondering why you bother with the "cash advance" route when you can just withdraw from the ATM free of charge.  Your money, your choice, of course.)

    I did not try the ATM machine as I like to withdraw one large amount rather than many smaller ATM machine withdrawals

  6. 19 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

    We were advised in March that EMS will not send to US PO box address anymore due to non delivery/late delivery issues (as of sometime last year).  Alternative was a Thailand Post option (almost as expensive).  But expect IRS has heavy workload currently and that all will be OK with time.

    Thank you for this response. You state "EMS will not send to US PO box address anymore" - but the envelope has already been sent and arrived at "Inward Office of Exchange (United States) International - USJFKA". It just hasn't moved since.

     

    And, do you have more information on the "Alternative was a Thailand Post option (almost as expensive)" - name in Thai, etc?

  7. I sent my 1040 and enclosed check to the IRS via EMS registered mail (not the 2-day mail) on March 20th. It arrived April 02 at the "Arrival at Inward Office of Exchange (United States) International - USJFKA" - and since then, NOTHING. The check has not cleared my bank. Anybody else have their registered mail stuck there? What happened?

    <Not sure if this is the right forum or not - please move if necessary. Thanks>

  8. On 1/6/2024 at 10:28 AM, Tom100 said:

    The current Embassy instructions are not accurate and do not work,. The $130.00 payment cannot be made online from Thailand on Pay.gov. Thailand is NOT OFFERED as a choice for online payment.

    https://www.pay.gov/public/form/entry/101/790155895/

    Online payment is now required -- but online payment is not accepted from Thailand. What to do now? 

    PS What may have worked in the past is not working now.

    I encountered same problem. Use this URL:

    https://www.pay.gov/public/form/entry/104/1156527186/

     

    It worked for me on Jan 14, 2024.

    • Thanks 1
  9. 44 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

    Old Passport
    - TWO DS 82 Passport renewal forms      one form  completed/signed
    - ONE copy of Passport front page, i.e. bio page      no copies
    - 2 passport sized photos
    - Printed receipt of the Passport fee that comes via email
    - Printed receipt of the "return envelope" fee that is also sent via email
    - The printed BKK Embassy Passport renewal "Checklist" form - DS82    nope

    new passport is really high tech    :-)

     

    Thanks for your clarifications. Noted only one DS 82 needed.

     

    On the Checklist page it states: Checklist must be completed and included in the package 
    Current passport book and/or passport card (if applicable) Required, NO EXCEPTIONS
    & one clear photocopy of bio-data page (my emphasis)
    <<https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/checklist-DS82-by-mail-online-payment_-passport-card-included-1080.pdf>> 

     

    Is this information incorrect? The checklist does NOT need to be included in the package, nor a copy of the passport "Bio" page? Thanks.

    • Thumbs Up 1
  10. Time to renew my American passport. Last time done at Pattaya outreach and so simple - but, times have changed. I'm trying to see if I've got the new process right. So, yeah, I'm trying to summarize the 9-step process outlined here:
    <<https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/instructions-for-ds-82-processing-by-mail-and-online-fee-payment-for-u-s-citizens-residing-in-thailand/>>

     

    I read lots of the previous Aseannow threads - thanks to all!

     

    Seems like here's the deal. 


    - Pay the U$130 passport fee online via US.pay.gov
    - The return envelope is done through the Thailand Post Courier Pass Back online services and paid online, too 

    <<https://www.thailandpostmart.com/product/1013460000929/Courier-Pass-Back-envelope/>> 

     

    Then send to US BKK embassy via EMS or Courier service:
    - Old Passport
    - TWO DS 82 Passport renewal forms
    - ONE copy of Passport front page, i.e. bio page
    - 2 passport sized photos
    - Printed receipt of the Passport fee that comes via email
    - Printed receipt of the "return envelope" fee that is also sent via email
    - The printed BKK Embassy Passport renewal "Checklist" form - DS82

     

    Have I got this right? Am I forgetting anything?

    • Thumbs Up 1
    • Thanks 1
  11. On 9/29/2023 at 11:03 AM, Olmate said:

    Today? May I ask the rate? ATM  normal fee is 220bht  for non bank ATM

    Sorry for the slow response but the transaction took a few days to clear, probably because it was on a weekend. I withdrew 10,000B on Friday morning Sept 29th around 9 a.m. from the ATM machine in front of BKK bank. It cleared 10/02/2023. Here's what showed up in my transaction history:
     
    10,000B ATM Withdrawal BANGKOK BANK: -$279.93. 
    SCHWAB ATM REBATE ATM SURCHARGE WAIVED: $6.03 (credit) 
    So, $279.33 - $6.03 = $273.30
    10,000B/273.30 = 1U$ : 36.59B


    I think a decent exchange rate. So, this worked fine, but not really efficient for transferring large sums. I am still waiting for the "Cash Advance" machine to be repaired...

    • Like 1
  12. 1 hour ago, gamb00ler said:

    Charles Schwab and CapitalOne and some credit unions offer cards with out that fee.

    I have a Schwab account. I haven't seen a fee when I get a cash advance, but maybe it's "baked into" the exchange rate. I just used the Schwab debit card at BKK Bank's ATM machine even though it said there was a whopping 220B fee (!) - I did it anyway just as an experiment to see how the exchange rate worked out and if the fee was waived by Schwab, or not. 

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