sandyf

I just opened the account online using the website. I did get the phone app sometine later but never use it, do everything on the website. The card is very handy, I use it a great deal when travelling.

Obviously there is no possibility of EU citizens overstaying in Thailand.

China was effectively a cashless society before covid. The people do not want cash and they frown upon those that try and use it. The US was so paranoid they were years behind other major economies accepting chip and pin, still an issue for many. Conspiracy theories are far more dangerous than regulation.

Exactly Bill.

As suggested a Wise account. I did mine online from Thailand using VPN. You need to be able to do selfie on a webapp and upload it, also if you want the card you would need a physical address in the UK for it to be sent to. They also do a virtual card but I think you need the physical card before that becomes available. You can then have your pension paid into the account just like any other bank.

I recently had a new passport and as far as TM30 was concerned all I did was take the slip, dated 2015 out of the old passport and stick it in the new. No problem with extension or online 90 day.

When VFS first started up the plan was to deliver the passports by courier but it never came about, never bothered to remove the proof of address requirement. It was a global change from FCO to HMPO and other countries could be in the same boat. It was total chaos in the beginning, after about 10 weeks I had to get the embassy to intervene and surprisingly they did step to the plate.

The text actually says " if 'you' cannot be recognised from the photograph in your current British passport," I can assure you that when VFS started processing passport applications in April 2014 that was taken as a physical "you", you had to stand in front of the staff while they compared your face to the current passport and the new photo. Certainly not a case of just comparing photos of the applicant. I am perfectly aware that applications in the UK are done by post but overseas applications were always seen as being more susceptible to fraud. If you are saying that VFS no longer carry out a physical check then I will stand corrected.

The notification came following a BOT meeting held in January 2014. When I saw the bank manager to update my account she said other banks may deal with the revised regulations in a different manner. Looks like the BOT not too happy with how things were handled and stepped in again.

Copy of email I received in 2014.

The reference to crypto was a bit ridiculous but it cannot be denied the banks have the ability to push you in the direction they want. For 15 years I quite happily did all banking online and then last year the bank closed the online facility down. They said I had to use the phone app which meant a new phone, the one I had was good enough for me but apparently not their app. With fingers like cow's tits doing transactions on a phone comes close to worst nightmare. Who is to say in the not too distant future another app upgrade will not require a push up the android ladder. On a slightly different note there are 2 major elections on the horizon and it is just beginning to sink in how AI could be used to manipulate the rhetoric with very little in the way of preventative measures. It, or IT, is all heading in a dangerous direction and glad my time is ending rather than starting

The majority on this forum whinge constantly about Thailand having a military government. You seem to think the younger element, probably the most vocal, would have no problem being in Vietnam. I went to Sa Pa, Halong Bay and Hanoi in March,all had good points but wouldn't want to live there, bit the same with HCMC, ok for a holiday.

I think the pier being some way out of HH didn't help matters. We took a friend of ours who was staying in Pattaya over to HH and he planned to take the ferry back rather trying to get bus or taxi from Chonburi. Had to ask several people to try and find out where the pier was, can see many just not bothering.

Indeed, Sattahip was always going to be a challenge for passengers, a reliable service would have been much more attractive for freight.

A credit advice is obtained from the receiving bank and a remittance advice comes from the remitting bank. You can get a remittance advice from Wise fairly easily. Go to the transaction on the account and click on the 3 dots top right and select PDF receipt. Much easier than dealing with a Thai bank and I believe quite a few use these for extensions.

Not always been the case, a fairly recent concession and not sure if it was granted permanently. A friend of mine was visiting his family in NI and took his Thai wife with UK visa across the border. They encountered a checkpoint on exit and she was banned from ever entering Ireland again. Not a big deal, she couldn't stand the UK and went back to Thailand.

When you did the application for an extension on your new Non O visa the application would have been taken as a 90 day report. Your first 90 day report would be due 90 days from date of extension application, when you got the extension stamp they should have put a slip in your passport indicating when the 90 day due. I came back in early Oct and didn't do first 90 until April. The online system will reject any submission that is not in the window for submission. 5. The first application for extension of stay by the foreigner is equivalent to the notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days. https://www.immigration.go.th/?page_id=1666

What would digital signatures and PDF have to do with facsimile and source verification.

Yes, goods over 1500 baht have always been subject to import duty and also VAT, currently reduced from 10% to 7%. From 1st May goods under 1500 baht will be subject to VAT at the current rate but they will still be exempt from import duty. I have been receiving goods from India via Thai Post for many years and never paid anything, gross value $45 - $50, net value about $37.

The main question is why?, are they just old school or are they asking for a fax because a proper fax machine/service has a verifiable fax number. As suggested you could use a fax app and see what happens, if rejected best to try and find a local outfit with a fax service, a legal office may be a good start. I think the online fax services that provide a local number are subscription, a bit over the top for a one off.

I bought some Euros on Sunday, got the XE rate at the time and paid 100 baht service fee. "Generally" you would be right but the word "always" should be used with caution.

Went to Bang Saen hospital early yesterday morning and the sky was really black, rained some but not torrential and not much where we live in Na Pa. Weather can be very regionalised in Chonburi province. Monday afternoon sky got very black here but we got no rain, wife went into town a couple of miles away and said it was very heavy there. Temperature well down this morning but very damp.

Apologies if English is not your first language.

The article in question addressed VAT, not import duty. To ensure fair trade practices, the Ministry of Finance plans to collect VAT for imported goods sent via postal services irrespective of their value, while maintaining the exemption from import duties. https://en.vietnamplus.vn/thailand-to-apply-vat-on-imports-sent-via-post-post285288.vnp

Quite, it all went to pot when the market was flooded with cheap Vietnamese catfish using fancy names.