sghanchey

Thais, being the superstitious souls that they are think that the side units are shaped like coffins and would never buy one.

Thanks for posting. I appreciate any and all updates on expat visa policy changes in the ASEAN region. I had no trouble reading it at all.

Somewhere here the issue of generating a year's worth of bank statements on the Bangkok Bank website was discussed, with someone- perhaps Ubon Joe- showing how a 12-month statement could be requested there. When I tried the "Request Statement" option, the only accounts available were my credit cards- not my savings account- the one I have to show with the 65,000 baht/month record. Anything I am missing?

Anyone who thinks the foreigners living in Thailand have "rights" isn't living in the same country as I am. And check around, Immigration officers around the world can deny entry to anyone they choose for reasons that they are not required to provide. In the U.S., a valid visa holder can be denied entry on arrival, and many are if Homeland Security determines that the traveler might stay illegally in the U.S.

I am on a Non-OA visa and have left the country twice since I renewed it last September at Chonburi Immigration in Jomtien, Pattaya. Each time I have been stamped in only until the current expiration date. I did not get an additional 12 months as reported here. Curious.

Interesting that the name of the restaurant chain is mentioned nowhere. Libel risk?

Thanks Ubon Joe. Now if I knew how to print from my phone (I know there is a way).

The Bangkok Bank website still says "Select a Transaction Date Range (from within the last 6 months)" I tried a 12 month date range but it only produced six months.

Where is the ATK testing place at Swampy?

https://AQ.in.th

Medicare Part B issued by United Healthcare through AARP (the biggest insurer in the U.S.) covers 80% of emergency treatment during the first 60 days of an overseas trip. I used it for emergency surgery and was reimbursed later (I had to pay the upfront cost using a credit card). Hospitals in Thailand cannot bill Medicare directly. If someone just visits here a couple of times a year, they should definitely enroll in Medicare in the U.S., because hospital costs in the U.S. are exorbitant, but Medicare pays 80% upfront in the U.S. Part B pays the difference.

Any reason why you say that?

Well, it's all changed now. When the Test & Go scheme resumes (applications open on Feb. 1, they say), travelers will have to have an official first and second test in an approved SHA-Plus hotel, with booking of room on both Day 1 (arrival day) and on Day 5, and wait for the 2nd test result before checking out or mingling in public areas. I was required to remain in my albeit very comfortable room before getting the arrival test result at about 6:30 AM.

As far as I know Bangkok Pattaya is only administering RT-PCR for its own patients, not the public, thus the handout at registration advising "Fit to Fly" customers to contact Samitivej or Bangkok Memorial.

There is a website that provides the FBI check required. You have to go to a Mailbox office that is affiliated (they are everywhere- half a dozen in my area in the U.S.) and get fingerprinted- that's all. The FBI no criminal record report comes back in 24 hours by email.

BPH Hospital has a paper at their registration desk recommending Samitivej Sriracha Hospital and Pattaya Memorial Hospital, where i got mine done for 3500 bahts (not free anywhere that I know). BPH main hospital and Jomtien Hospital do not do the tests anymore.

I would be curious to know which hospital the poster contacted about getting the 2nd Covid test. I was unable to schedule mine and decided not to go to the big government Banglamung Hospital as it was crowded with thousands (yes, 1000s) of waiting patients milling around in close proximity, so I went to a private hospital (Pattaya Memorial) and paid 3500 for an official test. The problem is I can't upload the test result to the Communicable Disease Center's website because I don't have a "laboratory number", and so I can't submit. I haven't figured out how to get around this issue, so technically I am in non-compliance. Anyone have any ideas?

Note that International Living lists Bali as a country, as if it had its own immigration laws. IL is company that promotes real estate investments in many of the countries it lists. And they do not take into account current immigration realities (as in Covid restrictions on travel).

Does anyone know what would happen if someone never gets the second PCR test under Test and Go? I can't find anywhere in Pattaya that has testing available. The best private hospitals (ex Bangkok Hospital Pattaya) have cancelled testing and the others are all booked up indefinitely. I would be willing to pay instead of opting for the government's free second test offer, but none have availability and were unhelpful in suggesting alternatives. I am going to check out Banglamung Hospital this morning, but am extremely anxious about waiting around in a large public hospital with potentially hundreds of sick people.