sghanchey

On 8/25/2025 at 11:57 AM, lordgrinz said:

 

I've been working on that, with family and friends to help her find a lawyer and navigate probate. But in some cases, at least the larger accounts, she is already a beneficiary on those accounts. No more land or house to worry about, sold those and added the money to existing accounts. The biggest problem is that in the USA, she isn't able to get SS benefits after I die, that requires 5 years of us living together in the US. Not sure they would even continue paying her if she decided to leave and go back to Thailand after staying there 5 years, or not, it would be like 120,000 baht per month though......so that would suck if she can't get that.

I was unaware that 5 years of residence in the US is required in order for a Thai spouse to get spousal benefits for my Social Security, but I just checked and you are correct. Thanks for that useful and timely information. 

20 hours ago, Finspin said:

Eight days ago when I visited my jomtien branch of BB to verify my account with all the relevant documents. It was opened whilst on a tourist visa.

I’m now on a retirement visa. Was told it would be verified in seven days.

This morning received an email from Netflix stating that this month subscription had not been paid. Tried to pay something else online but denied. Contacted the call center, but all I got was, you need to speak to your branch. This is so frustrating.

When this cycle of my retirement visa is finished in November, I will be moving all my retirement fund out of the bank into my newly opened kasikorn bank.

 

 

Was it easy to open a new account at Kasikorn Bank? I'm fed up with Bangkok Bank, even though I've been a customer for over ten years. Bangkok Bank no longer provides a letter to use at Immigration detailing 12 months of the 65,000/month deposits required for my Non-OA application for permission to stay. They will provide copies of the monthly bank statements but take 5 working days to do that. 

I was there yesterday. I am the same age as the geriatric gentleman who got ripped off. I bought a phone cover and protective screen for 400 bahts. Seems reasonable to me. Mind you, I did not bargain. I could potentially have knocked 50 bahts off the price. Good service for a 5 year-old Huawei P20 Pro. 

I have used the agency inside the Chonburi Immigration complex (Visa to England or somesuch name). They are the ones wearing vests and helping people with their paperwork. They have charged me 15,000 to get everything done including a phony insurance policy included in the price. I have to be taken inside by one of the agents and have my photo taken in front of a particular kiosk, and they do the rest. I'm American and probably pay more than some others probably do, but it's quick and convenient. I have recently moved to Sa Kaeo province so I am going to try to do it on my own at the Aranyapratet Immigration office where they have signs posted saying "No Gifts". There are also no agents around. Wish me luck. 

9 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

Declining school enrolments are the first problems to arise when the birth rate is decimated to below 1.0

 

Japan and South Korea discovered this years ago.  

 

It will only get worse - the obvious answer is to convert abandoned schools into retirement homes, so the current ageing generation with one or no children have somewhere to go in their dotage.

 

The declining world wide birth rate is the biggest existential threat to humanity. We can save the whales and the lesser-spotted Albanian woodpecker, but can't save ourselves. 

Good idea- to repurpose school buildings. That is already happening in Japan, where abandoned rural schools are being turned into tourist accomodations so foreigners can experience rural life. 

The decline in school enrollments means fewer and fewer school leavers to apply for admission to universities, most of which are struggling with lower numbers in all but the most prestigious disciplines like medicine and engineering where there is already a glut in the market. Closure of some regional campuses is inevitable as the Thai population continues to decline. Allowing refugees from neighboring Burma to apply for permanent residence and/or citizenship would help enormously, but Thailand's strict and frankly xenophobic immigration policy is inflexible, and most people like it that way. Don't dilute "Thainess"!

Do non-ASEAN travelers still have to get an e-visa in advance?

On 6/9/2025 at 6:45 PM, NoDisplayName said:

Aren't they supposed to be working remotely from a paying job in order to qualify for the DTV? So, how does "running out of money" sound then?

 

 

What's the problem?  So what if they need to spend an extra week or three in one country waiting?

 

 

If they truly are "digital nomads" then they should be earning a living regardless of location.

 

Seems more like the DTV is gonna be used by unlicensed dive instructors and illicit tour guides.

17 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

 

 

What's the problem?  So what if they need to spend an extra week or three in one country waiting?

 

 

If they truly are "digital nomads" then they should be earning a living regardless of location.

 

Seems more like the DTV is gonna be used by unlicensed dive instructors and illicit tour guides.

18 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I will return to Thailand soon after 2 week abroad. I will return to my registered address, and have completed the Tdac.

Do I have to do anything else, other than making the first 90 day report in person? I'm answer to Jomtien immigration.

On a side note, since I usually make the report online, and as such will receive next month a reminder. Has anyone tried to complete that one, instead of waiting 90 days after arrival?

The last two times I have gone to Jomtien Immigration to make a 90-day report, they've told me it's not necessary if one is returning to the same address as before. I said that when I renewed last year, they fined me for not having a TM-30 in my passport. The agent looked in my passport and found the one they gave me then, and said it was all I needed. I hope that's correct. 

I have done my annual check up at Bangkok Christian for several consecutive years and find them to be thorough, professional and most important at least half the price of BNH or other "5-star" hospitals (no Starbucks in the lobby!). They don't always speak perfect English but they do all the tests you opt for and know how to interpret the results. Walk-in same day service. I recommend it. 

What is the new minimum medical insurance coverage for a Non-OA visa extension? They raised it to 3 million THB several years ago but I have heard it was dropped to less last year. Thanks in advance.

On 6/8/2024 at 1:28 PM, Sheryl said:

First of all, there is no Medicare in Thailand so not sure why you include it in the title.

 

Secondly  the fact that she now needs emergency surgery for complications related to the first surgery does not in itself prove malpractice. With any surgery, some complications can occur, including delayed complications, without any fault on doctor's side.

 

The pertinent factors would include:

- what type of surgery, for what condition, using what surgical technique

- exactly what  problems/symptoms did she report to the doctor at her 7 day follow up and what did the doctor do/say in response?

- did the doctor specifically tell her it was safe now to travel by bus/plane a long distance from Bangkok?

 

You aren'f going to get this resolved through customer service. And of course you have to pay the other hospital now. IF (see above) there is reason to believe there was  a mistake/malpractice in the first hospitalization, what you would need to do is hire  a lawyer to send the hospital an official letter with copy to the Thai Medical Council outlining the damage done and its consequences (e.g. additional medical expenses and if applicable cost of longer stay in Thailand)  and threatening to sue if appropriate compensation is not forthcoming.  This will usually lead to a meeting with hospital administraton and, if you stand firm and your case is solid, often a negotiated financial settlement for not more than your actual incurred financial losses. May take time, and you'll have to pay the lawyer. You'd need detailed medical records as well as recepts from the Krabi hospital.

 

If you want an  opinion as to whether there may be a case for claiming malpractice, provide answers to the questions above, either in this thread or by PM to me . Note that  opinions anyone on this forum may give, are just personal opinions and have no legal validity,   but they may help you decide whether to take this matter any further.

 

 

 

 

Filing a complaint for malpractice in Thailand could lead to serious legal repercussions (as in slander), and you wouldn't have a prayer of a chance taking on "one of the world's best hospitals" (we are led to guess which one it is, but most will recognize it). They are connnected to powerful people and have a team of legal consultants on call. Forget it and move on. I hope your wife recovers soon. 

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

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?

On 6/24/2022 at 6:12 AM, DrJack54 said:

You don't need an agent.

All you need to do is exit and reenter prior to expiry of your non O-A visa. 

You will be stamped in for another 12 months.

Be aware that if you wish to exit and return in that 12 months you will need to buy a reentry permit either multiple or single.

Now do some research on what insurance you need to obtain for that period. 

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.

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The online banking site only allows you to print a 6 month statement.

Only the mobile banking app has the one year statement available.

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. 

53 minutes ago, jgm005 said:

Why not get your ATK test at Swampy . It's around 500 bt. Results within 30 minutes. 

Where is the ATK testing place at Swampy?

https://AQ.in.th

9 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Medicare Part A (hospitalization cover) does not require of a premium. I don't see any to signing up for Part A when you turn 65.

 

Part B (outpatient) does require of a premium. If you don't sign up during your enrollment period at age 65, it will cost an additional 10 for every 12 that you did not participate and pay the premium. Premiums are based upon your . You will have to decide if it is worth the monthly premium to have cover for visits to the US and for that you will repatriate some in the future and wish paying .

 

If you do not take Part B during your initial enrollment period, you would have to wait for an open enrollment period if you do decide to join. I think there is one open enrollment period each for a limited time, so you would have to time a late enrollment properly a gap if you did return to the US and wanted cover.

 

Some rely upon travel insurance for visits to the US, but travel policies can become difficult to obtain in later years.

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.