JimmerJJ

Hi everyone, I'm renting a 1 bedroom apartment near Saphan Kwai and Ari in Bangkok and it is my first month here.  Electric is not included and the contract says the charge is 8 baht per unit.  My first month will be over in a week and the manager estimates that the final elecrtric charge will be about 6000 baht based on what I've used so far. To me it seems high but I've been absent from the country for 2 years because of COVID and just got back. We are very conscious about saving electricity. There are 2 A/C units, one in the bedroom and one in the living room but mostly only one is run at a time.  We shut the lights and everything off if we leave.  The place is dimly lit with not much lighting.  The hotpot stove is electric and we cook normal but just breakfast and dinner and we use laptop and TV. The apartment is about 76 sq meters.  I don't have access to the meter and just have to rely on what they tell me.  Is 6000 baht about normal? Is 8 baht a unit about normal (live in Phyathia/Saphan Kwai area)?  I'm deciding whether to stay here so this is a factor. Thanks all for any info.

On 6/25/2022 at 10:47 PM, gamb00ler said:

I haven't look closely to see if hazelnut flavoring is available in the international ingredients sections of Tops or equivalent.  If they do stock it, you could probably produce an acceptable replacement cream/flavoring combination.

That's exactly what I did.  Starbucks has a Hazelnut syrup and also at Villa Mart they have 24 oz bottles of Torani Classic Hazelnut syrup. So I mix with a creamer like Barista milk and then top it off by spraying some whipped cream on top.  Also experiment by adding a little vanilla or caramel syrup (but the ratio's are top secret so I can't divulge).

On 6/27/2022 at 12:41 PM, Photoguy21 said:

Purely out of interest what coffee do you drink?

Right now I'm hooked on UCC Roast Master House Blend Medium Roast (Thailand product at Big C).  It has a really great crema and kind of a nutty taste.  Coffee aficiando's will probably turn up their nose to it but i'm not that picky.  I look for not fruity but a nutty (like me) taste.  But I switch a lot and like to try different ones. 

Thanks everyone for all the good info and tips!!  I appreciate your help so much!  

Hello all,  I am 70 y/o and having some serious pain in my back that requires surgery.  Severe pain so in my eyes it is pretty urgent.  I'm in Bangkok now on a 60 day Covid Visa that expires in a few weeks.  I am thinking of using Vejthani Hospital because they have a spine surgeon with extensive training in USA and at Stanford and Cornell.  I have no clue on how hospitals do a visa for you or how it works. Do I have to do it from outside Thailand?  Can I do the consult with the doctor and then if he concurs (2nd opinion at Vejthani) that I need surgery then do they send me to the hospital Visa office to start the process?  Would they do a visa for a spine surgery? I would think since I am going to pay a lot of money for their surgery that they would be happy to help with the visa.  I think my spine care will be lengthy so I'll need a long tem visa.  Thanks all in advance!  ☺

Hi All, I'm really picky about my coffee and coming to Bangkok soon and staying in Thonglor area by Sukhumvit. Does anyone know of anyplace that sells Hazelnut coffee creamer (like in attached pics).  I've been out of Thailand and can't remember if Big C or Lotus had them.  It's a little coffee emergency if I don't have them Hahaha.

On 7/6/2020 at 9:19 AM, Peter Denis said:

In case you consider the LMG Insurance option (cheapest option to meet the Non Imm O-A retirement extension requirement for health-insurance), just PM me and I will provide you with full details on how to apply for it, including tips/caveats.

Hi Peter, Thank you for the great info on the Health Insurance. I am on an Retirement visa extension of stay due to expire in December so please also PM me your information. I really appreciate your help.

Also I have another Health Insurance obstacle that you (or anyone) may have information about.  I am currently stranded on Bali so I guess I have to come up with 100K USD of Covid-19 insurance to return.  Where to get that insurance or maybe I should wait a month or so and that requirement will be relaxed?  I have emailed the Thai Embassy in Jakarta several times but get no reply.  Also I guess Thailand is in Phase 5 of re-opening and I see the CCSA will allow those on Work Permits to return but am wondering if Phase 5 also includes those of us on a  Non-Imm OA retirement Extension of Stay, maybe you know? They're allowing those seeking Medical Tourism to enter, I need a wrist surgery maybe I should try that. Thanks much in advance!

There's are a myriad of things to consider regarding health care insurance coverage and Thailand is really opening up a can of worms with this insurance requirement that is so basic and fails to address so many issues. It seems like they thought about it for about half an hour and then put it out.

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

At this time nobody know what insurance will be accepted other than qualified local insurance companies than the one issued.

Where will you be applying for your extension at?

At Chaeng Watthana.  But this year because of these changes and unknowns I am using an Attorney.  I gave my Attorney all my information about my various health insurance and they were satisfied with that so apparently they think it is enough.  I was just wondering and trying to get information so that next year I can do it on my own.  I hope someone can bring it to the attention of Thai authorities that many farang still have health insurance in their home countries that they can use if necessary. Thank you

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You can apply on December 17th without a problem. Just be sure you have all the required documents with you.

A letter from the bank confirming your account and the balance it on the date it is written. Your bank book updated on the day you apply and copies of it.

There is no need for monthly transfers into the country.

 

No

Thank you Ubon.  Something else and I posted this to King above but I'd like to get your input on my health insurance. as well  I have lots health insurance but whether they are acceptable to meet the requirements here is another question. I am a US veteran with a 60% service connected disability so in USA I can go to any US VA Hospital or even military hospital and receive free care. Also I have retired military Tricare Overseas coverage which gives me some coverage in Thailand. And then I pay into Medicare every month so I have Medicare coverage.  In case of any catastrophic illness I would go back to USA for my healthcare.  There are probably many farangs here that have health insurance coverage back in USA so I hope Thailand with their new insurance rules will take that into account.  I am not clear on how to show Thai Immigration that I have all these coverages except to print out copies of my accounts (i.e. VA Disability, Medicare, Tricare)??  I read that the coverage required is  400,000 baht for in-patient coverage, or IPD 40,000 baht for outpatient coverage, or OPD however my military Tricare Overseas coverage (https://tricare.mil/selectoverseas) of course does not specify coverages in Thai baht (they just reimburse you with a certain percentage of the cost) so do you think my Tricare coverage would be acceptable?  Also I assume they require coverage in Thailand so even though I have lots of US coverage I guess that is out the window and they don't consider that?  PS Thank you, I can't say enough about the great help you provide to bewildered farangs like me.

Would that be acceptable to them? Is there a TM form? 

9 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

The close date for the end of your actual extension is not a problem

you can do your renewal the 18 or the 19 december or even the 20

(But better to not wait the last day, just in case)

What immigration office do you use?

Also your initial visa was an OA?

If yes are you aware of the new insurance requirment?

Hi King, thanks.  Yes I know there's a new health insurance requirement.  I have lots of health insurance.  Whether they are acceptable to meet the requirements here is another question.  But I am a US veteran with a 60% service connected disability so in USA I can go to any US VA Hospital or even military hospital and receive free care. Also I have retired military Tricare Overseas coverage which gives me some coverage in Thailand. And then I pay into Medicare every month so I have Medicare coverage.  In case of any catastrophic illness I would go back to USA for my healthcare.  There are probably many farangs here that have health insurance coverage back in USA so I hope Thailand with their new insurance rules will take that into account.  I am not clear on how to show Thai Immigration that I have all these coverages except to print out copies of my accounts (i.e. VA Disability, Medicare, Tricare)??  Is there a TM form?  Thanks again

OkI understand but the stickler here is that I deposited the 800K on Oct 17.  So now rightfully you are all reminding me that it has to be in the account for 2 months.  So I guess in that case technically with the 800K I am not qualified until 2 months after Oct 17 which would be December 17, but the problem is that my Extension expires 3 days later on Dec 20.  So is that close date a big problem that might require that I would need to supplement the 800K with an additional 3 months of 65K transfers? Just FYI I made an additional deposit of 70K on Nov 20 for so now I have 894K deposited and the lawyer says I need to do an additional deposit in December. Do you think they are correct in that?  Unfortunately at my meeting with them they did not explain anything to me about this. 

I am getting ready to do my annual extension of stay (retirement).  Previously I used the discontinued affidavit from US Consulate to show my monthly income.  So now I am gong the other route of transferring money into a Thai bank.  My understanding is that one way you can qualify is by having a lump sum of 800,000 THB in a Thai bank so I have done that and transferred the 800K into a Thai bank.  I am getting assistance from an attorney's office and am being told that in addition to the 800K I also need 3 months worth of deposits (65K each month).  I thought that if you had the 800K that was enough.  Did something change or am I missing something?  Thank you

On 7/14/2016 at 5:29 PM, maewang99 said:

They don't look for foreign transfers in, but some kind of activity.

Interesting.  This year I'm doing the the 800K in a Thai Bank route  (previously did monthly using the Consulate Income Affidavit).  So they just want to see activity in the account and it doesn't have to be activity from a foreign funds transfer?

11 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

This 'Dem fiasco' seems to be not as far fetched as you Trump fans would like to believe or are we now saying that Bill Taylor, a West Point graduate (where he graduated in the top 1% of his class), a Harvard MPA, who has served in Vietnam and served his country in government service to both Dem and Rep administrations, the ex- Ambassador to Ukraine and current Charge d'Affaires for Ukraine is making everything up when he confirms that there was indeed a quid pro quo with Trump directly trying to make military aid to Ukraine contingent on the probes Trump sought for his own political gain?

Or is this just another nothing burger? Another conspiracy from someone who is willing to sacrifice a lifetime of impeccable service to lie to congress about Trump?

So let's hear it then Trump fans. How are we going too explain away this one? 

Agree 100%!  I wonder how they will spin this.  At this point with some much evidence of corruption they must be guzzling down the Kool-Aid. Unbelievable that so many in the USA are so gullible and are being played for suckers by Trump. I don't know what's brainwashing them but I think it's Faux News.

I wonder how Trump likes his goose cooked?  I think well done.

On 10/19/2019 at 11:39 PM, JHolmesJr said:

Free?

The two countries have a signed agreement that allows for mutual assistance on such investigative matters.

Haha right, you mean "mutual assistance" as in Quid Pro Quo? You're dreaming if you think any "mutual assistance" agreement (which I doubt applies if it even exists)  over-rides the US Constitution?  Anyway Trump's goose is cooked especially now with Taylor's testimony.  Don't defend a criminal President who has betrayed the American people.  The Secret Service need to start reviewing their plans on how to protect a former President who's sitting in the slammer.  ????????????

.... bribery was understood as an officeholder’s abuse of the power of an office to obtain a private benefit rather than for the public interest. This definition not only encompasses Trump’s conduct—it practically defines it.  https://www.lawfareblog.com/constitution-says-bribery-impeachable-what-does-mean

Hi MayPutThai, Thanks that's what I plan to do now is just park the requirement money in a Thai bank account and not use it just let it sit and draw a little interest and then use it year after year to renew my Retirement Visa.  In past years I just used statements from my US Banks and a notarized affidavit letter from US Consulate but now unfortunately the Bangkok US Consulate will no longer provide that income affidavit letter. Thanks for your input.

Hi ChouDoFu, I know that it's almost impossible for me to get a certified true copy of my passport on this upcoming holiday weekend.    On your 2nd question, yes I have tried to apply for an account at a major Thai bank (Bangkok Bank) but they said I needed a certified true copy of my passport. But I will try the other Thai banks as you suggest.  Thank you for your very helpful info.

ChouDoufu

Mosan says Are you really on a Non Immigrant O-A, or are you on an "Extension of Stay"?  Also I'm guessing you've heard about the new regulations coming into effect on the 31st of October concerning O-A visas and needing health insurance...

Hi Mosan,  Yes I said above that I am on a Non-Imm OA Retirement Visa (I've been living here in Bangkok for almost 5 years)  on a Retirement Visa,  I appreciate your input and help.  I pay every month into a health insurance plan plus on top of that I have 100% USA government health insurance because of my military incurred disabilities.  That said I would like to know more information that you or anyone here has about new health requirements for those on 'Retirement Visa' Non-Imm OA, thank you.

Hi Jersey to BKK,  Thanks for your info. It is very helpful! Especially knowing that BKK banks have different polices/requirements to open an account. I thought, (wrongly), that every Thai bank had the same requirements dictated by the government.  I guess I will go bankshopping  ????  Cheers