ptcarter

Does anyone know what procedures the Chiang Mai train station personnel are taking for people stepping off the train from Bangkok, other than the App registration and informing you that you must quarantine for 14 days?  Unlike flying from Bkk where a negative PCR test is required, the train station in Bkk said a PCR test is not required to board a train to CM.

Does anyone have any good intell on what is required (and what is actually transpiring) of/to travelers arriving to CM via train from a red zone, other than the "quarantine" and app usage?  Three weeks ago I arrived to CM from Bkk on the morning train, and was told at the CM train terminal to self-quarantine and use the app.  Next week, I will be coming to CM, arriving on the morning train again.  I'm just wondering what is practically happening each day to travelers who are arriving, other than "quarantine" and use app.  Information is so scattered here in Bkk, on the one hand I understood I needed a covid test taken in Bkk to enter CM, but the train station here yesterday stated the test was not required to board the train to CM, leading me to believe it must not be required.  Thanks in advance all.

Regarding the arriving plane personnel not requiring a swab, could that be because to fly one is required to provide a negative test to board?  I live in Bangkok and the airline told me two days ago to fly to CM one needed a covid test.  

Helpful hint......I went back into the Thai immigration website and my account.  I looked for TM-30 data, there was none in the spreadsheet on me.  I then did a search with the search function using dates.....bingo, the spreadsheet populated with 5 different entries.....meaning it did accept my three google chrome entries (as well as my Firefox and Explorer).

Thai immigration told me to use Section 38 App for my TM-30 reporting, as the immigration website was not working. When I go to the Apple Store to download, it says the App is unavailable in the US store, go to Thai Store, I click yes, it then says I don't have access to the Thai Apple Store, go to US Apple store. I then go to Google Play to download the App, it says "device not available." Finally, thanks to the guys who told me not to use google chrome for the TM 30 reporting, I used Explorer and got one step further, when I click "save" it says "Do you want to save?" I click save and presumably saves, but when I look at the bottom spreadsheet, there is no data (disapears), and when I exit and go to TM-30 data, it is blank. I have no where to turn. I guess I will not do it.

I have the 5 year Thai Elite Visa which gets extended for a year every time I exit/enter the country (up until the fifth year), so I guess my only choice is to exit/enter the country every 90 days to avoid the 90 day report and avoid immigration. Seems every avenue I have taken to electronically do the TM 30 has been stymied.

7 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

We swing dead cats in Australia as well.

 

I saw the article in the NYT or WAPO about how you all are dealing with the "cat problem" now.  Good job, direct solutions are the best solution. 

Can anyone be so kind as to recommend a reputable Visa agent/agency here in Bkk that you or yours personally have experience with? I am not looking for anything under the table or a shady procedure.  Rather, I'm lazy and wish to pay for convenience. 

I have done the "retirement visa" four years straight, on my own, at Chaeng Wattana, and simply would like to hire an agency/agent this time to make it less time-consuming.  As you know, you can't swing a dead cat in Bkk without hitting an agent/agency, so I would greatly appreciate any recommendations (does anyone other than us American southerners use the 'swing a dead cat' phrase? On second thought...never mind).  All, thank you in advance!!! (and I hope my request doesn't breach any forum protocol, if so, forgiveness in advance as well, as I will be headed to Bot Wattana church in two hours, as is my custom on Sundays).

16 hours ago, Thailand Outcast said:

 

Despite the travel back to their home country, I think this will be a popular visa choice to move to, under the new new laws, so I can definitely see a tightening up on this visa. 

 

Agree that it will be a popular move for those with the capability (money, health, no anchors here) to go back to home country. Given that the new immigration requirements squeeze those with less money, and this option we are talking about requires more money and capability (because of travel to home country), I'm not sure those who are most affected by the new rules will be able to afford to take advantage. So, there may be less migration to this method than we anticipate.  Thank you - and all - for previous comments.

Well, I do appreciate the replies everyone.  It begs the question why everyone isn't doing it this way (barring inability/non-desire to go back to home/any country), it sounds like a preferable option.

On several occasions I have seen posters state as fact that if one obtains a Thai Non-IM OA visa for retirement from their home country, one can stretch that for two years.  Could someone please kindly state how this works, the mechanics of it?  I don't understand at all how this would be done.  I have lived in Thailand on a "retirement visa" for 4 years now, and the above is an option for me, I just can't wrap my head around the particulars of how this works, and how one can stretch a one-year visa into two.   

A poster recently stated: "The non-im OA visa is technically good for one year but will last for two years if you leave and reenter Thailand just before the visa expires at the end of the first year. If you want to leave and reenter Thailand during the second year of the OA visa, you need to first get a reentry permit from the Immigration Office."

A hearty thanks in advance.

Capitol One in the US is currently offering 1.24% on their savings accounts, for 10K minimum. I have found with Capitol One that they never advertise these good rates, you have to go to customer service - in person or online - and inquire. Secondly, I have my US military retirement coming here direct deposit because it is a good conversion rate (compared to the rest) but each month I pulled almost all the baht out and put it under the mattress.....I don't want any of my capital tied up in any foreign country.