Jonathan Swift

I can't remember If I posted on this story, so I'll post again to be sure. I must have been lucky in my choice of banks. I use Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank, and one has a Mastercard/debit, the other has a VISA/debit. In the case of both of these banks, each and every log in or transaction generates an instantaneous SMS message to me, and Bangkok Bank emails me instantaneously whenever I sign in online. I'm sure they have other forms of effective security. I use these cards for online purchases from everyone including Ebay, Amazon, all local merchants, Shopee, Lazada, All my bills in the US as I select them, and I don't think anyone using either of those banks needs to worry about these things. I've lived in Bangkok 9 years now. There is also security built into Google Chrome which requires the CVC code with each transaction. All in all, I think this crime was likely a combination of lax security on the part of the merchants, and banks who are not up to speed with their transaction monitoring and notification. I once long ago had an employee at a merchant steal my credit info, but she got caught.  But for those of you who are still reticent about online transactions, in the US all banks will without question reimburse any form of fraudulent transactions, so if I were to use my US credit/debit cards I would be doubly secure. So if you need to and can, use a card issued by your home bank.  For example, I use my US cards when buying air tickets so that if they play games with cancellations and refunds I can have the bank claw back my money, and I did it a number of times with this covid mess. But there are new and more secure payment methods evolving in today's world which I have not kept up with. I just wanted to weigh in with my experience. I do 95% of all my shopping for merchandise online, and this story does not shake my confidence, largely due to the dependability and track records of my banks. In the case of big C or Homepro you can pay by card at time of delivery - I do that when there is a glitch in paying online. But if you exercise reasonable caution and discretion, there's no need to fear these very few worst case scenarios. 

One very workable option if the cause was insufficient funds in the bank is to use the monthly income method of 65,000 baht per month or more. I have been doing that for going on four years now. You just have to be able to produce a one year bank statement showing that income as a direct deposit. I use Transferwise. This would be the surest solution. I don't actually make that much, so every month I tack on an extra $700 US that I then transfer back to the US along with any other funds that need to go back. So in my case there is $700 tied up in order to go round in circles, meanwhile a deposit of 67,000 baht in a lump sum shows up like clockwork in my bank once a month. Kasikorn Bank has a phone app that very easily and cheaply makes international transfers back to your home country within 12 hours, it comes to your bank as a standard ACH deposit and does not trigger any fees at your bank. 

3 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Shock horror.

Thailand starts to read like The Onion parody news site by the day.

Wait, this isn’t the Onion?

On 10/13/2021 at 1:26 PM, Cherrytreeview said:

What planet do you live on?

More keyboard diahrea from the man who knows it all but won't book a ticket back to the land of perfection.

How can you put protocols in place for nana plaza, soi cowboy, patpong, walking st, lk metro and bangla road.

Their whole reason for existing is close contact entertainment.

As usual you miss out the bit about closing down again if their is spikes in cases.

If you confirmed or proved you were on one of the first planes back then you might get a bit of respect on this forum.

Diarrhea. You’re welcome.

11 hours ago, bkk_bwana said:

Anyone that wants to travel during a pandemic and take a vacation needs to accept that rules and regulations, just as at home, are likely to change. I live in Bangkok. The rules for me to travel to Phuket, Samui, Ko Tao, Phi Phi, any of those places or other provinces have changed regularly over the last few months. 

Oh, you speak common sense? Judging by all the complainers here I thought it was an extinct language. I also live in Bangkok and have gone back and forth to the US during the pandemic. I made my choices and accept my responsibilities without pointing the finger. Change and confusion are a matter of course during these times. Anyone who needs to know how to deal with their particular situation has options that can be pursued to a resolution. It may take patience and be frustrating, but it can be done. I know what I can reasonably expect by now and am lucky to have the life I have. What Thai officials say and do in order to jump start tourism is really just their business and not mine. If they pursue fantasy, speculation, and magical thinking they have the right to do that. Then they have the accompanying right to fall on their faces. They don't need my opinion, and I don't have one. It's a sad and tragic situation and who can blame them for not having a quick cure? Let the chips fall, and I will adapt. 

4 hours ago, smedly said:

this is the face of foreign tourism in Thailand

 

we are open 1st Oct but everything is shut with curfews and other nonsense red tape and a spell in jail if you sniff a beer

 

Reminds me of Monopoly - don't pass go we collect 200 and you go to jail

 

Yippie Thailand Open but only for Chinese lemmings on a tour bus

Didn't know there was any such thing as Chinese Lemmings. Are they related to pandas? 

On 9/3/2021 at 6:42 AM, Martin Brit said:

6 - Alternatively I understand proof of income of  £1,625 is acceptable, could my rental income + pension be accepted? Would that have to be transferred every month to a Thai Bank or can that remain in my UK bank?

It must appear in a Thai bank account. Here is how I do it. I have $1400 US from social security, and $350 US from a dividend, to which I add sufficient funds to add up to 65,000 baht, which I then transfer in one lump sum to my Thai bank using Transfer Wise (Now "Wise") once a month on appx the same date. I then use a one year bank statement from my BKK bank to present to immigration. Been doing it 3 years now. I would recommend you combine all of them as I did in one lump sum, the simpler it looks to immigration the less likely you will run into complications. If you get a math challenged immigration clerk and have to explain separate income amounts you might have problems. 

On 9/3/2021 at 7:17 AM, ubonjoe said:

1. You can apply for a 30 day extension of the 60 day permit to stay from a tourist visa.

2. You only need the equivalent of 20k baht in the bank for a tourist visa.

3. To apply for non-o visa at immigration you will need 800k baht in a Thai bank on the day you apply. You will need proof it was transferred from abroad.

4. You have prove the income by showing transfers from abroad. The transfer option is not possible for the non-o visa application. 

5. When you apply for a one year extension of stay based upon retirement the the 800k for 2 months when you apply. Then the 800k baht must remain in the bank for 3 months from the day you apply and then 400k baht must be kept in the bank until you top up the account 2 months before the next extension.

Edit: Finished post after accidental post.

6. You need to show transfers from abroad every month that is equal to 65k baht or more. You combine different incomes to reach that amount.

7. Not sure what your bank would require.

 

You do NOT need to have 800K on hand to apply if you are using the monthly 65K income method. You can  obtain the non O visa using the monthly income requirement of minimum 65,000 baht, which you show on a one year bank statement as an income transfer deposit once a month. I have been doing this for 3 years. Handled the entire process myself. You can cobble your funds together from multiple sources or savings as long as it appears as one monthly "income" deposit at appx the same date every month. 

8 hours ago, Brick Top said:

If you have done that then your Visa extension is canceled and you will be on overstay , it is common knowledge that /as a condition of your granting your 12 month extension that the full 800,000 must remain in your bank account for a full 3 months . After you can withdraw your money but must leave 400,000 in the account.

I advised that he could simply switch to the monthly income method by making 65,000 baht or more appear once a month as a single deposit, and submit a one year bank statement as proof for the next extension. that is the method I have used for my past 3 extensions. So if he got that monthly deposit started immediately he could be OK for next time. 

I use the alternate monthly income method which ties up much less. I simply transfer from my US bank to the same Thai bank account 65,000 - 67,000 baht, depending on exchange rate, on appx the same date every month. As long as that deposit shows every month to verify the monthly income requirements I qualify for my non O 1 year extension. I have done this 3 times now, since they stopped accepting the verification affidavit from embassies. . My social security income is $1400 US per month, so I have to earmark about $700 to add to that before I make the transfer of one lump sum in the correct amount. After I make the transfer, I then send the $700 back to the US account to await the next transfer. That way I am only tying up $700 permanently, and there are no restrictions at all on how much I can use or withdraw after the "income" deposit is made. When I am in the US I transfer most of the income back to the US for living expenses, after paying rent on my Bangkok apartment. In your case, at the time of your extension, you start making the 65,000 baht deposit into your Thai bank account as of the first month of the next one year period. At your next extension application you bring a one year bank statement which you obtain two weeks in advance from your bank. So in your case, 65,000 baht minus whatever your actual income is, gives you an amount you must keep on hand (much less than 800,000 baht and no restrictions on withdrawing or transferring it) which once a month you can combine and deposit once a month into the same account . Since you don't know me personally if you would like to verify the efficacy of this method beyond doubt you could probably consult a law firm about it. But logic dictates that it should be foolproof. All immigration wants is to see that monthly income number appear consistently in an account for one year. In your case you could even simply take 65,000 out of the 800,000 and use that to send back and forth as I described. 

6 minutes ago, WayneJ said:

Thanks for all the responses- appreciate it.  Looks like it works for some and not others.  May be dependent on the local immigration office.  I use Chrome and have followed all the online instructions.  It worked last year.  Oh well, time for a trip to see all my friends in immigration.

 

I've had my retirement non O visa for almost 2 years now and it never worked online for me. I think the site is plagued with intermittent glitches, more often down than up

I'm still in the US, here we get a CDC (Center For Disease Control) card, which is accepted in most countries and by most airlines -  as to Thailand, I guess I'll see when I get back in October, but I don't see why it wouldn't be. 

5 hours ago, Caldera said:

One obvious option would be to buy a smartphone. It's useful for many other things as well. ????

In today's world it is an unnecessary handicap to be without a smart phone, since phone apps are obviously so thoroughly integrated into all levels of modern life. Every phone company offers them with payment plans, or you can get an older one secondhand very cheaply. I use a 64g iphone 5s that I bought from ebay, and immediately sold my older one also on ebay. 

18 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Israel's 20% Unvaccinated Now Account for Half of All Serious COVID-19 Cases

 

 

Actually you're off by a bit. There is a surge in infections of vaccinated people in Israel, mild cases, where people were vaccinated months ago and protection is waning. 

16 hours ago, DaLa said:

I cant decipher the yellow print on pink background , so I'm going to assume I can eat as of September 1st.  If my comprehension is correct it means you can't visit a 7-11 or mom and pop store or supermarket unless you have had 2 doses !

 

Whoops , just read it's a developing story, so I can expect this to be withdrawn 31st August.

"Yellow card for those who have recovered from covid with negative test result within 7 days"

8 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

really.  They do provide commissions on siezures?  That is never  a good thing as it easily leads to over zealousness and improper things.  Many court cases in the USA have happened where the cops just assumed the worst and confiscated things.  People leaving Vegas for example have been stopped and cash siezed.  Many months later the people had to sue to get the money back, but then signed non disclosures and promises to not sue in order t get the cash back, instead of being allowed to sue the police.   And many more cases of confiscations of goods and property when people were innocent

Cops in the US have seized homes and put grandmothers out in the streets by claiming the home was used for drug dealing grandkids, even without proof. But in the case of guns, well if it's a white guy he'll get his guns back in 30 days or less. 

11 hours ago, smedly said:

when do these so called sub vaiants become variants - what is the difference ?

 

are these variants unique to Thailand 

 

Ok so it seems some of these variants at least in the US alter the spike protein that the vaccines work with so I guess the worst that could happen is the vaccines don't work any more, hardly an issue of concern - right ?

The best available information as I have been able to keep up with indicates the major difference with delta is that it is much more contagious. The vaccines still "work" against it, no one has died of delta who has been vaccinated to the best of my knowledge. The vaccines protect the bulk of the body's organs and systems,  but delta can still invade the naso pharyngeal and upper respiratory areas and create a milder form of the disease, although most often symptoms among the vaccinated are minimal. Because of its highly contagious nature, there is more virus to be spread from these milder cases in vaccinated people through exhaled aerosol droplets. There are no variants thus far whose spike proteins have mutated to the point where vaccines are ineffective. But remember, this is changing as we speak. Meanwhile if you come across anyone who refuses to get vaccinated medical experts advise you to smack them upside the head. 

12 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

So, now you need to be a professor to state that everything is a possibility. Fantastic!

A Professor of Possibilities, Jeremy Hilary Boob PhD.