chipkimberimd

On 4/1/2022 at 1:58 AM, Pumpuynarak said:

''Use it or lose it" is my experience.

 

Having previously had a UK credit card account closed by the provider due to lack of use despite being in credit !!! i now use my CC a couple of times a year here in Thailand. Prior to use i inform them online of my intended travel to Thailand despite the fact that i live here, that ensures they don't decline the transaction.

 

I have no intention of informing them that i live in Thailand and thus giving them the opportunity to close the account. I use a UK address that i used to own but is now owned by my son.

 

My new cards are sent to my son's address in the UK and he sends to me by secure post.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for that. I had not thought of this. Just advise I am traveling to Thailand a couple times per year and use the card.

I like this.

On 3/31/2022 at 10:32 PM, mtls2005 said:

There are far too many variables. known only to you, for anyone to make any sort of blanket recommendation.

 

Will you stay in thailand permanently? Return to the U.S. often?

 

Depends on the banks, cards, financial services companies, your state, who manages the mail, state taxes, jury duty, credit reports......

 

Personally I maintain an address in the U.S., family member, and have done so for ~ 15-ish years. I've encountered no issues. I've changed my address with SSA and the IRS to thailand.

 

Some things I can recommend: sort out telecommunication requirements BEFORE leaving. Have one, two or even three options - mobile phone numbers, security key - for receiving 2FA OTPs. Target at least one which offers WiFi calling.

 

And register for all the government/private pension service options: login.gov, id.me, mySSA, etc.

 

Set-up any standing international wire transfer orders BEFORE leaving, this assumes you have a thai bank account already. Recommend Bangkok Bank and SCB.

 

Get at least two or three credit cards which offer no foreign transaction fee (Cap1, Chase Sapphire Preferred, BofA Travel Rewards).

 

Get at least one ATM Debit Card which offers ATM fee refunds: Schwab or Fidelity.

 

Get familiar with all finserv online and mobile app usage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for that. I have most of the above ready. I plan on pretty much staying in Thailand for the foreseeable future, going home the the US for funerals to be honest.

I will keep my bank account open in the US and maintain an address there as well through a relative.

I have an emergency fund in cash, but like to keep my credit cards active just in case of a larger emergency or simply having them available for whatever. 

12 minutes ago, skatewash said:

Yes, of course, they will if they are interested.  But there's nothing you can tell them that will make them less interested.  

I think you will find that in some cases credit cards no longer get restricted unless you tell the credit card company you are visiting a country.  At least that is my experience with three CapitalOne credit cards.  No problem when I use them in Thailand.  I have told CapitalOne nothing about the fact that I am in Thailand or that I live in Thailand.

I think it is a huge mistake to inform US financial institutions that you don't live in the US.  If not today, it could become a huge problem tomorrow.

New cards are delivered to my virtual mailbox address in the US, and I have them forwarded to me in Thailand by that service.

If CapitalOne took an interest in it they could easily tell that I make purchases primarily in the US and in Thailand.

Thanks for that answer, it had not occured to me to just not say anything to them as I am used to letting them know when I travel. That may be the way to go.

EDIT: Now that you mention this, I remember the last time I called American Express to tell them I was travelling they told me it's not necessary to let them know anymore.

5 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Never volunteer any change of location to any government or financial institution is my motto unless it benefits you????

Agreed, but they are gonna know I am out of the US when they see charges from Thailand.

6 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

So, I do not know any credit company that will refuse credit to existing customers who is actively using their card when they keep good standing. Sounds to me, that would be 100 % against their business policy.

Yes, but my question is, what did you tell your credit card companies when you retired in Thailand? Surely you would have notified them they may see charges from a foriegn country?

I searched for this but could not find anything. I am on track to retire in Thailand in early 2023. I will be maintaining a US address for banking, etc.

My question is what do you tell your credit card companies when you retired in Thailand?

I know they will allow you to note that you are on holiday in a foreign country for a period of time so they don’t decline transactions, but what about when you will be there for years?

Obviously, I would like to keep my cards in good standing for a s long as I live I Thailand.

I might be wrong about this, but as I understand it, the head of any immigration office has broad leeway in waiving requirements. As in the length of seasoning of money in the bank, etc.

Maybe some might say it's morally wrong but illegal I don't know.

The not actually volunteering part seems suspect, but as in an extension based on retirement, suppose that the cash in bank requirement is just waived by the senior official?

Again I have no experience in doing this, just throwing it out there and I accept I could be totally incorrect. 

14 hours ago, Issanman said:

I went to Bueng Kan immigration a few days ago and they told me that changing from visa-exempt to a non-O with retirement extension would be no problem. But I do have the 800K in my Bangkok Bank account. 

The people around here that I have spoken to that are using agents are using agents based in Udon Thani or Pattaya.

Thank you. I really want the NON-O for the obvious reasons. I do have the 800,000 THB deposit, but would prefer to purchase health insurance of my choice, if at all possible.

I have seen a Thai law firm that says they will assist in opening an account for 150 USD even on an exemption but I cant say if that's legit or not having only seen it on their website.

If so I might pursue that.

I will send them an email and see what the response is and report that back.

Not sure if I can post the firms name so I wont, unless a mod says it's ok.

I honestly don't want to get wrapped up in agents unless I have to.

Thanks again to all who responded to my post.

11 hours ago, BritTim said:

Do not worry. The meaning was

• For those with a Non O-A visa from home country there are insurance requirements (both for the initial visa and for extensions).
• If you get a Non O visa at Immigration in Thailand, and subsequent extensions, the health insurance requirement does not apply.

Yes, this was one of the reasons I would prefer the NON O over the O-A.

Of course by the time I get there it could all be diferent but I am working with what I know right now.

16 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

@chipkimberimd do you have a Thai bank account in your name only?

No I do not. I have been just visiting on exemption stamps since 2013 on holidays.

5 hours ago, chipkimberimd said:

Hello all,

I have not really posted on here because I usually get my information from most of you guys on here and since I am still in my home country I dont have anything really to impart here.

I am 55 and when things open up more, my plan is to come in on a Tourist Visa and convert that to a NON-O and extensions of stay based on retirement after that.

As the title suggests ( and I have tried to search the forum and elsewhere with no success ) are there Visa Agents in Bueng Kan.

I plan on doing it myself but I am curious in case something should go wrong.

If this is in the wrong spot please move it or let me know and I will delete and repost.

 

Thank you.

 

Edit: I meant come in on a exemption stamp not a Tourist Visa then "convert or apply" for a NON O.

Hello all,

I have not really posted on here because I usually get my information from most of you guys on here and since I am still in my home country I dont have anything really to impart here.

I am 55 and when things open up more, my plan is to come in on a Tourist Visa and convert that to a NON-O and extensions of stay based on retirement after that.

As the title suggests ( and I have tried to search the forum and elsewhere with no success ) are there Visa Agents in Bueng Kan.

I plan on doing it myself but I am curious in case something should go wrong.

If this is in the wrong spot please move it or let me know and I will delete and repost.

Thank you.

100% USDA Grade A BS.

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5 minutes ago, AYJAYDEE said:

what about Non O-A visa EXTENSION holders? Don't they have to have the money in a Thaibank too?

 

Yeah, good point.

I guess I was thinking of getting the O-A, stay for 2 years by leaving just before the expiration and then returning to my home country for another O-A and repeating. 

On 5/15/2019 at 10:58 PM, Gecko123 said:

If an O-A visa is a long stay retirement visa issued outside of Thailand and medical insurance is now required for this visa, what possible basis is there for hoping that the medical insurance requirement will not soon be required for all retirement (and possibly all long-stay) type visas? I can't see any cause for hope. Am I missing something?

Well,

O Visa holders doing extensions must keep 400,000 THB in the bank all year round.

O-A visa holders now have to carry 400,000/40,000 THB inpatient/outpatient cover, no money in a Thai Bank.

Am I understanding this right and can we hope that makes sense and stops there?

I have what is probably a stupid question.

I gather from reading here you do your 90 days reporting at your "local office" which makes sense to me.

What about the yearly extension of stay based on retirement? Does that need to also be done in the office closest to where you live?

Or say if I lived in Bueng Kan, could I do the extension of stay based on retirement in Bangkok then return to my home in Bueng Kan?

The reason I ask is having read about some having issues in some of the more "remote" offices.

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Yes, you need the immigration letter from the bank AND the embassy income letter. The bank document needs to be very fresh but the embassy letter can be as old as six months. 

I have read conflicting articles about the money needing to be "seasoned " using the money in the bank plus income method.

Is it true that no "seasoning" is needed using this method?

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So if you use the combination method of income and savings to reach the magic 800,000 THB, is that the worse of two options combined?

Would you need the updated bank book and an Income Affidavit (I'm American) from the embassy?

23 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It is not just a letter. It is a affidavit that is signed in front of a consular officer and is sworn as being true and correct.

Very few immigration offices want back up proof for any income document done at a embassy or consulate.

Thanks ubonjoe,

I'll take that to mean you had better be telling the truth, as just because very few want back up proof, it does not mean they will never ask for it at some point in time.

So an American only needs a notarized letter from the US Embassy? Don't the Thai authorities want documents to back that proof of income letter up?

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