Bogbrush

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Think you have it backwards.  The THB is flying high and the other currencies are getting less in the exchange rates.  

40 to £ and 31 to $;  pretty normal to me...

25 minutes ago, connda said:

Not to mention the mandatory health insurance that must be purchased from "special" Thai companies.
 

Whilst I don’t agree with the government insistence that insurance should be purchased from the local cartel which was created to satisfy the recent OA change (although to be fair, they are the only ones capable of providing a standardized version in Thai, registered on the Immigration system), I do strongly agree that insurance should be compulsory for all aliens (tourists and expats alike), both for COVID and other accidents/illnesses. Too many idiots screaming around on motorbikes with no helmets and then running to CrowdFund when they come unstuck.
 

Incidentally, I didn’t notice the ‘local purchase’ insurance requirement when the new legislation was announced; I wonder how people will purchase that before traveling? The OA requirement allows a foreign policy for the first year of entry, for this very reason. 

What’s interesting is that, whilst the 400 000/40 000 baht insurance requirement looks the same as the OA requirement, there is one difference; the STV doesn’t specify that a Thai company must be used.  This should help people, as overseas insurance (including COVID cover) is much cheaper, as we all know. 
 

Also, it’s good to see the government insisting on insurance for tourists for once - long overdue.

The problem for OA holders regarding re-entry being allowed or not will no doubt center around the COVID risk level in your issuing country.

Vietnam changed its visa structure wef 1st July - only 30 day, non extendable. Not an issue now, of course, as the place is shut.

I was intrigued by your mention of Denis Segaller’s book “Thai Ways” as a bible for local tradition and culture, and was delighted to find I could buy it on Kindle for £5. I am only a few pages into it, but already find it incredibly interesting. Thanks for the tip!

4 minutes ago, redpill17 said:

But I'm curious to know if someone successfully did 90-day report with hotel address. 

Yes; I live in an hotel and 90 day reporting is no problem either on line or drive-through. Neither is the annual extension. 

You must register and then use the address for 90 day as the address at which you physically reside, if for no other reason that is where Immigration will come looking for you if/when they which to ascertain your bona fides. To do anything else is just trying to buck the system, is illegal and will get you a one way ticket out. 
 

In condos etc it can be a battle to get a landlord to comply with the initial TM30 registration, but you must persevere..it’s the law, and the law has a habit of catching up with you in the end.

1 hour ago, Jane Dough said:

I prefer stoic and resigned. 

 

Sheeple infers blindly following, not my assessment of yer average Thai.

 

Thanks for reading and commenting.

 

Rooster

 

 

I think it implies, not infers...

14 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

It is a good policy, but often you first have to explain to Americans that Canada isn't their 'Neighbour to the South'. 

 

 

 

 

 

Al Capone said it best when accused of running booze into Chicago from Canada. “Canada? I don’t even know which street Canada’s on...”

On 6/13/2020 at 7:38 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Well, yes & no. All couriers act as Customs brokers. It's in their interest to make you pay, if possible, even if you legitimately don't owe. It's a pain to claim those fees back. In my long experience, it's always better to usethe Post. There's not much difference in cost for regular airmail & EMS from overseas, if the tracking gives you any sense of security.

 

Second point. It is illegal to import prescription medicines even if your overseas doc mails them with his own hands. Even on one's person, I believe prescription meds are limited to a 30-day supply. In practice, they'rey're rarely stopped and never seized. I know this because I'm on several compounded meds that are not available in Thailand (nor are there compounding pharmacies).

 

Any import is not charged duty if the value is B1,500 or less. In practice, almost all parcels under $100 are not given much attention.

 

I just received an 8kg EMS box of my annual supply of vitamin supplements from the US as I won't be visiting family this year. Declared value $145. Charged VAT of just over B1,000.

On 7/4/2020 at 11:32 AM, theoldgit said:

There's nothing to stop you providing financial support for your girlfriends proposed trip to Tenerife, though she will need to apply in Thailand and satisfy the decision maker that she is a genuine tourist and that she is likely to return home at the conclusion of her visit.

 

If she plans to visit the UK during the same trip she should apply for a her UK first, the Spanish will want to see that, she will also need to show round trip tickets to the UK and or Spain, the Spanish Visa Section are known to be fairly difficult.

 

A second UK visa may not be as straightforward as you'd hope for, so soon after returning from her previous UK holiday, especially given her current employment position.

 

For her Spanish Visa she will need to produce her flight tickets, her UK Visa unless she's only visiting Spain, details of the accomodation, travel insurance and evidence of affordability. Her her empoyment status in Thailand may prove difficult to satisfy the decision maker that she will return home at the conclusion of her trip.

 

She will need to factor in the current restrictions of Thai Nationals currently overseas and wishing to return home.

 

The Brexit issue is not relevant in her case, she is already treated as a third country national, the fact you're British and the Transition Period ends at the end of the year will not affect her application.

 

 https://blsspainvisa.com/thailand/index.php

Another factor to consider is the length of time it takes to get an appointment at the Spanish Embassy for the interview. In March, Greece were quoting July...

Your main sticking point is probably the flight; until you can book firm then you can’t proceed as the tickets are required for the application. You appear to be planning to meet on ‘neutral’ ground so presumably will be using an hotel (booking obviously required) so it sounds like a pretty straightforward tourist visit requiring the above two, plus photo, travel insurance, Letter showing proof of funds in Thai bank and proof of residence.

The ‘hidden’ problem is getting an appointment at the relevant embassy; I applied for Greece in March and they were offering dates in July. 

Could I have the source, please?

39 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

 

Second point. It is illegal to import prescription medicines even if your overseas doc mails them with his own hands. Even on one's person, I believe prescription meds are limited to a 30-day supply. 

 

 

OP - FYI, this is what I posted last week in answer to a similar thread...

As I have posted before, my problems with sourcing prescription meds here are threefold; price (Xarelto 4 times more expensive) quantity (Bilocor only sold in packs of 100) and availability (Zolpidem/sleeping pills virtually unavailable, and when located were 90 baht a tab).

I therefore went the ‘Import’ route by (1) asking my overseas doctor for a scrip (2) getting a friend to collect/package (3) using a reputable forwarding agent with a correspondent in Thailand.

The result: 4 months of meds arrived within a week to my door - no duty, due to value declared (see Commercial Invoice below).

Give it a go - but you MUST use a decent agent who knows the ropes and corresponds with his counterpart in LoS.

As I have posted before, my problems with sourcing prescription meds here are threefold; price (Xarelto 4 times more expensive) quantity (Bilocor only sold in packs of 100) and availability (Zolpidem/sleeping pills virtually unavailable, and when located were 90 baht a tab).

I therefore went the ‘Import’ route by (1) asking my overseas doctor for a scrip (2) getting a friend to collect/package (3) using a reputable forwarding agent with a correspondent in Thailand.

The result: 4 months of meds arrived within a week to my door - no duty, due to value declared (see Commercial Invoice below).

Give it a go - but you MUST use a decent agent who knows the ropes and corresponds with his counterpart in LoS.

On 5/14/2020 at 3:40 PM, JusticeGB said:

Why even consider coming back? If I had the choice now and no daughter living in Thailand I would go to live in Vietnam.  This is no longer the land of smiles or the beautiful country I first visited in 1980. 

On 5/14/2020 at 6:36 PM, DrJack54 said:

I go to Saigon every month. Obtain four 3 month multi TV per year. $70usd for each. 

 

As mentioned, not from 1st July. Only 30 day visas issued, it seems.

I think you’ll find that has been changed by recent legislation; wef 1st July, Vietnam visa is now a maximum of 30 days.

31 minutes ago, 7by7 said:

 

 

The virus causing this latest outbreak, covid19, is a member of the family of coronaviruses which were first identified in North Dakota in 1931.

 

So should we call it a variation of North Dakotan flu? 

 

Or simply call it what everyone else is calling it? 

 

I go for the latter. 

The ‘Spanish Flu’ started on a farm in Kansas..

The African problem is tricky on many fronts - in urban townships or rural kraals there is often 6 or more sharing a room; unemployment is roughly 25% (S Africa) and the vast majority have irregular piece work, all now suspended. In SA, alcohol and cigarette sales are banned, as is exercise. Civil disobedience is rife, with shops being looted daily and numerous allegations of army and police brutality. The spread of the virus - and the violence it will bring - is a bomb waiting to explode in Africa.

I read somewhere (probably TV) it will be 30 day visa only, commencing 1st July, and NOT extendable - border run needed. As you say, hopefully to be rethought...

1 hour ago, Stevemercer said:

 

No, the real question is whether people want governments to put risk the economy or risk their parents, grandparents and other elderly people.

 

The cohort most at risk (elderly) are our parents, and no government can be seen to be sacrificing their lives for the economy. So governments have no real choice.

 

It's different during times of war when it seems ok to put young people's lives (ours sons and daughters) on the front line.

This is what his Lordship had to say on what the people want, and why.

The real problem is that when human societies lose their freedom, it's not usually because tyrants have taken it away. It's usually because people willingly surrender their freedom in return for protection against some external threat. And the threat is usually a real threat but usually exaggerated. That's what I fear we are seeing now. The pressure on politicians has come from the public. They want action. They don't pause to ask whether the action will work. They don't ask themselves whether the cost will be worth paying. They want action anyway. And anyone who has studied history will recognise here the classic symptoms of collective hysteria. Hysteria is infectious. We are working ourselves up into a lather in which we exaggerate the threat and stop asking ourselves whether the cure may be worse than the disease.