CMBob

With respect to the Phuket "sandbox", I'm surprised at the posts mentioning various costs for the three PCR tests (first one is at the airport in Phuket upon arrival and the next two are during your 14-day stay).  I obtained the Certificate of Entry in the US and, in the process of doing that, I was required to pay 8,000 baht for the three tests (in fact, you can't get your final COE without uploading proof that you've paid for those tests).  How I paid for them was via an url on the US Thai embassy website (I was unaware of any other choice) and payment was made to an outfit .  Perhaps the costs vary for other countries but, for those coming from the US, it's 8,000 baht and is paid through some outfit named "Phuket City Development Co, Ltd."  

On 9/21/2021 at 9:15 AM, smedly said:

did you read the article - they have already done everything you posted but are now being asked to do it again at their next destination

Yes I read it but am wondering if you read my response.  Either they encountered an unusual situation or somebody is attempting to rip them off....or they misunderstood what they were told).  

Adding...the dates and times for tests #2 and #3 are paid for and scheduled before you get your final COE (as you can't get that without uploading proof you already have taken care of that).

16 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

I thought it is 7 days with a few Covid swabs?...

Given you haven't gone thru the COE process or entered the Phuket program, probably best to let those who have done so provide info.

Yes, 3 PCR tests are required during the 14-day (not 7) time period.  One at the airport on arrival, one on the 5th/6th day, and the third and last on the 11th/12th day.

Rather fruitless for people posting here their "understandings."  Just read the requirements for a Certificate of Entry on your embassy's website and your "understandings" will be clarified.

With respect to the OP's post, he is either being ripped off or he just misunderstood.  To get your final Certificate of Entry, you have to show proof you have already paid for 3 PCR tests here....one upon arrival at the airport (you have to stay in your hotel room until those results are known...mine took 4 hours) and two more within the 14-day time period.  That's it as far as I know.

Would note that the Chicago Thai Consulate told me in no uncertain terms that the 72-hour time period is measured from the departure time of your first international flight (and not from the departure time for any domestic flight(s) to reach another airport where you'll take your first international flight).

14 minutes ago, The Theory said:

Do I need to have a "foreign currency account" to receive fund in US$ from a US bank account ? 

No.  You can transfer into any account; however, if you want to have your Thai bank retain the funds in your home currency, then you'd need to transfer into a foreign currency account you already have set up.

Would note (adding or repeating some):

(1)  Schwab charges $15.00 for a SWIFT wire transfer to a Thai bank.  

(2) Always transfer in your home currency....you'll get the daily bank rate the moment the funds arrive at your Thai bank.  From the US, you can choose to transfer in Thai baht but they do the conversion in the US and it's generally a fair amount lower (that's a lot of money if you're transferring a large sum).

(3)  Thai banks charge 500 baht to receive the transfer.  Some banks (like mine....Siam Commercial Bank) somewhat hide that fee (e.g., it doesn't show up on anything but I know that's the fee).  I presume all Thai banks charge the same 500 baht (at least Bangkok Bank does).

(4)  I remain dumbfounded as to why people use Wise or any other similar service when generally their fees are much larger than what one's home bank will charge for a SWIFT transfer (typically, a US bank fee for a SWIFT international wire is $40 to $80).  And, if the private service sends in Thai baht, you often get a slightly lower rate than what your Thai bank will provide.  But, if you don't have a home country bank account from which to transfer the funds, then I suppose you have no choice but to use a private service.

37 minutes ago, suzannegoh said:

Within 3 days of departing Thailand or of landing in the US?

Within 3 days of the time you take your first international flight back to the US (I'm not sure what happens if there is any undue delay on stopovers).  The checking for this testing will happen by your airline (essentially, for US citizens, nothing is done back at US airports). 

6 hours ago, USNret said:

You do not need PCR test. Rapid Antigen will suffice. Faster (2 hour results) and 50% cheaper than PCR. 

Yes, all the US requires for entry is the rapid antigen test; however, at least some of the airlines are requiring the RT-PCR test......so best to check with the involved airline so there's no refusal to board at the airport.

As has been mentioned twice, go get a Thai tax ID from your local Thai Treasury office.  Easy and fast.  Like others, I obtained one years ago just to be able to claim back the interest withheld on some bank accounts.

You could get it set up that your water bill is automatically paid via your Thai bank account.  I set that up a decade+ ago.  I don't remember exactly how I did it but, if I recall right, I got some form from SCB and then gave it to the water authority (or, alternatively, got the form from the water authority and gave that to SCB).

A second option, presuming you have online access with your Thai bank account, is to simply use your bank's phone app to pay a bill directly from your account.  I can do that with the SCB bank app on my phone (likely can do it on the computer too) but I'm not sure how other Thai banks set that up.  Since I have my electric and water bills set up to be paid automatically from my Thai bank account, I only use the SCB phone app to pay the monthly True bills.

Check the US CDC website and it'll tell you what tests are required.  The antigen (quick one) test is allowed....and results ought to be available within hours.

As to when they'll stop requiring the tests to enter the US, not likely for a very long time.

Have no idea about air ticket refund policies.  

23 minutes ago, Dagfinnur Traustason said:

Nah, what I mean is not that they provide same help. I am just posting about that they just not shut down the distribution, like it seems they have.

Again, making comments unsupported by any facts.  Now, help us all out and tell us how the US has shut down or hampered the manufacturing or distribution of any vaccine anywhere in the world.  (Saving you some ink from your keyboard.....the US hasn't done so)

The two computer joints on the north side of the city (outside the moat and about 500 yards east of the northwest corner) both have Canon cartridges for printers.  Not cheap though (in fact, buying both cartridges (b&w and color) cost about the same or more as the damn printer did in the first place).

7 hours ago, Thomas J said:

The trust is not even funded until the death of the grantor.  In the persons will, they instruct that all of their assets are sent to the trust.  Until then, there is no money in the trust and hence no income to file a tax return on.  However, my point was that once the trust was funded and it had income, it would have to have a tax ID number file a tax return and distribute K-1's to any beneficiary receiving monies from it. 

For clarification:

1)  One of the major reasons a person creates a living trust in the US is to avoid all probate proceedings.  To accomplish that, one creates a living trust AND transfers all assets (with some exception for accounts that have direct beneficiaries in most cases).  If one doesn't transfers all assets (with noted exceptions) to one's living trust, then a probate of the assets is required to get the assets into the trust.  

2)  Almost always, the person who sets up the trust is the trustee.....and he/she continues as usual during lifetime to file normal income tax returns, etc. (the trust doesn't file anything during that time period and has no need to obtain any tax identification number during that time period).  The IRS considers that one's assets in a revocable living trust (where the person setting up the trust is the trustee.....which is almost always the case) still belong to the trustee personally and he/she continues tax-wise as he/she has done before.

3)  After death, the successor trustee(s) then follow the terms of the trust (paying any leftover debts and distributing trust assets according to the terms of the trust).  If (typical) the trust provides for immediate distribution of assets, then that's done and the successor trustees will likely have to obtain a tax identification number for the trust and file tax returns for one year.  If the trust provides for management of the assets (and, for example, periodic distribution of funds to named beneficiaries) over a period of years, then the successor trustees would be filing tax returns for that time period.

One the biggest errors in the whole living trust process is not properly funding one's trust (or, for example, obtaining a new bank account or investment account in one's own name versus the trust's name) as that leads to the hassle, expense, and time to probate assets to the trust.  So creating a living trust and counting on your pour-over will to transfer assets to your trust is exactly the wrong thing to do in almost all cases.

I am a US citizen, had the same questions as the OP, and contacted the US Consulate to ask about the procedure.  This is what I was told and believe to be accurate:

(1)  The body of a US citizen will not be released to anybody without the release letter from the US Embassy/Consulate.

(2)  If the deceased has a valid Will which designates a Personal Representative (Executor) and it's presented to the Embassy/Consulate, they will honor it and skip

the next-of-kin search mentioned in the Embassy website.  Obviously, in the OP's case (as in mine), name your Thai friend as the executor and include specific 

language that this Thai executor is given full authority to handle your remains.  Once seen by the Embassy/Consulate, the release letter will be provided and your

Thai friend can handle disposition of your remains.  End of story.

If you don't have a valid Will that your Thai friend can present, then the "next-of-kin" routine is what happens.  That adds delay and, should one choose to go that route (no Will)

and want your US friends/relatives being saddled with the responsibility, at least give the Embassy/Consulate a break and enroll in the Step Program or at least make sure

you've inserted the "emergency contact" information on page 3-4 of your US passport.  Presuming the Embassy/Consulate is satisfied they've found your next-of-kin as provided

by law and have received notarized documents from that next-of-kin, then and only then will they issue the release letter.  

The Embassy/Consulate will not issue a release letter in the event your Thai friend presents a hand-written letter about the topic.  It must be a valid Will.   

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

SCB - the Bank Letter confirming funds can be obtained at any branch (takes about 10-15mins) along with updating the passbook.

 

My "visa" account is with SCB in Chiangmai and, for more than a decade, I have only been able to get the extension letter (letter verifying the account and balance for my annual

extension based on retirement) from the one branch at which I opened the account.  I've tried to get it from other branches (closer to where I live) but both of those branches have told me I must  go to the branch where I opened the account. A bit irritating but not that big a deal as I only have to do it once a year. 

4 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

Just checking;  is CM Immigration ok with 45 days in advance for renewal of non - O visa (retirement) 

Yes.

Although perhaps slightly off-topic, I read Bolton's book and frankly was stunned by the hundreds (if not thousands) of actual quotes in the book.  Either Bolton has an air-tight photographic memory, had a recording device with him, or he simply made up some or all of the quotes.

I'm no fan of Bolton but I've never had the belief he was a liar (in spite of his extreme and misguided right-wing view of US foreign policy).  If one accepts that as little as 10% of what he writes is true, the book is a scathing indictment of the Trump presidency.