bluebird729

8 hours ago, Heng said:

 There are far too many small operations that end up in the 'no longer operating' column of list of exchanges.    

Thats a very good point.

Ok, does this sound like a possible idea:  I buy the BTC with my local exchange and then transfer the BTC to my Binance account ?

This way, my money is only with the local exchange for a very short period of time. So its extremely less risky.

How does that sound?

It means I avoid the Swift fee.

I'm sure the BTC transfer fee isn't as high as swift?

41 minutes ago, Heng said:

Of course, everyone's needs are going to be different.   The Thai banking system is fine for day to day use.  I just wouldn't leave larger sums with it.   Many people are fine with doing so, myself I prefer other places.    

 

As for back and forth (between exchanges and the legacy banking system), that's generally something I avoid as well, even overseas.  Feel free to Google it (keywords along the lines of: bank closed account for crypto), but there are more than a few instances of banks just suddenly deciding not to deal with you when you are doing nothing more 'suspicious' than having many crypto related transactions.   When using crypto as a hedge against fiat, I find a periodic transfer (maybe 1 per quarter) of bank account to crypto exchange about the norm.  Not so often as the banks would care about, and also no so frequent that I would have to worry about SWIFT fees.   As for cashing out, which generally is against the whole point of having a crypto hedge, I'd avoid direct exchange to bank accounts altogether and just stick with peer to peer (bank transfer though) type transactions.    As for Thai exchanges vs. the various super liquid exchanges in the world, it's no question which are preferable.

ok, I understand.

But the annoying thing is that I have a meaningful amount of money in my Thai bank.  
If I swift it to the UK (to buy crypto with Coinbase or Binance) then i will also lose a lot on the exchange rate to the UK right now.

Do you know if there is a way to buy crypto from a large international exchange using my Thai funds (without having to send my money via my home country England). ?

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I've tried a couple of times with coinbase no luck, There was an exchange here in Thailand but it closed down had to get my C/C out rapid,

The one use now in Thailand is only for Bitcoin so far seems pretty good https://coins.co.th/

I read a review about coins.co.th   The review also said that the fees are very high.

I also notice that coins.co.th only has BitCoin.  It doesnt have any other coins. so its not very exciting.

Have you ever heard about BitKup.com  ?  Many people seem to talk about BitKup.  I have no idea if its good or not. and I dont know how it compares with coins.co.th

Yes, I also used to do crypto (about 2 years ago) with Bx.in.th  it was REALLY GOOD!  But it closed and I also had to withdraw my money suddenly.

11 minutes ago, Heng said:

The best way to trade and invest in crypto in Thailand is to keep the bulk of your liquid assets in Singapore (or any other country where the banking system isn't living in the late 80-90's) and using Binance and DEX's.   As far as the LOS is concerned, nothing is happening here other than you living a lush life.

you havent made me less confused.

Personally I think the Thai Banking system is pretty good.

At least its better than what we have in the UK !

As long as I can transfer from my bank to the crypto exchange (and back again), then what else would I need in a bank ?

Anyway,, I have a Thai Bank account. 
My money is in the Thai bank account. 
So, I want to know an exchange where I can trade (low fees).

If I traded between my thai bank and binance, then surely I would keep getting charged international swift fees.

So isnt a thai exchange my best option?

On 9/29/2020 at 9:54 AM, OneeyedJohn said:

Says it all.

 

Bragging about a Coinbase account on a public forum.

 

I am sure Coinbase could answer your question discreetly.

I dont understand why the secrecy or issue with coinbase?

is it illegal in Thailand or something? 

i have a coinbase account in the UK, but i havent touched it in 2 years... and now I plan to start trading again.  But i'm searching for a decent Thai Exchange  (coz my funds are in a Thai Bank).

Which thai exchange do you think has a large selection of different coins on offer and is also reliable.  (and not with extortionate fees) ?

A few years ago I used to trade with BX Thailand.  It was very reliable for me but then, (shortly after the crypto market crashed) it folded up and is no longer operating.

Now the market seems exciting again so I'd like to start buying coins again. But I have no idea which exchange is a good one.

I've heard about BitKub.   Is this pretty much the best one? or are there other more reliable ones?

Please can someone recommend a legitimate and good exchange?

My funds are in Krungsri bank, so hopefully its still easy to transfer money between my bank and exchange, and visa-versa ?

Also:

Several posts in Thai visa (recently) are talking like there is something secretive about coinbase.

is there some sort of problem in Thailand with coinbase or crypto?

I'm out of touch (since 2 years ago).

7 hours ago, dimitriv said:

Emirates was much more strict and limited. 

That's really weird.  I just phoned Emirates (Dubai office) and they told me that you dont need a PCR Covid test if you are flying from Bangkok to Europe. (He asked what destination countries and I told him London or Stockholm), he said both of which do not require a test.

What was your destination? Perhaps your destination required the test?

Etihad (from their website) seems to want EVERYONE flying out of Bangkok to take a test, whereas Emirates only seemed to only care what the destination is.

How is it that you thought Emirates was stricter than Etihad ?

If I am flying to Europe  (Sweden or UK), maybe direct, or maybe in transit with Emirates or Qatar, do I need to take this COVID test in a hospital/clinic before flying?  

or does the airport just do a temperature check?

Has anyone done the covid test?  how much did it cost and what did it involve ?

I also read that I need 100,000 baht of insurance if I fly ?  is that correct? or is this only for passengers who are ARRIVING into Thailand ?

Many thanks ????

8 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The maximum fine is still 20,000 baht.

But a overstay of more than 90 days results in a one year ban from entering the country. More than a year is 3 years. More than 3 years is 5 years.

Thank you.,

I also thought that nothing much had changed. But some guy I spoke to was very insistent that it had just got much stricter recently; So I wanted to check it here in ThaiVisa.

Obviously the guy was wrong.

Thank you ????

12 minutes ago, tonray said:

You are confusing 2 different things. The application for extension is mentioned as a way to stay in Thailand for another year. if one is on overstay , you will be flagged at the departure booth and either pay up or go to IDC. Depending on the length of your overstay, you may be banned for a period of time.

 

20K is the maximum fine

Ok, so there is no special form to leave Thailand.

The overstayed person just needs to go to Suvarnabhumi, Pay the 20,000 fine, and leave.

There is nothing new, and nothing has changed.

  - Is that correct ?

If someone overstays for a few years;  Is it still 20,000 baht fine at Suvarnabhumi Airport upon exiting Thailand?

 or has it changed in any way?

Someone told me that the rules for overstaying has changed.

I am not sure if they were talking about the 20,000 baht fine, or if they were talking about some other aspect of the overstay rules.

PS:  How necessary is the Application for Departure?  (attached below)

  If you try to leave Thailand without one, will you be refused exit? or do you just fill in a form at the airport?

50 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

OP. the TM30 website appears to be loading ok.

What is the problem you are having to say its broken ?

 

https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/menu.jsp

i have tried it on both my computer (3 different browsers: Firefox, Chrome and even internet explorer) and also on my android phone (chrome). and every time i get a failed link saying:  "This site can’t be reached"

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

We would assume that the friend that "will fly from his country to visit her" according to the OP, means in distant future. 

Yes currently no entry to Thailand for tourists.

As I mentioned in early post, unless he will be attending immigration for something like extension, do nothing.

Someone mentioned address on arrival. 

Put anything. Hotel Short time, soi 4.

Note to OP, if she is hell bent on doing the TM30, then do it by mail. Easy process.

 

By mail (Thai Post) is a possibility, then maybe it sounds like the easiest method.

I have been trying the link (in 3 different browsers) and its not working in any of them... But I am in the UK. so maybe the link doesnt work for people oustide of thailand, (which I find hard to believe).

you seem to infer that maybe it is not necessary for her to register him ?

so, am I correct to assume that if he writes a random hotel name on his arrival card. and he stays at her home for 3 months, and she doesnt register him; then nothing much will ever happen ?

29 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi, I PM-ed you a step-by-step instruction on how to register on the IO TM30 website and subsequently file your TM30s.

It's easy (if you know how).

> In order to access your PM-messages just click on the letter-icon next to your profile when logged-in to the Forum.

Thanks peter.

My friend cant even get past stage 1 because the site isnt loading.

I am in London now and I can confirm the link does not work (tried in 3 browsers).

but others on this forum say its working fine,, so maybe its because I am outside of thaialnd?

1 minute ago, tonray said:

App is working fine...just tried it. Perhaps she needs help in using it

Maybe the app works on some phones and not others?

Check out the reviews of this app on 'Google Play'

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=th.go.immigration.section38&showAllReviews=true

it seems that 90% of people say its broken or not working or has some fault.

or maybe you have an earlier version of the app which worked better ?

I have a Thai friend.

She owns her own condo.

Her foreign friend will fly from his country to visit her and stay at her condo for a few months.

She said the app for the TM30 is not working.

I have just tried the immigration website on 3 different browsers (English Version) which seems to be completely broken.

When I go to the Thai website, the website link also seems to be broken!

I'm wondering how all the tens of thousands of guest house & hotel owners manage to register every tourist when it seems like the website and app are broken ?

Also:  I have seen different info regarding the fine.

some sites have said between 800 to 2,000 baht.

and one article in the Bangkok Post said the fine can go up to 10,000 baht !

My friend said she is happy to pay up to 2,000 baht and not bother with the stress of the app and website. But if its 10,000 baht, then she will obviously try to register the foreigner.

On 8/1/2020 at 3:01 PM, impulse said:

 

Nowadays, they only allow 2 entries per year by land border.  That really threw a wet blanket over a low budget strategy that thousands of perpetual tourists used to stay in country legally for decades.  And decimated an entire industry that had been built to serve that market segment.

 

Edit: To your comment about getting a new passport, that may work.  But between better computer system and biometric data collection, I think the new passport/fresh start tactic is going the way of dial phones.  And they may not catch it at the Embassy/Consulate, but do you really want to risk getting stopped at immigration upon entry?  Out of curiosity, how long ago was it that the Thai Embassy suggested it?  Because any advice more than a couple of years old is probably no longer valid.

 

 

I have been out of Thailand for just over 3 years already. So it seems I missed the crackdown on continuous border runs... (which I did for just over 10 years).

The woman at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane told me about the passport 6 years ago. (so its probably well and truly out of date).

But, none-the-less, I was getting a new passport every 3 or 4 visa's... and I did this right up until my final departure (3 years ago) without any questions or problems entering thailand.  (perhaps the immigration at Friendship Bridge (Nong Khai) was more lax.. and I have no idea how they would be today if someone did the same.

PS:  you said that you are not allowed more than 2 land-border entries per year.

So, this means someone can do 2 land entries and fly for the other ones ?   so it seems its still pretty easy to get around.

8 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Before 2016, it was an economic decision for a lot of guys.  Is it cheaper to do border bounces every month, or is it cheaper to pay 20,000 baht fine every few years when you really needed to leave Thailand for a while?  Before 2016, you could clear a 3 year overstay at the airport, fly out and fly back in time for dinner.

 

Implementing the overstay bans changed all that.  Along with eliminating repeated border bounces.

 

That is the EXACT reason my friend ended up overstaying 3 years.

it was by far economically cheaper than 3 years worth of border runs to vientiane. (from bkk).

I am a friend of this person and I am now back in my own country,, and i used to do the border runs for about 10 years.

My friend is still in bkk.. and they will go to sweden in the next month or so.

You mentioned that they eliminated repeated border runs.

What do you mean exactly?

I recall that after about 4 to 6 border runs, I would get a new passport and start afresh.

It was funny because the thai embassy staff (in Vientiane) told me to do this!  Lol

is this still the same?  or have they even cracked down on this too ?

if so, how ?

16 hours ago, scoupeo said:

Wishing them the best...

Really, these people who can be on overstay so long time are amazing.

yes exactly.

(as far as I know...   the person in question overstayed a month or two... and then did some maths.   It was going to cost them 20,000 to pay for the few months overstay.

Plus the impending Lao (Vientiane) Visa-Run..  (2 wasted days), plus a cost of maybe 5,000.   

the person in question realized it was a whole lot easier and cheaper to just overstay.. (and pay 20,000 when going back to their home country).

I know the person well..   and they have been doing normal tourist visa-runs for 12 years. But their money situation was low and it seemed mathematically cheaper for them to overstay 3 years.. (as supposed to visa runs every 3 or 6 months).

I can vouch that (as a UK resident in Thailand), I have never been asked for my passport once in 10 years.

My friend is from Sweden and they said they have never been asked for passport by pol;ice either in 12 years.

She carries a Euro-Driving License, and police are happy with this.

They hang out in the night life and all the places where police patrol the streets; so I think the chances of getting asked for a passport (as supposed to a driving license) are tiny.

i'm sure they will be able to leave thailand fine.
But I want to re-assure my friend about which is the best way to leave thailand.

it seems that going direct to the airport many hours in advance is the best way to go  ????

44 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Dont get arrested by the police before you get to the airport

I think with 3 years of overstaying, its obvious to the person already.

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

The sight of the Paddy wagon parked out front of immigration always makes me think making ones way to the airport makes sense.

I agree.

I have always found the immigration at the airport less severe than the actual CHang Wattana immigration office.

Maybe because its an airport and feels more lively. They are surrounded by tourists who are more-a-less happy.

In the immigration offices in Chang Wattana, they are surrounded by at least 100 immigration staff. 

Almost like a collective of civil servant drones.

18 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Has anyone actually ever been arrested at the airport while checking in?

That would be a very interesting piece of information to know.

18 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Seven year ago is before the new rules came into effect in March of 2016. No ban before then.

I think he meant that he overstayed for 7 years.

He didnt say that the incident happened 7 years ago.

3 minutes ago, 2long said:

A friend of mine many years ago had 7+ years overstay. He went to the local immigration (fine & tea money in hand) a few days before he planned to leave. They couldn't handle it and told him to come back the following day to sort it out. He never got a ban, and was back in LOS within a week. And is still here.

7 years overstay has a 10 year ban.

and you said he was back in Thailand in a week ?

I can only assume that this was NOT in Bangkok; because the immigration office in Bangkok is very 'by the book' and has many steps process (involving many people).

possibly one might be able to try bribing officials at bkk immigration but I cant imagine it would go well.. and probably end up in getting arrested.

Perhaps in a small remote regional immigration office (like the one at Nong Khai), then i can imagine you have a chance of success.

I'm guessing your friend was in a small regional office.

PS:  I assume you are talking about an actual immigration office in a town or city,  and not an immigration booth or office at the actual border.