moana

When you pay 1800 it stays with the immigration folks and no visa is issued. When you pay $40 it goes to the bank next to the gates. Nuff said.

This is the way! +1 Why not just use Schwab's debit card (or any other card that refunds ATM fees) and withdraw right at the ATM? Eliminates the human factor, available at all hours, saves time. Btw, one of the benefits of using a card to withdraw cash is that it allows you to withdraw at the peak rate. The card networks set the rate only once a day, based on the previous day's lowest interbank rate. So, if it's not an emergency withdrawal, you can just wait several days until you see the current interbank rate drop below the card's day rate, and only then go and withdraw (=getting the previous day's rate, fully knowing tomorrow's card rate is going to be worse). Of course, there's no guarantee beyond those 24 hours (it might climb right back up a day later), but it's still a huge perk, especially when the rate swings wildly.

The 14% tax is applicable to non-residents, not "foreigners". If you can prove to the bank that you're a resident (not necessarily citizen/PR holder) then you get the 6% tax rate. I've been able to convince all but one bank (out of 5 accounts) that I'm a resident and my 6% tax rate has never been questioned since.

If you're not using a company to go then there's no reason to prefer CK (or, at least, no one provided a good one). CS is 30km closer and might allow USD on the Laos side.

This is about Laos immigration officers not accepting USD at Huayxay (=Chiang Khong), which goes against their own rules, in order to make a quick buck by demanding THB instead at an inflated exchange rate. See @elektrified's post in the previous page. I really don't care whether it's by bus or boat. I just want to pay USD and optimize for time. If there are no special reasons to go for the Chiang Khong border then I'll definitely go for Chiang Saen.

In this particular scenario (in and out, no time for anything else) I would only care about the "friendly immigration officers" part, but not accepting USD is the opposite of friendly. Any actual immigration/border reasons to prefer Chiang Khong over Chiang Saen?

Any reason to choose Chiang Khong over Chiang Saen for a border hop? If Chiang Khong really doesn't accept USD (per @elektrified's post) AND requires an extra hour of drive time (+30 minutes x2) then I don't see why anyone would choose it over Chiang Saen. Ideas?

Pretty sure it was in Hua Hin. It's actually 100 issuing fee + 380 every 3 years. I guess it is technically not an annual fee, it's a triennial fee, but it's not great compared to 200 flat for 5 years. Btw, if you try to get the TTB Lite card they will probably try to upsell you on the All Free account + card. Stick to your guns and take the Basic account + Lite card, a much better deal.

I have it. As with any bank here, it's a luck-of-the-draw thing. In my case all they wanted to see was a passport with a one-year visa/extension and proof of address (=pink Thai ID). In and out in ~20 minutes or so. Edit: Opened back when they were TMB, pre-merger with Thanachart.

If you must have a physical debit card then the best deal I know of is the TTB Basic Account + TTB Lite Debit Card, which is 200 baht for 5 years, no annual fee. TTB also doesn't impose the silly cross-province fees for their own ATMs/branches, so you win twice.

Won't work. You will need a dual set of fingerprints these days....

US citizens are certainly eligible for VoA. VoA is also cheaper than eVisa, btw. $30 vs $36 for a T visa (a whopping 20% difference).

Why would you bother with it? Cambodia is doing visa on arrival again. It's a simple and fast process, took less than 3 minutes from start to finish last month.

Very possibly a misinterpretation on my part. Based on this message. Are there known offices that don't require it? Would using an agent make any difference? Thanks much.

My wife is stuck outside of Thailand and my current extension is about to end. I've been previously told by my immigration office that she must be present for any extension, including 60 day ones. So they will not give it to me. Do all offices require the presence of the spouse for 60 day extensions? I thought maybe a covid extension would be an option, but then I've also seen @ubonjoe say that covid extensions are only possible after the 60 day extension option has been used, so I'm guessing that's not a possibility either? Ideas?