Bangkok Basha

As I understand it, the Thai government is now requiring incoming non-citizens to have an insurance policy with at least $100,000 (USDs) in coverage, that must include (not exclude) COVID. Pacific Cross Insurance will sell policies providing that to applicants under the age of 75, but those over 65 have to get a complete medical check-up which could result in exclusions for any pre-existing conditions. The premiums are expensive but it meets Thai Immigration requirements for Extensions of Stay on a Non-OA retirement visa. I recently renewed for another year and will be applying for my annual renewal next week. The only alternative is the Thailand Elite Visa (THB 500,000 for 5 years) which I am considering for next year. Check it out. 

Good to learn from this thread. Last year I got caught in the TransferWise shift to SCB Bank as the intermediary bank for all their transfers so my transfers in July 2019 showed as "domestic transfers". I had unfortunately waited until the last week before my extension expired, so chasing down a letter from SCB showing they'd received the funds from abroad and transferred them to Bangkok Bank (where my account is), took a full day, and by the time I got their letter, my extension had expired 48 hours before, and Chiang Wattana Immigration refused to look at it as I was on an overstay. I had to leave the country and apply for a new retirement (Non-OA) visa at the Thai embassy in Washington, and start over again when I came back. This year I've made sure all fund transfers are for "long-Term Stay in Thailand" and they show up as "International Transfers". I don't transfer the same amount every month, and in several months I've done 2-3 transfers- all totaling 65,000+/month. This means that the letter from Bangkok Bank listing the international transfers is longer and harder to check (my fault), but that's what it will be. I also get credit advices from the bank for each of those transfers as back-up. I have moved to Pattaya and it seems like Chonburi Immigration is less intimidating and less unfriendly as Chiang Wattana was, so wish me luck when I go there next week. 

It's my impression that anyone currently planning on entering Thailand (or re-entering) must have medical insurance including Covid 19 coverage in the amount of $100,000. It does not matter what kind of visa you have or what kind of extension you are on. The premiums for anyone my age are extremely high. I am about to renew my annual extension of stay based on a Non-OA visa and have the required insurance for that, including THB 40,000 Out Patient , including CV-19 coverage. Whether it would also cover me for the required Certificate of Entry from the Royal Thai Embassy in the U.S. is unknown to me, so I intend to ask- just for information- as I don't intend to leave any time soon.

Please clarify what this means:  Passport copies showing TWO double pages per sheet of A4, despite no photographic reduction, will be REJECTED.  They only accept one double page per sheet. Does that mean each single page in the passport must be photocopied separately, as opposed to the two adjacent pages together? If so, what a waste of paper! I'm hoping Chonburi Immigration is not so wasteful. I never had the issue in several years of extensions at Chiang Wattana in BKK. 

Are they asking Non O-A renewal applicants to show proof of insurance?

On 6/19/2020 at 7:15 AM, jwdub said:

This maybe of some help.

http://www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com/expats/docs/pattaya blue baht bus routes.pdf

Many thanks. Got this now. 

Finally making the move to Pattaya and will be living in Jomtien (VT5). I am mystified by the Baht bus (sangtaews) routes and the numbering system. Is there by chance a map? (I can hear the guffaws from here). Or simply a list of their numbers and general routes? Thanks in advance. 

14 hours ago, Pilotman said:

400 Baht for two certificates. 

May I ask what a "Certificate of Residence" is and what is its purpose or use? Thanks in advance. 

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It think it was Jomtien.

Thank you. My extension period will come up in mid-August, a month after I move there officially. I'm not sure the outpatient insurance requirement for coverage up to THB 100,000 is still in effect or not. A friend who renewed at Chiang Wattana (but using an agent) said it never came up and he was not asked. 

On 6/9/2020 at 2:25 PM, ubonjoe said:

Apparently you used a Non-OA visa to get the entry you have been extending for one year for a long time. If not then the immigration officer is wrong.

What Immigration office did Lost in LOS go to?

On 6/9/2020 at 3:23 PM, poohy said:

Use an Agent it will save all these pesky little problems!

Any recommendations for agents in Pattaya?

On 6/11/2020 at 7:44 AM, Dionigi said:

Pattaya city hall have people who's job it is to roam the streets taking photos of rental signs. My wife got a bill for a house she rents out and when she complained they had all the photos going back for a year of the rental signs and when they were gone and people in residence.

Very interesting information. Fortunately, my new landlord has never posted anything about his rental- even on the building bulletin board where many others do. I believe that the building management are on the lookout for AirBnB visitors as (I think) Pattaya has a minimum 30 day rental period.

On 6/11/2020 at 7:46 AM, Dionigi said:

immigration at Jomtien accepts my driving license as proof of residence. even though they gave me the letter for the DVL to show my residence.

Thank you. I don't have a Thailand drivers license yet, but it's on my list to do.

17 hours ago, Bob A Kneale said:

Just tell him "no".  If there are tax implications for him he'll be well aware of it...if he's declaring that income. 

 

It's not your problem if he's not declaring the rental he gets from you and, as some other poster mentioned, the IB doesn't report to the Revenue Department.

Many thanks. This is what I thought was probably the case, and as you say it's not my problem. 

17 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration does not send any info to the revenue department. It is not their responsibility to do it.

Thanks a lot. I would be very surprised if they did. Chiang Wattana never looked at my Bangkok lease, just thumbed through it along with the other pieces of paper they require. 

My new landlord in Pattaya is willing to give me a lease in Thai language that I can use at Jomtien Immigration when I renew my Extension of Stay in August, having moved from Bangkok where my previous Extensions of Stay have been processed. He is also going to submit the required TM 30 as soon as I move in later this month. He has never rented to tenants who needed an official, Thai language lease before, and wonders if there will be tax implications for him when he does. Any comments or advice would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance. 

On 6/6/2020 at 3:41 PM, Peter Denis said:

Hi,

No problem sending you the info, I actually sent it just now > so look in your PM-messages.

The main reason I prefer sending all of the Guideline documents I compiled PM is that it allows me to integrate any user-feedback when updating the document.  Having sent the info PM, it is then easy to contact me when users have questions or suggestions for improvement, and so when interested TVF-members contact me first time they always get the latest version of the document.

Would you please send the Guideline documents to me? I am moving from Bangkok to Pattaya later this month, and want to get it right. My new landlord is ready to file a TM30 for me at Jomtien Immigration. I don't know about the TM28.

10 hours ago, crazykopite said:

Do not forget the new ruling any farang entering Thailand must have $100,000 health insurance policy which clearly states they are covered against Covid 19 and secondly they must have a medical certificate no older than 72 hours before they fly stating they are clear of the virus . My wife is stuck in the U.K. she tells me these two requirements are impossible to get at the current time if you don’t have them the airlines will not allow you to board if this rule doesn’t change then I will have no option but to call it a day here in Thailand and return to the U.K.  ☹️

THB 100,000 in outpatient coverage only. And it must be Thailand compliant, and only Thai insurers are compliant (various certifications required that international insurers can't or won't)

On 5/3/2020 at 9:40 AM, whiteman said:

and her family has now moved into it, as they could not afford to pay their rent in town.  you wait till you come to visit it again I bet it will look nothing like it did before be warned. People that can not afford to pay there old rent and can not move to lower rentals is a very big red light flashing. But you will not believe me till you arrive back here and find the truth. then you may find it very hard to move them out.

You can say that again. Her family and cousins of theirs have moved in and will never, ever leave. 

Idiotic. We are thinking of building a pool out here in the country province where we moved after abandoning BKK. Cost estimates run to half a million bahts. 

I mailed a letter to the U.S. via regular air mail in early April and it still hasn't arrived, so I'm guessing it went surface. I wonder how long surface takes. Good grief.

38 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

...and here i thought large windows bringing in natural light was popular, silly me

Natural light is one thing. 40 degree intense sunlight is another thing entirely. In VT5, temps on the South side of the building are as much as 5 degrees hotter than on the North side in mid-afternoon. 

On 4/30/2020 at 4:22 AM, Pattaya46 said:

The location of VT6 is great, but I personally don't like VT6 too much.

If I remember well, most units are 48 sqm, but this include a big terrasse ~10 sqm that is unusable during the whole afternoon as facing South-West. So more like a 38 sqm unit. Many units have a big white outside curtain to block the strong sun... and cut the view. Also VT6, is built perpendicularly to the beach, so - except for corners units - the sea view is only a part of a side of the bay. A popular place though for mongers who live during the night and sleep during the day. So unsure I would like to live there...

Monthly price could be found from 15 kB (before Covid) if you avoid the agents that have office inside VT6 and (try to) rent 48 sqm at crazy prices 20k, 25k, ... ! (ex: https://www.hipflat.com/projects/view-talay-6-xvkegu). Yearly contract even cheaper, as everywhere.

Problem with VT6 is that the first 6 or more floors on the Central side look directly into the mall's parking garage. Great view. The other side of the building is on the "Sunny" side and will require extensive shading to prevent bright sun streaming into the unit. AC electricity costs very high. 

On 4/24/2020 at 10:41 AM, baansgr said:

Jomtien takes some beating, easy for immigration, plenty restaurants and bars when they are open, no police presence whatsoever, markets, mini lotus etc yet only a few minutes from Makro and Thepperasit. Baht buses everywhere so Pattaya easily accessible. Seen some real bargains lately on FB etc. There was a VT5 large seaview studio for 9k a month..I think 53sqm available.

I am very curious to know where you see FB posts about properties like VT5. I'd like to follow that. I've seen ads on the bulletin boards there for units between 10,000-15,000/month when I used to visit and occasionally stay in a friend's place there, but don't expect to be able to do that for several months yet. I intend to move from Bangkok to Pattaya when the emergency is over (currently residing at country place in the far reaches of Sa Kaeo province). Thanks in advance, Baansgr.