PDP11

I used to have skin cancer screening done at a major university hospital in the USA. I’ve had both basal cell carcinoma and “pre” melanoma. I now need to get this done in Bangkok every six months.

Can anyone recommend a good doctor / facility in the area that does this, along with removal and analysis of suspicious moles? I assume Bumrungrad is the default choice but perhaps there are specialists I’m not aware of?

whaleboneman is correct. I fly very frequently through Vancouver. Coming from the US, your baggage checks through. You follow US to Int’l connection signage and scan your passport to get into the International departures area. No additional security either.

On return to the US, you follow transit signs and clear USA customs / immigration in Vancouver (and clear security again due to TSA rules). Again, bags check through. If you connect to a domestic Canadian flight, you go through a different transit hall with dedicated Canada immigration / customs separate from the main immigration / customs. MUCH faster. As for security, you bypass it depending on your origination point. Come from the US / UK / EU and you skip it. No idea on Thailand but I would guess Canada doesn’t consider Thailand “high security”. This is all determined by scanning the origination boarding pass. 
 

All this said, I live near Vancouver and won’t use this flight on my Thailand trips. I’ve had bad luck with AC on delays / cancellations, this flight (if you originate in Vancouver) carries a hefty price premium, and finally departure is near midnight with an early morning arrival in BKK. OK if you have a home to go to but a PITA if you’re going to a hotel as you can’t check in for many hours. Give me JAL through Narita: reliable, great service, cost effective, and good departure / arrival times. Of course, if you fly to Vancouver from a North American city that doesn’t itself have nonstops to other Asian cities, this makes the trip one connection vs. two. 

The long time covers them if there are delays. That’s not unique to Thailand.

Last time I did the COE in June, it was processed in under 24 hours at the Vancouver, Canada consulate. Returning on an approved extension of stay by reason of marriage. 

BR and JL are both outstanding in business class. Among the best in the world. At a high level, you can’t go wrong. Take the cheapest. 
 

Like some others, I prefer to transit Japan vs. Taipei. I find Taipei transit a little more burdensome with longer transit queues. Hard to beat Japanese efficiency (although my last couple of transits through Narita on JL were horrible due to everyone being funneled to a single understaffed transit point). Also, keep in mind that Tokyo has two airports and JL’s lowest business class flight may involve having to connect between the airports which is a *major* pain. From a COVID perspective, you are currently (and I want to stress the “currently” part) allowed to transit Japan (as long as you’re not changing airports) and you’re not allowed to transit Taipei (unless one is Taiwanese). 
 

For the inflight experience, you won’t be disappointed with the service on either. BR will likely use the 777-300ER for SFO and JL the 777-300ER or the 787-8/9. The BR cabin is setup 1-2-1 seating which is best-in-class for business. On the JL flights (except some of the latest 787-9) the pods are 2-2-2. They are offset so it doesn’t seem that crowded but definitely not as good as BR. However, if you’re traveling with two people the JL config may be better. 
 

For earning miles, remember BR is Star Alliance and JL is One World if that matters to your earnings / status. 

Another example where TAT cannot do a sanity check on a number. 500K Russians arriving between now and end of 2021 is just over 4,100 arriving per day. Aeroflot’s largest aircraft (777-300ER) holds just over 400 passengers if booked full in every class. So … just over 10 packed full widebody flights from Russia per day? The entire sandbox operation is not even seeing close to that number (and those that do land are far from full). 
 

Even if TAT meant over the next year, they are still assuming more full widebody arrivals per day at HKT from Russia than it has ever seen. 

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

In Bangkok there have been multiple places for quite some times where Thai people could walk in and get a vaccine.

Like where? We’ve visited several of the clinics and hospitals on the BMA list and they all tell us you need to be registered. I am aware of the Bang Sue walk-in but that ended end of July. (and that was supposed to be 60+ or 7 factors only but the queue photos show that was completely ignored.)

You will be my family’s hero if you can give me an address. But I still think there’s a disconnect when BMA tells us ~6M people in BKK alone have received first jabs and yet none of the registration channels have opened (at least for under 60). 

What I’m trying to figure out is how close to 1M per day are being vaccinated and yet there is no official channel for a Thai citizen to actually get on the vaccine list.

In Bangkok, there are two official channels. The first is Mor Prom and the second (the official site designated by the BMA) is Thai Ruam Jai Project. Mor Prom has been shut down for several months and the BMA application hasn’t even been opened for people under 60 without the 7 conditions (and, is also now closed for those 60+ or with the 7 conditions). Yet, a day or two ago BMA proudly announced that almost 90% of Bangkok has had at least one jab. 
 

Can someone educate me on this disconnect?

So, according to ThaiPBS (https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-specifies-requirements-for-reopening-to-foreign-tourists-on-july-1/) the move from 7 days to 14 days is not the only change for the worse. The article indicates that you must also have your certificate of vaccination from the country you are departing from (and therefore obtaining your CoE from). Vaccinated in the US but living/staying in Europe ... not allowed in. Vaccinated in Europe and leaving from Europe OK. Let's hope this was just a translation misunderstanding.

I'm one of those people that wonder how there can even be 20 Americans booked. Although Thai embassies and consulates around the world have (probably) heard about this plan, there are zero guidelines available and there is no way to get a CoE for this scheme anytime soon. Count minimum a few weeks once guidelines are provided for the embassies / consulates to be ready, followed by a few weeks processing time for the first CoE (plus whatever additional restrictions the Phuket & Thai governments puts in place). It is already too late to have people arriving in early to mid July.

On top of this, nobody knows which hotels are approved for the sandbox. You can pick a hotel at random and make a reservation (hopefully without a deposit required) hoping that your choice will be on the list. Beyond that, the only thing I think you can take care of now is a (hopefully refundable) flight reservation.

Bottom line, the governments of Phuket and Thailand are already a month or two behind if they really want July 1 to happen. 

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Who would dare book such a trip, as it's likely to be cancelled with no notice.

You'd lose your leave, and maybe your money.

Are the airlines even offering any flights?

 BritManToo, totally agree with you. My assumption was you needed to return to Thailand and go through ASQ. If you are on “leave” you wouldn’t consider Thailand at all. 
 

And yes, everything would need to be refundable. 

One thing to keep in mind is that Moderna over promises and under delivers. They simply do not have the supply chain and manufacturing maturity of a Pfizer or J&J.

An example I’m aware of with my 93 year old mother in Canada, they are consistently 1-2 months late on deliveries. It has become a problem now that those vaccinated in the first round with Moderna are coming up on four months (the Canadian specified wait period between vaccines) with no supply available for shot two despite orders that went in many months ago. Talking to family in the EU, it is the same story there. 
 

So, once you have a delivery date set (which Thailand doesn’t have) you need to handicap by a few months. 

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Yikes! I just bought a iPhone from AT&T, wasn't thinking about compatibility in Thailand.

Sounds like using this phone in Thailand is doubtful plan.

I am not knowledgeable about the bands in use etc.

What do I need to know to determine if it will be usable in Thailand?

AT&T iPhone will work fine in Thailand and you’ll have coverage for all the 4G bands which is what you need (don’t pay attention to 5G for now). Just make 100% sure the device is unlocked if you’re going to use a Thailand SIM card. Roaming with AT&T will also work but that’s only affordable for short periods (it is $10 per day and needs to be configured in advance). 

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:OP, good that you have support for you plans from posts above.  Note that those  are very sensible folk on thaivisa. 

I for one think it's a crazy plan if it's for vaccine alone..

BTW what is the procedure for USA citizens, residents entering USA from overseas? 

 

DrJack54, you bring up the key point for me. Putting aside the cost, there is a danger with 24 hours in an airplane and three weeks back in the USA. That’s weighted against the increasing risk here in (for me) Bangkok plus the lack of any vaccines locally in the foreseeable future. I’ve decided that for me it is worth the trip although I have a lot of other business to attend to (have not been back since before COVID started). Always a personal decision.

Sheryl did outline well the procedures to enter the USA. A lot easier than the trip back to Thailand ????

Will be going back to the USA where I have two doses of Pfizer booked. Will wait the requisite 14 days post second shot and then return for 7 days quarantine. Now the issue of mandatory CV19 insurance comes up. I'm surprised - but this is Thailand so I guess I shouldn't be - that there is zero reduction in premium if one is fully vaccinated against CV19. Has anyone found an insurance source that actually accounts for the risk reduction in their rates?

Second question, my extension of stay expires in seven months. The CV19 insurance people tell me I have to buy six months (which won't be accepted for a COE) or twelve months. Has anyone found a solution for this? Can you ask immigration to only stamp you in for six months? Can you buy a six month policy and another one for a single month dated out six months into the future?

Thanks to TV land for any insights!

48 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

had exactly the same problem and after  +/- 6 months decided to stop using the BKK Debit Card and switched to start using their Credit Card for any payment at any store, all problems solved, bill/expenses paid every month and not having to deal with the retail store (brain damaged) people it's a peace of mind

Mavideol, were you able to get a BKK Bank credit card with a non-O or non-OA? Or do you have a work visa? I was told that no farang can get a credit card in Thailand without a work permit, no matter how much cash you have in the bank.

Heck, I can't even open a second bank account at BKK Bank without going back to the US Embassy and paying $50 USD (again) for an affidavit that says I am who I am. Apparently, that fact that you've banked with them for several years doesn't seem relevant.

26 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

so why wont you pay cash and forget about it?

cash is king, so easy and private, why the hell to pay with cards?

Too much hassle and risk. I regularly get turned down trying to pay with 1,000 baht notes and I don't want others to see me carrying lots of cash. I guess my USA habits run deep ????

I wonder if you all in TV Land have figured out something I've tried to unsuccessfully solve. When I try to pay for something "small" (< ~2,000 baht) with my Bangkok Bank ATM/Debit Card (Be 1st), I get rejected about 1/3 of the time. The symptom is the store's payment terminal indicates "incorrect PIN" or "rejected". The store tells me I don't know my PIN and - as you would expect - Bangkok Bank tells me it's the fault of the retail outlet or the payment network. I tend to believe the bank as they show no attempt was ever made to make a charge.

So, what have you all done? My bank card indicates Mastercard so I tell them to run it as a Mastercard. That never works as it defaults back to a debit transaction. I usually give up and use my USA-based Mastercard which always works but carries the exchange rate premium (at least I'm free of any specific "foreign transaction fees").

What I have noticed is many retail outlets have several payment terminals behind the counter. They try one and it is rejected. Then they try the next one and eventually get an approval. So, has anyone figured out the decoder ring as to which terminal goes with which payment network ... and which payment network supports which bank? Sadly, you can't go by the bank name on the terminal as I've had my Bangkok Bank card rejected by terminal the says Bangkok Bank and have it subsequently work in a K-Bank terminal. I suspect the stickers mean nothing as the merchant simply buys the terminals used and program them to whichever payment network they want.

A final potential clue is that Bangkok Bank ATM/debit cards seem to be part of the problem as my wife's SCB ATM/debit card is rarely rejected. But moving to SCB isn't an option as I'm here on a Non-OA visa and not a work visa.

It is so frustrating. I've never been in a country where foreign cards work more reliably than local cards.

Perhaps this is well known to others on TV. Went to Change Wattana today to do an extension of stay as my original OA permission was expiring. I elected to do the extension of stay based on marriage. This avoids the long term deposit requirement and Thai health insurance (I have excellent global coverage from my home country). To my surprise, I was refused. This was verified by two separate IOs and their supervisor. The reason given is that since I entered Thailand on an OA (retirement) visa, I need to do the first one year extension of stay based on retirement before I can do subsequent extensions based on marriage. Be warned those that are on their original OA visas.

To their credit, the IOs did suggest I get the 60 day COVID amnesty extension so I don't have to fly back to North America to apply for the O visa right away (plus the 14 days quarantine there, 14 day quarantine back here, seven RT-PCR tests, COE, 100K COVID insurance, etc.). Sadly, for one month I was off on the income average provision (did two transfers in a different month) and also short on the aging requirement for THB 800K so I cannot do a retirement extension. Bottom line, I should have prepared for the worst case scenario of a retirement extension vs. assuming I could to a marriage extension.

For those interested in stats. I did my 90 day report online. Submitted last Friday morning and was approved this Monday around Noon. Also, queue today at CW based on a 8:15am arrival was exactly one hour to see an IO in the "L" section.