Tim K

I've flown 4 times on 1st and 5th of March, AirAsia also banned the power banks. And they already have the in-flight announcement recorded in multiple languages.

1st of March I went to Phnom Penh and back on 5th. Everything went well, went to the movies, walked around. Except that on my return to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) I got pulled out by the IO to the special zone for naughty farangs. Thing is they really get in a frenzy after seeing the ED visa. To make things worse DMK was swamped by tourists and the queue (snake-shaped) to the officer was 40minutes long. And time was running out for me to get to my 2nd flight from DMK to Phuket. After 20 minutes of waiting and not knowing what the problem is I was really getting nervous. Usual stories were heard - coming too many times where is your visa We dont' decide you get to stay or not - if the Embassy gives you visa we'll stamp you in if not - sorry. Get a non-o, get a DTV ( yeah right ) One guy was with his Thai GF, and they were saying to him: "We're very sorry sir but you can not get in this time. Please go back to Phnom Penh and get a DTV. After that you can stay long time if you're not getting married" I almost chuckled when the IO said this. She had both his and mine passport in her hand, and mine had DTV, and I still got pulled out. So my passport got handed over to another IO about 5 times and then they called me and asked me if I had a hotel booked. (WHY??) I said I rent a house. What is the address? - Here's my DL with that address. - Oh, Phuket?! OK stamp him in. After got my stamp I asked if I would have any problems the next time?! - No, no problems. Well if Phuket Imm. Office doesn't require electricity bills and rental payment slips maybe I'll try it in September. But I don't have a contract, do they really need photo of me in a dentist's chair? Does my face have to express pain during the procedures?)

Found one report from some Russian guy about Kasikorn Bank in Surin province. 1) Went to IO to get COR for opening bank account. "On what basis?" - Showed them DTV. "Oh, ok fine, here you go" 2) At the bank. Clerk refused because it is just DTV. Guy pointed out that it is 5 Year visa. Clerk went to manager to discuss. Nope. Guy said i'll be receiving my income from remote work, and want to pay taxes, but need an account in my name for that. You don't want me to receive income to 3rd party account right? Another discussion followed. Still Nope, BUT go get 2 Thai guarantors and we'll open an account for you. Went outside, gave 500b to 2 Thais. DONE.

Because they can? Impose any rules they want. Look for item #5 for remote work 'Proof of rental and payment ...' Doesn't say electricity but .. Guy said he went there a few times, every time new document was required. By the end of the day he was living near the printer and xerox machines)

I already Have DTV (stamped until 3rd of March). As someone mentioned it'll probably be easier to avoid all this mess and just spend a weekend in KL or P-P or Singapore. I have bank statement and dental appointment for 8th of March, just in case to show at the airport.

@DrJack54 I'll probably fly to KL or P-P for a few days. (Got DTV with dental clinic) But the report is from some Russian guy who is a remote worker yes.

Russian guy have just extended DTV in Pattaya Documents: Statement for the last month with minimum 500k at any given day and a list of transactions. Current balance statement, dated TODAY - as in the submission day. Condo/house rental contract Electricity payment slip Rental payment slips Employment contract And Statement from employer that you are currently employed TM 30, TM 47 1900 THB Photo Copy of passport pages: ID + visa + entry stamp

In December I tried to open a fixed term deposit for the 500k required for DTV, just to have it in the bank and show at the airport if needed. Location: Phuket Bangkok bank - nope, (Have 2 accounts there) Nope, sorry, we really want clients like you but can not, opened their rule book, called the Head Office, called their Lawyer even. Lawyer said - why you have Yellow Book but DTV? I said - because I was married before. Well we are confused about you, sooo nope. Krungsri - fixed term only for Thais. Krungthai - to my surprise easy peasy, got fixed-term deposit book (white one). DTV + Yellow Book + Pink ID + Thai DL. Can deposit money multiple times (10KBaht minimum), each deposit has its own % and maturity date. I put 10k(2 Year, 1.9%) + 10k(3 Year 2.1%) + 480K(3 Year 2.1%) in there. It does show a 500K total amount in the app and in the e-statement. Then I went to the same SCB branch in Central Festival, which denied me the EZ Savings account in October. Asked about the fixed-term rates, 2.25% was only for Thais I think, and then the lady logged me in with passport number into their system on a special tablet. And the tablet showed all options available to me, one of which was - ! - EZ Savings) 55555555555 I was having my doubts but said 'Yeah, ok' expecting a 'sorry can not' somewhere in the process. To my amazement everything went smoothly, DTV + YellowBook + PinkID + DL, signed on the tablet , got 1 Page EZ passbook, actually just a cover of the book, containing just my Name, a/c and EZ Savings account type. Wow! Got what I've wanted all along when I've finally asked for something different. You want A? here's B. Oh You want D and F? - here's A. )) EZ Savings has 1.9% rate (calculated daily), and you can do QR Payments, transfers, anything except cashing out at ATM. You have to transfer to savings account first. Ordinary savings accounts at every bank get around 0.2% Krungthai gives 0%!

After getting DTVs my friends are trying to open accounts so far only 1 branch BkB in Patong agreed to open with insurance policy worth 8000b, DTV + CoR + DL. 2 other BkB branches said nope. One SCB branch in Chalong agreed to at least send docs to Head Office, and the one at Central where I got my account with Yellow Book said no no no to them. Krungsri so far said no no no at 2 places, same with Kasi - DTV? no.

Says I haven't used sim for at least 90 days which is incorrect, I've been using it since April. I could pay for someone's water bill though or electricity, is partial payment allowed?)

Is it possible to withdraw money from AIS balance? About 200THB. And then move. Or will have to close the account to get the money?

Is balance also transferred to the new network?

They had it at reception in a glass case and they offered me to take a photo if I wanted to so I did. And then I just printed it myself in color. It was my thought to have it just in case.

Yesterday in Phuket Town there was older lady crossing 1.5 + 1.5 lane road on a well marked zebra. 3PM a bit of a traffic going 20-30km/h. Car in front of me was moving in a series of sprints, like faster slower faster slower, closing the gap and then making a gap. So this car stopped before the zebra, old lady bowed to the car, proceeded to the center line while the car started to sprint forward suddenly and then slammed opn the brakes just in front of the lady! Driver did not stop for the lady, driver just did his thing fast - slow fast slow maybe chatting in Line . Pure luck that he stopped 10cm before the lady. And she was looking the other way blissfully unaware that she was almost killed.

Went to Phuket Imm. Office to ask about DTV extension - they still don't know anything, said come next month.