ddartt

10 minutes ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

Based on what? There's nothing to suggest a DTV holder won't be able to secure a certificate of residency through immigration (although some embassies still issue these) or more importantly given what I just stated, obtain a drivers license renewal. 

Indeed. I got a residency certificate and converted my DL (with an IDP) to a Thai one on a visa-exempt stamp. That was in Chiang Mai.

I think as long as the stamp has over 30 days validity left they'll have no issues with the residency certificate. And in DLT they couldn't care less.

23 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

Yes, of course you would need to bring a Bank-Statement showing the 500K, which seems to be the primary thing they are concerned with - stamped by your bank. 
I am surprised if others were able to show something on a phone - will be guys making fake-bank-website clones, if that is allowed.

Those who apply in neighboring countries - like Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia etc - are most likely those who are already in the region (which is kinda the whole idea of remote working). Had they still been in their home country they probably would've applied there rather than going to the Embassy in Vientiane. Hence asking for an original physical stamp from the bank is an overkill considering the logistic difficulties of getting one remotely. A printout should be enough and some banks allow to authenticate the documents electronically.

While its possible to create a fake clone app of a banking app it'll likely be way more complicated than creating a fake statement printout with a fake stamp. Especially if one was to create a functioning app where you can click around etc.

42 minutes ago, asia123 said:

I couldn’t hear well and didn’t know what was going on, but the guy who paid 10,000 baht and successfully obtained the DTV was showing something on his smartphone screen to the staff. I also saw a few others showing their smartphone screens to the staff. I don’t know what they were showing.

They could've been showing their bank account balance in the online banking app. It might be worth offering to show those proactively in case the staff at the Embassy have doubts about the printouts. It won't harm for sure.

There are other reports (in other forums) that the Embassy in Vientiane is picky about the banking documents and even ask to get those certified in your country's Embassy (?!). Seems like Vientiane isn't the friendliest place when it comes to DTVs.

I went to Dr. Anna for a skin lesion which turned out to be benign granuloma, but could've easily been melanoma.

The cost was 15k baht, but that included consultation, excision with stitches, pathology, dressing change day after and follow up after 1 week to remove stitches and discuss pathology. To me the price is okay - yes way more expensive than many other hospitals, but when it comes to a potential deadly disease, I think it's worth it. Cigna would have covered the surgery even without outpatient cover had I reached my deductible already.

I think Dr. Anna was very professional and took big interest in my case. She also had no problems writing prescription just on a piece of paper so I can buy it from pharmacy outside and not from hospital at outrageous prices.

I personally just had a couple of minor concerns:

1) I would prefer that she shares more of her thoughts process and diff diagnosis. Basically what she thinks it is, and why. But I totally realize this really depends on personal style.

2) She can email pathology results but make sure you explicitly agree about that. In my case we sort of talked about that but I guess there was some misunderstanding.

--and this about BHP and not Dr. Anna specifically:

1) I found the staff (nurses, admins, everyone) in the hospital to be surprisingly unfriendly. So very unusual for Thailand and certainly not for that price...

2) Their obsession with measuring the blood pressure etc just drives me nuts. 

I did that today and it wasn't that nice actually. The immigration girl wanted me to pay 1000thb for "visa run" (in addition to 950thb Andaman official fee). I refused asking what for, then she told me I need to show 10k thb cash and a flight ticket. Luckily I had cash with me, and told her I'm traveling overland on a motorbike so no flight. That attracted more attention from other immigration people there who got curious, so it shut her up and I didn't pay anything. Otherwise it's efficient - I spent a total of 1h there including trip to Myanmar and back. I only paid 950thb Andaman fee, that is paid on the Myanmar side as per other reports.

It's my second land entry this year, the first one was a month ago at Mae Sai as I did actually come on a motorbike overland. Not cool though, I know it's a published requirement but usually they don't care.