Thalueng

Couldn't agree more. Complaining about things which are different from expectation seems to be less effort than learning and understanding different cultures and backgrounds.

ok, here are my 2 cents. First, the Thai government and the media kind of dramatized the dangers of Covid as they knew without this many if not most Thai people will not follow the rules set in place. This was necessary at times when the disease was not well known, health providers did not know how to deal with it, and even sick people did not know how to deal with it. Now everyone is scared and while I agree there are less reasons these days to be scared, this emotion is not easy to go away. Why has nobody in this country been scared about other diseases before, be it Dengue fever, Malaria, flu, etc., it's because government, media, and everyone else just took it as "if it happens it happens". Let's look at another example. In the country where I'm from mask wearing in public places was abandoned March 1 this year. From that very day, nobody was wearing a mask anywhere including the super market we were shopping at, except - me and my wife. We were scheduled to travel back to Thailand a few days later and definitely did not want to catch the virus before the trip as we would have not been allowed on the plane. When all of a sudden nobody wears a mask certainly the risk to catch the virus increases. If you don't need to go anywhere that's not a big deal (if you are vaccinated), just wait it out at home. So, give those scared people a break and let them wear their mask. It will eventually become part of live like other diseases, and people will eventually live with it and not be scared, and then they will leave their masks in the drawer.

In all the years I'm living here I never had a problem with immigration, nor was I or anybody else I know ever asked for money other than the official fees. If we assume that 800k are required each year to make sure you will not cost the government any money while staying here, then an agent basically forwards the 800k for 2.25% per year which is 18k. Not bad actually, nobody else will forward you such an amount of money for so little.

In Hua Hin it is advisable to do the new extension 45 to 30 days before expiry. After submitting the extension documents you are told to come back after 30 days to get the extension stamp, apparently so that the documents can get checked somewhere else (Bangkok, province main IO?). If you apply for the extension less than 30 days before expiry the IO will give you a 1 month extension stamp first (from the date you apply, not the expiry of the previous extension), and then a new stamp with the remaining 11 months. Before you say that's not true, that's how it's handled in Hua Hin. Other provinces may follow a different procedure.

Tariffs depend on the type of goods imported and there nominal value including shipping and insurance. Handling fees added can be quite high when sent by regular mail or EMS, but should be included with FedEx or DHL shipping fees. You also need to pay 7% VAT. As others said, DHL or FedEx should call you, but I would suggest you check your tracking number regularly and call them once your item is in Thailand. Make sure the sender gets your details right including phone number as dialed from within Thailand. Tariffs are published in the Internet and applied accordingly, but you must make sure to describe goods accurately. In your case "laptop", for which there is 0 import duty to Thailand, so you will need to pay 7% VAT only. If you pack other items into the shipment declare them accurately, their tariffs might differ.

It's the other way around, Thai people need somebody tell them what to do. How It's told is different from what Westerners are used to. You drive on the highway with 120, at the next u-turn speed limit is 60. Nobody slows down to 60 nor is anybody expecting you to do so. It's merely a sign to be careful. If you live here learn the ways and stop complaining.

If you're suggesting Thais are a suppressed people, they are not. Spend your effort in trying to understand this culture (even if just a little) rather than making uneducated claims. But I support your blame on the "tolerating" older conservatives.

Immigration does not care about insurance, but to obtain a ThailandPass which is required you need a covid insurance covering at least 20k USD. Official requirement is coverage for entire visa validity, but 30 days should do. Obtain a 1-page confirmation of coverage not less than 20k for min. 30 days after entering Thailand and you should be good to go.

The current Thai Pass does not require proof of ticket or even booking (I just did it). Hotel booking for day 1 and covid insurance min. 20k USD for 30 days required. I would suggest you apply for a non-O visa at the embassy and then check with the airline if and what additional documentation they require to let you board the plane. Your marriage certificate might be enough. Or the 3 month visa might be enough. Once in Thailand deposit the 400k THB in a bank account on your name (not your wife's, no joint account) then after 2 months apply for extension of stay based on marriage.

Maybe you want to go to immigration and explain your case. They might give you a 60 day extension, or ask you to come back after 60 days. I don't know about KK, but would work in HH.

Nice try but it does not work like that. For the ThaiPass you need an official hotel confirmation on 1 page for each person in the booking by name (4 person family means 4 confirmation letters), confirmed airport pickup, one night stay with date, pcr test, and atk test kit. Agoda and Co. does not let you do this, so you need to communicate with the hotel directly anyway before you can apply for ThaiPass.

Maybe it's worth to add that you are legally required in Thailand to report a covid infection. If you test positive on a self test you are required to confirm with a PCR. In Hua Hin, you can get it for free in the government hospital without a social security number.

I like the comparison with the mosquito net, brilliant. Have you ever considered that incoming travelers' Covid numbers are low because of the measures in place? It's good that they got away with the 5th day requirement since there were very few travelers testing negative on day 1 and positive on day 5. Registering for the Thailand Pass is not much different to what other countries request before entering the country, including many European countries. Many travel booking platforms, online or offline, already offered a travel insurance before Covid with various options during the booking process, just expand this to include the Covid insurance for Thailand.

To me excluding better camera or better whatever as argument for an expensive phone does not sound right. What is better makes me buy the more expensive phone. Camera is very important for me, clear also in low light conditions vs foggy results makes all the difference (i can never go back to take a better version of a shot). I normally buy Samsung Galaxy phones as they get regular Android updates for many years. Yes, they are more expensive, and still you get a line to chose from according to your budget. I guess all these things apply to iPhone too, for twice the price of a model with comparable specs.

When I went through 14 days sandbox in Phuket last year the rule was 1. Prepaid accommodation and tests 2. If tested positive and symptomatic: hospital, prepaid accommodation not used will be repaid, hospital covered by insurance 3. If tested positive and asymptomatic: quarantine hotel, if different from prepaid hotel the unused will be repaid, but new hotel covered by myself As I tested negative 3 times I did not experience any of the above. Like others mentioned, as far as I can judge all Asian governments do not take chances when it comes to trust the rules are being followed.

There are more documents required for the application, such as tabien baan (blue book) of your wife, a map to your house in Thailand, photos showing you and your wife in front of and in the house, bank document confirming your 400k have been in the account on your name for min. 2 months, copy of bank book updated on the day of application, and copies of several pages of your passport which you best do at the immigration office's copy shop.

The day 5 rule is there to enforce people take the 2nd test. The requirement was there before but nobody followed it.

Keep 400k on a separate bank account and use this for the extension, then you do not need to show any income, whether it comes in on a foreign or Thai bank account. Your online business, it's size, and whether you address customers in Thailand will determine whether you are liable for income tax and/or VAT, and whether you need a work permit.

Amphoe, but you cannot get it as a foreigner, only Thais can be registered in the blue book. You also do not need it, as it is not proof of ownership.

And since the yellow book is proof of residence, not proof of house address, it would only make sense it's issued on long stay visa only.

A lot of different opinions here, or should I say experiences. Here is mine. 1. Ownership is registered at the land office, documented through the Chanot (title deed). 2. The blue book is proof of residential address for Thai citizen obtained at the Amphoe. Foreigners cannot be registered in a blue book, and Thais can only register in one blue book even if they own more than one house. A blue book without registered name in it has no meaning. On the other hand, getting rid of a tenant registered in the blue book can become complicated even if that person is not the owner of the house. 3. The yellow book is proof of residential address for foreigners obtained at the Amphoe. You need your local Puyai (village/community mayor) to go to the Amphoe to confirm by signature you are actually living in that house. 4. Visa extension based on marriage requires your wife's blue book which should be the same address. Yellow book is not required but can be added. 5. The yellow book can save you a run to the Amphoe when renewing your driver's license, and in other cases where proof of address is required. Before anyone posts that this is all wrong, this is what is valid in Hua Hin.

It was straight forward for me. I assume your son is still a minor or a student in which case there should be no problem.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in my post, it is exactly what is required for an extension based on marriage, including the 3 month and the 30 days. But what I should have mentioned is it applies to Hua Hin IO. Other provinces and specially Bangkok might handle it with different rules. Whatever you consider correct or incorrect information obviously does not help everywhere in Thailand, and certainly not if you require correct information for Hua Hin.

As I explained before, this is exactly the procedure to follow. But it may differ by immigration office, my post relates to Hua Hin IO, and they do charge the 500 Baht transfer fee. If you're a Swiss national you must request they do not punch your relevant pages, otherwise they punch all pages and your visa does become invalid by international standards. Other countries might do it differently, and the Thai IO might still honor your extension in the invalidated passport.

In Hua Hin confirmation of home address was required from Amphur not IO since I first did it in 2012. Yellow book is valid also and saves you the run to Amphur. I do mine in Cha Am which is Phetburi province or Pran Buri which is same province as Hua Hin, never had a problem with walk in up and including this month, everything done in less than 30 minutes.