Orient Express

Basic questions to ask of any opinion poll:

- who commissioned the poll?

- what was the exact wording of the questions asked, and what were the response options available?

- how was the sample chosen?

Pretty sure, as with most of these Thai polls, that will remain opaque.

Well ..... that's useful, since the EU Digital COVID certificate shows neither nationality nor passport/ID number.

This place is efficient and reliable, and also has very good rates:

Siam Exchange

Close to BTS National Stadium.

In the end, there wasn't an issue at all.

The IO didn't bat an eyelid.

They just don't get it.

Offer a 5-year Elite visa for 300k baht or a 10-year for 500k baht (without limousine transfers etc) and watch the take-up.

There is a sweet spot where many would switch over from retirement extensions, for example, to avoid the hassle.

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

As I mentioned in the first post, I am "under consideration" for the Covid 60-day extension, so the re-entry issue doesn't apply. When I'm gone, I'm gone ????

I am flying Qatar Airways which does not require a Covid test per se (only if your destination country requires it, which mine - Hungary - does not).

Such a shame, however, that so many genuine threads on TVF succumb to trolling!

I entered Thailand while visa exempt, and got a 30-day extension which expired last week. In the meantime, I went to MTT again to apply for a covid extension, and was given an "under consideration" stamp with the requirement to return to MTT on 3rd May.

I have now decided to return to Europe this weekend, and so will not go to MTT for the extension. I presume this will not cause an issue at Immigration on departure - the "under consideration" date effectively acting as a temporary extension of permitted stay. Is this correct?

Well, if more restrictions are introduced, I'm definitely on my way back to Europe, just as things are starting to open up again there.

Get vaccinated, enjoy the European summer, and return to Thailand in the autumn.

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The 3rd and 4th are holidays. Immigration will be closed.

Just checked my appointment at MTT on 3rd May and it still shows it as valid.

Well, my "under consideration" stamp requires me to return to MTT on 3rd May (and I have been able to book online for that date), so presumably they are open.

I was at MTT yesterday (Monday 19th) to get a Covid-19 extension, having already had the standard 30-day extension on a visa-exempt entry.

I got the under-consideration stamp and was told to make an appointment online and return on 3rd May.

What exactly are the rules now? I was just refused a beer in Took Lae Dee in Soi Thonglor "because of Covid".

A propos of making an appointment using the online booking system, what should I select from the "Objective/Counter" drop-down menu to obtain a Covid extension? (Original entry 45-day visa exempt + 30-day extension already received).

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Did they give you 60 day covid extension or 30 day extension of your visa exempt entry?

30 day extension.

On 3/31/2021 at 9:05 AM, ubonjoe said:

Appointments are not mandatory but they do save time doing your application.

I went to MTT a couple of weeks ago to extend a 45-day visa exempt entry. First time for me, so all new. Dressed smartly (others were there in shorts).

The person giving out the forms barked at me whether I had an appointment or not. I did not (I had actually tried, but the site was down at the time). She told me it was compulsory to have an appointment and I wouldn't be served if I didn't. I thought she was going to turn me away, but eventually she relented. She just seemed to want to pick a fight, frankly.

What made the thing even more galling was that there were no more than six people going through the process when I was there (mid-morning, early in the week).

Yes you can, if you're willing to pay $150:

https://www.siam-legal.com/other-services/opening-a-bank-account-in-thailand.php

On 12/17/2020 at 8:49 AM, akda said:

Finally issue got resolved.

 

(We = Me and agent)

 

We escalated to one level up with jurisdiction management about mishandling of issue, they were quite unhappy with condo level employee about mishandling of issue and not taking the complain seriously.

 

FYI, Mine condo is only 200m from police station. We went to police station again, requested them to visit condo with us and do investigation. Waited around 20+ minute then police guy accompanied us.

 

This time police and local jurisdiction(were helpful because of pressure from top level) together confronted maid. She tried to play smart but eventually broke down and admitted stealing item. She agreed to returned item, Police left. Later, officially I withdrawal the complaint. 

 

I got parcel after couple of hour, she returned home and got it back. Although seal was opened but looks like it was not used. To cool down curiosity it was Bose Headset.

 

She was given a warning, and incident has been reported to her firm. They will take some action.

 

One person who helped me throughout the whole process was my agent. Deserve a round of applause. 

Gonna take him to dinner over weekend.

 

Thanks to all for your response. 

Thank goodness justice was done.

Try Sterzar tablets (generic drug finasteride, 1mg). Manufactured in Thailand and readily available in pharmacies. Box of 28 tablets (take 1-a-day) should cost less than 400 baht.

Propecia is the same drug (finasteride).

On 11/17/2020 at 9:14 PM, webfact said:

The Cabinet has earmarked Bt6.05 billion from the national budget for emergency and necessities to reserve 26 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine developed by British pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri announced on Tuesday.

 

Of the budget, Bt2.38 billion will be allocated to the National Vaccine Institute to reproduce the vaccine so the price can be brought down to US$5 (Bt150) from $20 per dose.

 

The remainder will be divided into Bt1.59 billion for reserving vaccines and Bt2.08 billion for management and distribution. The last amount will only be paid out once the vaccine is proved to be effective.

 

 

On 11/17/2020 at 9:27 PM, Jack Mountain said:

$8 a shot, not cheap. How many are needed? Just one or do you need a booster ... at a price.

 

Some strange maths there. The Nation article refers to USD 20 (?) a dose. The purchase price - using their figures - is 1.59 billion baht for 26 million doses, or 61 baht - USD 2 - a dose (presumably it is priced in USD). The Financial Times quotes other deals for this vaccine at USD 3 - 4  a dose, so this seems to be a good deal.

The 2.08 billion baht is for internal distribution costs once they have the vaccine, and the 2.38 billion baht allocated to the National Vaccine Institute has nothing to do with this current purchase deal at all.

The AZ-Oxford vaccine will be a great move if it works, since it is by far the cheapest option, at least of the western-developed vaccines, and it does not require super-cold special storage, so much easier to manage and deliver.

The wording is unclear: 30 days is the maximum advance booking timeframe.

Presumably 18th December is the hard start date for the new system. So today only that date can be booked in advance; tomorrow the 18th and 19th December, etc, until the full one month period rolls out by 18th December (when booking should be available to 17th January).

That's assuming all goes well!

On 11/10/2020 at 11:53 PM, jaizan said:

The quarantine hotels are actually offering 15 night packages, which seems a bit odd when quarantine is 14 nights.

 

Quarantine is 14 full days starting the day after you arrive in Thailand.

Day 1 : arrive Thailand, go to ASQ

Days 2-15: quarantine = 14 days

Day 16: leave ASQ = 15 nights' accommodation.

1 hour ago, Cake Monster said:

I think I read that the leading contented in the Vaccine race has a Major stumbling Block, in that it needs Storage and Transportation at Minus 70 Deg C.

Also 2 Doses  are needed for each 'Patient " to be  properly Immunized, with the second dosage many weeks after the first one.

Correct me if I am wrong with this.

You are correct. A second jab is required three weeks after the first.

What will be really interesting to see over the next few weeks will be the results of the AZ-Oxford vaccine tests. This is a much cheaper (than the Pfizer) vaccine, easier to ramp up to large scale production, and doesn't require cold storage.