Havenstreet1940

The Insurance they promote on this new site does not appear to cover general medical expenses.

So what is it, General Medical expenses plus Covid cover or just Covid cover?

25 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I'm not cancelling any holiday plans, and it is not currently a requirement to do so in the UK!  But if you're worried, then it should be entirely your choice.

Would you agree therefore, that the major concern of the UK is the possible overwhelming of hospitals given the expected/forecast 'tidal wave' of this variant and the collapse of the NHS due to the numbers requiring hospitalisation remembering that the England has, I believe,about 100,000 beds available, and that in the real world, the situation is more optimistic?

Watching the UK News this morning and Bojos announcement of a UK National Omicron Emergency concentrated my thoughts on the situation in Thailand with this variant and whether I should cancel my planned Christmas Day Lunch for 12 Thai people,  all have had two jabs of Astrazeneca.

I only know of 4/5 cases of the new variant here in Thailand currently, but in the 12 days remaining before the 25th, who knows what the number will be.  The community transmisability of this particular variant is concerning and we are told that two jabs is no longer a defence against it.  A booster of the Pfizer vaccine will increase immunity of up to 70% according to the scientist, but that is not available here in the NE Thailand, to my understanding.   Some may say the UK situation does not apply here and we should continue with  planned events until we are told differently, however,given the 'greed' that exists in Thai Government circles, it maybe that we will not be told of the real situation until it is too late.

So I ask the question 'will you still continue with any planned Christmas events in the light of the emergence of this new variant.'

1 hour ago, asiaexpat said:

Government pensions are not taxed in Thailand.

I didn't write 'Government' I wrote Pension Provider.   In my case not one and the same.

Currently my UK pension providers tell me that my Thai wife would receive an annual pension of 750,000THB (44THB = 1 GBP) should I die (I am 83 but have no plans to do so yet and I have an objective to reach 100 years to get that Telegram! ),   

This will be paid forthe rest of her life (she is currently 48)with annual increases of 5% or the Annual rate of inflation, whichever is lower.

I understand that the UK and Thailand signed a reciprocal Taxation agreement in 1981 so I am assuming that the UK pension provider would pay the monthly pension without the deduction of UK Income Tax and my wife would have to make an annual return to  the Thai Tax Department as to her income.  I also understand that she has the option to pay UK Tax, should that be more beneficial to her.

I would appreciate advice on her best course of action.

Thai detractors NEED not comment!

59 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You misrad what I wrote. The 3 months is after you apply for the extension. The 2 months before is correct.

I stand corrected.  Blinkered reading

53 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The immigration website has not been updated for a long time.

It is 800k baht 2 months before for every extension and then for 3 months and  and 400k baht after that.

According to the IO in Khon Kaen Immigration, who I spoke to on Tuesday last, its a straight two months every time,  Different Province  different rules, although I believe Jomtienis the same.

1 hour ago, johng said:

How about  mandating that everyone walks around in full hazmat suits whilst outside their own homes ????

You've been spying on me!!!!

Just now, Havenstreet1940 said:

Try WRLife.  80,000 THB coverage.Through AAinsure,net in pattaya.

sorry I meant 80,000 US$

Try WRLife.  80,000 THB coverage.Through AAinsure,net in pattaya.

Not being IT savvy I would welcome some information.   When completing the application for the TP, do I have to upload the Insurance policy or will the certificate of Insurance be sufficient?

I ask because the policy document might well exceed the mb limitation of the TH.

Many thanks

I received this from Wise today:

2 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Sorry but that is flat out wrong - Transferwise (now Wise) has been using local currency accounts for years.  Tagging will in almost all situations result in using Bangkok Bank payment channel (but of course is not guaranteed).  

 

Most of us are using for retirement extensions which is 400k in bank all year and 800k required for 5 months.  

 

There is no risk - you can still prove funds came from outside Thailand (as in 3 posts above or even Wise PDF) - but may require extra work so understand some will indeed use bank account rather than face that potential issue.  

Whatever you say but don't shoot the messenger!

I have just come off the phone after speaking with a very helpful lady at Wise and I am better informed now.

Seems that at some point Wise changed the manner in which transfers were made.   Prior to the change the client sent GBP to their (Wise) UK Account and they (Wise) transferred the money from the UK to the clients Thai bank.   However, the current manner is that we still send GBP to them but the Thai Baht we received comes from one of their partner banks in Thailand.   Apparently they will aways try to take money from the Bangkok Bank but sometimes that may not be possible and that being the case, it is a local transfer.  Tagging an account 'Bangkok Bank' will not necessarily mean that the money will come from that bank.

Simple answer is don't risk it and have 400K THB in the bank for the rquired time.  Is it 2 or 3 months,, I'm not sure.

Yes and Yes.

With the list of documents required for the marriage extension, I note you have stated 400K in the bank for three months.  My understanding is 2 months.  Is this a typo or do Khon Kaen have different requirements to the normal rules?

I have made regular transfers throughout 2021 using Wise to transfer money to my Bank in Thailand which is Bangkok Bank.   January to September inclusive, there was a seemless transfer and all was well.  However, in October, Wise sent it to one of its other partner banks, the Kasikorn, who then did a SMMT transfer to Bangkok Bank, that was on 8 October.   I rang Wise to discuss the matter and Imight have been better advised to have talked to a 'brickwall'.    Unable to resolve the matter, I decided to make a further transfer on 29 October, but before making the transfer I called Wise and asked them to ensure that the new transfer was maede in accordnace with my instructions in that it was required for my long term stay in Thailand.  No problem was the reply.    Regretfully, the transfer was yet again made to Kasikorn who then effected an SMMT.

I wrote a formal complaint to Wise, and having just received their reply, seems their is nothing they can or maybe want, to do about it, and suggested I make contact with both banks, Bangkok and Kasikorn, to resolve the problem.

Bangkok Bank say 'sorry cannot help' and Kasikorn also say that and added that as I do not have an account with them, they are unable to trace the two transfers.  

I made the November transfer on 13 November and it was an FTT to Bangkok Bank.

Any suggestions how I might resolve the October issues.

My contacts with Bangkok and Kasikorn Banks were made at local level and NOT at their respective HQs.

15 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Agree--The original post is not correct, as you have pointed out.

If the points in the OP post are actually from Siam Legal, then they (SL) need to brush up on the immigration laws/rules etc.

Those 5 bullet points are a direct quote from the website of that particular company!

23 minutes ago, RubbaJohnny said:

So is it only needed for the retirement visa extension I am sure I took it along, maybe the law has changed?

Sorry I don't understand your comment ' I'm sure I took it along'. Question:Took what?

18 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

There's  no requirement to show proof the 400k baht came from abroad for a extension of stay application.

Thank you .   Confirms my understanding

Bullet point number 3 - Deposited from local or international Transfer, plus is Bullet point number 5 correct that it has to be an International Transfer?

• Must meet the financial requirement
  • Security deposit of THB 400,000 in a Thai Bank Account for at least 2 months prior to the visa application; or
  • Monthly income of at least THB 40,000. A letter from the foreigner embassy has to be shown to verify this income
  • Updated bank book or passbook
  • Bank letter stating that the money had been deposited to the account from an overseas source for not less than 2 months.

• Supporting documents as proof of the security deposit in a Thai bank are as follows: