junkofdavid2

Thanks for the info.

Did they give you 90 days or 1 year Multiple?

Hi guys!

In an earlier post, I asked where I could get a Hepatitis A vaccine at a reputable place at a low cost (the non-profit catholic hospital near my how was charging 2,000+ per injection; and this hospital seems to be low priced compared to Bumungrad and Samitivej and others).

Poster named Prakanong (thanks man!) advised me to try out the Red Cross. Well, I went to the Red Cross today and the vaccine cost me only 1,100 THB!

Half the price of my hospital. I also found out that their influenza vaccine is about 360 THB, which is also about half of what my hospital charged me when I got my influenza vaccine (735 THB) in February (dang! should've known!).

Not difficult to find... it's at the corner of Rama 4 and Henry Dumant Road... same compound as the Snake Farm. Place is called "Queen Saovabha Institute" inside the Red Cross compound. The doctor and nurses speak (enough) English. Their tel. # is 02-2520161 extension # 132

http://www.saovabha.org/immune_clinic/index.html

By the way, this is also the place where you should run to get rabies shots if you're bitten by a stray dog.

Hope this helps!

JOD

yup, based on Naka's reply, I think Maestro and Samtam are correct.

Thanks guys!

Last week I got 23.83134 Baht per Sing Dollar at an ATM in Singapore. (withdrawal was for S$500)

Naka.

Thanks!

1) What is your Thai Bank?

2) And what Bank ATM in Singapore did you withdraw from (if you can remember?)

3) Do you remember what day that was (I'll check the on-shore Thai rate on that day and compare it with your rate).

Cheers!

6 atm withdrawal transactions from different US banks yesterday @34.81, closer to the onshore rate than offshore rate. Plenty of folks on the board receive funds this way, I'm sure some could confirm.

Actually, I have a Citibank USD account and I almost withdrew from the Citibank ATM yesterday, but the screen said it was only gona give me 32.64 to 1 THB!!!!

So now I'm really confused... Was Citibank one of your US Banks?

Hello!

I'm planning to go to Singapore for Songkran. Many of us are planning to do the same and go to some other country.

Instead of changing THB to SGD before leaving, I'm thinking of just bringing my Kasikorn ATM card (with Visa Electron)

The question is... when the ATM in Singapore (or any other place) spits out Dollars, what exchange rate will be used?

If the Singapore (or other) ATM uses the world market rate (and gives me 1 USD for only 32.6 THB), then that's good for us and it's better to withdraw from ATM instead of changing money in Thailand before leaving.

However, if the Singapore (or other) ATM uses the Forex rate used inside Thailand (where you receive 1 USD for the more expensive 34.80), then it's better to just change money here before you leave (so that at least you are not charged 100 THB service charge for each withdrawal).

I called Kasikorn call center and they said the Singapore ATM will use the rates on the Kasikorn Website. However, this is Thailand and the call center lady didn't sound like she knew what she was talking about. I'm not saying she's wrong, but it seems that her answer was not well thought of. (It was the simple "you can check our website for SGD rates given by Kasikorn, Sir.")

Interesting to note for ANYONE going abroad.

Will be receiving some money from abroad, from a customer who has USD.

It's not that big actually, about 7,000 USD.

However, if he sends, what rate will the bank use? Forex rates quoted internationally say the Baht is 32.63, while if I change USD at the money changer here, I'd get 34.80.

That's a difference of more than 2 Baht per dollar, or more than 14,000 THB!!!!

Is there any way I can receive money from abroad, and get a rate closer to 34.80 instead of 32.64?

Someone said something about SWIFT. How is SWIFT different from Wire Transfer? Will SWIFT solve the problem and get me the better rate? If yes, how?

Cheers.

Thanks so much to both of you!

(This isn't necessarily closed yet, so 2 of you or anyone else is still welcome to add).

Anyway, I checked out the Red Cross website and boy their prices are good!

However, it's not clear where exactly I can get the Red Cross shots.

Is it at the same place as HQ at Henry Dumant?

Cheers!

JOD

when the beer girl makes a commission on you, you don't get cut open.

Hello!

I've read many times that Hepatitis A is a common food-borne disease in Thailand.

Questions are:

1) Where to get a Hepatitis vaccine at low cost?

2) How much would it cost per dose?

In a hospital near my place, it seemed pretty expensive... about 2,000 THB per dose. Is this really the price?

Another Question: (regarding Hepatitis B instead of "A")

A lot of us have had 3 doses of Hepatitis "B" vaccines when children. Do we need to take some sort of booster again now?

Cheers.

Lived in both.

Why do I prefer Thailand?

The Philippines is a place I can enjoy only if i'm rich. The nice things in life (such as good restaurants and delicious food) are only available for a price... unlike in Thailand where the cheap restaurants are even more delicious than the expensive ones. Moreover, in Manila, I need a car. In Thailand, I get around just fine with the BTS and other stuff.

Hands down, there's a much higher percentage of pretty Thai girls than Filipinas. All my Filipino male friends who've been to Thailand are even the ones who tell me that.

Yup, that's why I just simply pay the "standard rate" of 200 THB tea money to the Cambo official (if exiting the same day), instead of arguing with them the same way a few other ppl do.

200 isn't much to pay for some peace of mind and security.

Question:

What if you have a valid Thai Visa, haven't broken any Thai Law, and then you exit to Cambodia, and then 'Cambodia immigration refuses to stamp you in (for whatever reason).

How do you legally re-enter Thailand?

Hi,

In my other thread, I talked more about the cost of doing a border run to Cambodia with a "cheaper" option of using the Casino bus.

However, I also now want to share something strange which happened to the 2 border runners in the cue in front of me as I was at immigration exiting Thailand.

Person number 1. Was not allowed to exit, and I could hear the immigration officer repeatedly asking for his "old passport". Eventually, after constant pleading, he was allowed to talk to some higher ranking officer who let him thru after some time.

Person number 2. Was not allowed to exit at all, and was repeatedly told to go back to BKK and appear at immigration instead.

The strange thing here is that these border runners were exiting thailand, not re-entering.

If problem was that they used up their 90 days, then they would be prevented from re-entering right?

They wouldn't be prevented from leaving, right?

They would've been made to pay a fine and would've been allowed to leave.

I kinda tried talking to them to ask what the problem was, but of course they were kinda embarassed.

Does anyone know what this could be about?

Trip to Lumpini: 13 Baht (bus ride from where I am)

Casino Bus: 200 Baht (Round Trip)

Cambodia Visa: (1,000)

Grease Money to Cambodia Immigration: 200

Casino Bus Back to BKK (Free, same bus company)

Hotel Buffet Lunch: FREE

Trip back to my apartment: 13 Baht (public bus)

Total Cost: 1,226.

Sorry but for me it make... 1,426 bahts not 1,226...

And some VIP Visa-Run companies ask only for 1,700 bahts.

Does worth the less than 300 bahts difference.

Pattaya46

Sorry about that, haha

Anyway, it would be good to post those 1,700 baht visa companies here so that others may opt to use it. As for me, I'd still like to save 300 to 600 per trip coz that's a lot of meals (or beers!) in Bkk.

Cheers!

Trip is about 2 and a half to 3 hours in the morning, and on the way back, about 3 and a half to 4 hours.

They run every morning, 7 days a week, from 4am to 6am (to be sure). There are some buses which still occasionally "dock" at that location until 7am but you'd have to wait for them, and you'd probably panic if you're not experienced and you'll think that you've been "left behind" by all of them.

You can catch the bus on either side of the road. It doesn't matter. There are many buses from competing companies all parked there on the road (there is no "official" bus terminal... they just park on the road itself until about 6 am, just before traffic starts).

They are right below the pedestrian footbridge in front of HSBC/Lumpini Park. As long as you're not "late", don't panic if you see no buses there... as a few will eventually pass by an "dock".

You do not have to look like a high roller at all, and you do not have to misrepresent yourself as a gambler either. They know you're going for your visa run. In fact, a big chunk of their customers (at least before the December crackdown) were the Filipino nannies who couldn't afford the VIP Farang Priced bus.

They're usually very friendly and I don't recall ever being cheated by them. The other people in the bus are mostly middle-aged or older Thais heading to the casino to gamble.

They tend to be friendly too and some even help (and like to practice whatever english they have) talking to you and "translating' for you and the bus conductor. Some are even "excited" and happy to have a foreigner along. Nope, they're not after your money... they're worth more than you! These are high-rolling grandmas with bundles of 1000 THB bills in their handbags.

By the way, regarding the buffet coupons... some of them don't give coupons, but they'll tell you what time to meet them and at which casino, so that the bus conductor can meet you there and the hotel that you're with their group and you can eat at the buffet. Unfortunately, in this situation, he has to speak a little english and you have to speak a little thai so that you can understand each other. Moreover, you'd have to wait quite a bit because they'll meet up with you much later than your entry into the casino. Why? Because they have to wait for their Thai passengers, and the Thais have to cue in a much longer line than you Farangs. Another way to get around this is to buy chips, get your buffet coupon, and then later on (even if you haven't played a cent) refund your chips in another casino window. I don't guarantee that'd work because I've never done that personally, but I have quite a few friends who said they did it that way.

As for the Cambodian visa... as soon as you exit Thailand immigration, go on walking and stay on your right and there will eventually be some sort of Visa application office with a waiting shed. You'll see other farangs sitting down in that shed, waiting for their visas to be processed. Follow the cue and do what they do... or you can ask those waiting farangs what they did and at which window, etc.

Disclaimer: Again: If you're unsure, then other posters may suggest that it's better to go with the visa run company, or go with someone else who's done this before. I'm only speaking for myself and many of my friends who've done it on our(their) own the first time without any major problems. Or, you can ask the other farangs you meet there in the Cambo Visa shed... In all my trips, there were always other experienced farangs there doing it whom anyone could talk to (No guarantees though).

Yes, the visa takes you right to the border. No need to take any "extra rides". Just follow your fellow passengers walking towards the border immigration outpost.

What did you have to grease the Cambodian officials for?

It was paid because if they ask you how long you are staying and you say right away they ask you to pay 200-300 baht, you do not have to pay this, simply tell them you may stay 30 days and that its up to you. You also don't have to pay them 1000 baht for your visa. The sign says "20 US dollars", so that is what I pay them, yes they complain and say that I have to get baht next door, I simply refuse and ask them to read the sign. I have been through many times, more than a dozen in the last two years, and they always let me through. So when I go for a visa run the cost break down to

0 baht- trip to Rama 4 ( I walk as I livenear by)

200 baht- bus trip, there and back

700 baht- visa ($20 X 35baht)

900 baht total!!!

Give it a try, works everytime!

Yup, I'm aware of the cheaper and more "legal" option, as I'd done this before when the lines were still long and some American dudes would argue and not have to pay the 200, etc.

I just wana play it "safe" and not agitate these Cambo extorting officials because if they don't gimme my stamp, I won't be able to re-enter Thailand, even if I have a 1-year B visa!

Important point: Despite my more expensive "safe" option, still save 800 Baht compared to the "VIP Farang Price" bus. But yeah... would love to save 1,100 like you instead!

Well... I've got 90 days to decide.

Just got back from Cambodia (Poi Pet) for my visa run.

Unlike before when there were long lines, now there were only about 5 people in front of me when exiting Thailand, and ZERO people in front of me when re-entering Thailand. Was also more comfortable than before, as the Thai Immigration cue is in an airconditioned building now.

Lines in Cambodia immigration were about the same, and the the Cambodian immigration guy still asked for 200 baht grease money since I was leaving the same day.

I just hopped randomly on an airconditioned double-decker Casino Bus on Rama 4, in between HSBC and Lumpini, cost me only 200 Baht Round Trip.

(the 200 baht is ROUND TRIP if you go back to BKK using the same bus company, even if it's a different bus at a different return schedule. Just ask the bus lady for some sort of ticket for the return bus, and it'l state the time and license number of the buses you can use returning to BKK, at no extra cost from the 200 Baht initially paid.)

This also INCLUDES buffet lunch at the Casino Hotel (again, you just have to politely ask for it from the bus operator)

Total cost of my visa run?

Trip to Lumpini: 13 Baht (bus ride from where I am)

Casino Bus: 200 Baht (Round Trip)

Cambodia Visa: (1,000)

Grease Money to Cambodia Immigration: 200

Casino Bus Back to BKK (Free, same bus company)

Hotel Buffet Lunch: FREE

Trip back to my apartment: 13 Baht (public bus)

Total Cost: 1,226.

Comment: Would've cost me 800 Baht more if I took a "VIP" service bus ride for 2,000 Baht. (I prefer to call it "VIP Farang Price" bus)

The VIP service would've lined up for me, but there was hardly any line! And I still got the buffet lunch at the hotel!

Note: if it's your first time to do a visa run, maybe you should only do what i did if you're the type who knows how to "figure things out" on your own.

(I already did it this way even when it was my first time and had no problems, and also no problems with my friends who did it this way the first time. However, other posters suggest that it's better to do the "VIP Farang Price" Bus if it's your first time).

Can anyone suggest the best way to travel to Aranyaprathet from Bangkok on a visa run.Is this the best option I now travel on a multiple entry non immigrant 'O'. Any advice is very welcome as this will be my first time.

Just go to Rama 4 Road (in between HSBC and Lumpini Park) on any day between 5 to 630am (under the pedestrian footbridge/walkway), and you can get on a bus going to that Cambodia border. About 200 to 400 hundred baht Round Trip.

It'l bring you to the border of Cambodia, and then you come back to BKK on same day.

However, you'd have to que by yourself in getting your Cambodian visa.

Not difficult if you ask me... but that's just my opinion. Others prefer to pay 700 baht more for the "VIP" service to have the bus company line up for them.

I am just about to do my first tax balance sheet, as my company will be 1 year old next month. I was originally told that the company must show a minimum B600,000 revenue, to cover my declared salary of B50,000/month which i pay personal tax on. Now I am being told that I have to show a B600,000 profit, and pay B40-50,000 tax on this profit - is this correct?? My adviser told me that this was a new requirement of Pattaya immigration, before they will consider the 1 year extension visa.

Thanks

In my opening post, I was referring to the renewal of Work Permit, issued by Labor Department. I was not referring to "Extension of Visa", granted by Immigration.

Immigration Dept is a whole different ballgame from Labor Dept regarding rules. Anyway, to help answer your question... Yes, the Immigration Dept has very strict rules regarding Extension Visa (much stricter than Labor Dept's requirements regarding Work Permit).

Moreover, each Immigration branch has it's own rules regarding that.

Therefore, although I can't confirm it, it's probably true that your Pattaya immigration has imposed that as a rule.

If you can't meet that profitability requirement (or even if you can), it might be cheaper for you to not have your visa extended via Immigration anymore. Instead, fly to Singapore with your documents (have it prepared by lawyer... I personally use Sunbelt), and get a 90 day Type B visa there. You can do that every 3 months with minimum requirements and don't need all that $$%#% that the immigration requires (and you won't even need to employ Thai workers anymore, because that "4 employees rule" is a requirement of Immigration for your one year Visa extension; and it is NOT a requirement of the Labor Dept for issuance of work permit).

Flying to Singapore every 3 months for 1 year is cheaper than paying 50k a year in taxes (if your company is not that profitable yet), and is also far cheaper than paying 216,000 a year (minimum!) in salaries to 4 Thai employees.

If you wana do it cheaper still, you try Thai embassy in Laos every 3 months to renew your Type B visa there every 3 months.

Cheers.

I used to have a 4 Mbps connection by True, and the actual connection speed was about 2 Mbps.

I now am using a 2.5 Mbps connection with True, and the actual download speed is about 1.2 Mbps.

Therefore, it seems good to just half the advertised speed in order to estimate the actual speed I'll be getting.

Simple as that.

I'm quite sure your law office sponsor "above" in not Sunbelt, but the other one.

Hands down, Sunbelt is the best and ultimate place for the bestest ever service concerning Work Permits and visas.

From my experience (and I've been to more than a few) Sunbelt is the BEST as far as their Visa Legal and Para-Legal (for farangs) is concerned.

However, I cannot necessarily say the same about my experience with their accounting services. Oh well, can't have it all, can ya...

Sorry, and CAUTION to people on this thread...

Another thread in this same ThaiVisa section right now (by poster named Engrin, "Visa Exempt - Red Stamp") seems to indicate that some Immigration Officers are now not allowing Visa-Exempt border runs by people who have used up a previous tourist visa; and are being told to get a new Tourist visa again (even if they haven't used up 90 days of visa exempt border runs)

Worth studying and observing.

Cheers.

What would you do?

I would sell the company or even better close it down so the Thai workers get all fired.

It's definitively retribution time for this "people".

Even if you close down a company, you'd still have to pay the employees severance pay. Not good retribution, if you ask me...