Time Traveller

Since I started this topic, I received a bit of criticism from several people here after I said that Thai banks OTP security measures were childish and pointless. Well, well, well. It's barely 2 months later and now the Thai banks themselves agree that the OTP is stupid and pointless.. Because now they are demanding account holders to use facial recognition technology to access features on the bank accounts !!!!!!! https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2557434/banks-tell-users-put-on-your-best-face What next, DNA testing for account holders? And where does this end? Unfortunately, it's obvious. The never ending raising the bar of security requirements ends with average law abiding account holders having no access to their own funds. So to all those simpletons who go along with giving away your freedoms little by little for the promise of "security", thanks a lot.

This bank security is getting out of control in Thailand. I've accounts in Thailand for over 20 years with just ATM PIN and Internet banking password and never had an issue. Now they're forcing everyone to mobile apps, and One Time Passwords and other restrictions. Now I read they want Facial recognition technology to even access your own account!!!!!!

I'm color blind but I never had a problem with the regular Thai driving color tests. However, I do have a major problem with the peripheral color test, which while I can see the lights come on, have had extreme difficulty to determine the correct color. I would like to ask why this test is important, because for anyone driving normally the only colored traffic lights that matter for you are the traffic lights directly in front of you. Not the traffic lights on your left or right hand side. Or am I missing something?

Well I do have a BBL bank account, I can live without having the phone app as I can still access internet banking. The major problem is Krungthai bank which basically closed their entire online internet banking and forced everyone to use the app which requires a OTP to register. Totally blind on that account now. Then I have a stock market account which I'd like to have access to some tax reports which are blocked without a OTP. To be clear, I've tried several of those Thai virtual mobile numbers, which didn't work. They do each have the disclaimer that the numbers are not to be used for OTP from banks and so forth. So there is some mechanism preventing that option. Probably I'll just have to go back to asking someone to use their number. And hopefully be back later in the year to sort out a better plan

I've had one bank account open for over 20 years, and just using online password and PIN number, I've never had a problem with security. Nor have I ever had a problem with security with my brokerage account, or my other bank account, or my credit card account with the same security measures. And just to be clear, there is no security involved here because I'm not wanting to transfer any money at all. All I'm wanting is access is the financial information in order to file my (foreign) taxes and report correct income and balances. So, yes, believing that adding a OTP is to your accounts is going to protect you is naïve.

Sure, blame myself for the global spread of Covid and not knowing 3 months in advance that Thailand would shut their borders. Stupid me, huh?

If it wasn't clear in my original post. I've been outside of Thailand since just before COVID. If you remember we were banned from entering the country for an extended period and since that time, I've gotten new employment (in USA we don't get any vacation time) and have had family issues that have prevented my family and I returning to the country. However, I still have active financial accounts witihin Thailand. I do not care about some stupid thai phone number I used to have. But I need access to several features on my account in order to file foreign income taxes that are now behind the glorious OTP firewall. So yes overall they are childish thinking they have to adopt to the next newest tech feature to mimic how things are done in western countries.

Good point. One of my banks I removed my mobile number altogether and but the others will probably have the old number which I'm assuming is now re-assigned as I haven't used it in 3 years

Unfortunately, I don't have the app. Let me check if I can download and register. But this would be a good work around when outside of thailand.

Any ideas here? I've been stuck outside of Thailand since covid border closures and due to work and family issues I have no idea when I can next travel back to Thailand. In the meantime, my Thai phone number expired, but I still have financial accounts active in Thailand that both me and my wife use. Unfortunately, Thailand in it's childishness now has every organization insisting on using OTP verification to access accounts online. Previously passwords were used without any issues to access accounts but now without asking us, we are now told this is not good enough. This is the problem as I can no longer access accounts!!!!!! I tried using friends and my wife's mother for the mobile phone number OTP, but this is getting very tedious and painful due to the login wanting OTPs every single time and it's annoying having to always ask someone, even when they are busy. Is there any site available where I can get a virtual thai mobile number to receive OTPs ? I already tried a few free services, but none of their numbers seem to work. What can I do?

What the hell? Just saw this. Why would they close their internet banking? I don't have a Thai phone either, and I'm out of the country now, so don't know how I'm going to pay my bills after this month. Any ideas?

yes, I don't remember which year it was (just after the rules changed to allow married non-PRs) - likely between 2008 to 2010. They advised that I was better off applying for PR first. The citizenship application process is effectively a black hole and several people I knew were 3+ years and still no decision on their cases. Then my attempt for PR came at a bad time. With one or two years where they did not accept applications at all, or they announced it open on the last week of the year! Then the backlog on pending applications blew out to 3 years. In the end I just said screw it, I'll take a higher paying job in USA and move on with my life. Oh well, my loss. But Thailand is not seriously interested in immigrants. That's just the facts. Its not as easy as you say

18 to 24 months waiting to get the visa. Then after that both my wife and I both entered the US as immigrants on green cards. 5 years later qualified for citizenship. I understand US immigration gets a bad rap from many people, but I can say in my experience is was very smooth and transparent process that did not require excessive amounts of paperwork, nor having to kowtow to officials. Thailand is an independent nation and can run their immigration however they choose, but to say that they don't have preposterous requirements is absolutely being blind to facts.

Maybe you're omitting some information and that your story is true, but I highly doubt it. There is zero chance a foreign male will become a Thai citizen by naturalization based upon work by 3 years of earning 40,000 baht per month. (Surprised they even accepted the application) Years ago I tried to apply and the application was rejected and that was 5 years working at an IT company with salary just under 100k per month, married and children. Even applying to permanent residence was stuck in immigration purgatory for 3 years with no progress. In the end I just ended up giving up as there was no transparency in the process at all. Anyway, in the meantime, I immigrated to USA, became a citizen in a very easy and transparent process. So yes, Thailand does have preposterous requirements for citizenship (and PR for that matter).

I'm thinking about getting the passport card along with the passport book, that way it can be used next time the book needs returning for renewal. But it still doesn't solve the problem of international travel while waiting for new passport book

good idea, making copies should work along with a Thai Drivers License for physical ID proof if needed

I guess 3 weeks is not terrible, but did you get asked for it from anyone during that time? Even simple over the counter banking or billing issues want to see your passport.

When you renew a US passport, you have no choice but to give them your current passport while the new one is being issued which can be up to 9 weeks at the moment. Not only can you not travel during this time, you're also presented with other problems even just staying in the same country. So what do you do for 9 weeks without a passport in Thailand? Could someone advise what to do? Do you need to hide from the thai cops for 9 weeks? How do you live in Thailand without one since as a foreigner you basically need it for any commercial, hotel, bank or government transaction that you need to do? Any ideas?

1. US citizens are strongly advised not to invest in non-US based ETFs and funds due to the way the IRS treats such investments. So instead of ETFs or Funds you would be better off investing in Thai listed stocks instead. Or bonds if that is your thing, but foreign retail investors are not exactly welcomed with open arms in the Thai bond market 2. Banks do not trade in ETFs, Funds, or stocks. You need to speak with a broker (you can look them member list up on the SET website) and invest through them. Some of these brokers don't cater to retail investors, and some don't have english speaking staff either, so that might be why you are turned away, but I'm not aware of any policy anywhere that excludes American citizens. (thailand is not like those snobbish Swiss/Singaporeans) 3. You are completely insane if you live in thailand and open an account with a foreign broker in order to trade thai stocks or bonds. Not only will you pay much higher commissions on the trades, but you won't have any right to the thai tax credits provided to investors in thailand. These are well worth it.

Don't JPs actually need to reside within the Australian state that they are licensed in? I've never heard of Australian JPs living in other countries. In any case, they are not meant to be doing this work outside of the state where they were appointed. https://www.jp.nsw.gov.au/Documents/jpguidelines.pdf