BeerT

Dear forum friends,

I have been reading posts and watching videos and learned that most branches at most banks are pretty strict with opening a bank account for people on their tourist visas. But there are a few branches in each bank that can help people without work permit. Most people have been suggesting going around branches in Siam, Chit Lom and Silom. 

Was wondering if anyone had any experience and knows which exact branch/bank worked. 

Much Appreciated!

Dear forum friends,

I have been reading posts and watching videos and learned that most branches at most banks are pretty strict with opening a bank account for people on their tourist visas. But there are a few branches in each bank that can help people without work permit. Most people have been suggesting going around branches in Siam, Chit Lom and Silom. 

Was wondering if anyone had any experience and knows which exact branch/bank worked. 

Much Appreciated!

4 hours ago, NanLaew said:

We implemented it on our 'mules' coming in from the US with various stuff for the expat buddies here in Thailand. This was after one of them got stopped and assessed great gobs of duty on a box of cigars that were inside a fancy box that Customs included in the duty assessment. We told him to dump the cigar boxes next time as they're only supposed to assess on actual tobacco weight ONLY. He got to keep the cigars but one of the expats was SOL on his long-overdue packets of Dunkin Donuts coffee as Customs insisted they were totally illegal and confiscated both packets.

Gotcha. Will get the envelope ready just in case. 

3 hours ago, TaoNow said:

A few years ago, I asked my daughter in the US to purchase and send a designer bag to me (which I planned to present as a gift to someone here in Thailand).

 

My daughter did so, and sent the bag to me in Bangkok by regular mail.

 

However, the postal customs office intercepted it, and I was called in to pay a hefty luxury tax in order to claim the item -- but no fine.

 

Out of curiosity, I asked the official at the postal/customs office how they identify items that are eligible for import tax, given that so many items arrive at Suvannabhumi Airport each day.

 

She said that they conduct a sample of items. 

 

But that didn't seem plausible to me since the probability of this single package being selected was surely extremely small.

 

Now, as one of the above posters reported, it seems they have a way of scanning packages, parcels, and luggage, for imported luxury items.

 

That makes more sense. 

 

So, buyer beware, indeed. 

 

 

Indeed, indeed! Thanks for the reminder!

47 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

When I mailed packages from China, the clerk told me I should remove any tags with bar codes as the scanners at customs in the receiving country could read them through the packaging.

 

I don't know about that, but we did remove tags and blacked out bar codes to indicate not for sale if the boxes were opened.

Wow. That's a super insightful suggestion. Will definitely do that. Thanks! 

20 minutes ago, BangkokAlan said:

I have relocated back to Thailand in the past and regularly bring back 4 huge suitcases with the wife from holidays. No one ask the contents they may only ask you to put on the conveyor to make sure you have no illicit items, and they are generally only on lookout for luxury bags, watches etc. that it's easy to secure tax on. 

Thanks for the info! 

I will be relocating to Thailand soon and will either bring a lot of boxes as checked luggages or do international shipping, or do a combination of both. 

I previously initiated a post asking about airport customs duty experience and someone brought up a really good point -- regardless of whether I bring the luggages by myself on flight or do international shipping, the customs may refer to the value of insurance declared to determine if I will need to pay tax, and if I do, how much I will have to pay. 

My struggle is that the replacement cost of a lot of my belongings are huge, but their market value might be very low. If I calculate my insurance based on the replacement cost, will I be faced with potential excessive tax? 

One example - I am working as a teacher back home in the states, and I will need to bring probably over 50 textbooks, journals and other books with me.  As you may know, a simple calculus textbook in the US can easily cost $300 USD or more; imagine if I put $15,000 USD merely under the book section on my insurance declaration form, I am concerned I will get in trouble. While I got all these books for free from college, with all the notes, stickers that I put on these books, I simply cannot just throw them away and buy news ones when I reach Thailand. 

With that, I was wondering if anyone can suggest what is the best way to evaluate the total value/price of goods insured. I can't imagine being charged a 35%+ tax on these 50 textbooks, not to mention I will have many more other items to bring. 

And can anyone recommend any good luggage/shipping insurance company/product (preferably one that has a branch in the US)? 

Thanks for any suggestions in advance! 

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I very much doubt anyone on here ever brought more than one can carry on one trolley, but you could probably pay an airport worker to bring another trolley.

I see. Will look into that option. Thanks! 

5 hours ago, mjakob007 said:

When we relocated late 2020, had 12 cases between 4 passengers. did not get stopped or asked any question. dont know if the covid quarantine situation helped..

 

2 weeks later (once we were out of quarantine,) another 10 boxes arrived by DHL and got assessed for some 30k baht in duties & taxes. duties were assessed based on value declared for insurance. so thats a catch 22

True. I've heard a lot of other pp who got charged for boxes shipped via air express. 

4 hours ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

The only few times I got stopped by BKK customs were when I was on my Elite visa.

 

They probably thought I was rich and bought my GF brand new luxury bags or watches from abroad. I did not ????

Thanks for the info! 

4 hours ago, Rumpelstilskin said:

Have a plain white envelope with 3 100 US Ben franklins inside.  If you are stopped by customs just hand them the envelope -- no problem -- just be prepared in advance.

True true. Will do! Thanks! 

2 hours ago, yogavnture said:

DEPends on the day and agent who is on duty.  they might look at the electronics. 

Thanks. Will definitely pay more attention to my electronics!

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

For the OP, if everything is in suitcases, it shouldn't draw too much attention. However, the Green channel does get all investigative at random intervals for indeterminate times where they actively pull certain (random?) pax aside to place their kit on the x-ray scanner. I have noticed in the past they tend to cherry-pick locals and other Asiatics who can arguably be shaken down more easily for the fake Gucci "gifts" and the like.

 

Since the OP will probably have at least 15 minutes between clearing immigration and his bags popping out on the carousel, he should check on how busy his chosen Green channel will be (there are two). Once the bags are on the trolley, don't rush but watch if they have some active scanning going on. If it looks busy that way, go off an check on some duty free stuff or the other Green channel or until the heat dies down.

 

Good luck.

That's a very helpful strategy. Thanks a lot! 

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

It seems from posts in this here forum that the express delivery services like DHL and Fedex get all the attention, and all the customs fees.

 

I've moved to Thailand three times (long story), each time sending large boxes (10-15 kg each) by standard surface mail.  The last time relocating with the girlfriend, mailing in year's supply of cosmetics and not available in Thailand stuff, plus some electrical items.  Never had a box opened or any customs assessed.

Thanks for the info! 

23 minutes ago, paulbrow said:

I've brought as many as 11 cases when relocating from China to Thailand with no customs issues. Walked right through the green line with nothing to declare.

Feeling so much more relieved seeing your post. Thanks for the info~! Was wondering if you sought airport assistance to carry those cases? I would assume it's unrealistic to put 11 cases in one cart. Would probably need 3 or even 4 people to carry all those luggages. 

(I think the luggage claim area is not open to those who come for airport pickup. So basically from the luggage claim to airport exit, how did you manage to carry everything?)

Thanks in advance!

31 minutes ago, Jaxxper said:

We’ve flown in ( I think Canada was the originating destination) and we had 7 large to medium suitcases, plus hand baggage and there was no interest from customs at Bangkok as we passed through.

That's probably really similar to how many boxes I will bring. Glad it works. Thank you!

35 minutes ago, Homburg said:

They do x-ray your luggage at Swampy.  I was stopped once by customs and the knew what was in my bag before I opened it. In my case I was lucky & there was nothing to pay.  They had thought that I was carrying car parts which are taxable, but I was carrying motorcycle parts which apparently are not taxable.  I guess these looked similar on the x-ray.

Thanks for the info. Glad it worked out for you!

52 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

I flew with 5 suitcases in 2019 to retire (business class but still some airline excess to pay). The rest, the bulk of our home stuff was container shipped.

I had zero problem at Phuket airport (direct via Singapore Airlines).

I did enter on an a brand spanking new Elite visa so this might (?) have had some bearing on not having bags checked by Customs i.e. escorted by Elite concierge through the entire post-flight processes.

I didn't see in your post what visa you are entering on. If your on a retirement visa then I doubt you'll have any issues with what you bring in as they'll see you are a valid long termer.

Thanks for your info! 

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Ultimately its luck of the draw...  Realistically, getting stopped is unlikely unless you have loads of huge boxes and draw loads of attention etc....

 

I’ve brought in loads of stuff from Bicycles, Ski’s, large push-chairs, Child car-seats etc... (they were in large cardboard boxes) never so much as a look from the customs guys. 

 

 

Thanks for the info!

9 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

I flew in with two large duffel bags and two huge cardboard bicycle boxes.  Loaded onto one trolley, strolled thru "nothing to declare" lane at Suvarnabhumi.  None of the staff looked up from playing fruit ninja.

 

Also sent a dozen 12-kg parcels by surface mail to an address with a Thai recipient.  Nothing opened by customs, no fees.

Thanks for the info!

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

This isn't much help, however I have seen this discussed previously. 

 

I searched threads but could not find ones I have read in the past.

 

In any event I recall that folk do exactly what you plan.

They choose airlines that have the most cost effective check in baggage allowances. Vaguely recall one with 5 large suitcases. 

 

The plan works without taxes.

Hopefully someone with first hand experience can advise. 

Thanks Jack!

Does anybody have any experience with bringing many checked luggages when you move to Thailand for the first time? 

Will you be stopped by custom and be asked to pay for duty? 

While I understand some people might suggest that we only bring "necessary" stuffs and buy other things in Thailand, it is just really hard for me to just sell or donate most of my stuffs. In my case, I do have a lot of clothes, electronics, documents, etc. that I need and must bring with me. With that, I am looking at bringing 5+ pieces of big luggages + personal items with me via air. Nothing is for gift, nothing is for commercial use, and everything I am bringing has been used for at least a year. However, I am still a bit concerned if I would be suspected by custom. 

Does anybody have similar experiences dealing with custom or suggestions on how to avoid possible custom duty? 

Thanks for any advices in advance!!!!!! 

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Indeed.

Fortunately Thailand has some of the most flexible stays available .

For visas there are the SETV and also METV. 

Then there are visa exempt entries via air and land. (land visa exempt limited 2 per calendar year)

 

Most of these permission of stays can be extended by 30 days per entry. 

 

The sticky situations occur when there is very little time spent out of Thailand and fly out/in visa exempt is almost asking for trouble..

Recently someone sent their elderly mum to KL (flight) and return same day to obtain another border exempt entry.

Nuts.

 

Never understood the obsession with continuous living in Thailand.

 

If I was young and single I would spend 6-9 months in Thailand and the balance elsewhere. 

Vietnam being my personal pick. 

 

That's very true. Thanks for the suggestions!

17 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Check to see if you qualify for a Long Term Resident visa, 10 years in two 5-year segments, annual (vs 90-day) notification of residence, no re-entry permit required at airport. Total cost 50k baht.

Four different categories- one might fit you:

Remote workers working for well-established companies overseas.

https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/ltr-brochure.html

Thank you!

18 hours ago, mockingbird said:

OP, there's been no sudden policy change. Over the last few years the authorities have been making it gradually more difficult for people like you to stay in Thailand long term.

 

The agent acquired volunteer visa you refer to was shut down over 15 months ago, and was only briefly available during Covid. Your options, unmarried, under 50, and not willing/able to pay for an elite visa are a combination of education/tourist and visa exemptions. re: education visa's, immigration have said that they will be more stringent going forward in checking that you are actually attending classes.

 

The longer you stay in Thailand the more careful you need to be on which borders to use. eg the Camdodian borders have become very problematic for long stayers recently. On the current trajectory, it may well become impossible to cross any of the Thai borders with a history of basically living full time in Thailand on the above visa's. It certainly isn't going to get any easier.

 

There has never been a 3+ year visa available (other that the Elite)

 

I assume you fall into the digital nomad category? Why not, as Jack has suggested, alternate between Thailand and another country in the region? You'll have no issues then. 

Very insightful! Thanks for the information!