Onerak

I try to use newer machine if there is a choice nere by. SCM machines are newer. Some machines of Bangkok Banks are newer and most KasiKorn machines are older. That is my experience.

Where is wongamat? After nakula in the North. If correct, streets are extremely narrow but they seem to have expensive condos and lots of beach front restaurants. My GF take me there whenever we want to eat seafood by the beach (besides sitting on the jomtien beach)

Never been to Vientiane. Any link to make an appointment to Vientiane? I like Penang because it's a modern city with a variety of foods ( including street foods), malls, better roads, hospitals, etc.. I don't like Thai street foods. Most probably I won't like Laos or Vietnamese street food also. I can give it a try in Laos.

Don't know about UK but in the US it is possible.

Planning a trip to Thailand in March/April 2023 with a TR visa and after one month extension, want to get another TR visa in Penang. The plan is to stay in Thailand for 6-months. Two border bounce with visa exempt entry and two more extensions vs a Tourist visa from Penang with an additional extension would do. Which one is better? I did that a few times from U-Tapao to Hat Yai and then to Penang (by bus) before Covid-19 but never applied for a Tourist visa in Penang. When I lived in Bangkok (around 20211-2013), did multiple times from DMK to Penang and then return by train to cross the border and then Hat-Yai to DMK/BKK. What would be your suggestions Two border bounce or a Tourist visa from Penang? Any other neighboring places for easy tourist visa?

I saw one ad in Facebook for Cambodia border runs from Pattaya by van for 5K (same day return). Don't remember the name. But they mentioned that their starting point is Jomtien Soi 5 immigration office. May be ask someone in the office on your left as you enter Immigration

May be an international agent can help. Contact them and ask for their fees. I have no clue. They helped my friend get a Antigua and Barbuda passport and then a Thailand Elite stamp on it before he even step foot in Thailand. His goal was to hide from patent trolls and 5 million USD. My friend is in this forum but he hardly visit it. https://www.sableinternational.com/

First decide where you want to get your extension. Get a place to stay and then file a TM30 (hotel is OK) and get a copy of the TM30. Apply for extension with that TM30. You're done.

ORD (O'Hare International)

I go to Bangkok and Jomtien (in Pattaya) hospital and after the doctor prescribe the medications, I go straight to the pharmacy counter and get an estimate first. If it is more than 3K, I will decline to get it from their pharmacy and buy it cash from Fascino outside. The only advantage I see in Hospitals pharmacy is my HSA card is acceptable there but not in Pattay Fascino. But most of the time prescription is less than 2000 baht and I end up paying with my HSA card in the hospital pharmacy.

Many condos and hotels do have massages (no sex massage) for 200-300 baht/hour. Less than 200 is now hard to find after Covid-19. My GF's favorite massage on Thepprasit Road has increased their rate (180 to 220) compared to Covid-19 prices.

Don't you have a TM30 attached to your passport?

Not sure but does not she have to notify to collect Social security payment? Which is a huge.

If one could afford, one should use an agent for guaranteed success instead of wandering in the scorching sun going bank to bank. Some people prefer that instead of spending a little money.

Agents are available for everything under the sun. If you're in Facebook, you would see their ads everywhere. I have not used an agent for a bank account because when I opened (2011) it was easy and one could walk into any bank and open one. But I have used for immigration, DL, Buying/Selling cars, etc.

I like Pattaya and live there for 6-month in a year. What I like about. 1. Walking distance to Jomtien beach for a evening stroll 2. Availability of good hospitals. 3. Availability of foods from different countries for home delivery 4. Sugar babies on demand for 2000/3000 baht a night 5. And now ganja 6. Access to Bangkok for 130 baht bus ride or 1500 baht taxi ride. 7. Cheap labor for cleaning, laundry, etc. 8. Modern malls, movie theatres, etc. 9. Cheap Bolt taxi to anywhere in Pattaya for less than 100 baht. 10. Cheap used motorbikes for running around in back alleys. Overall I like my 6-month stay in Pattay. The only problem is during the rain when roads are flooded and even grab orders are cancelled or delayed. I lived in Bangkok for two years near Thonglor BTS. Also lived in Benidorm(Spain) and Albufeira (Portugal) before. I have a house near Chicago and a condo in Las Vegas.

OMG. such a yucky food. I hate it.

Best is to employ an agent for guaranteed success. If unable to pay the agent fees, one should not be even looking at opening a bank account. The other path is take suggestions in this forum and wander around in the scorching sun and start visiting all and every banks one could but success is not guaranteed.

Nope that era was over almost a century ago.

Flight prices are sky high right now. A one ticket from Ord to BKK in March/April showing $750 compared to $550 before the pandemic and sometimes even as cheap as $300. May be it is the new normal. Round trip prices are still reasonable. May be I book a round trip to make a trip for three months.

As before when it was 30-day visa exempt. Nothing has changed except 15 additional days for visa exempt entry and VOA and no fees for VOA now

Software developers, their managers who need more stock option and RSUs. Investors for the money they invested, and C-suite executive for their golden parachutes. Simple.

Just like any other extension for visa exempt entry. It is 30-day as before. Why do you think 45, 30, 15 days? God (if there is one) save Thailand from quality tourists.

Pure BS. Russians have taken over Thai rental markets to make it unaffordable for others. What a croc. Give me a break.

I did not say poor. It helps them also to fulfill their aspirations of sending their kids to private schools, buying fancy cars, keeping their wife/mia nois happy etc. etc. Why those aspirations should only be limited to Westerners?