I’m a U.S. citizen currently in the U.S. applying for a 90-day NON-O to visit family in Thailand.

The e-visa application is asking for Covid insurance and also for ASQ hotel booking confirmation. I thought these were required for the Thai pass, not a visa application. I don’t want to pay for 90 days insurance and then not be approved for the NON-O visa.

5 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Brilliant.

 

Will be fashioning this unique observation into a motivational poster for the break room.

 

"Hang in there"

 

 

My style of sarcasm.

Yes, I know. Most don’t get it

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

The letter often doesn't actually arrive in your mailbox. There is no online filing option like for FBAR but you can contact Manila FBU if you know to expect the letter and don't get it. A second letter attempt is made every year. Failure to file results in benefits being stopped.

When I know I have important events throughout the year, I mark them in my calendar to remind me to take care of them.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

If you say that you live abroad to SSA then that has a large impact on your Medicare signup options as well.

What options change? Even with a Thailand physical address on file with the SSA, a person can still choose to signup with Medicare Part A and Part B. Yes?

19 hours ago, Jingthing said:

To avoid the annual SSA Form 7162 ("Proof of Life") letter.

I took a look at the SSA Form 7162. It looks to be a simple form that would take less than a minute to complete, then just mail it out. It certainly doesn’t appear to be something so difficult that someone would feel it necessary to avoid. Am I missing something?

3 hours ago, cmarshall said:

If you open an account at State Dept Federal Credit Union and if you direct your SS benefits (or any other pension) to be deposited to your account there, then you qualify for "Emeritus Status"

I was unaware of the $6 wire transfer and the “qualify for "Emeritus Status” if maintaining direct deposit with SDFCU.

Back in Nov. 2020 I tried to open a joint account with SDFCU, and we were declined. Actually, they told me that my wife was declined, but that I could open an account alone. My wife has been a U.S. citizen since 2006 and never had any negative financial issues. When I asked SDFCU why my wife was being denied an account, they said “…we are not privy to the specifics regarding what information could not be verified or authenticated due to the proprietary nature of the software being used for that verification/authentication process”.

One of the main reasons we had applied with SDFCU was because they were ok with us having a physical address in Thailand, and they have an international wire service. I hadn't thought about a 'domestic' wire through BKK Bank NY.

Maybe we should reapply.

On 1/4/2022 at 3:47 PM, mudcat said:

You have appointed each other as your representative payees - if not it is a simple signup and spouses no longer need to keep detailed records

Thank you very much for that tip. We both have a financial power of attorney and had (incorrectly) assumed that was all we needed if one of us could no longer make our own financial decisions, including dealing with Social Security. After reading your post, I looked into it further and found that a financial power of attorney “…(does) not give legal authority to negotiate and manage a beneficiary's Social Security…”.

I just logged into ‘my Social Security’ and took care of it.

Thanks again!

2 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

NO fees and NO cut in exchange rate - the code used is AUTO when it goes in. (at least that's what the sms says)

I believe BKK Bank NY and BKK Bank Thailand both charge fees for those transfers, however, @Pib posted a good comparison between ACH and IDD transfers ( here ) and ACH comes out slightly ahead, as far as net Baht. For my own situation, the unrestricted bank in Thailand with the IDD method still outweighs the small amount of extra Baht the ACH method offers.

YMMV.

11 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I started having my monthly money deposited into US bank but about a year ago I changed my deposit numbers online to a Thai Bank, no problems. The same for my fed pension. 

When you say “…I changed my deposit numbers online to a Thai bank…”, are you saying you logged into the “my Social Security” website and made the change there?

11 hours ago, Jingthing said:

those falsely posing as US residents

11 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I well understand why many expats never inform SS that they are living abroad.

Just curious; If a person is living in Thailand, what benefit would there be to “posing” as a U.S. resident for SS benefits?

13 hours ago, Pib said:

Keep in mind if signing up for DD using the Bangkok Bank NY branch ACH routing number and your in-Thailand acct number will require your in-Thailand acct be setup as a restricted/special acct for direct deposit of reoccurring U.S. govt payments.  This type of acct does must be in your name only (joint accts not allowed), does not allow a debit card or online withdrawals, or outward online transfers.....basically withdrawals/outward transfers require you to physically visit any Bangkok Bank branch. 

This is why I posted the question to @mrweb8825 as to why he chose to use the ACH BKK Bank NY routing number.

I did not know there was a choice. I was under the impression that for those already receiving benefits deposited to their Thai bank prior to the implementation of the IDD system, the SS dept. just stayed with that, and all newer applicants automatically went into the the IDD system. I thought that rather than going through the hassle of changing everyone over to IDD, the SS was just going to allow all of the ‘ACH’ accounts to “drop away”, eventually leaving only those in the IDD system. But it sounds like you can still choose.

@Pib. I’ve read your posts comparing net Baht using ACH vs IDD, but for me personally, I think the advantages of the IDD account outweighs the small difference in Baht. If I was already receiving deposits through the ‘ACH’ system, I might just leave it alone, but since I will be changing over from deposits to our U.S. bank to our Thai bank, I think we will go with the IDD. I’m trying to keep things as simple and seamless as possible for my wife once I pass away. If we are both receiving our SS benefits IDD to the same Thai bank account, that is one less thing my wife will have to deal with.

5 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Gave them my BB account and the US based (NYC) routing number for direct deposit.

Just curious; Why did you chose to use the DD through BKK Bank NY, with its account restrictions as apposed to the IDD to your BKK Bank in Thailand?

9 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

W/O going into personal details (yours or mine), I sent an email to Manila in Sept. 2021 electing to retire on my birthday in Oct. 2021. Had a phone call in Oct. 2021. Was told my benefits "earliest start date" was Nov. 2021. Gave them my BB account and the US based (NYC) routing number for direct deposit. 1st deposit arrived Dec. 3rd 2021. 

Doesn't get any easier than that. 

Excellent. Thank you.

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Presenting yourself as a U.S. resident (and your wife) when you definitely are not is seen as fraud by Social Security.

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

If you choose to start to be honest about living abroad

Thank you for the heads up, but we are not trying to “deceive” the SS department. We are using the ‘Virtual mail’ address at this time as we sold our home in the U.S. and are living in an apartment temporarily. I also have a pension from my last employer and that can only be direct deposited into a U.S. Bank, so we wanted a U.S. mailing address on file with them and also with our U.S. banks. During this transition of addresses, we thought it best to just use the virtual address so everything, Banks, SS, Pension, IRS, etc. are all going to the same mailing address. Once we are settled with a ‘permanent’ address, we will make further address changes as necessary.

9 hours ago, mudcat said:

Manila was helpful with that task and responded promptly when I inquired

9 hours ago, mudcat said:

Further to the above poster - once Social Security receives notice of your passing, they will convert your wife's spousal benefit to survivors benefit. 

Thank you. That's good to hear.

On the DD sign-up- form, just below where you put in you SS number it says “THIS BOX IS FOR ALLOTMENT PAYMENT ONLY (if applicable)”

What does the “Type” and “Amount” refer to?

10 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

Unless your wife meets special circumstances her application for spousal benefits will automatically trigger her application for benefits based upon her own work record.  She will receive only the larger of the two benefits.

Thank you. My wife has worked in the U.S. for many years, but her SS benefit will be less than half of what I receive, so spousal benefits will increase her benefit amount.

11 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

 

I recommend that you try the online application first, but for that to succeed you may need a US phone number where you can be reached. 

 

We do have two Google Voice numbers and also an Ultramobile PayGo number, so hopefully one of those would work.

11 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

Both my wife and I applied online while living in Thailand and used a US address.  The process did not go well.

11 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

It took a total of 5 months from initial application until first payment.

11 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

My application was abruptly cancelled by the US based agent without notice or explanation. 

Perhaps it would be better for us to just go directly through the Manila office.

I currently have a U.S. address on file with the U.S. Social Security Dept. (it’s a Virtual mail service address) and my SS is direct deposited to a bank in the U.S.

My wife already has a “my Social Security” account online, but is not yet collecting SS. When it comes time for my wife to sign up for her SS benefits we will be living in Thailand. Since we will still have a U.S. mailing address on file with the SS dept., would it be best for her to just log in (using a VPN) to her “my Social Security” account and apply for benefits there, with direct deposit going to our U.S. bank?

She will be filing for ‘Spousal’ benefits and I just want to make sure she gets started off with the correct benefits. I’ve read posts of people having issues with filing with the Manila office.

Once her benefits are coming in with no issues, we plan on doing a change of address for both of us to our Thailand address, and implementing IDD to our Thai bank account.

18 hours ago, sanmyintmaung said:

You will need to enable international roaming first for your Thai SIM. You can check with the TRUE/AIS/DTAC shops whether your Thai SIM has international roaming enabled or not. Once the roaming is enabled, you can receive SMS on your Thai SIM abroad. 

Can the Thai cell phone services be set to allow wifi calling, so that you could receive bank codes etc. without a cell connection as long as you are connected to wifi?  

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Who ????  Is there just one example of someone being quarantined because they were travelling close to a stranger who tested positive ???

On 11/8/2021 at 5:08 PM, sqwakvfr said:

The 1.2 Million Baht and the 100,000 Baht was posted on the Los Angeles Thai Consulate website for about  a week.  I just checked the website now and this is what is posted:

 

4.   Bank statement or evidence of adequate finance showing
      – a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht; or
      – an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht; or 
      – a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht. 
      – In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank
        (an original copy) is required. 

The 1.2M is still listed on the L.A. Thai Consulate website: https://thaiconsulatela.org/en/non-o/

20 hours ago, SooKee said:

Open Wise, select 'Account' at bottom of screen, tap the 3 dots top right 'Settings' 'Unlock with Face ID' is there.

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, when I would go into the settings there was no option to ‘Use Face ID to log in’. That was the problem.

With the help of Wise customer service, we finally realized that the first option listed in settings (where the Face ID option should be) was a setting called ‘Social disconnect’. When I clicked on that, ‘Google’ was listed as an option. I clicked on the ‘Google’ and disconnected it. Once ‘Google’ was disconnected, the ‘Social disconnect’ option was replaced with the ‘Use Face ID to log in’ option, and the 'Sign in with Apple' on the front of the app was replaced with 'Login with Face ID.'

Odd that, as I typically used either Face ID or email and password to login. I don’t use ‘Google’ to login.

Anyway, it’s working fine now.

I’m in Hawaii and when I got vaccinated I was given a CDC card with hand written names, dates, times and lot numbers. I can’t even read some of the hand written ‘scribble’.

Luckily I registered with the Vaccine Administration Management System’ (VAMS).

I now can login online and pull up my vaccination information. There is also a QR code provided. I generated a pdf of the info and QR code and put it in a folder on my ‘notes’ app on my phone for quick access, and no need to login to a website.

The CDC site states: “States and jurisdictions across the United States are using different web-based applications for vaccination clinic management. Contact your health department to find out which vaccination management system they are using”.

If you could get registered with your local health department management system you would have quick access to your vaccine information in digital format.

I just updated to an iPhone 13 pro running iOS 15.0.2 and WISE v.7.31.

I can find no option to use Face ID to login to my WISE app.

Where it used to say “Log in with Face ID”, it now says “Sign in with Apple”.

If I choose “Sign in with Apple” it just creates a new blank account.

The only way I can log in to my current WISE app account is by physically typing in my email and password every time.

Not ideal.

Any one else run into this issue?

Ps; my old iPhone 11 with WISE v.7.30 still has the option to use face ID.