statman78

If my memory serves me correctly, at the beginning of the pandemic where arrivals were required to quarantine for 14 days the usual 60 day tourist visa became a 90 day visa. I heard about it but not sure if it was ever implemented.

I think the reporter needs a course in arithmetic. 32,000 cars were sold according to the article with 1,500 being EVs. According to my calculations that’s 4.7%, not 10%

It is my understanding that under the income method the money must come from outside of Thailand. There have been people in other threads that have had trouble because the transfers were not shown as being from outside of Thailand. My passbook from Bangkok Bank shows a transaction code that indicates it’s a foreign transfer. I have never been asked to show the source of the funds as long as they see at least 65,000 baht coming into the country every month.

Over the past several years nothing has changed for a retirement extension here in Chiang Rai. I use the income method and being a US citizen I cannot get a letter from my embassy. I provide: 1. copy of my bank book with the monthly international transfers highlighted 2. a 1 year bank statement with the same transactions highlighted 3. A letter from my bank stating the account is still valid 4. a copy of my passport 5. a copy of proof of address which is a copy of the house register, the owners I’d (my wife) with a note signed by my wife that I still live there. 6. the application It’s been the same for several years.

I’m not sure but my guess is that it is the latest since I just did an update last week edit: now that I look at it, I didn’t do my update until after I tried doing my 90 day report

I could not log in with my username and the password they sent to me. I received the same message as the OP. I switched from my Microsoft Edge browser to Google Chome as was able to log in. I then filled out the form and received my approval the same day.

I just used the system yesterday and it worked for me. I received the same message as ubonjoe mentioned above. I still proceeded through the message. I entered my information and received my approval within several hours.

I fly Chiang Rai- Bangkok on a monthly basis nothing needed to fly from Chiang Rai to Bangkok. Flying from BKK to Chiang Rai I need to show proof of vaccination at check in with Thai Smile. I also need to scan a QR code and fill out information on-line prior to landing. It simply asks for my passport number and the place I will be staying in Chiang Rai. After I upload my info I get a QR code which I need to show when I exit baggage claim.

You will automatically be signed up for Medicare part A. If you are getting Social Security benefits your premium for part B will automatically be deducted from your monthly benefit if you used a US address to register for Social Security benefits. If you used a foreign address you would need to sign up for part B. When I retired and moved to Thailand before I became eligible for Medicare I purchased a Thai health insurance policy which has set premium adjustments every 5 years until I turn 95.

A number of the bars moved to an area near Sukhumvit Soi 5

For me a trip to Chiang Rai immigration is only a 10 minute drive so going back the next day is not a problem. I did my first extension at Mae Sai. They are also very efficient and it’s only 1 trip.

The office in the city of Chiang Rai is open during normal office hours Monday-Friday. They only do extensions on Mondays and Wednesdays. The last 2 times I did my retirement extension there. It was very quick but you need to come back the next day to pick up you4 passport. The office is just south of the airport on the same road that runs parallel to the airport

Since you will be entering visa exempt using your UK passport I assume that a US can also do the same since we were able to do so in the past. I am hoping somebody knows if my friend can conduct business in Thailand for about 1 week if he enters visa exempt. In the past we did this several times per year without any issues. If I don’t get an answer here I may start another thread.

I see that you are planning on arriving visa exempt so I assume that a friend from the US can arrive visa exempt. In the past, before I retired and moved to Thailand, I entered using visa exempt when I needed to visit suppliers and attend meetings. I never had any issues. Is this still the case? My friend needs to get to Bangkok in early March for some meetings.

They are a little better now. A couple of months ago I needed to show proof of vaccination upon arrival along with filling out a form on line. Now since Thai Smile checks for vaccination when I check in I only need to fill in the on line form. They also simplified that. There are drop down boxes for some of the questions but the options were all in Thai. The last few months the drop down boxes also have options in English. I fill out the form while waiting for my flight, submit it, and immediately receive a QR code. When I get to Chiang Rai I just need to show the QR code when leaving the baggage claim area.

We have a rice paddy along one side of our property, about 2 meters from our wall. No problem with mosquitoes or other insects but as mentioned before, there are a lot of frogs during the wet season. It can get rather noisy at night.

Flew into BKK last Friday from Chiang Rai. Nothing was required. Going back to Chiang Rai this coming Sunday and I will need to show proof of vaccination when I check in with ThaiSmile

I’ve just completed my 3rd retirement extension in Chiang Rai and it has always been only 1 copy.

It’s good to see all of the positive comments. I did my retirement extension last week in Chiang Rai. This is the first year they have an appointment system. That was the only change I’ve seen during the last 3 years. It took only 25 minutes.

I flew back to Chiang Rai a couple of weeks ago from Bangkok. I had to show proof of vaccination at the airport in Bangkok and scan a QR code which leads to an on-line form asking where you are coming from and where you will be staying in Chiang Rai. I live in CR and have no issues moving around. As the previous poster mentioned, many places will serve you alcohol if you want it.

Last June I got a PCR test done at WellMed. I made an appointment for noon and had the results the next afternoon. They are located near the corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 25. As you walk along Sukhumvit from Soi 23 towards 25 look down and you’ll see their sign.

I have to agree with the OP. I’ve been coming here for work the past 30 years. Worked In Bangkok in 2014-2015 then moved here when I retired in 2018. No place is perfect but once you understand the “system” here and the fact that you cannot do anything about it you can live a comfortable life here. It sure beats living in northern US where they will be up to their eyeballs in snow in the next month.

There are advantages to a gated community depending on location. I’m in Chiang Rai and live in a gated community. The pool here is connected to the community but is owned by ab outside person so member#hip is optional. We bought a large lot and put in a private pool. We have very few regulations so remodeling is easy. Our guards are changed every 6 months so they don’t get lazy. Our fee is reasonable. We have an owners committee which does a good job in handling issues plus membership rotates so that fresh ideas are heard. My Thai wife would ni5 live outside of a gated community because of security concerns.

Born in the USA and lived there most of my life. While working I lived in China and Thailand while spending some time in 37 other countries working on projects. Now that I’m retired I live in Thailand and loving it.

We recently tried The Ivy in Chiang Rai. We liked it so we went back a second time. Good Thai food at reasonable prices. Also great desserts. Once business pick# up they will have rooftop seating available. They are located right in the middle of town by the entrance to the night bazaar, across the street from Swensen’s. Right now there is reserved parking right next to the building.