Pib

Only because the govt caused a vaccine shortage due to dragging their feet in buying vaccines which forced them into mix-and-match without any long term studies to support. I'm sure if Thailand had ordered enough vaccine early in the pandemic they would not have been doing all of this mix-and-match. The mix-and-match is purely a result of feet-dragging.

Yea, my experience with Bangkok Bank accts for many years (around 20 years) has been positive. And the wife and I also have other accts with Krungsri Bank and KrungThai Bank which allows us to compare Thai banks from real world personal experience. For U.S. folks Bangkok Bank was probably the bank of first choice for many decades simply due to one capability Bangkok Bank had that no other Thai bank had (and still don't). And that capability is the ability to receive transfers from U.S. financial institutions/banks/govt agency via the U.S. Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer system thru the Bangkok Bank New York branch which made transfers easy and cheap in comparison to using SWIFT. It was just like transferring money to another U.S. bank. But with a U.S. Treasury policy change approx 2 years ago requiring ACH transfers leaving the U.S. to be in "International ACH Transaction (IAT) format" that is different than the standard ACH format and since very, very U.S. banks support ACH IAT format being able to use ACH to Bangkok Bank is now pretty much a thing of the past. Only standard ACH transfers from U.S. govt agencies like social security and military retirement pension payments are still allowed to flow in the standard ACH format....but reoccurring transfers in standard ACH format from a person's U.S. bank/financial institution is now a thing of the past. But fortunately with the advent of money transfer services like Wise (Transferwise) U.S. folks can use such services to replacement the lost ACH transfer capability to Bangkok Bank. Plus, most U.S. govt payment agencies now offer International Direct Deposit (IDD) to Thailand which uses the SWIFT system vs ACH which allows pension payment to "any Thai bank" vs just being limited to Bangkok Bank via ACH. Yeap, changes in funds transfer methods/polices has pretty much negated the ACH transfer capability/benefit that was surely a big factor in U.S. folks wanting a Bangkok Bank account.

I'm a U.S. citizen...opened a new savings acct with Bangkok Bank in my name only at their head branch on Silom Rd in Bangkok just a couple of days ago. No embassy letter required....but 13 months ago when I tried the letter was req'd. I'm on a marriage extension of stay...no work permit. In years past I have opened other acct when I was on a retirement extension of stay. They did make a copy of my Yellow Book as I showed it to them when asking to open an acct. The Thai wife had tagged along me and during the application process the bank rep asked if we owned in property in Thailand and we said yes....a house/land which is in the wife's name but I have a usufruct on it....they did not ask to see the chanote (good thing they didn't as we didn't bring along that oversized document). After the typical 5 kilograms of paperwork the acct was opened. Thirteen months earlier I had tried to open the acct at the same branch (the wife and I already other accts there for many years) and couldn't without an embassy letter. They were hard over in requiring the letter....Yellow Book and Pink ID card didn't help. Since such a bank/notarized letters cost $50 at the U.S. Embassy (I didn't want to fork-out that much money for such a simple notarized "proof of address" letter I had never had to get before) and due to COVID causing appointment restrictions at that time I just decided to give it another try at the branch in a few months. But COVID impacts caused the couple of months to turn into 13 months before trying again at the same branch. As mentioned, this time I was successful with no embassy required. When it comes to opening a Thai bank acct the only thing that is consistent is inconsistently whether you have lived here for many years, already have other Thai bank accts at the same or different branch or bank, etc. Unless you really need/only want the acct at a certain branch a person should try another branch of the same bank or a different bank. Remember the only thing consistent in opening a Thai bank acct is the inconsistently across banks/branches.

Do they actually have to see airline tickets? Did you provide such? I expect many people would like the vaccine passport in preparation of foreign travel....before they have actually made air travel reservation.

Other Thai bank apps work the same way...pretty much just select the bank, enter the acct number, that will then show the acct owner, hit send, then the funds arrive to other acct within a second or two.

Live the same way as during the 2 months before application when you need to have at least Bt400K?

To get a 60 day extension as the OP said he was applying for (he wasn't applying for a 1 year extension since his money wasn't seasoned) is money in a bank (i.e., Bt400K) a requirement? Or is the Bt400K only a requirement when applying for a "1 year" extension?

Up to 45 days at CW. Over the years I have routinely renewed my retirement/marriage extension of stays in the 40 to 45 day ballpark. This year in September I did it 41 days early.

Only one copy required at CW. I renewed my marriage extension of stay a few weeks ago at CW. Although I went with two copies I only handed the immigration officer one copy "and I specifically asked the immigration officer how many copies are now required since I had heard two copies may be required--the immigration officer's answer was only one copy is now required. I asked the question since last year when I switched from a retirement to marriage extension of stay I had heard two copies were required for a marriage extension (for a retirement extension I has always just provided one copy) so I went with two copies in hand. The immigration seemed to only really need one copy but when I showed I had two copies the officer used about half of other copy and gave me the rest back. Maybe the officer was preparing a mini-package for some purpose since I was switching from retirement to marriage extension...don't know. But as mentioned earlier I do know a few weeks ago I only submitted one copy for my marriage extension renewal and when asking the immigration how many copies are required the answer was one.

blah...blah...blah

Most countries will end up doing a booster shots...even the U.S. will start giving booster shots for people who got 2 jabs of Pfiser...a mRNA vacinne. Expect approval for a booster shot for those who got Moderna jabs also...another mRNA vacinne. Booster shots will be the fad for 2022.

Just an update on my TM $3 SIM where most (not all) texts from U.S. started being charged a 10 cents/text when on a mobile connection verses being deducted from my 30 free minutes/text per month like they use to up until a couple weeks ago is about the same time my TM online acct was switched from the "old" TM online webpage to their "new webpage--this timing may have just been coincidental and have nothing to do with the issue. I called TM CS about the issue...explained the issue in how "some" U.S. texts were being charged 10 cents per minute while others were not. And I had the perfect example on my call record where a text from one area code in VA incurred a 10 cents charge and another text from another area code in VA did not. The CS rep understood the problem form review of my call records....the rep verbalized the problem to me to confirm he understood....said I shouldn't have been charged for those texts....said he will submit a ticket to get the issue fixed (I'm not holding my breath) and also credit my acct with 50 cents for the 5 charged texts....then he said it would just credit my acct with $5. And sure enough when I checked my acct after the call my TM wallet balance had increased by $5. I also did a call to my TM number after the TM CS call just to ensure it would ring (and it did) verses getting a recording of not enough money on the acct...a problem that appeared for at least a few days about a week ago and then just went away without me having to call TM or anything. Will just see how things pan out over the coming weeks/months to see if some U.S. area code texts continue to incur a 10 cents charge while others do not but are deducted form my free 30 calls/texts per month like they always use to be.

I'm thinking the WU shop with that window notice just got it wrong....tried to post the requirements in English (made the notice on 25 Sep) and translated the requirements incorrectly. Got carried away with use of/incorrectly used the "plus" symbol. As posted earlier their website and chat session in earlier post basically just requires a govt ID with photo such as a passport.

Below is what the Western Union Thailand website states....doesn't say a person must have three multiple documents.....pretty much just says some type of govt-issue ID. As already mentioned by another poster above if three documents were needed a tourist in Thailand couldn't receive money because they most likely would not have a Thai drivers licenses, work permit, or Pink ID card. All they would have in their passport with Tourist Visa/Visa Exempt/Visa On Arrival stamp.....and maybe that's what is really meant---just some kind of stamp like a Visa Exempt stamp in your passport showing you are not on an overstay.....allowed in the country thru the permit to stay date on the stamp. Heck the need for three documents would prevent many people on long stay visas (i.e., retirement, marriage, 1 year type visas, etc) from receiving money as they might not have a Thai drivers license, work permit, or Pink ID card. https://www.westernunion.com/th/en/frequently-asked-questions.html#faq-receive-money-Q1

I did that also years back. It indeed works.....worked before Wise came up with the Funds for Long Stay Thailand reason for transfer. Although I now always choice that reason for a transfer I'm assuming my Wise acct is still tagged to use Bangkok Bank as the partner bank. Basically for others listening-in this is where you contact Wise, explain how it's very important your transfers to your Bangkok Bank acct receive international coding and you want your transfers tagged to use Bangkok Bank as "Wise's Thai partner" for your transfers. This way even if you forget to choose the reason for transfer as Long Stay Thailand Wise will still use Bangkok Bank as the partner bank. Now above method only works if you are sending to a Bangkok Bank acct. Even when Bangkok Bank is the partner back if they are relaying/transferring the funds over to another Thai bank like SCB, K-bank, Krungsri, etc., you will still get domestic coding; not international coding.

You will need to get Credit Advices from the Wise partner bank/entity since that partner is the one that knows it was an international transfer since it rec'd the transfer instructions from Wise. A Credit Advice documents/gives details on the transfer....like where it originated from. Like say you transferred money to your SCB acct (or whatever bank), K-bank was used as the partner bank, but you rec'd no international coding on your SCB acct....just got regular/domestic transfer coding. Now SCB would "not" give you a Credit Advice since they only see a domestic transfer but if you go to K-bank they could give you a Credit Advice proving the transfer was international. Generally to get a Credit Advice it's free if the transfer is not over 3 months old, possibly a Bt100 charge per transfer if the transfer is 3 to 6 months, and Bt100 per transfer if the transfer is over 6 months old. It's Bt100 per transfer but with a maximum Bt500 charge like if you were going to get say 8 months worth of Credit Advices the charge should be aroun Bt500 vs Bt800. Of course getting Credit Advices means time and effort...and possibly going to the Wise Thai partner bank vs your own bank. And if the transfer is over 3 or 6 months old it may take the bank a few days to generate the Credit Advice; under 3 or 6 months old they usually generate same day/immediately. Varies among Thai banks as to how quickly they can generate the Credit Advice depending on the age of the transfer....but if not older than 3 months they can generate very quickly....older than 3 months then it may not be same day. If needing a Credit Advice for a transfer it's best to get it before the transfer has aged 3 months.

Update/correction to my earlier statement I made above regarding the T-Mobile $3/month SIM not having Wifi Calling capability. It "does" have Wifi Calling capability but must be in SIM slot #1 vs SIM slot #2 in a dual SIM phones which is how I had always tested it and never could get a Wifi Calling connection. But move it to a single SIM phone and Wifi Calling works just fine.....I put it in my Samsung A11 single SIM phone and Wifi Calling worked fine. Another ThaiVisa member, @TallGuyJohninBKK also got his TM $3/month SIM to work in Wifi Calling mode. We had some messages back and forth a few days ago where we were brainstorming this problem. Now, I didn't test putting the TM SIM in SIM slot #1 of my dual SIM phone as I didn't want to mess with my primary phone/SIM which is a DTAC SIM in slot #1. I also found a post in another forum where a TMobile tech said Wifi Calling will not work when the TM SIM is in SIM slot #2. Anyway, both TallGuy and I did some texts to and from our TM number in Wifi Calling mode and the texts were rec'd/sent just fine with no charge to our TM wallets; only a deduction from the 30 free calls minutes/texts per month. We also did some calls to our TM SIMs to see if the phone would ring and it did...but we didn't answer.....just wanted to see if the phone rang. Additionally the other problem I report of suddenly when calling to my TM number from one of my U.S. numbers I would get a system recording saying I didn't have enough money in my TM acct although I had around $24. This problem has simply went away regardless of being on a mobile or Wifi Calling connection.

As already mentioned by others if your first jab was AZ, the govt is highly likely to give you AZ as the second jab. It's all preprogrammed in the govt database as to what your 1st shot was and what your 2nd shot will/should be. But I guess vaccine supplies/shortages can cause changes. And at the same time at your vaccination location where you are getting AZ, they may also giving people Pfizer or Sinovac for their 1st jab....and people Pfizer for their 2nd jab if their 1st jab was also Pfizer. Regarding side effects for my two AZ jabs. For the 1st jab when going to bed that night I got the chills for about one hour and then they went away. I then felt a little warm until I fell asleep and when waking up in the morning I had a major headache and felt hot. However, when checking my temp it was normal. I took two para and the headache was gone in about 30 minutes. For my second AZ jab two days ago I haven't had any side effects. For the wife her 1st AZ jab made her feel warm but her temperature was normal....she did have a slight headache the next morning but two para took care of that. And for the 2nd AZ jab two days ago she hasn't had any side affects. Just a few hours ago I talked to two of my neighbors (husband and wife) in their 60s I haven't seen for about a month....they both got AZ also for their 1st and 2nd jabs. The husband had the same side affects as me for the 1st jab and the 2nd AZ jab made him feel drowsy the next day. For wife she just said the 1st jab made her sick the next day and the 2nd jab made her sick for two days....she really didn't detail what "sick" was in her case other than it was just "stay home type sick".....no need to go to the doctor. My Thai wife's sister got two AZ jabs...and she didn't have any side effects for either jab....she a tough lady. My Thai wife's 85 year old mother didn't have any side effect from the 1st AZ jab....she gets her 2nd jab next week. And my Thai wife's 80 year old auntie didn't have any sides effects form the 1st AZ jab....she gets her 2nd jab in about another month. I could go one about family/friends sides effects from getting AZ, Sinovac, Sinophram and Pfizer. Only one relative who got Sinophram felt dizzy and threw up several times after getting the 1st jab....she got her 2nd jab of Sinophram today but I haven't had a chance to ask her if she having any side affects. Thankfully no one has had an serious side effects...mostly just things like a headache and feeling warm the day of the jab and the following morning.

Over the years from my personal experience with the Bangkok Bank, Krungsri, and KrungThai bank passbooks the wife and I have (6 regular savings accts with 6 passbooks), when doing a passbook update they will sometimes simply skip over some transactions. Maybe start by printing a transaction from say 3 months ago....print some more, and then if printing more than a certain amount of transactions, it will then skip to printing out the last transaction without printing out some of the interim transactions. For the transactions printed you can tell from the balance that there was some other transaction(s) in-between but for some reason simply didn't print to the passbook....but the final balance is OK...there is no mission money. And in other cases if the transaction are too old (seems to vary by bank as to how many months/transactions they go back for a passbook update) only a summary/balance forward type transaction will be printed. KrungThai bank comes to mind with this happening in frequently. But if the transaction don't print to the passbook they do appear online or when getting a statement.

When the Thai wife and I got our 2nd jab this Wed/22 Sept/1300hrs at our local hospital we told them we wanted our passport numbers linked to the jabs. The wife had scheduled her jabs using her Thai ID card number and I had used my Pink ID card number. Anyway, all we had to do was during check-in to get the 2nd jab was to show our passports and provide a copy of the main page. They attached that copy to another document that was used to document our jab. The hospital said they would update our vaccination records to show both our ID card number "and passport numbers." The hospital said the update would probably take overnight...be sure to check the Mor Prom (Doctors Ready) the next day to ensure the passport update appeared and was correct....if not come back to the hospital so they could fix. Anyway, by 3pm same day when checking in the Mor Prom the wife's record was already updated showing 2 jabs/fully vaccinated and her passport number along with her Thai ID card showing on both her Medical Certificate and Digital Pass. However for me, my 2 jabs, passport number, and Pink ID card number were only showing in my Medical Certificate. My Digital Pass still only showing the 1st jab from 12 weeks ago with only my Pink ID card number---no passport number. But at around 9pm that night my Digital Pass was updated to show 2 jabs, Pink ID card, "and passport number." Don't know why it took about 5 hours longer for my Digital Pass to be updated as the wife and I got vaccinated at the same time, our 2nd jab and passport paperwork done at the same time, etc. Maybe the databases for the Medical Certificate and Digital Pass are different....and Thai citizens Digital Pass records got updated immediately but farang records take longer. Don't know...just know the wife and I now have our passport numbers along with our Thai ID/Pink ID cards listed on our Vaccination Certificate and Digital Pass.

Personally for vaccination proof purposes and entry into some other countries I would get AZ for your 2nd jab since the 1st jab was AZ. All countries are not into accepting mix and match jabs right now...that is 1st jab of ABC vaccine and 2nd jab of XYZ vaccine. Now while getting Pfizer for your 2nd jab may give higher COVID antibody levels which may result in better short term COVID protection there is no long term studies yet I know of that confirm your antibody and T-cell levels will "remain" higher vs instead of just rolling off again after X-amount of months.....and then wondering about any long term side affects of mix and match jabs as none of the vaccines have been is used long enough to collect long term data (i.e., at least a year or two of data). Personally, I don't think mix and match is going to result in any long term affects once they can finish some longer term studies. Almost every week a person can read about a new study in some country that seems to suggest this vaccine or that vaccine is better or worst than initially expected. Some vaccines like AZ got off on the wrong foot with some flawed studies/news releases and contractual delivery disputes that hurt how some governments/people view the vaccines. Plus, it seems mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna are considered to be the premium vaccines while viral vector vaccines like AZ and inactivated vaccines like Sinophram/Sinovac at considered standard-issues vaccines---not to imply standard-issue ain't more than good enough.

Thais concerned about noise???!!! How about the deafening noise that comes from temple loudspeakers sometimes. Loud music being played with a high level of low bass that shakes the foundation of buildings.

Yes...it completed on the spot and then that local Bangkok Bank branch probably relays it to the HQ Bangkok Bank main branch on Silom Road in Bangkok who will then email/fax it to the Manila SS Office. Or, you can email/mail it yourself. Also, keep in mind there are two different types of direct deposit methods. One is the original ACH transfer method where the Bangkok Bank NY branch routing number along with your in-Thailand branch acct number is used. This method is for for the restricted direct deposit acct with Bangkok Bank where you can only withdraw/transfer funds by physically visiting any branch, no debit card allowed, acct can be in your name only, etc.. The other direct deposit method is the International Direct Deposit (IDD) method which became available for Thailand about 2 years ago and does not use the NY branch ACH routing number....instead the U.S. Treasury/SSA converts to baht on their end and sendsvia SWIFT....uses the SWIFT code and acct number of your Thailand bank. IDD can go to any bank in Thailand (Bangkok Bank, K-bank, Krungsri, SCB, etc) and can go to a regular savings/checking acct....no restrictions at all....can even go to a joint acct.

The Bangkok Bank statement/passbook will not show whatever reason for transfer you selected with Wise. By selecting the reason of transfer of "Funds for Long Stay Thailand" that triggers Wise to use Bangkok Bank as its Thai banking partner which in turns means if the funds are going to a Bangkok Bank acct you will get coding on your Bangkok Bank statement/passbook of "International Transfer/FTT. If you don't select Funds for Long Stay Thailand for the Wise reason for transfer then Wise might end up using one of its other Thai banking partners of K-bank, DeeMoney, TMB, etc., to relay the transfer to your Bangkok Bank acct which results in no international coding with Bangkok Bank...just looks like a domestic Thailand transfer.

The response doc probably requires Thailand to check a Yes I want the free vaccine with no strings attached" or "No I don't want the free vaccine" box. And then a signature (or thumb print). That is pretty hard...expect Thailand will need to appoint a committee to do a 90 day evaluation of the offer. But maybe the holdup is the U.S. sent the offer in English and the Thai govt is still trying to get a certified copy in Thai.