Bababooey

help you focus on what is important

It reminds me that simplicity is a virtue.

I would rather be given a piece of string than a Rolex (assuming I couldn't resell or give away the Rolex).

Did you enter the visa number on the arrival card ?

Anyone know where this is located?

Would it be on my extension of stay stamp?

Or somewhere in my old passport?

Regarding the Be1st card.

I know from personal experience it works in non Bangkok Bank ATM machines as I personally have used mine to withdraw funds in another country's currency ..... I've used mine in Malaysia and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) in Malaysian and Vietnamese banks ATM machines.

Does the card work in Cambodia?

It is better for me to use an American card there so there is no currency conversion, but I like to have backup plans in effect in case of energencies.

Sure you can use the NY branch ACH routing number for funds transfers and some govt pension transfer info,

And if by chance when you left in 2012 and left less than 2000 baht in the account, after 12 months of no user account activity they will start charging a 50 baht/month account maintenance fee until the balance is down to zero

I just use Bangkok Bank for big transfers through the New York branch.

I do have to check that my balance is above 2000 baht, thanks for the heads up.

Wouldn't it be quite expensive to do monthly government pension transfers as you'd be paying a transfer fee every month?

immigration in jomtien on soi 8 if I remember correctly

Hi ChangB, it's on Soi 5 in Jomtien between Jomtien Beach road and Jomtien 2nd Road.

I'm not expecting to die soon, but would like to put my girlfriend as a beneficiary on my Thai bank accounts, the most important being Krungsri/Ayudtha.

In the past, whenever I broached this subject, the banks use this opportunity to try to sell life insurance for which I have no need.

I assume that Thai Banks have a beneficiary form?

Has anyone done this?

I will be returning too Thailand in November and need at least one re-entry permit.

However in August, I will be transfering planes and might have to go through immigration if both planes are at Swampy but will defo have to go through if the other plane departs from Don Muang.

Can I use a transit visa for either of these scenarios or must I use my re-enrty permit (requiring me to get a multiple)?

Can I pay for two single re-entry permits at teh same time or must I get a multiple?

I put the 800k into a term deposit and just leave it there. That way, whenever I go to renew my extension I know the money has been there long enough to meet the requirement, plus as it's "locked" in it's not readily available to be blown on spontaneous purchases and earns a wee bit of interest as well.

Somewhere along the line I had it in my head that "term deposits" or "time deposits" were not acceptable. The reasoning was that the 800K was money that one would be using for living expenses.

But I was told a that a high interest account (I can only withdraw twice a month or there is a 500 baht fee) is OK. In practice, I witdraw once every couple months and put the money in an "everyday account" whicj earns much lower interest.

Never had any problems at Jomtien Immigration using the high interest account and good to hear that time deposits are also acceptable. Anyone else use time deposits for their 800K baht?

So if you are staying more than 60 days then a 60 day tourist visa does not meet the requirements?

If you have a 1 year extension of stay and a re-entry permit then one needs a ticket out before the 1 year extension of stay expires?

Btw, I hear if traveling to the Philippines they are very strict regarding a ticket out.

Not sure really. I suppose he's looking for a price at least as good as he could get on 47th Street in New York or in Amsterdam.

A friend of mine wants to sell some diamonds.

He tried a couple of Gold Shops and Pawn Shops but those particular ones were not interested in diamonds.

Anyone have any leads? Thanks!

You get the current TT rate plus B150 to clear the check.

Does anybody know if cashing with Kasikorn you get the TT rate?

And would you please let me know the service charge at Kasikorn?

I tried asking a the bank today and couldn't get a straight answer.

In my case, I just want to receive money at Kasikorn form a Paypal account.

Maybe you guys can help with a few questions.

In this case is a Kasikorn debit card or Kasikorn Cyber Card needed?

In the USA, there is a monthly $500 limit on transfers form PayPal to a linked bank unless a debit/credit card is attached to the account.

From looking at the Paypal website there is a 3.9% fee plus a 2.5% currency conversion fee making it a total of 6.4%. In addition to that are there fees from Kasikorn? Is the exchange rate the interbank rate or is that another hidden fee beyond the 2.5%.

Thanks!

The difference is that their (Starbucks) business is selling coffee, other beverages, and snacks. T-shirts are not the signature product or even a significant portion of their business. I suspect, to them, all those T-shirts are just more free advertisement.

I would estimate that about 20% of middle class young adults and teenagers in Phnom Penh own a Starbucks T-Shirt even though there are no Starbucks in Cambodia. Amazing.

Thanks for all your input!

I wound up having no problems.

At the airport, the Immigration asked me a few questions but it was clear that he was trying to be helpful not wanting to put me in a situation where I only had one day instead of thirty. It probably helped a bit that there were no long lines and he wasn't in a rush.

The next morning, I was the first guy in the bank and they had the letter for me in a little over an hour.

Arrived at Immigration about 11AM , got the copies made next door, and as soon as they gave me a number it was immediately called. Everything was in order and they told me to come back after 3PM to pick up my passport.

I want to get from Donn Mueang to Pattaya, ultimate destination 3rd Road and Pattaya Tai and don't want to spend approx 1500 baht for a taxi and don't want to ride in a minivan.

My first choice is the free bus to Suvanaphumi and then connecting to the Bell Bus or "Jomtien Bus". But there's a chance I won't be permitted on the free shuttle.

I'll probably take the bus to Mo Chit followed by the bus to the Pattaya Bus Station. Once there if memory serves me correctly a baht bus to Beach Raod and Pattaya Tai is 20 baht and a baht bus to Jomtien is 30 baht. Does the Jomtien baht bus travel along Sukhumvit so I can get out on Pattaya Tai?

I guess I could also take a taxi to Suvanaphumi but would prefer to avoid this.

Anyone know how would I go about taking the BTS to Suvanaphumi from Don Mueang?

I have a situation where I'll be receiving a paper check in Thailand denominated in dollars or euros. This will happen once or twice a year and for rather small amounts, a few hundred dollars/euros.

I would like to deposit these checks into a baht account at Kasikorn.

It's fine with me if there is a long delay before my account is credited. I just need an easy way to cash these checks in Thailand with hopefully not a big service fee.

So, will I be able to deposit these checks in my Kasikorn baht account or must I look for an alternative solution?

I'm planning to take the free shuttle from Don Mueang to Swampy and then the Bell Bus to Pattaya.

Just want to double check that I don't have to show a ticket departing Swampy to take the shuttle, right?

Hi All,

I plan to use Lomphraya travel to get from Bkk to Phangan. However, the return leaves at 8AM meaning I would be spending a day sat on a bus back to Bangkk which I would prefer not to.

If anyone knows of how I can travel back overnight on a VIP bus that is comfortable enough to sleep on please let me know.

Thanks

You can take the 24 Seat VIP Bus from Tongsala direct.

Make sure you get this bus, coz they have the real sleeping Seats.

Bus starts at 17:00. Will go on the Raja Ferry, so you not have to carry your luggage around.

Raja Ferry will arrive 20:00 at Donsak Pier. Then the Bus will drive all night with a late Dinner stop in between.

At 6:00 clock in the morning you will arrive in Sai Thai (South Bangkok) Bus Terminal.

Preis all in is 1150 Baht.

Hope that helps.

This is about as comfortable as a bus can get. Well worth paying the extra 300 baht for the VIP bus.

Although most passengers start at Thongsala, it actually starts at a bus station in Baan Tai that no one seems to know about at around 4PM then waits for a long time at Thongsala. This option was convenient for me because I was staying walking distance from the Baan Tai station.

I usually take Air Asia down to Ko Phngnan but in order to catch the late afternoon return flight it requires taking an early morning ferry with lots of waiting around the airport.

I really don't see any problem with the last minute plan now.

My main question was about the bank.

You said they did it last year on the spot.

Why would that be different?

Are you an owner or a renter?

I am a renter. Never experinced a problem at Jomtien with the receipt from my serviced apartment.

In a prior year I was also near the deadline, but not out of country but came back to Pattaya after a 2 month trip to Ko Phangan. Thought it would be easier to do at Jomtien than in Samui since my bank branch is in Pattaya. I had already booked the flight forgetting about the expiration date.

As I recall, it was a day before the deadline and asked the bank to do me a favor and rush the letter and as I recall it took about two hours. But that was because I encountered a friendly manager; that situation could be different now.

Yes, but the OP needs the bank letter the day he arrives according to his post and get to immigration that same day. Best wishes! I hope it works out.

I arrive on October 31st. It is best for my current employer (not in Thailand) that I arrive after the banks close on October 31st.

It is possible but problematic work wise that I arrive and get to the bank around noon on Oct 31.

My visa expires on November 1st.

So it seems I have those two choices plus coming in on a 30 day stamp and then converting to the 90 day visa and then three months later extending for 1 year.

The OP is up against the wall as they say. And of course I don't know if he has internet banking. Possibly a SWIFT deposit a few days before arrive, then call the bank?

I already have the more than 800K in the bank. I'm OK with that.

I'm not sure why you don't do it prior to your leaving the country.

Unless of course your leaving the country for a period > 60 days prior to 1 November.

Yes, I'm not in Thailand now and won't be back until November 1st.

I'm not sure why you don't do it prior to your leaving the country.

Unless of course your leaving the country for a period > 60 days prior to 1 November.

Yes, I'm not in Thailand now and won't be back until November 1st.

Non immigrant visa issue or conversion will cost 2,000 baht if needed anywhere - nobody gives them away and the only difference between visa exempt and tourist visa is the form used. Any extension will be in addition to the 90 day visa entry. You never have to leave country if local office will not make the change as Bangkok will make for anyone in that case.

Thanks Lopburi!

So if the conversion costs 2000 baht whether it's a free stamp or a paid tourist visa, then if would be foolish to get the tourist visa. Am I missing something here?

If I arrived on October 31st with a stamp and then converted would the extension begin approx Feb 1st (approx 90 days) or around March 1st (30+90 =120 days)?

Good to know if Bangkok will do this. Has anyone converted from a stamp to a 90 day in Jomtien?