14 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

The e-visa system is broken?

Seems that way. I was told by the Consulate in DC that the system is down until Monday and no visas are being issued this week. I don’t know if that’s system wide. 

10 hours ago, keemapoot said:

I think that is probably true. I suspect most Americans will have this issue because the CDC card we were issued does not have any QR code. I applied on Monday this week but don't travel until 2nd week in December, so maybe Americans should allow a bit more time due to this point.

Thailand Pass can automatically verify and approve QR codes of digital vaccine certificates from only the following regions at the moment:

• The European Union (EU Digital COVID Certificate, or DCC for short)
• Singapore (Notαrise)

Support for digital vaccine certificates from the following countries is in progress:

• China (International Travel Health Certificate)
• India (DIVOC)
• Indonesia (PeduliLindungi)
• Israel (once it joins the EU’s DCC program)
• Malaysia (MySejahtera)
• Philippines (VaxCerts)
• United States (SMART® Health Card, available in some states)

https://medium.com/thailand-pass/vaccine-certificates-from-which-countries-can-be-auto-approved-f05c11c11f05

So no, MFA does not have QR code automation up and running for most countries.

6 hours ago, Aza90 said:

Has the issue with hotmail addresses been resolved now? I submitted Friday 5th Nov and have not heard anything yet.

Thanks 

I submitted on 4th November including the vaccine QR code and I have yet to hear anything. I used an iCloud address and did receive the automated confirmation email immediately after I filed it.

4 minutes ago, bluesea said:

It is quiet amazing how many foreign countries have given South East Asian countries money for Covid-19 Vaccines, i know Australia have give $550 Million Dollars and only last week $2.8 Million to Thailand last week https://thepattayanews.com/2021/05/01/australia-donates-68-million-baht-to-thailand-to-support-vaccinations/

https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/australian-embassy-snubs-aussie-expats-but-australia-donates-68-million-baht-for-thailands-vaccine-efforts

https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/australian-support-covid-19-vaccine-access-pacific-and-southeast-asia ( on the Australian Embassy website thailand)

 

Sorry this is not Cricket i have forwarded this onto the the Prime Ministers office in Canberra no wonder Thailand is a 4th World Nation with Racisim towards Foreigners and other Countries Citizens..

Stay tuned its not finished yet!!

 Meanwhile, Australia has only managed to provide 2.4 million doses of vaccine for their own population of 25 million – around 9%. 

It's not just expats with the option of going back to their home country for a vaccine. A friend of mine in Honolulu told me today that there were four Thai people at his local Safeway pharmacy getting vaccines while he was getting his and they had travelled over from BKK for that. The pharmacist there told him they had a surplus of vaccine and she was actually having to dispose of unused doses at the end of each day. Anyone, regardless of nationality, can get the vaccine and it is free. Presumably this is Johnson & Johnson as I doubt they are sticking around for the 3 or 4 weeks required for Pfizer or Moderna.

There have also been some stories on TV regarding vaccination tour packages to Los Angeles. Thai nationals only need obtain a US visa, and the travel company sorts out all the rest. 

I did a test (PCR) at CM Mediclinic and can recommend that option. Cost was 3,350 baht for same day turnaround of test results. You just drive up to the clinic in the morning, a nurse will come to your car (or motorbike or whatever) and swab you, then you receive results via email by 14:00 the same day. I liked the fact that I didn't have to go inside a hospital plus it could not have been easier. 

CM Mediclinic COVID-19 testing

33 minutes ago, Pronto2 said:

Only at the main location.

 

Many thanks, Pronto!

On 2/3/2021 at 10:09 AM, jeffandgop said:

Is Promenada processing 90 day reports - simple yes or no please. Thanks

Does Promenada also do extensions, or is that only at the main location near the airport?

Regarding your two keys that don't work: Several years ago, I had an old MacBook with a non-functional key. You do not need to replace the entire keyboard for older MacBooks. I found a replacement key and then swapped the old one out myself. I am no electrical engineer and it was simple enough to do even for me and it was also very cheap.

Here is an article on how to do it:

How to remove, move, swap and replace keys on a Mac

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Not making sense with the numbers, you would expect an exponential growth.  This appears just like the first mini wave we had.  The numbers can not be right, or are they not including all again.

If they are indeed effectively contact tracing, testing and isolating, then we would not expect exponential growth.

Quote

The number of new infections and total cases in Thailand over the last 14 days are as follows:

 

14 Dec: +28 (4,237)

15 Dec: +9 (4,246)

16 Dec: +15 (4,261)

17 Dec: +20 (4,281)

18 Dec: +16 (4,297)

19 Dec: +34 (4,331)

20 Dec: +576 (4,907)

21 Dec: +382 (5,289)

22 Dec: +427 (5,716)

23 Dec: +46 (5,762)

24 Dec: +67 (5,829)

25 Dec: +81 (5,910)

26 Dec: +110 (6,020)

27 Dec: +121 (6,141)

28 Dec: +144 (6,285)

As the new infection rate begins to turn exponential, it will just be a matter of days until a full national lockdown is ordered. That may not be far off now.

One more way the taxi business is handing their business over to Grab.

16 minutes ago, Jorgendk said:

Even people, who have reasonable money, don’t usually have that amount joust sitting in a normal bank account.

They have it in shares or other investments that pay a higher rate of interest.

My recent experience with a non-imm O is that they accepted a recent statement from a brokerage account which also showed an adequate cash balance. I don't know whether they looked at the overall portfolio value or just the cash. Like most, I don't leave the equivalent of 500k baht languishing in a zero income checking account.

Not sure it will have a lot of energy left for northern Thailand.

2 minutes ago, pookondee said:

Or the price went up and Mr Barrow wasn't prepared (or couldnt) stump up with a wheel-barrow full of Baht.

 

Anyway, if he is making as much money as what people are claiming here, why not just get an Elite visa??   

On the other hand, I have done a total of 22 annual extensions and never handed immigration one baht nor have I ever been asked to. I also don't have an audience that would be publicly outraged had they ever asked. 

2 hours ago, MRToMRT said:

He has now removed the post from his Facebook page that reported this.

Nice. So after all the publicity from this spectacular story, how many new site traffic visitors, links and additional revenue generating clicks resulted?

3 hours ago, Ricebarnandrooms said:

I haven’t heard of him or his blogs before so took a look at his twitter account. Seems like a useful site but I did notice he says “My work permit as web designer has already been renewed” 

But he says that his actual work is at the school? If he’s working at the school he has a contract of employment with the school which allows the work permit and no reason not to have his extension.  Sorry something isn’t quite right and as he has been here for as long as me he should know what’s what. Somethings not being said (and forget the conspiracy theories)

I agree. I too am unclear what his permitted employment is. Is he a web designer? Is he a teacher? Is he a compensated travel writer? A journalist?

He says immigration officers spent three hours at his “workplace”, although never specifies what that workplace is. I doubt immigration spent three hours at his workplace chatting over tea. They don’t spend three hours investigating onsite if they are trying to invent reasons to deny an extension. 
 

I am not sure we should immediately jump to his defense because "bad immigration guys" with sketchy details like this. It is entirely possible that there was evidence or information that he ran afoul of regulations in one or more ways and immigration are doing their job by investigating. 

Trump mispronounced Thailand as 'Thighland' and the puns ran wild

Trump's latest gaffe is ripe for puns. 

During a campaign event in Ohio on Thursday, the president mispronounced Thailand as "Thigh-land." 

"Shifting production to Thigh-land," Trump said during the speech, before correcting himself. "Thailand and Vietnam, two places that... I like their leaders very much." 

It was only a matter of time before Twitter users began churning anatomical puns.

thighland and hondurass are nice but I’m more into titaly

Thighland is just off the coast of Crotchatia.

Thighland is my favorite country after Assganistan.

"You see, they're Thailand. We're Thighland. They have the Thai King. We have chafing."

A little afternoon trivia: The chief executive of Thighland is the Lord of the Thighs, not the prime minister.

It's not the first time Trump has mispronounced a location. Earlier this week, the president referred to Yosemite National Park, pronounced "Yoh-sem-it-ees" as "Yo-semites" He stumbled over the word again and added another syllable, pronouncing it as "Yo-sem-in-ites." 

Twitter users joked about the two gaffes. 

The Prince of Whales and I stopped by Nambia after we left Thighland on our way to Yo-Semite National Park.

We caught a connecting flight out of the Revolutionary War Airport.

Yo Semites, let's go on vacation to Thighland!

https://mashable.com/article/trump-mispronounced-thighland-thailand-puns/

13 hours ago, webfact said:

The pandemic has left the Chinese largely friendless around the world

I suppose the pandemic has resulted in China losing some friends around the world. Had they been more honest, forthright and transparent in reporting and containing the first cases in Wuhan, the world would be a very different place for all of us now. 

Taxiing for takeoff at HNL and then climbing out.

1 hour ago, LawrenceN said:

Where was Lightning Forge held? 

Schofield Barracks, Schofield Barracks East Range, Dillingham Army Airfield, the Kahuku Training Area, and Basilan Drop Zone on Oahu, Hawai'i.

https://www.khon2.com/coronavirus/noise-traffic-helicopter-activity-during-sixth-annual-exercise-lightning-forge-training-event/

Quick turnaround and TG8087 is the way back:

https://www.flightradar24.com/THA8087/250079ac

13:35 flight time. 

Just had a look at FlightRadar24. Their TG charter flight (TG8086) just landed at HNL.

https://www.flightradar24.com/THA8086/24fecb2c

12 hours and 19 minutes nonstop.