bill1369

8 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

They could ask for it. The rules only state it is needed when entering with a valid OA visa,

Thanks Joe. Can always depend on you for an answer.

Can anyone tell me if someone with valid O-A extension and re-entry permit needs to show proof of medical insurance to Immigration at the airport when returning to Thailand. (I know the Covid insurance mandate has ended.)

On 7/13/2021 at 6:20 AM, KhaoYai said:

Just noticed this post - after I and a few other posters have given the OP the correct info on what he needs to do to register his marriage but the above post is not only factually incorrect, its confusing who requires what.

 

So let's clarify:  The Thai authorities have no access to the marriage records of other countries so in an attempt to stop inter-country bigamy, they require some form of proof that you are free to marry.  That document in English is called an Affirmation of Freedom to Marry and its provided by your embassy.  The Thai authorities don't want proof that any previous marriage has been legally ended, your embassy does in order to provide you with the Affirmation.

 

You're not telling the Thai authorities that you were previously married and you don't have to provide translations of your divorce papers to them - if you were previously married you provide those papers to your embassy when you swear and affidavit that you are free to marry.  Only the Affirmation and your passport are translated. The Thai MFA has an agreed format for the Affirmation with foreign embassies and only that format is acceptable. They are therefore, supposed to know what they are looking at when they receive both your home country's version of the document and its translation.  Once checked they certify the translation is genuine and legal.

 

Its a pain but its not really that difficult - there's certainly nothing onerous about.  I've never checked but I'd take a guess that most countries want similar proof if your a foriegn citizen wanting to get married.  Quite why they want your passport translating and certifying when its in an internationally agreed format and good enough to get you into the country is anyone's guess but its not a major thing.

Thanks for information!!

5 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

On another Forum a guy reported that he had to pay his agent an extra 2,500 THB on top of the 15,000 he normally pays (doesn't meet the financial requirements as his income is all in Canada & he only brings over what he needs) to make the insurance problem "Go Away" so much though I hate to suggest people go down the "Grey Route" (No Pun intended, I'm 54 & grey'r than Larry) it's clear that you don't need the insurance, you just need the tick in the box. 

 

PM me if you're interested & I can try to find the agents details

 

 

A friend recommended an agent to me. She is telling me that she knows a Thai insurance company that will write me a letter saying I have insurance - for 30K - but they will never pay any Dr bill. Or, to put it another way, the Thai way.

 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Pay an agent to change you to a Non-O VISA, then you can extend without insurance.

 

DaNang is great, was there last year, fantastic beach, clean sea and a very nice promenade.

Thank you!! I will ask tomorrow.

I'll add my experience yesterday as an alert for others.

I have an O-A retirement visa and yesterday would have been my 12th extension. But I was denied.

I was denied because I do not have medical insurance from a Thai company. (I have US insurance that is accepted by both Bumrungrad & Mission hospitals for inpatient care. Outpatient care I pay hospital 100% then insurance reimburses me.) The officer told me US insurance does not satisfy requirement - only a Thai company.

My predicament is I doubt any Thai company will insure me at 74 years old with heart problems and diabetes. Before seeing officer I was chatting with another O-A Brit a couple years older than I who said he tried 3 years ago to buy from a Thai company but turned it down when they quoted him a yearly premium of 480,000 baht. BTW - he saw an officer before I did and was given extension; he said they never asked him about medical insurance. Go figure.....

I was almost denied for the 65,000 baht monthly income requirement. Here's how stupid they were regarding that: I receive a monthly direct deposit from US Veterans Affairs (deposited on 1st of month) and another direct deposit from US Social Security (deposited on 3rd of month. Together these 2 deposits far exceed the 65,000 requirement. But..... When either the 1st or 3rd falls on a Saturday or Sunday, my deposit is made on last day of previous month. Meaning in some months I show Veterans deposits on 1st, 3rd and 31st with the Social Security deposit on 3rd of following month. Yesterday, for first time, they said that the sole deposit on 3rd did not meet 65,000 requirement and they were going to deny my extension. I tried explaining for quite some time when the officer finally said they would overlook this year but next year I would be denied extension due to income. Idiots!!

As soon as she she said that she pushed my application fee back to me and said to put back in my wallet because she was denying me due to no insurance.

Today I have retained an agent and she is looking for insurance. But I think it will be prohibitively expensive, especially since I don't need it.

Anyone know how living in DaNang might be.........

1 hour ago, JCP108 said:

This is good for me to know as I am heading to the U.S. tomorrow via Japan and returning via the same transit in about ten days. Will prepare to "self isolate" at home for two weeks upon my return. Let's just keep it at that, though. So, no new restrictions, please. I just need the U.S. to not ban people coming in from Thailand or Japan in the next 48 hours. 

I'd be concerned Immigration at LAX might require a 14 day quarantine of you. Good luck!!

19 hours ago, Ian Nagle said:

And........ the masks are useless anyway, according to health experts. They do NOT protect against Covid-19 Coronavirus.

You'll notice (photo) he subscribes to statements from the WHO, US CDC, UK NHS, etc. that masks are just about worthless at preventing Covid-19.

44 minutes ago, graemeaylward said:

You can see how many youngsters are "gambling" on the machines pictured above!! For goodness sake, and how many youngsters by lottery tickets, either official ones or underground ones?  But of course, the lottery isn't gambling is it!

As a matter of interest, has any one seen a breakdown of what the millions, possibly billions, of baht generated for the government by the National Lottery, is spent on.  How much of it goes to worthy or charitable causes I wonder?  Perhaps some of it could be used to help the poor unfortunate youngsters who are addicted to the grabbing machines!

I recall many years ago when Aphisit thought he was in charge, he made the claim to ban electronic lottery machines because such machines would throw all the blind lottery ticket sellers out of work. Well congratulations Mark, yesterday I actually saw my first blind ticket seller where Sukhumvit becomes Ploenchit. You wise old sonofagun, Mark. Looking out for the sightless!!

Of course later we learned that the national distributor of lottery tickets was a huge donor to the Democratic (sic) party.....

Love you Tucky!!

11 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Info here:

 

Thank you!!!

In the 10-yrs I have stayed in Thailand, I have probably had 4 different BTS fare cards (not sure if there is a specific name for card, but the type that is topped up and used until necessary to top up again. Now called Rabbit card.) Anyway, tonight for 1st time in 10-yrs, I tried topping up at BTS Nana. The lady in the booth asked for my passport - which I don't carry - before she would top up. She gave me my card back and I topped up at Aoske with no problem.

Anyone know what this is about? Or just something new PM Congeniality has dreamed up to inconvenience farangs? 

4 hours ago, Pilotman said:

The Thais fought in parts of Laos during the Vietnam war, not in Vietnam itself.  They were actually declared neutrals during the war. They were fighting a communist backed insurgency on their own borders, that had little to do with the war the US were fighting.  However, they did host the US Air Force in country, but not officially. 

Actually, Thais did participate with the US in Vietnam fighting. See: In Buddha's Company, Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War by Richard Ruth.

That said, I think Orton Rd's post regarding participation in Korean & Vietnam wars was a criticism of a prior comment about Thai generals bedecked with medals. I hardly think any of the current crop of generals logged any time in either of those wars. So, yes, what do they receive all their medals for?

On 2/5/2019 at 3:16 PM, Felt 35 said:

Thanks, only have to hope Immigration practise what they preach. ????

In each of the past 10-yrs, I have gotten US Embassy affirmation of income. Soon I'll need to head to Chaeng Wattana for a new "O" visa extension. I have 3 different US government agencies transferring my money into my Bangkok Bank account. (Well exceeding 65k/mo) I have not seen here what exactly I must bring to IO as proof of my income. A letter from BKK Bank attesting to my deposits? Bank account passbook???

In advance, thanks for helping.

The thread of most replies to Podiatrist topic seems to be mechanical foot support, i.e., orthotics, etc.

I have an actual foot problem. Searching BNH hospital, I found this:

https://www.bnhhospital.com/find-doctor/search-result/?dname=chamnanni

Ortho Dr with foot/ankle specialty with clinic 1st & 3rd Saturdays.

On 12/23/2018 at 9:50 PM, Danthai said:

Those living or visiting here who are retired US military already have very good US Government Insurance called Tricare Select OS.  To use overseas they must have both part A and B medicare coverage. It has excellent coverage for Retired and their families.

You are correct, Tricare Overseas is a great insurance program. However, a retiree's 'insurance card' is the retiree's retired US military ID card. Somehow I don't see Thai officials believing a military ID card is a medical insurance card.

On 9/6/2018 at 8:33 PM, pomozki said:

I'm hoping to renew my 5-year motorcycle licence tomorrow
can someone confirm the latest info on this?
I have my passport (and copy), my work permit (and copy) but I don't have

a health check document AND my current licence expired on Sept 1 (1 week ago)
do you know if I'll have a problem with these at Bang Chak in Bangkok tomorrow?
and do you know if I'll be required to do the whole test again (someone suggested you don't need to if your current licence only expired recently)
also - is there any rush? I also read the expired licence has a grace period after expiry date? I'm asking cos I had agreed to hire a motorcycle in Pattaya tomorrow but a woman at work said if the police stopped me and found my licence had expired the penalty would be expensive so I cancelled it!
many thanks ?

I renewed my license about a year ago. I was all prepared with the application form & medical certificate. (I went to Land Transportation at Chatuchak.) When I first arrived, lady at the front desk looked at my passport & and latest visa extension - I forget if I brought a copy. She then gave me a number for the queue - which was about a 4-hour wait. When my number was called, the officer did not want either my application or health certificate. She filled out my data in her computer. I was then sent upstairs to watch a boring movie of about 1-hour duration. Then it was their "practical application" - stepping on a pedal when light turned red, color vision, etc. And that was it - I got my renewal. Sorry if I've left anything out - it was awhile ago. Just be prepared to waste the better part of a day getting license.

I would imagine the TiG (Thugs in Green) want a little more time before a court room appearance so that the 2 suspects stop pissing blood ........... 

However, I do wonder about the Thai woman residing in Turkey who was alleged to have gotten 1 of the suspects his apartment. If I remember, she came back to 'clear her name' (not the brightest move) and was promptly arrested when her plane landed. Anyone read anything about her?

On 3/30/2018 at 7:33 AM, Thian said:

I bet they won't stop with that since it's pure Thainess..

You are correct. I looked at my BKK Bank balance this AM and I see they nicked me 200 baht for "ATM Card Annual Fee".

What a country of frigging buffoons running things........ Words fail me. I suppose Thailand 4.0 will be be immeasurably better!!

Utter BS. He was so near a US base he walked to it - after walking through a field of dead Americans with cut throats. If the US did one thing correctly, it was rescue their wounded and recovering all KIAs. "Cadets" trained in the field - not at boot camp in the States. Just a little research would have improved this fool's BS.

BTW: I was a Marine infantry squad leader operating in and around the DMZ in Leatherneck Square in 1967. This guy wouldn't want to spout off his nonsense around me.......

On 11/15/2017 at 4:26 PM, Eric Loh said:

Will he declare his assets when he join the cabinet. Doubt so. 

Is this the guy getting the 60K/month from booze distributor?