ProThaiExpat

Your situation is not the typical US citizen retiring and applying for SSA benefits however if you are truly entitled to SSA benefits the Manila Office of SSA located in the US Embassy can give you personal advice and prompt help. Dealing with the foreign department of headquarters of SSA in the US has got to be time consuming.

To be exact, if you are overseas, SSA has a separate office at Headquarters in the US to handle your claim. The office established to deal with Asia is located at the US Embassy in Manila and you can reach them by phone by calling the embassy directly. Call them and explain your situation to them and they will guide you in making your claim. They certainly know how to have your payments directed to BKK Bank Office in New York because they did it for me.

I you have not made a claim for your benefits and if you have not made a claim yet, then they will be vital to getting the process started or certainly tell you how to proceed. I trust you have a social security number. They have a computer in Manila that patches into the SSA system in the US and they make direct changes to your records such as changing direct deposits to a different bank. I just had my pension moved from BKK Bank to my US Bank in the last few months and it only involved a fax to them after talking to them on the phone.

Hopefully I have made my post clearer, if not, ask away.

I do it on Skype so it is not so costly. You can get their telephone number on their website.

I began the CR-1 process this year for my spouse after marrying in the US while spouse was on a ten year multiple entry tourist visa. We are a couple weeks away from completing the process so at the present time even diligent applicants are going to use six months to get all the steps taken care of.

First of all, no one has mentioned that your original application must be filed in the BKK office of the USCIS (United States Customs and Immigration Service) Their website is excellent and explains everything.

Once USCIS approves your package of documents, they did it in a week for me as I over killed in supplying documentary support. Once USCIS approves of your application and pay their fee, they forward your package to the BKK Embassy that uses that package as a trigger to send you their requirements. There are many and even after an interview, there may be more. They specifically require you to supply all the same documents you sent to USCIS in BKK so get duplicates of everything in your submission packages.

They make it abundantly clear that length of relationship and positive steps to relocate to the US are critical issues that they will examine thoroughly.

Once they approve your application, spouse's passport will be stamped with a temporary green card which you will use to enter the US and Embassy gives you a sealed package of documents that you hand over to USCIS at port of entry.

In addition to the interview in BKK at the Embassy, a medical clearance is required by their panel of doctors. Depending on the number of vaccinations spouse has had, your medical exam costs can exceed 10k Baht.

If you have been married for less that two years at the time of entry to the US, you are required to file a specific form 90 days before the two year period after entry occurs. It is a USCIS form.

I suggest it will take a few days to review the USCIS website and all of their links as well as the US Embassy websites. There is an online history form that is exhaustive and must be completed as well as every job your spouse has had as an adult along with every residence spouse has resided at for a year or more. Police clearance from Thailand and any foreign country spouse has lived in for more than a year. We were required to obtain a Australian Federal Police Clearance as my spouse accompanied me every year for three months or more for family visits over a ten year period.

Good luck your patience will surely be tried.

The Asia specific SSA office is located in the US Embassy in the Philippines. Just call the Embassy in Manila and ask for the SSA office. They are very helpful and I believe you can receive forms and send forms to them by fax.

I transferred by SSA benefit from US Bank to BKK Bank through the SSA office in the Embassy in Manila. I tried first to do it though BKK bank and failed miserably.

After 12 years here, I feel in addition to the slogan "Land of Smiles", we should add the slogan "Land of Announcements".

Grace Clinic receives raves from most who don't mind paying a little more for world class dental work.  They do it all and I have been a patient there for 12 years and decry the day I try to save money and go elsewhere.

You have put your finger on the issue of state's rights. 200 years ago that was a fundamental issue as the fear of a King like national leader and government was prevalent.

Now in a world economy, one wonders if states rights is the way to go. After all, it seems to me that Windsor was an accelerating factor in the tsunami force of marriage equality.

Before Windsor and its effect, I felt there was a major chance that the Supreme Court would decide this issue on a states rights basis since marriage has always been a major right reserved to each individual state. However, with a world economy and so much integration of the US economy and movement of people seeking jobs, one wonders if a nation with half the states allowing same sex marriage and half the states not would be a workable solution.

We have all seen the nimble technical dance in the Prop 8 decision where Roberts was able to vote with the majority since they really didn't decide the underlying issues in marriage equality, but the effect of their technical decision on "standing" had the effect we wanted. Even their choice of which case and which appellate court decision they choose to grant certiorari may well flavor their decision in unpredictable ways.

For instance, by picking Windsor to be heard, rather than a number of other cases in which Justice Kagen would have had to recuse herself, they thus permitted the minority liberal block to be whole, which I am sure was negotiated among the Justices before Windsor was finally selected as the case they were to decide.

I am wondering if they will be able to avoid the key question of whether marriage equality is a fundamental right or not in the constitution in their next decision.

Many of the cases are at the intermediate circuit court of appeals level in the Federal system and while everyone of them that has ruled so far has been favorable to same sex marriage, there are some upcoming decisions from conservative circuit court 3 judge panels that may go the other way.

Clearly, when one of these circuit courts of appeal go the other way, the Supreme Court will have to take the case due to the conflict of rulings among the circuit courts of appeal. If there is no conflict, the Supreme Court could then refuse to hear an appeal from any one of them or all of them and then the favorable rulings for same sex marriage will stand and become the law of the land in every state. The chances of that happening are very slim.

Since there have been so many Federal Trial Level Courts and Courts of Appeal decisions favoring marriage equality, my guess is the Supreme Court will decide 5-4 in favor of marriage equality with Justice Kennedy being the swing vote. Of course, Presiding Justice Roberts, with an eye on posterity and with his name on this court, might also come across to vote with the majority as it is a landmark case and issue.

Clearly de facto your marriage is, however in Thailand where there is no same sex marriage recognized in law,  it would not be de jure or in law. In your home country  it is legal or de jure.

Proof of identity is a major issue for many expats dealing with their governments.  I recently was required to prove my identity to obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate from the County Assessor in San Francisco.  The US Consulate in Chiang Mai will execute a proof of identity document by a consular officer by appointment for $50. If you have the document, the consular officer will have you swear who you are even with your passport and then so attest to it with appropriate seals and stamps on the proof of identity document from any government.

I became ill a couple of years ago and so didn't feel like drinking my usual two cups of wake up strong coffee.  Since I got headaches every prior time I tried to get off coffee I felt like I was truly addicted and that time was a good one to De-caffinate.

I have not knowingly injested any caffeine since.  Upon arising, I drink a moderate size glass of fresh orange juice with pulp and the fructose in orange juice gives me the same wake up boost I used to get from coffee, without the caffeine jitters and stomach false hunger pangs I used to get when drinking coffee.

Clearly ones blood sugar markedly goes down during sleep and raising that blood sugar upon arising would act as a boost. I have known people who have a mug of coffee in their hand during the entire work day and they must have terrible withdrawal symptoms if they ever tried to decaffeinate.

In searching for US bound airfares last week, I was surprised to find that round trip tickets on the airline websites are cheaper than one way.

I suggest you try the airline websites and price both options. After all, you don't need to use the round trip ticket if it is cheaper than one way.

Yes, I get an eye injection every ten weeks. The OCT machine shows an accumulation of blood in my macula at about that interval and I do see visual acuity start to deteriorate about that time. I detect visual acuity loss by covering my other eye and look at a straight line, pole, edge of wall or pipe and if it starts to undulate or waiver in its straight line I know it is time to have an injection. We confirm the build up of blood with the OCT machine.

If you are in Singapore, I cannot give you much help as my experience has been in Thailand and Australia.

I would be surprised if your doctor didn't give you an option of Avastin as an alternative medication.

My doctor has patients who have had to have an injection monthly for two years before it stabilized. Your husband needs to get his mind around a shot every month until his vision returns. I certainly would explore Avastin since the cost of Lucenta medication is astronomical if shots are needed every month. If you have health insurance, the Doctor may have felt there was no economic motivation to use Avastin. You definitely need to go back to a macular specialist and show him no improvement from the Lucenta shot and be guided by his advice.

If your doctor did not do an OCT examination of your husband, he clearly is not using the latest diagnostic tools available. Your husband may have to wait two weeks to detect any improvement depending on how bad his vision was when he received the first shot. He may not see improvement before a few shots. You need to be talking to your doctor about what to do next.

Choonpoon: Read my post more carefully. I am totally symptom free, perfect vision in the affected eye after the first shot of Avastin. Perhaps you could tell me more about where you are and who is managing your treatment. Does your husband have wet or dry ARMD. You can send me private message if you wish. If you are in Thailand, I am surprised you are receiving Lucenta injections as they must be very costly.

The only post so far describes an eye problem that is not ARMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration)

Speaking only from my own experience and internet research, ARMD occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the very center of the macula of the eye bleed thus causing central vision blindness. There are two types of ARMD Dry and Wet. The dry version may not involve bleeding.

In my case the first symptom of wet ARMD was when a large black ball obscured my vision in the center of my eye. I could see around the edges of the black ball and many untreated ARMD people learn to live with that limited vision. but I don't see how.

I sought medical treatment with a general ophthalmologist who quickly referred me to a macular specialist. The most advanced diagnostic machine available at Sripat Hospital in Chiang Mai is called an OCT and was made in Germany. It uses sound waves to map the bleed in the macula and displays pictures of the amount of bleed on its computer for the doctor to evaluate.

The only treatment for the wet form of ARMD is an injection of a drop of one of two medicines that originated in the treatment of bleeding in female reproductive organs. Avastin manufactured by Genentech costs about $75 worldwide while the other one costs $2000 per injection from the same drug company and is called Lucenta (sic). Tests last year found them to be nearly identical in chemical makeup and equally effective. Genentech justifies the higher cost of Lucenta as it is US FDA approved while Avastin is not an Genentech paid for the FDA approval and must recover their costs. Last year Medicare in the US paid out more that 2 billion dollars for Lucenta treatments from Ophthalmologists maintain it is a better treatment even at the higher cost. I need not get into the issue of drug companies incentive to doctors to use certain of their products.

With my first injection of Avastin, my vision cleared right up and I have not had any decrease in vision for over two years. However, I do need an injection at Sripat every ten weeks to alleviate the bleed that causes the blindness. I had one injection a month for three months until my condition was considered stabilized and I went on the one shot every ten weeks, the need for the injection is measured by the OCT machine.

ARMD is a fairly common condition and there is an abundance of ophthalmologists in most major cities around the world who regularly treat patients for the condition. There are three such ophthalmologists at Ram in Chiang Mai where I started my treatment regimen but migrated to Sripat as that is where the OCT machine is.

I have no knowledge if any or what the treatment for dry ARMD, which is the most prevalent form of ARMD. I did get the impression that treatment for Dry ARMD is less sucessfull than that for the wet variety.

OP you should seek evaluation of your ARMD if you have symptoms but you probably already have or you would not be able to ask the question contained in your OP correctly.

May you be as lucky as I have been in finding excellent results from treatment.

SCB no longer will permit in bank ATM withdrawals and insist you use ATM outside the branch. Don the newsletter guy confirms that a manager told him the denial is done so fees are earned with each ATM withdrawal.

Fortunately by stateside bank reimburses three ATM fees per month so I rarely suffer from such ATM fees. There have been no reports that other banks have followed this policy but I doubt this will continue if SCB gets away with it long term.

I become a believer when I hear someone has actually received paid for care from an insurance carrier or state plan in Thailand!!!!

"Mr Perry said he did not know whether the widely-discredited therapy worked, but then claimed gay people had the ability to avoid their “lifestyle”.

As Mr. Perry has the "ability to avoid his "lifestyle". And I thought Texas prided itself on being the home of the "free". I frankly think Carl Rove got the radical right to believe the fallacious concept that if you tell a lie often enough, people will believe it.

I think many politicians advocate what appeals to their base in public to get or stay elected but that advocacy has nothing to do with their true belief or orientation.

Take Dick Cheny who became a same sex believer magically after leaving office. There are so many examples.

Accordingly, political rhetoric is just that, not to be believed and certainly not a window into the politicians soul.

I would like to hear from those that have taken advantage of the offer and are now subscribers of True Visions Group.

Did they change your subscriber number?.

When I was last overseas, they changed my subscriber number without telling me, so payments piled up in old account number and old company name. Took a visit to a true office to show ID to move the money from the old account number to the new account number as the company name and organization changed and a new bank reference number was required.

Are we going to go through the same procedure again. If the company name and registration changes then the money payed into the old company must be transferred to the new company and steps are required. Anyone move from PLC to Group and not have had a account number change.

It maybe too early for anyone to have experienced the billing issues involved but it is a major issue to resolve with the call center when you have them move you over from PLC to Group. Certainly an different company even though the owners may be the same.

If you pay through your bank, check carefully as to the company name at the bank and your account number from the Group bill to see if they are changed.

I do not know what "grade c" insurance is. However, both of my cars are over five years old and have never suffered any damage. In the west that coverage is called "collision coverage" and can be excluded at substantial savings. Likewise, if you have good medical insurance or are self insured, you can drop the medical coverage and save a great deal more.

My two cars have million baht liability coverage, (covers damage to others and their property) and nothing else and I now pay one third of my previous premiums for what many refer to as "grade A" coverage from one of the grade A companies.

If I drove a motorcye I certainly would get the most insurance coverage possible as accident risk is substantially higher on that vehicle, especially medical.

I don't know the actual figure, but retail sales are largely made during the end of the year season. I think it is over 60% of annual sales.. And yes that is the tourist season as well.

There are gems of truth in many of the foregoing posts such as three new malls opening in one year and certainly more than doubling the retail space.

I often wondered how the old Central on Huay Kaew ever made money as almost always when I went in the store it was not busy while the mall area was very busy.

I would like to know also.

Wrong places. Most Thai barber shops who cater to locals charge under 100Baht per cut, but expect electric clippers. They are good cutters for short hair wearers.

overthemoon: Please quote those portions of my reply message that are not clear to you and I will be happy to explain further. Yes, my syntax is dense but I can work to make it simpler if you let me know what you want to understand.

When I was in school during the first few months, I was called on to recite the facts of a case in which a horny old man crept down the stairs of an Iowa farm house and had his way with a girl in her bed who was under the age of consent.

I was a bit older than the other students and so when they began to titter over my description of the facts of the seduction in the case, I got confused and mixed up Plaintiff with Defendant, to the point that I had the dirty old man (defendant) being raped by the young girl (the Plaintiff). The class roared with laughter and the Professor yelled at me to sit down and shup up, saying I didn't know what I was talking about.

Se la vie.