15 minutes ago, Pib said:

Just as a reminder according to the Thailand Postal announcement mailing service to the US is still available thru ThaiPostal if using their "Courier Post" mailing option, repeat their Courier Post mailing option.   The best I can figure from the ThaiPostal website is they use FedEx to provide this service. Mailing a 7162 via Courier Post would cost Bt1,530.   

 

Now when looking at the FedEx Thailand website it appears sending the same document package would cost approx Bt1,190 from Bangkok to Wilkes-Barre (may be a little different price depending on where you ship out of Thailand...I was using a Bangkok postal code as shipping origin).

 

So, it appears ThaiPostal adds a couple hundred baht price by acting as a middle man between the mail sender (i.e., you) and FedEx.

 

Just FYI in case a ThaiPostal office might be more convenient/nearby as compared to a FedEx office. 

 

 

https://international.thailandpost.com/services/1178/?lang=en

https://www.thailandpost.co.th/un/article_detail/product/565/9150#:~:text=อัตราชดใช้ค่าเสียหาย : วงเงินชดใช้,มาตรฐานที่กำหนดไว้ ***

 

https://www.fedex.com/en-th/online/rating.html

 

Good info, thank you PiB. I guess I missed that in the thread. I am closer to Jomtien post office and will go today to see if they accept the Courier Post. 

1 hour ago, Pib said:

Just as a reminder according to the Thailand Postal announcement mailing service to the US is still available thru ThaiPostal if using their "Courier Post" mailing option, repeat their Courier Post mailing option.   The best I can figure from the ThaiPostal website is they use FedEx to provide this service. Mailing a 7162 via Courier Post would cost Bt1,530.   

 

Now when looking at the FedEx Thailand website it appears sending the same document package would cost approx Bt1,190 from Bangkok to Wilkes-Barre (may be a little different price depending on where you ship out of Thailand...I was using a Bangkok postal code as shipping origin).

 

So, it appears ThaiPostal adds a couple hundred baht price by acting as a middle man between the mail sender (i.e., you) and FedEx.

 

Just FYI in case a ThaiPostal office might be more convenient/nearby as compared to a FedEx office. 

 

 

https://international.thailandpost.com/services/1178/?lang=en

https://www.thailandpost.co.th/un/article_detail/product/565/9150#:~:text=อัตราชดใช้ค่าเสียหาย : วงเงินชดใช้,มาตรฐานที่กำหนดไว้ ***

 

https://www.fedex.com/en-th/online/rating.html

 

OK Thanks.

Can you confirm Fedex would be accepted at Wilkes Barre?

I understand there s an alternative address for such shipments.

Can someone post it?

That alternative adddress would be used for both Fedex and Thai Post courier, correct?

2 hours ago, Thailand J said:

I used a black pen, the original looks like a copy :).

Yeah, I know. And us old people have trouble keeping the details straight. That's why I fill the form in with blank ink (or use the computer fonts for that) and use dark blue ink for the signature and date.  Honestly, it's read by a machine so pretty sure the X marks just need to be readable. A good copy can look like an original and an original can look like a copy, sure. Do they use chemical testing to find you out? Thanks! 

57 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

OK Thanks.

Can you confirm Fedex would be accepted at Wilkes Barre?

I understand there s an alternative address for such shipments.

Can someone post it?

That alternative adddress would be used for both Fedex and Thai Post courier, correct?

 

 

See @cusanus 10 August post at link below for the Wilkes Barre street address vs P.O. box address.  Delivery to the street address goes directly to the SSA Wilkes  Barre facility; however, the Wilkes Barre P.O. box address goes to the Wilkes Barre main post office where the Wilkes Barre SSA personnel go to pickup mail at the main post office.

 

1 minute ago, Pib said:

 

 

See @cusanus 10 August post at link below for the Wilkes Barre street address vs P.O. box address.  Delivery to the street address goes directly to the SSA Wilkes  Barre facility; however, the Wilkes Barre P.O. box address goes to the Wilkes Barre main post office where the Wilkes Barre SSA personnel go to pickup mail at the main post office.

 

Thanks.

This doesn't give me confidence that a courier/Fedex is a good way to send the form.

They expect the forms at that PO box.

Meaning the best way to send is a regular air mail letter to the box where they expect people to send the forms.

It seems to me not sending the box adds some level of risk that the form won't get to who it needs to get to.

I understand there is no other choice if wanting to send it now.

However, another choice is just to wait for the second form to come later when there is a good chance the letter ban might be lifted.

4 minutes ago, Pib said:

 

 

See @cusanus 10 August post at link below for the Wilkes Barre street address vs P.O. box address.  Delivery to the street address goes directly to the SSA Wilkes  Barre facility; however, the Wilkes Barre P.O. box address goes to the Wilkes Barre main post office where the Wilkes Barre SSA personnel go to pickup mail at the main post office.

 

If registered, does it show when it was picked up at the post office PO Box?  I would guess the SSA staff don't show that... which means if it's super time-sensitive, you wouldn't know if it arrive at the final destination in time.    I'm saying this because I have still yet to receive mine.   

I sent an email to FBU this morning asking for their suggested procedure given my situation. I'll give them about 10 days, then call if I don't hear back. I'll post their response here in case there are still others in the same boat. 

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Thanks.

This doesn't give me confidence that a courier/Fedex is a good way to send the form.

They expect the forms at that PO box.

Meaning the best way to send is a regular air mail letter to the box where they expect people to send the forms.

It seems to me not sending the box adds some level of risk that the form won't get to who it needs to get to.

I understand there is no other choice if wanting to send it now.

However, another choice is just to wait for the second form to come later when there is a good chance the letter ban might be lifted.

Good info and very logical thinking.  Are we sure that a second mailing will happen?  I wonder if it'll be in Sept or Oct.    Fingers crossed that some sort of changes/improvement will be made by the postal system.  

1 minute ago, Galong said:

If registered, does it show when it was picked up at the post office PO Box?  I would guess the SSA staff don't show that... which means if it's super time-sensitive, you wouldn't know if it arrive at the final destination in time.    I'm saying this because I have still yet to receive mine.   

I sent an email to FBU this morning asking for their suggested procedure given my situation. I'll give them about 10 days, then call if I don't hear back. I'll post their response here in case there are still others in the same boat. 

If FBU was decent they would say send the forms to them and then they'll send them in bulk to the Wilkes-Barre PO Box. But they won't ever do that of  course.

In my experience, one time I sent the form with tracking and it was NEVER recorded as received.

All other times just regular air mail with no tracking.

If you're not going to get a confirm of reception, why bother? (In normal times.)

10 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Thanks.

This doesn't give me confidence that a courier/Fedex is a good way to send the form.

They expect the forms at that PO box.

Meaning the best way to send is a regular air mail letter to the box where they expect people to send the forms.

It seems to me not sending the box adds some level of risk that the form won't get to who it needs to get to.

I understand there is no other choice if wanting to send it now.

However, another choice is just to wait for the second form to come later when there is a good chance the letter ban might be lifted.

 

Street addresses are always the best when using private delivery services like FedEx.   The street address for 7162 is widely crossfeed info.  But of course the SSA doesn't like to advertise it as it brings to the surface an ugly mailing cost that some folks might have to occur....so, instead SSA just advertises their USPS P.O. box address which they pre-print on the return envelope. 

 

https://www.rsokorea.org/ssa-manage.html

1 minute ago, Galong said:

Good info and very logical thinking.  Are we sure that a second mailing will happen?  I wonder if it'll be in Sept or Oct.    Fingers crossed that some sort of changes/improvement will be made by the postal system.  

Of course we don't know giving the FUBAR situation in the government now.

It's a very long standing policy though. 

If the second form doesn't ever arrive though, my understanding is that Manila FBU can then help with an alternative email method of filing. But they won't do that before that time.

 

Just now, Jingthing said:

If FBU was decent they would say send the forms to them and then they'll send them in bulk to the Wilkes-Barre PO Box. But they won't ever do that of  course.

In my experience, one time I sent the form with tracking and it was NEVER recorded as received.

All other times just regular air mail with no tracking.

If you're not going to get a confirm of reception, why bother? (In normal times.)

Yep... I've sent it the last three times by registered EMS.  It tracked it until it landed in 'Murica, then crickets. I assume it was picked up, but the SSA staff apparently don't bother telling the postal service about the transaction, which sort of makes sense... why help a fellow citizen if you can do less work?  What a great system... so much winning. 🙄

1 minute ago, Pib said:

 

Street addresses are always the best when using private delivery services like FedEx.   The street address for 7162 is widely crossfeed info.  But of course the SSA doesn't like to advertise it as it brings to the surface an ugly mailing cost that some folks might have to occur....so, instead SSA just advertises their USPS P.O. box address which they pre-print on the return envelope. 

 

https://www.rsokorea.org/ssa-manage.html

Good but that seems to support my suggestion that the PO Box is standard so if you courier it to their street address some unknown level of risk might be added. I understand not sending a courier item to a PO box though.

1 minute ago, Galong said:

Yep... I've sent it the last three times by registered EMS.  It tracked it until it landed in 'Murica, then crickets. I assume it was picked up, but the SSA staff apparently don't bother telling the postal service about the transaction, which sort of makes sense... why help a fellow citizen if you can do less work?  What a great system... so much winning. 🙄

Yeah and that was BEFORE the deep staff cuts!

10 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

If the second form doesn't ever arrive though, my understanding is that Manila FBU can then help with an alternative email method of filing. But they won't do that before that time.

 

 

Post suspension action

"CASI's Security and Integrity Branch (CASI SIB (Baltimore)) will send the FBU a list of FEQ suspensions in its service area. The FBU will investigate the whereabouts of the beneficiaries and the representative payees and any other pertinent changes."

From: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302655010

7 minutes ago, Galong said:

 

Post suspension action

"CASI's Security and Integrity Branch (CASI SIB (Baltimore)) will send the FBU a list of FEQ suspensions in its service area. The FBU will investigate the whereabouts of the beneficiaries and the representative payees and any other pertinent changes."

From: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0302655010

I was talking about the option of still taking action well BEFORE actual suspension.

Obviously, it's a hassle if it gets to suspension.

The consequences of that are dependent on the person's specific financial and visa situation.

 

23 hours ago, Galong said:

This is a prime example of why this entire setup is flawed. We are at the mercy of people who seemingly don't care about how important our documents are to us! We are relying on TWO postal services for something completely unnecessary (deaths are reported to the US Embassy right away) and inefficient for a time-sensitive report. 🤦   It is in THEIR interest to make this smoother. They could be swamped with people in Feb when they don't get their Soc Sec deposit.   The movie Idiocracy was apparently a documentary. 

 

I think Thailand Post generally does a good job. Better than US Mail. My post office called me and told me the form had arrived in my PO Box on the 19th, this past Tuesday. I went up to Taling Chan post office and mailed it back one hour later. So they were very, very helpful. That said, as you indicate, our US government SSA benefits should not be dependent on the delivery of a US government document and its return via a foreign postal delivery service. (This goes for passports, too.) 

The SSA International Operations website has been updated to confirm 7161/7162 forms "for 2025" have been mailed.

 

https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/

 

 

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I was talking about the option of still taking action well BEFORE actual suspension.

Obviously, it's a hassle if it gets to suspension.

The consequences of that are dependent on the person's specific financial and visa situation.

 

OK, I jumped the gun a bit. I was listing what the FBU does in addition to pre-suspension. In other words, once things go south, it looks like we have to rely on the FBU... thus not having to contact the US, which I don't want to do if avoidable. 

I just returned home from the Phuket Central Post Office at Talat Yai in Muang Phuket. I tried to mail my Form 7162 but was refused service. They said all mail operations to the US had been suspended. For how long? No answer.

So now my only option, if I want to meet the SSA 60 day deadline, is to courier the damn thing.

50 Baht airmail stamp as opposed to 2000 Baht DHL charges. 

I can deal with the cost of DHL but I am not at all sure that this is how to "Make America Great Again".

I really think it's time to neuter the bitch. 

I do appreciate all of your guys/gals who have your form sorted (mailed), but you're staying around giving valuable info for those of us still in the process. 🙏🙏🙏

32 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

I think Thailand Post generally does a good job.....

 

I would "generally" agree...at least from my experience in receiving mail at my Bangkok residence for almost 2 decades. 

 

I'm only aware of "one" time that mail meant for me and/or the wife was misdelivered...and that was for delivery of the 7162's for the wife and I in "mid 2024" as the mailman delivered our SSA envelopes to the next soi over with completely different address.  Fortunately, in our gated moobaan we have a LINE group where info is crossfeed regarding issues...like when a person receives mail meant for another address.  In my case the person who received our 7162 envelopes posted a snapshot of the two envelopes on the LINE group, said it was misdelivered to his address of XYZ, and he will drop it off at  moobaan security guard post...where in turn the security guard gives the the misdelivered mail back to the postman the next day.   Well, I saw my neighbor's LINE post within minutes of him posting it, walked about a 100 meters to his address, fortunately he was still home, and he gave me our SSA mail.  That afternoon we (the Thai wife and I) went to our local post office to complain about the misdelivered mail since it was "important" mail....and not just misdelivered to say one of our next door neighbors but to an address  on a different soi.   The post office folks apologized  over and over and said it was because of a postman who was new.   

 

And I will have to say some people cause their own mail problems.  Believer it or not, "just this morning/25 Aug" while I was outside the postman stopped to ask me were a specific address was....I had just seen him driving back and forth on his motorcycle looking for the address...a specific house number ending in 306.     I told he that  "think, not sure" the house at the very end of the soi.   He went to the house but I don't know if he dropped off the mail.  About 5 minutes later I went to see if the house I point out was indeed #306, but it wasn't...it was 305.   I then walked up and down my entire soi to look at the house address numbers and no where was there an address of 306.   BUT, there was one house that did not even have their house address number posted on their mailbox/fence/house and it seemed from how the addresses was laid out our soi that that house was probably 306.  BUT without the owner wanting to spent a few baht to label his address for others to see (like the postman) a person couldn't be sure.

 

 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Rig Pig said:

I just returned home from the Phuket Central Post Office at Talat Yai in Muang Phuket. I tried to mail my Form 7162 but was refused service. They said all mail operations to the US had been suspended. For how long? No answer.

So now my only option, if I want to meet the SSA 60 day deadline, is to courier the damn thing.

50 Baht airmail stamp as opposed to 2000 Baht DHL charges. 

I can deal with the cost of DHL but I am not at all sure that this is how to "Make America Great Again".

I really think it's time to neuter the bitch. 

 

Did you point our what their ThaiPost memo said....all services "except" by Courier Post?   Plus the ThaiPost website shows Courier Post is still available to the US...the only method currently allowed by ThaiPost according to their memo and website.   

 

Sometimes I wonder if local offices, like post offices and immigrations offices, "fully read and understand" their own higher headquarters instructions/guidance.

37 minutes ago, Pib said:

 

I would "generally" agree...at least from my experience in receiving mail at my Bangkok residence for almost 2 decades. 

 

I'm only aware of "one" time that mail meant for me and/or the wife was misdelivered...and that was for delivery of the 7162's for the wife and I in "mid 2024" as the mailman delivered our SSA envelopes to the next soi over with completely different address.  Fortunately, in our gated moobaan we have a LINE group where info is crossfeed regarding issues...like when a person receives mail meant for another address.  In my case the person who received our 7162 envelopes posted a snapshot of the two envelopes on the LINE group, said it was misdelivered to his address of XYZ, and he will drop it off at  moobaan security guard post...where in turn the security guard gives the the misdelivered mail back to the postman the next day.   Well, I saw my neighbor's LINE post within minutes of him posting it, walked about a 100 meters to his address, fortunately he was still home, and he gave me our SSA mail.  That afternoon we (the Thai wife and I) went to our local post office to complain about the misdelivered mail since it was "important" mail....and not just misdelivered to say one of our next door neighbors but to an address  on a different soi.   The post office folks apologized  over and over and said it was because of a postman who was new.   

 

And I will have to say some people cause their own mail problems.  Believer it or not, "just this morning/25 Aug" while I was outside the postman stopped to ask me were a specific address was....I had just seen him driving back and forth on his motorcycle looking for the address...a specific house number ending in 306.     I told he that  "think, not sure" the house at the very end of the soi.   He went to the house but I don't know if he dropped off the mail.  About 5 minutes later I went to see if the house I point out was indeed #306, but it wasn't...it was 305.   I then walked up and down my entire soi to look at the house address numbers and no where was there an address of 306.   BUT, there was one house that did not even have their house address number posted on their mailbox/fence/house and it seemed from how the addresses was laid out our soi that that house was probably 306.  BUT without the owner wanting to spent a few baht to label his address for others to see (like the postman) a person couldn't be sure.

 

 

 

 

 

I've posted before about how Taling Chan sorted mail for my house address is now through a sub-office and that is the main reason I shifted to the PO Box at Taling Chan. When I was getting things exclusively at my house address, I had a couple of misdeliveries, but the people who received the parcels asked around and got my phone number and brought me the mail. The people in the village seem to be fundamentally good about that sort of thing, and I trust them more than I would have trusted the people living on my street back in the US. Taling Chan is a big office and there are always lots of employees working and sorting and delivering. At the same time, they know me, although I only drop in every now and then, as earlier this month when I paid to renew my PO Box rental. The larger point, here, however, is that we are dealing with time sensitive material that has already been delayed by two months. And now there is this. BTW, I returned my form on the afternoon of the 19th, but I don't know if it made its way out of Thailand before the stop went in place. Guess I'll find out if/when it is returned to my PO Box. Just another matter to cause stress.

43 minutes ago, John Drake said:

I've posted before about how Taling Chan sorted mail for my house address... the village seem to be fundamentally good about that sort of thing, and I trust them more than I would have trusted the people living on my street back in the US. Just another matter to cause stress.

Speaking of stress Every day my mailbox in Missoula was packed with junk so tight I could barely pull it out. I missed paying some bills due to the labor just sorting it. Here my Thai wife and I get about 1-3 letters a month, mostly recurring bills for AIS and such. My neighbors in the states may have looked okay but one could be seen hiding stolen property and next door the kid played music so loud you couldn't hear yourself think and the other's dog raised Hell all night every night. My renters left me the remains of a dog they skinned, cooked and ate in the garage. Despite 8 years university math and science, 3.84 gpa, and a certified systems engineer I couldn't get a decent job to pay the bills and had to put up with relentless sexual harassment in the public school. A major employer of young people in town was coercing them into smoking crack. I had to constantly worry about my children being assaulted or killed as I nearly was in grade school. The US medical system is far more likely to kill you than any disease. What little I'd saved was enough to be rid of all that trouble and last the rest of my life in Thailand. In fact, I have double in the bank now than when I came.  Everyone here is respectful and polite, have had a super fine wife 17 of 20 years, great grandkids, etc. I know it doesn't work out that well for everyone, but to me being in the states would be a death sentence. It would have been nice to retire in Montana and do some fine trout fishing, but I'd never have survived this long.  

1 minute ago, cusanus said:

Speaking of stress Every day my mailbox in Missoula was packed with junk so tight I could barely pull it out. I missed paying some bills due to the labor just sorting it. Here my Thai wife and I get about 1-3 letters a month, mostly recurring bills for AIS and such. My neighbors in the states may have looked okay but one could be seen hiding stolen property and next door the kid played music so loud you couldn't hear yourself think and the other's dog raised Hell all night every night. My renters left me the remains of a dog they skinned, cooked and ate in the garage. Despite 8 years university math and science, 3.84 gpa, and a certified systems engineer I couldn't get a decent job to pay the bills and had to put up with relentless sexual harassment in the public school. A major employer of young people in town was coercing them into smoking crack. The US medical system is far more likely to kill you than any disease. What little I'd saved was enough to be rid of all that trouble and last the rest of my life in Thailand. In fact, I have double in the bank now than when I came.  Everyone here is respectful and polite, have had a super fine wife 17 of 20 years, great grandkids, etc. I know it doesn't work out that well for everyone, but to me being in the states would be a death sentence. It would have nice to retire in Montana and do some fine trout fishing, but I'd never have survived this long.  

 

 

 Isaan.......bought a very fancy looking, stainless steel letter box........one letter in five years.......and it wasn't ours.

 

 

Some troll posts offering no useful information have been removed

I went to the Jomtien post office and they confirmed no mail to the U.S. except for Courier Post. I started filling out the forms and realized I left the alternate address at home. Once home I looked up DHL (Thai post courier service) and went to their office in Jomtien. Ten minutes in and out, all was computerized at 1625 Baht, only signed my credit card receipt. Well worth it if all goes well, should be delivered by Friday. I never received a quote for the Courier Post. 
 

Now the way things usually workout I bet the whole postal thing will be back to normal in a few days. At which time I’ll send a copy if I’m not sure of things. Once DHL delivers I’ll have the wife make me some tacos.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Thailandbuckeye said:

I went to the Jomtien post office and they confirmed no mail to the U.S. except for Courier Post. I started filling out the forms and realized I left the alternate address at home. Once home I looked up DHL (Thai post courier service) and went to their office in Jomtien. Ten minutes in and out, all was computerized at 1625 Baht, only signed my credit card receipt. Well worth it if all goes well, should be delivered by Friday. I never received a quote for the Courier Post. 
 

Now the way things usually workout I bet the whole postal thing will be back to normal in a few days. At which time I’ll send a copy if I’m not sure of things. Once DHL delivers I’ll have the wife make me some tacos.

 

 

I hope they're good tacos.

We have bad taco in D.C.

Anyway, you are likely to get proof of receipt from DHL, but as I said before, the standard address is the PO box, so you won't really know if it gets to the actual place it needs to go.

For the first time ever my FIRST letter arrived on the 23rd more or less on time. Most years never get first notice and many years second notice shows up months late. I now must travel back to my northern home about 400km in a few days by train and bus. Attempt to mail it from Nakhon Nowhere in Petchabun province. One idea is mail one to the Philippines and ask about America. In the meanwhile Commander Meathead has managed to piss off the world and stop most mail service. So we the tax payer get screwed when its time for America to cough up the dough. 

Jingthing,

I agree that I may not know the delivery made it to the right place but I don’t know of many options at this point.
 

My wife makes great tacos and they don’t cause me heartburn like governments do.