Multi Entry B Visa - The System - Prescription Drugs

[peterjackson]

Hey

I have been reading this forum for about a year now as a guest. I have learned a lot of valuable info. and great insight. I am a UK Citizen, presently in the USA (5 years) and am looking to come to Thailand (Phuket) to research and probably establish an Asia base for our UK company. I visited Thailand many times some 15-20 years ago and liked Phuket the most.

I would rent a property, I would be looking for a house (2 or 3 bed), furnished, pref. with a pool, within 15Km of Patong Beach Question 1, any ideas of Rental Cost ? or links to sites offering such properties.

Question 2, I will be entering on a Multi Entry B Visa, I presume I will then get a 90 entry stamp upon arrival and will have to do the entry stamp run every 90 days ? If so, where do you go to from this area (Patong) and what are the costs involved in doing this and the time it takes to do ?

Question 3, if after the 12-15 months, when the Visa is about to expire, am I correct in thinking that I have to leave the country altogether and have a new B multi-entry put into my passport ? If so, where do I have to leave to and what are the costs approx. involved in this ? Is it always granted or are there complications in getting Yearly 'B' Visas ?

Question 4, I presently take a prescription medication called LOTREL in the 10/20 strength. This is a combination drug, which controls my blood pressure. Is there a way I can find out, what this drug costs in Thailand and it's availability. I cannot use other drugs, this is the drug that after much research, works for me best. I can bring in the country 3 months supply from my USA Doctor, but I would need to purchase locally after that. I presume I would need a prescription from a Thai Doctor and have it filled at a local Pharmacy ?

My hope would be to live in Thailand Permanently (Age 43 now), even after the new Office has been established. So, I need to make sure I have all the answers before planning my schedule and making a plan of action.

I will probably be arriving in Thailand during June-Aug 2007.

I thank you all in advance for any help or advice you are able to give me.

Kind regards

Peter

[vinny]

1. See MLS Property Guide

2. See NON-IMMIGRANT VISA "B" - (business and work),

Office of Foreigner Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour,

One Year Visa Extension,

Required Documents, "to work in a Regional Operation Offices",

WORK PERMITS, VISAS, AND REENTRY PERMITS IN THAILAND, and

Notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days.

3. A foreigner can live and work continuously as long as applicable permits are renewed.

4. See health care

[Thaiquila]

Some meds cannot be found in Thailand. Other meds go under different brand names, you have to know the active ingredient and consult with a Thai pharmacist.

I think you are out of luck with your med, but you may be able to replicate the combination by taking equivalents of both meds (as it is combo) and I think you could approximate that in Thailand. See a doc in Thailand:

http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/healthcare.htm

Prescriptions for most meds not required in Thailand; welcome to the wild east.

Lotrel is specifically mentioned here as being not available in Thailand.

You could also check Singapore and bring in a years supply, a bit risky at customs maybe.

Edited May 31, 2006 by Thaiquila

[peterjackson]

Thanks Vinny, I'd already checked the MLS and to be honest, if your outsside Bangkok or at least in Phuket, the service is of little use for renting, but a great site if you are in Bangkok.

When I spoke to the Consul General in Wash. DC today, they tell me as I am initially researching the possibility of opening a branch office as oppposed to actually setting one up and signing leases etc, I will need to leave every 90 days and am therefore unable to get the extension from within Thailand also, I do not need a work permit for the research activities, I can forsee that after my initial 1 year B visa expires, I will be in a position then to set-up the branch office physically and will at that point apply for the work permit etc. So i still need to know the costs of the 'run' that I need to do every 90 days during the first 12-15 months and the best place/company/agent to go with from the Patong area.

Again as for the healthcare issue, I was aware of and had read the links on the pattaya site you linked to, although helpful, it really doesn't give the me information I was looking for specifically.

So if anyone else can give me more specific info. on my questions, I would be grateful.

Thanks Thaiquila for your reply and for confirmation that Lotrel cannot be bought in Thailand. Unfortunately one of the TWO drugs in the combo, which goes under the Trade name of Norvasc, cannot be found on the generic market as it is still within patent. maybe I will return to the UK before my sarriving in Thailand and have some tests done on other readily available drugs. Then I will get my Visa from the Embassy in London.

Many thanks to you both for taking the time to reply and your valuable information.

Regards

Peter

[vinny]

1. Try the following:

Patong Natural Home

Patong Harbor View

Phuket Real Estate Agent Company Limited

Khanitta

Villa Real Construction

You can also ask the question in the following forums:

Phuket Forum

Real Estate, housing, house and land ownership

4. Try asking in the Health, Body and Medicine forum.

Edited June 1, 2006 by vinny

[lopburi3]

Lotrel is both Amlodipine and Benazepril. I know Amlodipine is available here as I take it in combonation with Atenolol (Tenormin). Cost from hospital is 18.29 baht for 5mg tablets of Amlodipine.

[topfield]

Some meds cannot be found in Thailand. Other meds go under different brand names, you have to know the active ingredient and consult with a Thai pharmacist.

I think you are out of luck with your med, but you may be able to replicate the combination by taking equivalents of both meds (as it is combo) and I think you could approximate that in Thailand. See a doc in Thailand:

http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/healthcare.htm

Prescriptions for most meds not required in Thailand; welcome to the wild east.

Lotrel is specifically mentioned here as being not available in Thailand.

You could also check Singapore and bring in a years supply, a bit risky at customs maybe.

Oh no...don't even think about Singapore. Worst place to buy medicines I know . There is just one retail pharmacy for the whole population called GUARDIAN and they have a MONOPOLY so sky high prices. So what do Singaporeans do ? They buy medicine prescribed locally by doctors usually at hospitals where the price is a fair one. I know this from experience wanting to by anti chloresterol drugs. In Thailand they're available over the counter !!

drugs

[peterjackson]

Hey

Thanks for the info lopburi3 on Amlopidine, which is branded as Norvasc commonly. That is actually the drug that I need mainly and at 10mg per dayt or 2x5's obviously. So, thats a good result.

I'll make sure I don't buy any stuff from Singapore, thanks for the info.

Just a question that came up yesterday when I was tralking with the Consul General in Wash. D.C., he mentioned that when I apply for my Non Imm. 'B' Visa I need to supply my Return Airline ticket. I didn't want to sound as though I was intending on staying in Thailand, so I just said okay. But am I right in thinking that if I went with a One Way ticket, I wouldn't get the Visa ? I presume I just buy the Return ticket and then just lose the money on the return part as I will be hopefully staying in Thailand. Is it advisable to buy a return ticket with a 90 day period on it ?

Kind regards

Peter

Edited June 2, 2006 by peterjackson

[lopburi3]

You are applying for a multi entry B so there would be no expectation of you returning in 90 days so an open date for return should be fine. They only want to see the funds to return (ticket) rather that checking days like for a 30 day entry without visa. If you buy a bucket shop ticket the price will probably not be that much more than a one way ticket anyhow (as r/t are discounted much more as a rule). I believe the ticket requirement is because you are not using a US passport.

[peterjackson]

Hey

Once again many thanks for your speedy and informative answer. As I won't be leaving for Thailand for at least another 12 months, I will ask questions nearer the time for advice on where to buy airline tickets from for the the UK to Thailand trip.

I will definately be returning to the UK for at least a month before embarking on my Thailand expedition.

Regards

Peter

[happymanme]

peter dont get the visa from the thai embassy but use the consulate in hull,great and very fast service they also do visa by post takes 3 days.at the embassy you have to take your passport in and then collect it the next day..

hope this helps

allan

[peterjackson]

Hey Allan

Thats a great help, as my home base is Manchester, Hull, will be much better. Do I need to send my orignal flight ticket or an ininerary copy or something else ? If you are unable to answer, I will call them up, nearer the time.

Kind regards

Peter