Planning for 6 months in Thailand
Sep 22nd, 2010, 02:15 PM
#23
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there is also a book that has been put together for expats in thailand....it might be the bkk women's club that did it....
maybe michael knows of it...
but the more i think about it i believe it was a man who wrote it...
it told all kinds of good things, like paying for electricity and water, shopping, domestics, etc...
does anyone else remember it??
maybe michael knows of it...
but the more i think about it i believe it was a man who wrote it...
it told all kinds of good things, like paying for electricity and water, shopping, domestics, etc...
does anyone else remember it??
Sep 22nd, 2010, 10:35 PM
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The Bangkok Survivor's Handbook by Robert Hein (ISBN-0-9740502-0-2) is the one that I bought in 2003. It was updated after 2003. However, I don't know how many updates it has gone through.
As for banks in Thailand, oh, boy. I opened an account at Bangkok Bank some years ago. Then a few months later, when I went into my same bank, there was a sign stating the requirements for foreigners opening an account. And had I waited a few months later, I wouldn't have met them.
When I opened my account, I had my best Thai friend go into the bank with me as it's attached to my serviced apartment building. So, she came over for a visit, we went to the bank, and she did the talking as the bank guy spoke no English and I couldn't do banking business in Thai.
Opening the account was quite easy and then I asked if I could also have a debit card. The bank guy opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of them and asked which one I wanted....Visa or Mastercard? I made my choice and then I signed some paperwork and was handed my debit card along with my bank book. It's nice having the bank book as one can easily keep up with one's expenditures and balances. You just stick it into the bank machine and it totally itemizes each expenditure and prints the amount, of each, in the book.
A debit card really comes in handy. I use it mostly for grocery shopping and regular shopping and then can, of course, use the ATM portion of it at the ATM machines.
I've heard that at some banks the accounts can be closed if there has been no activity on the account for a year. However, my account was fine in Nov 2009, and at that point I hadn't been in Bangkok, one month short of two years. I'm usually there 1-2 times a year, but due to elderly parent circumstances can't get there as often as I once did. So, what I just did was sent my bank book and some money to Bangkok, with a Thai friend, who lives here in L.A. He just got back from a 3-week visit to his family home in Bangkok. I called him last week and he said that he made a deposit for me. I'll pick up my bank book from him, at his restaurant, day after tomorrow. Now, my bank account will show some activity, just in case. Have fun in Chiang Mai. Happy Travels!
As for banks in Thailand, oh, boy. I opened an account at Bangkok Bank some years ago. Then a few months later, when I went into my same bank, there was a sign stating the requirements for foreigners opening an account. And had I waited a few months later, I wouldn't have met them.
When I opened my account, I had my best Thai friend go into the bank with me as it's attached to my serviced apartment building. So, she came over for a visit, we went to the bank, and she did the talking as the bank guy spoke no English and I couldn't do banking business in Thai.
Opening the account was quite easy and then I asked if I could also have a debit card. The bank guy opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of them and asked which one I wanted....Visa or Mastercard? I made my choice and then I signed some paperwork and was handed my debit card along with my bank book. It's nice having the bank book as one can easily keep up with one's expenditures and balances. You just stick it into the bank machine and it totally itemizes each expenditure and prints the amount, of each, in the book.
A debit card really comes in handy. I use it mostly for grocery shopping and regular shopping and then can, of course, use the ATM portion of it at the ATM machines.
I've heard that at some banks the accounts can be closed if there has been no activity on the account for a year. However, my account was fine in Nov 2009, and at that point I hadn't been in Bangkok, one month short of two years. I'm usually there 1-2 times a year, but due to elderly parent circumstances can't get there as often as I once did. So, what I just did was sent my bank book and some money to Bangkok, with a Thai friend, who lives here in L.A. He just got back from a 3-week visit to his family home in Bangkok. I called him last week and he said that he made a deposit for me. I'll pick up my bank book from him, at his restaurant, day after tomorrow. Now, my bank account will show some activity, just in case. Have fun in Chiang Mai. Happy Travels!
Sep 22nd, 2010, 10:53 PM
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LynnieB: Poster mcbeanie had a thread entitled, "Long-term rentals in Thailand". I can top it for you and then you can scroll a page or two to locate it, as when I tried posting a link, something didn't work. I have the steps written down. Happy Travels!
Sep 25th, 2010, 10:12 PM
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LynnieD -
I've only had a brief scan of the posts above but here are my thoughts on the subject
for a 6 month stay I'd recommend the Non Immigrant "O" visa or even a non immigrant "B"??
It doesn't need to be a retirement Visa per se.
The problem is that local consulates are notoriously inconsistent in how they issue these, so I'd go out and ask your local consulate you may be pleasantly surprised. If not ask another consulatte.
Honorary consulates are private companies contracted to deal with Thai government bureaucracy - they are not necessarily govt bodies.
There is NORMALLY a financial requirement. This usually has to be in the a/c 3 months in advance - they can if they want accept a foreign a/c as evidence.
Many, many people who stay long term in Thailand have these visas.
They come in various forms but basically they are 90 day visas. If you get one that is valid for 12 months, you will have to leave the country every 90 days a border run will suffice) and you will receive another 90 days one re-entry.
interestingly if you re-enter just before it expires you may receive another 90 days which means it is possible to extend it over the year period.
Leaving and re-entering -
This is worth bearing in mind of you plne any trips to neighboring countries.
You will need a RE_ENTRY visa stamp as well as your Non Immigrant "O" - a multiple entry is best.
this means you can come and go without any loss of days. (If you exit the country on a tourist visa without a re-entry permit it becomes invalid and you lose any unused days)
what about a "B" visa? Well if you have a company and are going to Thailand to check out business opportunities, you aren't a tourist, are you? You'll need the "business visa"- I'd give that a shot too!
NB - if you enter Thailand WITHOUT a visa you will receive a 30day visa-less stay. This is reduced to 15DAYS if you enter by land. although this is initially hassle-free it in the end involves either repeated visa runs or immigration top-ups. You'll lose a lot of time and money chasing this sort of stuff.
I've only had a brief scan of the posts above but here are my thoughts on the subject
for a 6 month stay I'd recommend the Non Immigrant "O" visa or even a non immigrant "B"??
It doesn't need to be a retirement Visa per se.
The problem is that local consulates are notoriously inconsistent in how they issue these, so I'd go out and ask your local consulate you may be pleasantly surprised. If not ask another consulatte.
Honorary consulates are private companies contracted to deal with Thai government bureaucracy - they are not necessarily govt bodies.
There is NORMALLY a financial requirement. This usually has to be in the a/c 3 months in advance - they can if they want accept a foreign a/c as evidence.
Many, many people who stay long term in Thailand have these visas.
They come in various forms but basically they are 90 day visas. If you get one that is valid for 12 months, you will have to leave the country every 90 days a border run will suffice) and you will receive another 90 days one re-entry.
interestingly if you re-enter just before it expires you may receive another 90 days which means it is possible to extend it over the year period.
Leaving and re-entering -
This is worth bearing in mind of you plne any trips to neighboring countries.
You will need a RE_ENTRY visa stamp as well as your Non Immigrant "O" - a multiple entry is best.
this means you can come and go without any loss of days. (If you exit the country on a tourist visa without a re-entry permit it becomes invalid and you lose any unused days)
what about a "B" visa? Well if you have a company and are going to Thailand to check out business opportunities, you aren't a tourist, are you? You'll need the "business visa"- I'd give that a shot too!
NB - if you enter Thailand WITHOUT a visa you will receive a 30day visa-less stay. This is reduced to 15DAYS if you enter by land. although this is initially hassle-free it in the end involves either repeated visa runs or immigration top-ups. You'll lose a lot of time and money chasing this sort of stuff.
Sep 26th, 2010, 06:33 PM
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As khunwilco points out, the 'rules' are one thing, how or whether they're applied is another. Your best option is to obtain multiple Non Immigrant "O" visas. This would be a visa for 60 or 90 days that can be 'used' more than once (but usually not more than twice). At the end of your first usage, you simply have to leave the country and come back to begin the second. This type of visa may be easier to obtain in the US than in the region.
You do not need a re-entry permit unless you plan to travel outside the country before your visa expires. They are rather expensive - my one-year retirement visa costs 1,900 Baht, but the re-entry permit costs 3,800.
It seems that multiple Non Immigrant "O" visas are available in nearby countries, but the ease of getting them, or any visa run, depends on where you go. The last time I looked into it (I thankfully have never had to do a 'visa run') the embassy in Vientiane was very difficult, but the one in Phnom Penh was very accommodating.
You do not need a re-entry permit unless you plan to travel outside the country before your visa expires. They are rather expensive - my one-year retirement visa costs 1,900 Baht, but the re-entry permit costs 3,800.
It seems that multiple Non Immigrant "O" visas are available in nearby countries, but the ease of getting them, or any visa run, depends on where you go. The last time I looked into it (I thankfully have never had to do a 'visa run') the embassy in Vientiane was very difficult, but the one in Phnom Penh was very accommodating.
Sep 26th, 2010, 07:08 PM
#30
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You can if needed get a single re-entry stamp - these cost about 1200 baht I think.
Getting a non imm visa "near" Thailand is fraught with pitfalls, you are much better doing this at home.
Singapore is usually OK but Penang has a reputation for chopping and changing.
You cn get re-entry stamps in Thailand but NOT at the airport any more.
Despite all this, at the end of the day they are the most convenient though!?!?!
Getting a non imm visa "near" Thailand is fraught with pitfalls, you are much better doing this at home.
Singapore is usually OK but Penang has a reputation for chopping and changing.
You cn get re-entry stamps in Thailand but NOT at the airport any more.
Despite all this, at the end of the day they are the most convenient though!?!?!
Sep 27th, 2010, 02:14 PM
#31
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I am honestly more confused than ever!!
So, I get an "O" Visa from here in the US. I arrive in Thailand and on day 89 I leave and go to Phnom Penh ( i really hoped to do this from Vientane). At that time I am good for 90 more days max.
This visa does not require Thai bank accounts, health certs, etc. No real desire to go to Phnom Penh. Any other alternatives? What makes Vientiene difficult?
THanks. BTW I ordered the 2006 version of Bangkok Survivors Guide recommended by Guenmai. Also I will get the Moon guide on Oct 7th when it comes out.
So, I get an "O" Visa from here in the US. I arrive in Thailand and on day 89 I leave and go to Phnom Penh ( i really hoped to do this from Vientane). At that time I am good for 90 more days max.
This visa does not require Thai bank accounts, health certs, etc. No real desire to go to Phnom Penh. Any other alternatives? What makes Vientiene difficult?
THanks. BTW I ordered the 2006 version of Bangkok Survivors Guide recommended by Guenmai. Also I will get the Moon guide on Oct 7th when it comes out.
Sep 29th, 2010, 08:50 AM
#32
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Sorry, it IS very confusing!
You get your "O" visa in the US.
On arrival in Thailand you will receive a stamp in your passport permitting you to stay 90 days - the date you must leave by will be on that stamp.
At that time you can go ANYWHERE you like out of Thailand....so long as you have a re-entry stamp as well as the visa in your passport.
On re-entering Thailand by any border, you will receive another 90 day stamp.
With a non - Immigrant "O" you don't have to stay fro 90 days, you can come and go; every time you re-enter, you'll get another 90 days.
For this you'll need a non immigrant "O" visa that is valid for ONE YEAR, with a "multiple re-entry" stamp as well.
I know a few people using these visas and at least 2 of them don't have their money in Thailand.
Another benefit of this visa is you can more easily open a bank account here or, buy a car (unlikely event?) and a few other things that you may not be able to do on a short term tourist visa. (get a driving licence?)
you have every right to be confused, not only are the regulations inconsistently applied, they are often changed apparently on the whim of some high-ranking official.
I would suggest though that you walk into your nearest consulate and ask for one - rather than ask if you can have one. at present tourist visas are been given out free - the honorary consulates don't like this as it was a good source of income for them - they may well be happy to give you a visa that they can charge for!
They are not the cheapest of visas but they are the most convenient.
You DON"t haver to go to Phnom Penh.
What we are saying is that the INITIAL non imm"O" visa is only available outside Thailand - e.g your home country or one or two countries in the S.E. Asia region. e.g. Singapore. Your ninety day stamp should be issued by immigration on entry at any Thailand border.
that's the theory!
You get your "O" visa in the US.
On arrival in Thailand you will receive a stamp in your passport permitting you to stay 90 days - the date you must leave by will be on that stamp.
At that time you can go ANYWHERE you like out of Thailand....so long as you have a re-entry stamp as well as the visa in your passport.
On re-entering Thailand by any border, you will receive another 90 day stamp.
With a non - Immigrant "O" you don't have to stay fro 90 days, you can come and go; every time you re-enter, you'll get another 90 days.
For this you'll need a non immigrant "O" visa that is valid for ONE YEAR, with a "multiple re-entry" stamp as well.
I know a few people using these visas and at least 2 of them don't have their money in Thailand.
Another benefit of this visa is you can more easily open a bank account here or, buy a car (unlikely event?) and a few other things that you may not be able to do on a short term tourist visa. (get a driving licence?)
you have every right to be confused, not only are the regulations inconsistently applied, they are often changed apparently on the whim of some high-ranking official.
I would suggest though that you walk into your nearest consulate and ask for one - rather than ask if you can have one. at present tourist visas are been given out free - the honorary consulates don't like this as it was a good source of income for them - they may well be happy to give you a visa that they can charge for!
They are not the cheapest of visas but they are the most convenient.
You DON"t haver to go to Phnom Penh.
What we are saying is that the INITIAL non imm"O" visa is only available outside Thailand - e.g your home country or one or two countries in the S.E. Asia region. e.g. Singapore. Your ninety day stamp should be issued by immigration on entry at any Thailand border.
that's the theory!
Sep 30th, 2010, 07:00 AM
#33
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I also needed a BIG change following a divorce and headed to India for a number of weeks on my own and it really worked for I left all thoughts of home at home! You mention being interested in Mexico but concerned that it is too dangerous right now. Don't ignore Latin America because of some of the stuff you hear on the news, for it mostly applies to the drug war in places near the Mexico/US border. There are many great destinations in Mexico (I suggest several Latin American itineraries on my blog ridingthebuses.wordpress.com and also a blog on "doing it smartly" and "women travelling on their own.") You are young! Maybe staying in one place for six months is not what you need right now!
Sep 30th, 2010, 05:27 PM
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I am writing from Thailand:
My suggestion is that you contact the nearest Thai embassy/consulate in USA and request a visa form a double entry Tourist visa... each stay is good for 60 days with a 30 day renewal at 1900 baht... i.e. you exit the country after 3 months and then return maybe 20 minutes later.
ThaiVisa.com is a good source of info but do not post on there anything about volunteering -- you will be told in no uncertain terms that you cannot volunteer without a work permit.
(honorary consulates are sometimes much easier to deal with)-- http://www.guidetothailand.com/thail...n-americas.php
My suggestion is that you contact the nearest Thai embassy/consulate in USA and request a visa form a double entry Tourist visa... each stay is good for 60 days with a 30 day renewal at 1900 baht... i.e. you exit the country after 3 months and then return maybe 20 minutes later.
ThaiVisa.com is a good source of info but do not post on there anything about volunteering -- you will be told in no uncertain terms that you cannot volunteer without a work permit.
(honorary consulates are sometimes much easier to deal with)-- http://www.guidetothailand.com/thail...n-americas.php
Sep 30th, 2010, 05:34 PM
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Having just moved to Nonthaburi in August, I can tell you of problems you can't foresee. Since I am living with my son and have been here before, having a place to live was easy. We have friends in CM who agree that downtown a bicycle may be ok. We had 37 boxes of goods shipped and they arrived ok. We forgot a cellphone charger and had it mailed on August 27. It is stuck in Immigration and has not been delivered yet. Trying to get the US Embassy to help does no good. So, make sure to bring it all with you because the Thai Mail System is not like the U.S.The other thing about a lot of visitors is that you may want to check with the rental office where you rent. Thailand is a highly conservative country and how you handle the visitors coming and going may cause problems especially for a farang(foreigner).
Oct 1st, 2010, 08:01 AM
#37
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tourist visas are at present free - and can be extended.
However if you intend to leave the country within this period, you should check if they have a re-entry stamp. Usually the visa expires when you exit the kingdom regardless of how long you have been there.
Tourist visas have to be obtained outside Thailand too but are available from more places -
You should certainly check with your embassy or consulate - but be prepared for more confusion, as said before you may well get conflicting responses from different consulates and officials.
However if you intend to leave the country within this period, you should check if they have a re-entry stamp. Usually the visa expires when you exit the kingdom regardless of how long you have been there.
Tourist visas have to be obtained outside Thailand too but are available from more places -
You should certainly check with your embassy or consulate - but be prepared for more confusion, as said before you may well get conflicting responses from different consulates and officials.
Oct 3rd, 2010, 10:43 PM
#38
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Lynnie: I read in your post above, Sept 21, that you're also considering Latin America. If Thailand doesn't work out then I'd personally head straight for South America; Buenos Aires. Was there in December 2008. Loved it.
Although I adore Thailand, I'm a big Bangkok person, if for some reason I had to move on to choice #2, then it would definitely be Buenos Aires. It's very alive and vibrant there. And while there, I'd enroll into Spanish classes and also into tango school and frequent the milongas (sp?). Just a thought. Happy Travels!
Although I adore Thailand, I'm a big Bangkok person, if for some reason I had to move on to choice #2, then it would definitely be Buenos Aires. It's very alive and vibrant there. And while there, I'd enroll into Spanish classes and also into tango school and frequent the milongas (sp?). Just a thought. Happy Travels!
