This week’s Weekly Update coming to you from back in the sea-side community of Cha Am. Topics of this week’s Weekly Update includes, a cool transportation and exercise option in Chiang Mai, a new Thailand eVisa that will allow online visa applications, e-tickets to the islands, banking through the Thai Post Offices, and lots more.
We will be attending this week’s weekly member get-together in Hua Hin and hope to get the chance to see you there. If you are in the area make sure to attend our Hua Hin member get-together to meet new people and ask any questions. The Hua Hin/Cha Am member get together takes place every Monday at the Market Village shopping mall at 10:30 AM in the very bottom level in the food court. Hope you can get there! Too see exactly where we meet check out the June 02 Weekly Update.
There will be members attending the Chiang Mai member meeting. If you are in Chiang Mai maybe stop by on Sunday at Ratana’s Kitchen in Chiang Mai at 10:00 am where we have the Chiang Mai member meeting and meet some other members.
Updates, Info and News in this Weekly Update
- Confirmed, Chiang Mai Immigration has now enforced and requested that you will also be required to show income evidence when renewing your visa.
- The orphanage mentioned is Bandekdee Orphanage which is a project for ethnic minority orphans and poor children throughout the provinces in Northern of Thailand who are at risk for, or victims of, drug issues, human trafficking and force labor.
- Chiang Mai has 500 Smart Bikes, Known as MOBIKE IN January 19, 2018. 500 smart bikes will be installed at key locations around the city such as the Three Kings Monument, Buak Hard Public Park, Tha Pae Gate and in the old town. Users will have to download the MOBIKE application which is available on App Store and Google Play store. After registration and payment is made, the app will provide a QR code to unlock the bike. To use Mobike for the first time, a one-time refundable deposit 99 Baht and 10 baht for a period of 30 minutes. Charges start once the bike has been unlocked. The timer will reset each time once the bike has been locked.
- The Transport Ministry aims to reduce road death toll among motorcyclists by 50%. Their recommendations would mean drivers without licenses could now be fined up to 50,000 baht and go to jail for three months. The proposals that will now go forward to ministerial committees to consider the proposals through September and October.
- A senior government spokesman said that in the future those applying for licenses who want to ride big bikes would have to take a separate test and have a separate license in order to lessen road accidents. Whether it would refer to, say, 250cc up or perhaps 400cc up was not announced.
- The washed out three sections of the main Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai road reported on last week are NOW OPEN.
- The Thailand eVisa (similar to Vietnam) will be pre-launched in four test countries before the end of the year: the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United Arab Emirates. One of the ways that travelers will be able to process their applications is through thailandvisa.net. Citizens of the four chosen countries will be able to apply online for the Thai Visa without going to a Thai embassy or consulate. After an application has been completed and approved, the eVisa will be sent to the applicant electronically. Travelers will have already been pre-screened by the authorities and can enter Thailand by presenting their eVisa and their passport when they arrive.
- Cashless Society? The government is going to allow households to pay their tap water and electricity bills via the PromptPay channel without being charged a transaction fee, as part of its efforts to promote a cashless society the Finance Minister said on Monday. Since the government initiated the PromptPay service early last year, 44.3 million accounts have been registered with the system and some Bt2.6 trillion worth of e-payments have been made.
- Banking in Remote Areas – Kasikornbank (KBank) customers will be able to withdraw cash from their accounts through 964 Thailand Post outlets nationwide by the end of the year. In the initial stage, each customer is allowed to deposit up to 20,000 baht per transaction and 40,000 baht per day, with a 20-baht fee per transaction. However, the fee is being halved to 10 baht until the end of the year.
- The senior police Maj Gen has told the Thai media of plans for the future that include, DL licenses cannot be confiscated by officers after traffic violations, officers found guilty of extortion and taking bribes would be sacked. He said that a list of those dismissed from the force would be published each month.
He said that 10 million Thais do not have licenses and of that number 8 million are motorcycle riders and 2 million car drivers and wants to see the penalty raised for not having one to 3 months jail and 50,000 baht. - An exhibition chronicling the Tham Luang cave rescue titled “Tham Luang Incredible Mission: The Global Agenda” features details, pictures and equipment from the rescue operation which saw a coalition of Thais and foreigners bring out 12 boys and their coach to safety. The exhibition — held by the Ministry of Culture between Aug 22 and Sept 9 at Siam Paragon in Bangkok and then the exhibition will be held in four regions across the country.
- The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) says it is to introduce an e-ticketing system at marine locations to regulate visitors and prevent corruption. “There will no longer be walk-in tourists at top marine park destinations soon. The e-tickets will serve as a department tool to control and limit the number of tourists,” director of the DNP’s National Park Office said. The department is setting up a committee to select counter-service agents to sell e-tickets, he added. Currently, there are three bidding contenders: 7-Eleven stores, Krungthai Bank, and Siam Commercial Bank. He said the bid winner will be announced by October, before the tourist season kicks off at marine national parks in the Andaman Sea.
- Links to awesome Thai online shopping portals I use (affiliate links): AliExpress and Lazada.
- Previously I mentioned that people who want a driving license will no longer need to be tested at a land department center. All applicants needed to do is go to a driving school, get a certificate. If drivers can show they have completed the new more stringent five hours of training they can pick up a license from any department office. But when that is done they will need to do nothing else except present the certificate from the driving school and they will get their license. BTW a list of driving schools in Chiang Mai is now available. See below for the list.
- Location of the Thai immigration office for Cha Am (See below)
- Don’t forget to check out our Social Security Break Even Calculator
- We are completely redoing our website MapsNMore.com, because I feel it is a valuable resource. When finished it will be easier to use with mobile devices and more informative as well. Stay tuned!
This Week’s 5 Questions:
- Do you have any trips planned for the latter part of 2018?
- Any significant pros or cons in using the train versus the bus to to get to Hua Hin/Cha Am from Bangkok?
- Are the driving schools (and the school-license option) limited only to the Chang Mai area? Are there available options for other regions?
- Regarding the addition to “Proof of Income from the Consulate (Stat Dec/Affidavit)”, what additional documentation is necessary/acceptable – from what source, in what form – letter, etc.; need it be notarized, etc.? I realize more info is required, but….. do I need to bring any additional documentation from the states – and will its timeliness be of importance? Answer: Documents testifying your qualification, showing the amount that you receive, need to be equal with the amount stating in the Proof of Income from the Consulate.” Verification can be in the form of Social Security, a historical investment account statement, historical record of pension income, a bank Statement from oversea bank or Thai Bank showing deposits from overseas only.
- Which Foreign National Information form is appropriate? Does it matter? If it does, what are the criteria?
Answer: Not all offices require the form. Links to the form can be found on the bottom of the Weekly Updates page (see below) as well as in the posting titled, Everything About a Retirement Visa.
Mentioned in This and Previous Weekly Updates:
Our Latest YouTube Video:
Driving Schools in Chiang Mai:
Only 2 of these schools have phone numbers published
- Tunwad Driving School
41/7, Sri Phum Road, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, 50200
Tel: 053 223 550 - Chang Phuak Driving School
Chiang Mai – Lampang Superhighway, Chang Phuak, Mueang Chiang Mai,
Chiang Mai, 50300
Tel: 053 444 04 - Chiang Yuen Driving Center
Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand - Khun Noi Driving School
Wat Ket, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand - Khun Chai Driving
Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand - Khun Wit Driving Center
Wat Ket, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand - Thanwa Driving
Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand - Pratu Chang Phueak Driving
Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand - No name, only partial address.
School is reported at the northern side of the moat on inside road one block before Jok Sompet Restaurant
Directions to the Tha Yang (Cha-Am Phetchaburi) Immigration office:
The office is on will be on Phetkasem Road beside the SCB bank and is a few buildings north of the Honda motorbike and garden equipment shop shortly before the Tha Yang turnoff if heading north. Check out more info on MapsNMore.com.
Apply for Major Medical insurance up to 75 yrs old! At Pacific Cross you can apply for major medical insurance up until 75 years old. Contact Jamie at retirecheap.pacificcross@gmail.com and tell him JC sent you!
Our member site posting on getting major medical insurance – JC’s Major Medical Insurance Decision
For a full body check up at a low cost – Ratchavej Hospital
Address: 316/1 Chiang Mai-Lam Phun Tambon Wat Ket, อำเภอ เมืองเชียงใหม่ Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000
Phone: 053 801 999
A great resource for Thailand housing check out http://www.renthub.in.th
American Citizen Services Outreach
NOTE** They will NOT accept cash!! Bank draft only! For more info and payment method.
The American Citizen Services sections of Embassy Bangkok and Consulate Chiang Mai are pleased to inform you of upcoming Consular Outreach visits to several locations across Thailand on the following dates:
- No appointment necessary. Details (place and time) for each event can be found on this link usually two weeks in advance of the scheduled date.
- UDON THANI: November 2018
- PHUKET: November 2018
-
SERVICES AVAILABLE
The following consular services will be available:
- Passport renewal applications
- Notarial services
- Embassy registration and/or address change for on-line information
Extra Important Information and Resources:
Stay safe while surfing the web!
- Check out the VPN I use and recommend – BolehVPN
My Cool little traveling notebook
- Click HERE for more info about JC’s new cool tiny Acer Notebook
New drone registration laws. If over 2kg and OR camera it definitely is mandatory. You have until Jan 2018 to register. You can register your drone at any NBTC office, police station or at the Civil Aviation Training Center.
Maybe the best dentist I’ve ever had in my life has a new office in when in close to market village shopping mall in Hua Hin. I’ve included the link to her office, Nana Dental, on MapsNMore.com
256/6-7 Soi Hua Hin 94/3 Petchkasem Rd., Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110
Phone: 099 145 9949
In some Immigration offices you are now required to fill out a Foreign National Information form.
DOWNLOAD Foreign National Information forms:
Pre-complete the form in case you are required to submit one.
Foreign National Information form version 1 pdf
Foreign National Information form version 2 pdf
90 Day Reporting Online – Remember anybody with with a long term visa like Non-Immigrant “B” business, “O-A” retirement or “O” marriage, has to report their current address in Thailand every 90 days. Now this can be done online. There is a new online web URL link to do Thai Immigration 90 day reporting online. Here is the link
In case you missed it, check out your free member gift. Members Pimsleur Thai Audio Course
Business Resources Around Thailand – BTW please try to use our sister website, MapsNMore.com. Let’s all contribute to help inform and share your info with others.
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