Thanks for the update Rick. Sounds like you got a bank clerk who goes ‘by the book’. My Bangkok Bank account was opened by my visa agent as part of the conversion from visa exempt entry to Non ‘O’ Retirement plus 12 month extension. Your choice as to what suits you of course.

@Bryan *******

Good info thanks Bryan! I have accounts with Halifax and Santander. Both are happy to let me continue with a Thai address. However, Santander will send renewed/replacement cards to Thailand but Halifax won’t.

Can you take with you a Thai person of 'standing'? Government workers, especially schoolteachers can be useful. My visa agent told me that Thai banks are nervous of money laundering but Bangkok Bank don't care so much.

Problem is US banks are very nervous of VOIP services and almost all won’t send OTP’s via SMS. Thai banks (certainly Bangkok Bank) will only accept Thai mobile numbers. It’s often good to carry two phones in case of flat batteries. For $16 USD per ANNUM you could rent a US mobile number from ‘VYKE’. Calls and SMS are free to receive. The caller/sender pays for a US mobile call/SMS and thinks you are Stateside. Outgoing calls and SMS very low cost. You would, of course, have to advise your contacts of your new VYKE number. Alternatively, VYKE customer support can port your existing US mobile number. Unfortunately, VYKE is a VoIP service so you couldn’t receive OTP’s. The only guaranteed way to receive OTP’s would be an actual US SIM card. If you could find a pre-paid SIM and turn off the mobile data you would be able to receive OTP’s in Thailand free of charge. Any calls received you would have to not answer.

@Pete ******

Because you’re airside.

@Pete ******

Entry is always at the discretion of the individual immigration officer on the day. Even possessing a tourist visa doesn’t guarantee entry, neither does being able to enter visa exempt.

@Della *******

I was deboarded on the second leg of a three leg flight by Air Europa at Madrid airport.

I was advised to only take out a policy issued from your home country. A claim may be refused if the insurer can establish that you had a pre-existing condition, whether diagnosed or not.

All are good. We live amongst the rice paddies. Excellent and great value internet and mobile phone service in Thailand.

If your homeward flight departs around 1am you would hopefully pass through immigration (manned or automated) prior to midnight the day before. No worries.