General Reports

Is there anything special I need to know about bring my medication along on my trip to Thailand? It is a non-narcotic type of medicine used by patients with thyroid issues or who have had their thyroid removed.

Thanks.

[QUOTE=Wanderer9577;1826995]Is there anything special I need to know about bring my medication along on my trip to Thailand? It is a non-narcotic type of medicine used by patients with thyroid issues or who have had their thyroid removed.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]None, other than play it safe and have the medicine in its original prescription bottle. I bring meds over all the time and have yet to be stopped/questioned/frisked/cavity searched. I can not say the same thing for Sydney or Singapore.

[QUOTE=Wanderer9577;1826995]Is there anything special I need to know about bring my medication along on my trip to Thailand? It is a non-narcotic type of medicine used by patients with thyroid issues or who have had their thyroid removed.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]If you travel to any country, whether it is Thailand or somewhere else, it is always a good idea to bring along your prescriptions. You never know if or when you need them.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;1826639]I have been living in Thailand for several years on a 1 year retirement visa that I renew a day or two before it expires. As a USA Citizen, for me it is a brief visit to the USA Embassy to pick up an income verification letter (easy, make an appointment online ahead of time). Then I take that and my passport to Thai Immigration for a few hours of waiting and stamping to get the visa renewed. It could all be done in one day if you do the USA Embassy part early in the day and get to Thai Immigration just after Noon (closed from Noon to 1 PM for lunch). Need a couple of new photos each time but that can be done on the Thai Immigration premises, too, or in advance if you want. Cost to renew is, as I recall, 1900 baht. Photo on the premises is another 100 baht or so. I add the multiple entry (without needing a re-entry pass) option, which is the most expensive thing in the process at about 3,000 baht extra. Haven't used it much, but like to have it in the passport in case of an emergency or impulse to just get up and go on a trip out of the country with as few stops in between as possible.[/QUOTE]Your retirement visa doesn't remain good for the whole year if you leave? I mean, once you get the visa, you can't simply leave and re-enter during that year (without some sort of re-entry)?

How much is a re-entry stamp?

I'm still some time away from being eligible for a retirement visa (although I retired years ago). Have to wait until 50. Meet all other requirements except age. LOL.

[QUOTE=PipeLayer99;1827288]Your retirement visa doesn't remain good for the whole year if you leave? I mean, once you get the visa, you can't simply leave and re-enter during that year (without some sort of re-entry)?

How much is a re-entry stamp?

I'm still some time away from being eligible for a retirement visa (although I retired years ago). Have to wait until 50. Meet all other requirements except age. LOL.[/QUOTE]My retirement visa is good for an entire year whether I leave or not. I am not sure about the cost, if any, of a re-entry pass because I have always opted for the multiple entry stamp when I renewed. As I understand it, if you don't have a multiple entry stamp, you are required to get a re-entry pass whenever you leave the country during the term of your visa and those are available at Immigration or at the airport. What has spooked me about relying on that even though it would likely be cheaper to go that way rather than buying the multiple entry stamp (as I said, about 3,000 baht for the year) is that I have heard there are times when one can show up at the airport for their flight out of Thailand and re-entry passes are not available, so a side trip to Immigration to get one prior to going to the airport is more certain. I didn't want to hassle with that or even take the chance if and when I travel out of Thailand so that is why I get the multiple entry stamp every year when I renew my retirement visa.

[QUOTE=Jgm005;1827063]None, other than play it safe and have the medicine in its original prescription bottle. I bring meds over all the time and have yet to be stopped/questioned/frisked/cavity searched. I can not say the same thing for Sydney or Singapore.[/QUOTE]Thanks! The closer my trip gets the more nervous I get that I am forgetting or overlooking something I shouldn't.

[QUOTE=Caprese7;1825978]At Ibaski: Thanks for the reply here. Not really sure how to join a "group" either". I do appreciate your offering assistance however, and.

I might take you up on that. Thanks again![/QUOTE]No problem. PM Sent.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;1827433]My retirement visa is good for an entire year whether I leave or not. <SNIP>. . I didn't want to hassle with that or even take the chance if and when I travel out of Thailand so that is why I get the multiple entry stamp every year when I renew my retirement visa.[/QUOTE]It's a no-brainer. Much more sensible to get a multiple-entry visa for almost any country that you visit if that option is available, especially if you plan to stay for an extended period. You can leave any time and return without hassles as the mood takes you.

[QUOTE=Wanderer9577;1827482]Thanks! The closer my trip gets the more nervous I get that I am forgetting or overlooking something I shouldn't.[/QUOTE]If yu forget something there a good chances you can buy it in Thailand cheaper than at home.

[QUOTE=Wanderer9577;1827482]Thanks! The closer my trip gets the more nervous I get that I am forgetting or overlooking something I shouldn't.[/QUOTE]A small detail that has caused some problems for friends of mine visiting from the USA; make sure all the currency you intend to exchange in Thailand is as pristine as possible. If you bring a $20, $50 or $100 bill with the intention of exchanging it here but it has a corner missing no deeper than the border of the bill, don't bring it. Return it to your bank and get another one fully intact without a tear or a clipped corner. As it is in many countries, Thai currency exchange offices will not accept foreign bills that are damaged in ways that are accepted and dispensed by banks and retailers in the USA all the time.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1827581]It's a no-brainer. Much more sensible to get a multiple-entry visa for almost any country that you visit if that option is available, especially if you plan to stay for an extended period. You can leave any time and return without hassles as the mood takes you.[/QUOTE]Maybe not quite a no brainer. When applying for multi-entry you can be expected to have documentation of your flight dates on itinerary. Could be a problem if 2nd entry flights not yet booked. Sometimes we look for cheap flights where date of first leg cannot be changed. Some multi-entry Visas for Thailand are good for two entries only.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1827887]Maybe not quite a no brainer. When applying for multi-entry you can be expected to have documentation of your flight dates on itinerary. Could be a problem if 2nd entry flights not yet booked. Sometimes we look for cheap flights where date of first leg cannot be changed. Some multi-entry Visas for Thailand are good for two entries only.[/QUOTE]In purchasing a muliple entry stamp on my 1 year Thai retirement visa renewal periods several times now I have not yet been asked to show documentation of a pending flight. Never heard of it being a requirement to purchase one. Not on a 1 year retirement visa, that is. I don't have any personal experience with purchasing one on another type of visa like a work visa though.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1827887]Maybe not quite a no brainer. When applying for multi-entry you can be expected to have documentation of your flight dates on itinerary. Could be a problem if 2nd entry flights not yet booked. Sometimes we look for cheap flights where date of first leg cannot be changed. Some multi-entry Visas for Thailand are good for two entries only.[/QUOTE]I should have said "It's a no-brainer" FOR ME as my multi-entry is needed for my work assignments that are broken up into several segments. I have never been asked for details of when I will return. I always obtain a multi-entry visa (good for 12 months) for my wife to travel to Australia as often as she likes. I don't even need to show details of the first flight we will take in order to get the visa; I just get it and we use it if and when we need to do so.

The Retirement Visas that I have researched in Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia all give excellent incentives for retirees to get one. Hassles over multiple-entry is not part of any of them. There may be examples that Syzygies mentioned about which I don't know, so I guess one needs to research each case carefully.

[QUOTE=PipeLayer99;1827288]Your retirement visa doesn't remain good for the whole year if you leave? I mean, once you get the visa, you can't simply leave and re-enter during that year (without some sort of re-entry)?

How much is a re-entry stamp?[/QUOTE]Visa. 1900 thb.

Multi entry. 3800 thb.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;1827649]A small detail that has caused some problems for friends of mine visiting from the USA; make sure all the currency you intend to exchange in Thailand is as pristine as possible. If you bring a $20, $50 or $100 bill with the intention of exchanging it here but it has a corner missing no deeper than the border of the bill, don't bring it. Return it to your bank and get another one fully intact without a tear or a clipped corner. As it is in many countries, Thai currency exchange offices will not accept foreign bills that are damaged in ways that are accepted and dispensed by banks and retailers in the USA all the time.[/QUOTE]Its good advice. I had a few bills of US $ 100 denominbation that I had had in my travel wallet. Got to Thailand and they examined them. No tears but they were a bit worn. Wouldn't accept in airport, wouldn't accept in Sukhumvit money changers either. Got to Cambodia and asked in hotel if they could change to smaller bills, whcih are very needed in Cambodia. " sure sir, right away sir ".