SAWASDEE 3 (2009 Thai thread restarted)

[TheBears 9]

Very nice, Mike!

And a lot of people recommend using visasbkk2@state.gov when e-mailing Bangkok. Still using the subject and header Mike provided, of course.

[daboyz 36]

Interesting map. Looks like the Embassy shoudn't be affected.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

Nice map, but that's assuming nothing spills over if they try to run them out. Hopefully it won't affect the embassy but I would think in BKK it is not like the US where you can maybe just shut down electricity to one specific block or half block. Heck, we all know if a dog pees on an elec. pole

the elec. goes out!!! I hope nothing slows down at the embassy cause I want them working if we are paying them!!!!

As far as emailing the embassy, I never put that much info in my emails. I only put the subject line 1st IV INQUIRY, my name and bkk number and

they always reply. And either email address will work but sometimes the visabbk2 address works better.

After I wrote this I checked the BKK Post online and it now appears they shut off plans have now been "delayed".

They are afraid of how it might affect the embassies and other big stuff and residents around there since they are

not sure exactly what will apparently be cut off where. Of course, it does no good to announce your plans BEFORE you take the action so the red shirts know exactly what is going to happen.

Edited May 12, 2010 by Tom and Teaw

[toma1 10]

Good luck, Richard.

Thank you, Rob.

Tom (a1), I asked Husby. He said it's pretty up to the person at the main post office. The iPhones, he didn't get dinged on. But when he ordered shoes, he paid 500 baht on top 4,000 baht for the shoes themselves. It's not much, but perhaps you can get a rough estimate.

Thanks. Did you list the iPhones listed as being iPhones on the export documentation that you filled out before you mailed them? I'm just wondering if the PO was aware of what was in the box.

[toma1 10]

Nice map, but that's assuming nothing spills over if they try to run them out. Hopefully it won't affect the embassy but I would think in BKK it is not like the US where you can maybe just shut down electricity to one specific block or half block. happen.

The plan to cut power and water has been postponed indefinitely.

[Audy_Rob 26]

Thanks. Did you list the iPhones listed as being iPhones on the export documentation that you filled out before you mailed them? I'm just wondering if the PO was aware of what was in the box.

Hey toma1. This could be way off base but for some reason I have the impression they X-ray or scan all packages even if it list just documents. I think they have the ability to look/check if they are really interested. I think I have seen packages arrive with a label that says contents x-rayed.

No, I am not taking any excessively imagination inducing medications.

[AaronLV 12]

Hey toma1. This could be way off base but for some reason I have the impression they X-ray or scan all packages even if it list just documents. I think they have the ability to look/check if they are really interested. I think I have seen packages arrive with a label that says contents x-rayed.

No, I am not taking any excessively imagination inducing medications.

I know you are talking about the post office, but on a side note, my luggage was x-rayed on the way out of customs when I arrived a few weeks ago. In all my trips I have never had to put my luggage through the x-ray machine on the way out.

[Tom and Teaw 1]

With mail it'####### or miss when it goes through customs. Sometimes they hit you up and sometimes they don't. When I sent stuff to the ex over there sometimes she had to pay duty and sometimes not. Didn't seem to

matter what it was. More like okay, she pays this time. Unless there is some way you can flag it as being business related and for business use then maybe it could go through okay. Maybe someone can talk to the

customs people and see if there is something you can put on there that will get it through without duty.

[daboyz 36]

I know you are talking about the post office, but on a side note, my luggage was x-rayed on the way out of customs when I arrived a few weeks ago. In all my trips I have never had to put my luggage through the x-ray machine on the way out.

I've flown in there probably 100+ times. They only checked my luggage once with the x-ray.

With mail it'####### or miss when it goes through customs. Sometimes they hit you up and sometimes they don't. When I sent stuff to the ex over there sometimes she had to pay duty and sometimes not. Didn't seem to

matter what it was. More like okay, she pays this time. Unless there is some way you can flag it as being business related and for business use then maybe it could go through okay. Maybe someone can talk to the

customs people and see if there is something you can put on there that will get it through without duty.

My company used to send me eqpt., laptop etc. They used some agent to clear stuff through customs. Not sure how much they charged for that. Probably not cheap.

[toma1 10]

Hey toma1. This could be way off base but for some reason I have the impression they X-ray or scan all packages even if it list just documents. I think they have the ability to look/check if they are really interested. I think I have seen packages arrive with a label that says contents x-rayed.

Sure, they do, but if the box was large and contained a lot of different things, they might not be noticed. I'm just wondering if the reason they weren't taxed may be because they didn't know the box contained iPhones. If she mailed a dozen items and wrote "personal effects" that might be the case. If she mailed three iphones and wrote "three iphones" it's something else entirely.

I've got horrible jetlag. Went to bed a 3:30, woke up at 6.

Edited May 12, 2010 by toma1

[TheBears 9]

Thanks. Did you list the iPhones listed as being iPhones on the export documentation that you filled out before you mailed them? I'm just wondering if the PO was aware of what was in the box.

I don't know if they were aware or not. You know how the customs declaration forms is usually barely legible by the time it gets there. But I always declare what I send. For that one it was:

Description Qty Value Total Value

mobile phone 3 $350 $1050

No one cared. Not here or in Thailand. It's just the luck of the draw. How else would a 30,000 baht package of electronics be fine while a 4000 baht pair of shoes were dinged? To be honest, I expected at least one of the phones to go missing. I don't know about x-ray machines or not. I doubt Husby would either, but I can ask.

[toma1 10]

I don't know if they were aware or not. You know how the customs declaration forms is usually barely legible by the time it gets there. But I always declare what I send. For that one it was:

Description Qty Value Total Value

mobile phone 3 $350 $1050

No one cared. Not here or in Thailand. It's just the luck of the draw. How else would a 30,000 baht package of electronics be fine while a 4000 baht pair of shoes were dinged? To be honest, I expected at least one of the phones to go missing. I don't know about x-ray machines or not. I doubt Husby would either, but I can ask.

It was sent via regular post? Yeah, you ARE lucky they didn't disappear.

I wonder if Fedex/DHL is more or less likely to be a problem?

[TheBears 9]

It was sent via regular post? Yeah, you ARE lucky they didn't disappear.

I wonder if Fedex/DHL is more or less likely to be a problem?

I have no idea. I would think it shouldn't matter which company you send it through, but I've never bothered to use Fedex or DHL to send anything to Thailand. Does Joanna know anyone heading back over there soon?

[toma1 10]

I have no idea. I would think it shouldn't matter which company you send it through, but I've never bothered to use Fedex or DHL to send anything to Thailand.

I don't have time to wait for regular post.

Does Joanna know anyone heading back over there soon?

We thought about that... she had a friend that was going to come over, but she ran into some immigration problem and cant leave the US for the time being.

[kenny1 0]

Embassy say's they received the packet 3 on May 10th but no appointment has been set at this time. Has anyone seen it take this long to get the Packet 4 with interview date? If the date is 4-6 weeks out, that is fine, just want to know.