New Comers/ Visitor Information

Passport & Visa

Your orders states that you will need to obtain a black "Diplomatic" passport from the State Department in Washington D.C. Your local PSD can assist you in this process. While your passport is in Washington D.C., a diplomatic Thai visa should also be obtained. It is not uncommon to have to wait eight weeks or longer for a diplomatic passport and visas to be processed. Therefore, we recommend that you obtain your passports, visas, immunizations, etc. as quickly as possible to help avoid any delay. Do not let anyone tell you that you only need an "Official" Passport. You absolutely must have a diplomatic passport and a diplomatic visa. Have your orders amended if necessary. Contact the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Overseas Operations for further guidance.

If family members are non-US citizens they will not be able to obtain a Diplomatic Passport/Visa. Their passport must be stamped with a non-immigrant Thai visa “O”–type. Pay attention to expiration dates on passports, 6-months minimum are necessary. Before you depart the U.S., try to ensure that you have all the required Visas and country clearances. You will need six (6) each of 2"x 2" and 1"x 1" photographs and negatives, either black and white or color. These will be used for a variety of ID cards and records required here. You can take the pictures there in the States or you can take them here at AFRIMS for free.

Once you arrive at AFRIMS, you’ll turn in your passports to the Admin section to receive permanent diplomatic visas from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, you will receive a green diplomatic immunity card from the Ministry that you and your spouse should carry at all times. The Admin section will also arrange for you to receive a Thai drivers license that needs to be renewed every year.

AFRIMS personnel are authorized to import automobiles within a 6-month window duty free. Additionally, diplomatic purchase of vehicles can also occur during that time frame. USC 2634 now allows for storage of a POV when a member receives OCONUS PCS orders. If your transportation offices should have a copy of the relevant message authorizing auto storage. Transportation to and from the office here is by POV or local transportation. You will have the use of an AFRIMS vehicle/driver as needed during your in-processing at no charge. This will help you with all of the errands that are an inevitable part of settling into a new place. Taxi service is plentiful and inexpensive. Some of our personnel have bought cars locally and hired local drivers in order for them to move about more freely and to avoid driving in the heavy traffic of Bangkok. A full-time driver is paid about $200/month. Converting dollars to baht can be done virtually anywhere in Bangkok and using a visa card for cash is also easy to do just have a passport for identification on hand. There are several immediate expenses you may wish to incur, e.g. joining the Embassy Co-op commissary, American Club, and other miscellaneous things. Maintain or establish your checking and savings account in the U.S. as there are no U.S. Credit Unions or U.S. banks providing the services we are accustomed to.

You must enroll in the Direct Deposit program if you have not already done so. You can cash personal checks at the Embassy ($500.00 limit). You can also cash checks at the American Club (if you are a member - $50.00 limit). The current baht (local currency) exchange rate is roughly 40 to $1.00/US.

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Most accommodations in Bangkok are furnished service apartments or condos. You can bring household items such as utensils, pots, glassware, plates. However, can be obtained very inexpensively on the local economy. Small kitchen appliances, (i.e. coffee maker, toaster, can opener, blender, iron, etc.). Should be purchased here to avoid electric current problems. The electrical current here is 220v/50 cycle versus 120v/60 cycle in the U.S.

You may bring stereo components, television, VCR's, VCR tapes, etc.. and use power converters/voltage regulators, or you can buy these items here. The US Televisions cannot convert the Thai cable and satellite signals. The local television system is PAL whereas the U.S. system is NTSC and they do not convert. Most housing units have either satellite dish or cable installed. Some appliances such as clock radios will run slower because of the decrease in cycles. Some items are very sensitive to cycles and the frequent power surges encountered here, so voltage regulators are recommended for sensitive equipment such as computers, TVs, and VCRs. We highly recommend you purchase the voltage regulator here in Bangkok. We recommend you bring bathroom and bedroom items. You will need bed linens and pillows. Bring as many items as you would like to decorate your house.

Schools

Bringing any pets? Secure a Vet clearance 7-14 days prior to departure. US carriers will not ship animals to destinations with sustained temperatures over 85 degrees. Importation of pets into Bangkok is generally pretty easy. For transit through places like Tokyo, Seoul, or Manila, contact the embassy or the consulate of these countries and ask what documents are required for transit of animals. Specify the duration of your transit stop. The airlines are of little help on these requirements and in many instances, they confess ignorance or inadvertently misinform. Information from the embassy in the U.S. of the country to be transited is authoritative, and the airlines accept it provided you offer a name and phone number from that embassy. Inform your sponsor of your intention to bring in a pet and let him/her know the breed, sex, age, weight and color. An import license must be obtained here to allow you to bring a pet.

Do not transit through Bali, Papua (Irian Jaya) or Australia--these places are rabies-free and the authorities routinely destroy animals that are misplaced or are without proper paperwork. Some of the nicest service apartments units don't allow pets.

Immunizations

Please bring immunization record with you. Your records will be reviewed by the Embassy Medical staff and deficient immunizations will be recommended and given upon arrival.Please bring immunization record with you. Your records will be reviewed by the Embassy Medical staff and deficient immunizations will be recommended and given upon arrival.

Medical Care

We receive our medical care from a medical unit located on the Embassy compound, staffed with one physician, a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse. There is a duty medical person available 24 hours a day. Patients with serious illnesses or injuries are transferred Bumrangrad Hospital the most progress western-style hospital in Bangkok and then or if condition warrants Tripler AMC using the International SOS (ISOS). There are a number of local hospitals providing varying degrees of inpatient and outpatient care, however, most do meet US standards. You (and your family) must enroll in TRICARE Prime Remote upon arrival in Bangkok. The dental coverage is also arranged for through the TRICARE office and requires a monthly premium for family members, same as CONUS.

Contact for Enrollment:
TRICARE Nurse at JUSMAG (also does the dental care coordination)
nursepranee@san.osd.mil
phone: 02-287-1036 X511
cell phone: 01-633-3793

Link to Bumrungrad Hospital
http://www.bumrungrad.com

If you have a chronic medical condition, Bangkok may not be the place for you. Please discuss this with your doctor and the overseas screener prior to any more planning. We recommend you bring 2 good household first aid kits: one for the house and another for your car (if you bought one.)

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We have probably not answered all the questions you may have, so please do not hesitate to call, fax or email us and we will try our best to provide you with the proper answers or give you the appropriate assistance. You can contact us by phone at 66-2-644-4783 or by email. We look forward to your arrival and to helping you make this move as exciting and easy as possible.