If you want to maintain and use your credit cards while living in Thailand, one avenue it to get a virtual mailbox.
Some expats use a virtual mailbox to maintain a US address. For a monthly fee, you receive a personal, non-PO Box mailing address. When mail is sent to your virtual mailbox address, you are alerted via email. Then, the mail is scanned or forwarded to you.
Some services will scan the first page and email it to you so that you can choose whether to “open” the rest of it. This is helpful since the fee may be based on the number of “openings.”
Using a virtual mailbox means you will have instant, reliable access to your US mail and can maintain a US address (and US bank accounts) while living abroad. For many expats, these benefits are well worth the minor monthly fees.
Even when living overseas, maintaining a permanent US address can offer several benefits. For example:
- Having a US address can help ensure that you receive mail from the IRS or other important senders in a timely fashion.
- Many US financial institutions require you to provide a US address (not just a PO Box) to open an account. If you have no US address, you could lose access to your US bank accounts and credit institutions.
- If you move often, having a single point of contact in the US makes it easier for people to reach you when necessary.
The best way to maintain your credit while living abroad is to continue using your U.S. credit cards. However, to keep your existing cards, and to maintain your U.S. bank account or other financial accounts, you need a U.S. address.
This seems like the perfect solution if you never intend to move back to the US.