madisongy

Entered Thailand a few times a year for the past 20 years, never been asked, so I never paid attention to the requirement. Having said that, I would likely always have $600 on me while I'm traveling, but will make sure I have the requisite amount in the future. Wonder if they'd let you access the ATM if you're light.

Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute -- Snake Farm. I thought this place was interesting. They have some very nasty snakes here. They have a couple of shows.......one to milk venon, and another where the handlers bring out a bunch of different kinds of snakes.

This food delivery thing in Bkk is bigger than Amazon in the US. We were sitting in the food court at Emquartier just below the escalators. Every other person coming down or going up was a food delivery guy. We live right on Sukhumvit, so we don't typically use these guys.

Many thanks Haze, but I'd sure love to help support the local artists.

Hmmmm, I just posted a new topic on this, and based on the responses here, guess I have little hope. I saw the guys at MBK Vocalneal, and yeah, exactly what I'm looking for. But those guys are gone. Would love to know where they all went. There is just one guy over there now but would love to see the group of artists I saw at MBK so I can select the one I like.

There used to be some incredible Thai artist doing pencil drawings from photographs at MBK. This was about four years ago and I remember seeing 6-7 of them, but upon my return there last week.......there's just one guy. Does anyone know where I can go to see/hire more of these artists?

Disregard my questions concerning the affidavit form. Found that on Embassy website. https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/blank-affidavit-bangkok-january-2019.pdf

Your breadth of knowledge is absolutely incredible. Thanks so much. Is the affidavit something I need to draft prior to my appointment so they can simply stamp it, or is that something they are well aware of and have a form or some such that I'd fill in? If I need to draft something, can you point me to a good sample? The manager referred me to the following document to acquire the 60 day. She never mentioned getting the Kor Ror 22, and this document only mentions getting certification from the Embassy if it's a marriage cert from abroad. What's your thoughts on that issue?

You're absolutely amazing. Thanks so much. Got the appt, so we shall see.

Figured I would provide an updated scenario for this thread, since I used the information here in attempt to get the 60 day extension based on marriage. I spent about 10 hours over the past couple of days with immigration in Bangkok (IT Square), trying to get them to accept my US marriage certificate. Today I spoke with four different people, including the manager of the department. They indicated while translation is not required, they were absolutely adamant on certification from the US Embassy in Bangkok. They provided the Thai regulations (link below), which are consistent with what they told me......certification of the marriage cert by Embassy is required, with no mention regarding translation. I explained to them that the US Embassy in Bangkok specifically details on their website that they WON'T authenticate or certify marriage certificates and that you must have that done by the Dept of State in the US. I asked the manager if that would be acceptable, and she said "it must be done in Thailand". The document she showed me clearly states the certification must be done by the "Embassy". Five different immigration officials told us to go get it certified at the US Embassy....so it seems they all think that can be done. So after investing a bunch of time on this issue, it seems that if you literally interpret what the Thai rules and US Embassy website says, it's not possible for a US citizen, married to a Thai, to get the 60 day extension. Of course, that's not right as US citizens here have indicated that they have rec'd a 60 day extension, and one guy who posted said he got his 60 day extension this year....no translation, no certification. It seems that even if you followed the Thai rules to the letter, it's still up to the way in which the person you are speaking with interprets the rules. So....in spite of what I'm reading on the US Embassy website, I did go ahead and make an appointment with them, so I'll see what they can do, if anything. I figure they're going to boot me out of there since the website is clear, but I'll report back on what happens. Here's a link to the US Embassy in Thailand, where it indicates they will not authenticate a marriage cert. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/ And here's a link to the document that the manager at Thai immigration provided (number 18, visit spouse): https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/visa-extension/#1610937437663-90b1feab-b48a

Thanks DRJ, yes, aware of that. Trying to figure out this 60 day extension, as our return tickets are 89 days after our arrival date……since I figured this was a no brainer. Bad assumption, I know. The 30 day extension gives us 75 days, so I’d still have to pay for ticket changes on our airfare and would like to avoid that. Guess there is always the border run, but hoping I can get a halfway cooperative immigration person and be done with this.

Thanks for that…..sounds like a got a huge run around today. You got the magic touch.

Jungle, can you tell me if you entered on a tourist visa, or did you enter on a visa exemption? I’m from US so we enter on 45 day exemption currently. Second, can you provide details on that 60 day extension? Is your marraige cert from outside of Thailand, and if so, did they require a translation and authentication from your govt? Did you have to submit a Khor Ror 22, which is the Thai Registration of Family Status ? Thanks

My wife and I made the trek up immigration today for a 60 day extension for my visa exempt entry based on my marriage to a Thai. We brought our passports, her national ID, condo deed (my name only), condo bills (in both our names), and the original and copy of the marriage cert, not translated. When we arrived to CW, they told us that the 60 day was possible and would be handled at the IT Square, Lak Si. Headed over to IT Square and the first gal we spoke with reviewed my passport and marriage cert, and said “nope, ya gotta get the marriage cert translated and stamped” at another office. So off we went to the third stop …..Legalization Dept…..on today’s journey. It’s a taxi ride from IT Square. When we arrived there, the gal told us “nope, we cannot stamp it until you get a completed Khor Ror 22…..Registration of Family Status….but first you need to head to the US Embassy to get your US marriage cert authenticated, and then you need to go get that thing translated”. Well, the US Embassy specifically states on their website that authenticating marriage certs is NOT something they do and that needs to be done by the Dept of State in the US, so that was wrong and wondering if both the translation and I thought I did my homework reading up on this issue here, but this was the first I’d heard of a Khor Ror 22 and that tranlation stuff ran counter to what I’d read on this site. I figured I’d just try to head up to IT Square again tomorrow and try to get the other girl, but wonder if anyone else has tried this and what was the result? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m about at the end of my 45 days.

Yes, the koRor 22 was one of the documents mentioned today. This is the first I’m hearing about that document since it is not mentioned in any of posts including the one below that I was using as my guideline. So is that legit from their side? I know they’re wrong about the Embassy authenticating the marriage cert as the US Embassy does not offer that service in Thailand. You need to have that authenticated in the US. So bottom line, the Koror 22 and the marriage cert authentication / translation is what they said was needed today. I’ll take your advice on posting a new thread. ,

Just as an FYI, we went to get the 60 day extension for my visa exempt entry. These are not done at CW anymore and they sent us to IT Square, Lak Si. Got over there and huge hassle with the gal that checks people in. She told us the marriage cert needs translation and authentication of the marriage cert from US Embassy. The US Embassy Thailand website clearly states they will not provide this service. They state that this must be done in the US with the Dept of State. Immigration at IT Square allows you to make online appts so I booked an appt. In two days with hopefully a smarter person. Will report back what happens.

I’m going to continue scouring the thai immigration website for specifics on this issue. Most of what I’ve found is related to extending a visa, and nothing so far on extending my visa exemption. Are you aware of such a reference on Thai immigration website that you could point me to?

Usual thanks for the comments DRJ. When you say “are just down to not having checked exactly what is required”…….do you mean on my end or their end? For my end, I followed that link you sent me to a tee, and brought along some extra documentation. If you’re saying it’s a failure on their end, do I have an alternative? Can I ask for a supervisor or some such? Or maybe take another crack at it tomorrow, in hopes of getting someone with more knowledge? Yeah, I got lucky with the agent at the airport, but as discussed I had the onwardticket.com website already loaded up and ready to roll if I got stuck. Can’t thank you enough for alerting me to that issue.

The refund policy is set by the airline, and not expedia. Expedia is great for making it very clear on whether it’s refundable in the first 24 hours. I checked a bunch of flights to close destinations. Not even Thai Air has refundable flights…….on close destinations like KL or Singapore. You may find refundable on more expensive flights to Europe or US. Anywho, I flew Jet Blue/JSL from FL to Boston to Japan to Thailand. No one asked about a visa when I checked in at Florida, and of course no where else along the way. The IO in Thailand asked me how long I’d be in Thailand and I answered 30 days and he did not ask to see a ticket. Of course, my plan was to get a two month extension since I’m married to a Thai. Went to the main immigration building today. They sent me over to the IT Square at Laksi which is apparently where they’re handling all extensions. They said I need to have the marriage cert “stamped” and they sent us to a third office to get that done. Got there and nope, they cannot stamp it until we get a translation and a bunch of other nonsense. While I could get the 30 day extension, I’ll still have to change my return ticket to US from May 1, to April 15 so I figure I’ll just change it now to March 15 and get the heck out of Dodge. Next trip I’ll go for the 90 day visa, or whatever it is, prior to departing the US. Dealing with Immigration in Bkk is just too cumbersome.

Holy smokes!! Complete CF on this extension. So got to the immigration office today and they told me nope....wrong place. Gotta now go to Laksi IT Square. Ok, so headed over there.....they told me nope, you need to get the marriage cert stamped. This was the first gal we spoke with and I told her that's not right and she would not speak with me, wanted to speak Thai with my wife and told her there is no way to get this extension without the stamp and we could not get a number. Sent us to a third place to get a stamp on the marriage cert, which is where we are right now. I asked can we get this stamped? Nope, ya gotta go get a translation and you have to go to the US Embassy and ya gotta do this and ya gotta do that. Its sort of ridiculous. I really feel like just changing the ticket and leaving Thailand.

Oh, and cannot locate any airline departing bkk for inexpensive close by destinations that does not charge a cancellation fee. So, the new plan is onwardticket.com, and if they don't like that, looks like I'll be spending a couple of days in Singapore.

HOLY SMOKES !! JetBlue is true to its name....making me blue. so went to do online check-in. They are not allowing me to check in because I cannot provide them with a visa number. I explained to them on the chat, and on the phone that no visa is required for a US citizen, and they agree with me. But, there is nothing they can do to get me checked in because the system is set up to only accept me if I have a visa number. Their answer............."Go check in at the airport". Which of course, I have no options but to go to the airport. What a hassle. JetBlue also won't accept cardboard boxes for check in luggage on international flights. Domestic....no problem. They are telling me that I'm domestic since I'm only taking them from Orlando to Boston, then JAL the rest of the way. They are telling me in this case, they will adhere to JAL rules...which allows boxes as check in baggage. But I'll get the new agent who has no clue how anything works. So tomorrow, up at 3am, airport at 4:30am to battle with JetBlue. Sounds like a lot of fun. Oh, Thai wife is checked in, and no problems.

Sold the home in Illinois and bought one in Florida. I lived in a mafioso town outside of Chicago.....loaded with Italians and incredible Italian restaurants. In FL, there are so many New Yorkers it's mostly New York pizza with the bendy chewy crust. I like a crispier crust like a cracker.....here's a pic from our local place....I think those square cuts with the cracker crust are known as St Louis style pizza. Best ever. Anyone know a place in Bkk that has something similiar?

Great info......I'm bringing 8 big boxes of Cheerios for my upcoming 12 week stay. Big C is my backup.

Hey NextG, big thanks for the info. I didn't even realize that I could buy SIM cards on shopee. I have used Lazada in the past when I was in Thailand, but I'll sign up for Shopee and get these ordered for testing. I got to say, your messages here are really encouraging. I'm really hopeful one of these places can provide a solution for us. Many thanks again !!