jspill

There is the Thailand Elite program, for 500,000 Baht you can get a 5 year visa and stay for a full year on each entry.

I was surprised to hear this is still running but it is.

This 'Elite' program appears to be the solution for people aged under 50 who have plenty of money and don't work.

Didn't the last incarnation of that company go out of business and steal everyone's funds?

There's still fine print on the webpages 'subject to immigration officer's approval' or something to that effect, was linked in one the now closed threads.

Was also in this situation, I didn't leave the country in the 7 days, just continued on. Had no problems leaving on the date stamped in my passport months later.

I don't, Thai banks have been silent since Heartbleed.

I'm aware of that although as I said I don't use the kasikorn phone app, haven't downloaded anything, haven't clicked any email links, or received any emails with links in to click.

I think it's fine to post a warning thread with a question mark in the title. Mods can remove the 'Kasikorn have been hacked in recent months' part if they see fit.

Can you tell us how you know that Kasikorn has been hacked in recent months? Link or source would be good, just to show it isn't hearsay?

Referring to the fake app/trojan issues widely reported March 2013 http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623863-kasikornbank-kbank-issues-a-trojan-warning-to-users-of-smart-phones/

The warning is still displayed at login with a 'September 2013 update'

I'm speaking too loosely when I say 'recent months', but the warning is still there as of today, so one would assume it's still going on?

Received an SMS alert for a 171.41 baht transaction I didn't make (physical card was on my person) at 22:41 25/04/14, used at '@EDGE OF LAKE' (no idea).

Phoned Kasikorn support, they said it was an online transaction (my K-web shopping card), they couldn't cancel that card over the phone, so I logged in to do so. Said 'this may be a hack' and that they'd investigate the transaction and email me, I'll post the email if I get one.

Kasikorn have been hacked in recent months, so you may want to check your online statements for small amounts that may be a 'test' before larger withdrawals later. No further money was taken in the 10 mins it took me to cancel the card. I haven't clicked any phishing email links or downloaded any phone apps recently (which Kasikorn warns on their homepage can steal OTPs). I have no recurring billing set up for anything.

You can check within K-cyber banking under Account Management -> Recent Transactions:

A border official moaned at my frequent visa on arrivals yesterday, but eventually stamped me in. The 4th time I'd done a border run to Poipet and returned same day. He said doing what I was doing, I should take an airplane.

Personally if I were you I'd fly back into Thailand, then apply for a new passport. Then you have a clean slate to start doing visa runs again. Sure it's expensive to fly then renew passport via post but you'd be able to get double entry tourist visas from laos again. If you have a year or so left on your passport I'd definitely do that, as once you get to the 6 months or less point you'll have difficulty getting into Laos or any country by law (not impossible but risky).

the streetsellers around nana openly flogging viagra, kamagra and cialis every night have paid their tea money then, one would assume

Sorry to inform you 90 day reports are not a source of income as they are free.

Unless you miss them... fines are a source of income.

Here's a radical idea: Learn Thai

This. At your age you could've worked out by now not to expect first world standards from Thailand, and picked up some basic Thai.

one of the most addictive drugs on the planet

Thai meth is pretty low quality so not that addictive as others have mentioned

controversial actions of teenagers such as having sex and smoking in school

shocking

Every month a new headline, Thailand to start cracking down on [insert generic issue]

Lower the 35 baht starting fee to 15 and double the baht/kilometre from 1.5 to 3, imo, also slightly increase standstill traffic rate

Or whatever math results in a fair wages increase for drivers, and makes them indifferent to journey distance and traffic

over 45 days it is jail

There's no automatic imprisonment, the official wording says "Imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding 20,000 Baht or both.'

It's at the discretion of the police and depends on the circumstances, but in almost all cases if you can pay the fine you walk free.

I also use the TalkingThai app on a daily basis, it's pretty expensive at nearly 1k baht but well worth it. It has more slang, rare and 'cool' words than any other dictionary

thanks for the info

Hi,

I've been searching google for some time and can't seem to find any website, reliable address/google maps location for the IDC in Bangkok. I need to visit a friend there.

All I've managed to find is:

Suan Phlu Detention Center

507 Soi Suan Plu, Soi Suan Phlu, South Sathon Road Bangkok, 10120

If anyone could quickly let me know if that's correct, I'd be very grateful.

Or if anyone has brief directions, perhaps in Thai, or a map of how to get there, that'd be amazing.

Thanks in advance

*** Fresh 2011 Bump, after all the hype about law changes/return of a Thaksin Government ***

- British, White

- 364 days overstay

- Went to Bangkok Airport 7th Oct 2011, smartly dressed, clean shaven etc.

- At passport control ask where you can pay the overstay fine, and a police officer shows you to a desk around the corner. They were very relaxed, mostly just grinning at the silly farang who has to pay 20k baht. The one question they asked was 'what you do in thailand?', my response being 'I stay with girlfriend'. He chuckled and repeated it to a colleague in Thai who walked past, casually curious. (Best answers are obviously that, or 'holiday' etc., don't say you had a job here while on overstay if you did). Signed some forms and was on my way in 5 minutes, back in Thailand 2 days later with a new Visa on arrival and no problems at all.

So don't believe the hype - if you're on overstay, go to BKK airport, pay the fine, and get it sorted, don't live in fear