fotunate

the crime rate by country reflects reported (by government agencies) crime. What credence you may or may not place in any particular country's law enforcement agencies should be the prime factor in determining accuracy.

just yesterday I was searching for flights to various locations in Japan and Australia for the songkran period and found a lot of "flight not available" on various airline websites plus kayak.com 

just to add a bit of perspective, 90% of UK streams are polluted by sewage and so are many of the sea beaches. In comparison Thailand doesn't appear to be that bad.

Thank you all! I did consider SETV but as I am also planning a week trip to Australia, from Thailand, during the 3Jan-28 Apr period I thought METV may be the better option? One other question please: As I have two confirmed flight bookings to Thailand from US for the two periods mentioned am considering if it would be any help including both in my evisa application to the Thai NYC consulate? 

I have already booked two trips to Thailand, from USA, covering the period 4 Nov 2023 to 28 Apr 2024. My first booking is for the period 4-28 Nov 23 then return to US and return to Thailand on 3 Jan to 28 April. Would METV work in this situation? I am aware have to have at least one extension and possibly a short exit from Thailand? 4 Nov 23 thru 28 April 24 is 177 days. From my home in US I can use Thai evisa through the NYC consulate. I have used this site previously to obtain a SETV and that worked well but, this plan I fear may cause a hassle with consulate? Does this plan have a good chance of approval? Thank you for any and all assistance 

FYI: Grab does not use Google navigation, they have developed their own navigation system. If you try to track your ride with your personal phone google maps app you will notice route differences on occasion. 

Did you get an extension for your metv prior to border run? I am considering using this method early next year: 2 Jan to 28 Apr 2024. I will use Thai consulate in NYC for metv

I am planing to visit Thailand from USA from early December 2023 to end of March 2024 (4 months) am considering two options:

1. Apply for METV then extend for 30 days and then do a short trip out of country. As I understand METV rules on the short trip return my METV is still valid and I will get stamped in for another 60 days?

2. Apply for SETV then extend for 30 days then do short out of country and return on visa exempt?

I noticed on the Thai evisa site checking METV procedure there was a short blurb stating: be prepared to show proof of need lengthy stay. It did not state what proof may be required or where and when required? My first thought it may be at entry immigration counter? Any ideas on this?

Thank you for any assistance 

Where is the evidence he was “healthy”? Maybe he wasn’t so healthy?

When I arrived recently I was asked upon entering immigration arrivals area what class of flight was I traveling on. When I showed them my boarding pass indicating I was traveling in business class I was escorted to a “fast track” IO desk and was quickly processed and on my way.

Also the USDA vet does not examine the pet relys on pet owners vet to exam the pet and send info to USDA vet via VEHCS system.

What a coincidence! I just went through this procedure, I arrived from Philadelphia with my pet cat just last week. Regarding the USDA international health certificate you referred to this was the procedure I followed: had vet exam for cat with my local vet who then, using the VEHCS online system , electronically sent health certificate to the USDA Veternary (animal export?import) in Harrisburg PA. Regarding the 10 day validity period it is hard and fast rule, no change. What was done to elevate the time factor for US mail delivery the USDA Vet office required a FedEx overnight label which was sent along with the certificate request from my vet. This worked great as i had the signed certificate the next morning after it was transmitted from my vet to USDA Vet via VEHCS. There was no need for me to acquire the FedEx overnight label as this was included in initial application. Just be careful of holidays and weekends as the USDA vet is not available then. If Your vet is not certified on VEHCS it will cause problem with timing. 

Everything worked out well in my case. The arrival into BKK airport the arrival process can be a bit frustrating though. The Thai animal import/export on their website says to pic up your pet at carrousel 8, what they mean is to go the import export office first with pet health certificate and Thai import permit and that guy will have you fill out another form and pay 510 thb then he will refer you to the oversized luggage office behind carrousel 15 were another guy will double check everything and then will go into the back and retrieve your pet. After getting the pet you to the red customs line where another official will go over all your docs again and give you another official form after you pay 1000 thb customs duty. Do not lose that form as you will need it if the pet is later exported and it will save you from paying another 1000 thb. So again although it was a bit bureaucratic bs it went well.

Hope this helps

FYI: Recently (less than a week ago) I applied thru evisa for a setv with Thai NYC consulate, included was my flight booking for a return 89 days from my arrival date. Two days later I received an automatic reply asking for a outbound flight booking from Thailand less than 60 gays from my arrival into Thailand. I replied rapidly with a one way outbound booking to meet this request. I received my setv confirmation one day later. It appears to me the Thai NYC consulate evisa system is fairly automated as I submitted my initial request on a Saturday and the following Monday was a US National holiday.Overall I am very satisfied with NYC Consulate timely response and performance.

Regarding "onward ticket" does anyone have any personal experience with QATAR AIRWAYS asking for onward ticket when flying from US (Philadelphia) to Bangkok. I have confirmed round trip booking with them for mid-Nov and return 3 months later. I am considering using visa exempt with extension and a short trip to Vietnam for another visa exempt or getting longer term visa on evisa site and not sure which would be more convenient?

I am a bit confused on availability of METV on evisa site (thaievisa.go.th) when i access this site at my location (PA USA) i don't see METV offered only STV. Am I doing something wrong? 

One other question: while on a STV in Thailand can I leave Thailand for short trip and return within the STV time period?

I was just in the Thai US DC embassy website researching entry requirements and I noticed in the frequently asked questions section, # 2, that visa emption time period (30 days) can NOT be extended. Is this a recent change?

7 hours ago, thaitom said:

Yeah, I left years ago, I couldn't stand the PC people then, and now I can't imagine how awful it must be to live there now.

win win situation you say your happy to be out of the US and the US is that much better with you and your like minded cohort out of the US

Never commented on NAFTA, further the cheap vague attempt at dismissal "a distinction without a difference" is a shallow attempt of those who possess little or no technical expertise of issues discussed.Pontification comes to mind.

Firstly, the Senate does not ratify treaties they either concur or not. If they concur with a two thirds majority of those Senators present the treaty then takes effect when "instruments of ratification" are exchanged between the USA and the Foreign government opposite.

Classic example of this organization preaching one thing to the 'flock' and pushing for the opposite behind closed doors. Example: in my home state of Pennsylvania, even after the release of the Statewide Grand Jury report of the massive abuses the church committed against thousands of innocent victims, the catholic church still is resisting reform and change. Several State legislators have moved to eliminate the State statute of limitations on historical sexual abuse charges at which the catholic hierarchy in Pennsylvania have launched, as reported by several news organizations , an aggressive behind the scenes lobbying campaign to suppress these attempts. They want to change nothing! Pander to the flock and carry on as before. There are no adequate words to describe the church's duplicity and complicity in cover up and suppression.

Google: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: BPPV

Thank you, I mean

hank you everyone!