gabong

Tough luck for those who found it hard.

I did not say it was easy, just that I got my visa there and I'm providing a update.

But for anyone who can meet the requirements for this embassy, the above info will be helpful as the embassy is under going renovations.

I was there early for both application and collection, and was the front 5 to get in.

The line gets long rather fast. So better early then late..

Hope this helps!

Hi guys,

This is my 1 year renewal for the above visa.

If you have read my previous post about this visa, I'm glad to say the visa process is all the same!

Important information for visiting Thai Embassy in SG.

The visa section has MOVED.

The embassy is undergoing renovations and the usual front gate, located next to the bus stop on Orchard road, is closed except for staff and citizen service.

All over visa service will enter at the rear gate!

It is located on Claymore road.

All you have to do is walk towards TCC coffee store, make a left, walk along the perimeter (200m~) of the embassy.

Upon climbing a hill, you will reach Claymore road, turn left.

The gate will be further down on the left.

You will check-in at the guard office before going in.

Inside, it is a brand new office with A/C, seating, and a queue section.

There you have it, another O visa for another year.

Hope this helps!

Not exactly. If for Thai wife both of you will have to appear with proof of 400k in bank account for previous 2 months and letter from bank of account balance and marriage proof and her ID card and home register and marriage ledger entry copy from District Office and photos together at home inside and outside and proof of address and map to home and normal copies of your passport/visa/permission to stay and departure card, TM.7 form with 4x6cm photo and fee of 1,900 baht. You may have to have someone confirm you living together at immigration or on a visit to home. They will have to interview both you and wife (mostly wife) to confirm marriage. Any travel will require a re-entry permit to return to Thailand and keep extension. If you do not travel every 90 days you must report address (can be done by someone else or by mail so not hard for most). There will be a 30 day or longer under review period but final approval but if accepted it will be approved (unless you know it is false).

Sound like a lot but actually only about an hour or less at office and to make the paperwork will not take that long (but sounds worse than it is when written down like this). You need to do this during the last 30 days of a non immigrant O visa 90 day entry.

Thank you, lopburi3 !!!

Yes, it sounded really complicated at first.

I'm will drag myself to the local immigration to sort out the details... It's just bloody hot these days... Or I'm just lazy..

My O visa was going to expire back then. And I have no idea how the extension works...lol... excuse my ignorance... Is the extension for "90 day" leave country/reporting the same as a 1 yr extension?

No an extension would allow a one year stay without leaving and you can continue to obtain without leaving (same paperwork each year and 1,900 baht fee).

Thanks a lot!

That means, I will need a O visa. Go into thailand. Go to Immigration and get stamp for a 1 yr extension and report there every 90 days until my visa run out?

Have done the same successfully a week ago. The funny thing was the chinese aunty who kicked everyone in front of me out of the queue for something missing in the papers. Only one visa agent in front left. Took 5 mins, besides the 45 mins for waiting. Opening time is 9:15, not 8:30. And the muslim lady at the counter even smiled at me, so different of what people posted elsewhere .

One question gabong, on your pic it says you paid 0 S$, I had to fork out 250 as PR. Are you SG citizen and is this for free?

Yes. I carry a SG passport and is a citizen. And erm... regarding the amount paid...

The previous visa I paid USD$175 in LA.

This time round, I'm just glad it's printed as is!

If he is from Singapore doing it in his own country it should be easy! No different to a US Citizen doing one in the USA very easy indeed.

Thanks for posting the news and well done!

I had my previous O visa done in LA. It was painless... Love it!

Just out of curiosity...

To the OP.... if you had 400k THB in Thail bank account, why did you go to SIN to get a 1 yr multiple entry O visa?

Wouldn't it have just been cheaper and faster and easier to go get a 1 yr extension at immigration in Thailand?

My O visa was going to expire back then. And I have no idea how the extension works...lol... excuse my ignorance... Is the extension for "90 day" leave country/reporting the same as a 1 yr extension?

Be sure the statement you get has a balance on it. TFB issued me a statement which was actually a transaction report stating there was nothing else they could give me. Staff at the Sgp embassy told me they would not accept it next time, even though this was the 3rd Cat O visa they issued me in my current passport... I have a ways to go on this visa and will need to explore getting a proper balance statement next time. Might be an issue of my local branch not knowing...

Yes, most local branches may be clueless on this issue.

Go to your bank's head office or call the head office for help.

The embassy in SG is very picky on the bank statement issue.

Do not mess up, or you will not get your visa....

I had my statements printed out at my city's biggest branch office.

I had figured that most tesco mall branch bank will be clueless...

Make sure there is your Name, Date, Account details, Balance, Bank name, etc...

All must be clearly printed.

Good luck!

Sorry to sound like an idiot. Which plane ticket did you show them?

A plane ticket indicating your arrival date into Thailand.

Or a boat ticket or Bus/Train ticket are also accepted.

...Just 1 day processing time? The embassy website says it takes 2...

Two days: day 1, submit application; day2, pick up passport with visa.

Yes.

I submitted on 10th Jan. 9am.

Collected on 11th Jan. 2pm.

Brilliant exactly what I was looking for!

I did Singpore once with a printout of my US bank account (from an internet cafe) and an ATM slip. Don't remember if the ATM slip had my name on it or not, but I had to try 3 different ATMS before I found one that would show my balance.

Anyway not going to take a chance, will go for the bank statement - what kind of statement is required, how long did it take to get it at the bank? Is a bank book OK? BKK bank is kind of funny about bank statements particularly when not at my "home" bank branch. And my home branch is in Pai so I'd have to ride there..

Just 1 day processing time? The embassy website says it takes 2...

I had mine printed at my bank branch.

It was just some copy machine print out.

It had bank details, my details, my balance details, also made sure it had a "today's" date printed somewhere.

Had a staff signed it.

It worked for me.

But if you have bank books, do make a copy for back up too!

No harm in being extra safe.

I've read about some nasty stories about this embassy.

But I'm glad I made it without much hassle, since this is the first time I was using this embassy.

Previously I had my O visa issued in LA without a problem.

10/01/2012

Arrived with all paper work as per Thai Embassy SG website.

-My passport with valid 6 months.

-Photos (Singapore passport Size) (saw a guy came with some home printer photo and got rejected!)

-Copies of Marriage Cert, ID, Passport of spouse. (Cross sign by Wife.)

-Letter from wife saying I was visiting her parents. (Typed in English)

-Plane ticket

-Current bank statement (Used my local bank account)

Part 1(There is this Chinese lady who would check your papers at the door, or she will walk around. Showed her my papers and casually ask her how much does my bank accounts balance needs to be. She uttered some thing like $2000(SGD). Well, I had THB400,000 as per website. If you guys want to chance it, you may try.)

Part 2(This is tricky, was requested for "current" papers. Was Rejected with my online statements because it did not have a "current" date, date 2 weeks ago. Lady at counter wanted something within "+- few days". I went to ATM and got a receipt, but was rejected as it does not have my name on it! Then used my bank statement from Thailand and was "Allowed". Lady at the counter said, "without a valid "current" bank statement, they can Not approve Multiple Entry visa.")

Extra paper work I carried

-Thai bank statement, signed and stamped within a week.

Was given a small piece of paper with my queue number on it

-Do Not Loose This!!!

11/01/2012

Collection time 2-3pm Only!

Got there early and waited in line.

Was about 10 behind.

Went in, got to counter, picked up passport and checked it.

Left.

That's it. Another visa run completed.

Hope it helps.

Attached a picture as proof!

For best night viewing and heat protection;

Front door and windshield - 40% tint (60% VLT)

Rear door and windshield - 60% tint (40% VLT)

I recommend non-reflective films, those that do not have a mirror effect.

VLT = visible light transmission. Plain glass has about 80-90% VLT, blocks almost no light.

For comparision, in Singapore;

Front - 30% tint

Rear - 70% tint

in California;

Front - 30% tint

Rear - any amount

If you have a roof tank, have it cleaned!

I have seen water tanks on old buildings that are not seal/covered up.

It is a open top tank. Imagine all the rain water and dirt that runs into it.

shd be less then 20baht for about an hour.

i usually pay 10baht for 15 min.

That's right.

It is the only school that is almost all A/C. A first in hat yai.

Most kids who get in there are all from high society families.

You won't meet some push cart father or mother in there.

The good thing about hat yai is our neighbour.

Malaysia is a great place to visit.

Just cross the border and u can shop duty free!!!

I have a Dark Angels army. And tons of unpainted stuff laying around.

It's been years and they are just collecting dust..

I'm further down south in hat yai.

If you have the money, go get some sound insulation done.

It makes all the difference and last for the life of the car.

Unlike tires that get increasingly louder over time, sound proofing the car reduces the need to choose a "quiet" tire over any performance needs.

Then again, its the more expensive option.

Tough luck!

There are no reliable pet sellers here.

Your best bet is to ask around from people who might want to give one or sell one away.

There are several pets shops whom I have asked that might have dogs, but prices are always pretty high.

There is a pet hospital across the expressway from makro that might have some.

There is a board setup there for pet postings, its in the pet store section.

If you do meet any reliable pet sellers, do post back here!

This is the Classic Thai way.. of preventing spare tire theft!

Have a good laugh!

But I'm sure it works to deter thief too.

That's right.

Most of the cheaper solution dont look good when installed.

I have see pic of another setup whereby the tv box is hidden under the glove box.

Its a much tidier solution, where the cables all run on the back, not around the cabin area.

For your information, i have no intention of living in Pattani, nor staying there for any length of time. My wife has 2 children living there with their fathers family. She has to visit from time to time. We drive down from Samui. She says that it will be too dangerous for me to go there and wants me to wait for her at her sisters home in Hat Yai. Sister and husband are accountants and have their business there. Thats it. !

So i think it would be stupid not to stay at Hat Yai for a couple of days whilst she tries to sort the problem of the children out. They are being brought up as muslims and she is Buddhist so its 'problems' with a capital P. The kids want to return to Suratthani to grandparents palm oil farm. Wife has business on Samui. Thats why i am asking for advice, so very many thanks to you all.

p.s. Boy 10 wants to stay muslim.

Girl 9 wants to be Buddhist.

Problems for sure !

I have traveled there on many occasions and have found that there is not much problem moving in and out of town.

But I have only traveled during daylight hours, and, inside major cities.

I wont advise a White farang to be visiting the country side in the far south. If any of your family members have homes there.

As an Asian farang myself, I tend to blend in pretty well.

It's a tough thing about religion, but if the girl wants to be a Buddhist, its best to relocate her further north where there is a bigger Buddhist community.

Just my 2 cents.

TV setup for PJS

Use google translate if you dont read thai.

That is just one of many ways of adding TV to your car.

The receiver box can be hidden in the glove box.

The antenna is usually a separate cable.

This sparked my curiosity, so I went and had a look at the way the spare wheel is secured and accessed.. From what I see, the only way to steal the spare would be to break into the car itself, or apply a massive amount of force to try and shear the hidden and inaccessible chain that secures it up to the vehicle body. The piece of chain that dangles down is inconsequential slack - cutting it won't get you anywhere.

Either that or I'm just not a very good theif - perhaps I should stick to my day job?

Stick to the day job!

I had the spare stolen from my Prerunner earlier this month, and apparently spare wheel theft from pick-ups/SUVs is becoming commonplace.

The only "equipment" needed is that available with just about any pick-up, preferably with a rechargeable drill to speed up the process, and a saw to cut off Toyota's optional lock (they took that as well!). Impossible to pin down just when or where it was taken as its not something I check regularly, but in the three week window between having it serviced at Toyota and noticing the loose chain there were very few possibilities and the most likely was when it was parked in Wat Chai (Pattaya Tai).

Most of the cheaper wheel locks/chains can be cut in seconds with bolt cutters (as can the slack in the lowering chain if you have padlocked the wheel to that) so I will be adding a heavy stainless steel chain (from the yacht chandlers!) and a decent lock, or getting a stainless steel "cap and cover" made for the winding mechanism. Replacing a stolen spare, even with first class insurance, can be pricey: the insurance covers the full cost of the wheel (considerable for a 17" Prerunner original) but only 50% of the cost of the tyre, even if it is only a few months old and unused - 50% is 4,000 baht from Toyota! To be fair to Aioi Insurance, after a number of lengthy telephone conversations with their head office in Bangkok they agreed to pay for the full cost of both wheel and tyre (and the Toyota lock!), but don't count on that as neither Toyota nor my regular insurance agent had ever heard of any insurance company doing this unless it was specified in the policy with a hefty surcharge and both said that 50% was the standard deduction in Thailand.

Thanks for sharing.

I too had my spare tire stolen from my PJS just last week while visiting BKK!!!

Lets see how my insurance will handle this...