lemerou

So right now how many nationalities apart from the english OP managed to get one ?

I think it could be a nice option for people who don't want the hastle with the STV.

The post about hcmc being difficult is the first I have ever seen. Also hcmc consulate normally does not ask for flight OUT of thailand.

I'm the one who posted about being rejected in HCMC.

Just to add more details: i have been rejected, this is true (i didn't make it up) and i had all my papers in order following their rules.

I also have seen another report of a guy in the same situation as me (rejected in HCMC) on another board.

However, i have to add i have seen several people before me being granted the visa without any problems.

This would suggest that the lady didn't like something about me or my situation (maybe too many long stay in Thailand).

It is number 4 on this page of embassy website. http://www.thaiembassy.fr/fr/visa/informations-generales/reglement-du-service-des-visas/

Indeed, how could i miss that.

Thanks for pointing it out to me.

You should not have a problem getting single entry tourist visas in Laos for a while. You can stretch the time between having to get them to almost 5 months by doing a border hop for a visa exempt entry and then getting a 30 day extension of it.

That's what i've been doing the past months.

Well, i guess i can continue to go this route until it doesn't work anymore.

If the Paris embassy holds true to form you will not get an METV there unless you have been back in France for 90 days. They require that to get a single entry visa.

Really ?

Wow, i totally missed that part when i read about the METV rules...

That means i'm totally running out of options to get viable visa options then.

Only thing that remains for me is to get my 60 days visa in Laos and wait for the dreadful day i will finally get my application rejected because "too many thai visa".

Hmm, not so great.

Update : like ubonjoe correctly guessed, i have been able to enter and get a 30 exemption without any problem.

The officier quickly browse through my numerous thai visa but it didn't seem to bother him and didnt ask me any questions or proof of found or ticket out.

A huge relief for me as you can guess.

I guess we can say that the problem was only related to the consular in HCMV.

We will see in the future if other fellows have the same problem or if I just had back luck.

I hope i will also get the 30 day extension without any problem.

I will use this time to think about a more stable situation (maybe come back home and get the METV..)

I see.

Well, its a french passport and we re eligible to the 30 day exemption.

Yes, you're right. Sorry about that!

I don't understand what you mean by'wich paasport I'm carrying' ?

It's a normal European passport.

I had the ticket out of Thailand.

As I said, I checked I checked before the requirements and i did all by the book.

Even the lady agreed to that.

@thecyclist :

Yes hcmv was considered friendly until now that's why I was surprised.

And no I did not observe anything particular.

Other people obtained their visa normally.

Still don't know why I was single out like that.

Guys i understand you might find this case a funny/ interesting case to debate / troll but I really wish we'd stay on topic (the questions I've asked).

So far, only two persons have answered my questions.

If mods could make sure we stay on topic that would be awesome, thanks.

Hcmv means ho chi minh ville (or Saigon for the old folks or the locals who still prefers this).

Guys,I would appreciate if someone could assure me I will be allowed back in the country for 30 days at the airport.

Right now, only urban Joe has answered (tks BTW) and I would appreciate other opinions.

I'm really worried to not be allowed back for 30 days (and 30 days extension).

I was just this morning at the thai consulate in hcmv and got my application for a standard tourist 60 days refused.

Actually, it was not even accepted!

The lady at the counter didn't offer a single explaination saying 'if you want explanation, write to this email (the one of the consulate)" and then rudely asked me to go away.

I actually just sent an email to them but it will probably will not be any use at all.

Of course, all my papers were in order as I'm the psychorigid kind when dealing with administration ( ticket out of Thailand and proof of found ect...)

The possible problem that I see is that I have been staying in Thailand a few months this year (all the time with valid visa ) but not one right after another since I often make trips of several months to other countries.

Not sure if I'm clear : let's say I did 6 months with a two entry (when it was available), then two months in Japan, then 3 months in Thailand again, then one month in Indonesia, then two months in Thailand and here I am stuck in hcmv.

So I'm really confused now:

- how come they refuse to even take my application and without a single explaination?

- what was the problem with my application? Is there a rule that one couldn't spend more than xx days in the kingdom for a certain time? That is the only reason I can see and as far as I know this rule doesn't exist anymore.

- if I go to another consulate, will I be refused as well (Vientiane for instance .ironically I wanted to go there at first...)

- and finally (and more importantly), will I be refused the entry for a 30 day exception when I will take my plane back to Thailand in two days? And if I can enter, should I be worry that I will not be able to extend this to another 30 days?

Guys i know this a lot of questions but i'm really worried (all my stuffs are in a condo in Bkk. In the worst scenario, how will I get them back?)

I have done everything in the textbook and I find myself kinda screwed.

I'd really love to get some answers from you guys.

Thanks in advance

If you go the ED route, you have to be real careful and choose a school agreed by the gouvernement.

About the METV, do we know if it's possible to use them back to back ? (Have a METV, spend 6 months, come back to home country and ask for another METV, spend 6 months, come back ect....) ?

Thanks for all the answers guys !
To clarify my situation : i want to long term visa to stay in Thailand for one year and i'm serious about wanting to learn so i'm trying two kill two birds with one stone.
Then in one year i plan, as one poster suggested, to go to China directlty to learn there.

@T100 : What do you suggest i should do, then ?

@timmyp : they also test people learning japanese or chinese ? How would they know if they're good ot not ? (i mean, i can understand thai tests but for the rest..)

I'm thinking about starting a course in Mandarin (Chinese) in a school / university that gives a one year ED visa.

Can anyone confirm it is possible (to get a ed visa learning chinese and not thai) ?

Also can anyone recommend a good school to do this ? (i realy want to learn it so it would be nice if they have native teachers and/or good teachers)

Bangkok would be best but i can consider Pattaya.

Thanks !

So I was supposed to take that line yesterday night.

But all trains are canceled until tomorrow according to the ticket self staff.

Had to take a flight nokair.

Kept thinking to myself 'hope this pilot is not depressed'.

I'm taking this train today

Hope the trains are running again.

I'm planning on doing this.

If i take the 20H00 train, will i be in time to submit my visa at thai embassy (they close at 12H00) ?

Seems to be a tight schedule.

Who has done this already ?

It may be closer to the Air France crash in that the crew didn't adequately understand the technology

I guess you're refering to the Rio/Paris crash.

I'm not a pilot but what i understood from reading last words from the cockpit had nothing to do with not understanding technology and everything with a misunderstanding of the flight environment of the plane.

Plane was stalling but the co pilot thought the opposite so he pushed the stick the wrong way (upward) all the way down.

Making the plane stalling more.

Had he pushed the stick the other way (downward, wich you usually do in a stall) maybe the plane would had recovered.

Could be wrong though since i'm not an expert.

At least is sounds like Songkran in BKK will be restricted to 3 days

Is it confirmed ?

Where can i find more information about this ? (especially the restricted place)

I so wish to avoir Songkran...

Bumping the thread to know if anyone tried the bus service already and what their opinion is ?

Currently looking for the best way to go BKK-PNH (without flying).

Might be wrong but it looks like a Martin to me.

Having a bit of experience in Indonesia and quite a bit of investment, I still feel that as things are today, it is better to err on the side of caution.

That said, I am VERY pro Indonesia and feel that investing there for the longer term is a very good proposition.

But at present, I would be cautious. I can see that many people will lose a lot of money in the next few months by "investing" for return rather than for safety.

I am very positive for Indonesia as well.

Can you explain why do you think there is a risk in the short term ?

Regarding your financial situation in the next 10 years, it probably depends if your retirement money is labelled in $ or € (or another money).

Although it might not appear so according to the happening crisis, the € will probably be a stronger money in the 5 or 10 next years (as it will be more used as a 'reserved money', sorry don't know the correct english expression for this), especially against the $.

Of course, the THB (and other asian moneys such as the RMB) will probably go up too but my guess will be that if you get an income in € you will be much safer than if you get it in $.

On the other hand, you have to to add the inflation in the equation and this is of course in the bad way.

We're entering a world of inflation (probably hyper inflation) wich will impact every country in the world.

Well i see now my crystall ball is broken so i'll probably leave another expert to answer you exactly

Technologically, it's pretty amazing.

It will probably change in one way or the way photography in the coming years...