CrankyCarrot

I'll be sure to steer clear of Sri Lankan airlines and Malaysian A. Too much death and unpleasant mystery surrounding that last one.

It's almost exclusively Jetstar or Air Asia for me anyway.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A one way ticket to any nearby country will be accepted. You can find them on a low cost carriers for not a lot of money. Many people get them and toss them if not used.

Sure, I guess that's the best workaround. So that definitely changed in 2017, right? I'm not imagining things?

https://thaiconsulatesydney.org/docs/forms/visitor-visa/visa-application-form.pdf

The Sydney form asks for dates of arrival, departure and flight numbers. I know the likely flight number but I guess the question is: will they demand to see a boarding pass.

Thanks guys,

The form and price have changed since my last application a while back and sometimes things aren't 100% clear or they're stated as requirements but in reality aren't enforced.

If the Canberra embassy wants it as then I'm presuming it's something new for all applications from Australia (if not other countries as adammike indicates). Damn, the flexibility was useful.

Have the rules changed around 60 day tourist visas with regards to onward journey?

It used to be (circa 2016) that if you had a tourist visa you didn't need to have pre-booked a flight out of the Kingdom. Is that still the case?

I tried calling the consulate multiple times this afternoon during their biz hours 2-5pm, but nobody answered.

Asking as Australian citizen well under 50.

Firefly and Air Asia fly direct to Penang from Phuket from around B2400 each way, but at late notice it's hard to get flights at that price on days that fit around dropping off and picking up a visa.

Just spoke to the visa company. They said they're using the Sadao border (which I've heard has been a bit of a no-go recently). Regarding the B20,000 requirement, she wasn't sure about British or Australian citizens, but said people from the Ukraine or South Africa definitely needed to show it. Hmmm...

So Penang it is then. Question remains whether to go via plane (more $$, more planning) or minivan (much, much more discomfort, less $$). One agent quoted B3900 to go by minivan using A&B (who use the least homicidal drivers last I checked). They pick you up and drop you off everywhere, and give you a couple of modest meals plus a night at the Continental Hotel in Penang. Of course there's the small matter of being cooped up in a van for 12-15 hours or so (?) each way, which is kind of a nightmare.

Then there's the B20,000 they ask to see at the borders - is that going on now?

It's tempting to get ticket to fly to KL instead of Penang (from Phuket) as you save a few bucks, but after reading all the horror stories about the embassy in KL I guess it makes sense to avoid it in favour of the Penang consulate.

From what I've read here, it sounds like Penang don't concern themselves with onward flight tickets and accommodation receipts where KL obsess over them. Is that the case?

I don't nail down my plans re hotels and flights/travel months in advance, but I also don't overstay or sleep on the beach.

@ubonjoe Thanks for fast response and good news.

On a related note: I have a double entry Thai visa and have extended both entries. No overstays and just that one double entry visa stamp in the passport for 2015.

Noting the above, what are the chances I'll be knocked back if I apply for a single entry tourist visa in Penang?

I got the paperwork from immigration last time and they didn't charge me anything for it.

The hold up was with getting the owner of my apartment to provide/sign off on a rental agreement, since I was paying monthly for a hotel type room and there was nothing to show for that but a receipt. Will give it all another shot this time.

I wouldn't have thought the embassy would provide a statement saying I reside there when I'm on a tourist visa, even if it is a multiple entry one (meaning a longer term stay within the Kingdom). Again, I'll call them up as it's worth a shot.

ATF

That's something I looked into also, but I believe you need a "certificate of residence" before you can sit the tests. To get the cert. of residence, you need a "tabien baan," - signed documentation from a landlord to say prove you live there (which seems counter to the idea of being a tourist, but there it is).

A little complicated, but still a possibility I suppose.

Cheers NomadJoe,

Appreciate the details. I'd happily do a practical/theory test if it were an option. Being on a tourist visa, it sounds like the only way to ride scooters legally is to have a full riders licence from Australia. That's really what I was seeking clarification on.

Okay, thanks.

I guess I'm mostly wondering whether the learner licence would be enough to avoid the B500 fine from the BiB ...which, I'm sure, almost entirely depends on the officer, their competency and mood on the day.

Damn.

Can you drive scooters legally in Thailand using a learner rider licence from Australia?

PS If this isn't the right area of the forum for this q, can someone please point me in the right direction...

Those rates really pale in comparison with the Karon Hilton, though.

eg Outrigger = 3 months for 8000 baht // Hilton = 6 months for 8000 baht

My decision is pretty much made.

Outrigger rates, straight from the horse's mouth:

Right.

I'd just hate to be marooned at a border somewhere during a visa run.

That's an idea.

Just got the Brit passport back with the triple entry tourist visa from Brisbane, Aus. Was quite speedy. I mailed it away last Wednesday and have it now the following Monday.

Only thing is, they've filled it out with a purple texta/marker pen for some reason, and made a couple of mistakes that have been crossed out and amended - ie; the date I have to enter before and the passport number (they wrote my other Aus passport number first)

I hope this doesn't cause probs at the borders/airports. Every other Thai visa I've had has been printed rather than hand written, and texta?

Anyone had a Thai Visa like this? Hopefully I'm just being paranoid, but it does look a tad... dodgey.

Damn it!

Oh well, all things being equal, I guess the Hilton is probably the best bet. B350 an hour and nicer facilities and all. Where I was thinking of staying is about half way between the two venues.

Thanks,

Any idea about longer term membership (ie 1 month or more) fees?

It is incredibly ANNOYING when you start a post with "OK".........Please don't (sorry to be pedantic)

Does anyone else here feel the same way?

I've never heard of this being a thing before but as a fellow pedant I couldn't move past it, even Googling in search of further insight. Low and behold, unless EveryDayTheSame also posted a similar gripe on the Adobe forums under the name Doug Katz, they're not alone.

http://forums.adobe.com/message/5363847

Are you Doug Katz, EveryDayTheSame?

If it's really bad form, I'll take it under advisement.