happysanook

3 hours ago, Sundown said:

"What we want now are quality tourists who stay for a long time," Yuthasak said.

 

Quality tourists who stay a long time or not tourists who use a tourist visa? ????????????‍♂️

 

 

They've certainly, finally, found an easy excuse to weed out the undesirables... Force a $2000 hotel stay. Of which I'm sure they take a hefty cut. People cashing in on Covid like there's no tomorrow. Stay scared, stay tuned.

Any way to get this back on from abroad? I need to confirm my online banking transactions through SMS... Or, am I screwed. 

On 8/24/2020 at 8:21 PM, Thailand said:

Like many places the precautions are now becoming lax as many people believe there is little or no risk of Covid in Thailand.

 

Not backed up with the governments paranoia with keeping most access to Thailand blocked.

I don't think it's belief that there's little risk of Covid19. It's that people are realizing that the world jumped the gun and that Covid19 not nearly as dangerous as we thought. Time to move on and start living, instead of living like quasi-humans. People love a good drama, that's for sure.

Is that true... Or is it if acutely sick?

In the States right now. Suggestions on the where to get cheapest insurance they'll accept at BKK?

I see some thread here for "Roojai". Anyone  used it with success?

Can you buy it at BKK, and if so, how much?

Anyone used this to enter the kingdom? I'm in the States right now and looking for cheapest legit option they will accept.

When denied, did you have an option to fly to a different country? Or they forced you back to home country?

I was pulled aside a half year back and very nearly not let in. I flirted with the ladyboy supervisor and got through though. The mid-level officer was on a mission to send me back.

10 hours ago, Denim said:

What would justify this being labeled a smart car would be a revolving Falangometer on the roof that slowly scanned in a 360 degree circle searching for miscreants. If it homed in on one it should emit an ' Eee-oop lads ' signal to notify the IO controller.

 

The following is a picture of a similar vehicle recently tested in Bradford and Southall. It was a failure as it got too hot and kept burning out the circuit boards. Should be OK here though.

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to signal all of the baa-humbug holier-than-thou crusty old foreigners, so they can feel good about themselves for a few seconds.

All you old drunks whining about following the rules, here you go. Most of you forget that with more freedom comes more danger. One of the beautiful things about Thailand is the nevermind attitude...Dying a slow death. 

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

Probably the overtime fee for the Lao visa on arrival. I have read of it being $1 US or 40 baht.

That should give you enough time to get to the bridge.

If you take a van for the airport in Udon it will get you there quicker.

Thank you. There's a van from airport to the border.. correct?

12 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The bridge is open until 10 pm. Getting there at 9 would be good to insure you get to the other side for your Lao visa on arrival.

The shuttle buses are still operating then.

What is 10k Kip for?

Some after-hours fee... (Any time not m-f 9am-5pm or some such malarkey).

Flight scheduled to land 18.35 Udon. Enough time do you think? Or should just sleep at bus station room and cross next morning...?

Still 10,000kip and 10PM?

Also, is the public bus still running this late? Will be crossing around 9PM or so...

Two weeks ago was there. They were turning people away left and right, including me... Without any transit visa option (this was at the initial screening phase.) I had only 1 tourist visa (but 4 prior visa exempt land entries and one air entry). The "agency" across the road said only allowing 1 tourist now, but could be random... IDK.

On 9/11/2019 at 4:53 PM, ubonjoe said:

That info is wrong. Only tourist visas and visa exempt entries can be extended.

Form police order 327/2557.

Just spoke with immigration today. Can't get the 30, but can get the 7.  

53 minutes ago, peixotorms said:

Its the amount of entries and time you spent in Thailand, but it's up to the officer.

If you stay 3 months and come another 3 months, its less dangerous than multiple visa exemptions.

But 9 months, and chances are you get pulled aside at the airport.

 

I had 3 TR visas (one not fully used) and maybe 4 visa exemptions until I was denied entry in DMK, even with a SETV from KL.

It was upsetting because I was entering Thailand as Tourist for the last time to get married... and the lady IO didn't even bother listening to my Thai girlfriend, which was travelling with me at that time.

That IO lady doesn't have the qualifications to be dealing with people... unlike some other officers there, which were humanly polite.

 

Try KL embassy if Vientiane said no.

Attach the required documents + bank extract showing money.

But like I said, even with that, you can be denied at the airport nowadays... so it's your risk and money.

 

 

The word in Savannakhet is only 1 tourist visa allowed now, started just recently. Maybe it's random, IDK.

9 minutes ago, acenase said:

 

Good info to know! So not extendable. 30 days only. I could do this, seems much easier for 30 days instead of pressing my luck with applying at Yangon.

 

It's one transit visa per passport or per year?

 

I'm not even going to attempt to apply for a tourist visa. Just the transit visa. Last time I went to Savannakhet they gave me a tourist visa, plus the remark stamp with it. So it was one and done.

I think this is a good move. Let me know how it turns out. Try without help first, but if they happen to deny, then see the dude across the road.

36 minutes ago, Caldera said:

Interesting, that seems to be a new money making scheme. Just a few weeks ago, from reports back then they routinely gave those they refused a SETV a transit visa instead (charging the official fee, 800 baht).

It's very possible I paid the extra 1500 for nothing. I wouldn't be surprised. But seeing as how I didn't even realize that was an option until the agency told me, I suppose it was money well spent... 

30 minutes ago, acenase said:

If you used up your 2 LAND BORDER Exempts. And you go to Savannakhet.  Can you just apply for a Transit Visa so you can go back to Thailand and stamp in for 30 days?

 

I already have a "Too Much Visas" in my passport stamp from Savannakhet. So I know I won't be able to get a Visa.  But what if I just want to stay 30 more days and use the Transit Visa just to go back through the border, even though I already used my 2 visa exempts for 2019? How much does this cost?

I paid some money to agency across the street with friend inside. Whether that was required or not, I don't know (eg, if went in and did it myself), but since I'd already been inside and denied for the tourist visa, I don't think likely they'd readily hand out transit visa without the extra help from agency, but I could be wrong. Anyways, it's done now. Paid 1500+800.

1 hour ago, stament said:

What's a tea money transit visa? A visa exempt on arrival?

Gave a "tip" to allow the transit visa (via a 3rd party). 

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

You posted in the CM forum, so maybe ubonjoe might not notice.

But he had a clear answer (No) recently:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1121064-transitvisa-extenstion-possible/?do=findComment&comment=14525119

 

Oops. You're right. Wrong forum. Okay, thanks for this answer.

I see this on EU ThaiEmbassy site (see bottom paragraph). I will ask at immigration to clarify.

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

In Vientiane or in Savannakhet?

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles and thanks for your report.

Both. Denied first in Vientiene (where they accepted passport, but returned next day with denial).

Then took overnight sleeper to Savannakhet and denied there too (didn't accept passport/application), pretty much right off the bat. Didn't really bother looking at bank statement or out of country ticket.

BTW, not that it should matter, but some people believe it does... I'm Caucasian American 44 years old. A bit of a beard, but not hippied out by any means.

Just got denied a 2nd tourist visa (no warnings in passport). So ended up with tea money transit visa. Can these be extended similar to visa-exempt (same process+1900B+30 day extension??)

Thanks

Okay. Well, denied a 2nd tourist visa in both Vientiene and Savannakhet. Very solid, emphatic, no go. Only "1 tourist visa allowed". I had no warnings stamped in passport. Tried in Vientiene to do a 3rd visa-exempt, no dice. 

Other countries may be different, but Laos appears it's not happening.

Ended up paying tea money and getting transit visa.

Hmm. Any correlation between embassies? Does one seem more apt than another to give the stamp?