JomtienEats

52 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

My guess is the opposite.

Some folk coming visa exempt knowing that can obtain 30 day extension and follow that with 60 day covid extension.

If covid to continue announced soon I would expect tourists looking for up to 4 month stay will be encouraged to come to Thailand.

 

I wonder how many of those are outside Thailand right now. I'd guess not so many.

Cancel covid extensions and trying to get long stay visitors to run the gauntlet of test&go&return&test&go would probably juice the numbers a little, but at some considerable expense of goodwill.

Thanks for the report. Was your 60 day extension added, or does the 60 days start from the day it was issued? 

On 1/13/2022 at 4:26 PM, AcuDoc said:

Thanks Jack... I plan on going next week when I get my new passport

Tell us how it goes! 

On 1/13/2022 at 3:56 PM, DrJack54 said:

 

That means you can apply for your covid extension now and the 60 days will commence from Feb 13. 

 

I've read that some offices start the 60 days from the issuing of the covid extension, rather than adding to existing date. I wonder if this has been standardised yet or if it still depends on the office attended. 

On 1/8/2022 at 9:05 PM, daveAustin said:

If they really want visitors, the least that pathetic excuse for a gov could do is take the having-to-book-and-pay-for-testing off the table. Make it free you tightwads!

I wonder how much each visitor is worth to the economy. Maybe not even 1 covid test.

I do think its OK to ask visitors to bear the burden of the increased costs of travel in a pandemic, but with Omicron, all this is likely to be moot. I suspect the covid panic will soon be over, but I do wonder how long before entry restrictions will reflect it. 

On 1/9/2022 at 6:30 AM, texanaust said:

Thank you for the info.  However, I want to book with a refund option (in case my flight is cancelled or test positive, etc).  I feel like Thailand Pass is pushing everyone into booking direct which equals 'non-refundable.'

I think you've hit on something here. It might explain the 'difficulty' with American cards (US operators more willing to do chargebacks for non rendered services) and the requirements to book direct with hotels etc.

They want to keep the money even if they provide no pass, no room, no tests. It's a pretty squalid way to hang onto a few bucks while trashing your reputation. 

On 1/7/2022 at 11:13 AM, Kevinphall said:

Since Start of august - been told every time last time and to go home - today she didn’t say so I joked with her you forgot to tell me to go home and she just laughed and shouted go home. 

It gets quite confusing. Whether they want us here or not.

I guess the actions speak louder than the words.

But why all the words?

24 minutes ago, tomyami said:

They entered the country under rules vaxed and test and go so they picked it up in thailand which is not a covid free country, it has already community and pourous borders transmissions, is there any other country in the world name and shaming different nationalites after testing positive and it issued the entry passes

I believe there is something political going on. One fellow wants to re-open to tourists as that will be economically beneficial and popular with the thai people reliant on tourism. Another fellow thinks that might go badly, so wants to position himself as the fellow who was against it all along. Certainly no-one wants to take responsibility for taking any bold decisions.

On 12/28/2021 at 12:52 PM, kidneyw said:

Here you go.

Thanks - however mine didn't look anything like this - it was more like a screenshot from the online system. It didn't look like much or have many details, but @ubonjoe said it would be enough, and the condo front desk said it would be enough and indeed it was enough for them.

I made some progress! 

Google play can be paid for by something called 'PromptPay' - this is on most thai bank apps, so a friend can pay the bill and you can reimburse them. Not perfect, but better.

I haven't tried to pay promptpay at 711 yet but I dont see it advertised. 

29 minutes ago, Blumpie said:

The unvaccinated it's much less.

Why does anyone care about the willfully unvaccinated?  They can just stay at home.  

Many in asia are 'vaccinated', but with Sinovac, which is reportedly quite ineffective against Omicron. So even if you only care about the 'vaccinated', your sympathies might extend to the Sinovaxxed.

19 minutes ago, jingjai9 said:

I am quite confident that the Omicron variant will be reason enough to extend the closing of bars and entertainment places beyond January 15th, the only question that remains is for how long.

I'm hopeful Omicron is the beginning of the end. There's just no containing it any more, and everyone, even the Chinese, will be forced to pursue herd immunity. It could be brutal, depending on the omicron hospitalization/fatality rate, but herd immunity might be only 2 months away.

24 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If it has your name and passport number on it that is enough.

Thanks. Hopefully that is the case, but I have to wonder, if only my name and passport number is needed, that info is on my passport! I wonder why the need for a receipt at all. 

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

That is enough proof that the hotel did the report online. Immigration can look it up on their computer to confirm it was done.

I don't know. There is scant information on this print out to look up. My experience with Imm before has never been 'Oh yes, we can look that up for you', it has always been 'Go and get the proper form'! I want to be sure of it to avoid two journeys.

On 12/24/2021 at 7:18 PM, kidneyw said:

Gave this link to the receptionist at my hotel a couple of days ago. Yesterday she had a photo of my receipt of notification.

What does your receipt of notification look like? I've asked my condo to do mine and they've given me something that looks like a printout of a mobile screen shot as a receipt. It doesn't have the address on it, and just has a start date, name, nationality, pp number and sex. I'm doubtful it is the right thing.

10 hours ago, CMBob said:

Both I and friends got our extensions at the Immigration Office near the airport.  I have no clue if the satellite office at Promenada does any extensions (haven't been out there in years).  

Good! I always found the Promenada location awkward to get to. 

9 minutes ago, CMBob said:

Somewhat off topic.....but just a week ago CM Immigration required a copy of the TM30 when friends got a 30-day extension to a visa exempt entry.  I personally was required to produce a copy when obtaining an annual extension based on retirement earlier this month.  Don't know whether its required for a covid extension but I'd guess it is required.

I think you're on-topic. Sounds like I'll need to sort out a TM30. Where did your friends get the extension btw - airport or promenada?

37 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

A lot of this stuff seems to emanate from the Anti-Money Laundering Office. I did have a True Wallet until the AMLO upped the anti and insisted on further ID checks. Seems my passport wasn't good enough anymore.

 

Lazada's been no problem though. I've had my account with them for 7 years now and they've never asked for any additional ID. I don't see how you can possibly have an account with them without giving them your name!

Yes, looks to me like either a Thai ID or Passport satisfies whatever the requirements are, but a little extra work is required to process passports so I guess some firms just don't bother.

Lazada Wallet definitely asking for either id on my account. I think they need my address to deliver their wonderful plastic goods to my door, but I give them my nickname rather than government name.

45 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

NOT only that the requirements are worse now, they also do not work!!

i tried to register to LINE WALLET and did upload my passport photo and face photo

there, as required. to this day i did not get a response from them,only a message:

"your documents are under verification"

tried to call them few times but as usual no good communication.

so now my passport photo is wondering somewhere around.

i guess it is all part of the global "anti money laundering" war, thai style.

will propably get much worse woon.

yes, i've had similar experiences with providing a lot of id only to be denied the service - very frustrating. It's a little bit like putting your money into a vending machine but not getting what you paid for.

I think you're right about the money laundering. bit of a joke to track people buying hdmi cables online while dirty money from around the world is funneled into empty condo projects. I know where I'd look if I wanted to find money laundering! Not at my purchase history of batteries and kitchen implements!

I've just returned to Thailand for the first time since the pandemic. I've noticed the surveillance on payment accounts has been dialed up a few notches.

I was trying to buy an app in Google Play store - previously I'd been able to do that with phone credit. No Longer. Only SIMs registered to thai ids allowed. I thought I'd buy a Google Play Gift Card in 7-11. Nuh hu. No longer sold. Only payment options seem to require a lot of setup and ids. I'm old fashioned. I don't want to give Google my full id to play candy crush. It feels a little oppressive tbh.

Same deal with Lazada and Shoppee - to open a lazada pay/shoppee pay account, they want the full enchilada - passport photos and pictures and what not. To buy a salad shooter? They don't even need my name, they just need my address and some money, both of which I'm happy to give them, but my id? Nah, they'd only lose it.

What are some workarounds to this? C.O.D seems to still work, but it's pretty inconvenient to co-ordinate the payment for every small parcel with the delivery though. Also it's more costly - Shopee offers better deals if using Shoppee pay.

What are some of the ways to keep private info private in this time and place?