johnsjourney

Did the Mae Sai visa run today. No problem, much quieter on both sides than I remember, market fine on the Thai side but all market shops appeared to be closed in Tachileik, though that was just the view from the Customs area. I didn't think it sensible to go in as things are at the moment. There appeared to have been a massive flood last night, sandbags appeared to have saved the market, it could be the reason the shops were closed but I doubt it. A couple of small floods for the bus on the way up but river levels falling back during the day.

Sadly no Burmese monks at all, and few apparently Burmese people at all, though those I did see mostly seemed happy.

I don't know but I'd like to find out too, TOT locally for us to your west near Hang Dong Rd has been awful the last week, off about as much time as it has been on.

As I see it this is still speculation with as much evidence for as against, based mostly on what third parties, rather than what the consulate or any official officials are saying. The last thing some would want if this is merely a temporary change of service (see my message on the first page), is for it's profile to reach the attention of those who may therefore feel the need to change it. However as I think Thaiquila is saying there is no point applying even this small amount of logic to such situations, so I keep an open mind until next week.

Don't panic, I was told (by my guesthouse) if I'd waited until Monday the guy who is happy to give multiple tourist visas would be back from holiday in Thailand. I didn't wait, came back on Friday with a single. This is backed up perhaps by a guy at the guesthouse getting given the wrong visa by mistake so I guess the usual management is away. So I'd assume this is the case unless people are coming back next week only with singles...

There are some settings on their site, http://www.dtac.co.th/eng/ProductsServices.../gprs/Index.htm Choose the device you are using in the right column. Hope this helps.

I was thinking long term there, it's just based on the fact that there are a lot of people wanting telephone in the villages, and new fixed lines are not cost effective despite people being willing to pay 10,000 baht to buy a line off a neighbour who'd rather have the money than a phone. So there is a need for fixed-location bandwith of some kind out there, yes. And phone/internet is beginning to amount to the same thing. DTAC think they have a workable business model, so we shall see if it comes good! Hope it's not just another city thing.

John

I'm waiting for the DTAC EDGE wireless broadband to come up to Chaing Mai next year. It's in Bangkok at the moment. Hope it reaches this far south of town (Hang Dong). In the long run I think it's the best chance countries with limited infrastructure are going to get faster internet out to the villages.

I use dialup (KSC 1222 fixed price for the month with my TOT line, with occasional by-the-hour for radio/Skype), and GPRS out in the village, we have no phone out there either.

John

When does travelling frequently to and from a holiday home become no longer a tourist? how long is a piece of string? From today's happy experience (see above) the tourist visas seem just the same to me as they ever were, and work for me with a less money than is being mentioned here, I stay in a wonderful rented house, I keep my money out of Thailand as much as I can and do fairly well by that, I enjoy the frequent aeroplane trips, I don't think there's a problem guys.

John

Well it seems perfectly alright in Chiang Mai, I have today a new 30 day extension. I have more 60-90 day tourist visas than I can remember already for this year, though I have visited UK briefly twice.

They have a number of new colour signs saying "10 day, 30 day extensions", since last time I went a few months ago. So reinforcing the status quo it would seem. I tried to do it right, dressed well, had a couple of new reasons for an extension. So I guess as other people seem to be confirming it even the title of this thread is no longer correct?

Yes, marrying my girlfriend is very much an option, but I'd prefer to have a long term relationship Seriously though I think that should wait a little.

A couple of people have mentioned or implied that tourist (60 day) visas might be refused if the person has had several already in recent times. Does anyone have any more precise facts about this or is it only a guess or rumour?

I wonder if this is all a misguided attempt at restarting the Elite card scheme?! Perhaps after a while when that doesn't happen, they will be more welcoming to the longer stayers that can show they have a certain amount of money. I have plenty of money but paid most into a pension already, so I have no chance on these money methods until I'm 50! All I can do is spend 80k+ a month, more than I usually earn from occasional trips home to UK, and hope it runs out at about the time I'm 50...

For me, I'm assuming the worst, so that any surprise will be a positive one, and planning on seeing my Thai girlfriend much more in Malaysia, Australia and UK, we've been together a year and a half almost without a break so it might just work!

Hi guy's,

i dont understand your worries!

just do a yearly visa or better a permanent resident.

if you don't have problems in your home country in the paste and just a little more money than you need's for your reentries, you will get the permanent visa easely. just go to office #301 at suan plu and you get all information how to do it.

for the under 50s? I think it's the age limit that causes so many people to go multi-tourist visa. If so, then thanks so much, I'll find the place you mentioned.

Greetings!!!This is my first time posting anything on Thai visa so Im a bit green and wet behind the ears 

I realy like the info posted but as I always seem bogged down with emailing have never gotten around to putting any input of my own.

Anyway to the point what if you have a Thai bank book accompanied by a letter from the bank confirming you have the necessary funds to re-enter.

I got a six month double entry visa in Penang but am not sure if I have to do the next entry before or after ninety days so if anyone can caste some light that would be great.

Adious 

mickynoboots

Hi mickynoboots,

They seem to be indicating it is cash that is required, and I think it's tricky to get a bank account now with just a tourist visa, the banks usually want to see one of the 1 year visas in my experience. I'm on the same double tourist visa, and will extend it shortly before the 60 days is up to make it into a 90, and then a border visit (or more substantial journey) at the 90 days before moving onto the second entry of the visa.

I'm sure it is an evolving situation over the next few months or year!

johnsjourney

Yes I have to resort to webmail occasionally though all is well today.

I used to use a SMTP server program called Postcast Server (free), which was fine until until AOL stopped accepting emails that way (i.e. from an IP address that matched an ISP user rather than a website host).

So now I pay about a pound a month for portland.co.uk PostAccess account. The email address is [email protected] which is a bit of a hack but you can use the SMTP from any of your email addresses to send the emails.

I have a multi entry tourist visa. This allows me to enter LOS four times for a duration of 60 days each time. Is it possible to extend each 60 day stay by a further 30 days and to do so does this have to be done in Bangkok or is it possible to do in Chiang Mai?

yes it is possible, though you are asked on the form for a reason why you needed the 'emergency' extension as they call it I think. So it is not guarranteed, but last time I did it they allowed me to apply for the extension before my 60 days was up without losing out, so I had time for a rush trip to Malaysia if needed! I'm near Chiang Mai myself, and it's an easy trip to immigration on the left almost immediately before you drive into the airport.

I recently took my Thai girlfriend on a visa run to Penang, it was the first time she had needed a passport too. Yes she was bored a little most days, and we investigated almost every shopping mall and market area, and after the visa (double tourist) was there we spent a few days on Langkawi, a fairly easy boat ride away. Some nice beaches (start on Centang), and a great place I thought to hang out for a little break from Thailand, though I spend most of the time in Chiang Mai so I am impressed more easily by the sea!.

It was interesting for her (non-Buddhist country etc) and she saw a lot of fish (Waterworld), and we brought back a lot of cheap quality clothes (tax free on Langkawi) and Malaysia quality seems to be way above Thailand even if the prices are higher. However the first thing we bought was a pair of 100 baht shoes, so we were off to a easy start! We'll probably do just a quick run to Penang only next time I need it, unless KL sounds alright for a double visa, as there are more islands to choose from there.

Try the big orange shop opposite burger king on chang klan road, known as the night market, it's good for above average quality outdoor stuff, and mine from there is still ok after about a year.