spambot

1 hour ago, TigerandDog said:

There is a way to prevent having to restore the KMS file every 180 days. Once KMS is installed do the following:  Windows Settings>Security>Firewall & Network Protection>Allow an app through firewall>Scroll through the list of apps and then (if it is KMS that you have downloaded and installed ) select Key Management Service. Save this. Once done this prevents your firewall and Windows Defender from quarantining your KMS files.

Yup - That does work, but also depends upon the version of Windows update you have installed - Most updated windows will already have the feature as part of Defender - Because the scan that Defender actually does does not do this when updates are made via the web - It simply scans at a predetermined time and puts the file into quarantine independently from web access or updates. However you correctly point out that some updates do force defender to go back to default and place the file into quarantine hence web access might restrict some events, but not all. There are a number of ways around this such as setting the scan time at once a month at say 4:30 am in the morning and hence less likely to have the PC turned on at this time and therefore less chance the scan will ever occur,  but then on some of the Windows updates this scan time also gets reset back to default. The bottom line is that without constantly having to do the checking - The only foolproof method is  Permanently Disable Windows Defender Real Time Protection on Windows 10. 

However I kind of felt that for the op  - This might be  step too far - But to stop windows defender updating then- Group policy editor is used: To open group policy editor:

Run> Gpedit.msc > OK … Then navigate to - computer configuration / Administrative templates / Windows components / Windows defender antivirus / real time protection - Turn this off

Obviously doing this has impact on future security and must be a personal choice when deciding if this is a  worthwhile trade off for the benefit gained.

To establish if you have a fake license - Follow the instructions in the video and you will find an entry in Quarantined after the scan HackTool:Win64/AutoKMS.

On a Windows update this has caused the issue - Because Windows now forces Windows Defender to recognize this file and place it in quarantine (because Microsoft recognizes that this is being used to validate a version of windows that is not authentic) - When the file is in quarantine it will not do what its been designed to do - That is to perform an update on your windows to registered your windows o/s as valid version - This when it occurs will provide registration valid for 180 days before then needing to be done again.

You need to take the file out of quarantine as shown in the video so that it can activate your windows.

After you have taken the file out of quarantine, then switch off your pc and back on a gain the file will automatically activate your widows without the need to do anything - for 180 days.

Unfortunately the windows virus scanner (called defender) will place it back into quarantine, but you do have the 180 days already before this. You just need to perform this same as shown in the video before the end 180 days each time. However you will still get the message saying that the activation is coming to the end soon (This usually occurs near the end of the period of 180 days).

This is the most simple solution - But more complex alternatives to prevent the file ending up into quarantine each time you switch on would be to disable windows updates - However simply doing this in Windows settings does not prevent Windows doing what it is doing right now and placing the file into quarantine. There is a way of overcoming this, but I guess right now you need something simple and hence follow what has been provided here and look at the more complex issues latter once you can at least fix your short term problem of activation.

I respect the others on this thread that are suggesting that you contact a solicitor and obviously that is an option.

I personally would not do this since it might escalate the situation especially if your brother then does the same - this then goes to different level.

The bottom line is you have a simple issue to resolve and it makes most sense to keep it simple and the more people involved will create more complexity. Keep this between you and your brother.

I know that its difficult leaving Thailand right now, but a cheap flight for 4/6 weeks is going to be more effective and less cost than anything else now - If communications has actually broken down beyond repair.

Stay in the house and talk with you brother - You have the legal right to do this and your brother will understand the symbolism.

I just went through a similar, but not identical situation after a death with a property in dispute. The other side went the solicitor route and they now have legal bills completely disproportionate to the  value of the property. 

I came back from Thailand and took possession of the empty property and this has been the single most effective action and probably the only reason a solution was eventually found.

You are not having a property problem, but rather a communication problem and it is not going to get solved without being a player in the game, willing to talk and doing it with honesty and fairness to both you and your brother.

Its not easy however and hence - Good Luck!

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Had you been in Thailand for more than 90 days within the past 6 months. They deny them for that reason.

1. Is this only usually at land crossings or airports as well?

2. If you left Thailand 6 months ago and then return to Bangkok airport with a new tourist Visa (from London) - Then no matter how many previous tourist visa's then this pretty much ensures that you should be OK to enter?

3. And presumably as in the example above if you enter with a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa which will be valid for 6 months from the date of issue - Hence when exiting Thailand and re-entering on this visa this will not cause any problem due to this rule

Thanks BritTim - Actually these are good points. One of the things that could be done if actually  flying into Bangkok airport is to begin the flight from a local neighbouring country and if fail entry and need to return to where you came from then you could simply do the land crossing when you get back there. 

22 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

You are correct that the rules are unclear but from my conversations with Immigration officers at the point of entry, the people like you.  I'm not being rude or passing judgment by saying that but it appears that you are in effect, trying to live in Thailand without the correct visa.

 

I enter regularly but I only stay for 2 weeks at a time, I've never been refused but I have been questioned about the number of entries I make.  On 2 or 3 occasions I've talked to I.O.s when I'm leaving and asked about the likelihood of me getting back in, in 8 weeks or so.  Each time, they've looked at my passport and said I'm fine, because I only stay 2 weeks or so and that the people they are looking for is people who stay for extended periods/do border runs/get extensions etc. on a regular basis. Over the last 2 years, most of those entries have been made using a 6 month METV.

 

I can't give you chapter and verse because it doesn't exist - if the officer doesn't think you fit the description of a tourist, you may have a problem. Conversely you may walk straight through - many do. The fact that you've been out of Thailand for 3 months may help a bit but its not really a long time - balanced against how long you were in the country previously.

 

All I would suggest is:

 

a). Don't choose a queue where the officer is female

 

b). When you fill in your arrival card - don't say that you plan on staying more than a month - you're not tied to that.

 

c). Have a valid ticket out (matching with what you state in b) - even just a cheap throwaway.

 

Yup good points - She did make a big thing about staying 22 days on the 30 day first exempt and then identifying that I would be staying for 20 days on the next and she thought this was a long time. I got the message then that if I was staying just a few days I would not have had the same issues. Its just a pity that its all so arbitrary and unclear. I have been in Thailand for ten years on mostly O visa extensions, but then this is not seen. Its all about just the 42 days without a visa even though you might have strong history of long stay visas up until that point that show that you are usually a good bet for the extra few days on the visa exempt and especially since they have been the only ones over a ten year period.  

This is my history:

I last had an O Visa based on retirement on a UK passport gained from Bangkok immigration. I went back to the UK without getting a re-entry permit and entered back into Thailand on a Visa exempt successfully and then left to go to Vietnam for 7 days and tried to re enter back into Thailand with another visa exempt. After being pulled out of the line and interviewed by an immigration officer I was finally allowed to enter on a 30 day exempt visa, but was told that I need an appropriate visa next time if I was to be allowed entry. 

I am currently in the UK and only want to return to Thailand for a period of 6-8 months and it seems sensible to use a 6 month multi entry tourist visa to do this. I have read on the forums that there are a number of arbitrary decisions that are made on tourist visas where some people are sent back on a flight out of Thailand when attempting to enter because of different combinations of tourist visa and visa exemptions used over a period of time.

Since there are no clearly defined rules or what time intervals a rule covers  - What are my chances of being rejected when I come back with a multi entry tourist visa after being out of Thailand for the last 3 months?

9 hours ago, getithere328 said:

Thanks, have already done both of those, deleted old applications, refreshed, not deleted, tried again, logged out logged in, still not deleted. All files uploaded within the size criteria specified. Still pulling my hair out.

Yup - I had the same experience and did all stuff Getithere328 said and while some issues did get solved like the insistence of showing one type of visa and refusing to accept large file uploads - After deleting cookies and also deleting all previous applications stored, together with using new browsers and following the tech instructions help section for Java setting etc I reverted to starting new application(s), but I still struggled to complete the application. Also if filling it in the form was this much of a problem then I could not be entirely confident that the form would have actually been sent successfully at the end of the process. - The site is very difficult to both navigate and complete.

12 hours ago, elviajero said:

There was a 90 day in any 180 day limit about 10 years ago. It was an official regulation, but it was withdrawn because it was impractical for immigration to enforce.

 

Since then various statements along the lines of the repealed regulation have appeared on various embassy websites and is still on the MFA website.

 

Immigration definitely have an unofficial line in the sand of 180 days per year, but because it’s discretionary we see inconsistent enforcement.

Good info - sometime the backstory is more relevant than the current story - Thanks. 

4 minutes ago, BLACKJACK2 said:

"Foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may only do so for 30 days at one time with a maximum of 3 times in a 6-month period by flight and 2 times a year for overland crossing.

 

Not seen this before, until recently I was on a 3 week on/off rotation so normally had 8 or 9 visa exempts a year, never had a problem.

I must admit that I had not seen this either before when I went searching previously and only searched again recently after seeing a number of posts on this forum where some members had problems with visa exempts, but as normal it was not clear if exempt entry limits were actually in place or not - after being told by immigration officer this was the actual problem (by air into BKK).

On 11/26/2019 at 8:30 PM, Fireyfish said:

I do it every year, some times twice, with 6 months between visits,  ie 4 entries., no problems so far

Thanks for that - Just to understand when you say that you do this every year - this being: You enter on an exempt, leave country within 30 days and then return in a few week afterwards and get the second exempt entry - is this correct?

Then when you do this twice (every year) - You enter on an exempt. leave the country within 30 days and then renter a few week later on a second exempt - Then you go back to your own country and do the repeat of this enter with exempt, leave for few weeks and enter back on an exempt, but 6 months afterwards from the first - Is this correct?

If so that is reassuring to hear - And this seems to be inline with what is on the London Embassy website since it says:

"Foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may only do so for 30 days at one time with a maximum of 3 times in a 6-month period by flight and 2 times a year for overland crossing."

6 minutes ago, BritTim said:

In that case, get a 30-day extension at immigration of your visa exempt entry instead ... much cheaper and safer.

Ahh - Yes of course - This is much simpler - Thanks for that.

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

If you are not aware, if you live close to an honorary consulate, it is usually possible to get a tourist visa while you wait if visiting there in person.

Actually a good point - I am in Yorkshire and hence Liverpool or Hull would it.

7 minutes ago, elviajero said:

I can only offer opinion, but I don’t see any reason for them to deny entry based on your history.

 

Anorher option to consider would be to enter with a Tourist Visa (60 days). Then buy a Re-entry Permit (1,000) baht for your side trip.

Yup - Thanks for that. It was going to be tight getting the TV before I fly and I am only making the trip to Vietnam for the 2nd Visa exempt as a  way around the lack of TV.

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I don't envisage any problem. Although I might suggest having 20,000 baht equivalent on you. You are correct that 10,000 is the stated requirement for Visa Exempt entry, but I wouldn't like to argue with an IO over the matter. 

Thanks - Yes good point. The extra cash takes away the uncertainty.

What I planned to do was carry two wallets - One with 20K THB and the other with 80K THB and present the first to get feedback so as to establish if there was a manufactured figure used by an immigration officer.

If challenged hopefully after presenting the first amount of 20K THB I would then have the resources ready to satisfy this different amount.

This is rather than presenting 100K THB straight off and hearing the cash requirement being manufactured was higher than even the excessive amount I was presenting.

11 hours ago, UKresonant said:

I can't see that being a problem, especially if all your flights are pre-booked in the UK (some travel insurance would look for that I believe). 28 days noted on the first arrival TM6 and 20 days on the next, should be fine!

 

Thanks for that - The comment on travel insurance - Can you explain further - I am not sure if you are saying this would allow me to get some improved travel insurance from an insurance company or the pre-booking of flights from UK will give me insurance at immigration as a better story (insurance) when I arrive?

11 hours ago, elviajero said:

There is no formal set limit. 
 

You shouldn’t have a problem with two VE entries for your planned trip, as long as you don’t have a recent history of long stays for tourism.

Good stuff - My history in last 3 years =  last year 1 year O based upon retirement, year previous was 1 year O-A and the year prior to these two I had 1 year on tourist visas from neighbouring countries. 

Can I assume this would not be considered a long history of tourist visas?

I will return to Thailand next week, but will only be there for 8 weeks and will need to return back to UK for 6/9 months.

I am now planning to get a Visa exempt at Bangkok airport on entry - 28 days latter fly to Vietnam for seven days and then re-enter Thailand with a second visa exempt before flying back to UK 20 days latter. From the info on website London Embassy this would be possible - Is there any issues as long as I have the required 10K THB cash and onward flight ticket to show on each entry to Thailand?

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84451-Tourist-Visa.html

"Foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may only do so for 30 days at one time with a maximum of 3 times in a 6-month period by flight and 2 times a year for overland crossing."

This is on the outside of the glass partition at CW for the TM-30 section (14th June 2019).

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

Even if it turns out that you want to stay longer after having extended it, you can still hop the border and return Visa exempt (possibly applying for a Non Imm O in Thailand) or apply at a thai Embassy/consulate for another tourist Visa or a Non Imm O.

In case you worry about the crack-down on non-genuine tourists that stayed 'too long' in Thailand > you have nothing to fear, because you stayed legally in Thailand on the correct Visa, so you start with a fresh board when entering on Visa exempts and Tourist Visas.

Hi Peter,

That was a very nice reply - Thank you.

The info about the other options is really good advice. Also thank you for the comment about starting afresh from previously having the right visa is an extremely valuable insight because it gives the confidence to act rather than becoming locked into believing inconsistency is the biggest danger to success.

Thanks again

On 11/11/2019 at 8:59 AM, Peter Denis said:

OP writes that he is on an extension based upon retirement and will be going back in UK tomorrow.

As Max69xl remarked, there should be a good reason for you to give up the advantage of such an extension based on retirement.  TM30 is a non-issue.

If you not have already left Thailand without getting a re-entry permit, do provide some more details so that TVF members can provide you with best advice.

- Are you on an extension based on an original O or OA Visa?

- What is the last day of your present permission to stay?

- Are there specific reasons you want to come back on an METV instead of extending your extension of stay?

 

Thanks for that Peter,

I am now back in the UK and to fully answer your questions:

• I was on O Visa extension based upon retirement.
• Last date permission to stay was January 19th 2020
• I did not get a re-entry permit.
• I have a flight booked to return to Thailand 10th Dec on a single tourist visa (yet to apply for).
• I did not expect to be back in Thailand for the full 12 months for an extension to be fully useful.
• While I was going to apply for the 8 month option on Tourist visa my circumstances have changed I have now decided I should get 60 days from a single tourist visa with an option for an extra 30 days more extension should I need this, but my reentry permit gave me only 6 weeks.

I came back to settle a legal dispute at court, which now looks like could take up most of 2020. I will return and get my things from Thailand and give notice on apartment and sit it out in the UK until the legal future looks a little clearer.

I will then return to S.E Asia after the legal dispute is settled, but the forced exit I hope will be the jolt I need to climb some different hills and when I return and stay Philippines and Vietnam for just a few years as a means of comparison before I actually do return to Thailand.

On a personal note I have been in Thailand for 10 years and I am like most others here on this forum I love the free and easy life of what this provides, but have always known it was a gift in time that may one day disappear and I am just grateful that I ever managed to find at all. I now temper this with a feeling of uncertainty and like all of us old guys realise we can not control an ever changing landscapes of immigration packaged in 'where's Waldorf' explanations and wondering if its time to pack that empty suitcase cos the dream is over. And while this post started as an outreach for how to follow the rules, now back in the UK realise that I did spend way too much time attempting to understand and comply with these rules - trying to hang on in there - Cos that is what you have to do when remaining as an ex-pat in Thailand.

Thank you once again for your generosity for helping me answer the original question - I appreciated that.  

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I did my last extension based on retirement Oct 8, CW.  Had never done a tm30 in 7 yrs here. I fly in out every couple of weeks. Did ONE tm30 after my last reentry to Los just prior to visit CW.

Thanks for that - Can assume there was no problem with the gaps prior to this?

2 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Not “every”. Just make sure a report is made by someone for the last entry before you apply for the extension.

Ahh - OK. - But doesn't that mean that there will be a gap in the TM.30's on the previous trips in / out when they look at my passport on the extension?

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It depends upon the office you would be doing something at.

If you do not apply for 30 day extensions you will not need to worry about it being done.

Thanks UbonJoe - I live in Bangkok and hence CW would be he immigration office.

The bottom line is that because all foreigners need a TM.30 wherever they stay they always need the TM.30 to be completed. Normally this would be completed in the hotel for a tourist, but in my case the  owner of the apartments should complete my TM.30. If the owner does this then I would not need to visit CW and If they do not do this then (theoretically) I should visit CW to complete a TM.30 - either way a TM.30 needs competing on any return back into Thailand with 24 hrs. But what you are really saying is that if there is no TM.30 done at all and since there is no 90 day reports with a tourist visa and no visits to CW and no inspection of passport they will not see there is no TM.30 missing in passport or missing entries from hotels / long term apartment not completing TM.30's. However If at the end of the 6/8 months Tourist Visa and if I did want to extend for an extra 30 days then at this point they would see no TM.30 and hence then this is where the problem is identified. Therefore if I wanted to get the extension at the end of 6/8 months I should do the TM.30 at immigration after every 24 hrs of entry back into Thailand - Have I got this right?

 Thanks for the response - I live in a 6 month term rented apartment on a contract.