phuketjock

1 hour ago, brommers said:

It is mandatory for bars to choose and liquor stores not to sell alcohol on the 26th. Otherwise it is discretionary.

What are you trying to say?

The sale of alcohol is banned everywhere on the 26th. Bars and liquor stores included, Nothing discretionary about it.

56 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

People entering with Tourist Visas + the required cash, where the actual laws are followed, have not reported any problems entering in recent years.

 

In many documented cases of questioning and rejection at Airports and Poipet/Aranya, visitors were told seeming "statements of fact" regarding immigration rules which do not exist in immigration law or ministerial orders.  Therefore, the IOs telling them these things are acting outside of the law - hence the term "rogue."  (picking on typos, now?) 

 

The State of Thailand is controlled by a government, who publishes laws and ministerial orders.  According to those laws, those employed down-the-chain of command do not get to make up new laws/rules based on their own personal preferences.  None the less, it seems this behavior is being tolerated at certain known locations (airports and Poipet/Aranya).  Therefore, these are semi-lawless zones akin to what one would expect in uncivilized countries - places to be avoided if at all possible.  Precautionary measures should be taken to minimize harm, when/if they cannot be avoided.

 

Grief to those with Tourist Visas comes from IOs at certain locations making up non-rules and wrecking people's plans.  Grief comes to those entering Visa-Exempt by entering where arbitrary rejection is more likely to occur. 

 

Everyone should know that "Visa Exempt" entries are granted by immigration at their whim.  A tourist-visa, while not a 100% guarantee of permitted-entry, is much less likely to be rejected.  There is virtually no chance at all of rejection with a Tourist Visa + Cash, if entering where the actual laws/rules are enforced (all land borders except Poipet/Aranya).

 

The more people who are aware that rogue-IOs are present at certain locations, and avoid those locations, the fewer sad-cases will occur.  This result is good for both the visitors, and Thais who are counting on them to be customers of their businesses.  That is the best way to minimize Grief.

More blah blah blah Jack it is what it is and it is not going to change because a few visa dodgers don't have

the wherewithall to get the correct visa for their purpose of stay and think they are hard done by.

Give us all. and yourself, a break Jack.

What is it you don't understand about " it is their country and therefore their rules " written or unwritten?

As things stand today there has been no official government notice 

requiring any businesses to close on the 26th but as a mark of respect 

My wife, and I suspect many Thais, will be closing her/their business

on the 26th to honour the memory of the late King.

Some businesses where we are have closed today to mark the anniversary

of his death.

So as they say in Thailand up to you.

45 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Which is why I suggest everyone who has any frequency or longer-stay history get the perfectly-appropriate Tourist Visa.  The laws on TR Visas are crystal clear:
You can obtain as many as you want, and come as often as you want - just have 20K Baht in cash, don't overstay, and don't work. 

 

And to ensure that you encounter IOs who follow the laws, don't enter at checkpoints (airports or Poipet/Aranya) where rouge-IOs make up non-existent rules.

If what you say were true Jack people with a history of multiple exempt/tourist visa entries would

not be having the problems they are would they?, because they do not have the appropriate visa for

there stay in Thailand they are being taken aside at immigration and quizzed on the reason for their 

frequent use of tourist/exempt entries.

BTW Jack where can I find these RED ( rouge ) IOs? perhaps you mean rogue? It is their country Jack

and whether you like it or not they can use any rules they see fit, you, or anyone else is not going to

change that and the sooner you take that on board the less grief you will give yourself, and everyone

else. 

8 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

As far as we know, the count continues since they began the counting in 2015.  There is no "reset" I have heard of.  The computer seems to "alert" on other things relating to time-in-country, though we don't have specifics on this, either. 

A new passport makes no difference at Immigration, because it will link to your old one, and the IO will see all your entries.  A new passport only helps with 2 things:

1. Getting additional Tourist Visas at local consulates, who only count the visas they see in the passport submitted
2. The IO will often review all used pages in your passport when you enter the country, so this shortens that step.

Having time-out-of-country should reduce scrutiny on entry, but some people have been questioned after 7+ months away because, in the past, they had stayed for a longer-period.  If you haven't stayed in Thailand for more than a couple months /yr at a time, it is less likely you would be interrogated.

 

People have had trouble at several airports, though I don't recall any horror-stories about CNX.  But since you are not staying here near-full-time, you are unlikely to be questioned.  If you are questioned, you need to "helpfully" show 10K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks (any convertible currency, and 20K is better), a flight-ticket out within 30 days, and some proof of where you will be staying (hotel-booking, etc). 

 

If planning to stay more than 30 days, getting a Tourist Visa first would be a good idea (though it does raise the min-cash to show requirement to 20K Baht) because:

1. It is cheaper than an extension to a 30-day visa-exempt entry
2. It is much less likely an IO will give you any trouble upon entry

The visa-exempt by-air rules are, essentially, unknown and/or arbitrary, creating a sense of fear, uncertainty, and doubt hanging over Thai tourists.  This could be remedied by a clear set of published-rules which would provide both IOs and Visitors with a sense of confidence that they are always doing the "right thing" in every case.

"creating a sense of fear, uncertainty, and doubt hanging over Thai tourists." 

Genuine tourists have absolutely nothing to fear it is the correct visa dodgers who need to fear, no one else.

If anyone wishes to stay long term in Thailand get the appropriate visa and you will have no problems, simple

as that.

26 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

 

If you are under 50, not married, then a Tourist Visa is the "correct" visa.

It is for tourists Jack, but for long stay the correct visa would be Thailand elite or something along those lines

If they cannot afford it it is not the fault of the Thai government but it is the rules, and they are not flexible because of age.

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

If we are making assumptions on the "why" of the crackdown, which impacts those who are not working illegally...

 

Consider the vast majority of foreign workers in Thailand:

• Millions of foreign-workers from neighboring countries have been given legal visas, or work illegally, displacing Thais from jobs and would-be middle-class careers (The Economist magazine estimates 5 Million, in a February 2017 article)
• Those profiting from hiring low-wage foreign-workers want to keep this system going, to avoid paying the Thai min-wage or higher to Thai citizens, who also demand decent working-conditions and specified job-duties
• Those profiting from hiring low-wage foreign-workers need a scapegoat to blame for the lost Thai job/career opportunities, in fields such as construction (note the tin-shack temporary-housing squalor)

Consider the Western illegal-worker problem:

• Western "long-stayers" are mostly self-financed people who are under 50 who like living in Thailand, but some fraction take jobs illegally, such as dive-instructor or English-teacher
• English teachers report (many threads here) that the schools they work in insist that they work illegally for months before maybe getting legal paperwork for them
• No widespread "crackdown" has occurred at schools or dive-centers, to catch these Western illegal-workers or the people who hire them and insist they work illegally

Compare and contrast / who benefits:

• The number of Western illegal-workers is dwarfed by the number of low-wage foreign-workers
• Those profiting from hiring low-wage foreign-workers can't/don't save big money in labor-costs from hiring Western illegal workers
• Western illegal workers, and anyone who can be tarred with that brush (often incorrectly), are a convenient and disposable scapegoat, to distract from the actual cause of hardship / lack of jobs available to Thai working-class people (whose job-opportunities shrink further, when self-financed Western-customers are kept out of Thailand).
• Immigration can be tasked with appearing to "do something about a problem" without inconveniencing the very-wealthy (Thais and VIP foreign-investors), who benefit from a steady supply of legal and illegal low-wage foreign-workers imported from neighboring countries.

Consider, and draw your own conclusions as to the "real reason" for these issues.

Jack for goodness sake the guy is asking whether he will be Ok visiting Thailand on visa exempt entries several times in one year

but you take it as an opportunity to jump on your ever boring soapbox and spout your nonsense on the Thai immigration system,

when will you learn this is Thailand and they make the rules and certainly will not be changing them any time soon no matter how

much you go on, and on. and on.

20 minutes ago, RelentlessGuy said:

Appreciate all the feedback guys.

 

I obviously enter Thailand via Air each time, usually Bangkok.

 

 

That's what I just heard also happened to my friend recently. He's a UK national and had 6 visa exempt entries over the last 23 months, and got "flagged" (I'm not sure if that means being automatically flagged by system or by the immigration officer). Like me, he also just travels to Thailand and never spends extended amount of time there. They questioned him for 2 hours (He didn't tell me what they asked him). He said he would avoid Thailand for next 12 months to "clear out" his entry history.

 

Are 6 visa exempt entries a threshold? Does anyone have any more information how exactly this works?

 

I literally just go to Thailand to travel, shop, go to a hospital, and ride a motorcycle (and spend a good amount of money in the process). I'm not sure what they want out of you when you're being questioned, but I can show them that all my income is legitimate and has nothing to do with Thailand. It doesn't make any sense for the authorities to make it more difficult for me to continue to do this.

You and your friend sound legit, I don't know, but unfortunately too many correct visa dodgers have caused the

immigration system to go to high alert to catch those that are staying/working long term in Thailand on tourist

visa/exempt entries and trying to fly under the radar, these are the people responsible for the problems you and

your friend are having now, and may have in the future.

It is always the would be smart Alecs' that cause problems for the ordinary person doing the right thing. 

This has been a requirement at Phuket immigration for at least the last 2 years, not new.

54 minutes ago, Aditi Sharma said:

Why so? Water problems? Electricity? 

The op is about whether Patong imm. office is open or not, not about inane 

pointless questions?

Perhaps you should try asking your Question in the appropriate forum

ie. Phuket, where Patong is??

And no I don't know if it is open or not, I don't use it despite living in 

Patong as the staff there are extremely unhelpful/unfriendly.

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

You don't get a new VOA, they just cancel your departure stamp and it is as though you never left.  No extra days are gained.  If you are out of days, you would be told to go to Immigration and buy a 30-day extension on your now-still-running VOA ($60, last I checked).

 

They would know why to cancel his departure-from-Laos stamp.  Though, some people are simply denied-entry without any stamp, and still walk back to the "other side" of no-man's land and cancel their exit stamp.

 

I agree with this analysis.  On the Thai side of some of these border-points, it is often easy to just walk right past the Immigration booths.  The IOs don't pay any attention.  Unlike Laos, or even Cambodia now (at some points), where they have a 2nd level of screening which verifies you got a valid entry-stamp.

 

Because he had already entered Laos and left (VOA + entry/exit stamps), it is very unlikely they canceled his previous Thai exit stamp, allowing him to re-enter Thailand legally.  It could have happened, but I doubt it.  I hope I am wrong.

 

I think what the OP was being told was "fly in" (avoiding the 2-x land-VE per-year rule) or go back (to Laos) and get a Tourist Visa.  Not understanding this, he just walked in, without an entry stamp.  At this point, it will be harder to cancel that Laos exit stamp, but would be the next thing I'd try.

Jack you are really confusing things he is/was on a visa exempt entry vee. not on a visa on arrival voa.

23 hours ago, Speedo1968 said:

Thank you for pointing that out but yes I know it is called an extension of stay, I have lived here for many years.   

Many people refer to it as a retirement visa because that is what the stamp says.

 

My posting was to show that I appreciated the helpfulness of immigration staff.

There is no such thing as a retirement VISA and I can assure you there is no such thing as a retirement VISA stamp.

RETIREMENT is usually stamped over your extension of permission to stay on the grounds of retirement, not on any

VISA.

6 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Hi i have some troubles with several of my sliding doors. Some of them are at the bedrooms the locks do no longer lock and the other sliding door at the living room there one panel slides very heavy and does not lock. I been to 2 small companies on the bypass road and they came over and said that my sliding doors apparently came from China and they do not have the spare parts and they are also unable to replace the locks. Would there be perhaps in Phuket town or elsewhere in Phuket a very experienced and professional company that can improve the situation? Also is it possible to have custom made one panel sliding door with lock that can replace one old panel but without replacing the 2 other panels in that same location that are still fine? So that 1 new panel needs go on my existing rails.

Try here,

http://www.pvcphuket.com/warranty_thai.php

Ask for Nathan at 0870617631.

20 hours ago, Headgame said:

I have TOT fiber and it works just fine. So far no bad weather interruptions  - 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up. I also have TOT ipTV and it works well.

I have found 3BB fiber optics excellent.

200/100 1,200 Baht per month.

On 9/20/2017 at 6:51 PM, NancyL said:

Drinking it now.  It's been at Tops, Rim Ping and 7/11 in Chiang Mai for several months at this price.  Heck, even the little mini mart in our condo stocks it, but at a higher price.  Just waiting for the tax increase to hit the price.  

 

I rather like the taste.  It has more flavor than Dewers or even Teachers.  I switched to Scotch (the drink of my forefathers) after wine started to bother my tummy.  Hubby got tired of my Johnny Walker Double Black habit and started to bring home bottles of other stuff (most of which I rejected after a couple drinks) and I had to admit this Bell's wasn't all that bad.  And much better on the budget.  

 

I could have sworn I read one bottle that said it was bottled in Vietnam, but the bottle in front of my right now says "distilled, blended & bottled in Scotland".  

 

And the only thing I mix with Scotch is a little bottled water and ice or maybe for a nightcap Scotch and milk.  That settles the tummy nicely.

You might like to try Monkeys Shoulder NancyL it is a triple malt blend and goes down rather well.

Not cheap but not over priced like the abomination named JW.

On 9/20/2017 at 8:15 PM, torrzent said:

Scotch and milk....good lord, now I have heard it all!  Robbie Burns is rolling in his wee grave!

You might be surprised torrzent, when I worked in Aberdeen some years ago I had a Highland colleague

who frequently whisked me off to his home town/village ( Rogart Sutherland ) for the weekend and it was

fairly common to find the locals consuming a nightcap of whisky with milk after a hard nights drinking.

You are sadly lacking in your knowledge of the requirements to obtain an

extension of your permission to stay on the grounds of retirement, it is not

a VISA, there is no such thing as a retirement VISA.

I have attached a file detailing the requirements to obtain an extension of

your permission to stay on the grounds of retirement.

It is quite detailed but may not be exactly what you require for the immigration

office where you will be making your application, for example most offices do

not require a medical cert.

You will have to ask at the office you intend to apply to.

As already said you cannot apply for a long term non imm O-A visa in Thailand

and this is not a retirement VISA though often incorrectly referred to as such.

5905f660ed862_DocumentsforExtension-Retirement.docx

11 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

Front wheel, wrong rotation - He was probably confused as the tyre had two markings, one with a fron tyre fitting rotation and one with a rear tyre rotation. Normally the tyres I have had only have the one direction, it probably gave him a 50/50 spread!

Then just turn the wheel around, loosen retaining nuts, remove wheel turn 180 and re-tighten nuts, done.

I must say I find it unusual to have rotation marking on a normal bike road tyre, on a racing bike possible?

Just realised it's a motorbike not a bicycle so front brake complicates matter some. 

front or back wheel?

sorry just re-read front, it would appear he fitted the tyre correctly, he just

fitted the wheel the wrong way round. just turn it round job done 5 minutes.

or am i missing something?

Parked in the domestic car park overnight last night no problem,

200 baht,

First of all there is no such thing as a retirement visa, and a VISA cannot be extended.

I believe you can extend your permission to stay on the grounds of retirement but that

is not a visa or visa extension.

I also believe you must have either a 90 day non O visa or a long stay non O-A visa before

you can apply for an extension of your permission to stay on the grounds of retirement, so

without having the necessary information it is difficult to give you any advice on what you

need to do.

As far as I am aware an extension of your permission to stay on the grounds of retirement

can only be issued for a period of one year, not 30 days, but i could be wrong on that?

4 minutes ago, oilinki said:

The reality is that each of us, regardless of our credentials, want to find home where to live. 

Let's rewind 500 years back and nobody had a sense of being under some regulations, when walking to west, north, south or north. 

These borders, which we are not allowed to cross are why?.. who's fault? Who did invent the borders, who did invent the passports, who did invent we simple human beings have to obey these rules?

 

I have always said my home is where i hang my hat, even though i don't wear a hat so i regard 

Thailand as my home.

Unfortunately going back any number of years is, i fear, irrelevant just like the why or the wherefore 

it cannot now be changed so we have to deal with the rules and regulation of the country that we decide

that we wish to settle in no matter how frustrating or unnecessary we may think they are, it is a take it

or leave it situation whether we like it or not that's, as they, life.