watgate

After reading some postings where individuals applied for a 3 entry tourist visa with a six month validity period and only received a 3 month validity period, I was wondering what my options would be if that was all I get when I applied through the Washington DC Thai consulate. I have sent a couple of emails to The Washington DC thai consulate and they are very vague and non-committal about addressing whether I would get a 6 month validity with 3 entries even after going to great length to explain my need for 6 months. It's truly ashame that one has to be subjected to this uncertainty and makes planning much more problematic. Forget about applying at the New York Thai consulate because all you will get there is a tourist visa with a 3 month validity period even if you explain to them the need for a tourist visa for 6 months because you are planning to visit a couple of countries during your stay in Thailand. Anyway, it seems like a crapshoot as to whether you get a 3 or 6 month tourist visa at the Washington DC Thai consulate.If I wind up getting a 3 entry tourist visa but with only a 3 month validity period ( even after submitting all the necessary documentation as well as a detailed itinerary showing my need for a 6 validity period) what would be my options. By that I mean I will be staying in Thailand from Nov 6, 2013 until March 6, 2014 and with a 3 entry 3 month valid tourist visa I either have to get to both Cambodia and Laos within the 3 month validity of the Tourist visa or is their any other options so as not having to cram my trips within the 3 month validity period?

So I am confused again about the requirements for this visa. On the website it says the visa processing fee is $200 US for multiple entries for the non-immigrant visa O-A long stay. Then below it it says " if he or she wishes to leave and re-enter the country, he or she is required to apply at the Immigration office for a re-entry permit (single or multiple) before departure. I guess my first question is the $200 visa fee for multiple entries enables you to leave and re-enter Thailand multiple times but I take it you still have to go to Immigration office to obtain a re-entry permit. Is this correct, and if so, how much does it cost for a single or multiple re-entry permit? The second question I have concerning the non-immigrant visa O-A long stay visa is once you successfully complete all the requirements to obtain this visa for one year what happens if you want to extend it for another year? Do you have to go through the whole process again or is it less complicated and time-consuming when seeking an extension? What are the fees to extend it another year? Thank you for any and all information.

I contacted the Washington D.C. thai consulate about the need for a triple entry tourist visa with a validity of 6 months since I am planning on going to Cambodia and Laos during my 4 month stay in Thailand this winter. Since my second trip to Laos will be beyond 3 months from the expected date of issuance of my tourist visa I stressed to the Washington D.C. thai consulate the necessity of a 6 month vaild tourist visa. I was hoping for some reassurances that they understood my specific situation and a 3 entry tourist visa with a 6 month validity would be no problem. This is the response I received back and I quote: " You could apply for a 1,2, or 3 Entry Tourist Visa that would allow you to be in Thailand for 60 days. And for an extension of stay at the Immigration Bureau which would allow you to stay in the Kingdom for an additional 30 days. A total of 90 days in Thailand, no matter how many times you enter the kingdom". Any idea what this means and my take is that I am left out to dry because if I am given a 3 entry tourist visa with a validity of only 3 months, how will that help me when I want to go to Laos sometime in early February 2014 which would be more then 3 months from my expected visa issuance of approximately October 17, 2013. Has anyone had any dealings with the Washington D.C. thai consulate and any problems with obtaining the proper tourist visa with the necessary validity time period? Note: I posted the complete email I had sent to the Washington D.C. thai consulate and their reply in the next posting to give anyone who might be able to help me a clearer understanding of what was told to me by the consulate in Washington D.C.

Maestro-Thany you for your reply concerning the single-entry non-0 visa for the purpose of traveling to Thailand to apply for successive one year extensions of stay for the reason of retirement. Could you possibly walk me through what one needs to do upon entering Thailand to apply for this visa. What exactly do you need to bring with you. I am concerned that I might not have all the required info or documentation when applying in Thailand for this visa and my application gets turned down. Then what do I do? I will be there on a single-entry visa and if my application gets rejected then how would I be able to travel to Cambodia and Laos as I had originally intended to? Is it a lengthy process to apply for the one year extension of stay and what is the turn around time typically?Also, do you have to go through this process every year to apply for another one year extension? Thanks for any info to help clarify this for me

Maestro- I spoke to a lady in the Washington,DC thai consulate office and I explained to her about the need for a triple-entry tourist visa due to my planning to visit Cambodia and Laos during my 4 month stay this winter in Chiang Mai. She seemed to be receptive to the idea and said when I applied to give an explanation for the need for a triple entry tourist visa. Unfortunately I couldn't get through to her about the importance of the Tourist visa being valid for 6 months from the date of issuance. She kept stating that if a triple-entry tourist visa is issued by their consulate to me, then each entry is good for 60 days. My concern is if the valdity is only for 3 months for the tourist visa then isn't there a very good chance that the tourist visa would expire before I was able to use all the entries?

So now I am really confused. I was planning on getting a triple-entry tourist visa because I will be staying in Chiang Mai for 4 months this winter. I am hoping to go to Cambodia as well as Laos for anywhere from a few days to a week for two different trips during my stay in Thailand. It was suggested to me on this website that the best way would be with a triple-entry tourist visa. Now, since the New York and Chicago and Washington and LA consulate offices only offer double-entry tourist visas, what do I do now if I can't get a triple-entry tourist visa from one of the honorary consulate offices? In the next year or so I am hoping to stay in Thailand for up to 6-months during the winter so I was wondering if it might be more beneficial to apply for a retirement visa. Which one is more economically feasible and would make things easier going forward in wanting to stay in Thailand for up to 6 months.?

I am an American citizen and will be residing in Thailand this winter from Nov 6,2013 until March 6, 2013. I most likely will be getting a double-entry tourist visa. I am going to be visiting Cambodia by bus for a few days at some point to see Angkor Wat and will be returning by bus to Thailand. I am also planning to fly to Luang Prabang Laos for a week during my 4 months stay this winter and will be flying back to Thailand after my trip to Laos is finished. I am a little confused in terms of best utilizing my tourist visas to get maximum useage out of them. I am also a little confused because if I fly to Laos and then fly back to Thailand after my stay there, I know I get 30 days in Thailand. But since I have a tourist visa, which takes precedence over the other? I don't want to 'shoot myself in the foot" so to speak by shortening my stay in Thailand on my tourist visa in order to go to Laos or Cambodia. Any suggestions on how to best utilize my double-entry tourist visa in relation to my planned trips to Cambodia by bus and Laos by air to maximize my alloted time in Thailand would be appreciated. My schedule is very flexible and I haven't locked anything in yet.

I am an American citizen who will be residing in Thailand this winter for 4 months from Nov 6 to March 6, 2014. In the past I have gotten a double-entry tourist visa but since I am going to be visiting Cambodia at some point during the 4 months, can I get by with a single-entry tourist visa. If so, will it necessitate me having to go to immigrations to pay the 1900 baht? If so then I might as well get a double-entry tourist visa and save a few dollars. Another question I have is since my tourist visa will be valid for six months, what would happen in the event I wanted to stay for the full six months? By that I mean since I have to send away for my tourist visa at least 2 weeks in advance since I am residing on the eastcoast and I am obtaining my tourist visa at the Portland Oregon thai consulate, then by the time I get to Thailand my Tourist visa's validity period will now be approximately 5 1/2 months and I will be staying for the full 6 months in Thailand. My question is since my tourist visa will expire approximately 2 weeks before I am due to depart Thailand, what do I need to ensure I am not penalized for an overstay on my tourist visa. I hope you understand my questions since it is a little confusing to me and appreciate any advice to help me navigate the complexities of the Thai visa rules and regs.

I worked with a fellow, my former supervisor, who got panic attacks. He sought out help and went to a psychiatrist who prescribed specific meds which greatly relieved his attacks to the point where he was a very efficient and personable individual who could perform his assigned tasks at work. He always said that counseling and cognitive therapy was very costly and would undoubtedly take a long time with the distinct possibility of not much realistic help for his panic attacks so he opted for meds to control and relieve his attacks. There are definitely very beneficial meds out there so your friend should explore them and hopefullly find one or more that will help him with his attacks.

My ex thai gf was going to barber school and one of her teachers told her about a place in Warorot Market. I went with her there and she paid 1900 baht for a very well built electric clippers. Unfortunately I don't remember exactly where the small stall was located other then I do know it was somewhere on the upper level. You might want to go there and maybe you can inquire as to where the exact location of the small stall is located.

Europe is on the way to becoming Muslim. The far reaching tentacles of Islam has Thailand firmly in their sights. Bring on Sharia law

I was wondering if anyone had any first-hand info concerning what happens with the monies given to the various temples throughout the year. My thai g/f likes to give money everytime we visit one and she really doesn't have a lot to give so I generally help out to. She gets a lot of strength and peace by visiting these temples and great joy and satisfaction in giving. I would like to think that the majority of the monies given to the temples is eventually distributed back into the communities to individuals and families who are truly in need. If anyone has any first-hand info and not speculation, I would be very much interested in hearing about it. I realize that these temples play a major role in many thai's lives so please be respectful when replying. This is in no way to try and demean or discredit these temples. It is simply an attempt at fact finding to see if anyone might possibly know what becomes of these funds after given to the temples.

For those of you looking for an apartment or condo above the "mosquito line" you will have to find one above 1660 meters or about 5,250 feet. Being that Chiang Mai is only about 300 meters above sea level you will need to live on about the 4o3rd floor. Not sure anything that tall is on anyone's drawing board yet.

Hey that's an idea. On top of Doi Suthep, which is just about at that altitude, is a campground. Maybe I can set up a quasi- residence on top of Doi Suthep and my problems with the mozzies will be solved.

A lot of great posts and I do appreciate all the feedback. Unfortunately, I don't have windows in the room where I will be staying upon my return this winter. I have a sliding door with no screen. As a previously poster alluded to, I am reasonably sure a well-fitted and custom made screen would not be cheap so I don't think I want to go that route. I would love to get a mosquito net but I don't see any way to utilize it. My bed has no bed posts to attach the netting to nor is their any way to attach the netting to the ceiling since there is nothing to attach it to. I am bringing a mosquito net for my head and face and will be wearing that at nite because last year I was feasted on by mozzies, primarily on my face. I definitely will be getting a fan to blow on me at nite and might consider a blue light which has been talked about in earlier postings.

So this winter,upon my return to chiang mai, I will be moving to the 5th floor of the place where I have been staying the past several years. Previously I had been staying on the 3rd floor and the mozzies have been a bane to my existence since, unfortunately, their are no screens when I open my sliding door to the outside porch. I have been reading about a significant increase in dengue fever recently and I was wondering if anyone knows how high the mozzies like to go to bite you. I am hoping that since I will be on the 5th floor this time, maybe I can escape the wretched bastards from entering my room and causing me much grief.

So I always was wondering how healthy and beneficial it was to be eating at the roadside stands, as well as those food courts that serve the 30-35 baht dishes.I just recently got back my cholesterol numbers and they were a little high which I attribute to the food I had been consuming at the above-stated eateries. Upon my return to Chiang Mai this winter I would appreciate any recommendations for places to eat, primarily in the city as opposed to the outer lying areas since my primary mode of transportation is by bicycle. The eateries ideally would be healthy and nutritious as well as not budget-busting. Unfortunately where I am residing precludes me from preparing my own meals so any suggestions to cook myself can not come to fruition. Thanks for any suggestions.

mogandave- On the surface this sounds like a smart move. I wish I was more astute about speculating in foreign currencies. My concern is that their are much more knowledgeable and sophisticated currency speculators that have made fortunes speculating in foreign currencies. Also, are your holdings in Thailand insured? Can you go to bed at night knowing that your deposits in Thai baht held in Thai banks are fully insured? Thank you for any info because I am losing more and more confidence in the US Dollar and need to come up with an alternative plan before my savings becomes worthless due to the ravages of inflation, debasement of the US dollar, debt in the trillions of dollars and out of control printing of trillions of dollars by the Federal Reserve.

I realize that this topic has been discussed before but my question going forward is now that the US Dollar is below 29 baht to a US Dollar and seems to be losing more value each day, has anyones anxiety level been ratched up at all with the loss of value and subsequent purchasing power of the US Dollar?

Upon my return next winter I want to go to Siem Reap with my gf. I hope to fly to bangkok and then take the bus from there to Siem Reap and then repeat the process upon our return. I need some information about the bus to and from Sien Reap such as the schedule, the costs, and any other pertinent info such as crossing the border and any things to consider before crossing such as proper currencies and paperwork,etc. Any info along these lines would be much appreciated.

How concerned are individuals concerning the apparent outbreak of dengue fever throughout the whole of thailand and what precautions are you taking to avoid this disease?

Some very interesting responses to my query. I truly appreciate all the feedback because it helps you formulate a game plan for addressing your concerns and the information and suggestions can be invaluable. I agree that if you reside in Thailand long enough, you have a better chance of eventually acclimating yourself to the tropical conditions, especially during the summer months. Part of my problem is that I don't stay in a house when I am in Chiang Mai. If I did, I think you have a better chance of cooling your living quarters, as opposed to living in a concrete square with little air movement. I like the suggestion of getting a fan and will buy one upon my return next winter. Not only should it help with cooling but hopefully it will give me some relief from the incessant mosquitoes who love to torment me. Also, the place where I stay,which I love, but unfortunately does not have screens to my outside porch, so thusly I am not at liberty to open my sliding doors at night because I know a mosquito or 2 or 3 will sneak in and have a field day with me. I am supposed to be moving to a higher floor which hopefully my room will have a screen so I can get some ventilation at night. Anyway, at some point, if my plans go according to schedule, I hope to eventually rent a house which, at that point, I will have more viable options to address the heat and humidity. I love the suggestion about heading up to the top of a mountain to cool off during the day. I went to the campground past Doi Suthep this past February and the air was cooler, although when I went again it wasn't as refreshing. Anyway living in Chiang Mai and in Thailand is certainly interesting and can be challenging at times, but I keep coming back every year so I guess I LOVE IT HERE.

So I returned to the states the end of February after spending the past 4 months in Chiang Mai and I enjoyed it immensely. Toward the end of February it was starting to get quite a bit hotter and I was looking forward to being back on the eastcoast where it was still cold. After returning I came to the realization that I am sick of cold weather, not to mention the unwelcome 8 inch snowstorm that arrived. Next winter I will be planning to stay in Chiang Mai until the middle of March and hopefully the weather back on the eastcoast of the USA will have turned the corner and spring will be arriving by the time I get back. My only question is for the folks who reside in Thailand year round, how do you cope with the increasing heat and humidity? Do you stay indoors in air conditioned comfort mainly? The place where I stay charges 7 units for electricity so I will have to be judicious in my useage next year when it gets hot.

I love eating at Billy's. Their bruschetta is the best in Chiang Mai. I turned a good friend onto the bruschetta and he loved it too. He is much more personable then yours truly so I don't care that the waitstaff is not over friendly. All I care about is that the food is terrific. My friend,on the other hand was bothered by the lack of friendliness by the waitstaff and couldn't understand how Billy, on the one hand, is very friendly and very personable, but his help was not. In any event, the food is terrific and the prices very reasonable so upon my return to Chiang Mai next winter, I will, once again, be a frequent diner at his establishment.

I thought there was some sort of military exercise going on in this part of Thailand considering all the obvious military personnel,to include American military, roaming around Chiang Mai, Anybody have any information as to the size or the scope or the countries involved in the Cobra Gold military exercises?