.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
oldthaihand99
-
Posts
683 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Downloads
Posts posted by oldthaihand99
-
-
Nice to hear that about Hanoi. I've been a few times and came away with mixed feelings about the place, experienced a fair share of attempted scams, but I haven't been there since 2008. Good to hear things are going in the right direction.
Always have preferred HCMC, was there a year ago and it was better than ever.
I've experienced scams in every country i've been to, but Vietnam was the worst. It's been called the national sport there.
-
1
-
-
Many airlines will not let you board your flight to Thailand if you don't have a visa unless you have a ticket exiting within 30 days of arrival.
Is there a list of these posted somewhere?
-
That repeal is irrelevant to what the immigration officers recently stated re 6 entries in 12 months. What was repealed was an entirely different rule re a 3 month maximum limit in 6.
Of course immigration officers need to interpet & apply the present rules, which are "general" as you stated, in practical ways for them to be useful. Evidently at least a number of them are ready to enforce a new rule, namely 6 entries in 12 months.
No. That is your opinion only, not backed by facts and reports. Again, confirmation is that O&G workers enter on 14/14 rotation. And please do not counter again with that is "just 6 months in country".
Only repeated, back-to-back visa exempt entries can cause questioning and refusal.
That is merely your opinion, just one of several possible theories to explain the reports, one of several possible interpretations of the mere "guidelines", not rules, and not what they say word for word.
For all we know immigration is already widely applying an unwritten 6 entries a year rule & the 14/14 reports are an exception to it, as is the case described in posts 6-7 of this thread which detail another exception to the rule. Rules generally have exceptions as this one has.
It is a rule supported by at least 2 separate witnesses in 2 different airport locations. Do you think they just pulled it out of the air & it was blind luck they both said exactly the same thing [rhetorical question].
-
Following is another report, this time at Phuket, where immigration says something similar, that the rule is 6 via visa exempt entries allowed per year. It was posted today.
There is no such rule. It has been repealed Nov. 2008 after being in effect 2 years.
http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/doc/temporarystay/policy778-2551_en.pdf
That repeal is irrelevant to what the immigration officers recently stated re 6 entries in 12 months. What was repealed was an entirely different rule re a 3 month maximum limit in 6.
Of course immigration officers need to interpet & apply the present rules, which are "general" as you stated, in practical ways for them to be useful. Evidently at least a number of them are ready to enforce a new rule, namely 6 entries in 12 months.
-
Then they would only be in Thailand half the year, or 6 months in 12.
This thread isn't about being allowed in in years gone by, but since an announced crackdown date in August 2014.
I'm referring to state of things "right now". You can ask in the O&G forum.
Compare posts 6-7 of this thread for the same type of travel pattern of in & outs:
"He was told last night by immigration that he's allowed only 6 visa exempt entries per annum and he's over that, so next time he comes without a visa he'll be refused."
Also, not to scare anyone, but we don't want our heads stuck in the sand, though the following thread is much more suited to halloween horror flicks:
Additionally, BTW, i've read reports of a couple of embassys using their powers to deny tourist visas based on a similar rule they cited, namely 6 months in 12 allowed, no more.
-
Easy and without all the palaver:
1: The Countries to which you can travel to on your present country's passport.
2: Name of someone in YOUR country that can be contacted in an emergency ("next of kin" or family member or friend).
3: Name of someone in Thailand that can be contacted in an emergency OR if visiting friends/family here (same as above).
I wonder if anyone has ever listed those "Countries" on the application form. It would be a challenge to fit the names of 183 nations in the small space alloted on the application form. Perhaps he wrote them on the back or a separate page. ;
BTW the number of countries would not be "all" in many, if not all, cases. Some passports might allow entry to 172 countries of the some 200 in the world. Other passports more or less than that number.
-
To further expand on O&G workers, there are ones on 14/14 rotation, than makes 12 entries for year.
Then they would only be in Thailand half the year, or 6 months in 12.
This thread isn't about being allowed in in years gone by, but since an announced crackdown date in August 2014.
-
Sure, you posted that the other day, yet the rule is still coming out of the immigration officer's mouths. And they have the power to enforce it.
I suppose one could print that out & show it to the immigration officer, or better yet a copy written in Thai, but i'm not sure what good it would do. Any of you guys here want to give it a try & report back here how it goes? ;
What should be the next course of action, when they are escorting you off to a private room, till you are deported out of the country? And things are written in your passport to inform immigration in case you ever try to come again.
You have been repeatedly scaremongering about something with no grounds whatsoever. For example, there is Oil and Gas workers coming visa exempt every other months since years, without a problem. Whatever a rogue officer says is no general rule.
Scaremongering? Nonsense, i'm interested in the truth. Are you trying to suppress it.
Re "every other month", what's your point? That means 6 times in a year, which is exactly what the immigration officers above stated. Moreover this thread isn't about years gone by, but since a date in August 2014.
-
Following is another report, this time at Phuket, where immigration says something similar, that the rule is 6 via visa exempt entries allowed per year. It was posted today.
There is no such rule. It has been repealed Nov. 2008 after being in effect 2 years.
http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/doc/temporarystay/policy778-2551_en.pdf
Sure, you posted that the other day, yet the rule is still coming out of the immigration officer's mouths. And they have the power to enforce it.
I suppose one could print that out & show it to the immigration officer, or better yet a copy written in Thai, but i'm not sure what good it would do. Any of you guys here want to give it a try & report back here how it goes? ;
What should be the next course of action, when they are escorting you off to a private room, till you are deported out of the country? And things are written in your passport to inform immigration in case you ever try to come again.
-
1
-
-
It was explained to me a couple of weeks ago, by consulate staff in Australia, that the guarantor, is actually next of kin to notify if in an accident/death etc.... Must be poorly translated I guess
Is that what they have on the application form for Australia instead of guarantor, like here:
http://www.thaicongenvancouver.org/cms/docs/consular_forms/VisaForm.pdf
The above form has "emergency contact" & "Funds available" rather than two references to a "gauarantor".
-
A mate of mine, British, who runs a business outside Thailand in UK/China was "hassled" by immigration at Swampy last night on arrival from HK.
He has been into BKK 8 times this year variously from 6 days to 26 days for a total of about 80 days for the year - so he's kinda like a fly in/fly out oil and gas worker. He was told last night by immigration that he's allowed only 6 visa exempt entries per annum and he's over that, so next time he comes without a visa he'll be refused. It appears though that nothing was written in his passport.
As previously stated, I come in once a month from overseas and do the equivalent of almost a 14/14 rotation .. So 12 exemptions per annum. I've never been asked anything ...
Could just be unlucky?
Following is another report, this time at Phuket, where immigration says something similar, that the rule is 6 via visa exempt entries allowed per year. It was posted today. With extensions a person could therefore stay the entire year in Thailand, minus the time out of country on so-called "visa runs".
"Just went through immigration a few days ago in Phuket (I guess this applies nationwide), the officer looks at the arrival form you fill, if you have no visa and you have multiple Thai stamps in your passport he calls the supervisor, this happened quite often, many times I saw them coming and checking, including me."
"A guy ahead of me pulled out and then back to the desk after a quick chat with the supervisor. We talked before and after he said he comes twice a year and he told him that and all was OK."
"Later it was my turn, I quickly turn the page to my exit stamp 1. 5 year ago and showed it to the supervisor and he waved me on and to the desk. They just come around behind the desk or on the side and check."
"Later I asked him what was the criteria / point when he would not permit entry, with his broken English he finally understood what I was saying and said no more than "6 entries per year". I guess they feel you could stay 6 month with 6 entries so that would not be acceptable. This is fair enough I think, even UK (and many countries) has restriction of 6 months limit on tourist visas. Though I am not sure what would happen if you go for visa run, I heard they sometime take you to the office and then you have to "negotiate" before letting you pass !"
-
For one thing the crackdown started in May. Nothing changed in August other than the starting to enforce the guidelines for exempt entries at the airport.
Their have been lots to topics about this.
Hence my post's reference to August & airports.
I haven't seen any topics started after the August date or reports since then of a single person being denied entry due to "back to back" visa exempts. Such reports might help to clarify the precise meaning or enforcement of "back to back".
So "back to back" visa exempts are a no no, but there is no decree saying people can't do "back to back" with tourist visas? So those who were living in the country on a series of the former will now switch to the latter. Is there a point to all this? More fees coming in? Higher quality tourists?
-
Since the August crackdown date, what reports of problems are there, if any, for people from countries that qualify for a visa exempt 30 days on arrival in Thailand's airports, such as in being questioned or denied entry?
Since the August crackdown date, what reports of problems are there, if any, for people from countries that qualify for a visa exempt 30 days on arrival in Thailand's airports, such as in being questioned or denied entry?
As ubonjoe mentioned above already: Only someone doing repeated back-to-back visa exempt entries could be questioned and possibly refused entry.
Back to back? What does that mean, in & out the same day? Out for 2, 3, 7, 14, 30 days? Out for 3 months in every 6?
If i enter on a 30 day exempt, then extend & stay 29 days more, then attempt to get another 30 days visa exempt [out-in] on the same day, is that "back to back" visa exempts even though there was 29 days in between them?
So "repeated back to back...could" lead to problems. What about just "back to back" without repeating it more than once?
-
I've noticed the following categories on application forms (see example via url below) from several different countries in the region of Thailand & was wondering how, or if, people should fill them out when applying for a tourist visa:
1. Countries for which travel document is valid
2. Name and Address of Local Guarantor
3. Name and Address of Guarantor in Thailand
-
6 months validity are for 3 entry TVs i think
i got a 2 entry TV at the Thai embassy in Australia and it's valid period was 3 months
AFAIK single entries are always 3 months.
Double entries can be 3 or 6 months. Hanoi & Bali, for examples, were 6 months. Hong Kong and Seoul as well, if i recall. Laos & Kuala Lumpur 3 months.
-
You will have no problem because you have a valid visa.
What problems, if any, are people experiencing who arrive with a valid visa exempt [no visa] status for 30 days entry into the Kingdom of Thailand?
A visa exempt entry has no validity since it is not a visa.
No problem to do a visa exempt entry unless a person fits immigration's profile for a out/in " visa runner".
I was using the word "valid" in the sense of not being invalid or illegal rather than not expired.
Since the August crackdown date, what reports of problems are there, if any, for people from countries that qualify for a visa exempt 30 days on arrival in Thailand's airports, such as in being questioned or denied entry?
-
So it appears that being less than honest about my travel and lodging plans would have been the recommended way to go. Simply stating the location and duration of my initial hotel and saying I would be traveling was a mistake.
Now I know what things to lie about next time I find myself in this situation. It helps to know what to misrepresent if you know what you need to misrepresent beforehand. However I was just being honest and straightforward as I usually am. figured being honest while applying for a visa to Thailand was the best policy anyway. silly me.
Unfortunately it wasn't stated clearly that you need hotel booking(s) for the entire duration of your stay.
Though i'm still wondering why that was even an issue, let alone a deciding one, when their website rules do not even ask for it.
-
thai visa requirments.pdf Here's the instructions I got on line for KollataIs this from some website?
"The place is really a huge toilet. Sad really."
Perhaps Brits would feel more at home there:
"If Bangalore is the Seattle of India, than Kolkata is the sub-contintent's London."
-
You will have no problem because you have a valid visa.
What problems, if any, are people experiencing who arrive with a valid visa exempt [no visa] status for 30 days entry into the Kingdom of Thailand?
-
Thanks for the report, all Tourist Visa issued in Laos, Malaysia, Mynamar, Cambodia, Vietnam have a validity of THREE month only, means both entries must be used by the ENTER BEFORE date.
Earlier this year i recieved a 2 entry tourist visa at Hanoi, Vietnam valid for 6 months.
-
Why did you have bank & credit statements plus hotel bookings? No mention is made of them being requirements under "tourist visa" on the Kolkata embassy website page here:
"DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months
Visa application form completely filled out
Two recent photographs of the applicant ( 2 1/2 inches)
plane ticket paid in full
Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht (per family)"
http://www.thaiembassy.org/kolkata/contents/files/services-20120616-150812-664556.pdf
I've never needed bank or credit statements or hotel bookings anywhere i've ever applied for a tourist visa, including Singapore, Hanoi & Canada.
It seems you went to a lot of trouble to try to get a tourist visa. All you were lacking to be successful was to book an online hotel for the duration of your stay. Then cancel it later at no cost to yourself, after you had the tourist visa in your passport.
Why did your friend recommend the embassy in Kolkata for a tourist visa?
-
There is no crackdown on back to back visas. Only visa exempt entries have been restricted.
Exactly what details are included in the official policy re the restriction? The following?:
“Furthermore, foreigners who enter the Kingdom under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry.”
Or is this the official policy?:
"Gen Pharnu clarified the focus of the new immigration regulation, which allows most foreigners to enter the country only once using visa-exempt status."....
“From August 13, if we suspect any foreigner of working illegally in Thailand on a tourist visa, that person will be detained and deported, even if the foreigner has not previously completed even a single visa run,” he said.
-
While there has been some general positive (and welcome) changes such as the 30 day extension of visa exempt entries, most of the other positive changes are targeting specific limited groups.
This is quite a significant change. It allows those arriving without a visa & getting 30 days to extend another 30 days for a total of 60 days, the same length of time that a tourist visa gives.
Moreover it can be done in one trip rather than the two trips to an office required for tourist visas (unless an agent does it for you).
It took me all of 30 minutes from the time i arrived at immigration to recieving my passport back with the extension stamp. Some places for tourist visas you'll be waiting in line for hours being eaten alive by flying creatures.
Additionally a tourist visa takes up an entire page in your passport, while my extension stamp covers only about half of that.
Also there are many reports of requests for tourist visas being rejected in various locations, so even getting one is a crapshoot. Once rejected you'ld have to go to another city or country with the possibility of rejection there too.
So i am considering to enter Thailand in the future without the bother of getting any tourist visas. Unless it is at least a double entry that i can obtain easily & comfortably without too many hassles, i may not even attempt it.
Though one very important positive is that those with tourist visas can also extend for 30 days, giving a total of 90 days per entry. Is this something new or old?
-
I got a double entry tourist visa at Hanoi 2 months ago; but I think you'll need to show air tickets for travel in & out of Thailand.
Ah, that's interesting. I'll give it a try.
I got that too. In April. Earlier it was also reported as being attained, with a triple entry being available as well. Lineups were only a handful of people, at the most. From the Old Quarter the office is near. I walked over.
My vietnam experience .. Excellent
in Vietnam General Chat
Posted
You have no idea how often, if ever, i was a victim of a single scam anywhere. Nor do you know what countries i have been to.
My objective research into scams in Vietnam, in particular Hanoi where i stayed for a long time earlier this year, not in ancient history, was confirmed by what i saw there.