audaciousnomad

2 hours ago, Scott3000 said:

 

See my post above, on page #102, for my own recent history in Thailand, which has a lot in common with yours. Since 2016, I've spent 5-6 months outside of Thailand each year, except 2018, when I got a job in Thailand, with a legal contract & Non-Immigrant B visa.

 

While that type of plan does not guarantee success for anybody's future entries -- including yours or mine -- I think you can get the idea: Thai immigration seems to be content if you don't "settle" in their country. They made life difficult for me when I tried to remain here continuously on tourist visas & visa exempt. When I spend several months outside the country each year then return via carefully chosen points of entry, they don't apply so much pressure. 

T

Thanks! By "carefully chosen" do you mean you don't fly into BKK or DMK? ????

24 minutes ago, BritTim said:

There are two reasons for land entry:

• Most land crossings only apply the official written rules relating to denial of entry. For this reason, with a visa, you are almost sure to be admitted as long as you are in compliance with the law. Some airports also seem to be OK with a visa, but
• If you are denied entry at a land crossing, you are simply told to return back across the border to the country you just crossed from. When denied at an airport (although, with a visa, this is unlikely at some airports) your fate is less predictable. In the worst case, after being locked up for a couple of days, you might be forced back to your home country.

You cannot safely return by air for a visa exemption (even at airports which only apply official rules). That is why it is best to plan your visa runs such that you will be entering by land if your application for a visa fails.

Thanks. I understand.  I think I will do my extension end of this month, then use my two land border bounces(plus extensions) for 2020, which will effectively give me 150 days in 2020, and then fly out and just cool off for 6+ months before returning(likely with a TR visa from outside). 

What do you think? Would that be a long enough cooling period given that I've been here since last Sept?  Sorry for so many questions, this is the longest time I will have ever spent here! ???? 

28 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Long stay tourists should be looking at getting visas to extend their stays. Since achieving the visa (especially tourist and education visas) is always uncertain, the land based visa exemption is your security blanket for those occasions where the visa application does not pan out.

If you believe you might stay another year in Thailand, this is going to be difficult. A possible plan is to fly to Kuala Lumpur for a tourist visa, returning by land. Later you could fly to Yangon, returning by land via Myawaddy/Maesot. If either of these visa runs is unsuccessful, you can still enter visa exempt.

Thanks again BritTim. Wealth of knowledge!

Do you suggest re-entry by land because there is less scrutiny there compared with airport entry points? That said, the only land entry from Malaysia is Padang Besar which you indicated is not to be utilized?

Cheers BritTim!

So I should be able to do my extension this month and then another land border bounce next month if I understand you correctly. If so, thanks and that's good news. ????

Would you shed some light on "other plans for extending"?  The only methods I know of are to leave and re-enter, or apply and pay a fee for extending (once per entry).  Therefore, I don't see any "other plans" that would extend my visit as a tourist. Are there others?

***Question regarding the 2 border entries per calendar year rule***

I searched and did not find an answer to this specific situation.

Arrived beginning Sept 2019 VE, 30 days
Extended at Immi., 30 days

Land border bounced early Nov VE, 30 days

Extended at Immi., 30 days

Land border bounced before 31Dec, 30 days

At this point, planning to do Immi extension another 30 days before end of Jan2020. So that would put met at 180days.
1. Will I be allowed to land border bounce since it is now 2020, a new calendar year?
2. Will my 180 days have any impact on my plan to do another border bounce?
3. Will I be asked to leave and don't come back until next year?

Thanks. Just want to get an idea to be prepared to make some moves if necessary.

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

No. The whole process at Ban Phu Nam Ron is a mild scam which you cannot circumvent. If allowed to do everything yourself, it would be a maximum of US$10 plus 100 baht, but you are obliged to pay off the officials.

Thanks BritTim. 960baht it is then.  I guess all things considered, it is better than the situation at all the Cambodian border posts. ????

On 9/16/2019 at 12:25 PM, ubonjoe said:

No problem to it the same day. 

At Ban Phu Nam Ron you will pay about 950 baht for transport across no mans land and back again that includes 500 baht for a Myanmar border pass.

No need for a photo and no full page visa sticker. Just a couple of small departure and entry stamps.

Thanks for these details ubonjoe.  I've done the Mae Sai run in the past, and the desk there accepted $10USD or 500 baht.  Do you know if the same can be done at Phu Nam Ron? E.g. Could I pay 460baht for the service, and $10 for the border pass?

Great, and thanks for sharing your experience cordaci. Looks like it's gonna be a run to Penang then!

That came from reports of wanting a letter from an employer and wanting other financial proof plus a ticket out of the country.

There was report from a member since then that said he got one without the financials or ticket out but mentioned there were others who got turned down.

They apparently are not being consistent with their requirements.

All you can do is try.

Thanks ubonjoe, I hear ya on that. Sounds like a costly roll of the dice though.

I'm wondering if they are harder on the ones who already have past visas in their passport(I've got 3, although from different times over the past two years).

Are you aware of any reports on success rates of visa applications through the Penang consulate?

Hi everyone...I too feel your pain, and I'm grateful that you've all posted here to save me a wasted trip to Ampang Rd.

That said, I am already committed to going to KL anyway as I booked my flight two months ago.

Out of curiosity...does anyone have any info on whether it's still easy to do it in Penang? I'm thinking if this is just a reflex reaction to the pilfered stamps situation, then maybe it's isolated just to the KL office.

Your thoughts?

KL for all intents and purposes stopped doing tourist visas for anybody but Malaysian citizens or residents. They are asking for financial proof including a letter from your employer.

Hi, this sounds like breaking news! I was just there this past October and was able to get a visa no problem. Is this a new policy effective 2014 or something? If so, is it strictly Malaysians only who will be considered for tourist visas? How about expats who can demonstrate financial solvency?

Please let me know your thoughts, as I already have a flight scheduled to go to KL this week, and just stumbled onto this post.

Thanks kindly for your help.

As its in your name it will be mostly like to be written off. No they cant nab you at the airport, no it wont prevent you coming back etc.. it might prevent you getting TOT again but I wouldnt even say that is likely. For 2,000 baht though you should just pay it, if a miracle happens and TOT become vigilent then one day they might say no 3G for you which would be a PITA if you live in sticks where they are the only provider. If you want to be ethical about it, return the aircard or anything tangible they have given you.

Thanks Matt111. The only tangible I have is the 3G sim card I got when I set it up. I had my own mobile which has "wifi hotspot" functionality, and I was just tethering off of that.

Thanks for the insight. I was concerned because they do copy your passport as ID when you start the contract, and wasn't sure if that would affect future travel prospects. I guess you're right, 2000 is still a small sum in the grand scheme of things.

Hey fellows,

So glad someone started this topic, because I have a related question. I was going to stay for a year, but things didn't work out and I need to leave pretty quickly (only three months into my contract). I have TOT post-paid 3G wireless.

I'm short on cash, as I need it to go home now. What's gonna happen if I can't pay that 2000 baht early termination fee? Are they gonna send someone to nab me at the airport or something?

What if I pass through BKK in the future...will they have some sort of database to nab me then?

Please let me know, as this really concerns me. I gotta do what I gotta do, but I'd like to know what consequences I'm facing, and I know there are a lot more experts here at thaivisa compared with anywhere else.

Hey folks, I had a quick question surrounding wireless contracts was planning to stay for a year, but something very urgent came up and I must leave back home to the US immediately.

But I'm concerned about my wireles bill. I'm on a TOT3G post-paid sim. Will I need to pay an early termination? What happens if I can't pay the bill? Will I be held at the airport or something?

I'm really worried about this, so any advice is appreciated.