Kitsune

Yep the new training for METV extension... probably another headache to come !

It looks like Vientiane are being lenient one last time before METV

Was at the embassy this morning for a DE TR. long queue due to the visa groups. I did ask the embassy staff about the METV and was told only for Laotians and those with permanent residence in Laos. She said we could only apply the new METV at our "home" country. Seems like this is the rule set by MFA, Thailand to all Thai Embassies/ Consulates overseas.

Yes thank you very much for this

Welcome to Thailand.

The land where each cop/immigration officer makes out his own rules.

Can you ask about METV?

The new queue system has already been reported by several members here. This is not news.

Yes you have to avoid the visa service companies day (monday and thursday?), again this is very old news. We have known this for years.

Maybe old news to you but not to people who have never been before or went a few years ago and are returning there for the first time after that,

If you read this forum several members reported it already.

I have not been to Vientiane for years and if I ever return I dont think the new queue system will be that much of a shock, since again it was reported here by members several times.

The new queue system has already been reported by several members here. This is not news.

Yes you have to avoid the visa service companies day (monday and thursday?), again this is very old news. We have known this for years.

The only reason to refer to backpackers these days is someone who is carrying a backpack. The lifestyle choices are nothing like backpackers of old, airconditioned luxury is the new 'roughing it'.

In fact they should now be referred to as Applepackers.

They look like this, remember?

The point is moot

Wont happen

Not in a million years.

Stay 3 months in Thailand without a visa : 20K

Kill four people : 7K

change diet

What does actually trigger the awakening?

Have you tried changing diet ?

What you eat directly impact your sleep, and Im not just talking flatulences lol.

Have you check for cold infections? (babesia, richettia, chlamedyas, eyach virus,brucella etc)

There is a fair amount of pressure here, not to appear on the wrong side of whatever new law Thai immigration comes up with.

This results in posts such as these.

How is this visa related?

Did you ask about METV?

Will it be available for non-Laotians?

The Digital Nomad topic again!!!

Is there any topic that does not turn into a DN topic?

Here we go

http://www.thaiembas...sa_standard.pdf

My gap year took a year to plan.

Visa free travel never existed.

Flight, bus and boat journeys had to be booked. Cash was always something that was needed

we bought flight, bus, boat, train,visas, hotels, etc as needed.

Yes that was the beauty of it.

You could decide at last minute, gave you an immense sense of freedom

Why!

Do you know how many backpackers buy 2 or 3 entry TR's.

How long the average backpacker stays in Thailand.

How many times they exit/re-enter.

Most backpackers are gap year students that travel through many countries. Surely a 90 day stay in Thailand is enough for most. If not they could get another SETV or use visa exempt entry.

You're predicting unnecessary doom and gloom.

a lot of them base themseves in thailand and come and go often

I still have an old British passport which chronicles my gap year back packing travels.

15 countries spending an average of 3 weeks in each country.

Seems the modern day "back packer" has limited horizons

Yes ! Me too.

I feel sorry for the kids now, with all these stupid visa rules, they have to go through, it kill the joy of it all.

The best feeling was the sheer freedom that you could go anywhere.

Now every move has to be planned 6 months inadvance with adhoc cash, bookings etc, what a bore

Why!

Do you know how many backpackers buy 2 or 3 entry TR's.

How long the average backpacker stays in Thailand.

How many times they exit/re-enter.

Most backpackers are gap year students that travel through many countries. Surely a 90 day stay in Thailand is enough for most. If not they could get another SETV or use visa exempt entry.

You're predicting unnecessary doom and gloom.

a lot of them base themseves in thailand and come and go often

yes THL was used as a base to travel from and to.

THL is turning its back on who were the first Farangs to discover it and defend as a great tourist place.

You read any guide book about THL, it tells you of all the places that had been discovered by back packers.

I remember when THL had really bad press, many preconceptions and was perceived as hub of hard drugs by media... coming back from a lovely holiday in Samui I had to convince everyone I met, I was not shooting heroin through my veins lol

The biggest problem for me (& I suspect a lot of other people as well) would be the requirement for proof of employment/business ownership (I mean, who has a job where they can take 6 months off)!!!

Do any of the guys who've asked the UK consulates know if the UK will be asking for this?

How hard is it to set up an LLC (or whatever business-entity) in the UK? Or, for that matter, in some other Euro country? The business does not have to incorporated in your residency. It's easy in many USA States - you could do it all via the Post. So far, no "income" requirements for the METV, so do not have to prove a salary.

Considering at the end of the day that we are talking about a tourist visa, albeit multi entry, for the destination country needing all the information reference jobs, bank statements (as said, no income requirements yet............ ) from a potential tourist, would the average tourist not question the reasons for wanting to visit in the first place?

If i was a tourist, i certainly would. The METV visa will not be the right visa for all, that's for sure.

That signs the death warrant of backpackers

Forget the METV for long stay it's just a trap. The easier way to stay in LOS is still the ED VISA. Of course it cost more but you can stay 1 year n Thailand whitout showing any proofs of revenue earned. I live in Pattaya so i know a scholl called Excel Language Centre who offer a 1 year ED Visa with english courses for 17 000 baths. And if you purpose is to stay Thailand only for sunny vacation you don't need to follow the english lesson. Ask the manager when you will apply, she is very comprehensive. You just need to be present when the police immigration come to check. That's all.

Yeah but will that be the next crack down, I would like to learn Thai but I can't be arsed if after I learn it I have 2 leave the country whats the point of that, also is that the total price 17000b what about extending it and is there a visa run before u get it?

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I had 4 years of EDs back to back in my passport and recently obtained a new multi entry tourist visa from Laos. When that is over and I have hd my extension, I may try my luck with another tourist visa (I like tripping it to Laos) and then by that point we all should know what's going on with this new shady illusive visa. If it is one where I need to head back to blighty every 6 months and that bs then I would either get an ED again (can speak Thai really we'll as it is obviously after 4 years of learning it) or I would pack up and head to Laos, lovely country and lovely people... dare I say more so than here

are you sure that is still an option?

I might be ignorant about specific provinces law but in Phetchaburi I just signed up a few weeks ago for Walen and I can only get up to 1.5 years total nowadays.

which is split into 3x 6 months, something like beginner/intermediate/advanced

I was told it was "new rules" .

under this rule, you can reapply after 2 years

I dont have the funds required for this new type of visa and my extension expires in mid December.

Initially I was thinking to fly to a destination such as Malaysia, Singapore, Philliphines or even Sydney where I got my double entry.

Now I don't know what to do really in such a case...

You're a tourist?

I wish!

ED visa if you are not in bkk, is your best option.

Pretoria as expected is applying all the restrictions

http://www.thaiembassy.org/pretoria/contents/files/services-20151030-163850-212491.pdf