Kitsune

stoicccc

I think 2-3 entries will not be a problem.

totally thaied up

Absolute no speculations at all but the infos comes in part from our CEO, MFA and TAT.

You will be surprised how much the Thai government (both MFA and TAT) is interacting with inbound operators and airlines as we are always effected first on any regulation changes and the Thais want to clear their back to not have another Erawan Shrine bombing. That's why I keep saying all those regulations is not against the farangs but Thailand now wants to be on par with the rest of the world (Asia).

Thailand has to grow up as a nation and understand that terrorism is now a fact of life of any International country.

If you believe that Erawan is not a scapegoat to harden laws on Farangs, you believe anything.

Laws have been changing in that direction way before bombing.

Its just an excuse.

Would they add the price without the requirements?

May be..... sounds unlikely, though

I never looked at their previous requirements but that looks like an awful lot for a simple TR visa especially letter of employment and bank statements. People getting visa from Malaysia never reported having to provide all these documents.

Especially notarized documents, never heard of members stating they had to provide notarized bank statement and letter of employment for a Tourist visa

Documents from foreign countries must be notarized by the applicant’s diplomatic/consular mission or Notary public and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia

London has!

you mean pre-METV?

Only 1% of all foreigners that reside in Malaysia have Permanent residence status. To have a PR status you have to be a Muslim, speak the Malay language fluently. A lot of MM2H long-term visa holders have no PR status but they are of course permitted to stay in Malaysia and so do all the other foreigners that work in Malaysia. Its those peoples that I might apply for the visa, besides of course the Malaysians.

A lot of foreigners work in Malaysia and love to drop over to Phuket, Bangkok or Hatyai for a weekend and their are people that come every few months to Thailand, alone for shopping.

In one week we we will see but I stand by my words that the METV visa is only available in someone's home country and this time Penang, Savannaket and Bali have to follow the rules that by the MFA.

Malaysian residents weekend shoppers are not interested by METV.

Embassies have to follow the rules ....or what?

I have never seen a Thai embassy requirement list that does not differ from one country to another.

Even within Thailand they can"t standardize their own rules, so forget outside Thailand.

This is Thailand where immigration in Pattaya ask students to provide TM28 whereas Bangkok does not. In the North immigration pays impromptu visits to retirees but not in the rest of the country. In Nongkhai a student needs a letter from you school if he wish to exit the country, but does need one if he flies to Vientiane. Doing border runs, you can get refused at some border but accepted at the next one.

Every consulate, every immigration office, every border, even every immigration officer has its own version of the law and that, it is not changing anytime soon.

It will take them some time to toe everyone (consulates) in line but my post was mainly focused on the METV visas and future changes to Multiply O/B visas.

For consulates their certainly will be changes coming as they have been very lax in issuing visas and I am thinking mainly on Savannaket and Penang. To clean up the immigration act of Thailand the government of Thailand has to clean up their visa mills in Penang and Savannaket, I was 6-7 years ago once at the consulate in Penang (via agent) and was sitting at the Banana guesthouse and most of the peoples I met run bars in Phuket, worked for timeshare companies in Phuket, were married to a Thai or English teachers. They all went for tourist visas and if I remember correctly tourist visas have been offered free of charge during that time. I was their for a NoneB visa.

I believe you 100% that it is the MFA's wishes to "clean up" immigration act, although that term sounds highly inappropriate, when it entails the destiny of people with may be families and ties here, and whose life might change dramatically. The time when Tourist visa was free of charge is long gone, whether it's a good thing or not, is irrelevant. They decide we abide.

But anyway, back to METV, the Malaysian embassy website is, in my opinion, a classic face act; They are in appearance keeping in line with the rule and stating straight away that it is available for residents.....BUT, but but, when you open the link you realize the only people,its not available for are the usual Africans and Middle East countries that everyone seems to hate and have always been refused.

So in other words its business as usual, except that we will have to provide notarized letters of employment and bank statement.

Classic example of Thainess if you ask me !

Applicant from any of the listed countries must have Permanent Residence in Malaysia.

Malaysia does METV for foreigners except the usual African list ones

Here is the list, it's what it says on the website

http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/contents/files/services-20150909-173935-504463.pdf

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR TOURIST VISA (TR)

Purpose: for Holiday or Vacation

Qualification:

Applicant from any of the listed countries must have Permanent Residence in Malaysia.

Required documents:

1. Original passport valid not less than 6 months with a copy of information page(s).

2. Visa application form duly filled out with one 4x6 cm. sized photograph (white / blue background taken within the past 6 months).

3. Original Letter from employer to certify the employment.

4. Original letter for bank account confirmation from the bank and Bank statement.

5. Confirmed air ticket and hotel booking.

6. Supporting documents, i.e.,

6.1 Letter from the school/college/university certified by authorized school director and affixed by the seal of the school/college/university. or

6.2 Letter from the spouse and copy of marriage certificate and spouse’ identity card.

Visa Fee

Single entry: RM 150 (effective 1 Sept. 2015)

Multiple entries (6-month): RM 750 (effective 13 Nov. 2015)

Gratis: Nationals of Malaysia, Singapore, Rep. of Korea and Tunisia (fee exempted)

MFA informed us their will be no METV in Malaysia for any of our tour clients from Europe if they are not legal resident in Malaysia. We have 10 country branches and it covers Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, China & HK and Japan.

I mentioned it two weeks ago already that METV will only be available for citizens and qualified residents for each country.

Their will also be more changes coming soon for None-Im-ME-O+B and everyone can expect next year to head home if they want one year multiply entry visas for O and B visas but Single Entry will still be issued. By next year the visa mills in Pattaya will be gone

I know, but this is what MFA says as a general rule and as you very well know, each consulate has always adapted these rules to their best suited needs.

Has Vientiane ever asked for 20K for a TR visa ? Non they did not.

Has Bali required hotel booking as Jakarta embassy demanded it? No they accept rental agreements

Has Savannakhet ever asked for funds to get one year non-o based on family,like the other consulates? No they did not.

The list of consulates and embassy that don't strictly apply the rules, and adapt them is endless

Let's see how it will all pan out.

I find it hard to believe that Vientiane will not accept non nationals eventually, especially with Malaysia doing it.

Malaysia is still doing single entry tourist visas for non Malaysians and residents. I have seen nothing stating otherwise.

Malaysia does METV for foreigners except the usual African list ones

Here is the list, it's what it says on the website

http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/contents/files/services-20150909-173935-504463.pdf

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR TOURIST VISA (TR)

Purpose: for Holiday or Vacation

Qualification:

Applicant from any of the listed countries must have Permanent Residence in Malaysia.

Required documents:

1. Original passport valid not less than 6 months with a copy of information page(s).

2. Visa application form duly filled out with one 4x6 cm. sized photograph (white / blue background taken within the past 6 months).

3. Original Letter from employer to certify the employment.

4. Original letter for bank account confirmation from the bank and Bank statement.

5. Confirmed air ticket and hotel booking.

6. Supporting documents, i.e.,

6.1 Letter from the school/college/university certified by authorized school director and affixed by the seal of the school/college/university. or

6.2 Letter from the spouse and copy of marriage certificate and spouse’ identity card.

Visa Fee

Single entry: RM 150 (effective 1 Sept. 2015)

Multiple entries (6-month): RM 750 (effective 13 Nov. 2015)

Gratis: Nationals of Malaysia, Singapore, Rep. of Korea and Tunisia (fee exempted)

That is the same list of requirements they have had on their website for some time now. All they have done is add the fee for the METV.

You can be sure they will not do The METV. They just have not posted the requirement for it yet.

Would they add the price without the requirements?

May be..... sounds unlikely, though

I never looked at their previous requirements but that looks like an awful lot for a simple TR visa especially letter of employment and bank statements. People getting visa from Malaysia never reported having to provide all these documents.

Especially notarized documents, never heard of members stating they had to provide notarized bank statement and letter of employment for a Tourist visa

Vientiane and Savannakhet packed next week I bet.

Let's see how it will all pan out.

I find it hard to believe that Vientiane will not accept non nationals eventually, especially with Malaysia doing it.

Malaysia is still doing single entry tourist visas for non Malaysians and residents. I have seen nothing stating otherwise.

Malaysia does METV for foreigners except the usual African list ones

Here is the list, it's what it says on the website

http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/contents/files/services-20150909-173935-504463.pdf

Vientiane and Savannakhet packed next week I bet.

Let's see how it will all pan out.

I find it hard to believe that Vientiane will not accept non nationals eventually, especially with Malaysia doing it.

I have a friend who wishes to do this course http://www.thongsookinternational.com/ba-tesol.html and obtain an ED visa to study. The studying is the 3 months of the year when the schools are on holiday, he currently works as a teacher in BKK, no degree, no work permit, no Non B, currently on triple entry tourist visa that expires end of January 2016.

Is this a good idea to become legal to teach in Thailand?

this is university learning, or assimilitated he should be ok with extensions

Hes already teaching illegally, if he gets a degree to get a proper job while doing it, kudos to him.

He wants to be legal as he loves the country and the people. He's a good teacher too, the kids like him, 5 to 8 year olds I think.

To answer the question, yes better get legal than stay illegal.

Kudos to him

I have a friend who wishes to do this course http://www.thongsookinternational.com/ba-tesol.html and obtain an ED visa to study. The studying is the 3 months of the year when the schools are on holiday, he currently works as a teacher in BKK, no degree, no work permit, no Non B, currently on triple entry tourist visa that expires end of January 2016.

Is this a good idea to become legal to teach in Thailand?

this is university learning, or assimilitated he should be ok with extensions

Hes already teaching illegally, if he gets a degree to get a proper job while doing it, kudos to him.

The ED visa game is over. You have 2 options:

Pay a lot of tuition for a legit school and attend classes as stipulated by Education ministry. A lot of work and time and money.

-or-

pay even more money and work with the school to falsify your attendance records to show you have been attending.

In either case depending on whether the Imm officer is constipated or not that day...he may test you on whatever subject you are supposed to be learning...and no matter what the results....he may give you only 30 days extension and tell you to come back in 30 days for another test.

Each time...you are $1900 baht lighter or more (school may them want a bribe to share with him)

You first must get a Non B Ed visa with school documentation (out of Thailand) .this gives you 90 days ...then after this 90 days...the fun as detailed above starts....I would recommend against it unless you really want to be a legit student and have the funds to do so.

All schools falsify attendance records, legit quality schools or the crappy cheapo ones.

If you can speak & read thai when tested, you will get 90 days extension if from a legit school. If from a crappy school on immigration's radar you definitely won't.

If the test decides the outcome of the extension application, I actually would not be concerned. If I am not going to work, my life will welcome the discipline of a daily class, the possibility to meet like-minded farangs with an interest in learning Thai. The fee is probably not unreasonable for a year's tuition.

Not true and never been true in BKK. Last september, immigration officers had lists of schools, only 2 schools in BKK would get 3 months: Wall street and AUA, 2 others included walen got 2 months and the rest got 1 month. Before that, if you paid "VIP service" (meaning 5k)you would get 3 months no questions asked, otherwise you got at best 2 months or even 15 days. I left in August, but the latest I heard (late september) you got 1 month regardless of your school, but again if you slip 2k extra to the agent you can get 2 months

The thing is, you will still find some schools in BKK desperate to stay in business, selling you a year worth of ED visa and saying you will get extensions every 3 months. They have all the accreditation from the MOE, you will pay for the course, do the lessons, get the visa.

But unless you get a multiple ED, and you can just do border runs every 3 months, you will have to go to BKK immigration to extend. and that's when troubles start.

If you get a multiple ED visa, does that mean you will be able to have a year's stay (fly in/out every 3 months) in Thailand before needing to get a new visa?

I presume you won't have any hassles with immigration with this option?

yes even 15 months.

Nothing is 100% anymore in ED visa world. When flying back in a guy was drilled in Thai and refused entry in thl by immigration officer.

But that was reported only once, -as opposed to many immigration office disastrous extensions experiences- and you always have the option of choosing something else than Thai.

Really, 15 months? I thought the days of the 15 months on an ED visa was long gone since more than a year ago since the ED visa changes. I thought the max stay was 12 months before needing a new visa. But that was on a single entry ED visa.

Thats the official length of the course- 18 months=12 + 6

If your school agrees to let you start 3 months after you get the visa, you get an extra 3 months.

Then after a year, you leave the country, get another visa it's 6 months left, plus extra 3 months,so 9 months if you start late.

But again that depends where you are located, outside BKK you could study longer.

The thing is, you will still find some schools in BKK desperate to stay in business, selling you a year worth of ED visa and saying you will get extensions every 3 months. They have all the accreditation from the MOE, you will pay for the course, do the lessons, get the visa.

But unless you get a multiple ED, and you can just do border runs every 3 months, you will have to go to BKK immigration to extend. and that's when troubles start.

If you get a multiple ED visa, does that mean you will be able to have a year's stay (fly in/out every 3 months) in Thailand before needing to get a new visa?

I presume you won't have any hassles with immigration with this option?

yes even 15 months.

Nothing is 100% anymore in ED visa world. When flying back in a guy was drilled in Thai and refused entry in thl by immigration officer.

But that was reported only once, -as opposed to many immigration office disastrous extensions experiences- and you always have the option of choosing something else than Thai.

Muay Thai

Cooking

Thailand no longer wants to play in the bottom league.

Convert your own country into a cheap whorehouse if you think it's a brilliant thing to do.

Submit a petition.

They are in the bottom league for everything else except tourism.

Single entry TV at Penang. Still possible to get three in a row?

Not having a go but could you be honest about your requirement for three in a row?

Im a pedophile and also working multiple jobs illegally, thus preventing a number of poor Thais employment. Oh and im also selling drugs when im not working or chasing kids.

Well no, the truth is I spend a few months of the year back home working my ass off to afford a lengthy stay in Thailand, because I very much like it here, and everything that matters to me is here.

Is that reason enough or do you have to be married with 11 kids, have a work permit and also invest a billion baht to be granted the benefit of staying here? I can never for the life of me see the downside of the money spent here by foreigners, be it during one weeks stay, or one year.

When you 29 millions tourists per year, you can afford to be picky, and they happen to prefer the ones that leave after 2 weeks thats all.

Ok. But you state that the country is worse now because queue jumping no longer happens.

As I said my only wish is to be treated as equal, I know that would never happen, its a medieval society with foreigners/brown skiined /fat/old people are preferred to whiter/slim/young/beautiful people and Farangs have dropped ranking dramatically.

Guess it is good to be over 50. Just did my 90 day report again, 30 seconds, beats any other visa hoops I had to go through for years before

Don't be so smug, this leader can change that in a heartbeat.

No reason to...and why all the strum und drang over a country having regulations for tourist visas that fit actual tourists?

Because in 2003 you were coming to a Thai embassy for a tourist visa, you were asked ifyou had a Thai GF and encouraged to get a one year visa. So yes it's a bit of a shock for anyone with 2 cells of memory.

Sorry but I have been here a shade longer than you, yes things change, still very nice. Who exactly treats you badly now?

One striking example is queues: You might not believe it, but I never used to queue ever, as I said people used to insist and double insist on letting me go first on any line (BTS, shops, supermarkets, etc ), as said previously I found it very embarrassing and was always trying to tell them I wanted queue like everyone else. I was on bloody holidays, these people were probably working.

Now it''s the opposite lol! Number of times, I had people going right in front of me at Tops or BigC and the cashier serving them before me as if it was "normal'

So you are upset because you no longer get put to the front of a queue? First time here banks were a scrum at the counter. Much nicer now. Mind you I am not a cute female foreigner.

No really as said previously, I found it most embarassing to be jumping the queues like this, I did not like it at all, no more than being passed over today.

I am just amazed how much the attitude changed, that's all.

And again, overly nice, or overly bad, it's all the same to me, just weird.

In some parts of the country namely Chiang Mai, they raised it to 10 hours.

If you dont want to do extensions get a multiple entries.

Multiple entry Ed visas are not obtainable within the Region.

says who?

Why not just tell members where, in the Region, a multi entry Ed visa is available if you believe I have posted inaccurate information.

Because that would close yet another loophole, and I have been reproached to do so previously.

People who want info can PM me

Sorry but I have been here a shade longer than you, yes things change, still very nice. Who exactly treats you badly now?

One striking example is queues: You might not believe it, but I never used to queue ever, as I said people used to insist and double insist on letting me go first on any line (BTS, shops, supermarkets, etc ), as said previously I found it very embarrassing and was always trying to tell them I wanted queue like everyone else. I was on bloody holidays, these people were probably working.

Now it''s the opposite lol! Number of times, I had people going right in front of me at Tops or BigC and the cashier serving them before me as if it was "normal'

But you were special enough to be treated as a deity... What part of condescension do you not understand?

People treating you good (sic) is just good manners and yes, it is pretty common to come across well mannered people in Thailand. To consider they worship you and treat you akin to one of their many, many goddesses is stretching things to beyond believable, especially when you talk about the year 2000 onwards I'm surprised some of the Nam guys haven't waded in here to tell you that westerners started destroying Thai culture in the 1970's and by the 2000's I am pretty sure the sight of a young western woman was hardly something to be noticed...

Come on, I don't want to fight with you, be honest - your beautiful memories have more to do with the availability of weed in those days than how special you really were.

Just to get that out of the way : I never used drugs in this country EVER.

Not one joint, not even a puff of a joint, not one space cake, nothing.

I understand that you find it hard to believe, that people used to treat us so differently, I too never thought it was "real" back then and knew it could go the opposite one day, but I did not think it would happened so fast.

Especially with what's happening today, it's all the more weird to me as well, but really Im not making this up.

In some parts of the country namely Chiang Mai, they raised it to 10 hours.

If you dont want to do extensions get a multiple entries.

Multiple entry Ed visas are not obtainable within the Region.

says who?

As I said, being treated overly nice or overly bad is all the same.

It shows we don't belong here and never will be treated as equal, which, for me, does not make any sense anyway.

So like everything here you take it with a pinch of salt.

I live here and just consider it a nice country. Treated this way or that is normal anywhere isn't it?

I am only noticing the huge shift towards foreigners in this country, which is understandably reflected in visas regulations.

Regulations dont come out of the blue.

Yes there were 10 millions of us and we were treated like royals, but it was another decade another political system. I know it's hard to believe now but that's how it was.

A/ Since 2000 the numbers of tourists have been multiplied by 3 and B/ Politically the country has changed enormously

In 2003 you could get one year visa by just having a girl friend here, that's how much it changed...

Funny how different it was when I arrived a year later - there must have been a sea-change in the politics, as from the moment I walked out the airport I was met by the usual sullen rip-off artists fighting for my business.

Taxi fares (and attitude) were ridiculous then and still are today. Rip-off artists were everywhere, it was the least law-abiding country I had ever been to. (I am from Africa, so take a moment to reflect...) Everywhere I went I could feel there was arrogance and animosity behind the 'Thai smile' - just as there is today.

Are you sure this was Thailand, or do people just worship you wherever you go? Must be nice to be a deity - in your own mind Mommy tell you, you are special?

I am not trying to brag, it was like that then, I did not like it no more than the bad attitude I get now.

Sorry to say but black people have always had it rougher than anyone in the LOS, it's not new, not saying it's ok, just saying it's no surprise .

As an "aryan" young female although I hate the term, I was treated better than most, and especially black people, its horrible but thats the way here.

So now I am black because I am from Africa? What a leap...

Okay, my turn - you are not from the UK as your English is atrocious? Are you French by any chance?

I married an exceptional Thai woman 10 years ago and live very happily embedded in Thai working class community, respected by the people who know me. I have no false illusions about Thai people and the way they feel towards arrogant, self-obsessed foreigners who feel entitled to whatever they want in life as their privileged upbringing meant they never understood the meaning of no. People who throw around money and joke about how cheap it is but did not have to earn it in a truly competitive environment. People who cannot be differentiated from criminal types, unwanted (or maybe very wanted) in their own country.

So, don't care how long you have been here but I doubt there is much 'Thainess' in your lifestyle.

But - I just noticed the 'young female' in your post. That changes things only in that I am now more convinced you are delusional - if there is one thing that has not changed in 200 years here it is the male attitude towards women. Throughout Asia men are pigs toward women (okay, only 90%) so I doubt all your experiences have been so pure and spiritual.

Thank you for calling my English atrocious this is one of the clauses of forum rules, not to comment on peoples English, so I advise you to take it directly to moderation

If you must know I never had any sexual encounter with a Thai person male or female, so no, nothing to do with that.

Most people who were overly nice to me were actually women.

I am not sure what is Thainess... may be, I have not got any, but what does it have to do with people treating me good then bad? I doubt that I had Thainess before...