manonthemon

Hi,

I was about to do a visa run from Phuket to Penang tomorrow as my visa expires tomorrow too. But I just learned that the consulate in Penang is closed for a few days (Ramadan I think) and the visa run company is not going. The next possible day of a run is Sunday.

Now - as my visa is valid until 7.08 (on arrival 15 days stamp from Ranong).

The question is - do I have to go for an emergency visa run to Ranong and pay 1500B for the service just not to overstay till Sunfday or I can just wait till Sunday, go for the visa tun to Penang (where I have to go anyway as I'm applying for a Non B) and pay the overstay? When does the overstay starts to count from? How much would I end up paying and would I get myself in any trouble?

thanx in advance

I'm there with you. But when the offer comes form one of the biggest, most famous schools on the island you'd expect it to be genuine.Especially that my friend made it very clear that it's a big move for him, that his moving to Phuket with his family just because of this offer and he's making this decision under one condition - that his visa situation will be in order.

I've been screwed by schools myself, I ended up in the labor department with one of the agencies that tried to scam me - and I kind of understand when these things happen with some dodgy agencies. But how come a big, popular school has problems with getting visas for their workers? What is so hard about it?

Thank you for all the info.

What are the options my friend should consider? Any suggestions?

Hi,

A friend of mine got a job offer in a well established school in Thailand. He submitted all the documents they required for processing of the WP and papers necessary to get a Non B Visa and started working - still on the tourist visa - like many people in this and other school do.

This was about 2 months ago. Since than my friend had no other option but to do another visa run which is quite costly and very inconvenient. Yet when he mentions that to the employer all he gets is that the documents are being pressed, that they cant give him any specific date when they will be ready and that it's up to him if he wants to stay with the school or not.

The thing is that he really likes the job and he's really committed to it - changing it will be a pain.

My question is - how long does it usually take to process the papers, is it normal that it takes so long?

This means that I'd have to start with cancelling my expired work permit (which I lost) so that my employer to be can start a new WP application yes?

Does anybody know where is the place to deal with it in Phuket?

Does it matter that my previus job was teaching in Bangkok and the next one is a non teaching job in Phuket?

This is awesome news! And the Star Alliance link goes straight to my bookmarks.

Thank you all!

Cheers,

Are you sure? I'm asking because the link above clearly states that one requires a passport valid for 6 months to enter Thailand on the 30 days exempt.

"Nationals of the United States of America and 41 other countries are eligible

to travel to Thailand, for tourism purpose, with the exemption of visa and

are permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days.

Therefore, you do not need a visa.

However, please make sure that you are in possession of a passport valid for

at least 6 months"

And the links below seem to confirm it.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service/thai-visas-for-americans.html

http://www.pattaya-funtown.com/visa_thailand.html

Is there no such rule or is it a rule thats not enforced?

Just want to be absolutely sure we'll be able to go back home (Phuket) from a short holiday outside Thailand.

cheers,

My country has the 30 days exempt option. But from what I'm reading here ther, the 6 months is required.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15380-Questions-&-Answers-on-Thai-Visa.html

??

Cheers

Thanks,

We'll be traveling form India - mothers home country but not my daughters home country - she has a western passport.

Hi,

I live in Thailand with my girlfriend (not Thai) and daughter (6 months).

Soon we'll be traveling outside Thailand together. The thing is that on the way back to Thailand my daughters temporary passport will not have the 6 months validity required for the on arrival 30 days visa exempt. (shell probably have something like 5 months validity on the passport left)

The 6 months validity is also required to get a normal tourist visa. Getting her a new passport is not an option at this time as the procedure takes to much time

Do you think that this will be a problem. Does it matter that we're talking about a little baby and both her parents will have proper Thai visas (Torist and Non B probably)?

Not that it matter but my daughter was born in Thailand, than left the country for a couple of days, came back with a 60 days tourist visa and now she's overstay here by a couple of months - but I was told its not a problem as kids don't pay the overstay fines and the fact of an overstay doesnlt reflect on their future future ability to receive thai visa.

In short - will she get a 30- days visa exempt on arrival with a passport valid only for 5 months.

cheers

My question is - is the monsoon always like this in Phuket??


I recently moved form Bangkok. Two last rainy seasons there were most of the time...nice and sunny. A rain or two a day and that's it. But what I see in Phuket for the last few days is depressing.

cheers!

I would suggest a reading of the actual immigration act of 2522 as tourist entry is specific to 90 days and that one year option is for Diplomatic/official business/touring/sports only available from the highest authority so perhaps they would allow Tiger Woods an extended tourist or sports entry but it is not a day to day option.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/doc/Immigration_Act.pdf

Thank you! Thats exactly what I was looking for.

cheers!

If you meet the criteria for a one year extension of stay, for example based on retirement or marriage, you can convert your tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa.

It's not an extension of a tourist visa then but a new, non-immigration visa? It makes me wonder why they state that a tourist visa may be extended to long term stays.

Is is just lack of precision when writing this information on their website?

While reading through the Phuket Immigration website I encountered information about possible one year tourist visa extension:

http://phuketdir.com/pktimmigration/

his type of visa may be extended to long term stays of up to one year according to the authority given to the director general of the Police Department (presently changed to commander-in-chief of the National Police Bureau) to consider and approve extensions of not exceeding one year at a time (according to section 35 of the 1979 immigration act).

Thai Visa website seems to confirm it

http://www.thaivisa.com/applying-for-extension-of-tourist-visa.html

Normally, if the applicant wants to continue touring the country, an extension may be granted for not more than 30 days unless there are extenuating circumstances that would entitle the alien to a one year extension. Fee 1,900 baht.

I wonder what these "extenuating circumstances" might be that would entitle one to get a one year extension of their tourist visas? Any ideas?

cheers?

Thanks, sounds promising.

If anyone has more recent info from Penang - please share.

cheers

Any updartes on the Penang Tourist visa with an extension alredy in my passport?

I'm about to go for a visa run form Phuket OR make a 30 days extension in the local immigration. Wondering if this will kill Penang as a visa run option for me,

cheers

Yeah, I'm doing that already(+ milk and cookies) and it's amazing to see how eager she's to learn and how quickly she memorizes new words and sentences.

But on the general topic - is there anywhere where I could read more about Burmese population of Phuket? How many, where from etc? Are there any organizations focused on that issue? I know that some muslim organizations try to deal wit the recent influx of Rohingya, anything else?

cheers!

My wife also suggests you do this through a third party - either your partner or wife, the girl's mother or the owner of your residence - that way you lessen the sense of 'interference' which can rub some people up the wrong way.

Thanx for this tip! Will definitely ask the concierge to pass on whatever little gift I get for the girl.

cheers!

No worries - I don't want to interfere - I realize that on some level this situation is profitable for both Thais and Burmese (though donating to some charity focused on that issue sounds like the right thing to do). But I just want to know more.

The girl in my residence - I hate seeing her work while she should be at school. Yet I know there isn't much I can do. I do try to teach her a few words in English though, just for the fun of it.

cheers

Yes, back on the topic of massage. I've been paying 300 baht for quite sometime now. There is a "massage mafia" on Phuket and they collude to make the price 300 baht over the whole island.

The "massage mafia" was a joke for our new friend in Phuket.

Any other kinds of mafia I should be aware of?...I can't find my favorite bkk street snack - Sai Grok - here. Maybe it's a mafia thing too?

Exactly. There are cheaper massages around, but by the time you get there, paying for fuel and dealing with the traffic, it's hardly worth the trouble.

So you manged to save 7500 baht a year from your massages in Bangkok? As you live in Cherng Talay I can reccomend getting massaged in Phuket Town for around a 150 baht a throw. Take out 100 baht for fuel to get to and from your house, and you will save an astonishing 2600 baht a year or 50 baht a week! You will be able to get an extra bowl of noodles a fortnight. Or 2 archer beers and a bottle of water each week.

Pay the 300 baht - everywhere and anywhere.

Well, I already got a few addresses here, some of them near the place where I live so the distance or traffic is not a problem (and honestly - traffic on Phuket is a joke after two years in Bangkok). Just asking the question here saved me 200B each time I go and get a massage with my GF. I'm happy with that!

I've seen blind people massage service in China couple years ago and been curious to try it ever since. Sounds like a better choice for them than walking around with a microphone and a portable speaker and bagging.

Will have to try and find such a parlor here. If you ever hear about such a place in the north of Phuket pls reply in this thread.

Where exactly is this massage place in the south of the island?

cheers

Thanx a lot! The Tesco Thalang option looks great due to the location. Will check it out for sure!

cheers!