sunluvr

hypothetical question... actually a multi-part question

suppose one was leaving Thailand from southern Thailand enroute to Malaysia on a private sailboat registered outside of Thailand, with several others (mixed nationalities), clear Thai immigration and customs, get stamped out of the country, then decide to spend several days sailing around in Thai waters before actually heading to Malaysian waters, anchoring in several places along the way, and maybe  not necessarily in the direction of final destination in Malaysia...  if a person on board becomes in need of medical attention while still in Thailand,

1) what are the likely ramifications of the person going to a Thai hospital for treatment

2) what are the likely ramifications of contacting immigration and pleading the claim 'we thought it would be ok to continue sailing in the area for several days before heading to Malaysia'

3) what are the likely outcomes for the skipper/passengers if immigration becomes aware of such a situation

would prefer answers from those with direct knowledge/experience rather than just loosey-goosey opinions..

until recently I would have thought differently about getting 30 day visa exempt entry but after my latest experience coming to phuket I have to agree with phuketlive.. the following is a posting I did on FB after I arrived back here again less than 2 weeks ago...

I arrived back in Thailand today and it was a rather interesting entrance to the country compared to all my other entrances in the last 11 years. I have come to Thailand in the past on a number of different visa options available to me at the time, and last year I came here on a 1 year visa with only 1 entrance and exit in the 6 months that I stayed here. Today when I got here, I am staying less than a month so didn't bother with any visa, just opting for the 30 day visa exempt option. The immigration officer that I encountered started asking me questions and asked if I had an airline ticket booked leaving the country within 30 days and I explained no, as I am planning to exit in the northern part of the country by bus in 3 weeks. He tried to tell me that was a problem, because his 'system' was saying that I had entered the country 6 times within the last year although my passport showed that was clearly untrue. I mentioned that I was going to pass through Udon Thani on my way to Laos towards the end of the month and he then consulted his colleague working at the next counter. His colleague then got involved also asking me questions and it appeared that the colleague was from Udon Thani, and actually quite cute and seemed to have no problem smiling at me. After further questions from both of them, confirming that I have neither a Thai girlfriend or boyfriend amongst other things, the colleague asked for my phone number and I willingly gave it to him. He returned the favor giving me his name and number and said (with a smile) to call him sometime, I said sure, and the initial officer I dealt with stamped my passport and I was free to go on my way. TIT (This Is Thailand).

The rather scary part is had it only been the initial immigration officer I dealt with, he didn't seem prepared to allow me entry to the country, based on pure bullshit information.,

I will try and be better prepared next time..

Looking for suggestions/recommendations for where to go for Open Water Dive certification course here in Phuket. I took the course decades ago (in Canada) but never completed the open-water dives so never got the certification. I realize I'll have to do all the theory and pool training over again, but just looking for the easiest, most basic, economical way to get the certification. Doing the theory part via e-learning is fine with me if that helps, I see one outfit that offers that as an option..

I cnofimed this morning all minivans to southern parts of Thailand arrive at and depart from the old terminal #1 in Phuket town.. other buses going to points outside of Phuket run out of the newer Terminal 2.

The minivans that run regularly from Hat Yai to Phuket arrive at the old bus terminal in Phuket Town.. I picked up a friend there last night.. Can anyone confirm if the minivans running from Phuket to Hat Yai also depart from that terminal or from the newer Terminal 2?

And now you need to go to

Phuket office and report your address.

sorry, I don't have any clue what you mean.. I have already done so at Patong..

UPDATE:

This morning I decided to give the Patong office a try.. arrived there just before opening at 10, was in the queue less than 10 minutes.. being a much smaller office then Phuket town and not quite as organized but also much fewer people there, and a friendly young Thai girl with good english skills did a good job of grouping people according to what service they were after and queuing us up accordingly.. once inside, I gave the officer my passport and photocopies, after 2 or 3 minutes he asked for my address, I handed him my street address, handwritten by me on a scrap piece of paper, a couple more minutes of inputting, printing and signing and I was on my way... no mention of any lease, rental or any question about my address.. well done Patong!! I will go there next time instead of Phuket town anytime I need any of the services they can provide..

I have no idea how sophisticated their system is, if they input my address and at some point determine the landlord/owner hasn't done the reporting he should have, that's not my problem.. maybe he had done so, and when they input the address I gave them, it matched so all was good...rather skeptical about the latter being the case.. either way, I'm good for now..

alos, there was no mention of any 100 baht fee either..

also confirmed, reporting can be done 15 days prior and up to 7 days after without any penalty

You must have non-oa visa not a non-o visa. A non-o visa only allows a 90 day entry and you have to leave the country before the 90 days end.

sorry, my mistake.. it is a non-OA visa..

seems like a huge pain in the a** just to report my address.. if I'd have known I'd be faced with this i would have planned a 1-2 day excursion out of the country somewhere, come back in (I have a 1 year non-O multiple entry visa), write the same address on my new arrival card and be done with it...

In 10 years of coming to Thailand, this is the first time I've actually required a 90 day reporting which I attempted this morning in Phuket town.. I took my passport and copy of the lease (english only) that I have for the house I have rented here for a 6 month period.. I thought all I had to do was verbally tell them the address of where I am staying.. the immigration officer read through the lease, which is between me and a German foreigner (who is married to a Thai wife and lives in Udonthani). The officer then tells me I need a photocopy of the German's passport before he can process my address reporting. I pointed out to the officer that the address I was reporting is the same address that was shown on my arrival card when I entered the country back in November, but he said that made no difference..

I didn't ask, and the officer never mentioned if I need any other documentation regarding my landlord or the property.. in fact, the property I am renting is in the name of his Thai wife, and the German has a long-term lease for the property with his wife. I don't have copies of the property title or the lease between them, although they were shown to me at the time I signed my lease. Is it possible I will go back there with a copy of the German guy's passport and they will send me back again for more documentation?

Also, is it still possible to do this reporting at the Patong immigration office as well? If so, likely to be the same request for documentation?

any suggestions on where to get a reasonable motorbike rental nearby the Nopparat pier? need one for a couple of days coming on the ferry from Phuket next week..

since my posting, I got an answer back from the ferry company and they don't transport motorbikes.. i'm only going for 2 days so think taking ferry (2 hours) and renting bike there is the better option.. anyone know if motorbike rentals are available at or near the pier at AoNang? I'll post a similar query on the Krabi forum..

thanks, and cheers..

Does anyone know if the ferry from Phuket to AoNang will carry motorbike? and if so, what is the cost? Debating driving bike to Krabi or taking ferry with bike or take ferry and rent bike there (for a couple of days).. would prefer to have my own bike there if possible..

Mods, thanks very much, understand it all now..

update...

OK, I obtained a multi-entry non-imm O-A visa, entered the country on Nov 5, and it is stamped as good until Nov 4 2015... my planned departure date back to Canada is May 3, 2015 but I plan to do a little traveling here before then.. can I simply use my visa to re-enter Thailand as many times as I want without need of a re-entry permit during that time? and each time I re-enter Thailand, does the 'stamped as good until' date move ahead to 1 year from my latest entry date?

am I correct that I must be in Thailand and apply for the 1 year retirement extension sometime before my visa's 'Enter Before date' of October 21, 2015?

Taxis a cheap enough that you don't need to drive

you obviously are not in Phuket.. lol

UPDATE - Yesterday, the agent sent me copies of documents that show the property deed in the name of the foreigner's Thai wife's name, and a document that shows his name on a 30 year lease from his wife. I have accepted that as sufficient documentation to send a deposit to his Thai bank account, and for the lease agreement with me to be in his name. Documents are in both Thai and English.

I have asked for a copy of the property deed and would only send a deposit payment to an account in the the name shown on the deed. I have been told by the agent that the owner is a foreigner and have been sent a sample lease agreement - in english only. As foreigners cannot directly own property, i'm not holding my hopes up on this one..

@ ubonjoe, thanks for that idea, I like the sounds of that one.. when I eventually apply for the extension, say in April 2016, am I going to need a new pension statement certified by the embassy in BKK, and medical and police clearance certificate again?

thanks to others for your comments..

I'm a Canadian, and now every year I'm going to spend about 6-7 months in Thailand based in Phuket, and the rest of the year back in Canada.. I've been doing this for shorter periods for several years and have used different visa options in the past, including one retirement extension, double-entry tourist visa with extensions, etc.. I plan to do some traveling out of Thailand during my stay, maybe a few times per year so am considering whether to get an O-A here in Canada, or apply for the retirement extension once I get to Thailand.. I qualify for the retirement extension with an adequate pension. I've read another similar situation in another posting earlier this year and it answered some of my questions but not all.. I like the idea of getting a mutliple entry O-A here before I come there, just not sure how long I could make that last.. I'm assuming that the visa would be good for entry/re-entry up to 1 year after the issuing date, which is likely to be in about 2 weeks - lets say October 21, and my entry date will be November 5.. if my final departure date from Thailand is going to be about May 3, am I correct in assuming that I would have to apply for the 1-year extension prior to that departure, and along with a multiple use re-entry permit, I would be all set for returning again in November of 2015?

To get the O-A here, it's a bit more complicated from what I remember - here are the current document requirements:

• The validity of your passport must not less than 18 months. (Damaged, invalid or altered passports will not be accepted).
• Three copies of a Visa Application Form with 3 photos (2"X2") passport size and Additional Visa Application Form for Visa O-A. All application forms must be filled out completely with applicant's signature
• A copy of a bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to no less than $ 25,000 or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of no less than $ 2,100 or a deposit account plus a monthly income of no less than $25,000 a year and must be accompanied with a letter of guarantee from the bank stating the monthly income from a source such as a pension or other sources and the letter from the bank must be certified by a Notary Public.
• Verification stating that the applicant has no criminal record issued from the country of his/her nationality or residence (the verification shall be valid for no more than 3 months). The criminal record must be certified by a Notary Public.
• A medical certificate issued from the country where the application is submitted showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535) (the certificate shall be valid for no more than 3 months). Medical Certificate Form. The medical certificate must be certified by a Notary Public.
• You must also include a photocopy of the booked confirmation flights such as a travel itinerary or airline ticket when applying for the Visa "O-A".

I recall last time I got the retirement extension, from Thailand I went to KL and got a non-immigrant O, then returned to Thailand, went to CDN embassy in BKK to get my pension statement blessed/confirmed, but I don't think I needed the medical certificate or police. Having to get those here in Canada is not a big deal, I have already obtained the police clearance, just have to get the others and take them to a notary public to get them certified. If I go the O-A in Canada route, I figure it will cost me 5200 bht for the visa, then next April another 1900 bht for the 1-year xtension plus 3800 bht for multiple re-entry permit, UNLESS I could possibly make it back to Thailand next year, before the visa end date, which I assume would be October 21, 2015.

Am I missing any other logical options or making wrong assumptions somewhere?

I am negotiating (via email) with a real estate agent to rent a house in Phuket for 6 months - I am still in Canada at the moment. The agent is asking for the payment of a 2 month deposit (80,000 bht) to be paid up front first (which I would have to send by wire transfer), then she would send me a lease agreement that both I and the owner would sign. The first month's rent would then be paid on my arrival and move-in date. I've rented properties there several times before but always was there at the time and a receipt for any deposit was easy to obtain. Is there some recommended way to safeguard my deposit payment in my current situation without involving a lawyer and sending it to them in trust? Also, am I in my right to ask for a photocopy of the property deed showing the legal description of the property and the owner's name that I will be making rent payment to?

Also, the real estate agent is 'Sales Manager' of a website which lists 100's of properties for rent/sale, however this particular property is not currently listed on the website - the agent posted the info and photos of the property on a Facebook group page and that's where I found it.

wondering if there are any resorts in Patong, large or small that permit non-guests to make use of their pool facilities for a reasonable fee..

thanks very much!

Where can I find a True Visions outlet where I can pay my internet/cabl TV bill?

Is the motorcycle parking at the airport in the same place it was a year ago - just to the left of the entrance road before the ramp going up to Departures level?