bangarang

24 minutes ago, steve187 said:

no letter would be required for a Thai wife 60 day extension

letter may be required for any further short term extensions

Lots of people lately were getting confused with the tourist visa news and embassy letters for extensions of stay I noticed, so I just wanted to confirm that it does not apply to us as I was not asked for it and just got my extension today. Hopefully the land borders open back up by mid june.

Dont forget to look for the 90day reporting (TM47) location and report foreigner living (TM30). Its by the pen shop across from the main building where the bikes usually park. Officer said they opened that part up today.

Any idea how this affects our regular border-runs on a non-o multi visa if we are a citizen of one of the countries on that list?

Im asking because im a US citizen and have until april 14th to do a border run for a new 90-day stamp. I would most-likely go to the andaman club by Ranong.

Thanks @anto I was just curious because I just booked my flight moments ago hoping nothing had changed. Glad to hear its business as usual. I always stay at the Avalon as well. Perfect location! No need for taxis. just a nice brisk walk to the bus station and the consulate.

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I know 1,000 would be too high but like I mentioned it was the first time in 5 years this has happened so I really had no idea. But thanks for the advice on a MUCH lower amount. I thought 100 would be offensive but I know that I can go much lower in the future. Not sure if I will be marked as you say for the future because I will have to go Laos next time in 5months, so I figure I wouldnt be back to Ranong Immigration for 8-10mo so im sure its fine and its a 1-off time thing but at least I have the info for next time.

Also thanks for the #1178 immigration hotline. I will definitely give a call next time if that happens. I really had no idea who I could call about the situation but I will keep it handy for next time. Yeah it seemed really bizarre why I couldn't leave.

Thanks guys for the backup advice for the future. Thats why I try to help out posting my experiences so at least you know that there is a guy there doing this and you guys offer some advice. Nice that we all help each other in a place that tries to take advantage of us at every moment possible.

Cheers!

Hey guys,

I just wanted to share the experience I just had to prepare any other fellow travelers. This morning I went to the Andaman club pier to catch the first boat to do a visa run. I have been doing the Ranong visa run for the past 5 years without incident. I have a Multi Non O family visa. The guy told me that I cannot do visa run anymore because I do too much I think. It was a bit hard to understand his english but it seems like he was making excuses. Another american on some other type of visa had no issue at the same time while my guy was explaining that I could not do a visa run. He stated its the law for many years, blah blah blah... as I have been doing this for 5 years this just seemed strange. But the girl in the black tshirt which I think is his assistant pulled me a side and not directly but pretty much told me to put money in my passport as he would accept this time. I was shocked but she said " up to you" as to how much to put in. I just put in 1,000thb and went on my way because I made a whole trip to travel with family and my stamp expired the following day.

I dont know if anyone has had any similar experiences lately or if I was singled out for this because I was early and they thought a lone foreigner at the time was easy to extort but I just wanted to warn you all that this did just happen at this point so be aware. 

Also, if any of you have any advice for the future as this is the first time I had ever been in a position to give tea money. Do I have my wife report this? Anything I should do or just move along. I know this is Thailand and I know this stuff happens but this extortion is so dirty especially since I had a proper family visa.

Cheers!

Not odd at all. Everywhere you go in this country, they want a copy of your passport. Banks, hotels, I have even had to give a copy at HomePro when I bought a new air conditioner (not really sure why).

Seriously? at home pro? haha you must have been up to something more than buying an A/C unit... perhaps signing up for that rewards program?

But yeah I get banks and hotels asking because it needs to be reported and verified by authorities such as the immigration reporting and banks for security reasons and possibly communicating to foreign banks like the US... this is a different situation though.

But all that a side... is there anything of risk in submitting that passport copy.

But also It seemed odd because its like if you were a thai company and you outsourced to India... you wouldn't charge the indian thai taxes when they invoiced you for their services. As far as im aware the person doing the invoicing is responsible for taxing and then reporting that to their own government at tax time.

If it was for taxes it would probably be more than 300 baht. Perhaps there was deduction done by the sending or receiving bank.

Nope, specific reason was taxes. I do have a thai account and it was free bank to bank transfer. Is that why? Because I have thai bank?

And also a follow up question...

If I invoiced for 5000thb for a design and the company sent 4,700thb to my account as a result of taxes... does that make sense? I find it odd that the company I did work for as a contractor overseas would be charging me tax when I sent the invoice. Im a company charging for services. Because im not a thai company I didn't add tax but they felt inclined to send a lower amount due to thai taxes? Is that right?

Hello,

If im working freelance for a thai company while im in another country, is it normal for the thai company to ask for a copy the foreigners passport? I feel like its too personal and not needed but im not sure its safe to give or common practice. I understand a thai freelancer giving a copy of ID card would be normal. But if a foreigner is doing the work in another country, why would the thai company need a copy of my passport?

Any help or guidance on this would be very appreciated. Thank you.

I thought the visa on arrival stamp for Americans/Australians/Europeans/etc... was free. When did you have to pay 1000thb? Or is that something completely different? I have been on an Non-O visa the past 4 years so maybe im out of the loop? Im curious because I have some friends visiting next month.

Depends on where you're coming from but for me I always have people bring me some proper american specialty seasonings and spices for steaks and other meats. McCormick in thailand can only take you so far...

Also you should wear footwear with rubber bottoms unless you want to re-wire your house properly which it seems like most thai houses are not.

The electric shock lets you know its working.

is the 1155 meant to say "Ha Ha" no help here! Might as well just use the number 5555

1111 for serious life-threatening matters

5555 for anything else

Well you have to get in the far right lane if you are coming up to a U-Turn you will be using. That is certainly one valid reason to be there.

Or also making a right hand turn...

This is news because.....?

This story makes Adrian Peterson seem like a saint and yet no charges to be pressed. What a backwards place Thailand can be.

"Pimpisut said she did not post..."

A little dyslexic moment I just had... I first read the person's name as Pimp-Suit.

Here we go... the bi-weekly taxi driver gives back money scheme to try and make us forget how awful and thuggish they are.

Bangkok Poll conducted survey from 1,158 people.... doesn't sound like enough people to make a statement like that when you have 67million people in the country.

I want a lounge chair, I want an umbrella, I want someone to delivery me food, I want to get a massage on the beach, this is why we came here. We want to relax enjoy our self that why they pay all that money to fly here. You are going to lose them slowly, they will never return. Good going Phuket and TAT your screw everything up again.

And will be by those who seek lovely beaches without being forced to rent chair and brollies and having to avoid discarded som tam bags and left over sticky rice.

If you want massage, brolly and lounger go to a special zone - simple.

Tourists ain't all like you Bob, thankfully.

And most tourists don't freely express their self perceived in depth political understanding of the countries like you do Bob.

Enjoy where ever you go next - Lebanon supposed to be nice, you might try there.

No one said that you have to buy a chair. When going alone I put my towel down not far from the chairs and I never had any issues. When I go with wife and kids I always got one for their comfort. So you're saying that you never enjoyed sitting in a lounger with a nice delicious cold beverage served to you while you stared at the waves and took it all in? You must be a dream to hang out with.

Already then. No food vendEr.

the second side says

NO

FOO

D

VEN

DER

Brilliant multi lingual skills in play here. I wonder how badly they stuffed up the other languages.

It's a bit silly to criticise someone for a spelling mistake whilst making one in you own post.

the second "sign" (not side) says

If side was you intended word then it's still incorrect as it doesn't make sense in the context of the OP.

Looks to me as if the picture is composed of 2 images - one on the left side and the other on the right side.

The point canucklehead was making was the poor letter/word breaks which makes this sign look utterly stupid and unofficial. Notice how the left image breaks the words differently from the right?

And by the way... its not double-sided.... notice the arrows at the top point to directions of where the zones are?