sbaker8688

12 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You cannot extend visa on arrival.

Tourist visa can be extended by 30 days. Currently available is 60 day covid extensions. You could obtain that after the 30 day extension to setv. Which country are you from just asking to make sure your not meaning visa exempt entry

I live in the USA.  Here, they call it 'visa on arrival,' but for you, I guess that means 'visa exempt?'  I would get either a multiple entry tourist, or something else, but like I said, jumping through hoops and pain-in-the-ass factor really ramp up, so I was planning either coming without a visa and get 'visa on arrival' or 'visa exempt,' or get the single entry tourist, which isn't as many hoops to jump through as the others.  Then I was going to just go to Laos or someplace to get another visa when my time in Thailand expired.

Having said all of that, the more I read, the more I'm thinking "this is not a good  plan."

What is the CM Chana app, and can I access it via notebook computer, or does it have to be by smart phone?

Either visa on arrival, or a tourist visa.  I'd go for something longer stay, but the pain-in-the-ass factor and requirements really ramp up the longer you want to stay.  Any advice?

Or is it locked down?  Or... ?

Very good info - thanks.

I am planning to try to come to Thailand.  Is the overnight train ride from Bangkok to Chiangmai still available in the era of covid?  A more basic question... is it even possible to travel to Chaingmai from outside Chiangmai, or do they have the place sealed off?

Thanks.

I am planning to try to come to Thailand on either a visa on arrival, or a tourist visa.  In the era of covid, after my visa or voa expires, can I still go to, for instance, Laos overland (that's what I did last time) and get a tourist visa there, and come back?  Or are they blocking overland routes into Thailand, or blocking getting visas from Laos and other countries?  I'd like to get all the info I can before attempting this.

Thanks.

Check out the newspaper article - they use the term the same way.  And so do all the other newspaper articles I read.  Not saying you are wrong, btw.  Just saying, I've only ever heard the term used in that one context.

I have never heard the term 'visa' in the context you use it ('permission to enter' or whatever).  It's always been in the context of what you call 'permission to stay.'  People always say 'my visa is up - time to go make a visa run' or whatever.  What they mean is, their what you call 'permission to stay' has expired.

In newspaper articles, it is the same.  For instance I just read this (below).  It talks about revoking the visa for this pimp.  In my interpretation of 'visa,' that means revoking his what you call 'permission to stay.'  But in your interpretation, you think the guy would still be allowed to stay in Thailand if his visa is revoked, which is clearly not the case.

Maybe this is just American terminology.  I have no idea what nationality you are, so maybe it's different there.

I agree there is a lot of confusion, and that what he has written is itself confusing.  He on the other hand is arguing that there is no confusion.

EDIT:  I think he thinks that there is no difference between the concepts of an 'enter before' and a 'visa expiration.'  But there is a difference between those two concepts.  If my visa expires while I'm in Thailand, I have to leave the country.  But if an 'enter before' expires before I get to Thailand, I cannot enter Thailand in the first place.  These concepts are apples and oranges.  Also, if those dates represent a 'visa countdown,' then you lose days that you can be in the country.  But you are saying (and I believe you) that you lose no such days, therefore there is no 'visa countdown,' it's an 'enter before' that has misleading wording.

A 'visa expiration' or 'good until ' or 'countdown' is one thing.  An 'enter before' is another thing entirely.  These are two different things, and two different concepts.  The confusion is over what it actually is - either a 'visa expiration' or an 'enter before.'  Those who chimed-in before you said it is an 'enter before.'  You seem to be stating it is a 'visa expiration.'

Then you are refuting what was said by those who chimed-in before you.

It was already explained what the confusion was.  Valid-from / valid-until doesn't tell you exactly what the thing is that is valid.  It's ambiguous.  Most presume it is the visa itself that is being referenced here.  In which case the visa is counting down right away, and you are losing time every day you aren't in Thailand.  Others have pointed out that it is really a 'enter on or before.'  In which case, they should say it that way if that's what they mean.  As it stands, it generates confusion.

16 hours ago, onera1961 said:

I wonder why so much confusion for a simple concept.

Because it is ambiguous.  The go-to interpretation for most people I know (including me) was that "valid from-until" pertained to the validity of the VISA ITSELF, i.e. the VISA ITSELF was valid from whenever to whenever.  Since it always pays to be pessimistic rather than optimistic, that was also the more pessimistic interpretation.

The old way wasn't ambiguous or confusing.  Everybody pretty much knew what 'enter before' meant.

Good info.  I can get the Thai SETV before going to Cambodia.  Thanks.

So what exactly is the valid from-until?  Is it sort of like the enter-before?  Or is it the actual visa time counting down, meaning if you entered in Dec on the visa above, you'd just have until Feb for visa expiration?  I assume it's the latter.

Interesting.  I just looked at my passport, and my previous visas have a 'valid from... to' date, but not an enter before date.  I think the valid from-to date is the total time the visa is valid, i.e. for a SETV, 60 days.

I'd like to go visit a friend in Cambodia, and then go to Thailand on a SETV.  But I've recently read on these forums that 1) not only do they deny a lot of people in PP if they have 'too many' Thai visas in their passport, but 2) you need a plane ticket back to your home country after the (60? 90?) days of the SETV is finished.

As to 1, I have a lot of Thai visas in my passport.  As to 2, I wanted to go to Laos after the SETV was finished, and get another Thai SETV.  What do?

I could easily get the Thai SETV in the USA before going to Cambodia.  The problem is, I think the SETV starts 'counting down' after you get it.  Can someone confirm or deny this?  Also, assuming I got the SETV in the USA beforehand, is it possible to have two visas in your passport at the same time - one going to Cambodia, and the other going to Thailand?

Perfect - thanks.

7 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

You are suggesting that he commit a federal crime by making false statements to a US government agency reference his income.

Just terrible horrific advice!!

He just said "some do."  He didn't suggest that I do it.

1) So I can avoid having money in a Thai bank account if I do the visa over in the USA - is that correct?

Thanks.

1) I have enough deposit money in US bank account, but no income (from my understanding, if you have enough savings, you don't need the income requirement).

2) Where am I supposed to get this done?  Like, seriously, I don't know.  Some kind of immigration office in Bangkok?  Just walk in and apply for the O retirement visa?

3) If I go the agency route, do you have one you recommend?  Link to a website?

Thanks.

33 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Dude, fly here and do it much much easier.

If you run into issues hire and agency 15 months stay in one day.  

How do I do it there?  You mean in Thailand?

For criminal background check, would this do (Florida)?

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Criminal-History-Records/Record-Check

I tried to deal with the Embassy in DC a while back regarding a 6 month visa, but they were extreme douchebags.  Even though I had all supporting documentation, they argued that I did not.  They then returned all my supporting documentation, stating that I didn't have any, even though it was right there in the envelope they returned to me.  This was even down to simple stuff like hotel reservations, airline tickets, etc.  So ever since then I've been going to a local consulate and just getting a tourist visa.  However, now I want a retirement visa, so I'm assuming I'll have to go through the much-hated DC for that.

Anyway, 3 questions:

1) How do you prove that you don't have TB or whatever other diseases?  What constitutes as proof?  A note from the doctor?  How does this work?  What will the DC embassy accept?

2) What constitutes as proof of bank account?  For instance, could I log-in to my bank online, and just print out a balance statement?  Would they accept that?

3) How do you get proof of no criminal record?

Thanks.