sicky

Although it isn't entirely clear from the use of English on Narai Hotel's booking website, when the room says "** THAI RESIDENCE!! **", I'm guessing that this is a rate for Thais, is that true?  I have to say, I really dislike this kind of thing.  I feel that the setting of Thai and foreign prices by businesses and other institutions, sets a precedent that discrimination is acceptable and furthermore that ordinary Thais are more likely to follow it as a result.

I don't know why the sentence contains exclamation marks - it could mean they are saying it is a residence in Thailand, no?  What exactly does Narai Hotel mean by the comment?

Thanks, yes I get really confused, because sometimes people refer to "retirement visas" or "marriage visas" but in fact they are extensions based on those circumstances.  I think it's all made overly complicated by the immigration department and I just want to switch-off sometimes, especially given that members of this forum report that certain immigrations offices apply inconsistent standards.  I just want to leave Thailand, rather than going through that kind of thing!  We have enough uncertainty in our lives.  But anyway, I don't want to sound negative.  Thanks for the input on this!

3 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

The embassy letter is only relevant where stamps are being transferred to a new passport for those on an extension of stay.

Thanks very much, appreciate your reply.  I feel a bit dumb about Thais visas and immigration, as there are clearly a lot of you on this forum who have a tremendous amount of knowledge, but the subject seems so complicated.

Sorry to ask further though, but the term "stamps" is mentioned a lot - is this the entry/exit stamps, or extension of stay stamps.  I only have entry/exit stamps, as I never stay beyond a few weeks at a time.

I just want to confirm this to be sure please and apologies if this subject has been covered.  I renewed my British passport and will soon be returning for a stay in Thailand.  I have a multiple-entry visa in my old cancelled British passport that is still in its validity period.

I understand from other threads on the forum that the old cancelled passport can be presented on arrival to show my visa, along with my new passport that doesn't contain a visa.  I just want to confirm that the immigration official will not insist on an "embassy letter" (for want of a better description) to permit me entry into Thailand.  I would be unable to obtain one anyway, as I'm not in Thailand.  Thanks.

I noticed on renewal of a British passport that the number of pages, either 32 or 48, seems rather arbitrary, since the first several pages are occupied by feint grey notes (see attached).  The number of notes pages has increased slightly from earlier passports.

Is there any definitive information available which indicates we can use these pages, for the purposes of visas?  I have tried to find out online, but see nothing.  It isn't really important, but why waste the first few pages, if we travel so frequently?

11 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

Stamp the new one. The old one can't used for travel.

Nice clear answer, many thanks indeed!

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

You can use a valid visa for entry that is in a canceled passport by showing both passports. They will then stamp you into the country in the new one.

Thanks very much indeed, this was exactly the clarification I was looking for.  Will they also stamp me out when leaving Thailand, within the pages of old expired British passport, or do they need to stamp the new one?  It's not really that important, but it's just useful to know what the usual procedure is, as Thais often ask for things they aren't entitled to.

Is there any requirement to transfer a Thailand visa (which expires early next year and shall be renewed with another visa in due course anyway) to a new British passport?  Is it acceptable to present the previous passport containing the current visa, with the new British passport, when travelling to Thailand?  To be clear, I am only asking about the visa, not about extensions.  Thanks.

Just for the benefit of others, I can confirm that VFS replied 1 hour after I submitted the message to [email protected], with an accompanying letter back to me which confirmed one of my suggested times - or at least very close to it anyway.  Good luck.

I am trying to use the VFS service to make an appointment to renew my British passport.  I e-mailed the address ([email protected]) but it replies with a new message, entitled 'Thank you for your message', saying that I need to give three dates and times -- which I've already done in my message.  I don't follow whether this message I'm receiving is a rejection of my message.  The content seems rather wrong.  Can any others please confirm if their experiences are the same with this and if I'm using the correct approach?  Thanks very much.

Thank you for your email.

This is an automated response.

This email address is ONLY for booking an appointment to submit a passport application. You’ll need to schedule an appointment by email. Include your first name and last name and 3 alternative dates and times from 8:30 to 16:00, Monday to Friday except public holidays (Bangkok time). You will receive an email confirming your appointment.

5 hours ago, JackThompson said:

But note - do not trust the IATA website's info on money requirements.  You need 10K Baht worth of Cash or Travelers Checks on your person for a Visa-Exempt entry, and 20K worth with a visa.  IATA incorrectly states that plastic-money is OK, but people have been sent-back by Immigration for not having it, and not allowed to withdraw it from an ATM to show.

20,000 is a lot to carry around through airports on each trip and worry about losing it!   Frankly with Thailand's improbable rules at times, I feel like not bothering to come back anyway!

37 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

If the airline is a member of the IATA they would accept what is shown in their data base. 

The problem arises when an airline is not a member. This can be the case with some low cost carriers. For example Air Asia has a minimum of 6 months passport validity in their terms and conditions when you buy a ticket.

Also remember it is not the same for all countries. Many still need 6 months of validity.

Thank you, that's very clear.  So this list would be very useful... http://www.iata.org/about/members/Pages/airline-list.aspx

Also, the 19 visa-on-arrival countries you refer to is clarified in Thailand's official tourism website here and specifically mentions the six-month validity requirement as you say.  Ironically, it's this page which really had me convinced over the weekend that the six-month requirement applied to everything and everybody!  https://www.tourismthailand.org/About-Thailand/Passport-Visa

I'm really sorry this question has taken up a lot of people's time.  It's really appreciated.

Many thanks for the comments on this.  We seem to have shown that in terms of immigration, there is no six-month passport validity requirement.  What would then remain to be seen however, is whether airline companies comply at check-in and what would one do given that situation, should they claim otherwise.

The other unknown, is that if the six-month validity is untrue, then what is the immigration rule?  Hong Kong requires at least one month remaining at the time of departure.  They've made it clear, but I wonder what Thailand's rule is.

31 minutes ago, perthperson said:

 

Are you saying that you obtained a visa the validity of which exceeded the validity of your passport?  

 

Interesting.

Yes, that's correct indeed.  My UK passport visa expires in January 2018 and my Thai visa expires in mid-March 2018.  Presumably that's normal though, because we can use the existing unexpired visa in our old passports, when presenting our new passport, without the visa needing to be transferred from the old passport to the new passport.  Certainly that's what I've read others advocate.

16 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You do not show a departure date from Hong Kong is why it says that. You don't have enough passport validity if you were to stay for 180 days.

Try with a multisegment with a flight out of Hong Kong a month before the passport validity date you enter.

Yes, you're right, my apologies.  It took me some time to understand that website, I must say.  I was just trying to re-post that result, together with an updated itinerary but ran out of edit time.  Yes, I found that with an additional segment from Hong Kong, before the remaining month's expiry on the passport, that it indicated all was well  As the attached shows, crucially, we can arrive in Thailand just over three months before passport expiry.

50 minutes ago, perthperson said:

It would not be possible to obtain a visa from a Thai embassy/consulate which was valid beyond a passports period of validity. 

I already have a visa.

Thanks very much for doing that.   I had some difficulties given that my travel will be to Hong Kong, but that aside, it seems to indicate that Thailand does not require six months' validity.

5 hours ago, perthperson said:

http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/

Thanks for the link.  That link appears to show that with short stays, fewer than six-month's validity is allowed.  But what about holders of visas of various types?  I'm not sure that the page allows that information to be specified, unless I'm mistaken.

Do those who already possess a visa, of various types, require six-months' validity?

Having read through posters' replies on this subject, I'm a bit unclear whether the apparent lack of requirement for a six-month validity period applies to those visiting with a visa-on-arrival, or for those who have a visa. Some have said that they did not require six-months' validity when they arrived, such as Perthperson whose son only had five months left on his passport (presumably visa-on-arrival), but Phuket Man adds "There is no six month requirement. - Simple as that."

So I'm still quite confused. Is it simply the case that as visitors, we have no way of knowing, because Thai authorities follow their own rules and make up the rules as they go along? I read on another thread just now about 90-reporting and that "some offices do x" and "some offices do y". Is it simply the case that this is how Thai authorities are, and they often think they know the rules, but the rules are just vapour? Just a thought!

4 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Yes, evidentiary documents in Thai language need to be translated with the name, signature and contact details (address, phone, e-mail, etc..) of the translator noted on the translated document.

Thanks NanLaew.  The pertinent point that I wanted to quote in Petermilk's past post was actually in regard to his bank statement having been accepted, but this website only quoted the irrelevant section of his post, rather than the important content.  So I quote it myself below.

"....for my proof of residence I used a recent bank statement (in English) and this was happily accepted,from sitting down in front of the VFS agent and her checking my documents and me leaving was all of ten minutes. "

Apologies for adding further to this before anyone has had chance to comment.  I note from also reading back through the main thread that petermilk (thanks again for above reply) indicated that his bank statement was accepted as proof of residency (link below).  I have in the past, requested a statement from Bangkok Bank and they have provided them for collection, although they are in Thai.  Perhaps it might be necessary for the notary to make an English translation?

Thank you, that's helpful.  Incidentally what is a TR visa?

2 hours ago, Jip99 said:

There is no excuse for running a (British) passport to the wire. The HMPO will credit up to 9 months unexpired term so no reason to cut it fine.

Yes, I accept that.  However a few weeks before the start of the six-month expiry should be ok.  Can you help with the latter point you made, in regard to crediting nine months' time.  How does one go about doing that?  Can I do that whilst staying in Hong Kong, at the consulate?

Thanks for the reply.  The reason for asking is because I note that the heading above Table A on the form, indicates "Name and address and/or residency evidence", and that 'visa' is listed as allowed.  A visa doesn't show one's address of course, but anyway, I'm fairly sure it's clear - just wondered if anyone had presented simply the visa only.  Thanks.

Thanks very much.  Can I ask further, is it definitely the case that one's Thai visa can be used as the "residency evidence" in table A of the notes?  Thanks.