HatYai2

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Which obstacles do you find most daunting?

 

Which restrictions and red tape are preventing you from returning?

 

Is it the planned duration of your stay? Or some other issues?

 

 

South African Gov departments lack of urgency.

R15.50/$1

Local Visa processes red tape.

Limited flights out of SA.

Need I go on?

21 hours ago, smutcakes said:

I did it in December and it was really really efficient. The only bit which is a bit annoying is the Thai Pass response, which for me was quite slow, and the phone and emergency email did not work. Everything else was really well run and efficient. I landed from Doha at 7pm, was in the hotel after getting drive through PCR test by 8.30pm. Was woken up by reception the next morning at 7am to tell me i could leave. Was home 15 minutes later. If i had to do a day 5 test i would just go back to the hotel for a night....

From here its seems daunting to time things for the visa and the other documents and procedures that need each other to get done eg police clearance 6or 8 weeks or longer, so I can't do any bookings or visa until I have that in my hand

10 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Ah ok, maybe you should of mentioned that bit of pertinent info ????

Apologies.

But I still think it should be much easier than it is for everyone. That is why i didn't mention it

We are aiming for early April.

It will be a close run thing to get the O-A 'Visas' with all the its paperwork requirements. Many of the requirements are interdependent

2 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Its hardly that damn onerous- test & go, one night in a hotel, a PCR test and the same on day 5. You are here for 6 months so plenty of time.

We are from South Africa!

On our News this morning a Thai involved in Tourism in Samui stated that its devoid of Tourists

2 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

If there is one source to trust for accurate information it is UbonJoe.
So, if you re-enter Thailand on Feb 3 next year, you will be stamped in till Feb 2, 2021.

You can then re-apply for a Non Imm OA in your home-country (but the new health insurance requirement will then have to be met).  Or you can decide to apply for an extension of stay in Thailand.

At this moment it is not fully clear yet whether the insurance requirement will also apply for extensions of stay from a Non Imm OA.  But for sure that will crystalize out in course of coming weeks, so that you make an informed decision on which route is preferable.  Anyway, you still have 1.5 year before it becomes relevant.

 

My apologies to you (even though you would not otherwise know why)

It was your (correct post) on the Medical insurance thread that contradicted my understanding.

Thanks to you and UbonJoe I now understand another 1% of this protean monster.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can stay on your last 1 year entry from from your OA you will get when you when you enter the country after your trip.

No need to apply for an extension until near the end of it of that one year entry.

If you are living in Hat Yai that is where you will have to apply for the one year extension of stay.

Thanks that is good news.

Just one more question please

Is the maximum of 60 days before expiry of my 2020 permission to apply for the extension a firm date?

2 minutes ago, Martyp said:

I think you are asking about applying for a 1 year extension of stay instead of purchasing a new O-A in your home country. I came on an O-A and I am on my 2nd 1 year extension of stay. I think we just have to wait until after Oct 31st. Sometime in November someone will be applying for an extension of stay and they can report whether they are asked for insurance. I have no doubt though, that there will be different experiences at different Immigration offices so you will need to hear a report from the Immigration office at Hat Yai. I'm guessing you will have to do this in Hat Yai but I don't know about that for sure.

Exactly. If I need to get the extension in Hat Yai I must plan our return accordingly.

Thanks for the quick reply.

My questions relate to "converting" to an extension of the current permission to avoid the Medical insurance.

Hi

We have been been getting O-A (1 year rolled into 2) permissions to stay for the last seven years. Since we travel back to visit family each year, it has worked out cheaper. Now with medical insurance issue, I need to rethink this strategy. We are 57 and 58 respectively.

We live in Hat Yai but are in Bangkok until 22 November before flying out.

Our O-A expires on 3 Feb 2020. We were planning to be back on the 2nd for our 2nd year.

I am reading contradictory things about the terms of the O -A

Questions

Does the O-A not become invalid after the 3 Feb 2020? (Some on the Forum state that you can get the extension in the second year (inside Thailand) after this date (?)

How long in advance can the extension of stay be done?

Is it only possible in Hat Yai?

Is there some way that the extension date can be postponed?

If everything is in order can we realistically get the extension on the 3rd of Feb? (I read on TV of people in and out in 10 minutes give or take some exaggeration)

We rent, have the requisite B800 000 in the bank etc. My wife’s permission is as my spouse.

Apologies for asking questions that have probably been answered before.

Many Thanks in advance.

I am planning in advance for September. Trying to get the reporting aligned to get the last one done in HY before our Odyssey.

3 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

What is this "slip"?

 

 

Unless you have a new passport or one which has not been used for an international arrival, the online system should work, assuming your office supports it. Have you used the online system successfully before? 

The page stapled into your passport when doing the report.

HYIO is quick, close and hassle free so I have only attempted the online system a few times without success. Yesterday and today  I keep getting the message 'For further info about 90 day reporting,message reads Contact you local Immigration Office' Press the ok button and it takes you back to step 1

Thanks to all three of you.

Going Postal cant work as our final stop is in BKK before a trip to home. I wont have the slip in my passport.

I will have to try the online again.

This rule is a great way to generate tourism within Thailand!

I will need to do a 90 day report while traveling for 6 weeks to various places in Isaan and the North.

I am on a Non-A retirement "visa" (Online report not working for me)

Can I just walk into any Immigration Office without any problems?

Many Thanks

It was temporary then, but may be come permanent as so many idiots are now anti-vaxers!

Thanks UJ

That makes some sense. But the form simply asks, after all the personal details, how do you feel sore throat, diarrhea , vomiting etc. No real check by officials though. He barely glanced up before signing the form.

It was the first time ever, and the booth was similar to those you see at a trade show. That is why I ask if it was temporary or a permanent extra stop on the way in.

When we arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Feb, we encountered a new form to fill in and a new set of officers, one or two moving walkways before the ramp to immigration. The signs stated something along the lines that all travelers from Africa had to report for a health check.

The booth seemed to be either temporary or an interim one while something more substantial was built.

Can someone who has been through the area recently please tell me whether it is still there.

I have a nervous first time traveler coming to BKK that I am advising.

Many Thanks.

1 minute ago, blackcab said:

 

Open to anyone over 7 years old. You can invest multiple times, but each time is a new investment.

 

The 3 year period starts the day you invest, so it's not possible to 'top up' previous purchases.

 

To clarify, each purchase gets a new lottery card with different ticket numbers with an expiration date in 3 years time.

Thank you

Is this open to everyone? Can one invest in increments or only once off?

We have been that way before on the OA visa and have been hassled but the last time was 3 years ago. The minivan nearly left without us!

Many Thanks.

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You will not be asked to show 20k baht on entry.

They have only been asking those entering with visa exempt and with tourist visas at airports and even those are rare.

 Do you know if this applies to the notorious Dannok border post? They seem most times to be a law unto themselves.

Thanks for the replies. I have had no luck yet. I will look at something else. I am not a power user, nor out to impress, and absolutely NOT going to pay the same price for a phone as a desktop or laptop computer.

HI

Can anyone advise if the Motorola Moto G5 or G5 Plus has been launched in Thailand yet, with pricing if known? 

In Hat Yai and online no one seems to know, so the usual happens they send you on a wild goose chase.

Many Thanks