JepSoDii

On 4/19/2018 at 3:09 AM, BritTim said:

Of the locations mentioned in your OP, Hong Kong is best (as already advised). Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is also pretty good. Phnom Penh will probably take 3-4 days. Manila is a bad idea. Kuala Lumpur used to be a terrible choice, but may be OK these days if you meet their requirements.

Okay thanks for that assessment. If HK is easy, would it be better to hold off on that, not do it in July but perhaps save it for October? Manila will be avoided. Since the semi-difficult places like Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh will presumably get only harder the longer I live here, wouldn't it be better to do one of those next (asap) and then postpone the easier places like HK, Saigon and the Laos locations until after I've been on too many SETVs and exhausted my other options?

On 4/19/2018 at 2:03 AM, darrendsd said:

These days it's not just about which Embassy is the easiest to get a visa at it's also about avoiding problems when you enter again at the Airport

 

The places  mentioned will involve coming back through the Airport, if you are planning to stay here longterm stick to Laos, yes it's boring but with land entries on a TV you have a lot lot  less chance of having issues

 

If you are planning to stay here longterm you can easily get 2 more SETV's in Vientiane, after that switch to Savannakhet

I'm planning what will be an 18-24 month stay, beginning early Dec 2017. I was hoping to minimize my chances of a red stamp, or delay it by switching locations each time. Does it work like that?

I also wanted to save the easiest for last, eg, I want to visit some of the moderately difficult places like Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, etc, before eventually doing the easer places like Hong Kong, Saigon, and Savannakhet. Is that a strategy that improves things?

And finally, I'm also willing to break he SETVs up by leaving the country and doing 30+30 re-entries in between SETVs. Does that help?

I plan to use Chiang Mai airport where feasible.

On 4/19/2018 at 1:21 AM, lkv said:

Phnom Pehn will work with your current history. 

 

You will need a bank statement with over 1000 dollars on it (obviously the more the better) and a ticket into and out of Thailand. Plus picture.

 

Go via agent only at a cost of 50 USD (40 USD visa fee +10 USD service charge), 3 day turn around i.e. apply Monday morning before 10 am via agent pickup Wednesday afternoon after 4-5 pm from agent.

 

The agent will take care of the application form, you do not need to complete that nor sign it.

 

The one I am on right now is from Phnom Pehn. Agent Lucky Lucky but there are others similar.

Thanks for that, and just to triple check with you again, you think Phnom Penh will issue an SETV immediately after the following history, beginning 02 Dec 2017:

air entry, 30+30

land entry SETV, 60+30

land entry visa exempt (in Thai 8 days)

out of Thailand 8 days

air entry, 30+30

After that, if I fly to Phnom Penh, they will, you believe, have no problem issuing another SETV even though I will have quite obviously been essentially "living" in Thailand for 7+ months by that time?

Anyway thanks again for replying, and clarifying. Appreciate it.

35 minutes ago, Nowisee said:

I'm in the Apple eco system, just like their stuff and easier to use for me.
That said, my late 2013 MBP 13" has been a pain in the ass.  In the 4+ years I have owned it, (bought thru Thailand online store) I swear Apple has replaced everything in it.  Two of the repairs the useless folks at the local authorized service center would not repair... walked into the Apple store in Seattle and they took care of straight away. The screen twice (AF coating coming off) and last time it was 5 days away from 4 years old and would not have been covered.
NOW, the damn thing won't boot into recovery or let me re-install the OS.  Using it with an external hard drive.  Pretty sure its not a hardware issue. 
Looking for a good repair shop in Chiang Mai.

My last iMac was stilling doing good at 5 years when I sold it. 

I'd like to wait until the newer iMacs come out, then I will be done with MBP.  Bad timing now.

I have a mid-2012 13" MBP and it has taken a lickin' but keeps on tickin'. I have little doubt of the local incompetence so I can't offer a reliable repair shop here in CM, but next time around, do you have the option of buying elsewhere? The US/Seattle store if you can time a trip right, or alternatively, Hong Kong or Singapore? I'm in the market too, and just waiting for a 15" with 6-core and 32GB max RAM. When that happens, I'll plan a trip home to the States and get it. So my travel sked is based around the MBP release and features schedule, odd as that may be. Fortunately my current machine works well, which allows me to wait it out.

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You pick up your passport the next morning "Collection :  Next working days.  between : 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m."

On the page it takes you to after selecting your home country on this page. http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4296

 

It can be difficult to get a visa there. 

Thank you very much, ubonjoe. I guess I won' try at Manila. Are Phnom Penh and Kuala Lumpur any better?

22 hours ago, Nick ZepTepi said:

Hong Kong

Only need photocopy of your passport & HK entry stamp.

 

Next day service return in the morning.

 

I've had 2 back to back no questions

Thanks. So you're saying you can actually pick up in the morning instead of waiting until the afternoon?

How about Manila? Anyone know how strict they are?

13 hours ago, elviajero said:

There is a limit of two visas exempt entries per year at any land crossing. A SETV entry does not count towards the visa exempt entry limit.

Thanks Elviajero, for clearing that up.

In mid July, I’ll need to get another SETV to avoid back-to-back airport entry stamps (extended by 30 days). Basically I’d like to know which consulates aren’t strict in 2018 with regard to issuing a 2nd SETV in one year. I prefer to go somewhere else besides just Vientiane and I’m wondering if any of you know which consulates in the region (other than Vientiane) are not likely to deny a 2nd SETV in just under 6 months. I’ve essentially been living in Thailand since early Dec 2017. Here is my chronology:

2017

02 Dec: Arrival BKK airport, 30 day stamp + 30 day extension 

28 Jan: Arrival Nong Kai land borer, w/ 60 day SETV + 30 day extension (valid til 27 Apr 2018)

(planned)

27 Apr: Arrival Mae Sai land border (day-trip from Chiang Mai), 30 day stamp

4-11 May: Not in Thailand

12 May: Arrival, BKK airport, 30 day stamp + 30 day extension

10 Jul: Need new SETV—where to go?

So to recap, by 10 July I will have made two (2) 30+30 airport entries sine Dec 2017, and two (2) land arrivals, one (1) of which was an arrival with an SETV.

So where should I go besides VTE? I'm willing to go anywhere recommended, though I’m particularly curious about the level of difficulty in my places of preference: Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Saigon, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Does this strict enforcement apply to all land crossings? Or only those when arriving with visa-exempt entries? In other words, if one of your land arrivals is done with an SETV (like from Vientiane), does that count against your two land entries per year limit?

On 2/27/2018 at 6:34 PM, quandow said:

 

 

I have found Photoshop works well on either platform, but video editing SCREAMS on a Mac where Windows rendering takes MUCH longer.

 

As a general rule of thumb (again based on my personal experience), Windows machines are better at business and watching videos, Mac machines are much better at creative artwork.

I'm someone who loves Mac and dislikes Windows, but you can't say Mac is fast at video editing and Windows takes much longer; it's untrue because it's just not that simple. Yes, Mac can be blazingly fast but if you really mean scream, then that's primarily because of how Final Cut is optimized for AMD GPUs and to take maximum advantage of Intel QuickSync, something also available for Windows as well since it's an Intel chip-based feature.

Mac will not be fast to render in editing programs that don't do hardware acceleration, and other programs like Premier and Resolve are reasonable at render speed, but a lot slower than Final Cut. At the same time, while I know of no way to render on Windows as fast as using FinalCut on a Mac with AMD cards, get a good Nvidia GPU on a Windows machine and it should chew through video on Premier or Vegas pretty darn fast. 

And again, I don't like Windows because I think the Mac experience is so much nicer, but I just don't buy the dated 1990s notion that Mac is better for creative work and Windows is better for business and that's all we need to know. Personally, I prefer to edit in Sony Vegas and I can't do that on Mac. And I know there's a lot of business and commercial software I have to use on Windows, but in the real world, I manage just fine doing business on a Mac.

On 7/17/2017 at 10:27 PM, ubonjoe said:

I don't think a person with a Thai Elite PE visa would be asked to show it.

I don't think so either, but but there's nothing to prevent an immigration clerk from doing so.

On 4/12/2017 at 7:10 AM, BigKahuna said:

Asahi is better.

It is good beer. But is it cheap in Laos?

And since I haven't been in Thailand in a while, isn't it like 45-50 baht?

On 3/28/2017 at 6:36 AM, zyphodb said:

Also real wine at far more sensible prices than Thailand

hear hear. Cambodia especially, and Laos, too, have very reasonable wine import taxes. That's 2 of 3 Indochina. Not sure how expensive wine is in Vietnam or how bad it's taxed.

no proof of funds ? and maybe it would be helpful to learn which countries' passport you hold....

I have heard the METV is the visa that required proof of funds. Anyone know how common it is to be asked for proof of funds on SETV applications?

Proof of 20K Baht is being asked for in Vietnam currently (along with flights in and out), and was asked for somewhat recently in Cambodia (which requires exiting flight) - though not by all agents. It could also be asked for at Immigration when entering. Note that you need cash or travelers checks at immigration, and bank-statements for the consulates who ask.

My question to the OP - do you have other Thai Visas and/or exempt stamps in your passport? If so, recent and/or consecutive?

Only 20k THB total is asked (sometimes for a 60-day visa that could be extended up to 90 days? That's small potatoes. Thanks for answering. The exiting tickets are nuisance but can be dealt with. Thanks for answering.

no proof of funds ? and maybe it would be helpful to learn which countries' passport you hold....

I have heard the METV is the visa that required proof of funds. Anyone know how common it is to be asked for proof of funds on SETV applications?

Could be wise to leave the easiest as an option in case you need a fast visa in the future. Say you are not feeling very well or some such. A three month 'ed' visa could also break any chain.

Do you mean, an ED visa breaks the chain of what would otherwise be back to back SETVs, e.g., breaking the chain is ideal? So an SETV, 3-month ED, wash rinse repeat continuously, is ideal?

And people are suggesting Savvanakhet is the easiest?

Another point, I didn't know there was a 3 month ED; I thought it was issued for up to a year, but you had to check in every 3 months and it could be cancelled anytime by an immigration officer.

The METV is so absurd that I wonder if it was some kind of 'ASEAN' requirement for member countries to offer a multiple entry tourist visa. But the Thais dont want it so have deliberately made it so impractical and inconvenient that very few will apply for it.

Sorry but this is utter nosense. It is a Thai policy and really, perfectly in keeping with the current government's stated desire to "clean up" their image and only appeal to certain types of tourists. Hugely inconvenient for many of us, but there you have it. This is what they want to do with their country.

I see where you're coming from but even CMU is just 6 hours per week. The self defense class run by the guy from Thai Military Police is just 4 hours a week too.

Although doing the self defence course would cost about 50 000 Baht per year for the course and Visa

50k for a year, not really prohibitive considering it would give you a year (if it does).

"After this I am considering enrolling at a school and obtaining a 1 year Education Visa if possible."

A one year Education Visa is not available anywhere in the region, only single entry visas can be obtained, with the correct paperwork supplied by the school you sign up with.

The visa only provides an initial 90 day stay, Thereafter you are dependent on "extensions of stay" obtained from the immigration office with supporting documentation from the school. You will not be able to secure "extensions" of stay if you only intend to "study" for four hours a week.

If I remember correctly all this was explained to you, in great detail, in a previous topic you started.

Hi sunnyjim5,

I understand that caveat yes - I will need to report to Immigration every 90 days and extend each time for 1900 baht. But if I attend all the classes then it should be OK? I was told it is just 6 hours per week with CMU and 4 hours per week with with LLS.

I apologise as it was all explained to me before. I am just a bit confused I guess.

I don't see how they could claim it was for full-time study and then only require 4 hours per week.

I see where you're coming from but even CMU is just 6 hours per week. The self defense class run by the guy from Thai Military Police is just 4 hours a week too.

Does that course qualify for a student visa, as far as you know?

"After this I am considering enrolling at a school and obtaining a 1 year Education Visa if possible."

A one year Education Visa is not available anywhere in the region, only single entry visas can be obtained, with the correct paperwork supplied by the school you sign up with.

The visa only provides an initial 90 day stay, Thereafter you are dependent on "extensions of stay" obtained from the immigration office with supporting documentation from the school. You will not be able to secure "extensions" of stay if you only intend to "study" for four hours a week.

If I remember correctly all this was explained to you, in great detail, in a previous topic you started.

Hi sunnyjim5,

I understand that caveat yes - I will need to report to Immigration every 90 days and extend each time for 1900 baht. But if I attend all the classes then it should be OK? I was told it is just 6 hours per week with CMU and 4 hours per week with with LLS.

I apologise as it was all explained to me before. I am just a bit confused I guess.

I don't see how they could claim it was for full-time study and then only require 4 hours per week.

Are people experiencing the same stringent requirements with the single-entry visas? Or are those still as easy to get as ever?

Stringent how? Because they would prefer people who have a job and a little money in the bank?

Um, yes. "How" should be obvious. By every definition, the new requirements are stringent compared to the old requirements. And as for people who have jobs to which they would return, well, most of those are presumably people would be best served by SETVs. So it's pretty obvious to most people the METV is not desired by only those who have a job and money in the bank, and the new rules are indeed more stringent to anyone who wants the METV.

Are people experiencing the same stringent requirements with the single-entry visas? Or are those still as easy to get as ever?

I heard that since 2014, the minimum has been 8.

Thanks for that, it is encouraging. I may be able to do "self assessment tax" whatever that is. Education, if there are some flexible schools like you say, then that's possible. I'm not likely to go to Samui, except maybe for a month or so, but maybe some of those schools would do Skype sessions if they are flexible. And, I saw somone posted a cheap AirAsia flight to Melbourne. That's always possible. Thanks again, jspill.

Melbourne doesn't ask for the employment requirement, and thankfullly it seems a bit more than anecdote as their own website doesn't state the residency or employment requirements either.

Consulates elsewhere have alternatives for the self-employed like a copy of self assessment tax.

It is officially 8 hrs/week for the Ed visa yes, in practice though is a different matter. Not sure about Chiang Mai but I know some Samui schools are still being very flexible.

Have you weighed up the cost of an ED Visa + School Fees + 90 Day Extensions + Exit the country every year to get a new visa against the Thailand Elite visa which will give you 5 years (possibly almost 6) with yearly extensions without having to leave the country for 500,000 THB?

No I haven't. But I guess I shouldn't, shouldn't I? I could probably come up with 500k if necessary, and if you really don't need to leave every 90 days or check in with immigration after 60 days (I don't know any specifics about the Elite visa program). Then again, if I was to commit to 5 years, I'd probably want to spend some money on school and learning the language.

Whats wrong with Ecuador?

Nothing is "wrong" with Ecuador, per se. I like being in a mountain city with cooler air and able to drink tap water, but I never intended to stay here. I'm glad I'll have the chance to travel around a bit and learn some Spanish, but I like Thailand better and I have lots more friends there.