bbi1

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

Friday 12th has been declared an extra public holiday.

So the official holiday period alone is 12 to 16 (two substitutes for Sat/Sun).

Pure traffic chaos/party on the beach (road) no later than the 12th.

Whether the chaos will continue even after 16th? Not sure.

Don't that shiiit last until the 20th? I think it goes from 12th until 20th with 20th being the big huge day of Beach Rd being closed and water everywhere. That's what it was last year.

On 3/1/2024 at 1:42 PM, sidneybear said:

Royal Thai Consulate in Sydney also serves folks from other states. Wifey works there. 

Can you please ask your wifey why Sydney consulate never bothers to answer people's emails? Why the hell put an email address on the site when they never answer emails?

Charge, ban and deport the motorbike rider. He's a loser with some serious anger and mental problems.

On 3/6/2024 at 8:41 AM, STD Warehouse said:

Is it true that the consensus feeling is that a majority of Thai nationals do not file tax returns who are required to file them?

 

I feel that like many things here the rules are not enforced, in reality, would you think this is true in regards to thais filing tax returns?

 

very curious about this.

 

 

I'm pretty sure with my guess that all these prostitutes don't fill tax returns or pay tax, even though their income is definitely very, very high compared to the general working Thai person.

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Pattaya has emptied out, i got in the queue at 7.50 and still got ticket 5, about 20 people in the queue in front of me

I'm still seeing an insane amount of people all over Pattaya/Jomtien, not to mention huge traffic jams yesterday.

Anyway, hopefully it stays that way at immigration and we don't have tons of people like before.

12 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

This week i went there for an early appointment, lady at the front just said join the queue, so a waste of time, i still got queue no.5 but just lucky it wasn't busy.

 

Strangely i checked last week went in the afternoon and asked at the desk what to do as i have appointment next week, he said come to front of info desk and will get a ticket so it seems different staff do different things.

 

So it's hit and miss, system can't be relied upon

What time did you go to line up in the queue at the information desk? I'm surprised that it's not busy. Every other time there's been an insanely amount of people, even if you arrive 90 minutes prior to the official opening time.

7 hours ago, JGon said:

Another one... soon the media will keep pushing this narrative and we "farangs" will be stereotype for a few bad apples (if this isn't already happening).

Another Swiss man again. I think this is the 3rd one this week. What's with the Swiss guys beating up women?

12 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Does that really personally bother you?  Sounds a bit coward ish to give almost exact location to a general forum. Why not just tattle tale on him yourself? 

Not really, but I have always said everyone should follow the law and not do any dodgy dodgy, but the thing is, there are lots of dodgy farangs bribing and here without following the law who shouldn't be here if they can't follow the law.

I found it funny/strange that just next door the the police station is there and they turn a blind eye. This thread immediately brought this to mind.

3 hours ago, NickyLouie said:

But Switzerland is such a nice country.

Do all Swiss guys like taking out their anger on women?

 But I've heard some Thai women say Swiss man have good heart 😄

They should do a crackdown in Jomtien. I've seen a number of Ruskies working in shopfronts, one of them being in the travel agent shop next to 7-Eleven, just right next to the Dongtan Police station by the beach.

On 2/29/2024 at 3:21 AM, Hummin said:

Turist visa 60 + 30 days + border run  you get 30 days additional on visa exempt. 

No, we don't need people who should be on retirement visas wasting time of other younger folks & immigration officers by doing 30 day tourist visa extensions. The Thai government seriously need to crack down on these oldies who game the system on tourist visas & extensions when they should be on retirement visas. They are making queues worse at immigration for other younger folks who are applying for tourist extensions.

On 2/29/2024 at 1:34 AM, Celsius said:

But this is exactly what you need to do. "go to visa website" and apply for a retirement visa

Spot on, he/she needs a retirement visa at his age for a long-stay. Leave the tourist visas to the under 50's who can't qualify for a retirement visa due to age discrimination.

On 2/29/2024 at 1:13 AM, billybog said:

i am 73, want to stay in tailand at least 90-104 days.....do not know what visa I need also before use to mail in money order with application...how is that done now....please do not say "go to visa website".. I have done this....I need to know exactly which visa is required.  I am a USA citizen with valid passport.

You need a retirement visa as you are clearly over 50 years old and want to stay here for a long period of time.

16 hours ago, biervoormij said:

If your stamp expire on 17th March why are you worried about the office being closed in April? I have not looked if there are any holidays in March.

 

 

Sorry, I meant to say 17th April for stamp expiry. It's actually a Wednesday. I was looking at the wrong calendar dates.

10 hours ago, Dolf said:

Looks old for 45

Dude looks like he's 65 years old, no way in hell he's 45 lol

I have to do a 30 day extension at Jomtien. I potentially could have my stamp expire on 17th April, being a Sunday. As we all know, Jomtien has this BS rule that you are not allowed to apply for an extension more than one (1) business day before your stamp expires in your passport.

Does anyone know Jomtien Immigration closure dates over Songkran? I'm guessing with all these 5 public holidays they might be a bit more flexible in allowing you to come an extend it prior, or do you think they'll ask people to come on Monday 18th March, after your stamp has already expired and you are technically on overstay?

5 days of public holidays: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/thailand/2024

On 2/29/2024 at 6:01 AM, bradiston said:

Just a reminder, Soi 5 will be one way starting (possibly) March 1st, from Jomtien 2nd Rd down to Beach Rd. Then you will be forced right at junction with Beach Rd, as Beach Rd will be one way from Chaiyapreuk all the way to Dong Tan police box.

 

Enjoy.

If roads do in fact become one way, I will do what the Thais do and ride from Beach Rd to Immigration on soi 5 the wrong way. It's stupid to make that soi one way when there's plenty of room for a 2-way street.

On 1/20/2024 at 2:57 AM, Tally Ho said:

I have a UK passport. My wife is Thai and lives there with our daughter. I work for a UK company and I am mostly working remotely.

I know I qualify for a Thai marriage (non 0 visa) but what are the rules on being able to work in Thailand and who I pay taxes to?

Do you have a work permit? If not, you are working illegally. Either ask them to provide you a work permit or find another company who will provide you a work permit. You pay taxes here in Thailand.

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Update: Locals demand justice in Swiss expat alleged assault case
by Nattapong Westwood

 

Photo co urtesy of Bangkok Post

 

The Swiss expat, 45 year old Urs Fehr, also known by the name David, purportedly delivered a kick to Dr Thandao Chandam, a respected figure at Dibuk Hospital, as she enjoyed a peaceful moonlit moment with a friend outside his residence on the evening of February 24.

There's no way in hell this dude is 45 years old!! He looks like he's 65 years old at least.

4 hours ago, stament said:

I read an old article that suggested this is possible. Our son has a British and Thai passport and I wondered if he could leave the UK on his British passport and enter Thailand on his UK passport based on the post.

 

Yea, I know he can enter on his UK passport but then he would have to jump through all the hoops us foreigners have to.

 

Secondly, if possible, is there a time limit on the expires passport, e.g. within 6 months @ubonjoe

 

Thanks in advance 

Of course he could enter Thailand on his British passport, as far as it has 6 month's validity left on it.

25 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

I'm 58 and spent 400+ days in Thailand last 2 years. Thailand just issued me another Tourist visa because that's what I am, a tourist there. Says so right on the visa 😉

 

I'm also a tourist too, on a METV and spending money in Thailand. My tourist visa says the same from Sydney, except it's multiple entry.

Is Sydney switching to the Evisa system in the coming years or will they still go with the physical visa sticker? That's the best method, the physical visa sticker imo as we've heard stories of people with the Evisa applications having some problems when applying online.

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Female IO on Thursday evening was very pleasant to me.

No issue at all, did not ask me to scan my finger prints either.... just smile at the camera, she stamped my passport and wrote in the valid until date and I was on my way.... Few minutes at most.

I thought you're not allowed to smile at the camera but just have a netural facial expression. Are smiles allowed?

6 minutes ago, FridgeMagnet1 said:

Young Male guy at the desk and an older male who pulled me to the questioning area, and I was using fast track 

Once I got a number of questions by the female IO at the fast track, on a business class ticket. This after being out of the country for 3 years during the Covid period and just when Thailand was starting to open up, in October 2022. I was on a visa exempt entry as that time they were giving 45 days, instead of 30 days. After a few questions, I was stamped in.

Maybe the problems are if you use the Fast Track lane, more questions as it's completely empty with nobody using them so they're bored with time to chat and question people. The normal lanes they don't have any time to chat, as there are millions of people waiting to get stamped into the country, especially at this time of the year as there seems to be soooooo many foreigners here in Thailand.

19 hours ago, raz0r21 said:

Hey OP,

 

They do this sometimes when they notice you are eligible for a retirement visa. They would prefer you switch to that instead of using tourist visas. I know it sounds weird, but yeah. It is what it is.

Doesn't sound weird at all. It makes perfect sense. Yes, clearly the OP should be on a retirement visa as that's the correct visa for over 50's who with to spend significant time in Thailand. METV should be saved for younger folks who aren't allowed to be on a retirement visa due to age discrimination.