BritTim

3 hours ago, lovethai123 said:

I found this on the Facebook page of an airline. 

 

I cannot read thai but as per English translation , it appears that visa exempt entry for all countries is suspended.

Since this announcement was made nearly 24 hours ago, it is grossly out of date. As of right now, it appears that there will be no changes to visa exempt entry or visa on arrival until after a cabinet meeting March 17. Naturally, there will be announcements contradicting this over the next few days.

7 hours ago, Dmaxx said:

After that just go to Vientiane Thai embassy and apply for your metv there. 

You can only apply for an METV in your home country. You can apply for an SETV in Vientiane but, unlike in the past, you are not able to indefinitely apply for tourist visas in countries close to Thailand.

3 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Do you have a direct link to that list?

Must be a sub link from that site.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/, and scroll down for the master country list

14 minutes ago, Hugh Jarse said:

Where is Burma/Myanmar on the list of positive cases?

So far, they have not reported any cases. That is not a guarantee that there are none. Some border areas of Myanmar have extremely limited health services.

Carry the cash, just to be on the safe side. Being asked to show it is unlikely.

If you have an existing visa, and leave for a few days to a country that does not have large outbreaks of Covid-19, the return should not be a problem. That said, not all the measures being taken right now are rational, so there is no way of being completely sure.

I do not believe visa exempt entry will be possible, even for those out of their home countries for months. They can probably apply for visas. As is often the case, consulates will vary on whether visas will be issued, and the paperwork required before they will be provided.

Those trying to do border runs that are clearly for immediate turnaround and visa exempt entry will most likely be prevented from leaving.

3 minutes ago, Airbagwill said:

In view of latest restrictions can the following passport holders do visa or border runs?

 

South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong,

 

Will this list expand?

As I understand it, they will not be able to do border runs for visa exempt entry, but will be able to do an in/out if they have a multiple entry visa.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Come on Tim. My cell does not even have a Sim. I do not use cell for calls. I use data and wifi.

Yes can be tracked with help from FBI.

This thread is a joke.

It is possible you could use WiFi on a phone that has never been registered with a SIM, but quite rare/ If you are using mobile data in Thailand, you are using a SIM card. Note that having the SIM card inserted is not necessary for the tracking. It is only necessary that the authorities have the basic phone details which in the vast majority of cases they have.

If they have basic information about your phone (and if you have a Thai SIM card they do) then they can track where your phone is any time it is powered on without any need for an App. Of course, the assumption that you are where your phone is may not be reliable.

20 minutes ago, Maestro said:

There is no "betrothed" visa.

There is no specific visa to visit your Thai fiance. However, as I posted earlier, there is a Non O category of "visit family and friends". While that used to be interpreted very broadly, in recent years, it has been almost exclusively limited to visiting close Thai family members (typically spouse, parent or child). That said, it is up to the consul who gets such a visa. To get a Non O to visit your fiance would need both a sympathetic consul, and extremely convincing evidence that you really are betrothed. One recent case was reported on ThaiVisa, but no one should expect to just turn up in Vientiane with a couple of photos of a Thai girl and get such a visa.

Unless really trying to save money, I would suggest a taxi all the way (cost likely around 200 baht). The logical alternative, frankly, is the 66 bus all the way from Sathorn pier to Government Centre (about two hours if the traffic is not terrible). You should be able to get a seat, and I find these long bus journeys bearable with the help of a good book.

4 minutes ago, pdtokyo said:

BritTim was that (now highlighted) spouse ... meant to read ''fiancee" or "'betrothed"' or some equally quaint term?  (i've highlighted it in the colour labelled ''Pumpkin" which sounds about right.

Indeed, I meant betrothed. My fingers must have been operating independently of my brain when I typed that.

You can enter Thailand twice in a calendar year via a land crossing. So far, clear. There is no official hard limit when entering by air. When you request visa exemption at an airport, it is at the discretion of Immigration whether it will be granted. The "six visa exempt limit" has never been a firm limit. It just notifies the official that you are a frequent user of visa exemptions, and prompts the official to scrutinise you more closely as a "genuine tourist".

With your history, I would not be at all surprised if you start getting aggressively questioned about what you are doing in Thailand when trying to enter visa exempt by air. If convenient, get tourist visas. The visa exempt entry by land at most crossings is absolutely fine. However, as noted, you can only do that twice in a calendar year.

1 hour ago, pdtokyo said:

Reading a biker site thread (2015 so a bit dated) and came across mention of Thai-Lao border crossing at Phu Du (also spelled Phu Doo) as convenient for Uttaradit residents.

 

Beats me if i can get Google maps to find the place, can someone help out with a better search name? Of course any current info would be appreciated too.

The most common names used are "Phoudou checkpoint",  "Phou Dao checkpoint" and "Ban Na Kra Seng Border". The last is the one that is recognised by Google Maps. I have never used the crossing myself, but can remember a few threads about it here on ThaiVisa.

Whether or not you use a visa run service, the procedure at the border is more or less the same. There is a monopoly service that takes your passport across the border to get the Myanmar stamps and return. They charge 960 baht, which includes US$10 for the Myanmar border pass and presents to immigration on each side of the border. Personally, I would go to and from the border under my own steam, but there is nothing wrong with using one of the visa run companies if you prefer.

12 minutes ago, thai006 said:

 

i will use that train to enter thailand after 10 days in Laos , can i enter via the 30 days exemption visa ? 

Yes, of course

1 hour ago, reallyaffiliated said:

So land crossing is more safe than a flight?

 

Thanks this makes sense. Would your cross a different border the second time, and for how long do you stay in the other country?

Land crossings are safer for visa exempt entry, although you should avoid the crossing at Poipet/Aranyaprathet. At all crossings to Laos and Myanmar, you can cross and immediately return to Thailand. Crossings with Malaysia and possibly Cambodia may require you to stay overnight. You can use the same crossing for your second land entry if you wish.

51 minutes ago, reallyaffiliated said:

So what you recommend me to do is to just get in on a visa on arrival visa if I cannot get the METV. Then go to the immigration office and get 30 days extra, 2 times. Now Im at 3 months. Then I go fly to Vietnam for example for 2 days from BKK airport. Then come back to dmk airport. Then do the same thing over again, so now I'm at 6 months. Then go for example from dmk to singapore, then fly back a few days later to DMK. etc. Is this kind of the process? Or am I misunderstanding it?

Not quite. The suggestion is:

• Single entry tourist visa (60 days, preferred) or visa exempt entry by air (30 days) in either case followed by 30-day extension.
• Visa exempt entry (30 days) via a land crossing, and 30-day extension.
• Visa exempt entry (30 days) via a land crossing, and 30-day extension.

In total this gives you 6-7 months. You will need a non tourist option after this.

It looks like there is over a two hour wait in Thanalaeng for the return. See https://railtravelstation.com/state-railway-of-thailand/northeastern-line/nong-khai-vientiane-shuttle-train/. I am sure what you propose is feasible, but the tried and true solution of the shuttle bus across the Friendship Bridge will be faster.

48 minutes ago, Bell1234 said:

You should be firmly telling your Embassy that you need the letter and you're not leaving without one.. Don't let them fob you off.

If the Embassy decides on a firm no, you cannot force them. Give them a solution that is clearly part of their current services.

I suggest asking them to witness an affidavit (with the travel advice attached) to the effect that travel through South Korea is discouraged and you changed your plans accordingly. This will have an embassy stamp, and likely be sufficient to satisfy Immigration.

44 minutes ago, Hal65 said:

 

That is an interesting theory and would explain why the new visa is fairly costly (IIRC, it costs around 15,000 thb for just the visa. The school then charges a separate fee for their service).

 

A counter point would be, that I know of 3 places in Pattaya which offer this Bangkok ED visa.

 

So if it is an agent, they are a big one. And/or they are able to do a fair amount of business without concern. There are likely 10+ schools offering this visa here now.

15,000 baht is actually attractive. I assume this includes the conversion from tourist to Non Immigrant entry (official fee 2,000 baht) which gives you an initial 90 days, then a 12 month extension (official fee 1,900 baht). Compared to the old language school visas that give only 90 days plus three 90-day extensions (official fees around 7,700 baht, but often more to avoid serious hassle) this seems like a sweet deal.

Once one agent manages to arrange something like this with Jomtien immigration, other agents will be able to negotiate similar deals. Probably, each school has its own arrangement with one or other of the agents able to fix things with immigration.