arfandy

2 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

Since someone laughed at my post above, I arrived 8 March on visa exempt with a return ticket nearly 5 months later and nobody cared.

 

Last year I flew to Thailand 3 times on one-way tickets entering visa exempt, no-one cared.

 

I'm wondering if all the people saying you can't do it are actually experienced visa exempt flyers or just quoting some long held belief (or have shares in onward flight company lol)

My last entry to Thailand was February 2020, just right before the global pandemy and country lockdown. I often travel back and forth to Thailand, NEVER had i need to bother preparing return ticket(s). 

I left Thailand in August 2021 (18 months of self lockdown in Bangkok) back to home and never once i travel outside again. I know travel rules might have changed a lot during this time, hence i must make sure what i need to prepare before restarting my travel again. But i do hope there is no need to purchase return ticket as it gives me more flexibility to leave Thailand anytime, whenever i'm done with family matter.

4 hours ago, Chivas said:

I think you misunderstand...I could have worded the earlier post better.....If (and its still an if) they check the passport for a tourist visa (which they 100% should) when ground handling at check input your flight details and see the 34 days duration they can and many airlines do (because of the increased fine levels) ask to see any outbound ticket at any time within the first 30 days after you arrive

 

I've never had reason to do so subsequently but there are onward ticket websites designed to get around the issue for fairly nominal cost....its always been my view that check in staff know only too well what they are when presented with one lol but their liability is covered at that point

I am an Asian and visiting Thailand i get visa exempt for 30 days. Ofc i could apply for 14 days extension at CW but will airlines refuse to accept my reason for extension within 30 days? I know such website provide temporary booking flight for 48 hours at the cost of $10. But i will have my retur ticket ready and scheduled at the 33th or 34th day and it is within the grace period where i am legally allowed for a single extension while being in Thailand. Will airlines still insist i must leave or provide the proof of leaving the country before 30 days are up?

18 hours ago, Chivas said:

Ground handling at check in airport may be your sole problem

If they play by the book you'll either have to buy an outbound ticket (anywhere) at the 30 day point or be offloaded

 

My experience at Gatwick in 2005 on Emirates is a strong reminder. It took me literally persuading the Head of Station of Emirates to let me on the flight and I had to sign an indemnity should I have been turned around at Bangkok and declined entry clearance

 

I was dressed very nicely that day and 18 years later believe that was the sole reason they let me board

Does it have to be exactly 30 days prior to arrival? I dont mind to purchase return ticket from the same airlines i will travel with, however i intend to stay 33 to 34 days in Thailand due to family matter on my 4th week of stay. 3-4 days extra stretch just in case family matter isnt yet resolved sooner than expected. 

Ps. It's 4 days overstay, i assume 500 baht penalty per day?

Am i required to purchase return ticket when passing immigration checkpoint at airport? I will enter with free tourist visa 30 days, but i intend to leave 34 days later. Will i have a problem with IO when i show my return ticket dated 34 days of stay?

I understand that overstay is no good. But in my situation, would i rather visit CW to apply visa extension and pay 1900 or simply overstay and pay 2000 upon departure?

I've lived in Thailand (in and out) since 2002 and have been doing Tourist Visa extension for over dozen of times. I know that Non-O visa, TM30 and confirmation from landlord is required for every extension. But i was never asked anything of sort regarding 30-Day Tourist Visa or Visa Exemption, i simply showed up at CW, took queue number, filled out necessary form, did a bit of photocopies for pasport front page and stamp page, wait until my number popup, submit every required docs, and pay up 1900 for an extra 2 weeks of stay. I'm not sure if Visa Exemption is allowed 30 days extension as i never tried it myself. 

For Non-O visa, now that will need resort/homeowner/landlord as guarantor or so i believed.

I've always used THAI immigration lanes whenever travel in family. Fast, hastle-free, less queue. My family is Thais and i'm the only foreigner. IO always took a bundled of my wife & kids Thai passports, and mine being completely on different color was placed among those.

5 hours ago, KannikaP said:

You obviously do not know what an International Driving PERMIT is.

I am an Asean, my local driving license valids for 30 days driving i Thailand without the need to apply for another International permit. And so do Thais are allowed to use their Thai license to drive in my country for 30 days.

What about those holders of International Driving License? Do they get point deduction like Thais or...do they get DOUBLE points deduction for every mistake that could cost 1 pts for Thai?

I'm confused here as how this work, considering the infamous DOUBLE-STANDARD is mostly applied to foreigners in Thailand.

I've just read on The Nation that vac document has been officially scrapped off? Is this for real? It has only been 24-hour ...

What about mandatory Health Insurance cover at least $10.000 ?? I dont see anything on it yet and my Health Insurance does no longer cover covid expense.

I got sinovac sometime in mid of 2021 before leaving Thailand. 2 doses, no booster. I have the vac sertificat issued by accredited hospital in Bkk.

However, i do not see Sinovac as part of accredited vacs for the new requirement despite i had given Sinovac in Bangkok (instead of Pfeizzer or Moderna as i requested)

Do i need to proceed visiting Thailand as scheduled or better cancel all flight and booked hotel? I do not think getting new vac today will entitle me another jab next week as i need to wait at least 3 months before getting second shot (as per requirement a min 2 shots of vaccines)

15 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

SVB is Sambava airport in Madagascar. Suvarnabhumi airport code is BKK... That out of the way, see this warning:

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thais-abroad-warned-not-to-buy-fresh-fruit-to-bring-home/

 

 

Thais travelling abroad have been warned not to bring fresh fruit back to Thailand, as they may face legal action.

Agriculture Department Director-General Rapeephat Chantarasriwong said that a number of Thais travelling abroad, particularly to Japan and South Korea, have brought fresh fruit, such as grapes and persimmon, back to the country without certificates indicating that it is free from pests and plant diseases.

He said that the plant quarantine checkpoints at the Suvarnabhumi airport have confiscated a lot of fresh fruit being brought back by Thai travellers, many of whom claimed they bought them according to advice offered by their guides.

This is against the law, because the fresh fruit does not have appropriate certification, he said, adding that most of the travellers were not arrested or charged, but that their fruit was seized and destroyed.

The penalties for illegally importing uncertified fruit are one year in prison and/or a fine of 20,000 baht, said the director-general.

Thanks but the article states and emphasize that Thai travellers who travelled abroad are not allowed to bring in freah fruits. Does this also apply to Foreigners who live NOT in Thailand but for purpose of visiting Thailand?

I dont see any statement pointing to foreign visitors entering Thailand, but i should assume foreigners are also not allowed?

On 11/26/2022 at 11:23 AM, MJCM said:

May I ask where that SVB airport is?

SVB = Suvhanabum Airport (spelling is surely wrong cant remember how it spells exactly, hence abbrev)

4 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Ok, as someone who just came back the other day things are not that bad, yes, some reasonable delays here and there mostly depends on time and day of arrival but don't worry too much about about it and just come...

You mean SVB? Or DonMuang? What day and time would you suggest to avoid visa congestion?

Thanks

Before covid pandemy, we always brought our tasty local fruits to enter Thailand via SVB or Don Muang airport. Some family and friends really enjoyed the fruits. Usually we took 7 - 10kg of freshly picked fruits, packed and wrapped nicely inside our XL luggage (no, not durian)

Recently i've been told that all FRUITS are banned to enter Thailand. Is this really happening?

Anything else banned products we should be aware of NOT to bring in? I.e dried meats, assorted dried fruits, pre-grilled fish/chicken, etc?

Thank you.

I've been seeing plenty of news about horrible visa congestion for travellers arriving at SVB airport, the posted photos are very discouraging for family with kids entering Thailand via SVB. It was said it took an average of 60 - 90 min per person to reach custom desk. Something that we absolutely want to avoid.

On top of the terrible, slow, and painful long queue lines, it does seem the baggage handling is even worse management that traveller has to wait an average 40 - 90 mins before they can see their luggages on conveyor belt

-------- ☝️ all these happened in SVB from the past weeks news ----

Hence my question, is Don Muang airport any better than SVB? We are planning the trip to Thailand, but also carefully considering which port to enter. If both Bkk airports are so bad, we might consider Phuket or ChiangMai airport to enter Thailand (but our final destination is Bkk for family visitation)

Thank you

I didnt do that. Wife hometown was in North but we lived in Bangkok. I remember specifically asking this to IO at North and he suggested as long as i routinely do 90-day report, i didnt have to bother changing address. (I was denied visa extension based on Marriage at CW)

But i found it was quite troublesome to drive +1200km back and forth once in every 90 days. So i opted to 180 days walk-in report (online report wasnt working, surprise eh?) and paid the fine from the first missing deadline report. IO was still fine since he knew i and family were living in Bkk. 

I did 1yr extension based on marriage in 2020 and i remember i printed 3x A4 colored photos showing Me & wife plus childrens in front of the house (house number must show), one inside the house (again, with family), and another inside the house with family and neighbours (immigration officers made a visit to interview 1-2 neighbours) around 3 weeks after i submit all documents.

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not sure what your post is asking.

Visa exempt entry to Thailand now provides a 45 day stamp. 

That will be the case until end of March next year. 

Oh, i had thought it lasts forever after covid pandemy

Is it true that free Tourist Visa for Asean lasts 45 days instead of normal 30 days?

Thanks.

Is every requirement regarding entry to Thailand by air (for ASEAN) back to pre-covid time?

I had 2x sinovac vaccines and vaccine card issued by hospital in Bangkok last year 2021. I dont know if it is still valid to enter the airport without having to show 48-hour pre-test PCR result as per today?

Do i still need to apply for normal 30-day tourist visa from embassy?

Thanks

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

There is no 30 day tourist visa. A tourist visa issued by a embassy allows a 60 day stay when you enter the country.

If you only got a 30 day visa exempt entry you can extend it for 30 days.

I don't understand why the embassy did not issue a non-o visa for being a member your wife's family.

Immigration will not issue a non-o visa as a member of your wife's family. Look at this list  to confirm that. 

https://www.immigration.go.th/en/?page_id=2537

 

I think OP meant 60 days tourist visa (30 days first entry then another 30 days upon extension at the cost of THB 1900). Last time i checked, Special Tourist Visa is no longer applicable at local Thai Embassy -- maybe it was reverted back to just a normal tourist visa (i dunno, it is really a headache to deal with embassy hotline nowadays)

I was due to return to Thailand sometime this summer, i'm also concerned like how do i extend a tourist visa into long-term stay or what kind of long term stay visas am i eligible to apply given the nature of my return is family visit.

Border-crossing isnt exactly a good ol' choice during this time of uncertainty, and would cost more than before pandemy.

16 hours ago, Justtaste said:

There's a parking opposite Indonesia's embassy across the street behind the pink cosmetics shop, 40bt for 1hr.

You mean this pink shop and turn to the soi next to it?

15 hours ago, Justtaste said:

There's a parking opposite Indonesia's embassy across the street behind the pink cosmetics shop, 40bt for 1hr.

Is there a soi next to it to get to parking lot? 

12 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

With the streets  empty how can parking possibly be a problem?

Are you saying i can freely park on the roadside without risking my vehicle getting towed away?