sandyf

28 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

The Lao government gave the green light in 2016 for their high-speed train on an uncharted territory as Laos never had a train system before. The Chinese dug hundreds of tunnels and constructed hundreds of bridges in order to open the link from the Lao-Chinese border in Boten to the Lao-Thai border in Vientiane. 2016 they said, it would be running on 2 December 2021 - in line with the Lao National Day. 

Guess what, the train rolled on 2 December 2021 and since then proved a flawless operation. If the former Thai government - self-assigned since 2014 - would have started then as well, the train link would have been finished in 2021 as well and Bangkok would be connected by rail to the rest of the world. This did not happen and lukewarm excuses came, as the self-elected government finally got out in 2023. The Thai terrain is much easier without all those hinderances of tunnels and bridges - but there was no will. 

Now they finally had to give in and listen to the marching orders from Beijing; I guess the train might run by the end of this decade, unless a political bumper is thrown in - for good measure! 

The northern Thai section of the project wasn't the only one that run into trouble.

"

• The Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok section of the Kunming-Singapore railway would be the highest-hanging fruit of any regional rail network. It would have to traverse a very long distance, much of it through underdeveloped and rural areas that would provide little economic benefit to the railway’s operators. Unsurprisingly, the project would also require a huge investment to get off the ground, and given Thailand and China’s struggles to get a deal on the Bangkok-Vientiane portion done, a Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok initiative won’t be forthcoming anytime soon."
• https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/fact-sheet-kunming-singapore-high-speed-rail-network/

5 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Who on earth goes to Thailand in the rainy season in summer in the first place ?

 

One day you may come to realise Spring and Autumn are not in the vocabulary, only summer and winter.

Songkran is not seen to be in the winter.

46 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

It's actually almost impossible to identify an overstayer if he has foreign income and access to that income through a bank card for example. He can just stay in rented properties, whatever. He is almost impossible to detect, unless someone tells the immigration. 

Only if the property owner is an accomplice.

4 minutes ago, dyertribe said:

 Being able to move troops quickly is vital.

Why the US has a presence all over the world.

11 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

you're comparing the average Chinese of today with the historical population in Thailand? Spend some more time around Chinese and tell me how similar they are to Thai people.

Comparing in what way, are you trying to say the Sino-Thai have no influence on how Thailand is run?

Probably not, for you and many others it will all be about social behaviour, in some distorted belief that your own nation behave impeccably wherever they go.

I have been to China a couple times and accept the fact that as an isolated nation they have developed their own social etiquette which they find perfectly acceptable. It is not to my taste but only the arrogant and racist would condemn their way of life.

On 3/24/2024 at 11:08 AM, Captain Monday said:

A generalization, not even theoretically true for US any longer. There are no non-stop flights to the US anyway and  airline won't board you even if there were. The process is to get an ermargency travel document or new passport.

 

U.S. citizens will not be allowed to use their expired U.S. passport for direct return to the United States after June 30, 2022.
 

 

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article1861?language=en_US

You can correct me if I am wrong but it is my understanding that Immigration do not need a valid travel document to execute a deportation order, the destination would have to be a country where the deportee has citizenship.

Someone walking about on significant overstay is a deportaion waiting to happen.

1 hour ago, wombat said:

Bullet Train from China to Pattaya...I can't wait.

I didn't realise Pattaya was on the route from Kumning to Singapore.

Learn something new every day.

3 hours ago, connda said:

$411M USD per kilometer?  That's a whole bunch of rich "brother-in-laws."

Doing an internet search, HSR ranges from $17-30M in China, $24M in France, and $27M in Spain.¹ 
Thailand?  $$$Cha-Ching$$$

Source:

¹ Lowyinstitute.org

Of course it wouldn't have anything to do with the water that is in the way or the freight/passenger integration and border controls.

There may be bit parts available in "Carry On Searching".

11 hours ago, kimamey said:

 

To be honest if it's serious enough to stop me getting back in time, it's probably more important than my visa. 

I've booked my flights and I'll be back in Bangkok early on the 27th May which should give me enough time. However long I have there's always the possibility something could go wrong. If it does then I'll have to come up with a plan B. I assume I'd have to leave the country and apply from there.

If something happens so you are not back in time just get an e-visa from London, usually fairly quick, mine was about 48 hours.

I went back in Sept to renew my passport and expected to get both passports back at the same time. However I was told the old passport would come back about 10 days after the new which if it had materialised would have been after flight back. Rather than change the flight I just applied for an e-visa. I was prepared for a hicup and had available the required information and used the funds in Thai account, all very straightforward.

My old passport did come back shortly after the new so I then had the choice of returning on the re-entry permit or the new visa, I opted for the new visa. A bit like you my extension was due to expire shortly after returning so using the visa gave me a bit of breathing space before going to immigration.

All about personal choices.

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

an expired passport isn't an offence.

It is a breach of the Immigration Act, unless you are in one of the 3 groups of aliens allowed to be in Thailand without a valid passport.

Somehow I doubt that woud apply to anyone on this forum.

You say it is time to go home and exactly what you should do ASAP. Getting picked up on leaving carries a lesser penalty than getting caught out.

Think it is 20K to be paid and deported, should be able to travel to home country on an expired passport.

On 3/18/2024 at 8:54 PM, Bday Prang said:

What does that actually mean ? if you don't mind me asking     Why would anybody need a "base"   in Thailand if travelling around Asia ?  and  what form would this "base " take?  would you maintain some form of rented accommodation here whilst day   tripping   (or longer) to Laos and Cambodia     sounds a bit bizarre to me but each to their own

Years ago it was quite a common practice with low accommodation prices and saved lugging all belongings around. When the tsunami struck quite a few accommodation providers never saw some of their customers again.

Unfortunately inflation has taken it's toll and not so viable these days.

18 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

countersignature is only required for a passport renewal if you are not recognizable from your previous passport photo. 

Exactly, and as I said the applicant would need to be present for recognition to be established by VFS staff, unless the application had been countersigned.

Applications via an agent may well be seen by VFS as having been verified if the agents details are recorded in leu of countersignature.

On 3/21/2024 at 2:03 PM, NoshowJones said:

I tried to get an account with TTB accompanied by my wife and was told I needed to have a job, so refused me because I am retired.

TTB came from a merger of TMB an Thanachart a couple of years ago. I was with TMB and shortly after I went to the usual branch to get the stuff for immigration but the senior staff had all been replaced from Thanachart.  My wife was with me and they didn't have a clue about what we were asking for, took an hour on the phone with head office before anything was done. What you say doesn't surprise me.

Last extension in Dec we went to a different branch near Sri Ratcha and a completely different experience, they knew exactly what was required and extremely efficient.

If you can, may be worth trying another branch.

11 minutes ago, topt said:

Thanks for mentioning that as my PEA bill changed last week. Was a purpleish colour and the latest was more pink. Also they have finally managed to make it smaller by about 40%.

This is in Pattaya.

I am in Muang Chonburi and ours have also changed in size, about 50% larger.

Started off just getting a bill then some years ago started getting a bill and a receipt when the meter read. Now the receipt is printed on the bill.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Yes of course, my bank app does too. I do not use the PEA App.  But I do just scan the QR code on the bill. Up it pops confirming PEA payment... could not be more convenient

Must be a Bangkok problem.

My bills do not have a QR code or barcode, been paying by direct debit for 14 years without a problem.

5 hours ago, thecyclist said:

That is total BS.You do not need an agent. Yes, filling out the e-visa form for the first time is a pain in the behind, but you will get through it.

Obviously you would rather shout BS than read what was posted.

If you had bothered to read the posts you would have been aware it wasn't, as you want to make out, my first time.

There was a period in time in January when the only option was to use the new Government Portal, which requires a local ID number, or use an agent as you need to do for a VOA.

As I have already posted above, that now appears to have gone back to the way it was for the time being. It cannot be ruled out as an indication of things to come.

This was the instructions from the only government website operational at the time.

Step 1: Foreigners access the electronic visa information page of the Ministry of Public Security's public service portal (with the Vietnamese domain name "https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/", in English it is "" https://e-services.mps.gov.vn/”) to enter electronic visa application information, download portrait photo and passport identification page. After completing this step, foreigners will be issued an electronic file code by the system.

https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/bocongan/bothutuc/tthc?matt=26277

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I applied for 30 day tourist visa for Vietnam 10 days ago using government web site.

Took 5 days to process.

Applied on a Monday and received e-Visa approval later in the week Friday. 

Just checked the old link  I had and it now  appears to open.

https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/tra-cuu-ho-so?fsource=payoo&status=1&session=0BD031B9F5A0BD651D4C738C8F3CB892.node-01&order_no=E190920IRLPE988659450&checksum=0c4a4ac163c9aeabb628cd3a3132ea917a6920e93eac847e6dfbe0ea3bfd876ca6781be7f717360e31132ffeddc6037f7ef0839317d5a1e1203733875bcbdfe5&totalAmount=601811&paymentFee=22311

A few weeks ago this site could not be accessed and referred you to the new government portal.

https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/bocongan/bothutuc/tthc?matt=26277

This new site requires registration which needs an ID number,

Hopefully things are now back to the way they were but caution will always be required.

16 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I applied for 30 day tourist visa for Vietnam 10 days ago using government web site.

Took 5 days to process.

Applied on a Monday and received e-Visa approval later in the week Friday. 

What link did you use to the government site?

12 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Entering VE, then applying for Non Immigrant status (Non O) they accept 800K funds, overseas transfers and Embassy Income letters.

The only method they don't accept is the combination method.

 

If @Red Phoenix friend has proof of 12 x 65K monthly overseas transfers, as he states, then that would be accepted for the conversion to Non O.

VE-TV to Non O Retirement.pdf 108.92 kB · 9 downloads  

If you wish to misinterpret "overseas transfers" as income that is up to you, but does not make it fact.

Take it you didn't bother to read the post from @smokeandice.

14 hours ago, SmokeandIce said:

however, the office would not accept the twelve months of THB 65,000 as financial proof.

Confirming what I said in a previous post.

I have always returned with a new visa, sorry if that wasn't clear.

13 hours ago, Marty0707 said:

Thanks upnotover for advice as well as you guys can see I'm useless. Ubon joe used to help me a lot in years past but haven't seen him on lately or maybe I'm looking wrong. Hope he's well. I'm down near sissaket here kantharalak is nearest town. Not that far from Cambodia . So I don't need a visa for Vietnam. Did read that but always need second opinion and thanks guys 

I have just come back from Vietnam and on a British passport got 45 days visa exempt. They didn't ask to see my return ticket this time but they did last time, bit awkward as my wife had it and she was already through immigration.

Best to have it handy in case they ask.

14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

If yes then you need to obtain 30 day tourist e-visa. 

Very simple. I just received mine. 5 days process. $25 usd.

It is no longer simple. I have done it twice for an Irish friend and a couple of years ago was very easy.

A few weeks ago I found they had made it similar to the VOA in that you need to use an agent, you now need a Vietnamese ID number to access the government website.

I found an agent that did it for $45 in 7 days but there others with prices over $100. Bit of a minefield now and have to be careful. Some were advertising an e-visa but reading the small print they were selling a letter for the VOA.