SS1

Hi, 

Can anyone recommend neighbouring countries to go an apply for a Non-B visa in the current climate? We have a candidate we'd like to hire who is on a tourist visa/covid extension. For the moment, Immigration is not offering an option to change visa type or the reason of extension to employment with a BOI company. So it seems, the only option is exiting the country to apply for the visa at a Thai embassy. The candidate is planning to exit Thailand, apply for visa and then return via ASQ.

What would be the best nearby countries to do this at the moment? Particularly the following criteria:

• Easy to enter (for EU national), no quarantine requirements
• Not too far, affordable flights 
• Fast visa processing time

Most of the rules and restrictions don't really have any logic behind them. Of course, the words "logic" and "Thailand" don't really ever go in the same sentence. It's also just about being lazy to actually enforce social distancing - easier to just ban entire things than enforce rules. 

Think about it.. you can currently go to a massage where another person will be in very close contact and touch several customers every day. But you can't go to a bar, sit alone in a table 5 meters away from the next. 

I just took a domestic flight a couple of weeks ago and was expecting at least one empty seat in between each passenger, but no, the plane was full with every seat occupied. This was, while I was not allowed to go alone to my condo pool. 

It's like a monkey circus show that was funny to watch first, but after a year it's getting a bit tiring. 

 

7 hours ago, robblok said:

Eh locking people up is an essential thing. You cannot compare it with non essential things like beach gathering. Do you want the police stop working totally not locking up anyone anymore because that is the alternative. 

Can't really call locking up people enjoying a quiet beer at the beach essential ????

4 hours ago, Fromas said:

Order 61/2021

 

So this would suggest those falling outside of the categories don't need to self-quarantine? For myself for example, I'm planning a 3 day business trip there so obviously quarantining at home is not an option. 

12 hours ago, cocoonclub said:

Absolutely. 

Right.. with the number of cases rising every day since they were implemented? ????

The current rules are drawn out of a hat by a government ran by monkeys - mostly with zero scientifical backing. Anyone supporting these buffoons must be a little "loco in the coco" themselves. 

On 6/1/2021 at 10:25 AM, cocoonclub said:

It’s the virus who couldn’t care less about businesses’ well-being. Let’s not shift blame and confuse cause and effect here because of your political agenda. Lockdowns are necessary, whether you like the government or not. 

Have the recent lockdowns, in your opinion, improved the Covid situation in Thailand? 

They've put brand new asphalt in the Asoke junctions but "forgot" to paint the line markings. Almost got crushed by an idiot driver going straight from the righmost turning lane. 

Bangsaen beach was open at least last weekend with swimming allowed etc. just no restaurants. 30 min drive from Bangkok, nice spot to go chill at the beach on a Sunday afternoon. Not many people so easy to keep a distance to other people. 

4 hours ago, jimn said:

The official rules are available to see if you look. All pools should be CLOSED, I know some Condo's are ignoring this. All gyms can OPEN until 9pm.

3 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

There is an official order from the local Gov, its literally pinned to the rope blocking the pool in my condo.

 

My bad - is this specific for Pattaya? My examples are from Bangkok. 

19 hours ago, shy coconut said:

Surely then, by your explanation, any foreigner in possession of an electronic smoking 

device is breaking the law. Either they imported it or bought it. 

 

I suppose they can claim someone gave it to them, but how else would they own one?

But if they bought it locally in Thailand, they are still not breaking the law? The law states sales and import. In that case, the seller would be breaking the law, not the buyer. 

I believe there is no official regulation to close swimming pool at this stage so it depends on the Condo's own policy. The pool and fitness at my condo is currently closed, but at my friend's place pool is open and fitness closed. Another friend has both open. 

There is a massive disparity with the prices of motorbike rentals in Thailand. I saw you could rent a Honda X-ADV 750 for 1300 per day in Phuket, while they cost 2500 in Chiang Mai! Also in Bangkok big bikes are more expensive than Chiang Mai, but in Chiang Mai bigger scooters are very expensive to rent. It's very random..

One explanation is that at those beach destinations, the renters don't really put any mileage for them just cruising around the island, while those renting from CM usually add a good 1000km or so. 

23 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

So vaping and possession hasn’t been banned but if you have an e-cigarette in your possession then you must have brought it into Thailand illegally and are therefore breaking the law. 

So what if you have bought it from a local Thai retailer in 2021 with a receipt? It is obvious that the retailer is breaking the law, but what about the person in possession of the locally sourced item? 

3 hours ago, Surelynot said:

So if you brought one in from the UK, say, just for personal use, would that be classed as importing I wonder?

 

If not, then people could smoke them freely???.......The people I do see smoking them are very  furtive.

Yes, generally if they can indicate that you have imported the device (even for personal use) that could land you in trouble. I remember a case of a Swiss tourist getting arrested, paying hefty fines and getting deported for this type of "import". 

The reason why people are careful with them is because there is a widespread rumour that their possession is illegal, following an outbreak of fake news a couple of years ago. As many people now believe they are completely prohibited, the police are using this to their advantage for extortion. I know people who have paid bribes of 10-20k in order to not get arrested for possessing one. 

However, if you actually read the law it clearly states importation and sales are illegal - nothing about possession or use. A French woman was arrested in Phuket and went to court. She was deported due to overstay as a result of the arrest, but finally the court fined her for "smoking while driving" as they could not charge her with anything else. 

6 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

is the illegal bit to what ?....sell, actually be caught using them?.....I ask because I see quite a lot of people using them now.

They are illegal to sell and import. There is no law prohibiting possession and use of one. 

5 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

 

There are people in their mid-twenties that look like businessmen?

 

In any event, best to not participate in criminal activity regardless of how you look or where you are. 

Haha sure, plenty of younger farang office workers in Bangkok walking to and back from the BTS in business attire.

2 hours ago, seancbk said:

 

I doubt the average ThaiVisa user is the type that the police would bother stopping, nor would the average ThaiVisa user be in the parts of Thong Lo that the police are watching.  
 

True, although those friends of mine who have been stopped have been far from any kind of hippie / drug user type of look. More like businessman in their mid 20s look... (or maybe that's exactly the typical of Thonglo partygoer)

I changed the battery of the motorbike itself and that fixed it for me. On top of this, I stopped using the start/stop function in traffic lights and let it idle. Apparently, it's not so good to use the start/stop or leave your ingnition on regularly without the engine running with bikes that have keyless ignition, as it needs a lot of power to operate.