Dassie

That's half the time it takes in Perth!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Many thanks for that, Ubonjoe!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Can anyone confirm if you have used the consulate in Brisbane for an METV recently? Just curious about how long it would take to process.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Sounds cool your fencing club FolkGuitar ! I might give it a try soon.
I have seen a lot of taekwendo clubs for kids here, but no Judo, no Karate, no Aikido or Ju-Jutsu. We are so close from japan so why is it so difficult to find these here ? as there are so many in europe..
I miss Aïkido so much, if someone knows any aikido club or any japanese martial art club here, please tell !
Best Regards to all

Why that? I my country, bank is the place where most people put their money, so it seems rather logical to ask proof that we have enough money "in the bank". That can be on very various ways though: saving, deposit, insurance, stock, investment,... but still "money in the bank".

I agree. When the websites say "in the bank" I think that's generic. It's meant to be the money used to fund the stay so I'm sure that as long as the money is accessible it would be accepted.

So does this mean a credit card with a full credit balance (as per the METV minimum balance requirements) available for use would be sufficient to show with you're METV application? Or must you present a statement from a savings account?

CHEESE! Yes. I never thought of that either even though I crave it all the time.

How much red wine can I get away with bringing back with me?

Definitely. Bring. Wine! Legally you are allowed to bring in 1 bottle of wine per traveller. My travel partner and I once packed 4 in our combined check in luggage ;-) As I'm sure you would agree the price of a decent bottle of wine out here can be extortionate! So it's worth the trouble of (carefully) packing a few good bottles. You could also carry on 1 x bottle wine per traveller if it's purchased and correctly sealed at a duty free shop. However, most duty free shops will let you purchase 2 x bottles of wine if your travel partner is present with you at the sales counter.

Just remember that the total limit allowed is only 1 x bottle of wine per traveller entering Thailand. So, if you do go for it and bring more of that beloved vino back you may have to give up a few bottles if customs check all your bags! Up to you, as they say here.

My partner and I (both farang) opened accounts with Bangkok Bank some years back with nothing but passports and tourist visas in hand, and a local Thai friend to vouch for us. It was dead simple. Having said that we had tried previously without success at SCB. Good luck OP I hope you get it all sorted!

Your best bet will be to get one of the new 6 month tourist visas available from next month. You can come and go as much as you like with that. The only limit is a maximum of 60 days for each stay but if you're in O&G that shouldn't be a problem.

Yes, now we're talking. That 6 month visa sounds ideal for me. Thank you Elviajero!

It's available from mid November

http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/confirmed-new-multiple-entry-tourist-visa-for-thailand-available-from-november/115044/

You could keep entering with visa exemption as there is no set limit, but you'll possibly face continued scrutiny. I think the new visa has been brought in, partly, with people like you in mind.

I'll be one of the first in line for that one! :-D

Answer me this question do you live full time in Thailand or are you a genuine tourist ?

Yes. I'm still a tourist. I am spending most of my time off in Thailand, because I work in my home country in offshore O&G. I thought about getting a long term visa. But I'm too young for a retirement visa, not partnered with a local and can't be certain that I would be in the country to report on scheduled dates for any other visa. However, it is really only an issue when I'm between work assignments. Why do you ask?

All my thought was you might be getting the 3rd degree off them because you live here full time and border bouncing every 30 days thats all. .but if your convinced you will be staying here on time off all the time, a 500k TE visa would work good for you...and you work offshore so suspect the cash is not an issue...get one of those and your done for 5 years and with the exchange rates as they are a little over USD 14k...not big money

Sorry just one question. What does TE stand for? Not a bad idea that one. So long get as I'm not tied to regular reports it may be suitable. Thanks Soutpeel :-)

Thai Elite visa...with you on rotation assuming you will never be in Thailand more than 90 days so you will never have to do a report

Ok. Yes. This could work out well. Thanks again, Soutpeel. A friend based in BKK suggested the TE visa a while back. But I wasn't prepared to drop to much $$ at the time. Still unsure if I would spend that much now?!

Your best bet will be to get one of the new 6 month tourist visas available from next month. You can come and go as much as you like with that. The only limit is a maximum of 60 days for each stay but if you're in O&G that shouldn't be a problem.

Yes, now we're talking. That 6 month visa sounds ideal for me. Thank you Elviajero!

Answer me this question do you live full time in Thailand or are you a genuine tourist ?

Yes. I'm still a tourist. I am spending most of my time off in Thailand, because I work in my home country in offshore O&G. I thought about getting a long term visa. But I'm too young for a retirement visa, not partnered with a local and can't be certain that I would be in the country to report on scheduled dates for any other visa. However, it is really only an issue when I'm between work assignments. Why do you ask?

All my thought was you might be getting the 3rd degree off them because you live here full time and border bouncing every 30 days thats all. .but if your convinced you will be staying here on time off all the time, a 500k TE visa would work good for you...and you work offshore so suspect the cash is not an issue...get one of those and your done for 5 years and with the exchange rates as they are a little over USD 14k...not big money

Sorry just one question. What does TE stand for? Not a bad idea that one. So long get as I'm not tied to regular reports it may be suitable. Thanks Soutpeel :-)

Answer me this question do you live full time in Thailand or are you a genuine tourist ?

Yes. I'm still a tourist. I am spending most of my time off in Thailand, because I work in my home country in offshore O&G. I thought about getting a long term visa. But I'm too young for a retirement visa, not partnered with a local and can't be certain that I would be in the country to report on scheduled dates for any other visa. However, it is really only an issue when I'm between work assignments. Why do you ask?

What were the extra forms for?

Not sure BritTim. But I read a thread on here about these forms last week. If I can find it I'll send you a link

Just an update regarding a visa run yesterday from Chiang Mai to KL. I had booked a return trip and was back home for dinner the same day. I flew out on the last day of my tourist visa extension (from CM Immigration). It is my practice to dress smart and conservative when dealing with Thai immigration so as to show some respect for the officers, look respectable and like I can afford to travel.

At CM International airport the Immigration officer was openly annoyed and sighed audibly when I went to her open counter. After sighting my visa extension date stamp she declared 'Last day!' I was unsure how to respond to this statement because the Thai immigration visa stamp does clearly state that one can legally stay in the Kingdom up until the date on your visa stamp. She repeated herself twice more, a little louder each time. So I said 'Yes. I'm leaving today'. She was now glaring at me. So I remained calm, quiet and politely smiled at her. Eventually she stamped my passport and threw it back at me on the counter. Thankfully I experienced no problems at KL. It was all swift and painless at that end of the journey. At Chiang Mai airport the Immigration officer asked if I had a visa. I replied no. She asked how long will I be staying. I replied one month. As far as I understand I am eligible for a 30 day exemption tourist visa upon entry through airports in the Kingdom.

I've never experienced such close scrutiny (not to mention such contempt) of my movements in Thailand where I've been enjoying spending time away from work in my home country for over 3 years. I just don't understand why CM immigration insist on treating tourists that follow the rules, as they are set out, like we're doing something wrong. If I choose to stay in Thailand and spend my money here why try to make me feel bad about it? If this is how things are going to continue I will certainly be looking for greener pastures where I feel welcome and happy to spend my hard earned money!?

I also wanted to confirm that the Thai immigration had 2 staff posted at the bottom of the escalator handing out a separate form to all of the male passengers only. Which is creating a hazardous bottleneck effect at the end of the escalator. As most of the travel partners of the men filling out said extra forms stood in wait all over the arrival hall for them to finish.

The fun never stops here!?

You can only get one 30 day extension per entry. Did you have a 60 day tourist visa entry or a visa exempt entry?

You would not get an extension at a border crossing it would be a new entry.

Mae Sai is unpredictable as far as getting a visa exempt entry. It seems to vary day by day. You could go to the Chiang Kong crossing to Laos.

There is no requirement to fly out and back to get a new entry.

Thanks, Ubonjoe. Yes, ok I understand how it works now.

No, I didn't have a 60 day tourist visa or any exemptions as such.

So, do you mean that I could still go through Chiang Kong crossing to Laos and potentially get a 2 week visa upon re-entry in to Thailand, as opposed to flying out of the Kingdom and back? Or, are you referring to when I have a new 30 day tourist visa that I can then do such a trip?

I'm sorry to ask you so many questions! This is awkward when, as you know all too well, border areas such as Mae Sai are so unpredictable!? It gets frustrating especially when I think about how I'd much rather stay here in Thailand and choose to spend my money here! Visas are so restrictive here that they actually prevent people from spending more of their money in the Kingdom?! It just does my head in...????

If you've got that much money to spend, why don't you just go to a nearby consulate and get a tourist visa instead of messing around trying to do visa exempt border runs?

That sounds like a good idea. However, it didn't work out cheaper than visiting my consulate in this instance. This is somewhat of an unusual situation for me because I would normally travel back to my home country for work every other month. But it's all under control for now ?

You apparently had a 30 day visa exempt entry you got on entry to the country.

Chiang Kong has been reported as allowing out/in visa exempt entries. You would get 15 days unless you are from a G7 country which would allow a 30 day entry.

I think Mae Sai is strict because they are so close to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Many thanks Ubonjoe. I appreciate your help!

You can only get one 30 day extension per entry. Did you have a 60 day tourist visa entry or a visa exempt entry?

You would not get an extension at a border crossing it would be a new entry.

Mae Sai is unpredictable as far as getting a visa exempt entry. It seems to vary day by day. You could go to the Chiang Kong crossing to Laos.

There is no requirement to fly out and back to get a new entry.

No, I didn't have a 60 day tourist visa or any exemptions as such.

So, do you mean that I could still go through Chiang Kong crossing to Laos and potentially get a 2 week visa upon re-entry in to Thailand, as opposed to flying out of the Kingdom and back? Or, are you referring to when I have a new 30 day tourist visa that I can then do such a trip?

I'm sorry to ask you so many questions! This is awkward when, as you know all too well, border areas such as Mae Sai are so unpredictable!? It gets frustrating especially when I think about how I'd much rather stay here in Thailand and choose to spend my money here! Visas are so restrictive here that they actually prevent people from spending more of their money in the Kingdom?! It just does my head in...????

I went to Promenada today to apply for a second extension on my 30 day tourist visa. I was advised that I would be granted a 7 day extension and required to pay the full fee of THB 1900, and must fly out of the Kingdom in order to get another 30 day tourist visa. That said I've just arranged a flight to KL next week. However I can't help but wonder if I'd gone to Mae Sai today would they have stamped an extension of 14 days as they had been doing about a year ago?? Can any one please help to shed some light on this?

Where would you recommend having golf lessons in Chiang Mai? My partner and I are both novices so we'll need a teacher that is both good and very patient! ? Thanks in advance for your help.

I have to say that I had no problems opening a passbook savings account at Bangkok Bank in Chiang Mai. All I was asked to show them was my passport and a lease contract. Funnily enough the lease was only in my boyfriend's name. But, this was either went unnoticed or deemed unnecessary. I like that the passbook account came with a visa debit card too. I was only staying on a tourist visa on entry at that point too.

I can't say the same for SCB. They wanted us to produce all sorts of documents that we hadn't heard of before. Luckily, a friend suggested we try Bangkok Bank before we gave up on finding a good local bank!

Had considered going with Kasikorn bank but they were always a bit rude and downright reluctant to help even when asked to find the right form to do a transaction!?