koolaukid

I wanted to get back with you and report on my experience with my border run.  Thanks to all, especially UbonJoe who has been an incredible resource.  

I did the border run as you all recommended, my first ever.  Departed Ranong for Kawthaung but not before getting the 3rd degree from the Thai Immigration officials.  They wouldn't process me until I proved to them that I was leaving the country within 60 days.  I didn't have my plane ticket on my phone, only an itinerary and they pulled me into a back office and questioned me about why I was here, what my intentions were and whether or not the itinerary was legitimate.  Ultimately they determined that it was but not before spending probably about 20 minutes explaining to several different officers in the back office.  Not a seamless or straightforward experience.  

Did my first ever extension in Ubon Ratchathani last week.  Checked into the hotel and confirmed the owner had reported my stay on the TM30 online.  Went to Immigration to get my extension only to have them tell me the TM30 wasn't showing up in their system, they gave me a manual form and told me to have the owner of the hotel fill it in.  Went back to the hotel but the owner refused to complete the form, instead had me take a picture of the confirmation of receipt of the TM30 on her computer.  So I had spent time at the Immigration office, drove back to the hotel and then back to the Immigration office.  Told the officer what happened and she refused to process my extension until they received a completed TM30.  The staff in the office thought it was pretty funny and they all laughed while I showed them the photo of the confirmation on my phone.  The woman who was helping me told me to wait and went to eat.  Hung out until lunch was over, she checked again but the form still wasn't showing up in their system.  At this point the Immigration officer decided to call the hotel and put some muscle on the owner to complete the manual form.  I watched as the situation was explained, then as the officer pulled the phone away from her ear, the owner apparently unloaded on her over the phone.  After hanging up the officer didn't want to lose face and give in so told me to wait.  I asked to see a supervisor and when she came over she looked at the situation, listened to the processing officer give her side of the story and told her to go ahead and process my extension.  I think the officer helping me was annoyed and made me run around for copies individually.  Ended up taking almost 3 hours to get the extension.  Fortunately the office was almost empty and there were no lines.  A disheartening experience.  

I won't go into my escalating frustrations with having to provide a passport everywhere (paying utilities, changing my postpaid phone plan, depositing money to my own bank account, topping off a BTS card), getting grilled at Don Mueang at 1AM to see how well my girlfriend's spoken/written Thai was (they wanted her to write a one page essay to prove proficiency) or the dance with my landlord who refused to complete the TM30 form.  In the last case, I ended up self reporting and paying the landlord's fine.  While paying the fine, I told the Immigration officer that my landlord refused to file the TM30.  She decided to call the landlord but when she hung up the Immigration officer told me the landlord refused to file the TM30 and that I should move.  No satisfaction there.

I've been in Thailand for 5 years and, for the most part, loved it.  But things have changed and I truly feel singled out as a foreigner and unwelcome.  I depart next week to spend a couple of months in the Philippines to see how I like it.  If that doesn't work out I'll try Ecuador, been to South and Central America and enjoyed that part of the world.  I wish you all luck and hope for the best.  Adios.

I'm a US citizen and have been living in Thailand for 4 years.  My girlfriend is a Philippine citizen here on an EDU visa.  She has been informed by the school that when she leaves Thailand she is required to "close" her visa.  The school also told me that I'm required to "close" my retirement extension.  I had assumed that when we left the visa and extension would just expire.  I'm loathe to make an extra visit to Chaeng Wattana, is it necessary to "close" these items or do these items just expire?

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Thank you again for all your help over the years.  I first ran into you when inquiring about getting a retirement extension, you've been a reliable and consistent source of good info over the years.  

UbonJoe forgive me for being nervous but when I look at the Immigration website it says overland visa on arrivals are only good for 15 days but you're saying 30?  And how much does it cost to extend a visa on arrival?  Is it 1,900 baht?  Is this done at Cheng Wattana Immigration?  How long does this extension take to obtain?  Thank you.  You helped me several times over the course of my time in Thailand.

How long do I have to be out of the country?  And I assume I'd have to get a Myanmar visa?

I've got, hopefully, my last visa question.  I'm a US citizen, been in Thailand for 4.5 years.  I'm moving out of the country and my flight out is October 4, 2019.  However I just realized my current Non-O visa with retirement extension expires August 19, 2019.  What is my best visa option for the roughly 45 days I need to stay here before my flight out?  It seems I've spent half my life waiting around Cheng Wattana Immigration so would prefer to avoid any options that involve visits to CW.  I expect to spend some of my last days lounging on some of the southern islands, are there any options near Raynong?  I've never done a border run but have read and heard of them.  If flying out is the best solution is there somewhere close and easy where I could fly out and just turn around and hop on a return flight?  

Yesterday I went down to Cheng Wattana with my lease and passport with departure card.  Made copies of everything and waited for Counter B.  There were about 130 ahead of me and it took about 3 hours but they took my documents and 800 baht and accepted my TM30.  With the receipts they gave me (again had to make copies) went to Desk N and was issued the last 60 days of the visa extension.  So it is accurate that Immigration will allow someone to self register a TM30 without documents from the landlord.  I don't know if I'll ever get used to the way policies and rules are issued and administered here.

I'll go to Immigration tomorrow to try to self file the TM30.  Failing that I'll be reporting the landlord.  I don't have much time either way.

I have a rental agreement as well as a hard copy of our conversation on Line where the agent (acting as a go between) has refused to provide necessary documentation and has invited me to move out early.  Immigration has told me we need a copy of their ID or House Registration for the TM30.  Those are the documents they refuse to provide.

When we left the country Philippine Immigration noticed that this was her first trip out of the country.  They took her off to the side to Human Trafficking and interviewed her to make sure we have a legitimate relationship.  Went through her phone and wanted to see emails, chat messages and photos of us, it was rather invasive.  Fortunately we had done some traveling within the country and she had those.  Then they brought me in and interviewed me to see if our answers were consistent.  Asked how we met, how long we had known each other, what her birthdate is, whether I had met her parents and what they thought.  Gave us 59 days and told us that she had to be back in the Philippines within that time or they would look for me.  Fortunately, we had the right answers, she had photos of us and there was some chat history although we had recently switched over from Messenger to Viber and she had apparently deleted the Messenger chat history.  Even still it was a strange experience and took quite a while.  It was a good thing we had arrived at the airport early.

For some reason I haven't been getting notification from ThaiVisa when the subject has been responded to.  However I want to thank you all for the guidance, it's been a lot of help and given me things to consider.  Again, thank you.

I'm considering bringing my girlfriend to Thailand from the Philippines.  As an ASEAN country, I understand that she gets 30 days on arrival which I'm hoping is extendable for another 30 days.  However it would be nice if she could stay longer.  Can anyone provide any advice on best strategy for a long term stay for a girl from the Philippines who doesn't have a work permit?  

How about some Joe Walsh played at a high volume? Followed up with some Iron Maiden?


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I think this a case of someone taking advantage of higher social standing.  He obviously bullied the motorcycle rider.  This type of thing is completely unacceptable and I hope the driver of the Mini gets fired and banned from his job.  Assault charges wouldn't hurt either.

I guess I'll do a border run, perhaps visit Penang.  Thanks for all the help and advice.

I'm an US citizen with a type "O" visa with a retirement extension.  My extension expires next year on August 17.  I plan to move out of the country on September 15.  Is there an easy way to get a 30 day extension without having to do a border run or some other elaborate workaround?  

I had True at the apartment but Netflix was a problem, constantly buffering and stopping. Changed to AIS and Netflix works flawlessly.


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I'd like to purchase a Garmin Oregon. Is there somewhere in MBK it Siam Paragon where I can do so?

We were talking to the owner of a guesthouse we stayed at and she said you don't need a drivers license at all. The government tried to implement laws requiring people to qualify for and get drivers licenses two years ago but ran into so much opposition they dropped it. From seeing the way people drive I believe it. In town we had to run post off pedestrians to scrape off cars so we change lanes.

Hello, My name is DELETED recently moved from Hawaii and living in Bangkok, near the On Nut BTS. I've a CRF250 as well as a PCX and hope to meet people with similar interests and explore Thailand and neighboring countries. Not really interested in hardcore dirt biking although I can hold my own, more interested in seeing and experiencing the sights, sounds and tastes of the Southeast Asia. Hope to do day or multiday trips with others who can provide ideas, company and mutual support in case of, ahem, issues. Things I'm interested in include the Elephant Trail between Samoeng and Mae Hong Son and the Bolaven Plateau, trips of that nature. I've done a few trips including the Mae Hong Son Loop, runs out to Pilok/Three Temples, Siem Reap and Phanum Rung but after having a flat by myself in a fairly remote area I think it better, safer and more fun not to ride alone.

If there is anyone who would like a riding partner or a group who might allow me to join them please write or give me a call. DELETED

PM for details

My GF and I did a similar trip last month crossing over into Cambodia at Chong Chom. We did the crossing about dusk and it was easy, US passports and green book. I don't recall whether we had passport photos but I'd take two just in case. Got some kind of export document for the bike when leaving Thailand but Cambodian customs only entered our name and bike model into a book but no inspection. We told them we were going to Preah Vihear and Siem Reap, the guy said no problem, gave us no documents and said we wouldn't have a problem. There was no charge to bring the bike into Cambodia. We drove with headlights on all the time and other than a few vehicles flashing us no problem there either. The roads between Siem Reap and Poipet are all newish sealed asphalt but boring. Leaving Cambodia no problem although it is confusing as to which office to visit and in what order. Thai customs took the document Thailand issued me when leaving and also performed my immigration checks. Through the border in about half an hour. One piece of advice which we learned the hard way. Don't drive in Cambodia after dark. Cars/bikes/bicycles/tillers with no lights coming from all directions some are fast and some are slow. Back in Thailand we felt like we were back in civilization.

I have a non-immigrant O visa and an retirement extension.

I'm planning a trip to Jordan, Egypt and Israel the end of this summer and have only one blank page left in my US passport. As the Embassy no longer adds pages to passports it seems obvious I need to get a new one. In addition, my Thai retirement extension is due for renewal in August. Do I need to get a new retirement visa now or can I transfer the old one to a new passport? Is it even necessary to transfer the retirement visa? If I need to transfer the old visa is there a way to renew it so I don't have to repeat the process when the current one expires in August?