Jabuka Manzana

Hello, has anyone managed to get a METV from Paris, France yet? Any reports? Can you apply for it if on a monthly disability pension? Can the 5000Euros on bank account for 6 consecutive months be on a savings account or only acceptable on a current account? Paris Thai Embassy doesn't answer questions and METV wasn't available yet when I left for Thailand this time around. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

OP you mention perhaps Cambodia in future. I'm in sihanoukville typing this mixing with xpats living there. 12 month visa a breeze. Also much cheaper than los. I mean living expenses. Esp if drink

Thank you jacksam. Yep, Cambodia is definititely the plan for Winter of 2016. Will be sending all my stuff (acumulated over 7 years of Thai Winters) to a friend's in Phnom Penh and then try to settle down in Kampot. Poor health so don't drink much but always liked Cambodia and tired of feeling nervous everytime I cross Thai borders even though I always have a proper tourist visa. I have a feeling the Khmers will be quite happy to take my monthly pension now that it's not good enough for Thailand.

Thank you all for your input. Ho Chi Minh it shall be then!

Yep, that's the one!

At Paris Royal Thai Embassy, for new Thai multiple entry tourist visa available from Nov. 13th, I was told on the phone that they will require 6 consecutive months worth of certified, stamped and signed monthly bank statements showing a balance of at least 7000E. I don't have that kind of money... Even for single entry tourist visa they ask for certified bank statement with at least 1000E on your account (as well as flight ticket out of Thailand within 90 days and disability pension statement). Money has everything to do with tourist visas here!

Also, last time I applied for a tourist visa in January 2015 in Savannakhet (Lao), I was also asked for a bank statement so I've learn to always have one ready.

I will have to go Penang to apply for yet another single entry tourist visa in mid-March which should take me to mid-May when I fly back to Paris.

As Vietnam doesn't require a visa when you stay under 15 days, I'm thinking Ho Chi Minh would be a nice change of scenery in mid-january. Also, it's a lot easier to fly there from Krabi than to Laos or Mukdahan. After that, the plan is to move to Cambodia where visa laws are not so harsh (for the moment at least!).

Hello,

I browsed the forum for information but can't find anything recent.

Being under 50, I've been spending Winters in Thailand on tourist visas and living on disability pension I get from French government. Never worked in Thailand, just came to enjoy heat & sea and spend my 900E monthly pension. As my funds are not satisfactory to Thai Immigration anymore, I'm going to have to hope for the best and travel around every two months as do not fit requirements for new METV.

Has anyone applied for single entry in Ho Chi Minh City lately? How many days does it take? Do you have to go to Consulate yourself or can you get a travel agent to take care of it for you?

Thank you very much in advance for your feedback.

You all have a nice day/evening, depending on where you are..

How hard can it be to get a 2x 60 day visas,which give you 6 months if you extend,in your home country.Most tourists want nowhere near this long as they have jobs.Most "tourists"wouldn't want to tie up money in condos that they hardly use or the pitiful returns they give.

It is very hard in Paris actually. All you can get is a single entry and you need to show a certified bank account statement, a payslip or pension statement and a flight out of Thailand after two months or you simply do not get it! Being French, I have to go to Laos to get a double entry.

Both are the same for getting 2 entry tourist visas. Vientiane is a little easier to get to than Savannakhet for some people. Savannakhet is less busy than Vientiane.

They do not ask for tickets out nor financial proof.

Hey there,

Not to be a killjoy but I am French and was asked for my bank statement at Savannakhet Thai Consulate last January while applying for double-entry TV (I had just been on a two-month tourist visa from Paris - from Nov 2014 to Jan 2015 - and had been back in France for 5 whole months before that). I was glad I had one with me.

Wow, thank you again BuckBee, having the forms is going to make it a whole lot easier. Have a nice evening.

Thank you all for your replies and your help.

Okay, great, thank you. I'll make sure to have the cash ready (as well as 2000b for tourist double-entry visa for Thailand).

Thank you for the tip BuckBee. Where would I get the Lao visa form from?

Once single entry tourist Visa from Paris embassy in my pocket this morning, I asked the lady why no more double-entry tourists visas for French nationals. I was told the reason is that "too many French misbehave in Thailand". When I looked surprised she whispered to me "Not real French, North African French". Well, that left me speechless so I just left. What the hell?!?!?

Maybe some French person misbehaved in Thailand (they misbehave in France so it's highly possible, hehehe)?

Also, UK and Thailand are both kingdoms, maybe that makes a difference?

In any case, I totally agree with you "ukrules" and "Chivas", it's unfair and makes no sense. But such is life so I've decided to take it with a smile and go on a Savannakhet adventure in January.

Thank you very much for everything UbonJoe. Have a nice warm evening (it's freezin' over here in Paris!).

Okay, Savannakhet then. Just have to figure out how to get my butt over there, hehehe.

Is there a Thai border town one can fly to from Bangkok and then cross over by land? Domestic flights are cheaper than international, right?

Thanks ever so much UbonJoe, you just gave me back my peace of mind and that is priceless!

Really UbonJoe? That is great news. Liars....

Sorry, I read posts on this forum regularly but must have missed the one on Paris only doing single entry visa. Any place in particular in Laos? Would Vientiane work? Thank you so much.

Good idea but as I'm leaving on Monday morning and Paris Thai Embassy has my passport, not an option. Thanks for the tip in any case CFC

Hello everyone,

How are you all doing? I'm in need your precious help and knowledge.

I'm a 48 years old French woman and I've been coming to Thailand for twelve years now, staying between 4 to 9 months a year on tourist visas and/or medical extensions. I have never worked in Thailand and don't intend to as I have a kidney disease and get a monthly disability pension from French government which is plenty enough to live on.
Yesterday I went to Paris Thai Embassy to apply for a double entry tourist visa like I do every year and was told they no longer deliver them and that 30 days extension in Krabi were no longer available either.

My plan being to stay 6 months in Koh Lanta this year (going out every two months and applying for one single entry tourist visa from Penang in April 2015), I don't know what to do... My plane ticket is booked and I'm leaving Paris on Monday. I was going to pay my 6 months of rent up front upon arrival in Lanta in order to get a better monthly rate, like I do every year (I've been renting from same landlord for three years now).

What are my options now? Where could I go in the hope of getting another double entry tourist visa at the end January? Is it true that 30 extensions to tourist visas are no longer given? Or is it only for French citizens? I have been out of Thailand since June 30th 2015 and have no 30-day border run stamps in my passport (was on tourist visa, then medical extension, then another tourist visa last year).

Thank you all. Your help and advice will be much appreciated.