PaulinSaphanKwai

There continue to be variances among the regional Thai Embassies/Consulates.

DannyP reports this for SETV in Yangon: Outbound tickets, Yes; Financials, No.

Thanks BritTim.

Paul

On 3/20/2019 at 11:43 AM, BritTim said:

Did you already have the "This person travels frequently to Thailand on tourist visas ..." stamp in your passport?

 

If confirmed by other applicants, this is a major change, but possibly not a bad one. It may explain why they are limiting the number of applicants they allow. It gives them time to scrutinise applications more closely. It may mean that they will be willing to give more tourist visas than in the past if accompanied by suitable justifications and supporting documents.

Given a closer scrutiny of tourist visa applications, is there a sense among the more Senior Members that the Thai Emb/Vientiane is moving toward a uniform requirement for 20K and air tickets?

If so, are Tourist Visa holders being asked to show their 20K and air tickets to IO when they cross the bridge to Nong Khai as well?

Paul

Thanks for that. 

Paul

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I am aware of it and considered it years ago shortly after it was first started . Looking recently it appears to still be a costly option if you use the card at a ATM here to get your money out.

Another problem is that it would be difficult to send the funds to qualify for the income option since it may difficult to get the proof the funds came from abroad.

Also one person who has was transfer his money to Bangkok Bank via their New Your branch which requires the IAT format now and direct express could not do them.

Good to know that about the Debit card.

In respect to the current direct-deposit method (via BBL/New York), I assume the IAT format issue has been resolved in time for the early-April direct-deposit transfer? I have been assured at a Chiang Mai BBL branch that this is the case.  Thanks.

Thanks again, UbonJoe.

BTW, in an unrelated matter:

In respect to the concerns of many Americans about bringing in their retirement pension via a US-based account or by direct-deposit in a Thai bank account, I trust people are aware of the DirectExpress debit card? A simpler way and it avoids the need to establish a foreign bank account. It can be used in relation to all manner of federal benefit--incl military pensions and disability payments as well.

https://www.usdirectexpress.com/index.html

Paul

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

They do not ask for financial proof in Vientiane.

He was writing about Savannakhet's requirements.

I will be applying for 60 days and intending to extend an additional 30 days in-country.

Should the out-bound airline flight be scheduled for the 60th day/thereabouts?

Paul

15 hours ago, visarunner said:

we get more enquiries for that trip, but please note that Savannakhet ask for Book Bank or Bank Statement with a certain balance, not less than THB 20,000 and a confirmed airline ticket within 60 days upon entry.  I have looked at the available booking for Vientiane for the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of April and for today , every 2-3 minutes a slot is taken, for the 9th April now 46 available. I assume that within this day all 200 slots are filled and that someone will continue to fill up the others days too. We have talked to other agencies and all said, they have no customers that book so far in advance. We requested the Embassy to review these bookings.   

visarunner:

How is Vientiane asking for confirmation of THB 20K--is cash acceptable or is bank statement mandatory? A Thai bank account?

Paul 

15 hours ago, visarunner said:

within 1 hour 100 slots are booked up for the 9th April, I assume they are still flooded with fake bookings. I have send a request to the Facebook side of Royal Thai Embassy and will also ask [email protected] to check. 

I just secured an appointment for April 10th--as of 5 a.m. today, there were "140" slots available for 9 am.

PaulinSaphanKwai   

On 3/17/2019 at 2:30 PM, elviajero said:

Here’s the link to their booking system;

https://thaivisavientiane.com/?fbclid=IwAR2QrDrg_NiVBJuwtPjBfsrkDenLQ4hjVR7Kz0xVCg2V1vCqwW0lOOgZ1Fo

 

The system is new and been hijacked by agents advance booking slots. The embassy have made changes to try and stop the agents, so hopefully things will calm down.

 

A TVF member has given an update in this thread;

 

Gents:

I trust this is the correct topic to pose this question:

Given the mess that currently exists in the Vientiane Embassy appointments system, is there any indication that visa applicants may soon inundate the Savannakhet Consulate, causing problems there?

Paul 

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

Both are extendable by 30 days for the standard 1,900 fee.

Thanks elviajero.

Paul

Thanks Ubon Joe.

On 3/16/2019 at 2:46 PM, elviajero said:

3 x 60 day Single Entry Tourist Visa. (recommended)

or

3 x 30 day Visa Exempt Entries with 30 day extensions.

 

 

elviajero:

Am I correct in saying that the 60-day SETV cannot be extended by 30 days in-country, whereas the Visa Exempt 30 days can?

Paul

elviajero:

Didn't I just find out! Good grief, how many months in advance?

Paul

Thanks again, Ubon Joe.

Paul

On 3/15/2019 at 4:42 PM, ubonjoe said:

No problem to get the visa.

Yes

Thanks, UbonJoe.

Paul

Gents:

I am US national coming off a number of years of Non-O retirement visas. Exiting on the final day. After 30 days in Laos, applying for a single-entry 60-day tourist visa from Savannaket Consulate. Have cash and outbound flight ticket.

Will Consulate be receptive?  Can I also extend for an additional 30 days in-country?

Will then fly out to a neighboring country, and not re-enter Thailand.

Thanks.

Paul 

4 hours ago, BritTim said:

Vientiane does not. Yangon did not request this from me a couple of years ago, but wanted to see either proof of travel in and out of Thailand, or hotel reservations. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi were not requesting this for first tourist visas a couple of years ago, but I understand this may have changed.

Thanks BritTim.

Are all regional Thai embassies/consulates requesting to see THB 20,000 cash for tourist visas?

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No, I can't but if you're over 55 and say you have social security for example, I think just showing your benefits letter would suffice. Regardless of current enforcement rules, the Cambodia system is a far cry from the massively onerous Thai system. I get it Thailand thinks they have a superior product … but is it that superior? 

Thanks Jingthing. 

Paul

49 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Correct answers above but you may be able to legally retire in nearby Cambodia until you're 50, then come on over (if you still want to). 

My current Cambodia retirement visa information is that if you're 55 and up you don't need to prove your finances, but if you're under 55 you will be required to show your finances meaning if you have solid proof of them, there is a good chance you get it.

Must be renewed annually. No bank deposits or imports requirement.

Cheers. 

Most recent info I have seen states financials remain a requirement. PRAY TELL-- Can you provide further details or a link re: financials need not be proven for Cambo retirement visa?  Many thanks.   Paul

25 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Nothing posted here or on the US embassy website or their twitter account. I think they will still be doing the income affidavits come January.

Only a very few offices have want the signature on income letters and etc verified by the MFA. If was not needed this year then it will not be required next year.

You can do the letter early if you are concerned about it since immigration will accept them that are up to 6 months old.

 

Ubon Joe:

Is this the only thread dealing specifically with U.S. affidavit letters for retirement visa extensions of stay?

Also, is there a separate thread dealing only with CM Immig. visa extension issues?

I am a newbie, and trying to trace the news on TV leads me to 2-3 threads, as best as I can see.

Many thanks.

Paul/SK

9 minutes ago, Pib said:

Good luck in getting an answer out of Manila. 

 

The POC on the 1 Oct 18 Bangkok Bank letter, Ms Phetchai told me to my face as I met with her, that HQ Bangkok Bank has also told all branches how to lookup your latest payment to tell you if your payment was received in IAT format or not.  Ms Phetchai confirmed my family member's payment was not in IAT format and showed me the printout....plus the family member was already on her list of accounts which were receiving U.S. govt payments that were "not" in IAT format.

 

And why would you want to contact SSA if your payment is already in IAT format...which it may or may not be....but Bangkok Bank can tell you if it's arriving in IAT format or not.  You also might want to call Ms Phetchai who can look up your info and give your a correct answer if you can't get your local branch to do it. 

 

Please give us some feedback on what you find out.  As you will see in earlier posts in this thread one person confirmed his payment is in IAT format and another person confirmed his/her's is not in IAT format.  Thanks.  

I will make that contact and let you know of the result.

Thanks for the info.

Paul/SK

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I have read before they were going to hand out a letter to all those with direct deposit accounts. 

I have also seen what they wrote in 1 to 3. I think the SSA has that information. But not sure what route to take to confirm they do or not or to provide it to them.

The Ass't Manager asked me to convey the info to the SSA--while not providing any detail about how to do that.

My BBL acc't is at another branch in Chiang Mai--I will contact them Monday  to see whether they propose how to get the info to SSA. I will also write again to SSA/MNL and copy them the Oct. 1 BBL letter.

If all else fails, I will await a possible direct letter from the SSA/Baltimore--hopefully no later than January, at about they time they will inform us about our 2018 COLA.

Paul/SK