survivalblue

Here in Minnesota.

Minnesota Gold Lager about 18 USDs for 24/12 oz cans, 10 dollars for 12/16 oz cans

Hamms is 17 USD for 30/12 oz cans

Microbrews a lot more expensive.

Standard beers like Budweiser, Miller, Coors, run about 24 usd for 24/12 oz cans.

I've been spending most of my time abroad in the Philippines nowadays and have found the immigration process and visa's very easy and straightforward.  An ACR-I card is easy to obtain and good for 1 year, allows for opening bank account and drivers license. 

I'm not retired and not a year round resident, but immigration has always been stay as long as you want and very simple process.  Retirement visas are quite simple and straightforward.

It's not always great, there are pros and cons like anywhere in the world.  Renting or owning a house or condo with good security allows for a very hassle free and affordable alternative to Thailand.  

I wouldn't vouch for the nightlife being worthwhile (except for maybe Angeles or Manila) but if one seeks a homebody not very social lifestyle, it's alright.  

Province life is somewhat boring and uneventful.

Interesting how we can fly into Malaysia, fill out no forms, just go through a line and get 90 days without questions. 

Yet nowadays in Thailand we are scrutinized for wanting to stay longer than 30 days.

Signs of the times..

I'll longstay in the Philippines and holiday in Malaysia.

3 minutes ago, calbts2 said:

No it is not a waste of time. If you have all the right paperwork it is not a problem.

See this :

 

Thats a useful past thread on it.  Thanks for that.

Is there any issues with obtaining a 60 day THailand tourist visa at the Manila embassy? I've read the staff are rude and it takes some time but what I'm interested in is whether or not they will issue the tourist visa.  Is it a waste of time applying there? 

I'm aware the Cebu Consulate doesn't handle tourist visas and refuses to even talk with a foreign tourist, so I'm curious what the process is in Manila. 

Also if there are any agents that might handle the procedures without having to go to the embassy in person.

Simple solution is always carry exact change wherever you go and make sure to pay precisely the amount that is accurately displayed on your bill.

Never tip and never require a receipt.

The other option is to carry 3 thousands of 1 baht coins with you to the cashier that slight handed.  Make sure your in her line. 

And insist on paying with 1 baht coins for your 3000 baht total.

That should prove a point.

Yeah, Don't wash anything.  Don't fix anything.  Don't paint anything. Don't volunteer to do anything. 

Definitely don't cook, you are taking jobs away from the restaurants who cook for you.

Just don't do anything. 

Then your ok.

KLIA or KLIA 2 to KL Sentral. 

Can take the new train to Penang. Walk to the ferry, and go to Georgetown.  In Georgetown near the Fort Cornwallis are numerous agents who handle visas and there are others scattered around town. 

I'm not aware of any of these services in KL.  From what I've gathered, you need to be a Malaysian to obtain a Thai Tourist Visa in KL. 

I like ghosts.  Do I need  work permit to remove them from households for my own keeping?

I had actually done some research on KL for a Thai visa when I was in KL.

They are very strict.

Go early, wear nice clothes, be polite and professional.

Be prepared with your documents.

But really yeah, its a mistake to go there in your current situation.

You are trying to stay in Thailand indefinitely.  

I'd suggest taking a holiday and explore another country for a month, even Malaysia is alright for awhile.  

It is a bit ridiculous to imply that we can be in trouble for doing handyman work on the house we are inhabiting.

I did a number of things last year, including painting the interior, repairing flood damage to the walls and stairs, removing old installations.

I didn't get paid for it and I spent my own money on everything.  

I was doing it because I enjoy doing these sorts of things, and if I hadn't done it, there is no damn way that the GF would have hired someone to do it.  

So no, I was not taking a job away from anyone.

And if I can get in trouble for just finding ways to improve the home I am staying in and also doing things I enjoy doing, then it's not really worth living there.

The word absurd comes to mind regarding anyone who would bring trouble to a man for enjoying painting, refurbishing, or repairing a home.

I think what the immigration is focusing on is why are people staying in Thailand on tourist visas for up to a year or more?

Basically some people are living in Thailand on tourist visas.

So the solution is more on the immigration standpoint, creating a 1 year non immigrant visa or further implementing the 6 month METV visa as a necessary for long stayers.

At first I was a bit turned off on the sudden change of rules and regulations, but now I'm gathering a different view on it. 

A lot of people are/were abusing the system. 

If your on a "tourist" visa, you should be a tourist and not stay indefinitely in Thailand.

Thanks ubonjoe. 

I wanted to clarify that I won't need to do any additional applications or paperwork if I leave to Philippines, Cambodia or Vietnam during that 6 months and return.

As long as I already have the METV visa in my passport, I can just fly back in and get a new 60 day entry stamp within 6 months of the original entry date.

While I need to fill out the TM30 and deal with the personal information form separately.

This was what I needed to clarify.

Hi all.

I have some questions regarding the METV to clear up my understanding of it for future plans.

I understand the 6 month METV visa allows the visa holder to depart and reenter as many times as one wishes during that 6 month period from the initial entry.

Does each entry and departure require stamps? 

Does one have to depart every 60 days and reenter?

On arrival with this visa, the immigration officer will stamp me for 60 days and then I will depart before that expiration for and return for another 60 day entry?  I simply just return through immigration under my METV .

I've read up on the METV but still need a clear description of the procedures based on someones actual experiences with it.

Thanks.

Cross the border a week before your visa expires and return a day later with a new 15 day stamp.

And yes, they will notice you overstayed a day.

18 minutes ago, jspill said:

Thailand did the same drugs war thing under thaksin in 2002-3, extrajudicial killing of thousands. It didn't affect foreigners (as long as Nana and Cowboy stay open!) and neither does what is happening in the Philippines. And at least they elected their president democratically.

Yeah, I haven't noticed any drug war and I walk all around Cebu City day and night.

People I've met don't really talk about it here, but I don't associate with people who use drugs. 

Duterte is pretty popular here. 

You can come to the Philippines and stay as long as you want, immigration is straightforward and easy to work with here.  Plenty of condo options.   

It isn't Thailand by any means, but it's not bad here. 

The locals like talking to the foreigners and people are very friendly.

I spent most of this winter in Philippines and went to immigration here yesterday and it was straightforward, friendly, professional, and this went not only for myself, but for foreigners doing every type of visa.  The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly.

I miss Thailand after spending many winters there, but I feel a lot more welcome here in the Philippines for the time being.

The past couple years I stocked up on food and locked myself in the house.  I skipped Songkran on purpose.  

The only entertainment was watching a drunk teenager kiss the pavement while showing off on his motorbike in front of the house one morning.  He didn't ride his motorbike again for a few days.  One less dangerous idiot on the soi.

I did a 30 day extension at Pathum Thani immigration in March.

You will need to fill out extra forms, one of the forms is your intent to leave Thailand and that you are not working in Thailand.

If you are living with a Thai, you will need a copy of the Thai persons ID card and they will need to also fill out a form.

Technically, you could also already be in trouble if you are living in a Thai home and did not inform immigration in Pathum Thani or the local police chief that you have been a foreign occupant in a residence in Pathum Thani.

The entire process will be kind of confusing and will take about 2 hours of your day as the first person you hand the passport to will be the girl at the counter when you first walk in and she will take your passport to the officer issuing the visa and you will be called over to sit there and answer a few questions and then told again to take a seat, after waiting patiently you will be again called over to another desk and they will take cam photos of you and ask you more questions before telling you to take a seat again. Then the officer in charge will call your name throw your passport on the table without a smile and you leave with your extension .

Overall, just take a bus to Hua Hin and do the extension there with a hotel address instead.

Hi all, I'm a new member here.

Have been putting this together as a hobby for about 3 years now.

Lots of visual ideas for day trip planners from Bangkok or weekend trips.

Always adding more videos, there are some outside of the playlists and some playlists are compiled over more than 1 trips to the destination.

Hope it is useful for travel ideas or memories of places to forum members.

http://www.youtube.com/user/survivalblue