sateeb07

19 minutes ago, bander said:

Thanks for sharing your flight schedule mate.

Good to know that you have everything organized with all details and sharing this useful info with the TV community.

Very sorry to offend you, it was not my intention.....

1 hour ago, 19DL86 said:

Welsh roots too bach, just bought a gaff back there last year Pembrokeshire coast, to re lorate - not IF but WHEN the shhht hits the fan. After 14 years here prefer to be somewhere I know the rules, laws and requirements - or at least where these remain constant and I m treated as an equal, because its my country.  

That seems a good plan mate, all the best with it.  Have a beer overlooking a different ocean.

This place is done for, sit back and wait til it implodes and they go through the cycle of dispair. I ve mentally moved on.  Sold up all my assets, now just waiting to see how this shhht fest pans out.

 

Good luck.

????

41 minutes ago, 19DL86 said:

HI mate, no very sorry doesn't look like it's possible just yet.  But I'm sure someone will come along and tell me/you otherwise.

 

I live here permentantly, so I m might not have this straight - but its my understanding that from what I m reading you're not yet in the category.  It's so far just ass lickers, Oh sorry PR, and those with current Work Permits to enter.

 

Sit tight, be patient things will get better soon.  Or I hope so. Take care.

Thanks for the valuable information.  In this case i will just need international flights so i can fly my wife from Phuket, meet her in Dubai and go to our house in Wales.  Hopefully by that time UK will allow isolation in your own home.  I am missing Phuket though, sitting in my local with a cold San Mig and looking out at the ocean........haha

Hello all.  I work in oil & gas and am a Brit.  Currently stuck in Africa since 25th Feb.  I have a retirement visa for Thailand as i was getting trouble from immigration for entering every other month.  When the borders open for international flights there are conditions.  

Am i classed as resident because of my retirement visa?  I can get a cert to prove i don't have COVID but i do not reside in the UK and they are telling people to contact the Embassy in their own country.  Is there anywhere i can get ac clearer picture of what i need to do to get back?  I have insurance and can get the COVID cert.  Is there private isolation in Phuket?  I will not fly into BKK.  Apologies if all the info is on this forum.  I am at work and not enough time to search everywhere.  

Thanks in advance..

8 hours ago, VYCM said:

Good luck, keep away from the fish. 

 

I ate dinner one night coming of the rig, stayed in a hotel as the house was full waiting for the flight home the next day, I got sick, went to the SOS facility and my company tested me for drugs. 

I spoke to the doctor, he asked what I ate, told him fish. He said never eat fish in Luanda, its full of Mercury and lots of other chemicals. 

 

Are you getting paid, I'd be expecting twice the day rate, 

 

Hope you get out of there soon. 

Wow, good advice about the fish.  I like fish but not seen much that appeals to me.  I like fish in Phuket but its gone crazy expensive.  I work onshore so getting paid but they want me to take weekends off now without pay.  Like its my choice to be here, they saving money by not flying me home each time....not happy...

5 hours ago, Sakeopete said:

I have been stuck in Angola since mid February. I know how you feel. Hoping everyone  makes it home soon. The Covid19 certificate and special insurance will make it very difficult for travelers. Hopefully the Thai government comes to their senses and removes them I am guessing the Chinese will be allowed in without them. 

I am stuck in Angola too since February.  I am onshore in Luanda.  Another guy from Algeria is waiting to fly home tonight but he had to get a medical certificate to prove he tested negative for covid19.  He did the test yesterday and got the results today.  I am thinking that a lot of the airlines will insist on these certificates.  I know Thailand were asking for these before the lockdown but then it was difficult to get tested.  Just waiting to see if Thailand open up for international flights and make it mandatory for travellers to produce medical certificates at check in.  4 weeks off and spending 2 of them in quarantine is not appealing.  Good to know we can get tested in Luanda though if needed for travel...

Next time take a payslip with you, I did the same when I was FIFO doing 2 weeks off 2 weeks on but never got hassled in BKK. A payslip will prove you can support yourself and that your working somewhere else.

Yeah i can do that and bring my contract to show i work elsewhere...thanks for your advice..

I really don't think there is an ATM on that side of immigration. In the baggage hall for sure because you can buy tourist sim cards while waiting for your bags. It would not be a problem to keep 20k and another currency equivalent at all times to prove you can afford your stay for 30 days though.

Thanks guys, i really appreciate all the info and help.

It is possible that, in the future, you are denied entry. If that happens you can appeal. You wouldn't be blacklisted and would be free to fly anywhere. So just have a plan B to fly to a nearby country and get a tourist visa.

You should also be aware that visa exempt entry is meant for tourism and I doubt very much if many IO's would consider someone living here as a tourist.

Thank you for your input. Yesterday the immigration lady asked me what i was doing here and i explained to her i was working 1 month then coming on holiday to Thailand every other month. Now i will worry about returning the next time.

My last comment was based on the fact that IO's seem to be pushing people, that are over using tourist visa exempt entry, to get a visa for the purpose of the visit. The crazy thing is that if you get a tourist visa they will leave you alone even though you would still be someone living in Thailand and working overseas. The SETV isn't going to be a practical solution and the METV doesn't give value in your situation.

IMO your best long term solution would be an extension of stay based on retirement (over 50) as that is for the purpose of someone living here, and they could have absolutely no complaint about you coming and going.

Thank you. To apply for this visa i have to put 800k in a Thai bank for 3 months? So i cannot possibly get the visa for 3 months right? Then i apply, get the visa and i can come and go when i want for a 12 month period? Then i apply for a year extension every year?

It is possible that, in the future, you are denied entry. If that happens you can appeal. You wouldn't be blacklisted and would be free to fly anywhere. So just have a plan B to fly to a nearby country and get a tourist visa.

You should also be aware that visa exempt entry is meant for tourism and I doubt very much if many IO's would consider someone living here as a tourist.

Thank you for your input. Yesterday the immigration lady asked me what i was doing here and i explained to her i was working 1 month then coming on holiday to Thailand every other month. Now i will worry about returning the next time.

They would have no basis under section 12 to deny you entry if you have financial proof and proof you are working outside the country.

I would not worry about it. In my opinion you are not living here since you are staying less than 30 days.

That's exactly what i thought. My rotations mean i do not overstay and it works out perfectly.

Any suggestions on agents that can process the retirement visa application for me? Prices etc?

It is possible that, in the future, you are denied entry. If that happens you can appeal. You wouldn't be blacklisted and would be free to fly anywhere. So just have a plan B to fly to a nearby country and get a tourist visa.

You should also be aware that visa exempt entry is meant for tourism and I doubt very much if many IO's would consider someone living here as a tourist.

Thank you for your input. Yesterday the immigration lady asked me what i was doing here and i explained to her i was working 1 month then coming on holiday to Thailand every other month. Now i will worry about returning the next time.

I've always been confused with offshore workers doing the month in month out thing using visa exempt. The very experts that are saying that this is all fine are implying that can be done ongoing.

Yet in other threads so quick to remind folk that more that 6 will cause big troubles. What's to stop someone calling themselves offshore workers and spending 30 in los and 30 say other Asian countries

Genuine Off Shore Workers usually will have no difficulty in explaining themselves to immigration. They can evidence cash, tickets out of Thailand and overseas employment .

A friend of mine is one such worker, he was stopped once, he explained his situation and has never been stopped again.

These people are not the usual "border hoppers" attempting to live in Thailand by using inappropriate means.

I can produce a ticket out of the country and i can produce a work contract for my job in Africa. I also have my 2nd passport with my Angola work visa and stamps in and out of the country. I can show them my Thai bank book too and prove i have means for each visit. If i can prove all of the above will i still get trouble next time i attempt to enter Thailand. I only just realized i am eligible for a retirement visa and its something i can look in too.

Sorry for my naivety but i never had problems before as i used to get the 1 year multiple entry non immigrant O visa's

No chance to get another 1 y Non-O multiple now?

No i don't think so. I am a British citizen and i used to send the form off to the consulate in Hull and get the visa within a week. It all changed and i have just turned 50 so i think the only visa i could get is a education visa but the schools i contacted would not entertain me because i would be here 1 month and then going back to work for 1 month. I am earning my living in Africa and then spending some of that money in Thailand. I have 2 passports and i can show i have visa stamps for my work in Africa every other month. It has been worrying entering the last 3 times in case i got refused entry with all my belongings in my apartment.

Thank you all for the sound advice to my post. I have recently been thinking of getting a Thai privilege elite card for 500.000 baht.

When filling in the arrival card should i put my apartment address or a hotel address? Yesterday i just put the soi because i could not remember my exact address and the immigration guy just gave it back to me saying " more detail". Sorry for my naivety but i never had problems before as i used to get the 1 year multiple entry non immigrant O visa's

You have been getting visa exempt entries not a visa.

By the written rules you are doing nothing wrong. They cannot deny entry for doing it. Entry can only be denied under sections 12 of the immigration act. Having your ticket out and the equivalent of 20k baht in cash would overcome any denial under section 12.

Phuket is the worst airport for pulling people to the side for questioning after doing several exempt entries.

Ok i thought it was a 30 day tourist visa, thanks for clarification. I will start carrying the 20 thousand baht with me from now on. I have a Thai bank account too, would it be wise to carry or just the cash?

How do you enter Thailand. You mention VISA. These are 60 day. Are you entering every other month and obtaining visa exempt stamp?

Sorry to confuse you. I mean i enter as a tourist which is a stamp for 30 days. I am back to work after 28 days so it works well. I don't need an extension. In the event of having 5 weeks off work instead of 4 i fly to Malaysia and then get another 30 day stamp on re entry.

Hi all

I have had problems in Phuket airport immigration lately. I work in Africa in oil and gas on 28 days on/off rotation. I live in Phuket on my 28 days off and rent an apartment here. I enter every time as a tourist because i will be back to work again before the 30 day visa expires. The last 2 times i have been stopped and questioned by immigration. I need to show my ticket to leave the country (understandably). Yesterday i was taken for questioning, they asked me what i do here. I explained i work abroad and spend my time off here and i do not work. I am worried i will be refused entry at some stage. I am not doing anything wrong am i?

Anyone else in the same position?