mrnike

Well, well, well...

I'll try the visa extensions. If that fails, i'll go to the Philippines.

Thanks folks.

I cancelled my appointment this morning. Will do the visa exemptions. I wanted to get a visa to not have to deal with immigration every month and not get too many exemptions on my passport, but they don't leave me the choice.

But this so stupid... It is clear that what all they care about is the money. And when, they have a chance to get it, they make it difficult for us. Looks like they prefer Chinese who spend 10'000 for a week that long time travellers who spend 4000 for several months... They need to learn to do the maths...

So, how do you guys manage it? Are you all only concerned by the 90 days reporting?

@ChaiyaTH

Totally agree with you. And long time travellers typically travel like that because they don't want to plan every second of their trip. So silly.

A quick reply would be appreciated as my appointment is tomorrow at 10.30. So that I could cancel it if necessary.

Hi folks,

I have multiple visa exemptions and SETVs mostly from 2016 and 17. In 2019, i returned for a 2 months trip (visa exemption).

This time i got an evisa from home and now need to get a new one. Planning to stay for 6 months.

I decided to go to KL in order to get a new visa, as i was in the south of Thailand already.

I just found out that KL seems to be pretty strict and about the new requirements, especially the proof of accommodation for the whole trip.

So my questions:
- will a few nights booked at a hotel be enough, or do they really request it for the whole trip?
- In case of a visa denial, would  this impact my chances of getting a new SETV at, let say, Vientiane?
- I read that the visa could get cancelled if the authorities found out that the hotel bookings for its validity were fake or cancelled. Does anyone have experience on this?

Or would I just be better off using visa exemptions (one + extension and another one) for the extra 90 days I'm planning to spend?

Cheers.

Hello everyone,

I'm about to go to Hanoi for my next visarun.

My question was to know wether it would be ok to use one passport (swiss, with all my stamps and visas) for thai immigration  (exiting and entering the country again) and another one  (french passport) to enter and exit Vietnam? Bcz French nationals dont need visas for short stays and I'm a bit short for doing a Vietnamese visa, with the holiday tomorrow.

I'm asking this, bcz some consulate (Vientiane) asked me for a copy of the entry stamp + visa for Laos.

Thanks.

Actually i did everything right with my bank in my home country. I just realised that the difference is due to the fact that i was entirely relying on the exchange rate of my phone application (XE Converter), as my money is coming from my home country, and of course the bank exchange rate is lower, about 1.2%. That's why.

Hi guys,

I just made a transfer from my home bank in Europe to my recently opened Kasikorn Saving account here in bkk.

First i got surpised how fast it took for me to get the monry, less than 2 hours, but then, my second surprise was how much money they charged (stole) me: they basically charged me 5000thb for a bit less than 340'000...

I've been calling my home bank twice, and they told me they just charged me 150thb, and then went to a kasikorn branch, where a guy on the phone told me that they charge 2.5% (which is not possible, as it would be more than 5000thb) and 500thb, and that they used the visa exchange rate (???)...

I'm more than furious, as my goal by opening an account here was saving on the atm fees...

So, do you guys have any ideas or explanation on why i got charged so much, and maybe on what i could do to protest and get some of the money back?

Thanks in advance.

Finally everything went fine. Didn't even get a single question when i arrived in Don Muang yesterday at around 10.30 PM. No fingerprint or picture either. I didn't take more than 1 minute. 

My update on getting a SETV in Hong Kong at the end of this thread.

Everything went flawless.

Went there on thursday at around 9.30 to submit my application, only my passport copies and the HK entry stamp got collected + the form and a picture + 300HK $. Waited about 5 minutes. Came back the next day in the morning, waited 2 minutes and got my visa.

HKG is fine but REALLY expensive.

all right, thanks guys. 1 and 3 is clear. But 2 ?

2 different opinions... I was tending to think like Nick ZepTepi (not giving them a hint i'm leaving here longer than a regular tourist), but on the other hand, they will see pretty quick on  my passp0rt the time i spent here...

So better not to lie ? 

Hi guys, 

i'm about to travel out of thailand for about 2 weeks and end my trip in Hong Kong where i will request my SETV.

I already printed out the form. I have a couple of hesitations:

1) Occupation: i am not working but have other sources of income. What should put then ? Just leave blank or put for last job at home 5 yrs ago ?

2) Current address: should i put the address (condo) of where i have been leaving now for 2 months in Bangkok or should i put my address back home ? If i'm a tourist, am i not not supposed to leave in Thailand already ?

3) Local guarantor: should i put the address of my girlfriend or should i leave it blank ?

Thanks in advance.

all right, great. Thanks 

hi guys, 

i'll finally get my next SEtV in Hong Kong. I read that one of their requirements was a ticket ouf of the country. 

My question is: what date is that ticket supposed to be booked for ? The term of the setv, ie 60 days, or can it be the term of the extention of the setv, ie 90 days after entry (which could mean that i could use that ticket (for real) for my next visa run) ?

Cheers

Just wonna make one thing clear: when i used the term "intellectual curiostity", i was reaferring to being able to comment together what she/i lived, experienced saw or heard (whatever the subject). Having a window to the outside world, instead of almost exclusively having a very minimal little talk centered on the couple.

To answer your question: I'm 47 and she's 32.

hi guys, 

I have known my girlfriend for about a year, of which we spent 4 months together, including her 2 weeks holiday to my country, which made our love stronger and made me consider further commitments. As it's been clear since the beginning that i didn't want to leave in Thailand (she told me she is ok with that), the only option left for us is marriage. As this is a an important decision, i decided to come back to Bangkok (for 6 months) to get to know her better. 

Our relationship has been doing fine and we managed to overcome the distance for almost a year. But now that we got together again (since a month), something to which i didn't pay much attention during my first trip, started this time (probabely because the maturity of the relationship) to really bother me and bring me a lot of frustration:  the lack of intellectual curiosity, many people mention.

I know some people will be fine with it, but i won't, as i'm not ready to sacrify the intellectual aspect with my (future) wife. I'm not talking here about philosophical discussions, but just the normal amount of exchanges/discussions which makes a relationship fulfilling.

As during my 6 months here, i doubt she'll change (as she is in her native environment), i was wondering whether once in Europe she would be able to get more curious intellectually .

I would be very interested if those who are leaving back home with their teerak could share their experience.

Cheers.

Thanks guys for your advises and kind messages.

I will follow them and relaaaxx a little bit 

In order the secure as much as possible my stay (with setv only), i was thinking of having a new french passport issued here in Bkk (i am binational), in the top of what i mentionned above.

Do you think that could do the trick, in case i would get the infamous red stamp from the embassy (" has travelled too many times...") or if my visa would get denied, or on the contrary that would awake suspicion  (bcz issued in bkk just before my exit of the country) from the IO?

I must admit that this uncomfortable position makes me worry a lot, as i came here with an important goal: spend 6 months with my gf, in order to get to know her better before serious future commitments in Europe. So a denied entry would seriously mess an important project in my life.

Hi guys,

I recently moved in to a new place, made a contract (on my name) with AIS for the fibre, but after 2 weeks we moved out of this place.

Today, my girlfriend and i went to AIS and asked whether we could break the contract, as AIS is not available in the new building where we now leave. They replied i had to pay 2400thb.

As i don't want to loose more money (i already lost a lot by moving out of the first place) I'm just wandering what would happen if i would just not pay a baht and not return the router (as they probabely would make more problems if i would walk to a shop to return it, telling them that i want to cancel the contract) ? 

Would i just ruin my credit history (which i wouldnt care, as I'm never gonna ask for a credit in this country) or run into more troubles?

Cheers.

On 24/07/2017 at 11:22 PM, lkv said:

Well he does not really have to go on the 27th, he can extend his current stay by 30 days if he wishes to do so.

I finally did that, so i have another 30 days left.

So indeed, Bali will be posponed.

I've been investigating the school options, and finally not sure the Ed visa is the way to gofor me, as my requierments (flexibility and serious learning) seem hardly compatible with ed visa group classes, and the private lessons  ED Visa option of the schools (over 8 month) are way to expensive to be taken into account.

So I'm coming back to my initial idea and am now considering going the SETV visa way (2x) and learning thai with private teachers (not affiliated to schools),

Quote

If you really must go out soon, before getting the ED paperwork done, I'd come back with a TR-Visa - with 20K Baht, by land.  You will have been gone for weeks, so it's not an "in/out."

and travel a couple of weeks before reentering Thailand, in order to avoid it to look line an in/out.

Do you think that would make it safer?

All right, that makes sense.

Furthermore, my girlfriend offered to make the contract at her name, and then take it over at her place, but probably with a cheaper/slower connecrion.

Thanks CharlieH.

I considered that option, but then thought i would be too good to be true.

Quote

You can also ask for suspension for the last 3 month by paying flat rate of 150b but you still need to return the equipment after that.

You mean the equipment can be returned only after 12 months, and not by the time i request the suspension ?

hi guys, 

i will be staying for 8-9 months in Bangkok, and will need an internet connection with a good debit, for watching TV (through internet) and

browsing the web. 

I heard that many will providers will require min. a 12 months contract. 

I'm staying at wind 23 condo, and i'm afraid that AIS won't be available here.

Are you guys aware of a (not too bad) provider that would allow terminating the contract before the term without asking astronimical

fees, or a way aournd it ?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your inputs.

I visited both pro language and language express and got a trial at LX yesterday.

When i visited them before the trial, they made me a quite good impression (except the tremendous pressure they would make on me to get me as a new student. After the trial they insisted so bad that i had to leave in the middle of the conversation.) and seemed to match my needs (in term of flexibility) pretty well.

But then, after the trial my impression got different: even though the class was small (6 students), the method just didnt seem adequate for such a complicated language:

1. the students would repeat the words all together after the teacher, which does not allow the teacher to correct the pronouncing, which seems to be a key point in thai language.

2. After that, the students were asked to fill in gasps in sentences from the book with new vocabulary words and practise it in pairs. The teacher did not seem to pay big attention on the pronoucing, which, according to my understanding, is the main challenge in thai.

3. As no precise homeworks are given (even though everybody is free to do so) this seems less than enough (at least for me) to be able to acquire a solid basis.

Therefore, indeed, accourding to my needs (good method, flexibility, not more than 2 days (but min 8h) from mon to fri), private classes would be optimal.

Do you guys have any school coming to your mind, that would offer such a service for a reasonable price? I'm afraid I'm gonna have no other option than a school (for private lesson) as the ed visa will be necessary for me.

If none come to your mind, are you guys aware of a school that would use a better and more professional method and still offer flexibility (allowing to miss a few classes and then catch up later)?

Thanks

Hi. Thanks for your reply.

Not sure yet where, but it's gonna within the next days, as I'm allowed to stay only until 27.

Regarding the destination I'm considering going to Bali. But i don't mind doing a little detour in Penang.

Hi guys,


The situation finally very complicated and is driving me nuts, so that I'll REALLY have to take a break of it all to be able to think.


My visa exemption expires on the 27 of this month.

So Im thinking of travelling abroad for 2 to 4 weeks and therefore would like to know which would be the safest option due my visa history (3 exemptions + extensions and 2 SETV in 2016 and this time 1 visa exemption now), knowing that on my return I'm planning to enroll a thai language course and go for the ed visa for another 6 or 8 months and renting a place for the same amount of time.

- make the visa extension tomorrow and when travelling out of BKK (within a few days) make a reentry permit (but in my return i would get only max 30 days to choose the school and get the ed visa paper done

- leave the country before the 27 and get (one more) SETV before i come back.

as i dont think getting an additional exemption would be a wise choice.


Thanks for your advices.

Ps: Sorry if this post looks like my last one, but im feeling quite insecure and pushed by the time.