Scott3000

On 12/16/2017 at 1:42 AM, thai006 said:

 

No probleme i was there last sunday Just put the right adress in the tm6 because the girl officier ask me for that only


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

Thanks for this detail. Just bought my bus ticket & it's comforting to have up to date info. I will pack my address along with passport & head up there next week. Cheers!

40 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

No problem to get a visa exempt entry at Mae Sai. They only count crossings by land.

Thanks Ubonjoe!

Hi I'm looking to do a visa run to Mae Sai next week.

Before finalizing plans, I wanted to make sure I'm likely to be allowed re-entry. This will be my FIRST land entry in 2017. 

I have 3 previous AIR entries this year:

Two visa runs by air in January and March.

Left Thailand for 5 months in May.

Returned by air in October visa exempt, plus extension.

From what I understand, I'll be OK doing a land entry at Mae Sai before the year ends. Please confirm.

Thanks!!

5 hours ago, elviajero said:

You are only allowed 2 visa exempt entries per year at land borders, so as long as it's your 1st or 2nd land entry you will be able to get another 30 days at Mae Sai.

Can these visa exempt entries at land borders be extended for another 30 days at Immigration offices in Thailand?

I had was interrogated during my last visa run to DMK airport in Bangkok. I had 2 visa exempt entries in 2016, 2 in 2017, with a SETV in between. Basically, I've been living in Thailand half of the time since 2016, but more than that in 2014-15.

I am picking up a new passport Monday.

I want to arrive at DMK without a visa (not convenient to get one now), but I could arrive at CNX if it that's a better choice.

Am I likely to have problems at Immigration in DMK airport?

Thanks!

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

 6 times on exempt will usually raise a flag and they will question you as to why.

 

In what time period for the 6 times visa exempt by air?

I had 2 earlier this year (Jan, Mar); 2 in 2016. A lot more before entries and TV's in 2014-15, but lived 6 months outside of Thailand  in 2016, and the most recent 5 months outside of Thailand this year.

I'm getting ready to go back by air after a 5 month absence.

I also have a new passport.

So my questions for this next trip would be if the new passport helps, and also if I would be OK entering visa exempt in Bangkok (DMK) or if it's recommended to enter in CNX? And, of course, 6 visa exempt entries in what time period?

Thanks!

I agree with SmartyMarty -- I'm 49, but have done the research at Assist Thai Visa in Chiang Mai. They quote the exact same price as Marty's agent, and they offer to handle everything he suggests, hassle-free. They come recommended to me by several people, and I've gone to them on several occasions. So just go to Thailand, pick a good, recommended visa agent, making sure they offer the same services as folks are discussing here, pay the fee, and arom di!

I had issues at BKK in January, and DMK in March. The second was particularly bad, as I was pulled aside for questioning, then allowed to take my continuing flight to CNX. The IO told me that I could "have Chiang Mai Immigration deal with this". Caused me some anxiety, but the folks at Chiang Mai processed my extension like the routine procedure that it was, without the unnecessary hassle.

So my question is: When folks say this problem is occurring at "the airport"  -- are you referring to the two airports in Bangkok, or any airport in general? Perhaps CNX and others would be better points of entry, when possible???

Thanks ubonjoe!

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

 Only a onward ticket is required if you don't have a valid visa for entry.

Is this a new policy for air travel? Is it strictly enforced for visa exempt entry?

Thanks!

6 hours ago, BritTim said:

In practice, this would be very unlikely unless you had a big argument with them over it or something.

Thanks Brit Tim!

I made my first international trip with my old college buddy in 1988... from Plattsburgh to Montreal. I'll never forget his advice: "Don't ever argue with immigration officials... don't even joke with them!"

Fortunately, I've heeded that advice ever since & pass it along to all who care to read it here. It has served me well for decades :-)

Cheers!

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

For some locations that is 3 back to back. After that you can go to different location and get more visas.

Any idea how long the 3 back to back lasts? I've got that -- with the warning stamp above the 3rd, from Vientiane on June 2, 2015. Any idea when I might get another TV from Vientiane?

Good news is, my 50th b-day is at the end of this year :-)

Thanks!

Thanks Viajero!

Over the past hour, I've been weighing options between a land crossing vs. another round trip flight to KUL & back -- so this is helpful!

Cheers!

Is it still possible to do a land visa run across the Friendship Bridge?

I already have one visa-exempt entry in January, by air to KUL & back to Thailand. Before that, I entered on an SETV from Hong Kong in late October, 2016. 

I believe that you can have 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year, by air or by land. So I'm thinking of just crossing in and out of Laos, without actually leaving the border area.

I am also considering getting an SETV in Vientiane -- but I have the "red stamp" for too many 2-entry TV's in a row from Vientiane -- "red stamp" was in June, 2015, nearly 2 years ago.

I'll probably get a new passport at a US consulate in Thailand during my next entry.

Thanks!

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You could buy a one way ticket from anywhere in Thailand to any country. Check Air Asia for a one way ticket.

CNX to KUL and BKK to KUL on Air Asia are each around $100 US -- that's the cheapest international flight out of the country I'm aware of.

I will buy one of those at KUL airport, if required. I originally set up my reservation with a few hours layover, for that purpose.

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration will not normally not ask to see a ticket out of the country but the airline may want to see it.

You could buy a one way ticket from anywhere in Thailand to any country. Check Air Asia for a one way ticket.

Thanks!

Is an additional ticket out of Thailand required for a border run by air?

I will PROBABLY take my flight CNX to KUL, round trip, as the cancellation fee is too high to justify.

But before making a final decision, I wanted to know if I will be able to board my return flight, without a ticket out of Thailand -- I will likely go to Chiang Kong by land in 60 days & do not want to buy a plane ticket I won't use.

The return flight is KUL to BKK, on Bangkok Airways, operated by Malaysia Airlines.

Thanks!

14 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You could go to the Chiang Khong crossing to Laos and get 30 day visa exempt entry.

Do you know if there is direct bus service from Chiang Mai?

This might be a viable option, but I would need to deal with all of the logistics today. If my KUL return ticket hadn't been so expensive, I'd just go ahead and fly there, come back & then have 60 days to "figure it out".

I've got the "passport holder comes to Thailand frequently on a Tourist Visa" fine print in my passport with the TV from June, 2015 (I got 3 two-entry TV's in a row from Vientiane during 2014-15). I left Thailand for 6 months, late April, 2016, then returned late October, 2016, with a SETV from HKG, which expires Tuesday.

So this week will be my first visa exempt entry since February of last year.

Thanks!!

On 1/14/2017 at 5:02 AM, ubonjoe said:

The 15 day entry rule was rescinded on December 31st when the new rule limiting land border entries to 2 per calendar year went into effect. All visa exempt entries are 30 days now.

Wow I'm just seeing this!

Does that include Mae Sai?

I've got a flight to KUL tomorrow (Jan 23), which I believe is refundable. My SETV + extension expires on Jan 24. If possible, I will cancel my flight & take the good ol' Green Bus to Mae Sai... 

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I have seen no report of agent being available there to get the visa. The embassy in Vientiane as far as I know no longer allow agents to do applications for people.

Last time I used an agent in LPQ was Jan, 2013; last time in Vientiane was June, 2014... ahh... the good ol' days :-)

Thanks Ubon Joe!

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

1. You should not have a problem getting a visa exempt entry.

2. I would skip KL. Penang is a better option since you can use an agent there.

    Another option is Vientiane. You can fly to Udon Thani from CM. Then take a van from the airport there to the bridge in Nong Khai and cross to Vientiane.

Thanks Ubon Joe! I was just talking about you here in CNX this past week. You're a hero 'round these parts ;-)

I'm leaning toward just buying the return ticket from KUL immediately, then getting a new US passport at the consulate in CNX.

I love the trip to Vientiane -- I've done it several times.

But I love Luang Prabang even more -- agents there used to provide visa service, while I'd kick back & enjoy LPQ for a few days before returning to Thailand. Do you know if that type of service still exists? I've heard it was discontinued in the early days of the military regime (2014).

Thanks!

On 1/4/2017 at 10:39 PM, clickyclick said:

I'd like to move to Thailand for 6 months to a year just to avoid the winter and spring here.

I'd recommend avoiding the hassle of METV -- just get the SETV before leaving home, extend it, leave Thailand after 90 days, then get a second SETV. That's based on your preference of staying here 6 months out of the year. I got my most recent SETV in Hong Kong -- the most efficient Thai government office I've ever seen, minimal hassle, and I also happen to like Hong Kong. If I were in your situation, I'd get the second SETV there... and break up the trip with a week in Hong Kong for a little change of pace, then fly back to Thailand :-)

Another option I've heard of -- yesterday, I met a US citizen who comes and goes more frequently, but ends up spending about 4-6 months per year in Thailand. He never bothers with a visa at all, only visa exempt entries, and he's older than 50... told me he's never had a problem entering the country -- more than twice per year.

Good luck!

Happy New Year!

I am getting toward the end of my SETV acquired in HKG (I gave a detailed posting in the appropriate section a few months ago). I have a one-way ticket to KUL in late January.

I am debating whether to just buy a same-day return to Chiang Mai, visa-exempt,  and stay for up to 60 days; or to apply for a second SETV in a row, either in KUL or Penang.

So I've got two questions:

1. Would I expect any difficulties if I just returned immediately from KUL, visa-exempt? My last such entry was February, 2016, after which I departed Thailand in April, and was out of the kingdom for 6 months.

2. Any hassle in getting a SETV in Malaysia -- Penang or KUL? I recall KUL was not recommended in 2016; Penang was the recommended place. Will hotels/agents help with this, in either city?

Thanks!

2 minutes ago, BritTim said:

 

I do not think he was intending to travel with his own wheelchair. Thus, your information is only useful if he can rent a wheelchair at the airport. Perhaps, he can by prior arrangement. Probably, though, taxis are a better solution if he can afford it.

I gather that he was using an airport wheelchair, since that's what he wrote.

And no, taxis are NOT necessarily a better solution. Sounds like you have not experienced the Hong Kong transportation system. It is HIGHLY ACCOMMODATING. Taxis, by contrast, ARE NOT. Airport, train, and MTR personnel are ALL -- in my numerous experiences -- EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

Taxis, by contrast, are hit-or-miss -- some are helpful, others are certainly NOT.

Again, this is not conjecture or speculation -- these comments are based on NUMEROUS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. Don't talk about "probably" -- talk about actual, relevant Hong Kong experience.

On 9/13/2016 at 3:22 AM, IMA_FARANG said:

Thanks for the info.

I am minmally disabled however, and fly with a wheelchair from Airlines, so is it possible to take a taxi from airport to a hotel near to the Thai consulate.

I asume so, difficult for me to walk to far.

Rather pay taxi fee than wlk any long distance.

IMA: I'm not sure if your question is still timely, but you should be able to take the train from HKG airport to Central station with NO PROBLEM, as I seem to recall that train is wheelchair-friendly, all the way to the Central station -- which is just one MTR stop or a short taxi ride away from Admiralty station & Fairmont House. (Thai consulate is in the Fairmont House bldg).