truthfix

5 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

If you obtained the STV you'd have to enter before 3rd July in order to extend a further 3 months. As flights to Phuket don't start until 3rd July, then you'd have to book at an ASQ hotel if that was your preferred option and stay for 6 months.

 

Otherwise it's an SETV + 30 day extension, then take your chance with Covid extensions.

 

Is your preference is to enter via the Phuket Sandbox scheme and guarantee a stay of 6 months, then you should be considering the Non Imm O-A Visa, or a Non Imm O Visa and 1 year extension.

 

Apologies I stated ASH+ instead of SHA+ and SHA+ is the Sandbox benefit imo rather than the ASQ. So the STV is a no goer unless the lines with the dates are slightly blurred as I stated in previous post. 

It doesn't have to be 6 months, I just thought that was a good option but it's not viable with the flights.

From memory i think the Non Imm O-A Visa, you have to be 50 and over to receive and I'm 49 ha ha!

17 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

If your considering the STV (Special Tourist Visa) then to take advantage of being able to obtain a further 90 day extension before the deadline of Sept 30th, you need to enter before July 3rd, so you'd have to go the ASQ route to get 6 months stay.

You'd need to start acting fairly quick in that case.

 

If your preference is the Phuket Sandbox ASH+ hotels scheme, then enter with the normal Tourist Visa (60 days) + 30 day extension, say mid July, that will take you to mid Oct. From there it depends if the 60 day Covid extensions are still being issued, but I'd guess the odds are 60/40 in your favour.

I don't think the visas are dependant on ASQ or ASH+ preference if i'm reading what you've written correctly.

The issue with the STV, you're required to take a direct flight to Phuket, they don't commence until the 3rd, arriving the 4th and I'd have to be in Phuket by the 2nd in order to get the 90 day extension. Another question or variant I suppose is, from my time of visa runs there, you could essentially go the week before the expiry and you'd lose the remaining days on said visa (ie due to expire say 24th Jan, but got the extension of 60days that commenced when went on the 18th Jan etc) I wondering whether I could get a STV and apply for the extension say the week before it expires and then it would extend for a further 3 months or whether they'd have the locked in mentality of current STV won't expire until say 3rd October and therefore can't renew as will run past the cut off date of 30th September etc!?

Unfortunately it looks like the STV is a no goer because of the flight issue and if so the only option I'll consider I guess is the SETV.

I appreciate your input!

41 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Most would know that your referring to Special Tourist Visa (STV). 

Skip the standard.

 

IMO you should have considered tourist visa or visa exempt entry then after 30 day extension move to 60 day covid extensions. 

In any event nothing is official yet.

We're all built and think differently ????  and whilst some would know I was referring to the STV, not everybody would and I prefer to not be like a dog in a washing machine going round and around having to repeat info and rather be meticulously clear etc.????

I'm considering all possible visas and not locked into any of them right now as everything is changing and not confirmed as you've mentioned. The STV might not be viable, I simply like that it's a 3/ 6 month visa but it's not without it's complications as I've stated regarding when direct flights commence.

I've only just found info about the covid 60 day extension, thanks for mentioning that, but thinking it was in place for ex pats etc who were maybe unable to leave so I'm not sure if that will still be in place when people are permitted to fly in and out etc.

I can fly in visa exempt but it's stated that you can only extend once for a further 30 days and to be fair as we all know with Thailand, everything shifts and I don't think I'll be fully aware of available extensions and timeframes until arrived but it is kinda' looking like the SETV right now because of the flight commencing issue, the only positive from that is that I won't be locked into 3 months or 6 months OR I get the STV for a 3 month period but there might be issues getting an extension on that as it's not renewed after 30th September.

Another question or variant I suppose is, from my time of visa runs there, you could essentially go the week before the expiry and you'd lose the remaining days on said visa (ie due to expire say 24th Jan, but got the extension of 60days that commenced when went on the 18th Jan etc) I wondering whether I could get a STV and apply for the extension say the week before it expires and then it would extend for a further 3 months or whether they'd have the locked in mentality of current STV won't expire until say 3rd October and therefore can't renew as will run past the cut off date of 30th September etc!?

I should add for informative purposes for anybody considering the Standard Tourist Visa, that it stipulates you need to provide document proof that also shows payment of your entire 90 day accommodation for that visa duration.

I am looking into this daily, again travelling from the UK to Phuket and it's bizarre with the Standard Tourist Visa, arrival needs to happen by the 2nd of July in order to be able to extend it by the 30th September (you can arrive by 30th June but won't be permitted to extend it) for a further 90 days, so effectively giving me a full 6 months visa in total which I'd be happy to get as things will change for the better or the worse within that timeframe BUT direct flights to Phuket which is required don't commence until the 3rd of July! 

Unfortunately there is sooo much, not only contradictory info out there but also things implemented which go against each other, such as the tourist visa being in place from September last year when nobody could fly there and now with the sandbox supposedly opening things up, the Thai government are ending this visa...

Guess i'd forgotten about the whole flip flop mentality in Thailand as a whole really... Anyway I'm positively daily looking into all this trying to progress matters!????

Please do post any relevant info guys and have an awesome day... Wherever you are based!????

Hi All

So after spending sooo much time looking through sooo much information that at times contradicts and changes etc, my question is one that is very simple, one would think!

With Phuket (I'll use the term allowing people to travel in rather than 'opening up') changing from July 1st with the Sandbox trialling... I can fly in from the UK with a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) but my question is do we think things will be like they used to be... ie get a SETV for 60 days, extend for 30 days then repeat with a Visa run or leave the country to re enter etc?

If I am fortunate enough to be able to get through all the bureaucracy and red tape and actually get to Phuket, then as a minimum I'll be happy to spend 90 days there, revisit some beautiful places and then review the situation.

But again my question is does anybody know whether this will be sustainable moving forward? The whole 60 days SETV, 30 day extension and visa run, given the C situation but also that Thailand is hoping for tourism.

I'd appreciate factual responses rather than hunches please as I'm in the trenches here trying to progress matters!

Cheers!

I’ve extensively researched this as trying to get to Phuket on 1st July from the UK and thought the benefit of ‘the sandbox’ was that a 14 day quarantine wasn’t required?

I understand a SHA hotel is necessary but the previous post with links suggests a 14 day minimum stay??

18 hours ago, jacko45k said:

A good start would be to get a Thai bank account.

As far as I'm aware being a 'tourist' I can't get a Thai bank account?

Hi Guys

I've been looking into different ways to receive funds and well the cheapest that doesn't hurt your pocket to much especially with the state of the current UK GBP. Previously I've used ATM machines but then am paying a charge to my UK bank and an additional charge for using the Thai ATM. So have been looking for alternative routes that might be advantageous such as 'currencyfair' suggesting that you use them depositing an amount via bank transfer but I'm thinking you need a Thai bank account to receive. Hmmm It's all VERY time consuming to research it all. Can anybody advise of a tested route that might be of benefit. Any assistance will be gratefully appreciated.

Hi All

Two queries really, I've been living in Phuket for 9 months and have traveled back to Europe for Parents health matters.

Initially when I traveled out to Thailand I approached the Thai Embassy in London and I got a METV, which I was informed was for a duration of 6 months but I could extend this to a 9 month stay with visa runs and extension of stays, this was confirmed by the embassy there and numerous people, what I didn't realize until I arrived was that rather than a 6 month duration and then you enter into the additional 3 months etc it was more a case of extension of stays primarily (within the 6 month period) then 60 days afterwards the 1st visa run, then extension of stays and so on, but when I reached the 6 month period and was en route for the visa run I was informed that my visa had expired? 

So it never became a 9 month duration that I had paid for, has anybody else encountered this? And because this was of little benefit to me, when I return in November (I will have been out of the country for 4.5 months then) can I enter Thailand and be granted a 30 day pass and then commence (before the 30 days expires) with the visa run to last 90 days and then an extension of stay to last a further 30 days and repeat?  

As once in the country if you're wishing to stay long term people tend to adopt that method and would my passport showing I had previously been there for 9 months and had the extensions etc go against myself gaining entry, as right now my life is there and apartment etc.

Also I read about people being refused entry at the airport for not showing proof of at least 20.000 baht to sustain them, so I assume it's of benefit to have a bank statement with you to satisfy them?

Thank you for your time guys and assistance in this matter.

Hello Guys

If I have a METV from UK and am staying in Phuket and looking to obtain extension of stays to take the 6 month visa to a total of 9 months.

Is it possible to get a Thai bank account for the duration? The reason I ask is I have a debit card for UK account but if there is a problem with card etc then it would be problematic to get funds.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

On a separate note, can I get a Thai bank account on a tourist visa?

Thank you for all the advice guys as it is much appreciated, I have since been to the London Thai Embassy with a friend who obtained the METV very easily, I spoke with an employee there and she mentioned the criteria is at their discretion.

A friend then put 5g in an account overnight and was no problem obtaining the visa. One day to wait and then collect.

Hello All

As a noob I have trailed through a lot of posts here to ascertain information, so my background I am looking to come to Thailand with a METV, it has been pointed out to myself that there was a change in the criteria in November 2015, being that it specifies, amongst other things that you must supply 'an original bank statement of the applicant showing a balance of at least £5000 (for 6 months) OR a print out with official stamp of the bank'.

Now initially I thought there are two ways this information can be interpreted, firstly supplying the bank statement to suggest the required amount for the required duration OR a print out with official stamp, secondly I am assuming on both accounts they require the statement to show £5000 for 6 months yes?

I don't wish to sound naive or ignorant here but would really appreciate some clarity, myself I move funds around and do not have the 5000 in an account for the aforementioned 6 month period, in that case would anybody suggest that I should be applying for a SETV visa rather than a METV?

My main concern is if i apply for the METV and it is refused on the bank account duration, i.e., not there for 6 months would that have a knock on effect with then applying for a SETV,? As I notice they also require that you purchase the plane ticket prior to applying.

Lastly guys, when obtaining the plane ticket is it acceptable to purchase a one way ticket if i'm looking to renew visas etc and thinking more long term etc? or is this deemed as a no, no and that i should be purchasing a return flight ticket?

Thank you so much for your time guys and am interested in the advice and feedback.

Have a great day!

Thanks

Chris