Mickster58

13 minutes ago, BritTim said:

You should be able to apply on the morning of October 24th and pick up the visa on the afternoon of the 25th, or am I misunderstanding the dates of your intended visit to Yangon?

Yep, that is exactly what I am hoping to do. I am in Yangon from the 22nd to the 27th-morning, I am looking forward to Myanmar, seems a little different compared to her neighbours. Thanks again for your reply. :)

17 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It will stay that way. It requires cabinet approval for adding additional holidays and they decided months ago it would only be on the 26th.

There is very good chance the embassy in Yangon will be open on the 26th. Each embassy makes its own decisions for scheduled holidays. You will find that not all Thai holidays are observed to balance them with local holidays.

I suggest you contact the embassy to confirm whether they will be open or not.

I have emailed the embassy this morning, no reply yet but will call them next week if need be. Thanks for your help today (everyone involved) it looks like ill grab a SETV have 20k in cash/travel cheque for when I re-enter and enjoy my last few months in Thai. Thanks again.

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

In April after all the discussion only the 26th was made a holiday by a cabinet resolution.

Krungthai is government owned bank so perhaps they think they can do what they want to without approval from the BOT.

So basing everything on this, it will most likely stay this way. Or they can randomly announce a public holiday whenever they please?.

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

If you get a TR Visa in Austrailia, fly to Penang (or get a TR in Penang), then train-in via Pedang Besar - no problem.  Just show the money.  Then fly from Hat Yai domestic to your final destination.  Anywhere but airports you will be fine by simply following the actual laws/rules.

 

If you do come back after Christmas, the Thai People you buy goods and services from will be delighted to have your business.  It's just a clique of IOs at Airports and Poipet/Aranya that don't like us.

Indeed, so, all in all, it really comes down to the specific IO to do something about it? Meaning some don't give a <deleted> and others do. Because I would assume my name has a red flag already when I passed through the last couple of times, considering my number of visa-exempt stamps.

Also, I kinda planned on coming back to Thailand after Christmas in Aus, but it looks like I may have to stay home for a while

Just now, ALFREDO said:

 

I do not know - if Thai Immigration consider the Extension of stay +30 days and accept that 45 day period,

normally no big problem,

but you are now a -special long and often comer and stayer-   

 

or if the Airline you booked on accept that when check in - better would be to check in Online and try not to come to the Counter if that is doable, 

 

How many Visa exempt entries you ave now on Land borders and on airport arrivals in this Thailand holiday

since a year ago and in this year?

 

Anyway - I believe a Visa is the better choice 

 

 

I have never crossed over land. Since October 2016(when I arrived) I have used 2 SETVs and 4 visa exempts. Before that, I was in Aus for 6 months. I have been coming to Thailand on and off for 5 years though, So I have quite a few exempt stamps from over the years.

Also last night the IO didn't ask to see proof of funds or a flight out or anything... so maybe it is not as bad as I think. It was pretty light questioning, but he seemed like he wanted to do more but was almost too lazy.

5 minutes ago, Mattd said:

Don't forget 13th October is a holiday as well, so, the week 16th - 20th is your best bet.

Yeah, the embassy is open on the 24th and 25th at this stage, but it is a very small window. Changing flights may be a better option, dam expensive though.

Just now, ALFREDO said:

Change your flight date or change to Cambodia Phnom Penh Agent Visa service there easy available 

Should not be a problem in Phuket Immigration. Maybe look to have money 20.000? with you, should they ask. 

 

I think -Mickster58- has a Ticket to Australia? But maybe not with a date in these 30 days period. 

 

I have a flight out of Thailand about 45 days out from my entry date when I get back from Myanmar.

3 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Bank personnel have already been advised they will be closed on 23rd, then 26th for 5 days, reopening 31st.

 

Is there a reason you cannot go the week before?

I am looking at the options to go earlier now, it is just going to cost about 5k baht+ to change flights or even book new ones. 

It would still probably be safer to just change the flights and go earlier aye? Id rather spend money and have the safety of being allowed back into to Thailand. But not very ideal

2 minutes ago, Mattd said:

The 'rumour' in my office here in BKK is that it is highly likely that Wednesday 25th and Friday 27th will be announced as holidays, seeing as Monday 23rd already is a holiday, then it is unlikely many folks will go to work on the Tuesday if this does actually become reality. 

I see, so they just announce public holidays less than a month out? oohhh I hope not lol

Has anyone been to Yangon recently to get a SETV?

If so was the processing time only 1 day or was it 2?

The Yangon embassy site is saying there is a processing time of one day, so I could go in on the 24th and pick up the passport on the 25th. Although there are conflicting reports, some people have said it takes 2 days to process the visa.

7 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

I wouldn't want to bus it from Yangon either (why I didn't go there when I was using frequent Tourist Visas).  

 

No prison for refusal of entry - you have not broken any Thai laws.  The only "punishment" is detention while waiting for your flight out.

Normally, if denied, you are sent back where you came from.  As you would not have a Visa to re-enter Myanmar (cannot do VOA) - not sure how that would go, as I haven't seen a case reported here.  Maybe they just cancel your exit-stamp, as they do if refused entry at a land-border (rare, but has happened).  Worst-case, you'd have to buy a ticket to fly back to your passport-country. 

But if flying in with a Tourist Visa, some time out-of-country, 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks, and proof of a flight out within 60-days (since you have a Tourist-Visa good for 60-days), I think it is highly unlikely you would be denied-entry.  

 

Show your cash "helpfully" at the start of any questioning (which may not even happen).  You could double-down with a bank-statement showing even more money to prove no need to work, though that is not a substitute for the 20K worth of cash - just another bit to throw in if interrogated.  Also, bring proof of where you will be staying in Thailand - hotel-booking, etc.  And, above all, be polite the entire time - even if they are outright rude and insulting.

As it seems the days I am in Yangon, the embassy is closed on the 23rd of October then again the 26th. Which does not help this situation at all.

Do you think it is a good idea to spend the money and change my flights to match opening days of the Thai embassy in Yangon. Or just risk another visa exempt entry and carry the cash and proof of a flight out(which is 45 days out from my entry date, do they take extension into consideration?). 

Also when I go to extend my current exempt stamp the Phuket/patong immigration in 25 days, do you think they will question me there?

16 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The 26th of October is a official holiday for the cremation of the late King. It may not be shown on the embassy calendar since it was only approved in April of this year.

Indeed, after looking at numerous embassy sites. Only the Honk Kong website has the 26th as closed. Laos, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, Cambodia do NOT say they are closed on the 26th.

So HK is special or the other embassies have not yet updated their list.

4 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

You have been identified as a "longer staying farang" and should expect bad-treatment at airport-immigration from here on.  Some with longer-stay histories have been interrogated even after being out of Thailand for several months.  IOs in Airports have denied entry to people for stated reasons relating to time-in-Thailand, which do not conform with Thai Immigration-Law (though they wrote a different reason in the passport, to cover their tracks). 

The best solution is to use land-borders (except Poipet/Aranyaprathet), and come in on a Tourist Visa.  At land-borders, Thai Immigration Law is followed, and you will have no problem, if you have the required cash to show (and most borders, will not even need that).

 

If flying in, at least have a Tourist Visa plus 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks.  You could get a Tourist Visa at the Thai Consulate in Myanmar (Burma) while there. 

 

If you choose to try another Visa-Exempt entry, which is the easiest for an IO to deny, and through airport-immigration, be sure you have a flight out Within 30 Days to show, plus the money (I'd bring 20K, even though technically 10K is acceptable for a Visa-Exempt entry).

Thanks for the info their mate. Coming overland from Yangon is quite the distance so I think I will take the option of flying in(as i have a flight booked already) getting a tourist visa and having 20kbaht and my flight back to aus, to show if asked.

One question, if I was to be denied entry what would the process be? Would it be very serious and could land me in prison. Or would it just simply be me being held at the airport and having to pay for a flight out of the country.

3 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Closed on 23rd, open on 25th.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/yangon/en/organize/18983-Working-Hours-and-Holidays.html

Thanks for that, I have seen Thai has a public holiday on the 25th. I hope it does not conflict or there goes my option to get a TV. I will send them an email.

I am just looking now, there are 2 Thailand public holidays on the exact dates that I wanted to get a TV in Yangon, the 23rd and 25th of october. Does anyone know if this means the embassy in Yangon will be closed on those dates also?

Just now, Tanoshi said:

Are you legally married to a Thai?

I am not no, or I would get a marriage visa. But I dont plan on marriying this one :P.

At this stage I will opt to get a SETV in Myanmar, it will save me a trip to extend my visa exempt. Hopefully, it all works out. Had never been questioned ever by any IO, so I think they must be getting the warning or whatever it is showing up on the computer. Also, I think this particular IO only asked questions because he thought I flew out and came back on the same day (which I assume is not allowed) after I corrected him with the dates he said nothing for 2 minutes, then said how long you stay this time. So if he didn't get the dates wrong maybe he would never have asked, who knows. I try to look out for the less serious IO's but didn't work this time  

2 minutes ago, jackdd said:

 

You don't have 20k THB but plan to stay in Thailand for 45 days? What's your plan? Living on the street and eating mama?

haha not quite, I don't like the idea of carrying around 20k while I am in Myanmar for a week, but I guess I will have to. Also FYI I stay for free with my Mrs who runs a guesthouse, so 20k baht is more than enough for 45 days for me :)

Helllo,

I am 26 years old from Australia. I have been coming to Thailand for 6 years now, at first, it was on and off every 6 months but now I am staying longer each time.

I have taken a year off and have been using Thailand as my base to travel around SE asia. since October 2016. Since then I have had 2 SETV and the rest have been visa exempt entries. Every time I have gone to another country for 5-10 days and then came back. The last 2 times I have just flown out and back in the next day.. Just last night at Phuket airport I was questioned by the IO. I went to Singapore for 1 night and came back..

He said I left Thailand today and came back on the same day. But he got the dates wrong. After that, he asked how long I am staying in Thailand this time. I said 2 weeks. After that, he sat there for about 2-3 minutes saying nothing(there was a big line behind me). I felt as if he was about to deny me entry or take me somewhere for questioning. But after a few minutes, he stamped and let me through. This is the first time I have ever been asked anything and I think if I went to a different IO they may have said nothing.

Anyway, I am going back to Aus on the 13th of December, So I am flying to Burma at the end of this month, staying for 6 days and then coming back and getting a visa-exempt for the last time before going back to AUS.

I am a little concerned as I will be arriving in Bangkok (don meuang) after Burma, and after last nights questions, I am wondering what they will say next time. 

Does anyone have any advice or experience with what my options are? I am going to make sure I have 10k baht and proof of my flight back to Aus at the end of the year.

4 minutes ago, BritTim said:

How many visa exempt entries do you have in total? Once you have 6+ since 2015, you will be subject to greater scrutiny on entry to verify that you are a genuine tourist. If you are going to Myanmar, I would suggest you get an SETV there. This is easily arranged, actually cheaper as your entry will not need to be extended, and will lessen the chances of interrogation on entry back into Thailand. If you nevertheless decide to reenter again visa exempt, the odds are in your favor, but there is a good chance of extended questioning.

Thanks for the reply :),

I have a few visa exempt stamps, since 2012... the first few years there is only 3-4, but since 2015 there has been at least 10+

I am thinking of getting a SETV to make everything work out, although having 20kbaht in cash when I come back from Burma will not be so easy(for me). As I hear they are denying entry to those who cannot provide proof of funds. My flight back to Aus is also 45 days out, not 30 days, I don't know if that matters because I can just pay immigration to extend.

Anyway, I guess if I don't have the 20k proof I will have to take my chances on another visa exempt and hope for the best!

Helllo,

I am 26 years old from Australia. I have been coming to Thailand for 6 years now, at first, it was on and off every 6 months but now I am staying longer each time.

I have taken a year off and have been using Thailand as my base to travel around SE asia. since October 2016. Since then I have had 2 SETV and the rest have been visa exempt entries. Every time I have gone to another country for 5-10 days and then came back. The last 2 times I have just flown out and back in the next day.. Just last night at Phuket airport I was questioned by the IO. I went to Singapore for 1 night and came back..

He said I left Thailand today and came back on the same day. But he got the dates wrong. After that, he asked how long I am staying in Thailand this time. I said 2 weeks. After that, he sat there for about 2-3 minutes saying nothing(there was a big line behind me). I felt as if he was about to deny me entry or take me somewhere for questioning. But after a few minutes, he stamped and let me through. This is the first time I have ever been asked anything and I think if I went to a different IO they may have said nothing.

Anyway, I am going back to Aus on the 13th of December, So I am flying to Burma at the end of this month, staying for 6 days and then coming back and getting a visa-exempt for the last time before going back to AUS.

I am a little concerned as I will be arriving in Bangkok (don meuang) after Burma, and after last nights questions, I am wondering what they will say next time. 

Does anyone have any advice or experience with what my options are? I am going to make sure I have 10k baht and proof of my flight back to Aus at the end of the year.
 

I dont undertsand whyyy. Im a huge singa light fan. It is nice having a couple of beers without feeling to woozy. 4.5% is full strengh... u cant call it light anymore..

hey all!

so the visas are not free in Malaysia?? I got my last one in HK in February and it was free... Malaysia makes their own rules?. I am going to Penang in august just before the visa-free fee finishes. Has anyone got a visa in Penang RECENTLY which they had to pay for even though it is supposed to be free?

Hi all!

Does anyone know if getting an SETV in Yangon is still free? And when the free visa ends?