MajorTom

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Blue rock resort on Baloy Long beach is also good, and a girlie floating bar just off its beach front.

Sad to say that Blue Rock is now a write-off. Used to be one of my favorite places.
I was there last year. I would not let my dog stay there. Restaurant is gone. Floating bar is gone. The place was absolutely rotten. Half the rooms were in such bad shape they were not even open. I think they went bankrupt during covid and just never recovered.

48 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

When applying for a non o family visa in your home country, can you use a bank statement from a bank in your home country to prove your 400k funding?

Yes, but i don't think they require 400K for a single entry. London Thai Embassy website says £500

10 hours ago, solidad90 said:

hi,

 

i have a visa NON O multiple , i got it from the Thai Embassy in Paris. The staff told me it's supposed to be not easy to get but it was not hard in fact.

 

We provided good documentation to show that we can support ourselves. (income tax return + bank statements) and 15 days later i got my visa. 

 

I suspect the financial profile of applicants is a very important criteria...

 

Hi, I also currently have a NON-O multiple e-visa. But some time at the end of last year they removed the multiple option from the e-visa applications. After you click on the visit family more than 60 days and end up with the non-o, you can now only choose "Single". 

Hi 🙂

Since the NON-O Multiple marriage visa now seems to be impossible to get in any western country (any country using the e-visa system) what options are left?

Only place I'm certain of currently is Savannakhet? Not very convenient if you don't live in Issaan. I have no issues with finance or seasoning of funds. Any other options in nearby countries?

-Singapore?

-Ho Chi Minh?

-KL or Penang?

-Phnom Penh?

I do qualify for a 12 month extension based on marriage. But I work and travel a lot on an unpredictable schedule, so the 12 Month multiple Non-O is a better solution for me.

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

The UK offer both the single and multi entry Non O visa based on Thai spouse.

The financial requirements for both are listed on their website.

 

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/spouse-and-family-visa

3. Financial evidence, e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, proof of sponsorship from a third party

 -Your recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address, and a minimum closing balance of £500 (for individual single entry) £1,000 (for family single entry), £5000 (for individual multiple entries, and £10,000 (for family multiple entries), proof of earnings (payslips) or sponsorship letter from your sponsor with official ID and their Bank Statements. (Do not send the screenshot)   

Multiple entry Non-O family/spouse is not available anymore in the e-visa system. Financial requirements might still be listed on the website, but there is no "multiple" option when you start an application.

2 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

I think the addition of 'Employment Prohibited' in your passport is a mistake.

 One would think that, but they must have made the same mistake twice then. I got the same visa in 2022 and that also states "employment prohibited".

On 11/3/2023 at 5:17 PM, BritTim said:

Your permission to stay is not extended based on a work permit, though a work permit is one of the requirements for an extension of stay based on working. The work permit simply allows you legally to work. If you have a multiple entry visa, you have no absolute need for either extensions or re-entry permits (they are optional). If you have an extension, but also an unexpired Non O visa (based on Thai spouse) you have the option of either returning on the visa (fresh 90-day permission to stay) or buying a re-entry permit and returning on that (keeping the same expiry date for your permission to stay).

I have a 12 Month Multiple-entry Non-O visa based on marriage. (e-Visa) Any idea why it says "employment prohibited" under visa conditions?

I am wondering if Thai food has changed? I have never liked sweet food. When I first came here 20 years ago I used to love all kinds of Thai food. Today, in most restaurants I find the food too sugary.

21 hours ago, AsiaTraveler1234 said:

Can the first 2 year driver license for either car or motorbike be used only in Thailand, or does it still work in all the ASEAN member countries?

I researched this quite thorough some years ago when i was stuck with a 2 year license due to visa issues. Never found a 100% clear answer.

My impression was however:

While you can't get an IDP on the 2 year one, I found it was still good for use in countries that doesn't require an IDP as long as your license is in English. Including the EU and Most of North America.

I also successfully rented cars in Europe at the time on a 2 year Thai license.

20 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

And you are correct, the Thai Elite statement (posted by Major Tom) contains an inaccuracy.

Yeah, you certainly don't need a work permit. I think anyone with non-immigrant status will get the 5 year license when due. I had a couple of them, never had a work permit. The first one I got on a multiple o-visa.

23 minutes ago, G Rex said:

I am sure there is no barrier to getting a 5 year license on a TEV, you just have to get a 2 year license first, then move on to a 5 year license after the initial 2 year period. (as I have done).

As I mentioned earlier, Thailand Elite told me otherwise. Found the email.

I was not going to gamble on loosing my 5 year license and IDP. You got lucky ????

16 hours ago, G Rex said:

I have a Thai Elite visa.  I am living in Thailand. I am married to a Thai, but I chose not to have "Marriage Visa" - so I don't have to worry about all of the extension palaver with photos, bank balances etc.   I have a full 5 year Thai Car and a 5 year Motorcycle License.  I have bank accounts with 2 Thai banks.

I am not sure where you have gotten your information from - but I respectfully say that you are wrong.

The only thing I cannot do is work here.  No problem for me.

 

I was told explicitly by thailandelite when I asked them, that a 5 year license was NOT possible on the elite-visa.

That was a deal breaker for me. I not saying you (or others) didn't manage to get one, but I think its random luck.

I was traveling frequently between Brazil and Thailand for several years. Never had to show the yellow fever vaccine. Not at check-in. Not in Thailand. 30+ trips.

9 hours ago, London Lowf said:

As of three months ago Krungsri Bank in Kamala (Phuket) require CoR, passport and driving licence - not sure whether the licence has to be Thai as I didn't proceed at the time, although I will at some point in  the future.

I opened an account in Krungsri Bank in 2021. They demanded to se my foreign driving license for some reason. Thai DL was not accepted, I actually had to go back home to pick up my home country DL.. I think they were looking for documentation of a foreign address. They kept asking about that in the forms also.

I know the industry quite well around the world. Never worked in Thailand. Was offered a contract a few years back, but the salary was about half of the going rate elsewhere.

From what i have seen, the offshore vessels they use here are quite low key. Rarely big enough to require an ETO anyway. You might have more luck as a Master, but i suspect the salary will be disappointing. The few proper vessels i have seen here are usually managed from Singapore, Norway, UK etc. on temporary contracts.

Drillships or semisubs might be a better alternative.

Possibly: Check out marinetraffic.com to see who is operating here atm. and check their websites for any vacancies.

Avoid Phuket if you can. A friend just got his appointment a few days ago. The queue was appx. 6 weeks now.

Another friend went to Phang Na on the same day and got everything done in 20 minutes.

On 3/11/2023 at 2:24 AM, BritTim said:

Already, some have succeeded with out of country applications, but it is certainly risky.

I don't recommend to try that now. I did this once, and succeeded. Without lying or faking anything.

I tried a similar procedure later, and was strictly told I have to stay in the application country during the process. I think there was just some confusion about the rules in the early days of the e-visa system. Also, it was not possible to upload the required travel history. Since the website would only accept single jpg files. This has now been fixed.

On 3/9/2023 at 11:12 AM, clokwise said:

I can answer this definitively. I am a dual passport holder. Usually travel in and out of Thailand on Passport #1. Due to misc visa and passport issues, I arrived using passport #2 which I had never used before in Thailand. Same name, DOB, etc, just different nationality. They immediately picked up on this, and confirmed after taking my fingerprints and face scan. They asked me several questions then stamped my passport and and sent me on my way. This didn't seem to cause any concern for immigration, they seemed prepared for this situation.

 

Long gone are the good old days when you could "lose" your passport and effectively start over.

Strange. I also have dual passports and have been switching them around for 15+ years. I have never - ever, been questioned about this by Thai immigration.

It is possible to use wise for transfers FROM Thailand but I would not recommend it. The problem IIRC, is you cant send in THB. You will have to convert to USD and send. Ending up with a poor rate. I did this once just for test purposes.

24 minutes ago, BritTim said:

people who have actually asked the embassy whether the e-visa system supersedes that rule have been told it does not, and applying for the visa when not in country is an invalid application.

Something i have learned over the years: Don't lie or cheat. But never ask more questions or give more information than absolutely necessary. This can save you a lot of hassle.

Asking an embassy clerk if either: Is it possible to do this in a smooth easy way? or would you like it to make it as difficult as possible?.. Its pretty obvious what answer you will get. That's like asking my dog if he wants snacks or not ????

4 hours ago, BritTim said:

Some people have successfully done it. However, officially, it is not allowed.

Do you have any source for this? I'm not saying you are wrong, but I did research this a while ago and could not find a clear answer.

I did not try to fake anything when i applied for the e-visa. I used my Thai address as place of permanent residence. Did not pretend to be in the application country by changing IP etc.

I know at some point in the process you have to prove a local address. But I thought that's only if you are not a national of the country you apply in? Or to direct you to the correct consulate if you happen to apply in a country that has more than one Thai consulate/embassy?

4 hours ago, In the jungle said:

No that will not work.

Why not? It certainly worked for me. Do you have other experience?

Is it possible to get 6 years out of the 5 year visa if you leave and re-enter just before it expires?

It will not be a problem. I never use my middle name on flight bookings. Neither did my employer who sent me around the world for 2 decades. Its a bit confusing when they state "Must match name in passport". This is obviously not correct. I have done this dozens of times with BKK airways, first and surname only. Never had an issue.