Jadam

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

 

Why do I have to apply for a refund? Don't they know they've just cancelled my flights, shouldn't it be automatic?

 

So that's four flights where I've asked for credit 'under consideration' for up to 30 days.

Maybe they're hoping I die before then, so they won't have to pay out.

Maybe they're thinking of declaring bankruptcy so they don't need to refund anyone.

 

I got a refund from AirAsia one time. Here's how it went.

1. Apply for refund on the website.

2. Get an email a few days later that doesn't make sense.

3. Phone them up and ask what to do.

4. Every passenger had to write a letter to the airline authorizing them to deposit the refund into my bank account.
5. Scanned all the letters and signed copies of everyone's ID

6. Refund still took ages but eventually came. I'd say about 60 days total.

They make it complicated on purpose so that some people won't bother and they ge to keep the money. Also they purposefully make their refund department short-staffed so that people have to wait longer for processing, that way the money stays in their account and earns interest for longer.

You will, eventually, get your money back though.

Some friends in Nakhon Si Thammarat need to do a border bounce in the next few days and AFAIK the best bet at the moment is Ranong.

Has anyone been recently or heard of any issues relating to Covid?

They are a Canadian couple who have been in Thailand just about 60 days, going to get their second 30 day entry.

TIA

On 10/28/2019 at 10:57 AM, RaRaS said:

Did you get an answer for this?

At best I've heard you may remain in the country for 7 days after your work permit has been cancelled.

If your visa extension is based on you having a work permit, it would stand to reason that once the work permit is cancelled the visa would no longer be valid.  Of course some people always look for a loophole.

On 10/28/2019 at 10:56 AM, Neeranam said:

Some ignoramus at the labour department  said I cant cancel my WP by myself. Does anyone happen to have the official form in Thai saying that I can?

I can only find one in English.

Also, can I cancel my WP on the last day of my contract, or the day after?

You can't.  Your employer needs to cancel it.

Once the WP has been cancelled, you may then cancel the visa yourself.

On 9/27/2019 at 7:48 AM, ubonjoe said:

It certainly should not be a problem to get the non-b  visa in 4 weeks if she has all the required documents.

A soon as the online application is completed she will have a choice of dates for the appointment. It can be as little as 2 days after it is done.

 

Thanks Joe.

She has all documents except the official letter from our local MOE; they are currently taking 2-3 weeks to process these, so I've advised her to buy a tourist visa.  Yet another instance of branches of government working against each other and immigrants paying the price.

A friend of mine is in the middle of some traveling and she's had to get a new passport.  She still has a valid visa extension in the cancelled passport that she's carrying with her (as well as the new passport).

Can she only transfer the visa to her new passport at the same immigration office that issued the extension?

If she does a stopover in Thailand on a weekend, goes to another country, then returns to Thailand in a few weeks will that cause any issues?

I'd appreciate any help from someone who has similar experience.

Thanks.

16 hours ago, stevenl said:

Agree with Tanoshi, extending your stay first and after that leaving Thailand and returning again via a land border will not cause any problems.

Why take the chance of getting denied?  It's ultimately up to the IO and land borders can turn you away easier than airports can.  If they say get a visa, just go get a visa.

I've hired someone who needs to apply for a visa before coming, but her flight is in 4 weeks and one of the documents required will take 2-3 weeks to come from the government office.  She must then submit documents online, wait for approval and then make an appointment with the embassy in London to pick up her visa.

Does anyone know what the current processing time for an E-visa application is?  Preferably a B visa at London but any E-visa application will give me an idea.  I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to get everything done in the next 4 weeks or if I should advise her to apply for a tourist visa instead (she can't come without a visa because she already has two entry stamps).

Thanks

I didn't read your whole post (TMI) but if the immigration officers have suggested you get a visa it would be a good idea to get one and a bad idea to try entering without one.

20 hours ago, dluek said:

30 cops to bust up a small-time cannabis oil operation that was helping the sick, what a waste of taxpayers' money. 

Seems a bit excessive, especially in the midst of legalization, but on the other hand, that could be exactly why they've made such a fuss about it.  They want to make the point that just because it's now legal to use CBD for medical reasons if you have a prescription doesn't make it okay to grow a bunch of plants.

Still, I have to agree, there are more serious crimes these guys should be focusing on.  It's unlikely they just decided that morning to raid the place with 30 cops all on board for the photo ops.
 

18 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Nobody pays tax here 

My first thought upon reading with that was "What does that have to do with anything?"  but that could be exactly what this is all about.  Right now CBD oil is being made out of ganga confiscated in raids just like this one and being sold for a profit, a good portion of said profits going into government coffers. 

This guy was running his own operation and was caught with a similar product.  The guy says he hasn't made any money on it [yet] but whether or not that's true is besides the point; he's not giving the government a slice of the pie so he won't be let off with a slap on the wrist.

As an added bonus, the 29 plants and two "boxes" of weed they found can now be added to government stores and they can make more oil (and more money) out of it.  Win, win!

On 9/18/2019 at 9:50 AM, WorriedNoodle said:

I doubt it in the case of Nakhon Sithammarat. A bunch of jobsworths....

???? Wow, first time I've ever been insulted because I have a job and I'm not living off of pension.  Sorry Nakhon is not your cup of tea.

On 9/16/2019 at 12:39 PM, Peter Denis said:

 

However, I am now trying to get my head around of how your TM30 compliance is checked when you visit your IO for an extension of stay.

I assume...

Don't.  It'll drive you insane.

Your first mistake was assuming there was a logical process.  There isn't.  If there were, they wouldn't wait until you did your extension of stay and then look back to see if you were up to date on your TM30 reporting.  If the purpose of this is to prevent crime by immigrants, it is too late at that point; by then the crimes would have already been committed.

34 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The only reports in the database are the ones done online.

Right, and it's better for everyone if IOs not bother checking your movements in that system.  

7 hours ago, Xonax said:

Am I the only one wondering, why non of the extremely expensive imported grocery products, that most of us foreigners buy, are not becoming cheaper in the stores, when they are becoming so much cheaper to purchase?

Why would they lower the price if people are willing to pay the current price.  That would be stupid.  Unless there's competition (if several stores have the same/similar imported products) then one might lower the price when the cost goes down.  But if only one shop has it, they'll likely keep the price the same and earn a higher profit.

5 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Be interesting to know what is said next week.

Well said.

I maintain my opinion that, regardless of article number, form number, etc. this is big news and things are changing for the better.  This might be the beginning of the end of the TM30.

Just now, jackdd said:

This is about TM28, not about TM30.

TM28 has not been enforced anyway, so no change.

Who says it's about TM28?

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Nothing new.

I respect you Joe, but I disagree.  This is huge news.  It means no more re-filing TM 30 after staying overnight in another province.

The wording states "...aliens are not required to report..." which to me says they aren't going to hold us responsible for failing to report a change.  Either they will change/do away with the system or they will shift the responsibility to the landlord (which they should have done a long time ago IMO).

31 minutes ago, DavisH said:

It sounds like that doesn't apply to those on Non-O / B / Retirement extensions. Maybe because the hotels they stay at are supposed to do the reporting on their behalf. 

It DOES apply to Non-B because it says "Business" 

I think they are making it clear that the foreigner is not meant to report to immigration when they stay in a hotel overnight, which they should never have had to do in the first place.

The whole idea behind the TM30 is the property owner reports the foreigners staying at their property.  Tenants should NEVER have started reporting themselves.

This was sent to my office yesterday from our local immigration office.


Could this be the end of TM30?

Good!  I mean not good that there are accidents and stuff, but good they are thinking twice about this ridiculous idea of keeping bars open until 4am.  I mean, who really thinks that's a good idea?

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Growing ganja in Thailand: Think again if you just want to get high.....People who flout the incoming laws are still likely to be prosecuted, notes Thaivisa

A lot of people will grow the plants only because they want to get high and they will get away with it.  Come on guys, you know how well RTP enforce the laws.  I doubt they will be going around knocking on doors and checking the potency of everyone's plants.

Quote

Mr Suphachai said that the content of the draft amendment of both Acts should be emphasized that people can grow no more than 6 plants per family. And planted for production for medical use correctly Including agencies that are capable of researching and developing marijuana and opium Because opium is another plant that can be used to produce morphine. And if possible, will benefit the country And may continue as a new economic crop for the country as well

Interesting, they haven't even finished legalizing cannabis and they're already talking about Opium.

Quote

....there are concerns that a number of mercenaries and criminal elements from the former Soviet Union have set down roots in Thailand. According to Thai police, they have engaged in money laundering, drug smuggling, weapons trading, human trafficking and other crimes.

In 2008, Viktor Bout, a well-known Russian arms trader, was apprehended in Pattaya, causing outrage in Moscow. Bout was subsequently extradited to the U.S. and sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted on charges of conspiracy and terrorism.

Since then, Thailand has been cautious about granting visa waivers although it has had considerable success with a bilateral visa waiver program with Japan.

What a complete load of rubbish.  I hope this article was only published online and that there wasn't any paper wasted on this dribble.

So they extradited this guy 11 years ago, probably not because he was committing crime but because the US Feds asked them to, and now they are citing this case as reason to believe Russian Mercenaries are doing business in Thailand.  Seriously?

And still, 11 years our efforts to stop international terrorism within the kingdom amount to pen and paper TM 30 forms which the government cannot even analyse the data because they are understaffed.

No background check or other hurdles before entering the country, just make sure we know where you're staying once you're here, thank you very much.