Donnythecat

Sending them to the US. I've mailed some before with no problem, they usually sell them at tourist places so I think it's pretty frequent that people travel with them. To my knowledge they're not endangered species or anything like that.

Hey, I'm looking to get some taxidermied and mounted bugs (specifically stick/leaf insects of the genus phasmatodea) as gifts for friends back home. I know they used to be sold at the night market in CM but I'm not sure if that's still the case during covid? Anyone know of where to get these things outside of night market hours? Looked on Lazada and Shopee but there wasn't much selection, really expensive as well. Any tips would be much appreciated, thanks! 

Thanks all! Appreciate it. 

Hello friends,

I'm getting closer to the end of my 30 day visa-exempt stay in the Kingdom and will need to apply for the 30 day extension this weekend. Is there anywhere to do this in Phayao or Chiang Rai? Or do I have to travel to Promenade in CM to get this taken care of? 

I'm also concerned that getting the 30 day extension will end up being an all day affair and am grateful for any tips on how to get through quickly and smoothly. If I leave Phayao Friday morning for CM, is noon too late to start the process? Thanks so much in advance!

Thanks again to everyone for their input. 

Yes, the LA consulate is great, got my METV there last year in one day with no issues at all. The problem is I am now on the east coast near Washington DC, and the consulate there I've called everyday since I've been back to no avail - on their website it says need 3-5 days to process if applying in person with no expediting options, and I fly out in two days. The reason I didn't get a visa in advance is because the school initially assured me it would be fine to come on the 30 day VE while they sorted my paperwork for the work permit, but then last week they told me it might take longer than that. 

Has anyone ever shown up at the airline counter with a bus ticket as onward travel and had it accepted? I'm thinking I might just purchase a green bus ticket to chiang khong as proof of onward travel to Laos, then just trash it. I imagine lots of folks touring SE asia want to play it by ear and not purchase all their various transportation tickets in advance,  with the exception of flights in/out of BKK because it's such a hub - does anyone think that is a legitimate enough excuse for the airlines? 

Ok, thanks to everyone for all their input, all very useful information. It's a lot to wrap my head around, but it seems I will need to 1) secure a proof of ticket out of the country before I arrive, 2) get all my paperwork with the school taken care of, then 3) leave the country and then return on a non-B visa. 

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to comment, and also to rhodie for the link to the teaching website! Much appreciated

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

In the OP's situation, I'd be more interested in getting testimonials from current employees of the same school/agency to make sure they are on the up and up, and that they will be paying on time and according to agreed rates and terms.  Also, that his proposed employer will, in fact, do all the WP paperwork.  It's not uncommon for schools/agencies to renege in such details, making life in the Kingdom nerve racking and short.  And it's not specific to Thailand.  I have known dozens of teachers in China whose stay was cut short when they figured out they were getting hosed.

 

OTOH, lots of people find teaching in Asia to be a rewarding adventure.  Just make sure you know who and what you're dealing with.

 

Thanks, yes I have verbal confirmation of start dates, payment, WP paperwork being handled for me, etc. I've already had to submit various documents, passport, etc and signed a contract in Thai that I admittedly understood little of, but again, I have faith in the institution to hold true to their word, and one of my Thai friends is currently a professor there. I was invited to give a lecture there last year as a sort of audition for the job, and I had some of the same red flags before I did it (who is organizing this? who do I direct questions to? when do i get paid?) but in the end  those concerns were unfounded. Everything went smoothly, they paid me, then they took me out and we got day drunk over lunch time. 

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The Thai embassy is in Kuala Lumpur. The consular section of an embassy issues visas.

KL is not normally recommended for getting any visa recent reports are that they have gotten friendlier.

Thanks for the update. So in your opinion, since recent reports say they're friendlier, do you think it may be possible to get a visa relatively easily in KL now? I'm asking because tickets to KL are half the price to Penang on AirAsia, although I've never been to Penang and KL might be pricier to stay a couple nights in...

7 minutes ago, ftpjtm said:

If you're going to be anywhere near Boston, we have a really great Thai Consulate here, which has issued Visas same day for me (appointment needed though). 

Thanks, yeah not close enough to make it worth it unfortunately! I'll keep that in mind for the future though.

20 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

By not the same as the West, yes, the school may set you up for arrest and deportation and not care.  If you teach here illegally, that is breaking the rules.  Ideally, there would some sort of "temporary work permit" system to try out new hires, but this does not exist. 

While the likelihood of being caught is not high - depending if a 'crackdown' occurs during your stint and that school's "connections" with enforcement agencies  - I wouldn't want to be one of those who experience the brunt of it. 

Thanks for your concern, yeah I understand there is a risk and I hope I'm not there for a crackdown either. Who knows, I don't think I'll receive any payment until October (when the work visa should be settled) so maybe there's an argument that I'm not technically working anyways. 

27 minutes ago, Familyaffairs said:

You mean showing up at the Thai consulate, since the US consulate does not issue Thai visas. Its easy, pay an agent to go to the consulate express fee applies for next day visa, otherwise if memory serves well it takes 2 days. Georgetown is a pleasure to explore,mand great food.

Thanks, yes someone just corrected me that it is the Thai and not US consulate I would be going to. Ok, well sounds like it's not a bad option to head to Penang. There's no consulate in Kuala Lumpur that you know of is there? 

Thanks again for the responses. 

Rc2702, unfortunately there's no teacher forum, I'll be the only foreigner in the department. Also, I have very little faith in the university bailing me out before the 30 days is up. From what I've seen thus far they're a bureaucratic mess and I'm a bit concerned 60 days might not even cut it - that's why I don't think the flat 30 day extension is enough. I'm just wondering if there isn't somewhere else I could go, Laos perhaps, to get a visa. The more I think about it, the more I think your suggestion to fly to Malaysia is the way to go. Would you happen to know if there is any way to get this taken care of in KL? 

lkv, I live in CA but am currently on the east coast visiting family. The DC consulate is where I was going to go but it seems they earned a reputation as the shittiest Thai consulate in the states and the turn around is 3-5 days when applying in person, much longer via mail. Not enough time for that unfortunately!

JackThompson, thanks for the advice, I don't take it as mean at all. I agree that there have been some red flags throughout this process but I am tempering those concerns with the understanding that they do not do things the same as we do them here in the West, and that's just the way it is. Ultimately I trust in the department and am aware they've been doing things like this for a couple years now, so really it's just a matter of getting in and not breaking any rules. 

Sorry, just seeing the exchange...err....30 days visa exempt I meant to say. 

Thanks Rc2702, I agree your advice is sound and much appreciated! Also thanks to others for clearing up the terminology for me so I don't screw up at immigration!

Thanks for all your input everyone. I guess now I'm considering my options and trying to figure out the most convenient, cheapest, and quickest way to do this. 

First, is it adequate (if asked at the airport/immigration/customs about my return flight in 2018) if I tell them I will take a car/bus/train out of Thailand before my 30 day visa-on-arrival is up and then return to Thailand just to fly out? Or is having a ticket out of the country within the 30 days to show them absolutely necessary? 

Then, if the case is that I do NOT need to fly out of the country before my 30 days is up but can take other forms of transportation, is Penang the closest/cheapest/most convenient place I can go to get a 60 day visa, or is there somewhere else I could consider driving/flying to from Chiang Mai? I'm concerned that the trip to Malaysia may cut into my teaching obligations. 

Thanks so much for the feedback ya'll

Thanks for your response Rc2702. I you're right about not mentioning the work situation and just getting the flight out of there now to show them at the airport. I was also thinking of flying to Malaysia because of the cheap AirAsia flights to KL, but now that you mention the Penang/visa option, I think that makes more sense. Have you ever done that before by any chance? Do you know how long it takes to process this visa in Penang, do you think I could just show up at the US consulate with my application/etc and get it day-of? 

Hi there, I'm heading to Thailand in a few days to take on a teaching position but the school has asked me to arrive first and then we will sort out the work visa. 

I received notice from them just last week that the work visa application process can take up to 60 days, so it looks like the 30 days I'm allotted as an American with no visa may be inadequate. As I'm leaving the USA so soon, I don't have time to secure the 90 day tourist visa. Does anyone have any knowledge about how to max the 30 days, for example can it extended, or can I do a visa run to another country, etc? 

I'm also concerned because my return ticket is in 6 months time, which I'm afraid will make no sense to customs/immigration, or the airline for that matter. Will they even let me in the country with a return this far out and only a 30 day stay? Should I purchase a cheap flight out on AirAsia just so it makes sense on paper? 

Any and all advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

On 2/7/2017 at 7:19 PM, ubonjoe said:

You will get another 60 day entry if you do it on or before the enter before date on your visa.

You can get a single re-entry permit at immigration for a fee of 1000 baht that will keep the remainder of  your 60 day entry valid when your return from your trip to Laos. Then you could get a 30 day extension at immigration of the 60 day entry you got at immigration.

Thanks so much for your reply ubonjoe!

So I should apply for the single re-entry permit at immigration after I make my final visa run but before I head to Laos with my friend, correct? Also, do you know how much time it takes to process that visa? It looks like I'll only have a couple days between coming and going...

Cheers! 

Hi there, I have a question regarding the METV i was hoping you fine folk could help me out with. I tried calling the consulate at promenade to no avail and was hoping you might be able to help me out with a query - my 6 months is up at March 10th, my understanding is that I can go abroad and return by say March 9th to secure another 60 days. The question I have is, is it possible for me to leave the country again at some point during that 60 days and return to CM to finish out my time? Basically a friend is visiting in April and wants to see Laos, but I'm not sure what that means for me if I leave and try to come back then. If that doesn't work, can I just do a 30 day extension to go in and out? Thanks so much in advance!