I recently went to Savannakhet, Laos, to get another 60 day visa from the Thai Embassy.
I was informed that some new regulations have been introduced (I wasn't aware of these things obviously!) and tourists are now required to show a bank statement. I have enough money to support myself here and I had enough money on me in cash to show to the officer and/or pay them or the "necessary" people if problems were to come up. I have been travelling with my friend for the past two years and we have been living off her money as well. We thought we could just show her bank statement as proof but In the end it didn't matter because they only want to see a statement with the tourist's name on it and showing a minimum of 20,000 THB. As previously stated I have enough money to support myself but I just didn't have an actual document from my home country to show the rather rude and arrogant officer at the desk.
I have a few questions after what was a nightmare scenario and one that ended up causing me to have to book a flight back into Thailand. I had no option but to get a 30 day stamp from Don Muang, as I had to fly from Vientiane, Laos.
I hope someone can help clear the following up:
1) How many 30 day stamps are you allowed per year when flying in to Thailand?
2) How many 60 day visas are you allowed to obtain per year? The reason I ask is because I have heard that you can now only do two over land crossings. Is this really the case?
3) Which countries/embassies are the most civilized and less stressful to get the 60 day visa? I have been in the country just over two years now. I understand this is a while to some but I don't really see a problem with it as I am just travelling around the country and I leave often in any case, and I have shown my finances before too.
4) Will the Thai Embassy accept an ANZ bank statement? I know this might sound obvious but I am actually from England. I opened a bank account over there three years ago, whilst travelling around Victoria and NSW. Surely as long as it has my name on it and the amount they wish to see, everything should be ok, right?
5) I obviously want to get off the tourist visa path because it is becoming a pain in the arse but what other visas are easiest to obtain? Is there any kind of volunteering visa? I would like to stay in Thailand in order to volunteer for the Soi Dog Foundation but can it be done?
and...
6) Which countries ( in SE Asia that is) are easiest to stay in and for the longest, on tourist visas?
Sorry for the rather long and dull post! I know it's rather long but I would appreciate some help! Thailand seems to be becoming stricter and stricter every year. I'm at a point were I'm confused about how the visa stuff works anymore. It seems to change every five seconds.
Thank you for taking the time to read through all of this and I hope to see some of your answers soon.
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Tourist visa issues/Confusion
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
Hi guys,
I recently went to Savannakhet, Laos, to get another 60 day visa from the Thai Embassy.
I was informed that some new regulations have been introduced (I wasn't aware of these things obviously!) and tourists are now required to show a bank statement. I have enough money to support myself here and I had enough money on me in cash to show to the officer and/or pay them or the "necessary" people if problems were to come up. I have been travelling with my friend for the past two years and we have been living off her money as well. We thought we could just show her bank statement as proof but In the end it didn't matter because they only want to see a statement with the tourist's name on it and showing a minimum of 20,000 THB. As previously stated I have enough money to support myself but I just didn't have an actual document from my home country to show the rather rude and arrogant officer at the desk.
I have a few questions after what was a nightmare scenario and one that ended up causing me to have to book a flight back into Thailand. I had no option but to get a 30 day stamp from Don Muang, as I had to fly from Vientiane, Laos.
I hope someone can help clear the following up:
1) How many 30 day stamps are you allowed per year when flying in to Thailand?
2) How many 60 day visas are you allowed to obtain per year? The reason I ask is because I have heard that you can now only do two over land crossings. Is this really the case?
3) Which countries/embassies are the most civilized and less stressful to get the 60 day visa? I have been in the country just over two years now. I understand this is a while to some but I don't really see a problem with it as I am just travelling around the country and I leave often in any case, and I have shown my finances before too.
4) Will the Thai Embassy accept an ANZ bank statement? I know this might sound obvious but I am actually from England. I opened a bank account over there three years ago, whilst travelling around Victoria and NSW. Surely as long as it has my name on it and the amount they wish to see, everything should be ok, right?
5) I obviously want to get off the tourist visa path because it is becoming a pain in the arse but what other visas are easiest to obtain? Is there any kind of volunteering visa? I would like to stay in Thailand in order to volunteer for the Soi Dog Foundation but can it be done?
and...
6) Which countries ( in SE Asia that is) are easiest to stay in and for the longest, on tourist visas?
Sorry for the rather long and dull post! I know it's rather long but I would appreciate some help! Thailand seems to be becoming stricter and stricter every year. I'm at a point were I'm confused about how the visa stuff works anymore. It seems to change every five seconds.
Thank you for taking the time to read through all of this and I hope to see some of your answers soon.
David