CanuckThai

8 hours ago, overherebc said:

Sounds like a lot of people either don't know what to do or need something to help with lunch.

Visa or extension of stay by the way?

New 90 day Non O...

I got caught with a surprise leaving Thailand on my last Visa run to Vientiane. 

If you renew a passport here, try to get your in/out immigration sorted before hand, or plan for  (a lot of) potential additional time with immigration 

I left a few days early before my non-O expired, taking into consideration Songkran, the consulate "holiday"  hours and the possible throngs of people.  When I arrived and parked near the friendship bridge, it was 07:35.  I walked over to the Thai customs/immigration building, and was caught off guard by the amount of people in line to escape...hundreds.  Very few farrang, all Thai's and mostly Laos.  No problem...

Finally arrived at the wicket, to stamp out.  I was refused.  Told to go to the "overstay wicket line", politely confirmed with the immigration officer that I still had 4-5 days remaining on my visa.  "You have to go to overstay line!" was the reply.  Waited in line, finally got my chance at the wicket.  Was told I had to go to the immigration office building a few kilometers away from the border control building.   Ok...so be it.

Got a tuk tuk from the entrance of the customs area, to the immigration building...200b.  No problem.

I was carrying a fresh new Canadian passport issued from the CDN consulate in Bangkok, and my old one, that had my last Thai entry stamp (valid, not an overstay), and several valid visas/wp from other countries.  I looked at the time: 09:15.  I waited in cue for my turn.  My passport(s) were shuffled around from IO to IO and the new passport stamped (2 pages) with a "confirmation of non-overstay" enabling me to receive an exit stamp.  100b please.  10:15am, in a tuk tuk, back to Thai border IO line.  3 pages wrecked out of a new passport, and I hadn't actually arrived in a different country... 

Arrived at Vientiane Thai consulate at 11:30+ (no taxi deals or haggling, asked who could get me there the fastest) to submit visa application, was number 769....(last of the day).

6 pages used (non overstay/good guy in stamps, Laos visa, new Thai visa, out/in/out/in stamps) in total for 1 visa run....

2 hours ago, StevieAus said:

You don’t need a toolbox just something to stand on so you can reach and lift up the front cover and slide out the two filters

Takes only a few minutes,certainly quicker than getting the so-called resident engineer and a glazed look or being moved to another room with the same problem

As a matter of interest what do you do at home or don’t you use aircon?

Attention all farang:  Close balcony door and any large windows before attempting high level (above the hotel room floor) acrobatics  

1 hour ago, darrendsd said:

What visa were you applying for?

90 day non-O

4 hours ago, darrendsd said:

Of course you can or did you expect to wait in the Embassy grounds until tomorrow?

 

I will explain it again,

 

You apply the first day, you have already done this, this means you can leave the Embassy grounds

 

You will go back tomorrow to collect

 

The queue number you were given IS NOT the number for the window today, you have already given your application to the 2 or 3 staff on the desk in front of the window, you DON'T have to o to the window today, you will go to the window TOMORROW to pick up your PP and that's why you have been given a number, this number is for TOMORROW not today

 

You have ALREADY made your application by giving it to the 2 or 3 staff on the desk

 

Understand now?

Some people are required to provide additional paperwork, or confirm something about their visa application....they are required to hang around until it is sorted.  Someone at the window will complete any deficiencies, and send you on your way when everything is  honky-dory.

It happened to me on one of my latest Vientiane visa runs.  Had to wait until almost closing time (closing time for lunch), to confirm my address before receiving my  "next day pickup slip".

This is why Thai folks need temples....an uncluttered, clean place to hang out In for a few hours....

17 hours ago, JOC said:

How refreshing with a topic never discussed on Thaivisa before....

Really impressed by the metaphors: Goose....Golden Egg

Jeez where do you get the inspiration from?

 

"any obvious indicators?" you ask                                If you need to ask that question here, you are in the risk zone....

Methinks risk zone is in the rear view mirror.  A question like that is "crumple zone".  You know, the first couple of meters from the from front of the bus?

I've done the proof of income at the CDN consulate a few times.  I always take printed copies of bank statements, tax assessment, T4, paystub (or invoice)...and request a letter claiming less.  Never an issue, appointment late morning and collect letter in the afternoon.

3 hours ago, 1happykamper said:

" If you had first class insurgents maybe you had a chance. All the best. "

 

Sorry.. Typo.. Insurance!

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

555....Op would have a greater chance of getting an amicable settlement, with first class insurgents in his corner...

I got my wife (girlfriend at the time) a 1 year tourist visa, no problem at all (3 years ago).  Submitted the paperwork, gave them all the details they wanted, and could prove financials to "sponsor" the invitation.  Applied for a 1 year renewal, no problem, applied for the next one, and they gave her a five year.  None of it was any trouble at all.  Cross the t's and dot the i's.  They ask for very basic history and family details.  Exactly what I would expect, and hope the Canadian government should do.  Difficult process or unfair?  No.

I agree with keeping funds in Canada, and keeping a minimum Baht float.   The best solution I've found for myself, has been opening a Thai and Canadian  "E currency" trading account.  You can fund your "E currency" account when you want, online from your Canadian bank, then send yourself an amount of "Ecoin",  sell it, deposit funds into your Thai bank account.  At this point, you actually make money transferring CDN bought Ecoin, to Thai.Bx.  Example: buy $1000 worth of bitcoin, send it to your "ewallet" here, sell it, deposit approx 26500 Baht into your thai bank account.  The whole process is very quick (usually less than an hour to have funds in your thai account, from time of purchase of ecoin in Canada).

1 hour ago, Oxx said:

 

Gold dealers in Thailand didn't get rich by being dumb.

Thanks for the helpful reply.  

Sage: a profoundly wise man, especially one who features in ancient history.

Does anyone know of any gold dealers in Thailand, that accept Bitcoin?

...go for it.  Jog with only a G string too.  Give us expats a fair warning heads up, where not to be...

I've been using Transferwise for while now, it's a decent platform.  Visa debit transfers are also reasonable and basically instantaneous.  Are many people bypassing the whole  system by sending "ecoin" from a foreign wallet (eg Canadian or US platform wallet) to a bx.in.th wallet, then a withdrawal to your Thai bank ?  If so, any grief,  pitfalls or just smooth sailing?

5 hours ago, tonray said:

More than likely when you get home, your laundry will still be dirty, you will have more dirty pans in the sink, your TV will be on while she sleeps on the sofa, and your electricity bill will be through the roof.

...and your bathroom, just might look like the fire department was training for 5 alarm fires, with high pressure hoses.  Might want to take your toilet seat to work with you, unless you're up to speed on the "toilet rim squat"...