AlbionBob

A friend of mine, on a world cruise, alighted at Laem Chabang a few days ago for a two-day stopover. Didn’t have to go through any immigration, didn’t have to fill in any forms or show passport or anything - just walked off the boat, caught a bus and was in Pattaya half an hour later ! Seems strange given all the rigmarole the rest of us have to go through !

I submitted six month's back statements and copies of pension incomes.

The 90 day eVisa from London is £60. I got one in November. You have to submit a load of supporting documentation as well (see website).

I use XE, as mentioned by a previous contributor, to send money to my wife's account and sometimes my own. Excellent rate, easy process and transfer goes through extremely quickly. Just have to indicate "Living expenses" or "Family Support" no hassle. Highly recommended. Having said that, I have never tried Wise, so following all the above recommendations I will give them a try in future !

Thanks for prompt response DrJack !

As an aside, regarding the 20K you are supposed to bring in, would showing a Thai Bank Savings Account Book showing at least 20K be sufficient ? Or do you actually have to carry 20K in cash ? Thanks in anticipation.

Did mine last week. Be ready for long wait. Only one desk dealing with these, and they do all the agents first ! I had to wait over two hours. Also, remember to sign all the copies, as the rather obnoxious girl on the reception desk will send you away and you’ll drop a few places in the queue ! Take a pen - you’ll be charged 10 baht to use theirs ! That was, with the wait in the queue to get in, three hours of my life I won’t get back ! Next time I think I’ll get a 60 O visa !

I have a holiday home in mid-Wales, near Machynlleth. When I am in the uk, I go there on a regular basis. It is nearly a!ways raining. I wish the people that make the weather could apply some of this global warming to this part of the world !! In fact, I think most people in the UK find it hard to believe in global warming as it is hardly ever warm !! Only a few weeks ago, I played golf in Aberystwyth, gale force winds and freezing cold ! Global warming ???

I often chuckle when I read all the outrage on here about Thailand Pass etc! I am just applying for a Travel Visa for my Thai wife to come to England !! You guys would have heart attacks seeing the amount of documentation required !! Getting to Thailand for me is and has been a stroll in the park !!

Came in with KLM 10 Days ago in same scenario. Staying 56 days, but entered on Visa Exempt. KLM did not query lack of onward flight within the 30 days. Immigration Officer asked at Bangkok. I just stated that "I get extension". She stamped me in for 30 days. I will go to Jomptien in the next week or so for the extension.

Where I have my condo in Pratumnack Pattaya on the Thappraya Road, a former restaurant that has been vacant for about 5 years is being fitted out, a large sign reading Seeland Breweries has just been erected, with another sign hanging outside that states that they are recruiting staff. Seems a strange name if it is not in fact going to brew beer ! Anyone have any knowledge of what they are going to do ? Alas, can't keep you posted on developments as I am going back to UK tomorrow for three months !

After playing golf for 40 odd years, I finally played my first round in Thailand recently. Never previously ever had a caddy, I found the experience pretty damn good. Quite apart from the lovely course and superb weather, being chauffeured round by a delightful young lady, who offered great advice and generally looked after me, was indeed most enjoyable. I only ignored her advice once, opting for 7 iron when she said a 5. When my shot landed 25 yards short of the green, I had to admit she already knew my game better than I did ! Highly recommended ! Looking forward to my next round !!

People keep referring to the strength of the Baht. I returned to Thailand earlier this month and changed £200 at TT shop in Pattaya. Exchange Rate was 44.68 to the Pound. The last time I changed money here (same TT) in March 2021, I got 39 to the Pound, and it had been on that trip as low as 37 to the Pound. To some extent, for us hailing from the UK, any increase in costs has been covered by that increase in the rate of exchange. I still chuckle at all those <deleted>, who were forecasting the rate to go down to 30 and lower as a result of Brexit !! And yes, I do remember that it was 55 back in 2013, but the Baht is not strengthening against the Pound at this time !

Having only just arrived in Patts (to see my lovely wife !), I expected to find it a morgue !). However, although very quiet, it seems to be reviving quickly. My favourite music bar on Pratumnack is open, and getting a beer does not appear to be difficult ! Last night, the Music Festival was crowded and most enjoyable. Admittedly, Walking Street was a sad sight, but once the ban is lifted, I not think it will be too long before it becomes a semblance of its former self ! Partway lives !

Just to expand on the process. Getting off the plane, you come to the Thailand Pass section, where you sit and wait for some girls who check your Pass documentation, you then go on to Immigration, where you are stamped in, then collect baggage from carosel, then through Customs where you are met by all the hotel bus people. Bit of a scramble there to find your bus, but they know you are coming and are looking for you ! Then into bus and on to hotel, where they take the test.

To reply. The hotel bus took me to hotel. There was a desk outside hotel with nurse in attendance. Took the test before going into hotel which was the Elegant Airport Hotel. Hope this helps

I arrived on 1 December. Spent first night in hotel near airport. Took the PCR on arrival. Next morning, picked up the negative certificate and got a taxi on my way to Pattaya. The hotel didn't give me a 5 day test and I completely forgot to ask for it. Neither did they say anything about Morchana ! I forgot to ask about that as well, so eager was I to be on my way ! I am wondering if they will catch up with me at some stage. I filled in my TM30, so they will know where I am !! On the subject of all the paperwork, it was, as we all know, a bit of a nightmare, but I have to say that on arrival at Suvarnabhum, the process was incredibly smooth. I got off the plane and was in my hotel room 7 kilometers away in just over an hour ! Credit where it's due !!

Happy to advise that I got a response from AIG, who are the insurers for Emirates Insurance, and they did indeed issue a certificate confirming the cover ! They did require to see a copy of the flight booking, which was easy for me to send. Credit to them - it came within 48 hours ! The Thailand Pass accepted it, although I did merge the two pages of the certificate. I haven't yet had the acceptance for the whole pass yet, but fingers crossed ! Thanks again, Bok, for pointing me in the right direction.

Yea, mine too !! Approved 20.46 this evening UK time. Took 10 days ! Good luck everybody else. Just the blinking Thailand Pass to get now......................

Thank you Bok ! The Emirates website does give a phone number and email address for AIG, so I will give that a try !

One should be able to contact Emirates about this, but it is impossible to talk to anyone there, as they never answer the phone !

Can't see any download facility. In any event, doesn't the certificate require your name dates and policy number. These are not shown on the Emirates insurance website.

I am about to delve into the murky waters of the Thailand Pass - wish me luck !! I wonder if anyone can assist on the insurance requirement and many thanks in anticipation. I have booked with Emirates and am entitled to their free insurance for the duration of my stay (90 days). I understand that this is good for the Pass. However, I am at a loss how to get the confirmation in a form that can be downloaded to the Thailand Pass to their satisfaction. Has anyone succeeded in doing this, and how did you do it please ? Thanks.

You're not alone. My application went in 5 November - still waiting. Starting to panic, as flight at end of month and haven't even started on the Pass. Can I start on that, or do I have to wait for visa confirmation ?

A word of warning ! An article on Pattaya Mail has just been published suggesting that the insurance requirement is now for full medical cover, not just covid. I don't know how true that is, but hopefully my flight with Emirates free insurance will still be sufficient for me. Not sure about others. Await developments on this, as a full cover requirement will surely dissuade many from coming.