Soneva

You can go to Vientiane again. The old warning stamp won't affect your application. Jakarta might not be the easiest place to get a stamp. Heard that Singapore vets all applicants online now. You could also try Savannakhet. People have made positive remarks about Bali but u would need bank statement plus ticket etc and wait two days or so to get ur book back.

Thanks for the tips. Okay, so Singapore is out, and it does not surprise me given the local culture that they would be a bit too “thorough.”

I actually visit Vientiane every time, regardless of where else I go, before returning to Thailand. So, it’s good to know that I can get future visas there. I just try to diversify the consulates that I use in order not to get too many in VTE. It works out well this way because I have VTE as a fallback if for whatever reason I cannot apply elsewhere.

Have you heard anything about KL? Also, I guess Penang is another place I should try.



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If you're interested in visiting Phnom Penh for five days, that's a good option for your first SETV. It does take longer than the usual next day turnaround, but you can indeed use an agent and don't need to queue up.

Thanks. Phnom Penh is actually high on my list of places to visit, so if I can get my SETV there easily, that’s great.


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I am planning a trip for another SETV, and am considering the following places:

 

Ho Chi Minh city

Hanoi

Phnom Phen

Jakarta

Bali

KL

Singapore

 

I was recently “red” stamped in Vientiane, but will have a brand new passport on this trip.

 

Are any of the above consulates particularly easy to deal with? I have no problems with providing bank statements or airline tickets, etc... but nevertheless would like the process to be quick and with as few questions asked as possible.

 

Is there anything in particular I should know about application in these cities? I have heard, for example, that it is better to use a visa agent in Phnom Phen - that would actually be just fine with me because I would just as soon not have to queue up at the consulate!

 

My objective is to visit new cities, so am looking also for a nice place to spend five days or so.

 

By the way, regarding a “red” stamp from Vientiane (actually the ink used was blue), does a fresh passport completely solve that problem? i.e. am I good to go for subsequent visas in Vientiane should I choose to apply there?

 

Any advice on which consulates are particularly easy to work with - or places where an agent can do it for me easily - as well as which cities people have enjoyed visiting would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As far as I know ฿20,000, or equivalent in foreign currency is the requirement. Of course, more can’t hurt.


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I plan to go to Jakarta in the near future. I am a long term “tourist” on successive SETVs, but at this time will have a fresh passport.

I can meet all financial proof requirements if there are any. Additionally I will have an airplane ticket out of Thailand within 60 days as well.

Should I be okay for as SETV in Jakarta? Is it a relatively hassle free process? I will be staying near to the Thai Embassy so I figure traffic is not an issue.


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8 hours ago, Ian1980 said:

Also this really interesting...why he told me he paied 22.000 thb for the work permit?

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The work permit is on him.  Unless you specifically agreed to those terms in a contract, he cannot arbitrarily decide to withhold money from you for the work permit. 

 

If any problems, i.e. if he refuses to pay salary for time already worked, or anything else you are due, go to the Labor Court in your province.  Bring all documentation you have.  The process is completely free of charge for the employee to file a claim, and they have lawyers on staff to help advise you.

You should be prepared with all materials as above, as they may ask for any of them.  They definitely will ask for a bank statement, and possibly will ask for the other items.

It’s relatively easy to get tourist visas.  I would absolutely not risk trying to enter without a tourist visa anytime soon.  

 

If arriving by air, BKK is more “friendly” than DMK, but you will still need your tourist visas. 

 

You should additionally always have at leasy ฿20,000 cash on you when you enter.  Also, being able to show bank statements, as well as a ticket out of Thailand when you enter is a good idea.  

 

Those are things that can help you convincingly argue that you are a “genuine tourist” - for all intents and purposes - and that you are not someone working illegally in Thailand.  

 

Again, I think you should have entered at BKK airport.  Or, if you are travelling regionally, it is even better to use land boarders (not Aranyaprathet), and then take a domestic flight or ground transportation to wherever you are going in Thailand. 

Don’t forget how to pitch your product. It has to appeal to Thai (or Lao, whatever local tastes) AND be seen as a good value in the eyes of locals if you expect it to sell.

That means it has to be good enough (in the eyes of locals, not only in your eyes) to convince them to spend substantially more than they would on their favorite local foods.

That equation is not easy. Different tastes, different price level, different substitutes to compete against than in France. Also, you have to train your employees to cook in a professional manner, in a hygienic kitchen environment up to international standards.

You have to do all of that, and the product has to be not just acceptable food (which may sell in France), but it had to convince average Thai people to shell out half a day’s salary for it, on a regular basis. Not only that, but it has to be a profitable business model after all costs are accounted for.

I’m not being pessimistic, but just highlighting what the challenge is. Any foreign food in Thailand - whether it is a pizza or a hamburger or a sandwich - is not a “cheap” fast food item for locals as it would be in France. For most locals, it would be a special treat to buy something like that. So, there is a higher level of expectation, and there is a limit to how much you can realistically expect to charge for that item.

You also have to open up in a vacuum where there is demand. If you think you’re going to open up alongside other businesses that are already successful, selling a great product, you need a lot of differentiation to make your product sell. Otherwise forget about it.




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Again, I cannot emphasize enough how much easier I think opening a business would be in a less developed country than Thailand. Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, for example would have fewer barriers to entry, and less competition. Also high quality of life and one can visit and enjoy Thailand frequently.

Re franchises, those negatives are not true of the best companies. An investment in a good franchise opportunity is like gold. If you have that capital already, let a company that is an expert in the field do most of the work FOR you.

I could be mistaken, but from the OPs description it sounds like we’re talking about starting from squash one, with limited capital.

If you had some prior experience in food and beverage in Europe/elsewhere, and a couple hundred thousand USD capital, that could be enough to start a business in a place like Laos and potentially be very successful.


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What are you talking about when you say opening a fast food restaurant?  Fo you mean your own start up? 

 

If so, I would suggest getting a lot of experience first.  You may have more luck in a place like Laos or Myanmar where there is much less existing competition and the capital required will be much lower. 

 

If you have significant capital, i.e. millions USD, you could consider franchises.  Open franchises with Minor food group, who take care in larger part of managing the business and who know to operate in Thailand.  

 

A new start up in Bangkok would be very expensive and, unless you have a lot if experience and the right connections, very risky.  That’s why I suggested Laos.  In Vientiane or Luang Prabang you could open for a fraction of the cost, and have far less competition from major chains.  You would still have to work extremely hard,  but if you succeed it could be very nice.  Lots of French, Russian, and other expats in Laos. Lots of tourists too,  especially in Luang Prabang.  

 

I know several foreign owned restaurants in Vientiane that have delicious food and are doing well.  But, they are run by experienced professionals, who work hard.  

 

Get food & beverage, hospitality experience in Europe first. 

 
I certainly do give a shit when a my wife's friends ask her "Does the farang .... " when they know perfectly well who I am, my relationship to my wife etc. Very few are that ignorant but it has happened, even with people with whom I've held conversations in the past.
 
Why it's beyond their wit to instead ask "Does your husband ..." I've no idea because it'd save me from giving them a mouthful for being rude (especially when it happens in my own home) and them from being embarrassed (?) that I've had a go at 'em. 
 
But in most circumstance, like you, I don't care.

I totally agree. Your wife’s friend should speak more respectfully, and say something like “your husband” instead of “the farang.”

My Thai is not nuanced enough to determine when someone is using the word in a friendly/informal way or if it is derogatory.

I’m the last person who has the right to get on a politically correct high horse, however. I tend to be anything but politically correct.

The good thing is that the few people I care about do treat me with respect, and I really don’t give a shit about what others think.


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I once asked my Thai language teacher why Thais say Khon dam (black people) or khon Asian, khon Thai, etc, but not khon farang. She got a bit upset at me for even asking, certainly could not explain why. If they were to say khon farang/ farang people I would not consider it derogatory but omitting “khon” does sort of imply they do not consider us as people.

I think that is because the other terms are proper descriptors and therefore are used with khon.

Farang itself is an informal expression (potentially derogatory, but often not) that already refers to a white foreigner, and thus saying person again would be redundant.

I frankly don’t even give a damn it what they refer to me as is potentially derogatory. They have no idea of the words that exist in the English language that describe people from various ethnic groups, many of which can be derogatory or even extremely offensive.

If anyone does not like me because I’m a foreigner, I certainly do not give a sh!t what they think about me, or what they call me.


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Well, as my title says the IO was not very happy and scanned my passport twice, shaking his head and looking at me like but did not say a word. 

I get this EVERY freaking time I leave. The IO scans my passport, flicking through the pages and shakes his head. Don't worry too much. Maybe they don't like passports full of blue stickers?


I’ve never had a problem leaving. I hope I do not get any bad looks or head shaking in the future!

However, I suspect the reality is that it matters little. And IO shaking his or her head or not is “up to them” — they have no authority to really do anything upon departure anyway, especially if there has been no overstay.

It can’t be fun sitting in a booth at BKK all day, doing mind numbing, soul killing work of scanning and stamping passport after passport. So a certain amount of surly behavior can be expected.

I got unbelievably rude treatment once from the person checking tickets and passports at the entrance of the fast track queue. That’s undoubtedly a worse job. They aren’t officials and spend the day standing.

All across the world, low pay and dreadfully boring work makes for a lot of hostility among certain airport employees. I’ve found that to be true almost everywhere.


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I have actually found immigration to mostly be relatively nice, compared to what I have experienced even with my home country (the U.S.) upon returning. 

 

Even when I wad questioned and “warned” by an IO, she was actually quite pleasant under the circumstances, at least as much so as could be expected. 

 

Leaving from the airport is safe, because there is really nothing they can do to prevent you from leaving.  

 

I am not an expert, but with travel back to Europe and a METV issued in Europe, after a stay of a couple of months, I think you might be okay just enetering the country in BKK.  Just make sure to have bank statements and cash on you.  

 

You can then do subsequent boarder/visa runs by land as you have been. 

 

Otherwise, you can do as you say and enter by land.  That sounds like a pain with a lot of baggage, however.

 

One thing I always do at the airport is put my landing permission card, or whatever it’s called, in the passport on the same page as my entry/extension stamps.  It could be something as simple as having to search through the passport that could annoy an IO, so I try to make it easy for them to find the correct page.

 

 

Thank you BritTim,  I have money coming in from China to my Paypal account,  I am certianly not rich but I have enough to get by.  Would copies of this, along with 20,000b in cash and flight ticket out in 20 days be ok? Thanks again

Statements of your accounts showing how you fund your stays in Thailand are important. The purpose is to satisfy immigration that you are not working illegally.

Again, if you have many entries, I highly suggest getting a tourist visa in Ho Chi Minh. The reason: it’s more difficult for IOs to refuse entry if you have a visa. It is much easier for them to deny someone visa exempt entry.


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Thanks everyone,  so I am flying to Thailand from HCMC on the 19th April with AirAsia.  I will buy a cheap one way ticket to Vientiene Laos just incase they ask for it at check in or immigration want to see it. This along with 20,000b should be ok?  I will be staying with the girlfriend then travelling around different parts of Thailand.  I have a long history of visa exempts in my passport so a little worried something might happen. 
 
Thanks to all! 

I would not risk a visa exempt entry. You should get a tourist visa in Ho Chi Minh regardless of length of stay.

If possible, I would suggest flying into BKK instead of DMK. Vietnam Airlines has low fares if ticketing in advance.


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If departing from SGN, my experience is THAI never check for proof of onward/return ticket or visa/re-entry but Air Asia always do. I'm not sure about Vietnam Airlines or Vietjet.
 
It isn't a hard and fast rule but I find LCC's are much stricter on this point. A cynic might say that any reason to kick you off and resell the seat works for them.

The real problem could occur upon arrival if Immigration asked to see it.

If applying for a visa and asked at the consulate, that’s another problem one may encounter.


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One more thing — airline refunds are not instant. In the best cases, it may take a few days, while in some cases it takes weeks or over a month to get the refund.

I just wanted to mention this to warn anyone who may try this that while you will get the money back, you will temporarily be out of pocket the price of a full fare ticket. (Or, if you have sufficient available credit, the money may never leave your pocket at all).

Just a word of warning to anyone on a tight budget. Do not try this method if the purchase will cause cash flow problems.


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Really, dream on   Are you deluded or a dreamer. You may manage that if you fly business class, and I say MAY. But LCC carriers or cheap economy tickets on regular airlines, I challenge you to prove it ! Misinformation on such a site as this can be very very dangerous.

It isn’t misinformation. If you do your homework there are plenty of major airlines with fully refundable tickets. Of course you have to have sufficient money and/or available lines of credit to momentarily purchase an expensive ticket. But the actual cost is zero after subsequently refunding/cancelling.

I will not post any examples for the airlines’ sake, but they do exist. They ain’t low cost carriers though, for sure.


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It’s definitely at the discretion of airline employees and immigration to even ask about it, so there is no clear cut answer. In the worst case scenario, just use your smartphone to purchase any onward ticket and show it to them. It can even be a cheap throw away ticket on a low cost carrier to a neighboring country.

I have flown on one way tickets to Thailand countless times and have never been asked. However, I always fly in premium cabins, usually on Thai Airways, so that could be why I haven’t been subject to that scrutiny.


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I don’t like throwing away money of any amount if I can avoid it. If you do your homework, there are ways to buy fully refundable tickets, reducing the cost to zero.

Also, if you have air miles at your disposal, check to see what kind of a cancellation policy the airline has. That can be a way of getting pro forma tickets easily.

If you do book through LCCs like Air Asia, the taxes and fee portion of the tickets can be refunded to you upon cancellation (either in the form of a credit toward future tickets, or back to the original form of payment).


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You may not be asked for anything, but in the event that you are, it is much better to have an onward ticket.  In some cases, the airline will not let you on the flight to Thailand on a one way ticket unless you can show a ticketed onward or return itinerary. 

 

You mention you are going to do a “boarder run”. What I suggest is that you do a “visa run” and obtain a visa at a consulate.  The most logical place to do that in your situation is probably Vientiane, Laos.  So, I would suggest buying your airline ticket to VTE  now, scheduled for the last day of your visa exempt entry.  That will be your proof of onward travel, and it will not go to waste as you will actually use that ticket for your visa run.

Trust me know one unless you are a 50 kilo midget would like that sleeper! It's so bad and I am well travelled! I can handle any other journey.

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Hence my recommendation of the 45 minute domestic flight. It puts you into ZVK around 8:00 am, you go directly to the consulate, spend one night in Savannakhet, and then collect the visa the next day.


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