Kalasin Jo

In theory. Recent experience in early January as a business class passenger was the fast track immigration lane was fine but then had to hang around for ages at the baggage claim. Same, not business, at the domestic baggage carousels. A very long wait there for "1st bag" to light up back in December. Next up the taxi queue for " long distance " looked horrendous but I only needed short distance on both occasions. You are given a number by a smiley chap in a booth and then that is called out, in Thai. 555. I didn't have to wait long this time for a driver. Worse back in December and last July.

" We will STILL be hearing" I think. At least weekly if not daily reports of foreigners being refused treatment without an upfront payment, foreigners being hit with very large hospital bills, foreigners with no means to pay and their families at home starting go fund me appeals. Yesterday was I think the latest report. I would have thought that a substantial proportion of this new entry fee should go towards this and a certificate issued to arriving foreigners with details of duration and level of cover. I say "foreigners" throughout this comment because that's the language used by the Ministry....all foreign arrivals, not just tourists. If collection is on arrival rather than through ticketing ( ticketing perhaps difficult as Thais are not liable to pay this tax) there is going to be chaos and more delays at border points especially at the international airports of Thailand unless debit as well as credit cards can be used to pay, perhaps US $, alternatively provide ATMs before immigration...and plenty of them! even though foreign arrivals are supposed to have, what is it?, 20k baht on them as they enter I bet many don't expecting ATMs.

What's dubious about it? I guess you mean coming in visa exempt for 45 days (at the moment) then applying in country for a 90 day non O, finally when that's on the point of expiry a year's extension? So 2 visits to local IO. If you come in from your " home" country already armed with a 90 day non O visa you only need to go to immigration once to extend that for a year. But you may also need to go immediately on arrival with your host/housemaster ( eg friend, Thai spouse) if not staying in a hotel for them to register your presence in their property. And then if you can't for whatever reason do your 90 day reports online you need to go for those too. Keeps them busy and increases opportunities for creative " problems" and tea money to resolve them. In foreigner hotspots like Jomtien that means queues especially with the large influx of " escaping" Russians seeking longer stays at the moment.

Never mind the article, I just love the use of the word enhance in the headline555

It is frustrating isn't it and rather bizarre when you are the prime interest yet you are totally ignored. Last time I went in to my local IO with my wife to get the feel of what they want there after a long absence and so a new visa,to come in, the friendly guy started rattling away at my wife in Thai, ignoring me. But she appeared confused. So he then turned to me and we got on fine in English. He concluded by saying to me " you obviously understand all this better than your wife". He turned to her and said in English " you need to pay attention and to look after your husband better". I don't know what would happen on a house visit. The wife would need to wake up for a start! And we never speak with the neighbours after an argument about our power line which they lost after we involved PEA. Anyway I was good for a retirement visa so went that much simpler route.

Possibly from the criminal fraternity there or Eastern Europe?

Yes tourists do factor in the additional cost. Brits when EU citizens could travel in and out of the rest of the EU and Schengen zone countries without charge as often as they liked, and for some that was very often. No longer EU citizens they are now EU visa exempt for visits up to 90 days BUT will soon have to pre register ( along with all 49 other visa exempt nationalities) online and be approved to travel or face being turned away by carriers and border guards at a fee of €7 per person, good for 3 years or passport expiry date if less. That's €2.33 each year. Under 18s and over 70s are exempt from this. Nevertheless Brits who have heard about it are up in arms according to UK media. And there is no nonsense about this fee being applied to improve tourist areas 555 or provide accident insurance 555. It's a security measure as is the very similar US ESTA visa waiver programme.

Vaping devices openly for sale in Thailand......indeed they are. The small throw away assorted flavours ones being particularly popular with Thais. One wonders how they get imported or if not imported manufactured here given the law. A law designed I'm convinced to protect the Thai tobacco industry not the young and vulnerable nor the health of the public as is claimed. The law on smoking is Draconian enough and surely it would be easy enough to incorporate vaping in to it and get rid of the stand alone vaping law.

Mostly the Thai scammers leave you alone, as do the beach and street vendors if you say no thank you don't they? Perhaps not so easy to do and just leave in this scenario if you've taken a taxi to THIS pier on the driver's recommendation and he's hanging around waiting for his cut of the boat trip charge. I used to take holidays in the Caribbean. I love the islands, the vendors and scammers there not so much. Very friendly to start but they WON'T leave you alone, they will follow you, they will start to curse you and appear aggressive. Hire an open jeep? Big mistake if you have a white attractive lady in the passenger seat. Stop for even a moment and local men appear from nowhere wanting to touch her. They will pretend they are authorised guides then rip you off. One such "guide" with whom a sensible fee was agreed at the start at the end wanted so much more. A tip perhaps but not this. So the curses started and aggressive behaviour. We left sharpish. Of course most locals are dirt poor but this behaviour wins them no sympathetic friends. Sadly I learned that the Caribbean is best done at a closed and gated resort, often with armed guards at the perimeter, with excursions organised through the resort. I haven't experienced this in Thailand, nor Laos or Cambodia. I did experience insistent and persistent pressure to buy something amongst the hill tribes in North Vietnam but it was always friendly done with a smile not a curse. i

Wow!

Yes. I produced my printout of the e-visa at Suvarnabhumi Immigration. My passport was stamped with 90 days and manuscript note ' e-visa '. I was asked for a printout when I applied for 1 year extension. That has been the only time.

You have a point! I'm often confused by red and blue flashing lights which turn out to be roadside guys selling stuff. Why is this allowed?

All normal in Thailand. Nothing to see here

Depends if the regular tourist is a national of a visa exempt country. Haven't checked whether Taiwan is or not for Thailand.

Until an IO gets snarky, you are taken to one side and asked why you come to Thailand so much?

Interesting point you make there. Does Thailand recognise Taiwan as an independent state or consider it part of China?

And taxes and social charges to match. Also in Europe foreigners can buy property, seek long term residency, benefit from state healthcare even qualify for a state pension if working there long enough and paying those taxes and social charges. Does Thailand offer foreigners similar? Don't think so. The point of the inequality is the concern that nationals, not just Thais, who need a visa may outstay their welcome, given the tempting disparity in earning levels you point out, disappear, work on the black and be difficult to locate and deport. Information supplied as part of the visa application reduces that risk and ensures adequate funds and a return ticket for the trip And Thailand may welcome many foreign nationals, but not all, visa exempt but everyone is fingerprinted and photographed on entry now and all foreigners have to be reported by those hosting them within 24 (?) hrs. If you want a local sim card it's registered with your passport. In theory Thailand keeps a very close eye on all its foreign visitors who are only permitted 45 days stay up from the normal 30 days presently before having to report to Immigration for an extension. In the Schengen zone it's 90 days but no extension is possible. In the UK I think it's 6 months, no extension.

Absolutely terrifying. And so lucky. A few seconds and he too would have been burned alive.

Indeed yes. I experienced just that twice wanting a new ATM card for an out of province ( Pattaya ) account. Sub branch in shopping mall in Bangkok: so sorry cannot. You need money now? Oh yes! I've just arrived. OK. Can do over the counter with fee. Then same in another mall sub branch in Kalasin city. So sorry cannot. You must go to your out of province branch that holds the account. (Although previously they had no issues doing just that for me there). But, you know, no point in arguing the point is there? Well that's a bit of a trip I thought. I'll try the main branch in Kalasin first. No problem sir and let's just check we are all up to date with your passport and contact details too as you've been away nearly 2 years.. Took a while and alot of paperwork and signatures as per usual. So I think staff in sub branches often either don't know what to do or simply cannot not be bothered with the hassle for them. He's a farang so give him a sweet smile and say sorry and he'll go away. As for transferring immigration stamps from an old passport to a new one I simply presented my cancelled passport with the permission and the entry stamps in plus my new passport to Immigration at Suvarnabhumi. No problem no comment. Entry stamp in new passport. Then had the transfer done some months later at the same time as applying to renew the extension.

Tongue in cheek my friend, tongue in cheek

These are not prostitutes but sex workers 555

Yes. I sweep the forecourt to the house every morning and do a bit of gardening in full view of passers by. Who in the village will report me? Perhaps I should just stop

Is it so incredible? I'm a Brit. I've lived in France for nigh on 20 years. Many Brits who have lived there a long time hardly speak French, let alone pronounce place names and the language correctly.

And he pays handing the bill folder to a member of staff. Yet when the change, if any, comes the staff pass it to her. That really pisses me off.

It happens. Not by any means exclusive to Thailand. I've also had conversations with quite a few ladies of a certain age back working the bars. Why? Because they married a foreigner, he built or bought a house for them in her village so that's hers but then he dies and leaves her nothing. She cannot afford to upkeep the house so it's closed up and back to the bars she must go.