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atecom

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Posts posted by atecom

    Driver's License Procedures Chiang Mai

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    3 hours ago, ThaiBrian said:

    Will I be rejected a health certificate if I have high blood pressure? I don't want to take pills, I want to live on the edge. 

     

    Some of you are saying they won't accept a Certificate from a clinic? So go to an actual hospital and pay ~200 THB? What's the test consist of at the hospitals? Will they cup you between the legs and have you cough? 

    I got my license despite my blood pressure readings being high. Didn't seem to cause any issues, though that was early last year.

    Incorrect entry expire date

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    I recently realised that when Passing through Padang Besar near the end of October on a METV, they accidentally stamped my entry expiry as being in December 2020 instead of 2019. I wish to extend my entry at Chiang Mai by 30 days later this month, will I run into any issues due to this mistake? Or will they just correct it when I apply for the extension?

     

    Regards

    ~Eamon

    Max no extensions a year?

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    I was at CM Immigration getting my TV extended, when I caught part of a conversation between a guy next to me and an IO. I didn't hear all of what was said, or what type of entry this guy was on, but i heard something along the lines of 'So if i get this extended, I can go out, come back again and get it extended again?' to Which the IO said 'Yes max 2 times per year'. Has anyone heard of a max 2 per year policy for tourist visa extensions?

     

    Regards

    ~Eamon Delaney

    What does this stamp mean?

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    Im not sure what the stamp says, but it looks like the standard denied entry stamp, and by the sounds of it he breached the max 2 visa exempt entries at land borders per calendar year rule. I think thats a 9 written on the stamp, which references 2.9 of the immigration act, which I think is incorrect or no visa. Should be fine to fly in if they have no long stay history in Thailand.

    Better return option from Penang, DMK or Padang Besar?

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    It just so happened that I had one. Because I didn't want to be worried about schedules, in case of train delays, potential missing flight from Hat Yai... etc, I had booked to stay in Hat Yai for a couple of nights. I had it printed out just in case, and they accepted it when they asked me to show a hotel booking. Didn't seem to be an issue that it didn't cover the entire proposed stay length.

    Northern style cooking class

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    A few weeks back, I attended a cooking school. I am not someone who usually cooks myself, but I found it a lot of fun, and quite easy to do, however I noticed the dishes they taught were the southern style dishes. I was happy to learn about those, however I was also interested in learning about some of the northern dishes (Khao soi and the Northern spicy sausages). When I asked the person hosting the cooking class, they mentioned classes for the Northern style dishes were rare for tourists because northern style cooking is a lot more difficult than southern style. None the less, I wouldn't mind learning about it. Does anyone have recommendations for a cooking class that offers Northern style dishes? Also anyone with experience in Northern style cooking? What sort of difficulties would I encounter?

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    Pedang Besar border update

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    I know some people like to know how the various entry points are operating, so I will write about my recent experience at the Pedang Bsar border entry, entering from Malaysia into Thialand. Most of this information is probably already known, but I will just provide an up to date statement, in case there are people who are unaware.

     

    Took the train up from Butterworth, I have an METV issued in Sydney, I have never had issues entering at Chiang Mai Airport, but thought I would give Pedang Besar a try to see what it was like.

     

    Upon arriving at Pedang Besar station in Malaysia, there seemed to be an area for Thai immigration, but it seemed closed. I met a fellow traveller who was attempting the Pedang Besar entry also on the train up from Butterworth and he enquired to a local where we had to go. From what we could make out, we had to go upstairs, cross a pedestrian bridge and go to the road checkpoint right next to the station. Stamping out of Malaysia was easy enough, just had to do it at one of the booths next to the road. Walking to the Thai border was a easy walk, about 1/2 km, I had a massive wheel case and backpack and managed it without issues. When arriving at the Thai checkpoint I followed a sign which pointed to the left which mentioned arrivals. Over the left side of the road was the arrivals building.

     

    When going in, I had to ask at the booth at the left for the arrival card, which they gave me. After filling it in, I found out that the main queue in the centre is only for Malaysians, all other people have to wait on the left where you are ushered into a room on by one. The servers were down so this took a while. The woman who seemed to have an office in the room would come out, check out passports, ask for flight out, and hotel bookings, then one by one would take us into her office to continue the interview. Be warned, each single immigration processing took around 20 minutes. I was only second in line, and it ended up taking about an hour, due to the careful screening of each person and the servers being down. She carefully went through my passport, made sure I had the previously mentioned documentation. Interestingly, she didn't seem to concerned about my long stay history, more that everything was in order for this entry. She was confused that my Malaysia entry stamp was after the METV issuance date, because she had assumed I got the visa in Malaysia, but resolved that by pointing out the visa was from Sydney. The guy who I met on the train up from Penang was denied entry. I was in the office at the time, and he was still in line for the initial document check, so I couldn't hear exactly why, but I think he may have been trying to enter visa exempt, and didn't have the documentation (Flight out, hotel booking) in order. I wasn't asked to show any money, although I expect that some people would still be expected to, The hotel booking i had was just for the few days I would spend in Hat Yai, it didn't bother her that it didn't cover my entire stay. In the end I was let in. I walked to the left to the Pedang Besar train station on the Thai side which was just under 1KM from the border crossing, still a reasonably straightforward walk despite the amount of baggage I had, and continue on to Hat Yai.

     

    So in short, not sure how I feel about the Pedang Besar crossing, I think its still a friendly crossing if you have your documents in order (Flight out, hotel, money) but strict if you don't, Make sure you get there with plenty of time if you are catching an on wards train cause it seems only 1 person is handling foreigners with enough vetting to last 20 mins per person, so if there are a lot of people, you could expect to spend a long time at this border.

     

    Regards

    ~Atecom

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    Security check upon landing at Changi

    in Singapore General Chat

    Posted

    Arrived in Singapore yesterday, and upon disembarking from the plane, we all had to go through a security checkpoint similar to how you normally would when going to the gates from the front entrance. Had to pass bags through, take laptops out.. etc How long have they been doing this? I have never had to do this at any other airport. Don't be like that, Singapore.

    The Multiple Entry Tourist Visa Topic (METV)

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    Just got back from Sydney consulate, they have accepted the proof of balance letter, which just shows the balance from the day I printed it last month, at least for the time being. May have to wait to see if it causes any issues during the application process. Even though the website states that it should be a statement, their leaflets with the list of required documents that I picked up at the embassy said Proof of Balance letter was okay, so I think it may be fine also.

    Who lives in a Muslim area?

    in Southern Thailand

    Posted

    Any recommendations against taking the Jungle route train on the East coast from Johor Bahru to Hat Yai which passes through this region? My understanding is violence can happen with that route but is rare. Thinking about taking that route in the not to distant future.

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