Exilerunner

6 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

This is important news.

Why hasn't there been an NNT report about it?

(I think I know the answer.)

This is old news - I don't remember but there was an international assessment a few months back that showed Thailand is on the bottom of the internet freedom with only Iran, China and North Korea being worse

I am sure all the girls that wanna return need not just to show proof of vaccination as in most jobs these days in Thailand - most likely they must pay the shots by themself as I have seen it with many 'low income / not employed' people. Very sad. The more pretty ones will be ok of course via a foreign donation. The 'others' like the old Mama in Udon Thani nobody cares ....

2 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Actually more like 17% (16.63) according to the Our World in Data website.

 

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

 

You are right 17%. I am sorry but considering that poor Cambodia is at 57 % fully vaccinated ahead of the USA, still a shame

1 minute ago, Nanaplaza666 said:

I don't understand why they are talking about vaccinating 12-17 year old already . Let them vaccinate all the adults and voulnarable first fully before they try to start talk about an age group that is not in any danger . I understand that vaccinating that group will help the spread of the virus go down but they cannot even fully vaccinate the voulnarable yet get to those people first before blabbing their mouths again about getting millions and millions of vaccines without them being even here .

Well said but here "normal" vaccination order with 'old' and 'sick' FIRST does not matter. Young, rich or with a government job matters. You need your military - just in case the mob makes trouble on the street haha

14 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

will - shall- intend- target- believe- plan, etc

care only about actual completed vax statistics……

100 % correct - only the numbers of jabs in people matter - so far only some 12 % fully vaccinated - Everything just more wordy words bla bla bla

@ubonjoe are you sure he can apply just a week before his VE 30 days expire? I just did a week ago as I did last year my 30 day extension with still 5 weeks going on my 60 day stamp ....

I like to add if anybody is interested. I just did my 30 day extension at Chang Wattana without showing a TM30 (nobody asked). For the record, I am on a METV. However, I Did my TM30 (stay at gf) with the help of Peter Denis. It just seems no need at least in BKK.

I can only sign what @Fore Man here already detailed. Having a PhD and coming 5 years ago, I heard of pollution in Shanghai with AQI of 500 back then (they are now on par with us in BKK because they tackled it) but I did not think in my wildest dreams that I have to deal with that in Thailand. Until I did wake up to bad coughs in the middle of the night and by accident read in the news about the pollution. Started wearing the mask last winter and for this winter I taped our entire room and got a Xiaomi air purifier MI2s for 3500 THB. Ok now but feel bad for Thai people on the street ....

I also have never shown or done a TM30 at Wattana in 4 years doing 30 day extension on TV (last in Jan 2019). But could there be a check on my gf or her landlord now if no TM30 is present?

Haha ... No other western foreigner there .... I saw some Malaysians going inside the office for questioning but I think it was just routine

Nope ... 

Update on Sungai Kolok: Did try out Sungai Kolok border since I had  a meeting down south. Long train ride from BKK, little walk to border (you can fresh up and eat at Doi Chaang Cafe (wifi), which you will pass half way). Walk across bridge (5 min) then you can either take a bus (city liner 29) or taxi (30 min, 30 MYR) to Pasir Mas to jump on the train to Singapore. On my way back same thing and like @baboon said the IO asked me also about my METV like it may not be real. However, he was very nice - so was I and I also believe it is a good idea to clean up when we enter especially when all parties know we are staying longer. Something to consider I stayed a few days out before coming back! The soldiers in the thai train BTW after Yala station as well as the locals are very friendly. Never had a feeling to be uncomfortable but then I feel 'here' more home then anywhere else in the world.

Thank you @BritTim. I will stay out longer and have a METV. Will do Sungai Kolok then and give you guys feedback after it.

I need to go south for a day. As a long stayer on tourist visa, I struggle with my re entry point. Padang seems not that good right now. Thinking about Sadao vs Sungai Kolok. Also is 20k Baht cash in foreign currency fine too?

Thank you for the info!!!!

Everybody,

I am a little confused about the TM30. I have been a couple of years here and extended my METV always at Bangkok immigration just giving my girlfriends address and never filled out a TM30 form in my life. Last extension was in Jan this year. Am I lucky or what is the deal?

Sorry to disagree with @BritTim here. I did the VIP bus BKK to Mae Sot once. If you are taller than 150 cm, you better forget about the toilet on the bus and my bus did only make one single stop.

Thanks Everybody,

I apologize that I have no further info on the specific land border since this was a 3rd party reporting. In any case, maybe something to keep in mind in the future ...

Dear All,

I received another METV in my home country (Western Europe) and was "informed" at the consulate about fellows that encountered problems when doing their last border run 2 days before the expiration of the 6 month visa period. That never happened to me as I have done so previously and without problems. I would like to stress out that according to that information this problem occurred at land borders. The person was informed by the IO to do this last border run no later than a week before expiration of the METV. Border runs in the 'middle' of the 6 month period seemed to be ok to be done on the last day of the 60 day period. Anybody else had issues like this???

A question on the side here. I just read that Laos customs (in contrast to all others (even Burma raised it recently from 2000 to 10000 USD)) does only allow to bring in more than 2000 USD in Cash without declaration. Any opinion or experience would be appreciated ...

Thanks

On 4/1/2018 at 6:40 AM, JackThompson said:

There is no definition of "genuine tourist" other than following the laws and regulations on Tourist Visa use - not working, not overstaying, etc.    But some airport IOs seem to  think the immigration laws are wrong, so he was probably angry you managed to spend so much time and money in Thailand, helping small businesses and such.

 

Even so, we do not have any reports of problems leaving by air, so I would not worry about this.  I was once interrogated on-exit from Poipet, though (basically a "what you do here" interview, with questions going back to previous-passport history - which was ok with me).  But avoid that border-crossing *Always* on entry, as they have the same attitude as the airport IOs.  Maybe arrive a bit early for air-departures, just in case they start doing "exit interviews" like Poipet.

 

Good Choice.  No problem with a valid visa at that or any other land-crossing except Poipet/Aranyaprathet. 

 

Only the IOs at the airport or poipet would care, based on current reports.

 

If you enter the country at Nong-Khai, all air-travel from there is domestic, and there is no more immigration to deal with. 

 

It is unlikely you would need the 20K worth of cash to enter at Nong Khai, but a good idea to always have it.  Note it can be in any exchangeable currency (maybe not "kip").

 

You will have to get your bags to / on / off the bus, so hope wheels are part of the load. 
Note: You cannot count on catching the same bus after going through immigration - it may leave before you get in - so take those bags with you when you get off the bus to go through Thai immigration.

Thank you for your help. But from what I read, I can take the train from Thanaleng which should give me about 2 hours before the train in Nong Khai leaves at 19.15, correct?

Well, for reentry I will use a land border as that has been recommended on this site (JackThompson) and as I won't have the guts with my record to go through airport immigration.

Thank you Briggsy. Interesting to know, as long as the IO is hopefully not making any marks in our record ... I am ok with that.

Thank you Ubonjoe, Yes, will show my previous earnings as well if needed. In fact, I am pretty concerned coming back even land border. I know JackThompson always says land border are fine. But with my luggage coming across the bridge after staying a night in Laos maybe, one could question why is this guy not flying straight into BKK. Also will it ok to have 2 METV in my passport in a row?