dpspike

On 12/17/2018 at 11:10 PM, JLCrab said:

Yes and there are some on here who seem to think that they have some preordained right to live in Thailand long-term whatever circumstances might be their particular case.

You are still missing the point sir. According to Thai law, there currently is no limit on tourist visas, and the financial requirements for a tourist visa are quite modest (bank account with 20,000 baht or equivalent). So that implies that whoever meets that modest requirement does indeed have the right to be in Thailand. I'm just stating the law as I understand it, and the apparent disregard that Thai Immigration in Vientiane seems to be displaying because that is the content in the OP. If you just want to lash out at someone because you don't think they have enough money to stay in Thailand, that's up to you. But I try to confine my comments to the actual content of the OP, or when possible, find humor in it.

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

There is no changes mentioned for the 30 day visa exempt entry. It is when you apply for a single entry tourist visa you get a 2 entry visa for the same fee as a single entry tourist visa.

It only mentioned unlimited 30 day visa exempt entries at land border crossings instead of the limit of 2 per calendar year now.

So which tourist would get a 30 day visa before coming here? Surely not tourists from the UK, USA, Australia, Russia, NZ, Germany, Norway... as they would simply get "30-day visa exempt entry" upon arrival at the airport. Let me guess - - the Chinese are not allowed entry under the visa exemption rule. So, again, this seems like something designed to benefit the Chinese primarily. 

On 11/14/2018 at 1:56 PM, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the Cabinet gave the green light for the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Passport Privileges” from November 15 until January 15, 2019.

Apparently these changes don't include tourist visa stamp when arriving at the airport. I arrived at Don Mueang yesterday (Nov 15), and was only given a 30 day single entry stamp. Having already read this article on Thaivisa.com, I asked the immigration officer about the single-to-double entry or 30-to-60 day change, to which she simply responded "no". So maybe this is just for tourist visas obtained outside Thailand, or maybe this is only for Chinese tourists, as the junta seems more concerned about them than farangs?

I am not surprised at all that my government has abandoned the income affidavit. My experience with both the US Consulates in Thailand is that they don't give a damn about me or my rights as a US citizen. They are primarily concerned with making money to cover their overhead. They hire loads of Thais to work there, paying them low salaries. Most can barely speak English, if at all. So "NO", I don't believe that the US Consulates give a damn whether abandoning the income affidavit has a negative impact on US expats.

I'm unsure if this applies, but I bought a new motorbike recently in Chiang Mai, and the dealer would only accept the Residence Certificate from Thai Immigration. About 2 years ago, I bought a 2nd-hand motorbike. I was denied a Residence Certificate from Thai Immigration (then at Promenada) because I had a Tourist Visa, but the Transport Office in Nong Hoi District accepted the Residence Affidavit from the US Consulate to register the motorbike in my name, and they didn't care that I had a Tourist Visa. However, keep in mind that was almost 2 years ago.

17 hours ago, HHTel said:

The map has been a requirement for some time now.  I always print off the map from Google.

I concur. I was asked to provide a map for my retirement visa at the immigration office in Chiang Mai last year and in Udon Thani 6 years ago. Maybe the new boss is making all the different immigration offices (including Changwatanna) follow this requirement.

On 9/18/2018 at 11:00 PM, BritManToo said:

Ten years back when I first arrived, I got bitten loads every day.

Now I get around one bite a week, no screens on the windows, no repellent, don't understand it.

(I'm blood group 'o')

 

Wondering if I still get bitten, but no longer react to the venom, so don't notice the bites.

It is the mosquito's saliva that causes the bump from a mosquito bite. Many (but not all) people who live for years in place where they are bitten by mosquitoes often will build a tolerance to the saliva of the mosquito species that have been biting them, such that the body's reaction to the mosquito saliva is suppressed. The result is fewer bumps, which is interpreted as fewer bites, but only because some of the bites don't result in noticeable bumps. However, their body's reaction to bites from a different mosquito species will not be suppressed. Thus, the same person can move to a different location with different mosquito species, and will seem to be getting bitten more than the previous location. Why some people can develop the tolerance to a particular species' saliva, while others cannot, is unknown to science, but there clearly is a genetic component underlying the phenomenon. There are thousands of mosquito species in the world, but usually only a few species will predominate in a given urban location. In urban areas of Thailand, the most abundant species in Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, which does transmit Dengue and host of other viruses, but does not transmit malaria. Just thought you might like to know.

I always bring back some food from home after a visit, but it's always packaged stuff. Never had a problem. Maybe if you sealed your cooked battered cod in plastic, you could bring it in your check-bag. Coming from USA or UK, it probably would make through security in your carry-on. However, when I go to Cambodia or Vietnam, then return to Thailand, I often make sandwiches and bring them on the plane in my carry-on bag. Never had a problem with that either. 

On 8/27/2018 at 12:53 PM, ozzmanrocks said:

Photo's of marriage / at house / in front of house and so on................

What exactly are you referring to in this portion of your statement above. Are you saying that photos of your wedding ceremony and husband & wife at the home must be provided? Is this indeed a requirement or merely something that Immigration has asked for in the past? Please explain further because I am unaware of such a requirement. I just got married at the city hall in Hang Dong recently, and will be going to Promenada (Chiang Mai Immigration) about this soon.

A retirement visa forbids one from working in Thailand. People might be doing this, but it is illegal. As stated above, working in Thailand requires a work permit, upon which a visa is dependent (no work permit, then no visa). In the vast majority of cases, the work permit application must be filed by a Thai-owned company. The laws governing who requires a work permit have changed recently, and will change further in the near future as the Thai govt is currently revamping these laws. See here:

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-law-royal-decree-blows-work-permits-wide-open-68051.php#IWvyA3Jt8bIQV6xF.97

What do these changes mean for you? I can't say. Depends on your situation and connections as to how you might create an opportunity/take advantage of these changes. For an example:

https://www.sunbeltasia.com/amity-treaty-americans-can-qualify-for-no-work-permit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI88bn_LrX3AIVSRFoCh0FPwdUEAEYBCAAEgJJVvD_BwE

This information describes relevant changes for some Americans with companies. Obviously, you're not American, but this an example of how these changes are opening new opportunities for some foreigners. Whether you can create a situation that benefits your plans to stay in Thailand is "up to you", but I would suggest learning more about these laws by speaking with a Thai lawyer who specializes in this type of law practice. There many such law offices around Thailand, many of which offer free initial consultations.

There have been a number of recent arrests of foreigners working in Thailand without a work permit. These stories have been covered here on Thaivisa.com and include locations throughout the country. The types of jobs have included, among others, online teaching to students in China and call center workers which I presume were speaking by phone with people outside Thailand (because the "illegal" workers were not Thai). So working remotely does not exempt one from the work permit requirement. I suggest you read about these arrests by searching the forum threads. Use the "search for the phrase 'work permit'" function to narrow your results.

As a closing note, I will further suggest that you view the information in these stories with a healthy degree of skepticism, as I believe the Thai police use claims of criminal activity to enhance their public image. The details of the crime and punishment imposed (if any) are often omitted from the information provided to the news media. For example, the call center workers were said to have been running a phone scam, but no information about the alleged phone scam is provided. However, for discussion purposes, the bottom line is that these people were working without work permits, and the purpose of the police raid was to arrest them for labor law violation, not for a phone scam.

Know the facts. Don't assume. And keep your final decision to yourself. I see Thais breaking the law everyday, but they seem to have a different view of things when a foreigner breaks the same law. Just the appearance of impropriety can cause problems in a country where the laws are so convoluted and law enforcement so corrupt. That having been said, I have lived in Thailand since 2011, and never had a problem with police or immigration. But I never break the law either.

Answer: Yes, as the pitcher of course. I do enjoy having sex without the worry of whether I will make another baby with another woman that I will buy a house for, then hate her 6 months  later.  Obviously, condoms do help prevent pregnancy, but in my experience, those sold over here are rather small and break easily.

Thanks for pointing that it's within 24 hours of arrival at residence. The discussion seemed to center on the date my passport will be stamped in Bangkok, not when I arrive in Lampang. Apparently, the staff is wanting a TM30 to cover each and every day I am in Thailand, not just when I arrive at final destination. I agree it's hair splitting. But I think better to avoid their over interpretation than to make issue of it with them.

Thai Immigration being unreasonable is something that strikes you as odd? 555 I'm telling you what Immigration in Lampang told us. No my stay in Bangkok will not be more than 24 hours, but my passport will obviously be stamped on the day I arrive in Bangkok, not when I arrive in Lampang which might be too late (within 24 h arrival in BKK) to make it to Lampang Immigration before they close (since can't be sure about business hours) to submit TM30 in person. That's actually how the topic of business hours came up in the discussion. Just reporting information that other farang in my situation might wish to know in advance, so they can arrange their travel schedule accordingly. As for me, I'm thinking an earlier flight out of DMK is in order. BTW, I found the website for submitting TM30 (https://extranet.immigration.go.th/), but yes, seems submitting as the farang seems unlikely.

The push for TM30 seems to be a recent phenomenon. I lived in Thailand 2011-2014, and Immigration never asked for it. Perhaps a discussion best left to a thread on TM30 itself.

Update to this thread after 1+ year of inactivity. The number in the photo is no longer working. Today my girlfriend called 054-209-534 and a female Thai Immigration staff answered. She confirmed this was the number for Lampang Immigration Office, but she couldn't confirm the business hours. Apparently,  they are open Monday thru Friday, but they open and close the office when they choose. We called to ask about changing my tourist visa to a marriage visa, as we plan to marry after I return to Thailand next month. They said they could do this in Lampang, as I will be staying in Lampang.

One additional note: My girlfriend told the female staff that, when I return to Thailand, I will stay overnight at friend's house in Bangkok before going to Lampang next day. The female staff said that I must file a TM30 with Bangkok Immigration office before leaving Bangkok, and provide new TM30 in Lampang upon arrival. Does anyone know if a TM30 can be submitted online? Otherwise, I don't see how travelers can comply with such bureaucratic nonsense.