Caldera

Excellent idea, and the same should apply to extensions from immigration.

Why stop there, shouldn't his signature be accompanied by his mugshot? I'm just really glad he isn't vain!

A few warm words would be in order, but what would be the point of paying the descendants of trafficked slaves reparations? They're better off in the countries their ancestors were trafficked to.

It's still possible to open a bank account on a non-immigrant visa entry (90 days), which can be a requirement for getting a 1-year extension (retirement, marriage).

You're right. If the foreigner doesn't own the property and the landlord doesn't cooperate, that's it right there, no yellow book no pink ID card.

I see, would be nice if those sleeper trains filed TM30 notifications. 🤣

Why don't you book a hotel in Ubon then?

The reason why opinions are all over the place is probably that it's more useful in some places than in others, and it also depends on which other documents you have. I can honestly say that having the pink ID card would have been entirely useless for me personally. I've lived in Thailand for 20 years and I can't recall a single situation where having a pink ID card would have been beneficial or not having one has proven to be an impediment. Again, just my personal experience. I would get one if one of two things happens: Firstly, if I no longer qualify for a Thai driving license. Having SOME form of Thai ID with your address on it is important. Given the choice, a Thai DL is more useful to me. Secondly, if the pink ID card gets a chip and can be used for NDID just like the ID card Thai citizens get. At that point it would become beneficial or maybe even necessary to get one, but I know of no such plans.

I think you already know the answer: Your mileage may vary, not only from one hotel to the next, but possibly even from one receptionist to the next at the same hotel. It's certainly not unheard of. People who leave their passport as "deposit" when renting a motorbike and then travel around come to mind.

You're supposed to give your first address in Thailand after arriving, so in your case, your friend's house. If you feel more comfortable giving them your Chiang Mai hotel's address, don't overthink it. Unless they question you and notice that your check-in date doesn't match your arrival date, it will make no difference.

How many times have I read this? Relatively little has been done. Seems to be working just fine without nanny state over-regulation!

I got addicted to the sunny weather and the sabai sabai lifestyle.

Nothing to do with foreigners. Krungsri's internal regulation to exclude the elderly from using their app also applies to Thai nationals.

That's a valid point, but the fact that they haven't directly informed us existing Thai Wise account holders yet (I mean those of us who are already registered with a Thai address with them) makes me think that some details still need to be fleshed out.

Before moving an existing Wise account to Thailand in a hurry, I would wait and see which of the changes that have been discussed will actually be implemented, and how. With these things, the devil tends to be in the details.

The Phnom Penh flights get a fair share of business travelers in addition to any tourists. I wouldn't be surprised if being quiet was the norm for Siem Reap flights nowadays.

They've been laboring on this decision for that long that it will almost be time for the next flip-flop once it has been implemented. To be continued...

Rats of the same ilk.

In my 20 years in Thailand, I can honestly say that I've never had any problem that the pink ID card would have solved. I'm not saying it's a complete waste, of course, as everyone's experience is different.

Sure. A hotel usually reports your check-in via the TM30 online system. The IO who processes your extension can see this in the system. Telling applicants to bring along their TM30 receipt is good advice, for two reasons: Firstly, that ensures that they check with their hotel that the TM30 notification has been submitted before heading to immigration. Secondly, and this is "hit and miss", sometimes the pre-screening IOs at the tables where the queue numbers are handed out ask for it. If they do ask you and you don't have it, you won't get a queue number.

Then your question here is even more baffling. Surely your trusted attorney of 12 years can either do it or refer you to an equally trusted colleague with expertise in this field.

I've always considered that to be bad advice. I've always taken care of all my banking affairs on my own and I've never had any problem. Chances are they'll find one of the smarter clerks with better English for you if you show up as a foreigner. When you show up with a Thai, chances are that neither the bank staff nor the Thai you take along will make a real effort to make YOU understand what's really going on, and you could very well end up feeling like in a "Chinese whispers" game. No thanks!

Leaving aside the ever-changing rules/limits concerning overland visa exempt entries and with a focus on "organized" border runs from Bangkok, I'd say that the closure of the land borders to Cambodia (since last year) and Myanmar (since Covid) have made them a lot less feasible or endurable than in the past. You need to spend an insane amount of time on a van to get to a Lao border and back. With that in mind, unless you stay nearby a border that is both open and friendly towards DIY border runs, I think nowadays you're much better off using a safe entry service and doing your border run by air.

On what planet is that expensive?