Caldera

That's fantastic news!

He's a good guy. But it's a shame that he didn't know when to call it quits, which will taint his legacy.

It does count. You're still entering Vietnam, just under a special visa exempt scheme for Phu Quoc. You will get Vietnamese entry and exit stamps, and as far as Thai immigration is concerned, it's just a regular international trip.

Okay, since we're posting personal feelings now... mine is that the main reason to roll out the ETA is to collect the often delayed tourist fee to enter Thailand. Then in typical Thai fashion, they planned to use the existing eVisa site for this purpose, but forgot to consider two things: Firstly, eVisas aren't available everywhere yet. Secondly, does the eVisa system scale to the much higher number of visa exempt entries without problems? That's why it's getting delayed.

Indeed. What a mess!

Seems to be fairly standard, appearances are more important than anything else. The results speak for themselves.

As the DTV isn't a non-immigrant visa, or equivalent, I'm not very hopeful that the banks will adjust their policies to accommodate DTV visa holders. Using an agent to help with opening a bank account might well be your best bet, especially if you need it done soon.

Yes, I remember that as well. What's never clear to me is why exactly they are being arrested, as normal procedure for people who surrender at airport immigration with "just" an overstay is imposing a fine and a ban right there at the airport and letting them leave. Maybe he refused to pay, or couldn't, as the article also mentions that he insulted officials.

As there's no official rule as to the number of visits per year, any IOs making up their own rules can count the visits any way that suits them. You gave me a good chuckle with the tidbit about taking your cat along. I thought I've heard it all. It's an interesting point though; if you were denied entry, you would have to hope that they properly take care of your cat while you're in detention waiting for your flight back. That would be extra stressful to say the least.

An entry from a VoA can neither be extended nor can it be changed to a non-immigrant visa entry.

What will stop Trump from reacting to that move by imposing tariffs on Thai exports as well? Nothing

That doesn't even exist at border crossings with Cambodia anymore. Nowadays you have to walk up to Cambodia's IOs yourself to get stamped in and out, because they take your picture and fingerprints.

I see, that can be tricky. I'll have a look what they accept.

Can foreigners who reside in Thailand open a new IBKR account with their Thai address? Or did all those of you who use IBKR in Thailand open an account with them when you still lived elsewhere?

They're probably your best bet. I haven't heard of any agents specifically providing "safe entry" services at that border, probably because it just isn't busy enough with "border runners" who are the ones who need such a service the most. As the Thai consulate in Savannakhet will transition to issuing eVisas from January on, I don't know if (or in which form) classic visa runs to Laos will still be available next year. That might give some agents new ideas.

Well "abuse" can be many things, broadly speaking it's foreigners staying in Thailand and doing things that aren't in line with their visa or extension. Historical examples: Language school Non-Ed visa holders who didn't study. Volunteers on Non-O visas who didn't do volunteer work. Once that became widespread, a crackdown followed. If too many DTV holders are caught working illegally in Thailand, taking or selling drugs or engaging in other illegal activities, the same can be expected to happen.

Do you have any reason to believe that you won't be able to enter smoothly there on your own? You could ask one of the visa run companies that offer trips to Savannakhet if they can assist.

That was a high-ranking MFA official. What immigration makes of the DTV is anyone's guess, but it's their boss (the Minister of the Interior) who counter-signed the then-PM's cabinet resolution to create the DTV. I'd imagine a lot will depend on the level of abuse, as abuse always leads to crackdowns. That might lead to some immigration checkpoints becoming overzealous at some point, same as we've seen with other visas before.

Just to amuse myself with your dumb replies, of course.

Trump's religion might well be America, but his God is Donald Trump.

Well the good news is that we'll all see about that. Very soon.

Not sure what the purpose of this topic is. You need to stop blaming Trump and start blaming his voters for what's about to happen, it's not like he's made any effort to conceal his plans - and they voted him in again anyway. Democracy is failing not because of the bad things that Trump will do, but because enough people voted for him anyway, for a variety of reasons (not least the painful process of swapping out Joe Biden last-minute).

Jeez give it a break, now even restaurant critics feel compelled to find antisemitism where there's none in all likelihood.

The Democrats urgently need to learn from this debacle and replace their aloof leadership. Sadly they haven't learned anything from trying to force Hillary down our throat in 2016. I'm sure the outgoing VP can get a job or write her memoirs. I don't see any future in politics for her. After having been VP, anything other than president would be a downgrade, and she failed to secure that job. So this is the end of the line.

Say bye bye to the floods. Say hello to the burning season with its toxic air pollution. Tourism?