Caldera

So-called "Sanctuary Cities" undermine the rule of law and shouldn't be allowed to exist. Local "law enforcement" authorities and officials that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies need to be held accountable for aiding and abetting lawbreakers, because in a nutshell, that is exactly what they choose to do (instead of doing their job).

There is no "meaning", so pleasure it is.

It's easy enough to calculate an existence on that budget, even without owning a home - you'd rent a very cheap Thai-style studio apartment. The question isn't really if you COULD do this, because clearly, you can. The question is how much you'd like it, and how it would compare to any alternatives you may have. It's worth mentioning that you could just try it, even if your actual budget is much higher. About 20 years ago, I accepted a challenge by my Thai colleagues to "survive" on their salary for a couple of months - it wasn't really a problem, but not exactly enjoyable either. That was less than 20k baht back then and in Bangkok. Nowadays, at higher prices, I'd say 20k baht would probably be the minimum or you'd need to move to a 2nd tier non-touristy provincial town.

And you figured all this out in 2024? Well, better late than never they say, and I guess it did take some balls to post that.

A very valid question, considering that they mention only Thai citizens and an identification check - which might very well only work with a Thai ID card, at least in the initial version.

The only airport from where it has been reported that overstayers are arrested and sent off to the local police station for processing instead of sending them on their way with a fine and a ban is Phuket. And even there, it isn't clear from those reports if they're doing that with every longterm overstayer or just with certain ones, e.g. if there are additional issues besides a lengthy overstay. Flying out from Bangkok with no other issues than a lengthy overstay shouldn't be a problem in any case, as long as the fine is paid without fuss. They have the authority to fine and blacklist an overstayer right there.

Leaving Mae Sot without a passport will definitely be tricky. While the officials at the checkpoints are mostly interested in Burmese and there's a good chance they just take a look at the passport's picture page of other foreigners who look like tourists to them, not having ANY passport to show is bound to pique their interest. Does he have any other valid form of Malaysian ID, such as an ID card or driving license? Chances are he'd need a convincing story (e.g. left the passport in Bangkok to apply for a visa) and a good amount of luck.

That's insane, sorry to hear that. I've never heard of a Thai consulate not accepting a Thai bank account (for any visa).

Technically, if he follows your advice (which is excellent), he does surrender to airport immigration on his way out. That's relevant insofar as lesser penalties (a shorter ban) may apply in case an overstayer surrenders vs. gets caught.

Nothing new at all, the only thing that happens is that the eVisa system will be rolled out to a few more countries in January.

Funny how Thailand's first F1 race is always just a few short years away. I'm pretty sure I remember similar articles from 15 years ago.

The policy at airports is pretty clear: pay your money or take your chances. That has been the case for a long time.

It's conceivable that they have several different email addresses stored in different places for a customer, yes. That's something I could check with them when I'll go there anyway to update my residential address.

I didn't get the email. As I'm receiving countless other emails (transaction alerts, new Terms & Conditions, etc.) from Kasikorn Bank all the time without any problems, I've come to the conclusion that they didn't email me because I didn't give them any foreign address when I opened my account almost 20 years ago. So they probably assume that I'm a tax resident of Thailand (only). I will do nothing until they'll get in touch.

Isn't that Thai version of Binance crap anyway? Why not get the original?

I think with regards to abuse, the real trouble will start when the first DTV holders will get caught begging, stealing and working illegally (I mean locally, not remotely which can be allowed). What you've mentioned isn't really abuse, it's just taking advantage of a lax interpretation of the rules by certain embassies. What that could trigger, however, is that immigration might feel encouraged to check if the reasons for which the visa was granted still persist when the holder wants to extend their stay etc. So it might be necessary to keep booking more cooking classes or dental appointments...

You've misread my post, as I wrote that people who had already maxed out their overland visa exempt entries for 2024 under the old rules were nevertheless allowed to enter visa exempt when the new rules came into effect. So those are the ones I mean with 3-4 overland visa exempt entries this year in total - two visa exempt entries under the old rules plus 1-2 visa visa exempt entries under the new rules. There are many of them. I like the interpretation @Maestrohas posted here in the meantime, that the limitation for VE-30 didn't even need to be formally rescinded, because VE-30 entries currently aren't possible as they have been superseded by VE-60 entries for all those who had qualified for VE-30 before (plus many additional nationalities). That's the most sensible explanation for the apparent lack of such an order I've seen to date.

Yes, at a land border, they might very well not have an officer there who is both willing and able to transfer your stamps. Which is why border run services make "arrangements" for this. So it's risky to just show up on your own with both passports at a land border. If they tell you that they won't let you leave and that you have to go back to your local immigration office to transfer your stamps first, there is nothing you can do.

If you leave from an airport with both passports, they will stamp you out in your new passport. There won't be any problem as long as you take both passports along. Not having transferred your stamps before flying out does NOT prevent you from leaving, unless you fail to produce both passports.

So, where will they fly to and from, internationally? Apparently they couldn't even find enough passengers for the domestic routes they've tried over the years.

He simply is and remains the Meddler-in-Chief.

Yes I agree with you, that could very well happen down the line. The DTV will likely become the most abused visa, and the officialdom will react in crackdown mode as per usual.

It was the Minister of the Interior himself who countersigned the cabinet resolution that created the DTV, so the provision for an extension was definitely made with involvement of his ministry.

The order seems elusive (I haven't seen it either), but there's no doubt that it was enacted. The proof is in the pudding - countless people have done 3-4 overland visa exempt entries this year. People who had already maxed out their land border entries before the change were later allowed to enter again. Both border run agencies and IOs at land borders across Thailand have advised people that the limit is no longer in force. So let me turn this on its head for you: Can you post a link to a credible report by anyone refused entry specifically for exceeding this limit since the new rules went into effect? Genuinely curious, I haven't seen any.

No, you have to pay that to a middleman (agent) before you fly, giving cash to IOs at the airport would be a bit too much in everyone's face.