Caldera

If you look like you genuinely need it, I don't think they will have an issue with it. If, however, you look like you're having a laugh, don't be surprised if they don't find it funny.

So I guess the question is, how old and/or frail are you?

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

While those of us unused to the system find it loathsome, it can be interesting to at least understand the Thai patronage system. Increasingly, Thai officials feel that long stay foreigners should integrate themselves into Thai society, and begin to conform to Thai norms. You can resist, but this will probably become painful as Thai officialdom becomes increasingly intolerant of foreigners unwilling to conform to Thai society and customs.

I agree that you should learn and know about the system. Then you can (and will have to) decide if it's for you. Definitely food for thought for all of us. As it's clearly not for me and as I tend to agree with your prediction, I don't really see myself as a likely candidate to become a bona fide resident one day anymore. Each to their own, of course.

Class, as in class act.

"He said the "Thai Brand" was all about "responsibility" and "quality"."

He clearly doesn't know the product he's supposed to sell. On the other hand, he is that far off the mark that you have to consider the possibility that he's just taking the p.

 

That reminds me of happy times at an IMAX. Not in Chiang Mai though.

5 hours ago, 2long said:

On this list (on PC and app) there appears to be no DMK Don Meaung, which seems very weird. My wife told me to select our local immigration office, which I did, but that's not my point of entry or listed in the stamp.

While immigration stamps from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) do say Suvarnabhumi Airport, stamps from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) say Bangkok.

Singapore sounds like an excellent idea, with the added benefit that their airport is really nice. Can't say the same about Thai and Lao airports.

35 minutes ago, Arkady said:

When I was applying for citizenship I got even more derisory comments than when I applied for PR. People said things like, "Why would I want a third world passport and have to submit myself to the indignities of applying when I have a super duper US of A, British, Australian etc passport?"

That is a legitimate concern though, at least if it's true that nowadays they force you to actually renounce your prior citizenship, instead of merely asking you to declare that you intend to do that. Do you happen to know what the current situation is?

I'm not in a position to apply for either PR or citizenship, but if I were, I would never give up my current citizenship to become a Thai citizen. If I could have dual citizenship, I would consider it. I'd guess that's a sentiment shared by many if not most potential applicants (unless you come from a country that ranks even lower than Thailand).

He's probably right. I had zero confidence in them before, and now I have none.

I applaud their efforts, but I think this constitution needs to be put through the shredder and rewritten from scratch. It's hard to see how a few amendments here and there can fix it.

1 hour ago, beddhist said:

So, if one wants to avoid the agents and save about 450B you would need to bring a bicycle, get stamped out, cycle across, pay whatever and return. I can see officialdom making problems when their tea money is in danger.

I wouldn't bank on getting permission to cycle across noman's land.

@dtag Out of curiosity, if you don't mind, how did Cambodian immigration handle your return after you had been denied entry to Thailand? Did they cancel your exit stamp, or did you need to buy a new visa on arrival and got a fresh entry stamp? Any "extra payment" for letting you back in under those circumstances?

No appointments are required in Hanoi and HCMC at this time.

Deplorable, there's nothing else to say.

The sooner this utterly inept government will tank the economy, the sooner they will be gone. There's hope.

1 hour ago, acenase said:

 I just booked my bus ticket on Thaisanuan departing Bangkok Bus Terminal at 21.00 and arriving in Mukdahan Bus Station at 6am. I'll be going to the Thai embassy on Thursday morning July 11 for my first tourist visa in Savannakhet (but it will be my 6th total in my passport full of visas. No warning stamps.)

Are you aware that Monday and Thursday are the worst days to apply, due to visa run vans descending on Savannakhet on these days? That has been discussed in a number of threads here recently. If you can still change your plans, you could save yourself a lot of hassle (long queues) by applying on another day instead.

8 hours ago, FredGallaher said:

If you've really been doing this long term, it's bound to end.

It sure is. Let's see how and when.

32 minutes ago, lkv said:

Then you must have short stays, not extended. Either that or maybe you have been lucky. Or you look not in need for work ????They do judge on appearance also, so if you look wealthy enough and you talk firmly, you get through easier.

I've extended each and every stay this year and last year. Plan to extend my current VE entry as well. Before that, I did sometimes leave without extending my visa exempt (30 days) or tourist visa (60 days) initial permission to stay. Funnily enough, it's their airport shenanigans that have had that very effect. If flying into BKK or DMK were still as straightforward as it used to be just a few years ago, I would have spent 6-7 months in Thailand per year instead of 10+ months - in recent years. There are many other cool places to explore, after all.

I have never worked in Thailand, neither legally nor illegally in any shape or form. I think you overrate their profiling skills, but I could be wrong about that. Most likely, it's a combination of luck, passport country and age. Physical appearance might also play a role, many "non-government Thais" I've met have commented that I look as if I've never worked a day in my life (and, surprisingly enough, that's not that far off the mark). Who knows, maybe consular officers and IOs tend to think the same.

2 minutes ago, lkv said:

@Caldera Did they grill you before, and if yes, on what, and what was the story out of interest?

As I wrote, personally I've never been questioned at all. All the way from 2006 to my latest entry last month. I do realize that I've been lucky and I obviously sympathize with everyone "in the same boat" who has been hassled by these clowns.

I'm not prepared to push it, not after I've re-visited some other countries nearby. If and when my day comes, I think I will simply spend more time in Vietnam and on Bali. I've also considered going the ED visa or Elite route, but neither would be my first alternative choice right now. That might change.

5 hours ago, elviajero said:

On queue, and still in denial.

Forum muppets have been telling me the same since 2006, when I started "living in Thailand on tourist visa". As you know, they had started "tightening" a bit earlier and introduced their inept 90/180 VE rule implementation later that very year. They've been "tightening" and "cracking down" ever since; each new or resurrected measure has been discussed here ad nauseum ever since as well. Obviously you know all that.

Personally, I have yet to be questioned, challenged or denied by an actual (!) Thai official. You know, the ones I love to ridicule on here. You've got to realize that you aren't a member of that group, and will never be.

So, what will happen on the day my luck will eventually run out? Not very much! I've always had a "Plan B"; I have many options, both inside Thailand and out.

Sadly, the group you should really worry about are those who have built a life in Thailand on a "proper visa" and who haven't been able to go beyond their yearly extension non-immigrant status (by progressing to either PR or citizenship). It's called non-immigrant for a reason. There are many of them out there, and they are just one divorce, one dismissal or one failed money transfer away from losing their "proper visa" status. No matter what they've contributed to this fairy kingdom over years or even decades, it could be gone come yearly extension time. My heart goes out to them, and so should yours.

4 hours ago, elviajero said:

Unfortunately there are people that can't accept the simple fact that visitors are not meant to use Tourist Visas to 'live' in the country

True, that group of people exists. You may count in all the consular officials who have issued tourist visa and all the immigration officers who have stamped me in and extended my stays. Without the active help from countless Thai officials, I couldn't have done it. You really crack me up.

In the PM's defense, he simply isn't used to discussing policies. He's used to barking orders. Which, of course, is why he really shouldn't be PM.

38 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

I think that those being denied are leaving out important information that available to IO (in some cases). This is especially true when the person has been in Thailand before. 

What kind of information, specifically, are they leaving out in your opinion? I have no idea what you mean.