Caldera

While I didn't expect those 60-day visa exempts to last, their flip-flopping is really damaging. I can already see them announcing this change at short notice, leaving those affected not enough time to apply for an eVisa - at the very least, they should fix the ridiculous processing times for eVisas first. Once there will be an uptick in applications, there will be mayhem.

Okay but since you wrote that you "highly recommend" using a Thai driving license to avoid the TM30 issue, those who might be inclined to follow your recommendation should be aware that it's not guaranteed to work. While it can certainly happen that your current Thai DL has your old passport number, that limits the usefulness of your workaround somewhat, and if the hotel accidentally files a TM30 notification under your old passport number, that in itself could have interesting consequences.

That's not guaranteed to work, as the online TM30 nowadays only requires information that can be found on your Thai driving license. So they could file a TM30 notification for you even if you don't give them your passport.

500 baht is quite alright for the Cambodian side to be allowed to exit on the same day. As others have pointed out, the real problem is the Thai side, this is the worst land border for "border runs"!

As so many other things, that really depends on how your local immigration office wants to have things done. Maybe you could tell us which one you're using, for reference?

They should fine AirBnb for any booking they allow on their platform despite falling short of 30 days. It shouldn't take them long to implement a change that prevents such bookings once they are being fined.

Great stuff

A bald and tattooed 53 y.o. German guy in Maha Sarakham. Guaranteed to NOT blend in. 555

It's not like they force their plastic bags on you though. You can easily take your own reusable bag to 7/11 and use that instead. That's what I've been doing since they made a (meek) attempt to get rid of plastic bags some years ago.

I used to be a regular user of DeeMoney until September 2024. All my transfers prior to September had been fast and reliable, but the one I initiated in September got delayed and I contacted them via Line. To their credit, they sorted it out within just a few hours and I didn't lose any money. However, as bad reviews on Google, here and elsewhere had been piling up, the September incident made me reconsider using them and I switched to an alternative service (Western Union) for my outbound transfers from Thailand. In November, not having used DeeMoney again in the meantime, I finally received the following notification in my Line chat with them. While it does say "temporarily", that is the last I've heard from them, and I've read elsewhere that they've shut down.

Isaan isn't nearly as poor as described anymore, many of those rice farmers now have nice houses, big screen TVs, air-conditioning and pick-up trucks on their own. Why? Because many of their children have ventured out to industrial estates and etc. to work.

After all these years, they're still talking about it...

I just got the email from them today, looks like it took them a while to send them out. Not a big deal for me, I almost never use their website for banking nowadays, as their KPLUS app is more convenient for me.

How would a Thai even know that you're Jewish unless you see the need to rub it in their face? You're just another farang to them.

Don't get me wrong, I'd do the same as you, taking a little trip abroad is fun. And you're right that immigration is quite onerous when it comes to those DTV extensions. But you can definitely apply in other places than Bangkok, we've had reports of people successfully applying elsewhere already. In fact, as immigration might very well want to see a long-term lease, the place where you live is the safest bet.

If you want to extend your stay within Thailand, you don't need to do that in Bangkok unless you're staying in Bangkok anyway. Just throwing that in here. Your idea to leave and re-enter Thailand also works, and Vietnam is a nice destination for a little trip.

Ze Germans are coming. In even larger numbers.

Maybe so, but other countries have gotten worse in the meantime, so relatively speaking, Thailand has climbed up. When I moved to Thailand, most European countries and the UK were still half-decent countries. Now? Horrible.

From time to time he needs to be put in his place, otherwise he thinks he's the boss.

Why don't you just fly to Thailand visa-exempt and apply for a Non-O visa at an immigration office? Added benefit: If immigration fails to give you clear instructions to your full satisfaction, you can give them an earful right there and then. They aren't hiding behind a website unlike the eVisa consular officials.

No, but if you want a Non-O visa instead of a Non-OA visa, you could become a temporary resident (tourist) in one of Thailand's neighboring countries and apply there.

Yes, last one in January (2025). Long story short, some land borders still have them (the less busy ones).

On the bright side, they're pretty cheerful and don't spend their days whinging on an internet forum.

I'm against religious extremism in any form and with any religion. Surely devout Thai Buddhists can be trusted to decide for themselves if they should or shouldn't have a drink on Buddhist holy days. And everyone else shouldn't be affected or limited at all. Just get rid of this nonsense.

Does Kasikorn Bank even do face scans for foreigners already? Last time I checked, their KPLUS app said it's only supported for Thais. Unlike Bangkok Bank, where I had my face scanned to increase the limit already.