Caldera

If you like tuk-tuks, you could haggle for one. Otherwise that Grab car sounds like a pretty good deal.

I've read this kind of report too many times. The only real solution is to make the TM30 registration part of the moving in procedure. No report, no money, that's the last time you have any real leverage to get it done. My current landlord as well as my previous landlady had the TM30 form ready unprompted, no doubt assisted by the respective condo offices. But if that doesn't happen, you really need to bring up the subject before moving in.

Good question! I only recall seeing those reports you mentioned, too, nothing specifically about Nong Khai.

Spot on. A key difference is that the eVisa for Vietnam is issued by their immigration department and that they use a centralized system without any involvement of local Vietnamese embassies. So the question of jurisdiction of any particular embassy doesn't arise when applying for an eVisa for Vietnam. I agree that the process is much easier and smoother than the convoluted Thai eVisa process.

Good decision. It's about time to chase away the undemocratic dinosaurs and to restore hope.

Saying that you plan to work here and that you own a condo here would NOT work in your favor in case of being questioned when attempting a visa exempt entry. Visa exempts are for tourists who stay in hotels; they would probably tell you to get a Non-B visa first.

Out of curiosity, where do you go skiing here in Thailand?

This case says a lot more about the inadequacies of the NHS than about the dangers of holidaying in Thailand. I do get that it's a very rare parasite, but there's no excuse for taking 7 years to diagnose it. Bumbling fools.

There's a search function, and once you've found your record, just take a screenshot of it.

Laos allows it, no problem.

Leaving on the same day might be a problem with Cambodia's immigration. At land borders you have to pay extra for an exception, I don't know how they handle this at the airports. Why Cambodia, anyway? You probably (depending on your nationality) need to pay for a visa. Malaysia might be a better option.

I'm not sure it's "better", as they're prone to being exploited as cheap labor and that's basically the whole idea of this legal framework for migrant workers. I think I prefer staying in Thailand as a Westerner, it feels more like a holiday than a labor camp!

Just like with any other similar program before (Elite, Smart Visa), they'll attract a few thousand qualifying applicants and that's it. Or in other words, they will miss their target by orders of magnitude. Two reasons: Most of those who qualify for the new LTR visa would have qualified for one of the previously existing visas as well. If they had been interested, they would already be here, or maybe they switch from their current visa to the LTR - no net gain in wealthy foreigners for Thailand! Some conditions don't make sense and/or put off potential applicants. As always, they start with a grand idea, only to let the bureaucracy spoil it. It's comical and saddening at the same time.

With AIS, in my experience receiving Thai bank SMS messages (including OTPs) while roaming abroad was hit and miss. Depending on the country I was in, as well as possibly the roaming partner. My solution: I activated "Voice over WiFi" (VoWiFi), which covers SMS as well, despite the name. That has worked reliably ever since. https://www.ais.th/4g/vowifi/en/ Nowadays I just need that as a fallback, however, as I'm mostly using the apps which don't require OTPs.

Wow, in 2025, they've really missed the FinTech boat.

Then you're in trouble now that the TM6 cards have been scrapped at airports. ????

Joining his former and recently departed pope in hell, I suppose.

Mukdahan is quite far away from Ubon. If there are no vans from the airport to the Chong Mek border and you go to the bus station anyway, it might be worth checking if the international bus to Pakse is back in service.

As you're extending a new visa exempt entry, you do need to submit a new TM30 report. Those returning from abroad with a re-entry permit, on the other hand, don't need to report the same address again.

That was never in doubt.

Vientiane requires an appointment, Savannakhet doesn't.

Not sure if there are vans from the airport to the border, the last time I went there I had to take a taxi. Otherwise your plan sounds good.

Savannakhet is best, all things considered.

There are several possible reasons for the VOID stamp. A clerk could have assumed everything is alright, prepares and puts in the visa, then sends it to the boss to sign it, but the boss spots an issue and decides to reject the application. If you've used an agent, the VOID stamp serves as proof that the agent actually applied on your behalf, but the embassy rejected your application. So the agent can prove that he didn't just pocket your money. Last but not least, what you said, it alerts other Thai embassies as well as immigration that you were denied a visa you applied for.

Great report, but since you seem to like trains, you could have saved yourself quite a bit of hassle by taking a train to Nong Khai and crossing the border to Laos there instead.