esclub

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Excellent news. The mask wearing, at this point is tiresome and inane. There is NO COVID in Thailand. So, why all the paranoia? I get wearing a mask in the US, or Europe. But here? Seems excessive, paranoid and based on fear mongering. 

Someone likes the word "inane".....a lot....

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Whats there to be scared about, I went to villa mart this morning, put my mask on when I got out of the car and entered the shop, took it off when I got back in the car. Total 20 mins, now I'm at home with my daughter enjoying a quiet Sunday. Nothing scary at all.

Is your car a Delorian by any chance as you would have appeared to leap forward in to the future...

Just now, esclub said:

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Airlines are responsible for returning a passenger rejected by immigration. 

This is no issue if you have a return or onward ticket.

 

Immigration Rules also state that you must have a return or onward ticket if you don't have a visa. 

 

Airline check-in staff will commonly ask for your Visa status at the country of destination if you do not have a return flight - they are covering themselves and its SOP. 

 

The Airline check-in staff of some countries are more vigilant than others (i.e. Singapore & Japan). 

 

I regularly fly with Emirates, the check-in staff in Dubai commonly check for my Visa status. 

 

 

I don't think this has anything to do with an increase Immigration becoming less tolerant of frequent visitors - its just the Airline staff doing their job, these checks have been common practice for the past 10 years, but increased in frequency from about 5 years ago. 

 

Basically: if you had no visa you would have had to show proof of onward travel to the Airline check-in staff or purchase a return or onward flight ticket. 

 

 

 

Hi Richard, yes, well aware of all of this but as per my original post, I  have been flying regularly (twice a month, for last 20 years) and rarely been asked for either. Incidentally, I was also asked the same at Phnom Penh with Cambodian airlines last month when I went out to activate my Thai Elite Visa. I do believe the last time I was asked was also in Heathrow or maybe Gatwick flying with Emirates, I have been asked in Dubai but usually telling them a visa is not required for British passport (Visa exemption) is enough. Very often I have not been in possession of an onward travel ticket. Cheers.

Just a comment for discussion really, but I landed tonight from London Heathrow first time on business class with Qatar after the last 8 years mainly using Emirates.

I must say, I was not overwhelmed with the flights, lounge and service in comparison despite many recommendations and I still prefer Emirates.

Anyway, the point of this post is that when checking in yesterday at London Heathrow (been a couple of years since I was in the UK) I was asked if I had a visa (I was on the return leg of a return business class flight from Bangkok) and an onward travel ticket. 

I have a Thailand Elite visa but I asked the girl why she asked as I had a British passport and technically don't need one and have rarely been asked for a visa and onward travel when checking in abroad in recent years )I travel extensively and regularly). When I am, a response of I don't need one usually suffices. The girl said "we have to ask, but I am new so maybe I am being over cautious". She looked at my Thailand Elite and confirmed all was fine. She also checked my Japanese girlfriends work visa which caused a lot of confusion but finally was OK'd.

I just wondered if this was a roll on effect from the recent Thai Visa issues that was now getting fed back to airlines outside Thailand who are now requesting onward travel and Visas and if this is now wide spread.

As I have the Thailand elite, no issue but as an oil and gas worker who travels extensively and regularly, I did question to myself What would have happened if I didn't have the Thailand Elite. I am currently waiting for a flight ticket for my next contract and don't expect to receive it till next week which, in the past has been completely normal for me.

Having boarded the flight, and then the onward flight to Bangkok from Doha I also noted that there was a very professional animated video before landing detailing the procedure to pass immigration in Survanabhumi done by AOT also detailing overstay fines and blacklisting for people overstaying.

Just wondered if this has been seen on other airlines.

I am certainly glad I invested in the Thailand Elite but had I not, this could have been a potential problem for me or others in similar positions.

No trolling please, this post is meant in good faith to highlight my personal experience and hopefully inform and assist others in similar positions only.

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The wait is for immigration to do their checks and a background check. For those from some countries it take much longer than others.

I have seen reports of it only taking less than a month for those from western countries.

You can do the application online and by email.

If approved and the fee is paid you can get the visa when arriving at Suvarnabhumi (BKK).

Not much difference between applying out of or in the country. It will still take the same amount of time.

I got mine last month, It took 3 weeks. A mate of mine had to wait 6 weeks back in May.

2 hours ago, essox essox said:

you took the words out of my mouth...the BANK is the place to go...not here !!

Thanks for sharing...!!

3 hours ago, bangkokequity said:

Any major Thai Bank with a decent online tool can link to PayPal.  

I would avoid Bangkok Bank, since they are a little "too cozy" with the USA / IRS.  They are the ONLY bank allowed to do Social Security transactions, are well known for their USD accounts in New York, and so ... are beholding to the US to offer real time transaction reports ... etc.  Use Krungsri ... they are awesome in so many ways!

I had Krungsri forced on me many years ago when HSBC withdrew from Thailand and I am yet to find anything the do awesome, please do advise, I would love to hear...

17 minutes ago, bankruatsteve said:

Well, you should have read all the posts. 

Why’s that then?

I haven’t read all the posts here but the last thing I would be doing is opening the consumer unit and swapping breakers unless you know what your doing. Firstly I would test the sockets fed from that breaker verifying that they all work using a table lamp etc, next I would swap the TP unit with a known good one from another circuit. I would guess the fault is in the TP if all sockets are good after verifying with the lamp. I doubt anything is wrong with the cabling at all if it’s powering a lamp. Might need a new TP.

I don’t believe his excuse at all. He came with the intention of staying and remaining under the radar and did so successfully till now. Do you really think he had no idea?? Really?? 

56 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

post 12 nominated for post of the year (so far)  lol

1 hour ago, david555 said:

Forget that potato trick , my safe only resulted in that with shaken the battery's , so did not open , and needed the key .  (I tried that myself..)

Besides I never ever would use or buy a safe with hinges outside ….easy to use a electric disc cutter or welder 

Looks like he had a business seeing so many files in as office looking small room where safe was bolted to the wall, and in a nice compound …. they knew where to look for cash

Yes, you could “weld” the hinges right off....

Grasss!!!! ????

58 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Hold your horses there. It only happened a few minutes ago.

 

Rogue cop. Not unique to Thailand. Simples.

how many simples exactly

48 minutes ago, geordie said:

I have just renewed my second passport, same reason as you for offshore work.

Letter from your employer stating the reason why you require your second passport, Visas for traveling to work.

Passport application, every page copied in both of your passports, in colour. 

Confirmation of your address in Thailand.

Go on line and make an appointment, give 2 dates, payment is made on line. they will send you an appointment, go to trendy building sukhumvit 13, go to deck on first floor and take elevator to 8th floor.

From putting in application I got my passport back in 10 days.

I found the personnel at the passport office very helpful and the service they provide was very good.

Hope this helps.

 

Regards Geordie

Thanks for your reply, sounds like a straighforward process and very fast too!

I currently hold 2 x valid UK passports for business reasons (oil and gas industry) and one of my passports is getting quite full and I am planning to renew it but wondered if anyone else holding 2 valid UK passports has replaced one in Thailand recently and if there are any points to note or advice.

The last time I replaced a passport I did it by sending my passport to the UK and  used an address which was not my own and it required a letter from the recieving person to accept receipt of my passport, letter from my employer explaining why I require a second passport ( as always) lots of calls and emails and when I eventuall got it back I didn't get the 48 page version I had requested and paid for but I the standard passport and a reefund of the extra cost.

I have checked online and downloaded all the documentation and application forms to apply from Thailand but any info from someone who has recently gone through the process and their experience would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

22 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Stop eating it!!!!!  Or have Laab Chicken, fish or buffalo instead.

 

Are you getting it from the same place each time?  If so try it from another place.

 

I eat all sorts of Thai food.. very spicy, raw, fermented, insects and other things... but I can not eat the simple green Thai curry. 

 

Some combination of the ingredients make me have to rush to the bathroom 5 minutes after eating it!!!!   I can eat very spicy Thai food and nothing else has this effect on my stomach.  So I have given up ever eating it now.

 

 

impressive

55 minutes ago, Glenn128 said:

Just got back from the embassy and can report that a 7:30 arrival time was not early enough. When I got there, gates were open, all seats were filled, and line full all the way back to the security guard. Maybe 7 does the trick, maybe not. As has been stated by others, main priority for a run to Vientianne should probably be to avoid Monday and Thursday, but for those of us that have no other choice, I can at least confirm that arriving at 7:30 won't cut it.

 

Fyi, I was able to submit with a downloaded form, no questions asked. Would be curious about the form for the Lao visa, though.

I take it that Mondays and Thursdays are visa run days by agents then making them more crowded?

Yes, sometimes the day cant be helped. I will be applying on a Wednesday next time so hopefully that will be better. 

From one of the previous comments on the thread the border is open at 6.30 so maybe 7 will do it.....or 6.45...

I handed in a completed downloaded form and got to the front of the queue and they made me fill out the new form a couple of years back, when I was in the queue last time I was told by a couple of people that they dont accept the downloaded ones, so  you may have been lucky. I have a few anyway so may be worth while for next time for others.

4 hours is a long wait you have had today, what was your ticket number?

3 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I did last year. PM me if you want to know how.

I'm sure it would be of interest to all in this thread, any reason why you can't share here?

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

As long as you get your paperwork in before 12 noon everything should fall into place.

 

Assuming all is OK, pick up your passport after13-00 next day.

 

Last time I was there I had number 514, but can get passport back same day; saves a night stay in Vienteine.

you cannot get your passport back the same day now