hopefc

Thank you for your response overherebc. I am currently in Thailand with a tourist visa issued in Australia. It's my first trip back since February 2020.

I imagine that the consulate in Penang is not currently issuing the same volume of visas as in the past and can only hope that they aren't as strict as they were before covid.

I am planning on applying for a 60 Day tourist visa from the Thai consulate in Penang around the middle of October. Pre Covid times, I remember that the consulate had some sort of a quota system on how many visas they would issue, and obtaining a visa there was not always a straight forward thing to do. Has anyone had any recent experience applying for a tourist visa in Penang? Also, does anyone know if the visa agents in Penang are still there and still providing this service? 

Cheers.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I have no fixed itinerary after the quarantine period, so if the embassy insists on proof of paid accommodation for the duration of my stay before issuing the COE, what options do I have?

Thank you for clearing that up DrJack54.

As part of the COE the embassy here (Nepal) require proof of paid accommodation after the quarantine period. I know this is a requirement for a Tourist Visa application, but I didn't think I needed it with Visa Exemption. Is this a standard thing, or are they just being particularly difficult?

I am hoping to return to Thailand next month. I am an Australian citizen and qualify for visa exemption. I recall that the visa exemption period was increased to 45 days, but I believe that it has been reduced now to its original 30 day period. Is this correct?

If I take out Covid insurance for 30 days, but then decide to apply for a 30 day extension to the visa period, will it be necessary to extend the insurance period too? Will immigration require evidence of the further insurance cover when I apply for the visa extension?

Thank you for your assistance.

Thank you both for your valuable advice. Much appreciated.

A few weeks ago, in response to a question I asked on this forum, Ubon Joe sent me a link to a Thai government website with the requirements for applying for a retirement visa whilst in Thailand at the end of a SETV. The document states that I would need 800,000 Baht deposited in a Thai bank account, and I would also need to show a lease agreement for my stay in Thailand.

I have checked the Thai Embassy Canberra website for the retirement visa. They state that I must show an equivalent of 800,000 Baht in a bank account, but they make no mention of it being required in a Thai bank account. They also make no mention of accommodation requirements.

If I apply for this visa in Australia, does this mean that I can keep the money in an Australian bank account for the duration of the visa, or does it at some stage need to be transferred into a Thai bank account? (Or have I misunderstood the Canberra Embassy requirement completely??)

With regards to the Thai government website regarding the lease agreement, does that mean that I can't travel around the country as I wish? I do not want to spend the entire time in Thailand in one place and would prefer the freedom to travel and spend time at various places.  Is that then not possible if I apply for the retirement visa while I am in Thailand?

Thanks again for the replies. A lot clearer now.

Cheers

Thank you both for your replies. DrJack54,  it is the SETV I will be applying for here in Nepal.  Am I able to apply for the non O based on retirement while I am in Thailand, or does that have to be done in my home country? I know there is the financial requirement (800,000 in a Thai Bank account) for the retirement visa, but is it also required if I am applying inside Thailand for the non O permission of stay as you suggested? (It is so confusing!) Again, thanks for your help. 

Firstly, my apologies in advance if my question here has already been answered in previous posts. I have checked through this forum, but I'm still confused about my options.

I am an Australian citizen, 55 years old, currently stranded in Nepal. I have tried to return to Australia on repatriation flights and regular commercial flights without success (I have had 3 flights cancelled in the past 3 months).

I have contacted the Thai embassy here in Kathmandu, and was told I could apply for the 60 Day Tourist Visa. My understanding is that I can extend this visa for another 30 days, which would give me 90 days in Thailand. The question that concerns me is what options do I have after the 90 days if I am still prevented from travelling back to Australia? I would prefer to remain in Thailand, but I'm not sure how I could do this other than applying for a new visa outside the country, which may not be possible at that time.

I would greatly appreciate any of your expert advice that you could provide.

Cheers

Thanks for your reply, TSF.

My girlfriend works as a teacher at a school near Mae Sot. The students are big football fans and love playing the game. Most of them do not have proper football shoes. I am currently in Australia, and have managed to find some decent cheap second hand shoes at various Op Shops that would be ideal for them. I have 22 pairs that I want to bring back to donate to the school. Does anyone know if this will cause a problem with Customs? (Will I need to pay customs duty on them?). I will be arriving through Don Meaung airprot in the next few days. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Thanks for your reply, Ubonjoe.

I have a METV which expires on 24 November 2018 (Valid Until date). I plan to cross into Myawaddy on this day and come back to Mae Sot for another 60 days, which will take me to 22 January 2019. I have a flight to Australia on the 18 February 2019. My question is: Will I be able to do a border run to Myawaddy on the 22 January and be issued with another 30 Days at Mae Sot. I remember reading some time back that this was not permitted at Mae Sot. Does anyone have any recent similar experience?  If I can't do a run to Myawaddy, will I be able to get an extension (1900 Baht) from Mae Sot Immigration?

Appreciate your help.