Tim K

I've contacted HCMC and P-P about DTV based on Dental Appointment last friday today got reply: Regarding to your inquiries, please find clarification as follow: 1a) copy + original Thai Bank Book with 520,000THB will be ok? 1b) or print electronic statement pdf from Kasikorn bank ? Regarding the financial statement, please prepare: - 1 document showing the transactions within 6 months. - 1 document showing the account balance or a combination of a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 500,000 Baht. 2) Receipt from 3 August from Dental clinic , which says next appointment to make flexible dentures for 2 teeth will be ok? for 21 September. It is printed with clinic logo, red stamp and signed. I can also bring receipts for teeth removal at the same clinic from 26 May. - Any documents shown the appointment from hospital/medical center is acceptable. Kindly note that all documents must be in English or Thai. If not, they must be translated. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh reserves the rights to request additional documents, interviews, or to disapprove as deemed necessary. Still didn't specify whether just printed PDF with balance and transactions will be ok or have to obtain from the Bank (Bangkok bank has a fee of 100b for each doc) But to my surprise the dental appointment was ok. But I've already bought tickets to P-P, although that embassy didn't reply.

Russian guy applied for DTV at Hanoi - letter in english from his job, stating his position, salary, remote work allowed - statement from russian bank (have the same bank they provide statement in English, in RUB and USD on the same page). - 6 month transactions history - booking fully PAID for a hotel in Thailand he was asked where is the contract? it is in Russian that is why i brought your a letter/certificate of employment where are the payslips? well i have them in russian in my e-mail ok we'll take your documents but bring the pay slips here translated (google is ok) until 3pm! He did and is waiting 3 business days.

Yes it annoys me that I'm still not good enough but I'm just disappointed at myself. The key is tonal system, 5 tones, so when you try to say one word but mispronounce they hear other word. Now try saying 8 words in a row all mispronounced and you will get a stare! Driving license bai + khab + kee - they can hear: bag + drive + to p oop. or one sheet + drive + ride Depends on how many words that you've said in a wrong tone they have to guess. Can't learn Thai just with a book and transliteration to English, it is not correct. Only by sound with a native speaker nearby.

I think you are playing the role of her missing father. With that age difference and the fact that her father died early she obviously is in need of a father figure in her life. No one older than 10 wants to cuddle her father. You are providing food and shelter and being around a lot - reinforcing that idea. And the same goes for you I guess, you are looking for a daughter figure, who needs to be showered with gifts and money and clothes and food. Why is that? I find paying for food for gf/wife strange, we are in a relationship by heart not in some contract tied with money and guarantees. you want to be with me and I want to be with you because of our feelings is it not? No one has to pay anything for the other. When buying a house/car/furniture/kid's college course for the family I would go 50|50. Psychology says we learn what love is by observing our parents. Whatever they do is remembered as love and then we seek the exact same thing from our partner. Some subconsciously crave abuse like their mom did to them, yeah for real. Some crave coldness and neglect. I think the situation will not last long if you leave it like that, something seems odd. But it has a good potential if you would encourage her to go study and then go to work, she's not 16 to play on the phone all day.

My friend has stayed just 3 months on a special 90day exempt for Russians (Apr-Jul), flown to KUL for a week and today at HKT got asked his return ticket to Russia. He had it, allowed in no problem. Hasn't been in the country for 2 years since 2022. 2 of his friends got more stamps but were asked to show the tickets too, by different officers, all got in, same flight, today.

That is not the record, 4M travelled before 2019. Tries to accomodate? bull<deleted>, they are always talking about accepting MIR cards and then nothing happens. They want Russian airlines to fly more (spending their money) but not doing anything themselves. "Despite Thai Airways expressing interest in resuming flights to Russia, there is no concrete plan in place yet" 60days is not new! it has been since october 2023.

Three of my friends went to KUL for a week trip, stamped out 23rd, returned 30th. Thanks to my advice everyone got refundable return ticket to Russia ready, and everyone was asked for it. They've been here since April 28th + 90 days. One of them has been in Thailand only once before, in 2022 for 6 months (using covid extensions a few times). So officers at HKT are still hunting for their prey, beware.

Got Residence Certificate in Phuket many times on tourist/exempt stamp, bought new and sold motorcycle with it. Got DL on tourist visa, will renew in 2 months having 60 day stamp. The banks don't like the stamp now but DLT has no problem with it.

Sounds like they will apply for e-Visa which you can do yourself

Went to Phuket Imm. today to ask about DTV. Can't apply there, only at the Embassy. About extensions what documents will they check? They know nothing at all, come again in 6 months then we will know. E-mailed Embassy in Vientiane and Phnom Penh - no response

I'm sure the extension fee would be higher than 10k to make the process "smooth". With ED visa Phuket officials want 5k not the 1900thb.

Apparently I can apply via e-Visa but only if I fly to Kazakhstan or Tajikistan or Mongolia or Hong Kong or Macau but not from Thailand or Russia/Malaysia/Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos. What's the difference?? it's e-visa Did show thai bank statement for NON-O Thai spouse visa in Penang, accepted.

Overnight train service from Bangkok to Vientiane will begin services on 19th of July and may be an excellent option for a visa run

Embassy in Laos added DTV https://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/page/destination-thailand-visa-dtv Pay in THB cash only 10000

AC in your face mtf!

I've been trying to find a single house where I would be able to open windows (with mosquito nets) and sleep or meditate in silence. With houses being so close to each other it's almost impossible. I was lucky with first 2-3 houses but then it just got worse and worse. One of the worst offenders is neighbour's AC. Who puts them high on the wall or even up on the roof right there in front of your window ? When asked real estate agent just looked at me, huh? I do like that in my house too. Why? Because everyone does it. Well not, the best option is to put it on the ground/cement pad, below the wall of course, facing away from neighbours. Newer ACs can be quiet but most of them are neglected and very noisy. Thin walls don't help at all transmitting the vibration all over the house.

@Rob Browder Thank you very much for your take on the situation, it actually put my mind at ease. When I saw my new 60 day stamp ending on 09-09-2024 as it was supposed to be and not on 03-Sep-2024 which was the date of my return ticket that I've just bought. I felt this was all just for show. Something not real. They are not interested in keeping the farangs from taking jobs from Thais. They just want to skim some money from these filthy rich atms walking by every minute with their carefree smiles and fancy clothes. Yep, and the fuzzy laws are just the pretense to scare their victims into giving money to IOs. Ok, that i understand. 2 visa exempts in a row and some <deleted> about last year ED made them hungry but they soon realised I'm not their client (they actually called me Luk-Ka, client in Thai language), stupid IOs - I have ED visa and I did learn Thai - they think I don't understand what they are saying :) Was worried that they put some remark into DB if they actually have any. But now it's all clear to me. And in the end the lady told me "you can stay long-term, just apply for a proper visa" that felt like - sorry to make you go through all this, but please come again soon. The ticket I bought was refundable of course, I'm not that stupid. An hour later got full refund no questions asked. People say taxi-mafia, I say IOs are airport mafia, have first dibs on potential clients.

Had 1000$ in cash with me, nobody asked for them Ticket to Phnom Penh was not enough, they wanted to see only home country.

Just did air-run to Kuala Lumpur, left 11 July, back 12 July. Stayed just for 3 months this year (Apr-Jul), first border run this year or ever. At HKT went to young female officer She saw that I left Thailand yesterday, asked me how many days will I stay I said 60 - (granted for Russians until July 31). She said go to supervisor Super asked for return tickets, I didn't have any because I'm waiting for DTV. Super said go to boss 3 people looked at my passport, and on 2nd try they finally got that previous ED visa was LAST year and not this one) Left country 28Sep 2023 and was not back until April 2024. (6.5 months) Said you have to buy return ticket to Russia or we won't let you in. Did that , they said wait, waited 1.5h Officer told me - you need to apply for proper visa, If I had come with TR visa they would have let me in, "don't do it like that with stamps". I said I thought 6 months on stamps was ok in 1 year, they said - It's UP TO US to decide. While I was waiting, there was 60 year old man from Australia who had 2 kids with (now ex-) thai wife. And they grilled him like me. WTF is going on? Like why he is going to Australia 2 months then come back here 2 months and on and on and on. He has been coming here for 35 years already, but today ImmOff were in a bad mood. There were also 4 young Russians who left in Feb, went Bali until May, went back Thai for 2 months, left to KUL yesterday same as me and came back. They were made to buy tickets to Russia too, but it was not enough, they were offered a Whatsapp contact (agent) who demanded 200 USDT in Bitcoins per person to 'solve' the problem. Can you believe it?? As soon as they paid they were let through. So please guys apply for TR or go with minivan.

No the embassy did not specify the requirements. They haven't even updated the page which lists all visa types available, only the page with fees.

source https://fukuoka.thaiembassy.org/en/content/ac070624?cate=6625f0000b95727ff55209c3

And review from Andaman Casino Pier " Current information, from 01/20/2024 This is a pier of a company that provides boat transportation to and from Myanmar, and also has a visaran service. Stamp90 - 2600 baht, Stamp30 - 2100 baht There is free parking, we parked the bike in the parking lot near the main building. There is a bangkok bank ATM right in the building from which you can withdraw cash. There is also a comfortable seating area. Important! Boat departs at 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00 The boat was a large speedboat, with a capacity of 20-30 people. You are taken by boat to Myanmar, where a company employee immediately takes everyone by the hand to the window to get a stamp about entry and exit from Myanmar, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes for the entire group from the boat. 10-15 minutes on a speedboat and you are back in Thailand, you head to the same building where you registered your trip, only at the Arrival (arrival) window to the customs officers, and they complete the stamp processing for you. I would like to note that if you arrived on your own (by car or bike), then it is better, when you arrive on the territory of Thailand by boat, try to be the first to pass the immigration check on Arrival to Thailand, so as not to wait for the others who arrived in groups in minivans. P.s We came on our own, with Fr. Phuket. by motorbike, (pcx) the journey took 5 hours. It’s better to leave at 4 am, then there are no traffic jams and no cars at all, the road is lit. Gasoline cost 700 baht (total). " " ... I paid THB 2'100 upon arrival at the Harbour for the processing (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, getting another 60 days) The fee included the ferry and the supposed Myanmar immigration fee of 10 USD. The first boat leaves at 10 am so I had to wait a bit, but the waiting area is nice. There is another place you can cross the border (Saphan Plaa Pier) but not having to hassle for everything with the locals was definitely worth paying a bit more than doing everything on my own. The ferry took 10 minutes a ride, the processing on Myanmar side took about 15 minutes and at 10:45 I was already back in Thailand with a valid 60 day stamp in my passport. ..."

Got on google maps to check out the Ranong Port Found some interesting reviews left by the "customers" 2-3 months old. " We wanted to visit Myanmar - not for the purpose of visa run, but just because of our interest. This turned out to be impossible on our own because they request so many documents like hotel bookings, airplane tickets, 500$+ in cash for each person, e.t.c. We tried to gather everything on our own but they just refused. Then local "visa agents" offered to help us and we agreed. They collected documents for us. The documents list is: 1 copy of passport, 1 immigration blank and, the most important, the envelope with 1000 baht bribe inside. No tickets, no bookings requested, no questions asked. This seems to be the only possible way to cross the border here for a tourist and this is awful. While I was stumbling around in the port I saw dozens of tourists coming on shuttle buses and doing visa runs and each of them paid a bribe to immigration officers(most of them just paid full package price to the tour agency and were not even aware of that). " " Border runs to Myanmar are generally possible. Many touts offer their “services”. Without paying anybody, it was impossible for us to get any of the needed stamps although we could show all documents. There is always some number, money, permit, verification, … that is supposed to be missing. “Our country, our laws…”. We were not the only ones leaving the place after hours without stamps in the passport. Money to one of the touts might have helped. In the end one of the female officers gave us the advice to go to the Grand Andaman pier a few kilometres up north. “More safe, especially for the children” was what she said. This is what we did the next day. There, everything was much easier, people friendly. But also here, money rules the game: 2100 Baht for the return trip to Myanmar for adults, 1000/500 Baht for the children, depending on the age. Speedboat, no questions, everything done after 3 hours " " I understood I should use toute services. I was greeted by one at the parking at the ptt gas station. The prices seem ok, 500 baht per person for boat both ways. 800 baht for boat plus stamp 30 days. 1300 baht for stamp 90 days and boat. Extra 500 baht per person at myanmar border. The scam was after I paid and got stamped out of Thailand, the man changed his promises and asked money for boat. I was outraged because I paid for several people. He decided he charges again for the boat. The guy didn’t care at all he acted like a drama queen like you don’t pay, no boat. I was really scared he is going to ask for payment again at Myanmar border and offered to pay once we back. I think the guy was clearly using something. He was highly dramatical and non-negotiating, demanding. I am describing it because it felt very unsafe. He made an act refusing taking us back to Thai border once at Myanmar. I think the place is better to be avoided at all costs. The immigration services were smooth once paid, no problem about that part. As I understand it, the immigration is available only with toute services. And they ask money again and again after the price is agreed and I handed money over. They ask for money for whatever they want. If you agree to pay 800 baht at first, you may end up paying much more. Beware. They don’t keep their word and change it later. " " Visa Run: There are different rules now. It's 1700baht - pay it to the guys on the pier or 2100 through an agency near the pier. Your passport will be with the boat driver. " Yeah it's possible, but be ready to "over pay". Prepare copy of passport and probably last entry stamp, print ticket for your next trip out of Thailand and a hotel booking and 10$ note, that will help to cut the losses, either to touts, or the agency near the pier/ptt gas station.

Thanks to all your replies I think the most optimal choices are - direct to KL | SIN, stay 1 night to avoid problems with IOs, and back. - Ranong via car/bus/ maybe even my own bike, just get 10$ note ready, be polite and smile when coming back to Thai side.

I prefer Monthong to Chani, and start the season with cheaper Ban variety. Chani is less sweet and more like medicine mixed with butter. Montong is the sweetest, but the problem with Durian as with many other fruits - it has different stages of ripeness and stages of decay. So if you buy just one and make your mind about Durians based on just that - you are missing out. Hard as a carrot - 0% Ripeness. Tastes almost like water - 50%. Like a cream on a cake and little bit crunchy outside - 60% Sweet and soft - 70-90% Sweet but has a punch 100% Sweet very soft, a little bit runny with a taste of alcohol 120%+ I lived on a small Durian farm where the durians just fall off the tree by themselves. Some were ripe, some were not. Some you have to wait 3-5 days to become softer (decay a little bit). Same goes for ones sold on the market or from pickup. Tree determines the sweetness (base point), but time spent after getting cut/falling off the tree dictates the state of decay (softness, smell, alcohol content) - but it will not get any sweeter, only softer. Older trees give durians more sweetness and rich flavour. Learned how to use the stick (actually No. 12 wrench works better and more compact) to gauge the softness of durian by the sound. Love the smell, just love it. Except if it comes from the ones in the trash can after a day or two.