Bvor

My next entry air ticket has already been paid for and is outside the 3 month first entry condition that some immigration entities advise of hence my seeking clarification of same. Tried to get jomtien immigration to correct the VE stamp error. Of course lady IO refused to assist and told me to go back to BKK and see IO which I will do when I depart 30/6. I don't want the VE to add to my history and then be accused of too many VE's in the future. Not to mention that I paid for METV and was given a visa exemption instead.........ahh such is life in Land of Smiles.

I provided my eVisa print out to lady IO at BKK and she stamped me in without a word (see attached). However I now see that it was a visa exempt stamp that i carelessly misinterpreted at the time. Does this mean that she rejected my METV and gave me visa exemption instead? Also does METV allow first entry anytime after evisa issuance until expiration of 6 month validity or must first entry be conditional within 3 months as per London Embassy website and visathailand .com?

me thinks perhaps a more accurate analogy would be "does the Asian want to eat".

just spoke with Wise (accent not easily understood) he didn't know what I was referring to re Wise wallet which I could not see on screen same as before 6/11. He told me my acc number has changed but didn't know when or what it was or why I wasn't notified - I use payid anyways. did a $20 test run see attached - my usual delay - no 4 minutes/ instantaneous/in advance - amounts I send eg $5000 - $10000 my enquiries a waste of time and still have no idea why my transfer times not same as others. probably stick with them the alternatives maybe not any better.

when did your Thai bank credit transfer to your account? Wise suggests up to 2 working days days. my transfers have never been credited to my account by Bangkok Bank same day as sent by Wise. I use wise payid from my bank contacts and on advice by Wise re quicker transfers I will now select the wise wallet option to receive and park funds immediately prior to transaction. I also get a bit confused and to date I have not been notified of any account changes. thinking of bringing cash with me on future trips.......get a lesser exchange rate but am less stressed with Wise and also TRD if I go >180 days - assessable/non assessable who knows for sure - getting a bit much for this old Oz.

and again via Dateline Bangkok video. He's very informative and hardly a problem particularly in the absence of any IO info......sure the IO muppets have been given final discretion re entries but as stated in the video's the MFA was involved with the Immigration Council re VE's and DTV.

Not according to the MFA Deputy Director video interview but if you are right then the lack of clear info from head honcho of the immigration police suggests he/she is in the wrong job.

Agree - similar to my 2 and 2 intentions albeit <180 days per year and why tourist eVisa is still relevant.

But IO want to hang onto their xenophobic power trips and agent alliances - a debacle contrary to MFA directives and a hindrance to accessing more tourist dollar.

Easy for me as I always purchase Jetstar return tickets - Perth - BKK direct flights.

The only certainty in LOS is uncertainty and in so far as immigration goes is more so cos of IO "inappropriate" discretion.

Can still be up to IO discretion - but yes most likely not unlimited. So how many VE entries trigger IO harassment and the time between visits bizo prompting tourist eVisa (maybe or maybe not) there is no consistency creating best guess scenarios and that's my gripe - anyways such is life in LOS thanks for your input Doc.

I live in Oz and am a frequent LOS visiter 4/5 times per year. I just did a tourist eVisa cos of fear of IO discretion making up their own rules re multiple VE's and demanding eVisa etc re " come too many times" accusations. During 2024 I did 2 tourist visa's first 6 months and 2 VE's second 6 months for a total of <180 days and intend to do same in 2025 and beyond - subject to IO discretion (Non O, DTV, etc not for me). MFA Deputy Director has clearly stated they are unlimited but subject to IO discretion Not according to directives via IO discretion

Two places to experience - Bangsaray 1st night, Ban Chang 2nd night.