Thai Visa Member 999999

16 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Perhaps they were snapped just changing their clothes.

 

Just wondering if the complaints came from Americans who are well known prudes in terms of 'speedo ' costumes whereas same swim suits are normal / worn by a big % o beach / pool goers in Italy and other med. countries and in Sth America and Australia for decades.   

You think the Americans who come to Thailand are the prudish sort? 

10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Are we going to see the same 'netizen' out-rage as we did with the girls sunbathing on the grass ???

 

Is a task force of policemen going to be sent to reprimand these bogans for upsetting Thailands sensitivities ???

 

There has to be 'some outrage' right ??...

 

And of course, we can expect the "they give all of us farangs a bad name" type comments...  Along with "what is it with these arrogant toursts that they do not learn the local culture and customs?"..... 

 

 

... just two bogan tools thinking they are funny....    I will of course agree with most of the predictable comments... these guys are an embarrassment to whatever nation they are from (I've made my guess)....    Surely there were authorities at the airport to tell them "no grow up !!" 

I think it's ghastly they're wearing flip flops in an airport. Positively uncouth but it was wise to use a cart as I'd think their bags would be uncomfortably cutting into their shoulders. One step back, one step forward.

Boy, that's not a bet the old me could afford to lose but these two pull it off as best can. 

Huajai phet, indeed. 

On 1/18/2024 at 5:49 AM, RuamRudy said:

I was the victim of a pickpocket duo on the MRT last week. Although feeling very angry with myself and foolish at falling prey to them, I thought I would describe what happened so others might be more aware.

 

Firstly, although I no longer live in Bangkok, I did for a long time in the past and continue to visit regularly. I thought I was clever enough and street smart enough that I knew how to handle myself. Clearly that's not the case.

 

On the day, I had arrived at Suvarnabhumi around 5pm and took the train to Makasan then the MRT to Silom where I changed to the SkyTrain. I had a carry-on suitcase and my backpack slotted over the handles of my case.

 

As the train pulled into Silom I got up and queued behind a few people to get off. The doors opened and we moved to the exit - the guy in front of me paused as he got off the train, looking a bit confused as to which way to go. I stopped abruptly as he had blocked my exit and I recall someone 'bumping' into me from behind.

 

About 30 minutes later when I arrived at my hotel I realised that my travel wallet, which usually holds my passport, was missing from my backpack. I realised what happened - the first guy created the abrupt halt which gave the guy behind a reason to push into me and dip my backpack. 

 

Fortunately, for some miraculous reason my passport was in my shirt pocket. Usually I place it in the wallet for safe keeping but this time I simply didn't. Obviously I am very grateful for that. 

 

In fact, all they got was about $100 of unpopular currencies (Kazakh tenge, Scottish pounds and Philippines pesos) but, infuriatingly, also my vaccination passport with details of all my vaccinations. I really wish I hadn't lost that.

 

Anyway, we live and learn so I will definitely be more careful and less blasé in the future. And if you are on public transport, keep your variables safe and watch out for the pickpocket tag team.

 

Oh, and if anyone has an email address for MRT lost and found, it would be much appreciated!

Sorry to hear about your experience. If you are an American, I know you can get a replacement vaccination card depending on where you live. You can also get a digital card and I think Apple may allow you to load your vaccination record into your "Health" app. 

When flying into Thailand (or anywhere), I always wear travel pants that you can buy for $15 USD at Costco. They have so many pockets that you can zip up documents/wallets or use the velcro pockets which alerts you to bad, bad men trying to touch you in the wrong places. I use TSA-approved locks on my bag just so I reduce the risk of grabby hands wandering. I hope you get everything back if you just lost it by mistake on the MRT. ''

Enjoy your trip!

8 hours ago, Olav Seglem said:

Much fuzz about nothing.

Im sure, if the thai person, instead of taking time to take photo, posting on facebook and getting annoyed, would instead informed the 2 ladies that sunbathing at temple was inpropriate, they would apologized and leave.

But then, of course, the thai didnt learn english at school, and would not have gained "own moment of "clicks":-)

 

From the article: “… Due to time constraints, the witness couldn’t personally caution the foreign women. After leaving the temple for personal affairs, the witness returned to check on the foreigners, only to find that they had already left. It remains uncertain whether someone informed them about their inappropriate behaviour or if they left of their own accord.“

5 hours ago, still kicking said:

So, I often wonder how a person with a disability can survive in Thailand? I am slightly disabled now since I had 2 broken ankles. I can walk OK but have problems walking steps or using escalators. So how can someone be walking up steps if he is in a wheelchair? I am talking about crossing a main road where there is only a bridge with just steps and no access of a lift or wheelchair access. Every time I come to Thailand; I find it very hard to do anything in Thailand unless I get help from my Thai family. Don't get me wrong I am not Thai bashing I am just disappointed. Sorry for the rant.

If you are talking about crossing a busy road by using a pedestrian crossover (สะพานลอย), I have never seen anyone in a wheelchair use one, for obvious reasons, and my condo is next to one. I'd think you just have to cross on the road, perhaps at a stoplight where the danger might be minimized but is not insignificant. Best of luck to you.

6 hours ago, QuantumQuandry said:

 

Irony is when you fear-monger about people fear-mongering.

SPOT ON! Talk about drama queens. Cite a fact and get a hysterical reaction as if the bitcoin password just got irretrievably tossed out in the trash.

7 hours ago, stoner said:

 

so does 1000 other things in life now john. more people died in a single bus crash this week than covid. 

Using Thailand's dreadful traffic mortality as a comparison doesn't exactly buttress your point. That's probably the last thing you should cite in making a counter-argument.

If you buy new, you get an online training session.

https://www.apple.com/shop/personal-session#:~:text=Schedule a free 30-minute,even share our favorite tips.

Apple Thailand may offer something for a payment. In the US, you can attend in-store classes so I would imagine it's similar in Bangkok

Air Asia has a cheap flight from Japan to Hawaii so you can cut the trans-Pacific route into two legs. Other than that, I don't think you can do it.

2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

35 to 1 versus 26 to 1 is beyond stupid. 

I just checked my US consulate and the DC page still shows 800K THB. The LA consulate has always been sketchy with the info so I wonder if you just apply with the standard 800K USD equivalent, you get it nonetheless.

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

That is correct but note he must have 800K baht in a Thai bank account  to do that and I believe it has to have been in the bank there for at least 2 months but perhaps @BritTimcan clarify the rule for very first time extension based on an O-A.

 

After that he can continue ot extend every year in-country but subject to the requirement of having 800K in a Thai bank with restrictions on spending it (800 balance 2 months before and 3 months after each extension and not less than 400K balance in the intervening 7 months). OR proof of transferring at least 65K baht in from abroad every single month in the prior year.  The main advantage to an O-A as opposed to an O is that one can avoid these requirements for funds in Thailand.

 

If he can't meet this requirement  then he will have to leave and re-enter as otherwise discussed.

Thanks for the clarification. I'll pass along your helpful suggestions and he'll have to sort it out. It sounds like it would have been much easier to just renew the health insurance for another year prior to entry but different strokes for different folks as they say. Thanks for your help. The always generous spirit of UbonJoe lives on, RIP. Many, many thanks to all.

16 hours ago, OJAS said:

The following link sets out the procedures for obtaining non-O visa conversions for retirement:-

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

 

As already said, though, your pal will first need to do a border bounce in order to kill off his non-OA visa.

 

Thank you OJAS. I will pass along the link in case he is too lazy to renew his health insurance. Thanks for taking the time to help.

19 hours ago, Sheryl said:

He can also get a one year extension of stay at CM immigration based on this OA (applying by the 30th) but would have to show up to date insurance policy.

 

Leaving and re-entering after the current visa has expired wull "kill off" the O-A making it possibel ot then convert to an O whoich has no incurnace requirement...but will entail an extra step or 2 (first to convert his visa exemopt entry to a non-O and then 3 months later to do a 1 year extension).

 

Note that, unlike the original O-A visa,  both options require funds in a Thai bank account.

Hi Sheryl and thanks. So you're saying it is possible to extend the O-A without leaving Thailand as long as he renews his insurance policy before his current O-A expires. That would be easiest but I wasn't sure if it was possible. Thanks for your time and help.

57 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Bit of a mess as he is flying tomorrow.

You are correct he will only be stamped in till Sept 30.

He could immediately obtain health insurance and exit and reenter Thailand prior to Sept 10 and be given 12 month stamp.

 

OR he could (as you outlined) exit Thailand at end of his non O-A and enter Thailand visa exempt then obtain non O and subsequent extension 

Thank you!

Hi all,

My friend has an Non O-A visa from the US that started September 10, 2022. For some reason he was lazy and didn't renew his health insurance which expires September 30, 2023 (one month). He will enter Thailand tomorrow, September 2, 2023 and I am assuming he will be allowed to stay until the 30th September but if he were to go to CW with a renewed policy before the 30th of September, would he be able to extend his visa until September 1, 2024? What would be the pest course of action, if it's not possible? Switching to a Non-O for 90 days after leaving Thailand and returning visa-exempt or perhaps a 60 day TR visa? Thanks for your help, as always.

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

No.

Also note that his non O-A visa has an expiry date.

If he does an exit reenter just prior to expiry of his visa he will be stamped in for 12 months.

Note he will require health insurance for that period and be aware that any travel out of Thailand requires a reentry permit.

 

Thank you!!

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

As long he can show an insurance policy acceptable to Immigration at the airport, and the visa's expiry date has not been reached, he will be stamped in for a year. If he wants to leave Thailand and return after the expiry date of the visa, he should ensure he has a re-entry permit to keep his permission to stay intact.

Thanks for the answer. Does he need all the financial info as well? I've told him to have everything just in case but perhaps that's not accurate. I'm assuming he doesn't need to show another criminal background check and the doctor's letter that states he doesn't have leprosy and dengue fever.

My age-50+ friend got a Non-Imm O-A visa from the US DC consulate. He entered Thailand October 10, 2022 and left in June of 2023. He will return to Thailand on September 1, 2023 with a renewed health insurance policy (terminating December 2024 I believe) and a US bank statement similar to the information that he used to get his original visa. Will he be stamped in for the full year, that is, from September 1 2023 until August 31, 2024 ? Does he need to go to immigration for any extension ? Or does all he need to do is start checking in 90 days after he enters? Thanks

I bought some "fake" mangos the other month. Now I can sleep easier knowing the source of my pain has been taken off the streets and will never return to Thailand. Or something like that.