Carrbhoy

5 hours ago, Harry Om said:

If you're in a tourist area expect armageddon.

 

Re " the many bars have adapted and are now doing dine-in until 9PM" I would suggest to replace this expectation with "the many bars have now closed down".

 

In the old city MANY things have closed, i.e. nearly everything. Hotel doors chained shut, for rent signs everywhere, and near Thaepae gate maybe one shop in every ten still open.

 

The old city is pretty much the zombie apocalypse. If you walk the streets often there's not a person in sight, unless you go to Thaipae gate where all the homeless now live/spend their days. Malls are also pretty dead, you certainly don't have to worry about crowds. The only place I've been where there were lots of people packed in was immigration.

 

At Wat Chedi Luang I am usually the ONLY person there, except for the occasional monk.

 

As others mentioned, Grab cars still work, bikes I'm not sure.

 

I suppose it all depends on how safe you feel going out and which area you are staying in, but once you get past the shock of seeing everything shut there are still places to eat and drink, and the price of hotels is ridiculously cheap.

 

Although Chiang Mai is very quiet, you can still do things if you want to. I'm just passing through, so not a local/long termer (although I've been here many times), so this is the view of a visitor.

 

In the old city there are still a few restaurants and cafes open, so you can still find places to eat if you like eating out, as I do. The thai residential areas are still okay in this regard.

 

As an example, I'm staying in the old city, near the park. Yesterday I walked down to my local coffee shop, sat down and had a coffee. Later on I went to a restaurant and the place was pretty busy, but it's a thai frequented place so it does okay. If you go to a tourist type restaurant expect to be the only customer there, unless it's peak hour, then there might be two of you.

 

In the evening at the park it was actually pretty busy and  there was a big (30 people?) aerobics session. If you want a gym the basic outdoor gym at the park is open and still in use. I went for a wander around the moat and there was a kickboxing gym packed with young thais working out.

 

The night food market at Chiangmai gate is still pretty busy, although of course nothing like pre covid.

 

As far as I have seen the music scene is dead, but I'm not a drinker or late night person.

 

To keep up with daily covid info https://www.facebook.com/covid.int.cm

Really useful post - thanks for taking the time to respond.

I do like eating out and I think I'll enjoy finding the few places which are open to eat out. Hopefully have some nice company to enjoy a nice meal and a few drinks. Just a case of wandering around and seeing what I can find.

When did you arrive in CM? Did you do ASQ in Bangkok? I need to find out more about getting from Bangkok to CM - hopefully the flights are open again by Nov and there isn't a need to do local quarantine to enter CM having just completed ASQ in Bangkok. Could be painful.

Disappointed the music scene is dead. As I said in my original post, live music and singing indoors was expected but open air pubs / outdoors / no singing, I was expecting these live music venues or the music sacene to have adapted. I'm sure things will develop in the coming months.

3 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

My first long trip in LOS was been about 3 months driving from Chiang Mai to the East. Isaan; Nakhon Ratchasima.  Chanthaburi is genuine place not popular for tuists but for Thais. A few and nice Resorts with pools close to the sand of the long beach of Chao lao with delicious Fish food. In Trat; The great Koh Chang Island. And from Trat….Trip to Cambodia (Angkor wat).

Thanks for sharing. I'll see what the RAG status of CM / Other provinces is nearer the time and weigh up my travel options. Hopefully be able to explore by then. Heres hoping.

3 minutes ago, khunpa said:

If you are okay with a quite life for some time, then you could just come now ????

I am & that is the plan. Do ASQ end of Oct & hopefully be in CM early Nov, subject to Visa application, testing, getting through ASQ then finding a way to get from Bangkok to CM! It's a challenge!

6 hours ago, delboy said:

The official daily and cumulative totals for Chiang Mai (and other regions) can be found at https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/index.php?dashboard=province .

 

It's all in Thai but easily understood.  The link will display the totals for Thailand as a whole, but if you click on the required province on the map on the right-hand side, it shows totals for that province.

 

Totals shown are Infections, deaths, infections for Thai nationals, infections for foreigners, Infections discovered by search, and walk-in, infections discovered in prisons, number of vaccinations (shown as 1 or 2) .

 

Also https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/index.php?dashboard=scoreboard

shows the number of reported infections per province for the past 2 weeks, again only in Thai

6 hours ago, delboy said:

The official daily and cumulative totals for Chiang Mai (and other regions) can be found at https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/index.php?dashboard=province .

 

It's all in Thai but easily understood.  The link will display the totals for Thailand as a whole, but if you click on the required province on the map on the right-hand side, it shows totals for that province.

 

Totals shown are Infections, deaths, infections for Thai nationals, infections for foreigners, Infections discovered by search, and walk-in, infections discovered in prisons, number of vaccinations (shown as 1 or 2) .

 

Also https://ddc.moph.go.th/covid19-dashboard/index.php?dashboard=scoreboard

shows the number of reported infections per province for the past 2 weeks, again only in Thai

Thanks Delboy - my Thai is very limited but I'll give them a try.

Are there any links re vaccine take up for Chiang Mai?

6 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Living in North CM 10 years  surrounded by farmers with lighters in their pockets, Every years I must to travel with family to to the coasts for 3 months to avoid high levels of pollution.  I use air cons with epa filters,  purifiers in home and App of IQI, which tell me when to escape from Chiang Mai. AQI values at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory (50 IMO), When AQI values are above 50, air quality is unhealthy. Usually those 3 dangers months that I wrote above because it becomes impossible to walk or exercise, impossible to breathe the air and nothing to do outdoor.

BTW… Winds from China don’t help these months.

Thanks for this info. I'm aware of the Air Quality issues and will be travelling during Feb - April / May to avoid it. Booked a condo for 3 months Nov-Jan initially and will plan my next moves nearer the time.

Any suggestions for places to visit during Feb-April / May would be appreciated?

18 hours ago, chalawaan said:

Get very drunk, or high, or spun, but crucially, get laid while you're altered. As often as you can, without getting busted!

But have recovery days too.

Everything is f-bombed and we're all mortal.

Screw "the man" they're clueless unimaginative controlling miserable wonders, and be your best rockstar self, even if you have reached the stage you need to poop in a high-chair with wheels.

That's it, that's the secret of happiness in digital old-age.

Cash is <deleted> unless you spend it, especially over 60.

What do you take to get 'spun'? I've never heard that phrase used.

18 hours ago, canthai55 said:

I ride one of my bikes every day. Off for an overnighter tomorrow.

Refuse to live like a hermit, or be afraid.

Much better chance of dying on the road than this Covid malarky

People going about their lives, much as normal. Just many more wearing masks.

I'm looking forward to getting both a bicycle (possibly e-scooter) & a moped and doing the same every day. Hope you are enjoying your overnighter!

Got to get out there but do it sensibly and follow the basics (Masks / Distancing / Hygiene). The community prevalence of the virus is low per 100k.

19 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

In CM for now 5 years.  "Dead, Dead and the patient does not have a pulse".  At times the only thing missing are the zombies.  Cinemas closed, gyms are open but swimming pools are closed and when I go out to eat lunch most of the time I am the only customer.  Lately I have seen several 7-11's closed(I have never seen this before).  I live in a large apartment complex and the occupancy rate in my building is at best 10 to 20%.  Most of the time very quiet(too quiet).  I took walk on Loi Kroh Road and it was like a ghost town.  Rock Me Burger was really quiet and at lunch timeit was only me and another customer eating inside.  Doubt there will be a "high season" for 2021.  

Thanks for your reply. Hopefully things will pick up next year.

Happy to get across and have a very quiet, healthy life for several months and see how things progress.

20 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Nothing to do outside your home now.

And if you do something in your home with 5 people and alcohol the police will raid you.

I just sit at home and get a bit drunk every day and watch tv/movies/music and read a book.

Whatever floats your boat mate - not the choices I'll be making but each to their own. Going by the other replies, whilst choices are limited, there are other things you can do.

20 hours ago, Tarteso said:

You should wait until this province will be safe and free from Covid..Beware with smog session, start in February until April. Chiang Mai have the Honor to be the worst polluted City in the world.

Apart of this issue, Chiang Mai and his province is a nice place for visit and enjoy. Good luck.

Chiang Mai will not be free from Covid. The genie is out of the bottle in Thailand and people need to learn to live with that fact unless you do full lockdown properly (as per NZ) which won't / can't happen so Covid will always be here. Not having a go at Thai gov., it's just a simple fact - borders are too porous, 'cluster' management (virus loves this mad approach), vaccine roll out (type / pace), testing strategy (availablity / costs etc) just make it impossible to get back to zero.

20 hours ago, khunpa said:

If me, I would not come here until most are vaccinated and things start to reopen.

 

We stay at home all day and have only been out for shopping food.

 

Was walking around the center area last week. It is like a ghost town.

 

Thanks for your reply. How long do you wait? My plans have already been delayed by 18 months and I'm fortunate to have been vaccinated and live in a city which will always have a higher prevalance of the virus than CM. 

By Nov21, Thailand should be up at around 35-40% 1st Dose and potentially higher in CM, if the 'sandbox' roll out is expanded as planned.

I'm ready to travel and if that means a very quiet life for 6 months whilst the vaccine roll out progresses, so be it.

20 hours ago, chalawaan said:

I can only speak for myself, but CM "nightlife" for me happens with one other person, on my property with youtube premium at low volume.

I order take out from my fave restaurants, which (I think) are still open and serve alcohol during the permitted times.

 

I live near several nightspots, their music does not usually disturb me, but I have always been able to hear muted strains in better times until midnight. It has been over a year since any bass has wafted my way. Even NYE was dead except for 5 minutes of bangers at twelve. There were almost no sky lanterns which CM is famed for.

 

Grab car works, so far I have been able to get a car for my visitors going home after midnight, this is subject to curfews which can happen at any time. I imagine grab bike is ok, Grab would likely advise if the service was impacted. I have not seen any such advice.

 

I can't speak to gyms, I haven't used them for over a decade, I'm over the hill in that regard (gyms are a youthful vanity mostly, let's be honest few non-athletes would bother if it wasn't part of the mating games of 21st century youth) and I do grandpa workouts in the baan.

 

I used to go to the supermarket at 0800 to avoid "dirty" re-breathed air, but now Makro deliver.

 

Maybe a younger poster can give you a better prognosis, but for me, until the vaccine, I'm limiting my sorties, be they day or night.

 

I was in the "moat" area a month ago, Mad Dogs Bar & Resto, (a respectable older-expat favourite) at the time were strictly not serving alcohol and the rest of the city looked shuttered and forlorn.I have no idea if pool tables are open, I don't use any venues regularly that have one, but google and ask Sheryles Bar, they do pool and trivia etc.

Thanks for your response. Appreciate your input. Interesting times and good to hear that you are adapting / keeping yourself safe and still enjoying some female company and a few drinks. Those contact numbers in the black book are coming in handy by the sounds of it! I'll stick to Thai Friendly - plenty of fun to be had.......be interesting to see what it is like during this madness.

Going by the replies so far, CM is pretty dead and will take some time to recover. That said, I don't need much and will be happy with a nice coffee shop, a few restuarants to chose from (may need to get a Grab to them) and somewhere to watch live sport on occasion. I'll organise trekks, cycling and good company separately.

I'm not really a gym membership person either. I suppose I was just trying to get a feel for were CM was at. I'm happy to use the running machine in the condo complex a couple of times a week for my 5k runs and a few laps of the swimming pool will do me fine.

Thanks for the info re Mad Dog / Sherleys. I'll hopefully give Mad Dog a try - looks like a decent place, nice menu and a few TVs so potentially could be the live sport venue I'm looking for. Sherleys I've been to before (it's up near the Irish bar & book shop) - I've checked Google and according to Trip Advisor it is open and there are a couple of reviews from visits in March / May this year. Could be my pool place / alternative live sports venue! Food was decent too when I was there a couple of years ago. Things are looking up......

Hope you are able to get the vaccine soon. Take it easy in the meantime.

CB

Hi all - hoping to travel to Chaing Mai in next few months and was wondering what life is like at the moment. Not a big drinker and too old for clubs so alcohol / bar / club restrictions are expected and not an issue.

Are gyms still open? Can the small gyms in condos still be used? I assume it will depend on each condo so will check in due course.

I assume some of the many bars have adapted and are now doing dine-in until 9PM (I think that is correct). Do some still show live sports? Can you play pool? I do enjoy watching live sport and a game of pool so was just wondering if this is still possible. Are actaul snooker / pool halls open?

I used Grab bike quite a bit getting around. Are these still an option or are there Grab cars only?

Re live music, how is this adapting? I appreciate live singing / large crowds (especially indoors) will not be allowed at the moment. Is outdoor live music with restricted numbers / social distancing / masks allowed? Is acoustic / jazz (non vocals) being allowed?

I'm monitong the situation closely re new infections / ICU / Deaths etc for Thailand and Chiang Mai - I appreciate they are increasing but in comparison to the prevalence in the community were I'm from, they are still very low (even if they doubled / tripled from current rates). I do hope the 'sandbox' for CM goes ahead - even if delayed to later in the year as the vaccine roll-out continues (albeit slowly). Re vaccines, are there any websites / Twitter which track the vaccine 1st & 2nd jabs for Chaing Mai specifically? I'm aware of the the overall numbers but not for Chaing Mai only. 

Thanks in advance for your input.

CB

46 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

 

I believe Chiang Mai is one of the offices requiring 23 days to process a change of Visa status from TV to Non O.  Procedure here:  VE-TV to Non O retirement.pdf Replace 15 days with 23 days.

 

 

Assuming your birthday is the end of November, you'll need permission of stay until the end of December or beyond, to grant enough application processing time for the Non O application at the start of December.

Your plan of 60 + 30 + 60 would take your permission of stay to the end of January.

 

However there is no guarantee they will still be issuing 60 day Covid extensions by the end of November, so it is a risk. How long they extend the Covid extension applications for could very much depend on the success of the Phuket Sandbox scheme and the number of tourists they can attract and/or borders re-opening.

Granted it's a small risk, but a lot could change in the next 6 months.

 

By delaying your entry until the end of September would it guarantee giving you permission of stay until the end of December (60 + 30) and allowing you to apply for the Non O on your 50th birthday, with 23+ days left.

 

They've only just extended the period of submitting 60 day Covid extensions from May 26th to July 29th.   When are they likely to announce covid extensions beyond May 29? - Page 2 - Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits - Thai Visa Forum

 

It's difficult to anticipate what this Government will do. Announcements are usually at the 11th hour, with no prior warning.

Brillant Tanoshi - thanks.

I think I will continue to monitor the situation and see what the landscape looks like come 27th July - if they extend again and the sandbox Phuket pilot is delayed or scope not expanded yet (Chiang Mai / Pattaya etc), I can assume (dangerous for Thailand - I know) the Covid extensions will continue. At least 1 further extension which is all I require. I'll take my chances and travel end of Sept. Good to know the Risks and key factors which need to tracked in the meantime.

Thanks for the TV to Non O Retirement pdf. Can I clarify a few points:

5.1 - Letter of guarantee from the bank in Thailand

5.2 - Copies of bank passbook

Q. Do you simply request these from your thai bank on the day you are submitting the Application and the bank will provide same day for a fee? Will they provide the original & a copy or will I have to organise a copy separately (at Imm Office)?

5.1 - 5.3 'All docs must be issued and updated to the same date of the Application....'

As above for 5.1 & 5.2 - seems crazy that you need to obtain on the same day as the Application / Imm Office visit but if that is what is required - you play the game.

Q. Re 5.3 Evidence of foreign currency transferred to Thailand, I'm a bit confused on this requirement. I was intending to transfer to my Thai bank account a few days in advance of my Application to Imm Office. How can this document be issued and updated to the same date of the Application?

8 Rental Agreement - say I travel end of Sept, the Rental Agreement would be End of Sept21 to Feb22. I would be travelling to another place start of March to avoid the air pollution in Chiang Mai.

Q. Would a rental agreement for that period cover off this requirement?

8 Rental Agreement - it also states '..& a rental receipt past 3 months'

Q. If I have only entered Thailand say end of Sept / early Oct, after 7 day quarantine (or not), at the time of Application early Dec, I will not have 3 months worth of Rental. Does the combination of the following cover this requirement off:

- Passport stamp showing Date Of Entry

- Rental Agreement & Rental Receipts (for the period Date Of Entry (or Date I left ASQ to Date of Application)

This is starting to feel like hard work! How much are those Elite options again?!!

Q. Do you know how much a Visa Agency would charge for this TV to Non Imm O & 1 Year Extension Service? 

Thanks again.

CB

57 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

 

To obtain an 1 year extension of permission of stay, you must have a Non Imm type Visa.

By entering on a TV, this will grant you a stay of 60 days + 30 day extension = 90 days.

You can apply for the Non O at your local Immigration office as a prelude to applying for the 1 year extension. However you must be 50 years of age to apply for the Non O and have at least 15 days permission of stay remaining. (23 days at certain IO's).

To give yourself some 'wiggle' space, you really don't want to enter until 2 months before your 50th birthday on a TV.

 

 

Travel restrictions were lifted on May 17th for travel from the UK.

The FCDO only advise against travelling to Amber or Red listed Countries, but you are free to make your own decisions in that respect. There are quarantine requirements when returning to the UK from a red or amber listed Country that you need to be more aware of.

Red, amber and green list rules for entering England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Quite a few foreigners returning from overseas to Thailand.

Whether it's non essential or not is now your decision to make.

No reason why you shouldn't get the TV and your good to go.

 

 

Most flight and ASQ bookings are fully refundable or changeable if your travel was delayed for some reason. Check the conditions when booking. Insurance cover dates can also be changed, but you won't get any refund for the fee if failing a Covid RT-PCR test.

Thanks Tanoshi - sound advice as usual. I feel more comfortable cracking on with the traavel plans and covering off all of the hoops / paqperwork required.

Re using a Tourist visa 60+30, I was hoping to travel end of August (3 months prior to reaching 50) & use the Covid Extension so plan was TV 60 + 30 + Covid Ext. 60. I appreciate this is a bit of a Risk but felt it was Low. Didn't think these wouldn't be in place for Nov21 given the vaccine rollout, ongoing need for ASQs and border closures etc. I would then sort the Non O at my local Immigration office early Dec21 as a prelude to applying for the 1 year extension. Would appreciate your input.

Also, the local immigration office would be in Chiang Mai. Do you know if they are 15 days or 23 days?

40 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

You are mixing 'guidance' from the UK Gov with terms and conditions of entry to Thailand.  Neither country is interested in the rules of the other - they are separate.

 

Thailand is accepting tourists normally - except from testing and quarantine requirements so you should not have any problems with the visa application. I'm not sure if the UK is still asking people to give reasons for travel but the current advice on countries on the Amber List is just that - advice/guidance.  Legally, you could state that you are going for a holiday if you so wished - there is no law against you travelling to an Amber List country. I believe the UK requires sight of a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of your flight to allow you to travel but Thailand also wants that for C.O.E. so you should have that covered.

 

Depending on the rules at the time you travel - you will need a little more than a visa on the Thai side of things - you will need to apply for a C.O.E. and purchase Covid 19 insurance that lasts as long as you will be stamped in for - i.e. Tourist Visa is 60 days - the insurance will have to cover you for at least 60 days. There are other requirements for a C.O.E. as you will see when you apply.

 

One thing you might want to check on - if you are thinking of purchasing travel insurance (not the Covid 19 insurance), you might want to check with the insurance company - normally such insurance is void if government advice is not to travel to that country.  I'm not sure of that in this case but it could be a waste of money.

Great KhaoYai - thanks for clarifying. Good news. I'm good to go then. Will sort the flights, ASQ, CoE, testing, Condo & will check out the Insurance small print nearer the time.

On 5/30/2021 at 6:54 AM, richard_smith237 said:

If you want to go back to the UK its easy enough to return to Thailand. 

 

First there is the UK quarantine (self isolation) - upon arrival you must travel to your destination and stay inside for 10 days and take two Covid-19 RT PCR test (on arrival in the UK you’ll need to show evidence of having booked these ‘postal’ tests - also a PCR test before departure from Thailand).

 

Returning to Thailand under the current regulations you will need to apply for a Certificate of Entry.

You will need: https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/regis/step?language=en

 

1)    Colour Scan of Passport 

2)    Colour Scan of Visa / Extension of Stay (and re-entry permit)

 

3)    Colour Scan of Insurance Document which states you are insured to US$100,000 in the event of complications due to Covid-19

4)    Copy of ASQ Booking

5)    Copy of Flight Booking / Confirmation

 

---------------

 

On the 2nd of July there is a meeting of the CCSA whereby the Phuket Sandbox model will be discussed (and possibly officially approved), there should be greater information there. 

 

It is looking likely that that anyone will be able to fly directly into Phuket and stay at a SHA+ approved hotel for 7 days (PCR test on day 5) without the need to quarantine inside the hotel i.e. free to travel around the island of Phuket but not leave for 7 days. 

 

For the vast majority of people travelling into Thailand the Phuket sandbox option seems much better option than a regular 14 day quarantine in Bangkok.

Thanks for sharing this info. I'm also looking to travel to Thailand from the UK and will be monitoring the sandbox option closely to avoid the regular 14 day ASQ in BKK, if possible. 7 days sounds far better than 14.

My circumstances are different to the OP. Not married to Thai / have children etc. I'm looking to enter Thailand VE or Tourist Visa & switch to a Retirement visa once I reach 50 at the end of the year. Once fully vaccinated, I'm looking to travel end of Aug. I could wait until Oct (or later) & hopefully avoid quarantine but I want to get in when the door is open. Something tells me the whole sandbox scheme will not run smoothly and expansion will be delayed! Hope I'm wrong......

My queries relate to 'Amber list' & FCO info regarding Non Essential travel. Whilst the government messaging has been confusing at best, I think the landing is, it's not illegal to travel to Thailand (currently Amber) from the UK but is discouraged by the UK Gov. The offical Foreign Travel guidance site just warns against Non Essential travel specifically to the Myanmar border provinces only.

Has anyone travelled from the UK to Thailand recently? Do you need to provide your reason for travel in any documentation? Will my reason for travel be deemed Non Essential on VE or Tourist visa? Is this part of the Tourist visa application? I've assumed that, if I successfully get the Tourist visa from the Thai Embassy, London I will be good to go.

Just nervous I will be incurring several £ for flights, hotels, ASQ, tests & Insurance etc to be tripped up on what they may deem Non Essential. Any advice / guidance would be appreciated.

1 hour ago, edwardandtubs said:

Personally I doubt very much these covid extensions will be available after October, which is when there is planned to be a significant easing of travel restrictions into Thailand and most of the source countries for tourism will have fully vaccinated their populations.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I only need it to be available for an extension in Oct to take me through Nov / Dec.

Re countries being fully vaccinated, UK plan is 'offered' all eligible Adults 1st jag by Sept so 2nd jag won't be until Dec21. US / Europe will do well to exceed this timeline. Most of Asia are beind US / Europe.

Which source countries are you referring to?

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Only personal opinion but there is so much waffle coming out. Example Pattaya governor coming out with "Pattaya move on" plan outlining no quarantine this year but has few outs such as IF can vaccinate 70%. That won't happen. 

Phuket sandbox I doubt it. 

Look at Bangkok situation. Perhaps less if vaccinated.

Think safest to work on 14 day quarantine.

Can't imagine visa exempt having 2 different period of stay 30/45 depending on where you land however anything is possible here. 

You say enter end of Aug......does that give you enough time to have your 2 jabs.

Thanks for clarifying - I'll continue to monitor. I've budgeted for the full 14 day ASQ / pre flight testing etc & will take advantage of any schemes which are in place nearer the time. Anything will be seen as a bonus!

Re vaccines, yes I've had my first jag 2 weeks ago and will get my 2nd after 10-12 weeks. Should be vaccinated by end of July / first week in Aug. Could push for earlier but I'm not in any rush to come to Thailand given the current restrictions and low vaccine programme. Leaving it later helps my budget too.

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Keep an eye on the visa exempt. Currently it gives 45 day + 30(extension) followed by covid extensions.

 

Will do. Can you expand? Do you think the time periods for visa exempt will change? For the better?

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You last entered Thailand on visa exempt or tourist visa then yes you can obtain your non O at immigration then subsequent 12 month extension. 

Happy days.

Thanks for your replies.

That is the plan - enter end of Aug / early Sept on Tourist visa. Do 60+30 on TV and then 1 Covid Extension to give me the time required after reaching 50 to obtain Non O / subsequent 12 month extension.

If the Phuket model is open, I will use that route and 7 day stay to get around the ASQ requirement. A lot can and will happen / change between now and then!

23 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Can't help however if your not too far from immigration, personally I would attend tomorrow and inquire 

1. Can/will they process it now.

2. When would the 60 permit date from.

If it's at end of current permit then excellent grab it.

If it's from date you apply (tomorrow) skip it.

They will announce soon that the covid extensions will continue to be issued beyond May 29.

 

Do you think these covid extensions will be in place during 2021 & into next year?

My current travel / Visa plans would require a Covid extension during Nov21. This would get me over my 50th & give me time to transfer to a Non Imm O whilst in Thailand.

Given the vaccine roll-out, I'm confident they will but just wanted the forums input / thoughts.

22 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

 

The SETV and requirements are listed on the requirements for foreigners page.

Almost half way down the page.

 

Requirements for foreigners travelling to Thailand during COVID-19 travel restriction (until 30 September 2021) - Royal Thai Embassy, London

 

Required documents : 

Tourist visa (single entry) : for stay up to 60 days with possible one-time extension of 30 days)

1. Your passport copy 
2. Travel booking confirmation
3. Proof of accommodation in Thailand e.g. hotel booking, invitation letter from family or friend in Thailand (All tourists are subject to 15-day quarantined at ASQ hotels at their own expenses.)
4. UK/Irish bank statements with sufficient fund to cover your trip to Thailand
5. Confirmation of legal residence in the UK or Ireland (if applicants are not nationals of these countries) e.g. long stay visa, residence permit, BRP card
6. Copy of health insurance policy which covers COVID-19 related medical expenses in Thailand no less than 100,000 USD for the whole period of your stay in Thailand

For convenience, applicants for tourist visa can also apply for visa at the Royal Thai Consulates.

The Tourist visa (single entry) is what I was referring to. See Point 4 re UK bank statements above and reference to 'sufficient funds'. I wanted to put an actual £ amount to this & Ubonjoe has kindly confirmed.

I made no reference to STV as highlighted by some posters. I'm aware of the Visa Exempt option but the Tourist Visa gives me some extra days. Switching immediately to Non Imm O / Retirement visa etc isn't an option - not quite reached 50 yet.

Thanks for everyones input - on topic and otherwise!

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The financial requirement for a tourist visa application is the equivalent of 20,000 baht.

Having 1000 pounds in the account would be more than enough.

Great Ubonjoe - thank you for clarifying. Much appreciated.

Hi all - one of the docs required for the Tourist Visa application is my UK Bank account statement. It doesn't specify how much is required to be held in the account for this to be processed successfully. Does anyone know the amount required?

I don't hold funds in my low interest (almost zero %) every day account. All funds are happily invested, I'm looking to transfer the minimum required. Will £2500/3000 be sufficient?

I'm aware of the 800k THB requirement once I move to the Retirement visa options. This is just for the initial Tourist Visa 60 day & 30 Day extension.

Thanks in advance.

CB