7 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Go into a bank and ask yourself , due to your condescending manner, I wont help you anymore 

There was nothing condescending in my reply, considering that you dismissed my previous question with a trivial unhelpful answer.  Never mind, have a good day sir.

6 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

The idea is that you have a foreign bank account /ATM card

Yes obviously.  You just show up to any Thai bank, hand them your foreign ATM card and they happily give you cash?  More details would be appreciated, like what are the fees for that service compared to ATMs.

23 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

There are alternatives such as cash, or travellers cheques or going into a bank to do an over the  counter transaction

How does that work exactly, if you don't have  a Thai bank account?

2 hours ago, Pib said:

As far as I know It's pretty much a no-go to transfer a mirror image of your chat history with photos....that is, make your chat history "along with photos" look exactly the same on the new phone as it did on the old phone.   The current LINE is simply not geared for mirror image transfers.

 

https://help.line.me/line/android/?contentId=20005077

Yes, that's why I was hoping if there was another solution.  It's really mind boggling why Line would not include the photos in the backup, even as an option.  The equivalent backup function in WhatsApp does include the photos.  Among all messaging apps, Line wants to makes things really difficult when changing phones.  

13 minutes ago, Pib said:

About LINE account transfer

https://help.line.me/line/?contentId=20011522

 

https://help.line.me/line/?contentId=20004537

 

Nope.  Those instructions use Backup chat history - it does NOT backup photos.

So, apparently LINE chat history backup does not include photos and videos.  I will be moving to a new phone soon (Android), how do I transfer all my LINE chats with photos to the new phone, and I don't mean going to each individual chat and saving each photo one by one.

On 5/23/2022 at 9:51 PM, BritTim said:

When using the e-visa system, this is definitely true. It can be a little different if applying in a country like India where the e-visa system is not currently used, and where a rejected application (which is common and cannot be appealed) results in a very prominent cancelled visa in your passport.

Yes I understand there will be no mark in my passport if the e-visa is rejected.  But the passport is of little concern, after all you can always replace it.  The question is if a rejected visa could result in a red flag in your record in their immigration database....and then the flag pops up at the border next time you try to enter visa-exempt.... I guess no way to tell exactly how they have it setup, but it is a possibility.

An update -  I checked the e-visa application, and they require to upload passport pages with the last 12 months of travel.  So the embassy will see immediately how long you stayed in Thailand recently, and all the extension stamps are in the passport as well.  

23 hours ago, ThaiVisaCentre said:

Most people get away with a warning, as long as they do not have a bad history, or don't have the 20,000 THB cash on hand. 

Are you referring to a warning that immigration could give me on the arrival, while still letting me in?

So it sounds like applying for a visa has no additional risk, can only improve my chances.  In an unlikely case the embassy rejects me for a TR visa (on the grounds of requesting too much time this year, I don't see any other reasons I can be denied for), I assume it's not a permanent flag, and I can apply again later, or even try my luck with exempt entry, is that correct?

...

4 hours ago, Badger18 said:

 

OP, how long have you spent in Thailand in the last 12 months?

 

4 hours ago, Pmbkk said:

 

So you've stayed 5 months + 2 months + 2 months.

 

NO.  Sorry I wasn't clear.  I spent under 5 month total so far this year.  1 month exempt + 2 month + 2 month extensions, and left early.

I want to enter one more time this year, and it's a completely reasonable expectation all things considered.

2 minutes ago, BritTim said:

(If you identify where you are planning to apply, someone might be able to tell you whether it is a difficult embassy.)

USA, sorry I forgot to mention that upfront.

7 hours ago, Caldera said:

You got that upside down.

 

All else being equal, attempting to enter with an actual tourist visa is the safer option.

That was my intention, but I got concerned reading a recent post of a failed visa application in a long stay situation. So just trying to get opinions on a possibility of being rejected for a visa, and if taking that risk is justified compared to the benefits the visa would give me at the border....  If the embassy people have the ability to check the recent stay history and extensions given by the immigration, then I have some risk of being rejected, otherwise I should definitely go for the visa.

Sorry I cannot give a better advice, but can you quickly locate a visa agent and see them this afternoon?  Maybe they could do something for you.....of course it will probably cost you dearly.

Trying to minimize the chances of getting rejected at re-entry, since there were some reports of rejected long-stayers.  I just spent 5 months on Exempt + two 60d extensions, and now trying to go fly back to Suvarnabhumi in less than a month after departing.  Seems like some people on this board advise against getting a TR visa and going visa-exempt as your best bet to get past the immigration.  Does applying for a visa just creates an additional risk of being rejected by the embassy, and does not really improve the chances with the immigration at the border?

-    Do immigration officers make their own decision based on your stay history, or does having a TR visa improve your chances on arrival in any significant way?
-    Does applying for a TR in this situation create yet another risk of getting visa rejection by the embassy?  Just reading this recent post on this.  Do the embassy people actually look into your arrival/departure records to see your stay history as part of the visa approval, or is that history only used by the IOs on arrival?
 

On 5/11/2022 at 4:06 PM, geisha said:

Is it something to do with not able to have 2 visas within 6 months of the last .? Or refused because you stayed more than 180 days of your yearly quota. My excuse, I can’t remember the actual wording of what I read. It’s on the website rules somewhere. 

I heard about the 180 days guideline, but having to wait 6 month to get the next visa, is that a thing??  How do people do visa runs if this is true?

10 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

A lot of traps in Thailand are bell traps, there is no S/P trap under the floor.

Bell traps can dry out, and often people remove the bell when cleaning etc.

 

Good to know.  Makes me think, it's not the shower but the other floor drain that is more likely to dry out since it's rarely in use.  Next time I encounter the smell, I'm going to use the bum gun to poor some water into it.

On 4/8/2022 at 11:42 PM, treetops said:

Dr. Donna can provide one.  Requirements are listed here:

 

https://www.medconsultasia.com/recovery-certificate/

 

Thanks for that.  But as I was afraid, it clearly states:

You have completed the government isolation period where you are (minimum of 10 days).

Meaning, if you do not report your sickness to the government and just self-isolate yourself, you will not meet the requirements....??  because there is no proof you were actually sick....

On 4/10/2022 at 11:14 AM, daveAustin said:

Is that even a thing, positive visitors getting away with refusing to pay? Likely to cause strife later?

Some getting away, some forced into a field hospital.   I have no first hand experience myself, but the experiences reported in the hospitalization topic I referenced make me believe the rules are fuzzy and you can be forced depending on the location, doctor's position, etc.

On 4/10/2022 at 11:25 AM, bbko said:

Here's a photo of a positive test, does this prove I've had covid?  Or is it just some photo I downloaded from the internet?

 

Exactly.  Not a proof at all.

Not really a DYI question, but I don't see any other place to post this.  Visiting Thailand, some condo and hotel room I stayed at had sewer smell coming from the bathroom.  It only happened in some rooms, and not the others.  Sometimes the smell would come and go, and in a few rooms it was there all the time and so bad that I had to change the room.  I've never noticed this problem in the US or Europe, only in Thailand.  A quick Google search tells me how P-trap drains replaced S-traps decades ago in the West to eliminate the smell problem that was common with S-traps.  Is Thailand still using S-traps, or is there another reason for this?  I've noticed this problem in recently built hotels and condos, so it's not about old construction.

I have the same concerns as the OP.  If I test positive with mild symptoms, I do not plan to seek medical assistance and will self-isolate instead.  As discussed in the recent topic (https://aseannow.com/topic/1252242-can-they-force-me-into-hospital-if-i-test-positive/) the rules are still murky on the forced hospitalization.  If the doctor decides my symptoms warrant so, I risk being sent to a hospitel and charged 150K baht, or sent to a government field hospital if I refuse to pay.  I want neither of that.  

So the problem with self-isolation is that if I end up being one of those people who continue testing positive for weeks or months after recovery, I will not be able to travel.  I like the idea of keeping the photos and positive tests as a proof, but will that be enough to get me off the hook when I test positive?  Can they force me to self-isolate if I test positive despite having the evidence of a previous infection??

20 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The embassy website info is out of date. See my reply to a post you did here.

Yes I saw that, much appreciated @ubonjoe.  I was just asking the OP here to share his latest experience on the ground, to make sure nothing has changed post-Covid on that procedure.  I'm really trying to avoid getting a visa as I prefer the simplicity of exempt entry.

On 12/13/2021 at 8:55 AM, Marvest said:

Gators and cloth masks don’t comply.  

No cloth masks at all?  Does it have to be a disposable surgical type of KN95 mask?

On 12/13/2021 at 8:55 AM, Marvest said:

Documentation does not specify round-trip and I was approved WITHOUT round-trip.  But I recommend submitting your round-trip itinerary.

That is useful, so you got approved with no issues having only a one-ways ticket?  And neither the airline, not the immigration officers at arrival cared about it?  I remember pre-Covid being asked to show a round trip ticket by the airline at check in and it took some convincing that I did not need it.  I agree it's best to have a return ticket. 

Thanks again for the write up!

On 12/13/2021 at 4:36 AM, Badger18 said:

I recently came in visa exempt and would like to extend to 60 days. Usually I stay in airbnbs and I know I need a TM30 then, but I have a feeling that's only because I'm staying in private accommodation rather than a licensed hotel. Yesterday as I walked through there was a guy at reception who seemed to be having some trouble getting a TM30 from the hotel - so can anyone confirm whether this is actually required?

As others mentioned, may depend on the immigration office.  I was never asked for it in the Bangkok Wattana office in the past.  

On this topic, could you please let us know how the extension request goes for you?  There is a blurb on my embassy website here in the US about not being allowed to extend exempt entries, see below, however it was commented in another thread that it could be just the embassy being wrong about it...still I would like to know the latest experience on the ground.

On 10/4/2021 at 9:34 PM, wn78 said:

Sorry to resurrect the March thread, but it seems there are changes to the exempt visa stay length.  According to a blurb I see on https://thaiembdc.org/visas/ it says that the exempt stay cannot be extended anymore. 

On 10/4/2021 at 9:34 PM, wn78 said:

Sorry to resurrect the March thread, but it seems there are changes to the exempt visa stay length.  According to a blurb I see on https://thaiembdc.org/visas/ it says that the exempt stay cannot be extended anymore. 

 

Can someone confirm if that is true?  Meaning if you want to stay more than 30 days, you have to get a TR visa now?

On 10/4/2021 at 9:43 PM, ubonjoe said:

It is not correct. Just more incorrect info about visa exempt entries on a embassy website. You can apply for a 30 day extension of a visa exempt entry.

Any new info if people have been able to actually extent exempt entries for another 30 days lately?  As @ubonjoe stated, most likely this was just embassy being misinformed, but it would be nice to hear about the actual experience on the ground.