Chalky0w

Air pump cork remover should work. Can buy online if can’t find one locally. Good for old / brittle corks. Good luck!

I have no idea what influences an IO but there are rumours they don’t like backpackers, bikers, etc. so just giving info on my own appearance. I definitely don’t work in Thailand except maybe to answer the odd email. I have a business in the U.K., property, savings and investments. I work a few months a year in the U.K. to keep my brain active and even this pays more than enough for me to take it easy for the rest of the year without my other income streams.

Male immigration officer if that makes a difference. Other potential influencing factors if true that they can impact: - I have no tattoos or piercings - Short hair and clean shaven - Dressed relatively smart in clean / ironed white polo shirt and plain dark shorts (bit hot for me to travel in trousers) - Handed over boarding pass, visa and passport without being prompted - Didn’t use phone, have headphones in, have sunglasses on or anything that might give a negative reaction - Said sawadee krap but no wai (hands full) and no attempt at conversation None of above was deliberate to get through, just how I normally am / behave

Just posted in other thread but maybe useful here as well… I came back through Don Mueang on my METV. Straight through with no questions and stamped in for another 60 days. Extra info: - METV is valid until end of March so stamp will go beyond that. - Originally entered at start of October 2023 and been in/out a few times since then. - Came from Singapore this time and been there for five nights. - Second METV in two years. I’d been in UK (home country) for about four months when I applied for it. Can’t comment on what I did / didn’t do vs anyone that has had problems with entry on an METV but hope useful.

To give an update as requested… I came back through Don Mueang on my METV. Straight through with no questions and stamped in for another 60 days. Extra info: - METV is valid until end of March so stamp will go beyond that. - Originally entered at start of October 2023 and been in/out a few times since then. - Came from Singapore this time and been there for five nights. - Second METV in two years. I’d been in UK (home country) for about four months when I applied for it. Can’t comment on what I did / didn’t do vs anyone that has had problems with entry on an METV but hope useful.

Probably only one genuine Thai male friend. Few acquaintances that I’m friendly with. Few hangers on that pretend to be friendly if they think I’ll pay a restaurant bill or something. Met my friend about 5 years ago when he was working in the same place as my partner. We’re about the same age. Been to football with him, restaurants / Thai bars / nightclubs, visit each others houses, day trips with him and his family, etc. Always asks when I’m back if out of the country, offers to pick me up / drop me off at airport if he’s not working, brings me little gifts if visiting my house. To pre-empt the cynics amongst you, this friend always wants to pay his way despite a big disparity in earnings. I think he gains face by paying whereas I like to pay because I earn more so normally whoever gets to the bill first.

I got an METV from London. For 3) I can confirm travel history wasn’t part of application and I didn’t get any follow-up request for it. I think it was required previously. Partial answers for 1) and 2)… 1) I don’t know if you need to show the £5k for full six months but doesn’t need to be 6 separate statements or for current account with ‘normal’ transactions. I provided a single bank statement from a savings account that only showed interest being added over the six months. 2) Letter is still requested in application but don’t know if you can upload another document instead. I have my own business so just wrote a note myself that I signed myself. Also maybe worth mentioning that there was another thread recently where someone was told to get a non-o when they had a valid METV when flying into DMK. I’m hoping just isolated incident but who knows?? Good luck

This is a bit concerning. I’m on an METV with a week in Singapore in March and flying to/from Don Mueang. Had METV last year and probably been in Thailand longer than OP over the two years. What are my options? I’m under 50, not married so O visa not available and work back in the U.K. or elsewhere for about 4 months a year so ED visa not an option either. Thought METV was a good fit. Could get an Elite but are there any guarantees an IO wouldn’t have a problem with that given METV should be valid?? Will report back if I run into issues after Singapore.

Did the bounce at Chiang Saen today. Short version: Very easy. Took about 1.5hrs and cost $40US plus 250baht. Long version: Arrived at Thai immigration about 11am. Stamped out. Walked down to jetty and bought a boat ticket for 100baht. Boat left immediately. Walked from jetty to Laos immigration. Showed passport and given visa on arrival form plus Laos arrival / departure slip (similar to Thai TM6). Filled out forms leaving sections on where staying blank and returned to next window along with passport photo and $40US (could use 2000baht instead). Stamped in and could go on into Laos but I just turned around. Filled out departure part of slip. Handed slip and passport to outbound window to get stamped out. Walked down to the jetty and bought boat ticket for 150baht this time. Boat left immediately again. Walked from jetty to Thai immigration. Completed TM6 arrival slip Gave TM6 to arrival window along with passport and printout of METV to get stamped into Thailand for another 60 days. All done by 12.30pm. Possibly Malaysia or Japan or somewhere more exciting for longer next time when burning season starts in the North. 😖 Hope useful report.

Thanks Tod! Appreciate the info. Boat is fine. Bit more interesting than the bus over the bridge. I’m guessing a Laos visa on arrival is same as Chiang Khong? Been a while but think that was passport photo, $45 US and application form? SEZ worth staying a night or just come back? I’ll have a look anyway.

Hi, Anyone have experience of doing a border bounce at Chiang Saen please? For info - I’m on a multiple entry tourist visa. Would drive myself. Not too worried about costs. Mae Sai would have been my preference but shut. I’ve done Chiang Khong in the past but Chiang Saen is a bit closer and I like a restaurant there. Thanks in advance!

I thought this would be a nice thread but found it a little depressing. I’ve been with my partner for 5 years and while I have brought her a bit of gold, some small / strange things have been appreciated more. A few examples… Chocolate is always a welcome gift but I bought two Lindt gold bunnies back from the U.K. (not seen them in Thailand). These now live at the front of the freezer and I don’t think they’ll ever be eaten. She has a very strong attachment to our sofa. The previous sofa was provided by the owner of the house we rent and had hard wooden arms. She is very clumsy / accident prone so used to bump into these all the time. I brought a new sofa with lots of padding everywhere to reduce these accidents and she absolutely adores it. I’m getting older so bought some nose/ear hair trimmers but ownership was immediately transferred and now used for her eyebrows with many khop khun kaas and laughter whenever used. Just a few examples.

Apologies if I provided only half the story (e.g. about accommodation), I was primarily commenting on turnaround time but added a few details that might have been helpful to others... I’ve uploaded the items you mentioned for previous visa applications but process / website has changed and weren’t required this time. Think the declaration has been built into the software now so you agree on-screen before submitting rather than print, sign, scan, attach a separate document. Can’t comment on what would be acceptable instead of a letter from employer such as payslips from other poster. Think they’re looking for something to show you won’t work while you’re in Thailand so job / business / school to go back to or retirement income so don’t need to. Payslips probably wouldn’t cover it as you could have left that job permanently. This is only speculation on my part though, I’m not any kind of expert and only sharing my experience.

No departure flight.

Hear lots of bad reports so just wanted to provide balance…. Applied for a multiple entry tourist (electronic) visa online via London on Thursday 28Sep2023. Email approval received 30Sep2023. Fairly straightforward. Needed: - Passport style photo against plain background. - Scan of passport photo page. - Bank statement. Think they need £5k for 6 months (mine had more than this for longer). - Letter from employer (or tax self-assessment, evidence of retirement, etc.). I own a limited company so this was from myself. - Proof of accommodation in Thailand (I used a rental agreement from my landlord) - Flight to Thailand - Proof of residence in the UK (copy of passport photo page again)