bear9

8 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Bickering exchange completely removed.

 

A difference of opinion is one thing but no excuse to be rude or abusive, that will result in the entire exchange being deleted.

 

See community guidelines.

Thank you 

Make a fully refundable airline booking both Finnair and Klm have this option available you just pay a bit more to give you the option to cancel it later.

Lots of hotels on Agoda come with free cancellation options some of them don’t take the payment until 48 hours before so in that case you will have it cancelled by that time anyway. 
 

I once only gave a week of booking in 1 of my applications for the special tourist visa they came back to me saying they needed the entire bookings when I gave it for the entire duration they approved it.

A week of bookings might be sufficient for the metv but to stay on the safe side I would give them 2 months of bookings that payment won’t be taken until 48 hours before and can be cancelled for free

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

First up thanks for the info you posted.

The issue for some is that their embassies do not provide the embassy letter that you refer to.

UK,USA,AU to name some.

This "letter" is alternative to providing certificate of residence from immigration.

 

In Bangkok that's impossible as to obtain COR you need to have filed a TM47. That's not possible for folk on tourist visa

I received myn from the British embassy in Bangkok just over a year ago. The visa I was on at the time was the Stv ( special tourist visa) when this visa existed during covid.

If the tourist visa or Metv make a difference to obtain the letter I am not sure 

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's actually verification of your Thai address by your embassy.

Currently UK,USA,AU don't provide the "letter" (I'm not referring to income letter by same countries for extensions) 

 

An alternative is to obtain a certificate of residence from your immigration office.

That would be impossible at CW as for COR they aso required a TM47 to have been made.

 

For folk looking to transition to a Non O an agent is an option.

 

If still in home country then obtaining a Non O prior to entering Thailand would enable you to open a Bank Account.

Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn good option especially if you plan to use WISE. 

For Bangkok Bank its Certified copy of passport i have the document beside me now me now which i used 1 year ago to open my Thai bank account on a tourist visa. This was from the British Embassy in Bangkok. There is nothing on my document about my thai address.

On the letter it says 

I do hereby certify that this is a true copy made by me of an original British passport presented to me by (Name), Identified as British passport number ()

The process was quick and simple in and out in 10 minutes at the British Embassy i believe the cost for them to verify the document was around 25 pounds.  

Once i handed the certified copy of my passport document from the British Embassy to the Bank thats all they needed and i had my Bank account opened in 15 minutes.

Bangkok Bank are the only interested in tourists from my experience the rest you are wasting your time attempting so best to stick to Bangkok Bank.

The process really isnt that difficult if you make an appointment and get that document from your embassy. The only cost is the embassy appointment but certainly a lot cheaper than paying an agent.

I guess the only reason i can see to use an agent is if you are not going to be in Bangkok to be able to go to the embassy.

37 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

I've never heard of that before as why does having an "authenticated passport" make any difference when you actually need the original passport at the bank? How does that give your address that the banks require?

 

Even if true, my friend is in Pattaya so agent cost cheaper, easier and quicker than going to his Embassy in Bangkok and then hoping Pattaya banks accept it

 

Because it’s a requirement the bank asks for when opening a bank account on a tourist visa. It’s a certified copy of your passport I believe is the correct term.

No point asking me why it makes a difference I don’t make the rules. I’m just trying to explain what you need to open a bank account on a tourist visa.

Bangkok bank only the other banks wont look at tourists last time I checked. 

1 hour ago, Pattaya57 said:

I think Thailand has made it impossible to open a bank account on tourist visa without use of an agent (need long-term visa to open bank account but need bank account to get long-term visa)

 

Visited an agent last week for a friend. They wanted 500 baht for a bank required residence certicate and 4500 baht to open bank account with Bangkok Bank. This included 400 baht for ATM card and 300 baht deposit into account (and some random accident Insurance for a year)

 

That’s wrong you dont need an agent. Heres what you need to do. Make an appointment with your embassy in Bangkok asking for a copy of authentication of your passport. Then take your passport to  Bangkok Bank and they will open it no problems.

Bangkok bank is the only bank that will do it as far as I know but it’s actually a very quick process if you bring that document from your embassy 

Much easier to just obtain a tourist visa before and receive 60 days no need to do the border run.

27 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

Thanks for all your replies

If I’m issued with a visa next Thursday, i’ll then be attempting a border crossing at Poi-pet next Saturday 

I’ll let you know how it goes

Cheers

Doesn't seem logical why you would choose the most risky option out of anywhere to do the border crossing you choose to ignore the advise of others. Ive never used the Poipet border crossing because i actually take notice of all the reports about it on here.  

11 minutes ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

I’ll be crossing at Poipet 

I was stopped there last time by immigration and asked why I didn’t get a visa? They still let me in but this time I’ll have one (if I’m there)

I advised you in this thread 2 days ago not to use that Border this is the worst entry point to use.

Search poipet in this forum and you will see 

6 hours ago, BillStrangeOgre said:

Thanks for all the answers

i went to the Thai embassy here in Phnom Penh and they told me a bus ticket in and out is acceptable.

I found a company that let’s you change the travel date once, up to 48 hrs before departure 

I looked at the dummy plane ticket but that gets cancelled after 48 hrs. I submitted my application yesterday (Fri 20th) and won’t get my passport back until next Thursday (26th)

They also require 1 passport photo, bank statement, $40 (only $)

Painless process at the embassy, hardly anyone there.

Submit documents, mornings only between 9-11am 

Collection afternoons only between 3-4pm

 

I’ll update if I get it

cheers

Bill

Which land border are you planning to cross at?

People tell me thais wore masks before covid that’s a myth that’s untrue and kept being repeated until people actually believe it then repeat the same to others.

The masks they are wearing dont work for pollution or covid only a well fitted N95 mask will block those particles.

Its not a very welcoming experience from a customer service point of view as a customer or tourist when you cant see the staff members faces. I’m unlikely to ask a staff member with a mask on a question as appose to a staff member without a mask on as it’s just socially awkward.

If there was 2 restaurants next door to each other and 1 restaurant has all the staff masked up and the other restaurant all the staff smiling I know id be going to the restaurant were you could see peoples faces and smiles.

Makes learning thai more difficult when you can’t see the facial movements along with what you hear.

2 hours ago, IlyaATL said:

Thank you for your replies! I have read that other thread. However, it is more than a year old and I believe that the people who had that issue, were out of Thailand for a relatively short time.

 

On that topic, would it be worth it for us to buy the VIP fast track immigration service?

 

Edit: if questioned by the IO, how would we go about it? 

Be able to show an onward flight ticket

Be able to show 20,000 baht in cash for each of you or the equivalent 

Print out of hotel bookings

Print out of bank statements showing sufficient funds

Some kind of travel plan written down 

Which route will the bus come back into Thailand?

You should avoid the Poipet border crossing 

Sunday Roast

1 hour ago, Bazerino said:

Hi All,

 

I have just received my Single Entry Visa from (The London Thai Embassy) & they have got my Forename & Surname back to front, was wondering if i will have any problems going through immigration? I've emailed them but have not yet had a reply back, i have applied many times & this is a first, obviously my passport, flight details, bank statement etc clearly shows which way round it should be....

 

Thanks in advance.......

 

Baz

Yes i had the same before not an issue.

Out of curiosity do you mind be asking how long it took your visa application to be processed from the date you applied?

1 hour ago, proton said:

Pacific Cross is a popular one

Pacific cross Thailand or pacific cross global? As ive heard of people saying its better to use a company outside of thailand if im correct?

2 minutes ago, proton said:

I am about his age, for the coverage you get the payments are just not worth in IMO, and will be mostly increasing. Most companies will want a medical before they take you on.

I understand the costs will be high with age. But would be interested in finding out the best option for him anyway as thats what ive been asked to do. What companies is in peoples recommendations?

No underlying health conditions and yes is prepared to fly back to uk if needed.

How about if he decided to move to Thailand full time what would be the best option in terms of companies?

Thanks

Hi,

I have been asked by a 74 year old family member to look into health insurance policies while living 6 months in the uk per year and 6 months in Thailand per year. Can anyone recommend a good policy for this? Thanks

The elite visa is worth it if you know you will be in Thailand for most of the year. For people who only stay in Thailand around 6 months in a year it is not worth the money. Then if circumstances change in a year or 2 where you need to go back to your home country for various reasons then it becomes a waste of money.

So while I agree the visa is great for people who plan to stay the entire year there's really not very many good options for people who only stay 6 months per year. 

Either purchase a fully refundable flight which you can then cancel when you arrive in Thailand or buy a cheap onward fly ticket from 1 of the sites for between $8-$10. The airline in the USA will certainly ask you for an onward ticket before you are allowed to board.

2 hours ago, flynn said:

You can have as many 45 day visa exempt arrivals by air as you want, 

While there is no official rule on how many you can have and it comes down to the discretion of the immigration officer. Considering he's had quite a few tourist visas in the past it would be safer for him to enter with a visa.