Des1

Exactly. I have used it to stay 9 months. Near the end of your six month visa date the key is to enter Thailand before it expires, then you get 60 days...plus a 30 day extension. Again, sorry if I misunderstood what the OP was asking.

Sorry, I thought he was asking what the the expiry date on the METV means.

I have used a METV (multi-entry) several times and I believe the expiry date on the visa means you must ENTER Thailand before that date, which gives you 60 days plus a 30 day extension.

Yes, probably referring to perhaps pre-covid rates.

Yes, probably all the same. The difference appears when there is a problem, missed flight connections etc. EVA Air , in my experience, has great customer service.

So, you are saying it was a good airline? What about KAL?

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I have flown from Vancouver to Bangkok using various airlines over the years and EVA has been the best. Especially if things go wrong, which has happened on a couple of occasions, flight delays and missing connections etc. Their customer service is top notch. The way they helped people get home during covid, extra staffing at their Bangkok office, was really great. I always fly with them now. I am from Canada and sorry to say we have probably the worst airline in the world .. Air Canada.

not sure where to enter my best wishes for UbonJoe, a good next life seems appropriate.

For sure. Robinson's food court was a collection of thai food, not a foreign fast food outlet to be seen. I still remember commenting on it. And the bar girls (sorry, entertainment hostesess) were a vision of perfection. Those days are gone.

Sugar in everything .. noodles, etc. unless you ask them to not add it, even soup broth has sugar added so no choice really, not to mention too much salt. Also, western fast food joints invaded Thailand years ago. An ice latte is full of sugar and cream. Education is the key but it is not an easy process. The medical costs down the road will be huge.

so I did a seach on the Ministry of foreign Affairs website, you are absolutely right that I am wrong ... "Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General have the authority to issue visas to foreigners for travel to Thailand. The authority to permit entry and stay in Thailand, however, is with the immigration officers."

That's true. However, I do have covid extensions and a previous 9 month stay with a METV stamp in my passport (left Thailand for 3 1/2 months then came back with another METV), so I can see how they might not view me as a legit tourist. What I don't understand ... when I apply for the METV back in my home country they have access to my time spent in Thailand. The embassy represents the Government of Thailand, if they grant me a Visa immigration should honour it without the interrogation.

Re: specific questions. I got pulled aside awhile back re-entering at DM from a border hop with my METV. The IO asked if I knew anyone in Thailand? Yes. Girlfriend? Yes. Thai? Yes. He nodded, that seemed to satisfy him (I guess). I said next visit I will probably get a retirement visa. He nodded and let me go.

The Thai Gov, offered a limited amount to subsidise hotels re 40% . That money got spent very quickly with people planning Songran holidays. As a foreigner with a Thai girlfriend I got the benefit too 555

I meant the flight from Taipei to Vancouver was about 10 hours. Canada is on the other side of the planet, so yeah, it's a long trip.

I have made that trip a number of times, trying different airlines over the years. My choice now is EVA Air. Fly to Taipei then to Vancouver. As for price, you might find a deal but generally it costs more to fly now. EVA Air has great service, especially if there is a problem. The seats are comfortable enough, depending how big you are. ???? I think the flight to Vancouver is about 10 hours, not bad.

Fair question. I think about it too. My activites in Thailand are limited to running. I will run in the gym on bad air days (like now). Running events I participate in are usually outside Bangkok.

Sorry, it's just a small thing. It should be you're (as in you are) not your. Not trying to cause trouble, it just makes me crazy.

Mostly true. But a lot has to do with your level of physical activity over the years. I'm 67 (retired), always kept active , running, swimming, mountain biking etc. I run 10k events now, won a few trophies, but the big reward is being healthy. Never too late to get the body back in shape.

lots of helpful information here, thanks everyone.

I have heard that also, but, apparently the systolic number is what they focus on now. I really don't know, this confusion is so annoying.

Just to confirm ... I have done this before.

Gotta wish a happy birthday to the guy who bites his lip more than anyone. 555

Thought I would pass along my experience arriving at Don Mueang today. I hold a METV and was doing a border hop to Phnom Penh. Last time i did this back in December I was pulled aside by a IO Supervisor and asked a bunch of questions. So, I was a little worried and also wondered, with immigration being in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, what the mood would be? Well, there were six booths fully staffed. There were staff showing people to the shortist line. There were extra IO's standing behind each booth in case of a problem. There were no angry glares (maybe just my imagination from previous entries), no questions, no flipping through every page of my passport. I got through there so fast it made my head spin. 555 In conclusion I would say the process can run quick and smooth .. IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THE EFFORT.

Thought I would pass along my experience arriving at Don Mueang today. I hold a METV and was doing a border hop to Phnom Penh. Last time i did this back in December I was pulled aside by a IO Supervisor and asked a bunch of questions. So, I was a little worried and also wondered, with immigration being in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, what the mood would be? Well, there were six booths fully staffed. There were staff showing people to the shortist line. There were extra IO's standing behind each booth in case of a problem. There were no angy glares (maybe just my imagination from previous entries), no questions, no flipping through every page of my passport. I got through there so fast it made my head spin. 555 In conclusion I would say the process can run quick and smooth .. IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THE EFFORT.