Canadian Snowbird

Thailand is directly contributing to its loss of tourists to Vietnam. With the border closures to Cambodia, "snowbirds" who come for the winter on multi-entry tourist visas and who used to do a visa run every 60 days are now being encouraged to fly out of the country, rather than do a 12 hour van ride to Laos. Many are going to Vietnam. I just did a 3 day holiday to Da Nang and was impressed by the beach and the friendly honest treatment I received. I now see it as a preferred alternative compared to Pattaya, should I reach my boiling point with the ever growing ever changing immigration BS in Thailand.

Why would I do Visa Exempt when I already have a Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV)? I am aware of the option to fly to Vietnam and back, but add in the taxi cost to Bangkok and back, flight costs and hotel costs and you have significantly increased the cost and time compared to an 8 hour visa run to the Cambodian border at Ban Pakkard and back. People seem to be missing the point here. I have been doing that visa run twice a year for 9 of the past 11 years and its always busy, but Thailand has done nothing to assist those people that have now lost that option while the border dispute continues, and they risk losing those tourists as a result.

The METV (multi-entry tourist visa) has suited my circumstances for the previous 10 years, only now with the Cambodian border closure has it become an issue. I am here in Thailand for 5.5 months to escape Canada's harsh winters. My point is, Thai Immigration should be doing something on a temporary basis while the border dispute continues, even if that means permitting a couple of 60 day extensions for those on an METV because 12 hours there and another 12 back for a visa run to Laos in a commuter van is just an accident waiting to happen; not to mention more than double the cost. If the border dispute continues, I may consider going to Vietnam where the visa requirements are less onerous. I have a few friends already considering that option, especially when you add on the over inflated Thai baht.

It's also not good for Thailand tourism. Due to the continued border closure, many of us who used to rely on visa runs to the Cambodia border are being forced into more expensive options. That will significantly impact many who will either reduce their length of stay, or seek more stable options with relaxed visa requirements elsewhere next time i.e. Vietnam instead of Thailand.

With the Cambodian border runs still closed from Pattaya to Ban Packard and back, I'm looking into what other options are available. I'm not thrilled with the idea of 12 hours by commuter van to Laos, out and back at immigration, then another 12 hours back in the van. Are there any agents in Pattaya providing flights and visa service to Vietnam or Malaysia and back, same day? What is everyone else planning this year that used to rely on a same day visa run to Cambodia and back?

My apologises, fat fingers using my phone. And not to worry, I would never pay out to the grammer and spelling police anyway.

I really wish it was that straight forward, but its not. Different rules for different countries I guess. If you go to the website for the thai embassy in Ottawa, Canada and click on "travel to Thailand" then on "types of visas", you will note there is no option for a Non O 90 day visa. There is an option for a 1 year OA visa for temporary residents. If you click on it the first thing you will see is the requirement for $100,000 US covid insurance. You will also see the requirements for criminal record check and detailed bank information all of which has to be notarized, including the insurance requirement). More hassle, more costs. Every visa application from Canada is through the e-visa process and for my location it is processed through the thai embassy in Ottawa. I have no desire to live in Thailand year round (I like my summers in Canada) and even less desire to deposit a large sum of money in a Thai bank account which would sit idle for most of the year. The Canadian insurance companies won't sell us an insurance package for just $100,000 US for covid. They will only sell you a package with $3 to $5 million cdn coverage, but will not cover pre-existing conditions or motorbike accidents, at a cost of about 35,000 thai baht ($1,450 cdn). The last time I inquired about insurance through a thai insurance company I was told they were not taking on any new foreign customers over the age of 65 (I'm 71 now). The METV process and visa runs to Cambodia have worked for me since 2014 (excluding the two covid winters when I did not go). However, if the border to Cambodia remains closed for visa runs, that will throw a wrench into things, again, more hassle and more cost, making Thailand a less desireable winter destination. I appreciate your advise and attempt to assist, but it appears to not be helpful in my situation.

My information comes from the Thai embassy in Ottawa, Canada on the requirements for a non-O retirement visa. Check it out for yourself. It also comes from attempts last winter trying to open a bank account and needing a residence certificate, which Jomtien Immigration refused to even process.

If they don't fully resolve the dispute and re-open the borders to Cambodia, they will also risk loosing tourists from northern countries who come for 4.5 to 6 months each winter on METV's and have to do visa runs. All other options are just adding more expense and hassle. Come on Thailand, get creative and change your policies so we only have to do extensions instead of visa runs. Retirement visas are no longer an option because of the unnecessary covid insurance and the fact you can no longer open a bank account.

If they don't get this resolved, they are going to loose tourists from northern countries who come to escape harsh winters, those who come for 4.5 to 6 months each year and have to do border runs every 60 days. Any alternatives to the METV and border runs to Cambodia are just adding additional cost and headache. Forget the retirement visa due to the added cost of the covid insurance. It will be far less onerous and less costly to simply go elsewhere. Come on Thailand, get creative and change the METV so we only have to do one extension to see us through the 4.5 to 6 months without having to do a border run.

Thailand better get this resolved and re-open the border with Cambodia asap or they are going to risk loosing a lot of tourists who come for 4 to 6 months to escape cold winters. All of the other options to the METV with visa runs to Cambodia are more onerus with additional costs and expenses. It would be less hassle and less cost to go to Vietnam instead.

If they shutter the borders, what will that mean for next high season and those coming for 4 to 6 months on METV's needing to do border runs? I come for 5.5 months each winter and need to do 2 visa runs each year. It would be great to see if they changed this in some way to eliminate the need to do visa runs to the border every 60 days, perhaps with a couple of 60 day extensions instead.

My prior experience with this I found to be extremely intrusive. They required a copy of all my bank transactions for the previous 90 days, plus my name attached to the bank account, bank branch and transit codes. If that site ever got hacked, the hacker would have wide open access to my bank account. Hopefully they can put a little common sense into this requirement, but more important, that systems are secure.

I've been coming to Thailand since 2008. I retired in 2014 and now spend just short of 6 months each winter here, always coming in on a multi-entry tourist visa. I've been with the same thai lady now for 10 years. We just bought a condo together and wanted to open up a joint account to pay our bills. Bangkok Bank says I need a residence certificate, but Jomtien Immigration won't issue me one right now. Complete over-reaction on Thailands part. Thanks to the bad guys, the good guys suffer, and Thailand shoots themselves in the foot.

Many insurance companies have a list of exclusions that is far more comprehensive than their list of inclusions. And you have to fight for any claims as you end up dealing with an adjuster who gets paid a commission for everything he saves on a claim. Insurance ... the biggest scam ever invented.

Whatever you're smoking must be really good, because there are many of us who can't wait to get rid of Trudeau. He talks and takes but doesn't deliver and has been running the country into the ground for the past 9 years. And lets not forget all of his past scandels. Even his wife got tired of the egotisticle jerk.

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. Total disconnect. Also, how is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. Total disconnect. Also, how is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. Total disconnect. Also, how is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. Total disconnect. Also, how is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. Total disconnect. Also, how is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. Total disconnect. Also, how is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. How is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. How is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?

They are going to have to significantly improve processing times for the evisa system before they try implementing. I come to Thailand for 5.5 to 6 months each winter. It took 8 weeks to get an METV last year and 7 weeks the year before. I'm already closing in on 5 weeks this year with no response yet, and getting really frustrated with the system. Agents are telling you to wait until 1 month before arrival to book a condo rental, but you need accomodations confirmed before they will issue the evisa. How is this going to work for people doing border runs on the visa exempt system if you have to get your application submitted 1.5 to 2 months before doing your border run?