Canadian Snowbird

4 minutes ago, Des1 said:

Ok, I had the same problem. My flight was booked and i did not have a visa. I entered Thailand Visa-exempt. This gives me 45 days...if necessary another 30 day extension. Still waiting for Ottawa Thai embassy to say yes or no.

They probably won't respond either. Your application will just eventually expire or they will reject. What a nightmare. 

1 minute ago, Des1 said:

Not sure what is going on in Ottawa. When i posted my latest update I heards from a brit (I think) who had no problems with the METV. I suppose everyone's previous travel stamps to thailand might be a factor? Who the F* knows.

Previous travel stamps aren't at issue. I left early April 1, 2020 when the pandemic hit and haven't been back since. I could be wrong, but I think its more a case of either insufficient staff being overwhelmed or just not giving a sh** about the applicants.

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Nightmare reports for METV for Canadians and others. 

Here is one thread..,

 

 

 

Yup, it's making me wonder if they are intentionally trying to deter tourists from returning, or if the new online process was just really poorly thought out and is unintentionally deterring "snowbirds" like myself from returning for the full winter. Either scenario is just poor public relations and will not help their tourism to recover. 

I've been trying for the past 3 weeks to get a Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) without success. The Embassy does not answer the phone, and does not respond to voice messages or emails. When I started the process, their website said 9 business days, it now says over 20 business days from a complete application, but you don't know if your application is complete when they are not responding. My flight is scheduled to leave in just over 60 hours from now. It's become pretty obvious I will not have the METV by departure time. My options:

1. Scrap my plans to spend the winter in Thailand and eat the cost of refund on my flight, the visa application fee, and condo deposit.

2. Re-schedule my flights, eat the added cost of flight change, push my departure back 5 to 6 weeks with no guarantee of getting an METV plus eat the cost of rent on my condo for the period before I get there.  

3. Leave on my scheduled flight anyway and "hope" for a visa on arrival. I would then need to leave the country twice plus extensions to cover the 168 days I would be there; i.e. 2 more visa on arrivals. I'm 68 but I don't think getting a retirement visa while in Thailand would be an option if I'm unwilling to get a Thai bank account and transfer 800,000 baht to Thailand.

It looks to me like option 1 would be the cheapest option, but will make for a very unhappy winter.  

Welcome to the post covid tourist visa requirements for Thailand. I'm 1 week from my flights; have been trying to get a multi-entry tourist visa for over 2 weeks now and still waiting. At the Ottawa Thai embassy they don't answer their phone, and they don't respond to voice messages or to emails. The information they require is confusing and way over the top, meaning really unnecessary. All they are doing is creating more work for themselves and for the applicants, plus a great deal of frustration in the process. If they want their tourism industry to recover, they're going about it all the wrong way because I'm about ready to give up on spending the winter there and changing my plans for this and future years. Any good golfing locales in Malasia, Indonesia, Cambodia or Vietnam?

Thank you to all for the responses. It looks like I have the response I was seeking and it shouldn't be an issue. 

Given the responses, I guess I will rephrase my question then ... has anyone used a foreign debit card at an atm in Thailand recently, and if so, were there any additional charges by the Thai banks other than the usual 220 baht ding fee?

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

The % charge is usually by your own bank, depends on bank,  220 ATM fee is standard. When you get here open a Thai bank account, that's the best way to avoid fees

Thanks for the quick response, but it's not a charge by my credit union in Canada, it was a specific charge added by the Thai banks at a time when tourism was being decimated by the pandemic. Setting up a Thai bank account is an option, but never needed it before spending 5 to 5.5 months each winter.

During the pandemic I believe I read articles on this forum that the Thai banks had added an additional 5% charge on top of the 220 baht ding fee, meaning a 15,000 baht atm withdrawl would now cost 220 plus 750 baht. Is this still the case? I'm finally planning on returning to Thailand for the winter after a 2.5 year absence, and if this is the case, will need to figure out a different means to access money during my stay. 

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

An METV is only available from your home country. How difficult it will be to get will depend on the Thai embassy in your home country. If you mention your nationality, someone may be able to advise on the policy of your home country's embassy.

On the contrary, the Thai embassy in Canada is not issuing visa's like it was prior to covid. It has to be applied for online; just a newer version of Thailand Pass. Some of us snowbirds from northern countries who like to escape the winter for 5 to 6 months are not exactly happy with the level of uncertainty that the online system provides.

6 hours ago, problemfarang said:

well.. if you are a common visitor, why dont you try to get the proper visa instead of visa runs? why abusing the system? So people doing things here to the book needs to do more things because of these kind of things you are trying to do?

He does have a proper visa. Its called a multi-entry tourist visa (METV) that is good for 180 days subject to you doing a visa run to the border at maximum 60 day intervals. I would like an answer on that one too because that is how I spent my winters in Thailand pre-covid.

Amazing Thailand. How many times do they get to shoot themselves in the foot? I've been turned off by the stupidity for the past 2 years. I used to enjoy spending winters in Thailand. Not sure that will happen again though if this continues.

1 hour ago, aussiexpat said:

Wow, why are you even in Thailand....are you the real first person who only comes for the temples ????

Actually, there's many of us who come for the hot weather during winter months and the golf courses, and just don't feel the need or the desire to numb our brains with alcohol or pot.

Too bad they wouldn't start it a month earlier for those of us who prefer close to 6 months in Thailand to avoid the crappy weather in Canada from early November on. 

11 hours ago, jacko45k said:

So many many people are saying..... it is getting a bit tiresome really as if the Thai authorities are concerned over these odd noises of foot stamping from afar. As noted many are quite prepared to take on the limited restrictions we have now....  even they will be gone, in their own time. 

Even more tiring are people who have nothing better to do with their time than criticise other peoples comments. 

It reminds me of Einstein's definition of insanity ... "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result". Thailand obviously did not learn any lessons from this past high season with their ever changing rules and off again on again requirements. They blame the lack of tourists on anything else they can, but won't look in the mirror to see that tourists aren't returning because of the uncertainty created by their on again off again requirements, and all the added hassles, costs and risks. I would love to start making plans to return for the winter next fall, but I'm not going to waste any time and effort to return as long as this insanity continues. 

Until the travel and entry requirements return to pre-covid times, it just isn't worth the extra hassle, cost and risk. I used to spend 5.5 months each winter in Thailand but have not been back since having to leave end of March 2020 when covid shut everything down. I missed spending winters there compared to freezing my nards off in Canada the past 2 winters, but I'm not going to make plans to return until the Thailand pass and added insurance are also removed. I still have concerns that the current Thai gov't could just as easily flip flop again and slap the test and go BS back on again.

Step in the right direction, but I'm not making plans to return until they get rid of the Thailand pass system and the added covid insurance. Insurance co's in Canada won't be bothered with a policy for only $10,000 usd coverage when they can charge you a grand or more for $3 to $5 million in comprehensive coverage. And, Thailand can deal with your vaccine history when you apply for your visa for anyone coming for more than 30 days. I suspect the Thailand pass system is more for central control so they can continue to cut back on embassy and consulate staff.