nummer1

Thanks guys, I will try to get a tourist visa via the eVisa thingy.

Yes it does, but I've never done that. Do you think they'll issue me a tourist visa via that, or is there a good chance they'll reject that too due to my history? That's what I'm most concerned about, that I book a flight and then don't get the visa.

Thanks for your reply. Just a little over a month unfortunately, I left July 31st ????

Brief history: Euro country, used to work in BKK (all legit) pre covid for many years, then came back last year on back to back visa exempt + extensions Aug-Dec. This year back April-end of July again visa exempt plus extensions, 1 land border crossing and on more visa exempt entry from japan-bkk. On that (last) arrival was pulled aside for (in-out, in-out, they were going on about the visa run, spent 1 night in Vientiane) and interrogated/yelled at for half an hour and told to get visa but eventually let in. I wasn't planning to be back until next year, but a very dear friend is getting married and I'd really like to attend in mid September. If I go I'd only be going for perhaps around 2 weeks, 3 max due to other commitments. I'm guessing visa exempt again is out of the question, even with having been out of the country for 1,5 months and flying in from Europe? Will they even issue me a tourist visa, or am I "blocked" from that route too when they see my entry stamps? Perhaps I could book a through ticket to Vientiane and enter via land, my understanding is you can do that twice per year? Although I'd really like to avoid that due to cost and extra time. What's my best bet here do you think?

The TM30 is such a pain the you know what if like me you have a home base but travel around a lot too. You're supposed to do it everytime you come back. Last time I extended I got a right talking to even though I brought the previous one but 'no valid, have to do again you come back room' and told the condo owner needs to pay a penalty (I think it was 1400). Ended up paying myself as god knows how long that would have taken and needed the extension. I can't expect the owner to submit this once a week if you do weekend trips like I tend to do. This time I'm flying abroad for a few days....honestly less hassle.

I don't understand why anyone uses these sites instead of just booking a fully refundable ticket (FLEX). I usually book one way BKK-KL via Malaysian, costs around 3k, once back in Thailand I cancel and get full money credited back to CC within a few days. So costs you literally nothing and it's a proper legit ticket. Plus if they still somehow end up denying you, as a flex ticket you can change date and use it to actually fly out if they force you.

Thanks everyone. I do still have the old (now expired) passport, so I could bring that along I guess, just not the bank book, or book bank or passbook or whatever it's called. But I think I'll just let it expire/auto close which is what I was hoping it would do. Thank you for confirming.

Thanks. But I'm confused, easier compared to what? Are you saying if I just go in with my new passport they will give me a new "book bank"? In my experience everything is always a bureaucratic nightmare and I kind of expected they need me to report the loss of the old one to the police. But honestly if you say they close it automatically then I think I'll just not bother and just let it expire.

I've previously worked in Thailand and still have a bank account there (with Kasikorn Silom Branch). There is only like 20 baht left in it (I still get the sms alerts, but do not have access to the banking app anymore). Since I was sort of locked out due to covid abruptly, I also do not have the bank book anymore (I may be able to get it somehow if absolutely needed if I'm lucky but it may also have been thrown away). I guess my question is, I don't need this account anymore, should I bother to try to go in and close it (I'll be in BKK next month) with no bank book, no atm card, and a different passport ..... they probably want a police report or something, it'll be a mess I just know it. What happens if I just....don't use it? Will they auto close it? I want to avoid a situation where 5 years from now they keep deducting 1k yearly fee and interest and I'm suddenly on the hook for a few 10k at the airport or something. Thanks

After having lived in Thailand for a number of years previously and dealing with Non-B visas, I too tried to get a simple single entry Tourist visa for the first time in close to a decade. Previously just had to mail my passport and a short form to my local consulate, but that was 10 years ago. I was kind of excited the e-Visa and figured I'd be easier. I've given up. First of all their naming scheme is a mess, how many people (me included) see STV Tourist Visa in the drop down and choose that instead of TR which is much further down the list. And like people say, they want everything from financial statements to proof of residency and I guess you have to print out their declaration form to sign and and take a photo or something? And photos of all what 30 pages in my passport? Proof of accomodation....I will travel around, I don't know. And all this so I can go for a little over a month and a half. No thank you. I booked a refundable flight on day 28 incase the airline wants to see it and will simply try to extend the visa exempt entry. They really have to streamline this, for "rich" target countries little more than their passport number and perhaps your contact info and first place you stay at. Or just give 90 days visa exempt like so many other places. I don't even care if it costs on arrival or something. You would think they want people to come and stay a few months, especially now that the chinese and russians are out of the picture. But oh well, TiT.