BrianB9

Thank you. This was helpful.

Hello, I am a researcher based in Japan and I wanted to ask if anyone had suggestions on how to contact elementary, junior high school, and high school teachers in Thailand. I am doing research on intercultural communication and I have an online survey that I would like to get out to foreign teachers working in Thailand. The survey asks about opinions on intercultural communication and can be completed in about 5 minutes using a computer or smartphone. The forum rules will not allow me to post the link here, but if any one has any suggestions I would be grateful. Thank you

I had an issue with the bank statements as well. My name and the transactions were in English, but there was some Japanese written on the document (my bank is in Japan) and they would not accept it. They said the entire document must be in English. I had the mobile app as well in English, but they sent me away. This happened last month.

Not sure if the company was based in Bangkok, but one I saw listed a meeting spot in Bangkok to board the bus for the trip to Savannakhet.

It seems really hard to find reviews of visa agents. I've searched this forum, a few other forums, Facebook, and tried just google and haven't had much luck. There were a couple of posts with recommended services in Pattaya, but nothing really in Bangkok. I was thinking about using one for a trip up to Laos to apply for a tourist visa. I could do it on my own, but thought that going with a company that takes you through the process would be less stressful. I have seen some posts that advise to "avoid scammers", but it seems difficult to get information to make that judgement. Perhaps libel laws limit reviews? Does anyone have, perhaps, some positive experiences they are willing to share? Thanks

Thank again for the advice. A flight from Bangkok to Udon Thani then overland to Vientiane sounds like a good option. I checked the embassy website and it seemed to have 90-100 slots open for reservations on most of the days I would probably go. Any thoughts on positives or negatives of using a company such as Friendly Thai Visa to go up to Laos for a SETV? Seems it just takes a few days.

I will probably go to Phnom Penh for the SETV application and stay there for about one week. I will have close to but less than 90 days in Thailand (75 days this trip and 10 days in February for a total of 85 days) at the time of application for the SETV. If I am denied, is it still possible to fly back into Thailand visa exempt or is it simple a roll of the dice? I am a permanent resident of Japan and my flight back is the second week of September. On a side note, the airline did not question my flying into Thailand visa exempt with a return ticket for September when I left Japan. Would returning to Thailand by land be an option? I have only crossed the border one time a long time ago (10 years ago?) to visit Laos on a short trip to Thailand. From reading the forum, it seems the safest option would to simply do two land border crossings. I am just outside of Bangkok now and will be in Bangkok (hopefully) after this current 30 day extension expires. Thanks again for any insight.

Thank you for the comments and advice. I did receive a 30 day extension from Nakhon Pathom Immigration Office. About Nakhon Pathom, I got a TM 30 from the condo where I am staying, but the officer at the Immigration Office said something about the condo not reporting my address or something. It was difficult to understand him. The whole process took about four hours while he tried to contact the condo where I am staying. He was nice to me, but I got the feeling he could be quite difficult if someone got frustrated or was less than polite to him. So about my plan, I am thinking that I will fly somewhere in mid-June (probably Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam and stay there about a week), apply for a SETV, and then a single 30 day extension in Bangkok will get me to the second week of September. Thank you again for all of the help. Most appreciated.

Long time reader, first time posting. Hoping to stay in Thailand until the 2nd week of September and I was wondering if this plan sounds okay. Before Covid, I traveled to Thailand 2-3 times a year always staying less than a week. Last November I was here for a week and this past February I was in Thailand for ten days. This time is a little different as I have a block of time. I arrived the end of March and received a 45 tourist visa on arrival. I plan to apply for an extension this week which I guess will give me 2 more weeks. At the end of this month I will fly somewhere (Phnom Penh or Saigon?) for a few days and return. That should be another 30 days and then I will apply for an extension which should bring me to the end of July. I will then fly out again as I did before. That will give me until the end of August. I want to fly back home (already have my ticket) the 2nd week of September so I guess I will need to apply for another extension before the end of August. I have a US passport and have never overstayed or been in any trouble in Thailand. Does this sound like a reasonable plan or am I missing anything? Thank you for any advice or comments.