edwardandtubs

We all know it's important to be sceptical when Thai expats talk about their military exploits but if what OP says is true, I salute him for his bravery and moral compass.

23 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

Yep, the ChatGTP program has severe limitations.  Often when you keep on asking, it walks back earlier-made 'hard' statements when being queried on them.

If you ask it a question based on a false premise like "why are curried eels so popular in the UK?" it comes out with nonsense like:

• Cultural Significance: Curried eels became part of the culinary identity of the East End and were often sold by street vendors in the area. This cultural connection contributed to their popularity in the region.

• Adaptation to Local Tastes: The spicy and flavorful curry sauce was added to eels to make them more palatable and appealing to the local population.

• Nostalgia: For many older Londoners, curried eels hold a sense of nostalgia and a connection to their cultural heritage. Even though their popularity has declined, some people still enjoy them for sentimental reasons.

It's fine for generating text based on given prompts but it shouldn't be seen as an alternative to research, expertise and critical thinking.

4 hours ago, Red Phoenix said:

but in order to make sure I just asked ChatGPT

ChatGPT is definitely not the way to "make sure" of anything.

4 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

Where has anyone said the they think a work permit and extension are the same thing? In my post they are written as an either or both. This is reinforced where I mention both immigration and the labour department.

 

Using the correct terminology when giving advice is paramount to giving the correct advice, it is not "semantics" or pedantic, it is vital.

 

Maybe you should reflect on your reading skills and immigration policy knowledge.

Yet neither you nor anyone else has answered the question about whether anyone has in fact had any problems with immigration after exiting the country and returning. This is about actually helping the OP rather than being smug about your self-proclaimed immigration policy knowledge. There have been reports of problems obtaining another work permit but I've never seen a report that not cancelling the extension, leaving by air and then returning by air has been an issue at immigration. Have you? If so please chill, avoid the need to seek to big yourself up and belittle others and just provide the facts.

3 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

The OP does NOT have a VISA,  and you do not know what you are on about. The problem with an un-cancelled extension/work permit comes if the OP ever needs to visit immigration or Labour in the future.

I'm not "on about" anything, I'm simply asking a question. I'm aware of the semantics surrounding extensions but as you think "extension/work permit" is a single thing it appears you are the one who doesn't know what he's on about.

35 minutes ago, BritTim said:

It has never (so far as I know) been a problem at the airport. However, it can be a continuing sword of Damocles over your head whenever you have contact with Immigration in the future.

Can you explain how? I mean if you've exited the country and the visa has come to an end, is it really a concern to them months or years later? Have there been any reports of anyone having any issues at immigration because of this?

4 hours ago, BritTim said:

It is potentially a major problem. The concern Immigration can have is that your employment might have ended weeks before you left the country. Having your employment formally terminated by the employer, showing the exact date of the end of your employment eliminates that possibility. If you leave when on an extension of stay based on working, and Immigration wants proof that you were always legally in Thailand, a formal termination letter from your previous employer showing the end date of your employment being on or after the date you left Thailand should be enough to satisfy them. Otherwise, especially if you left your employer under bad terms, it can become a real mess.

But have there been any reports of immigration asking anyone at the airport to show "proof that you were always legally in Thailand"? In practice what they do is stamp you out which brings the visa to an end immediately and that is the end of that.

The OP is leaving by air so what happens at land borders is irrelevant.

6 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

Oh so wrong! The OP is on an extension of stay and both that and the work permit need to be cancelled correctly before leaving, and trying to re-enter the country.

 

Failure to do so can lead to huge problems and overstay fines should the OP ever want to work here again or apply for any other long term extension.

What overstay fines when there's been no overstay? I agree that not cancelling the work permit could lead to issues with the Department of Employment if the OP wants to apply for another work permit but these are unrelated to overstaying.

1 hour ago, ujayujay said:

Cotton Shirts are not as comfortable in this sticky climate! Try Linen, its made from Silk! Its looser weave and porous fibers are stronger and more durable. The fibers in linen are longer and wrapped tighter compared to cotton. Use Search "Linen Shirt" in Lazada. Prices are near the 100% Cotton ones! 

Fashion hint: white skin + dark hairy chest + white linen = disaster!

7 hours ago, The Theory said:

Yes they do,

but not sure if you can find your size among sale items. I bought 2 linen pants and 3 shirts on 1st day of sale. 

Easy to check:

https://th.hm.com/th_en/sale/men/trousers.html

12 hours ago, The Theory said:

Linen shirts ? Muji and H&M 

H&M has a big sale. I bought 3 linen shirts for ฿700 each. 

Definitely H&M is the best in Thailand for a reasonable price. Good quality cotton in a full range of sizes and stores in basically every department store all over the country.

https://th.hm.com/th_en/sale/men/shirts.html

I find Muji and Uniqlo tend to have sizes suitable for stocky Asians so either end up too short or too loose.

18 minutes ago, timendres said:

You need to be certain that your work permit and Non-B visa are properly terminated. If you do not take these important steps, it can cause problems in the future. If they are properly canceled, you should have no issues with the reentry visa exempt. Otherwise, get a reentry permit for the extension you currently have.

Total non-issue for a re-entry by air. The non-B is cancelled as soon as he leaves Thailand by air (there would only be a problem if he was exiting by land which he isn't) and the work permit is of no interest to the immigration officers at the airport either exiting or re-entering.

It is a good idea to make sure your work permit is cancelled if you're planning to apply for one in future but not relevant to the OP's question.

19 minutes ago, JayClay said:

Why would the flight have to originate from the UK? There's nothing to say that Thailand needs to be the first stop on your travels.

 

Even if it did need to be from the UK you could always buy a ticket from the UK to Thailand and then get a refund or change your destination.

 

I wouldn't imagine that there are many people who don't make any transactions in their home country while travelling but, again, why would a traveller need to proove that they're spending money in their home country?

 

I'm not debating that. I just don't think that the documents that you listed as being potentially problematic would actually be so.

You have to declare yourself as resident in the UK. If your documents suggest that this is not the case then I think that would be problematic. I have seen no reports of someone using a ticket from Phnom Penh to successfully obtain an evisa from the London embassy.

The OP has said he doesn't want to to lie to obtain an evisa so he's obviously not going to declare himself as resident in the UK when he's been out of the UK for 15 months. If someone wants to use dodgy documents then they might get away with it but if their entry is closely scrutinised by an IO and it's noticed they've abused the evisa system then that could be extremely problematic.

5 hours ago, JayClay said:

Why?

Well if you were in Cambodia planning to travel straight to Bangkok, what would be the purpose of the UK to Thailand flight? You're supposed to upload the actual ticket that will take you into Thailand. And for the bank statements, if you've been out of Thailand for 15 months there may be no transactions in the UK which may raise a red flag.

I'm sure it's possible to get an evisa but you'd have to lie and give the impression you were currently in the UK, hence my statement it's impossible to legitimately obtain an evisa while in Cambodia.

On 10/7/2023 at 7:48 PM, BillStrangeOgre said:

What would be my chances of taking a flight back to Bangkok rather than the bus and getting a permission to stay for another 30 days? Any ideas?

Cheers

I was pulled aside at BKK and it was no big deal. You just fill in a form, show 20,000 in cash, your booked accommodation and a flight ticket back to your home country and tell the immigration officer your plans and you're in.

On 10/7/2023 at 6:23 PM, BKKKevin said:

One of the questions on the eVisa website requires you to upload all of the pages in your passport showing your foreign travel for the last year... Given you will have alot of in and out travel and no indication you have returned to your home country your chances might not be too good..

This is no longer required (I got my SETV evisa last month). However, the other documents (like flight ticket to Thailand, bank statements in the UK) would make it impossible to legitimately obtain an evisa while out of your home country.

1 hour ago, pantsonfire said:

I got my 3rd TR now and will go to Bangkok after my trip to HK in 3 weeks time.  Concerned will i be denied entry even though i have my return ticket to UK.

 

Just reading some posts on facebook has me worried.

 

 

The thing about facebook posts is that there are a lot of people trying to come to Thailand claiming to be tourists who are not in fact tourists. They may be teaching without a work permit for example. If you have a plan for your holiday and a source of income to fund it (which the immigration officer at the airport may question you about) together with 3 essential things to show: 1) ticket back to home country) 2) hotel booking (one day was enough for me) and 3) 20,000 baht in cash, then you're highly unlikely to be denied entry. You may be pulled aside like I was and asked to fill in a form and wait an hour to speak to the senior immigration officer but if you're a genuine tourist there's nothing to worry about.

The Land of Smiles has become the Land of Masks.

Even the Chinese have stopped wearing them but most Thais are happy to be the last holdouts, which shows how little the Land of Smiles thing meant to them in the first place.

Are colonoscopies for peace of mind generally covered in medical insurance policies?

1 minute ago, Olmate said:

Ladies in expensive spas such as mentioned are not paid much more per client than 300bht places, (maybe 150-200bht total)regardless of actual customer price and are generally less busy, with strict managment and work practices.

This is the fundamental flaw with tipping. The service provider's poor pay is used as a reason to tip whereas in fact it's the opposite. The tips are leading to the poor basic pay.

It doesn't make any sense at all to tip for a massage. You've paid for a massage and you've got a massage. What's the tip for? Did you receive a "special" service?

3 hours ago, Harry Om said:

I've done this multiple times with expedia. I have an Australian bank account and if the ticket costs $120.34 I get refunded exactly $120.34. I have never been charged any extra/hidden fee.

It is listed as an "expired pending amount".

However, I can't promise what your bank will do.

Your $ sign means USD or AUD? Clearly if a currency conversion takes place by your bank then it will charge whatever fee it usually charges regardless of the policies of Expedia. It would be different if as @Phillip9 suggests you can pay in different currencies.