Pakaty

About 4 years ago when I got a new passport at the BKK US embassy, they returned my old passport with holes punched in it making it unusable. I had no choice but to take my new and old passport to immigration to get the visa stamp transferred.

You will need enough space in your passport for two stamps, 1 exit from Cambodia and 1 entry into Thailand.

If you have an American passport, once in Thailand go to the American Embassy to have more pages added to your passport. It is same day service and no charge. For faster service you can book an appointment online. I did this 6 weeks ago and I was in and out in 20 minutes.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/passports.html

Download and fill in the Application before you go to save time.

You may find the American Embassy in Cambodia will add pages to your passport as well.

I brought $3000 in $100 denominations of American Express TCs thinking I would get a better exchange rate. I did not realize there was an additional charge for cashing the checks. It was more work and ended up costing about the same as an ATM withdraw would have been. I don't remember if larger denominations was an option at my bank. I'll check next month as I'm going back.

I'm in Patong and using TT&T. The 1st year my service was great the last 4 months or so have been awful. Constant disconnects even today at least 10 times.

I have a one year multiple entry visa and have been doing 90 day visa runs. I did a border run just before the visa expired for an extra 90 days and that is coming to an end near the end of June.

I will fly home and get another visa, but the first week of July will work better for me.

Can I get a visa extension at Thai immigration?

How long would the extension be good for?

What is the cost? 1900 Baht?

Thanks for replies and advice.

Wiki has been unavailable all of today and yesterday for me. Before that it has been inconsistent since my previous post here.

Maxnet is still sucking too. On the 13th my modem could not connect in the morning (ADSL light off or flashing trying to connect) so I turned it off (let it rest) as I was going out anyway. That evening when I returned and turned the modem back on, it still would not connect. I decided to try calling customer service again (this was the 3rd time in about 2 months). As we talked it started working again and I told her it was working now. She replied that she saw my signal was low and she would send someone the next day. A technician did come the next day (Sonkran, gotta give kudos for that. I felt sorry for him working in Patong on that day). He said he checked my line already and came inside and ran a speed test which proved to be fine. Since he could find no problem he left. Now that was the 3rd time I have called and the 3rd time they have sent someone and been told that the line tests fine and they can't find a problem, and my modem still randomly disconnects.

Also, I know it's not the modem that has a problem. I have a 6 month old D-link wireless and I still have the original wired modem that Maxnet supplied and the problem is random not consistent.

Again, 2 years Maxnet has been great (both speed and consistency of service), but the last 2 months have been bad. Even when it's working the speed has been slow to none at all.

So? Is this just me or are there others out there experiencing anything similar to this?

I can't load Wiki either. 2 days now.

Yesterday and today I have not had access to Wiki. This is not the first time I have had this problem either. I'm using maxnet in Patong, Phuket.

In Patong I have been having the same problem for about 3 days as well. I was beginning to think the internet police were blocking it (who knows there could been an artical that was deemed offencive in some way). Wikipedia is my homepage so I noticed it every time I opened my browser. However, as of 7:30 PM today I am able to access Wikipedia again.

Posibly related...I use Maxnet and for 2 years I have had nothing but high praise for their speed and reliability. The last 2 months though have been a completely different story with numerous disconnects and slow speed to no speed.

There is much to do before 2009!

http://www.airlinequality.com/AirportRanking/bkk_suv.htm

This thread just caught my eye because I have a Magicjack. And after reading all the posts, many positive, some skeptical and some negative. I see that no person has posted and said that they have one and it sucks. I have one. It does NOT suck. It does what it claims to do.

$39.95 buys the product + one year of service, unlimited calls via internet to and within the USA and Canada. People within the area code you select can call you for free via a normal telephone. People in other area codes and other countries pay the normal fee for that area code you select. Not all area codes are available. Many, most, really mostly all popular codes are available and as Magicjack negotiates with local telephone companies for phone numbers and access rites many more area codes are becoming available. You can change your Magicjack area code 1 time for free if a code you perfer becomes available. Available codes are listed on thier website.

All this info is on thier website. For me the FAQ section answered all my questions as well most if not all the questiions I have seen on this thread. I went through the Magicjack site thoroughly before I bought it.

As for the 30 day free trial, my credit card was charged a $1 authorization fee from the time I ordered it (I assume to verify that the card number I gave them was legit). That charge was removed after about a week. It was not until 30 days after I had received and activated my Magicjack that my card was charged $44.95 an extra $5 for shipping. At first I was annoyed as I did not expect the additional $5 charge. However, after using it trouble free for 6 months I am more than happy that I made the purchase.

Customer service and support...I don't know. I have not needed them. I have 2 laptops and 2 desktops. It works fine on all my computers.

Return policy...I don't know. If anything, I would buy another.

I have used it with a normal telephone and a cordless phone but I mostly use it with my computer headset and mic without a telephone. All work fine. Also, using a wifi laptop works fine. I think I need to get a bluetooth headset for the most convienience.

You need a connection speed of at least 80kbs. Dial up connections do not provide that speed. They say that the technology is not VOIP based and does not require as much bandwidth as VOIP. As we all know sometimes our advertised internet connection speeds are not what we are truely getting. I find that due to the time difference between Thailand and America I am either calling the states late at night or early in the morning, not during peek usage times. So, I get pretty good connections. I do at times (maybe 10% of my calls) have cutouts, meaning i may not hear a word or a sentence here and there during a call. Redialing usualy fixes this. I am sure this is due to my internet connection. I did not experience the cutouts during the 2 weeks I tested Magicjack using cable modem in America before I returned to Thailand. Here in Phuket I am using the cheapest package available from TT&T, it is the 590 Baht Indy which is not recomended for international web surfing and I find the service for this package quite good and I have no complaints about TT&T. By comparison my nextdoor neighbor is also using TT&T and he says that for his Skype to work he needs the 2000 Baht Premire package.

I used to dial 009 or 007 on my cell and talk maybe 30 - 60 minutes at a cost of somthing like 150 -300 baht at a time. I used to think that was a reasonable and fair price considering it costs 5 to 10 times as much to call from America to Thailand. Now I am talking to family and friends much more often and they are even calling me now that they are dialing a USA phone number. So the savings is two fold and not just yours. Friends and family save as well. And for them it is easy to use. Just pick up a phone and dial. My magicjack is not pluged in and turned on 24/7, but that is where the voicemail comes in. I works just like a home answering machine.

As for the voicemail, you can record your own greeting and change it when you want. You can access your voicemail through the Magicjack computer interface or from another phone by dialing your phone number pressing star then entering your PIN which you create and can change anytime. My voicemails are also fowarded to my email as a .wav file. So you can retrieve voicemails quite easily even without your Magicjack.

Even if Magicjack went out of business next week I still will have gotten my money's worth. As for the yearly service fee, it is fair. They are providing a sevice after all. And, lets all be realistic sevice fees for our utilities are always going up in cost. And Magicjack's fees may go up as well. I could have paid for an extra year or more at purchase time and locked in a lower service fee but I wanted to evaluate it first. I can tell you that in 6 months when my year is up, if it is still working this good I will buy a 2 or more year sevice package. I could buy more time now but I'm going to wait the full year and see if service remains the same even though the rates may go up, $20 a year now. 25, 30, 40 Dollars next year? For me still worth it. It is cheaper than my anual internet or phone landline or cell service!

So? Does anyone have one and not like it?

I'm jealous. I went to Patong hospital last month for health certificate for a drivers license. They charged me 300 Baht. I still spent the obligatory 2 or 3 minutes with the doctor but I had to wait 30 minutes to see one. Next time I'll try a clinic.

I have been to Singapore for a Tourist Visa 3 times. The last time was Sept. 2006. The first two times before that went well. The last time I was there however, the lady looked at my application (did not even look in my passport) and said "you just came from Thailand, you can't apply for a visa" (on the application it asks about your last visit to Thailand) then she pushed my application, passport and visa fee back at me. I left with my tail between my legs without a fight.

I recognized the lady as the same Indian lady that accepted my applications on the previous two visits I had made without out having any difficulties.

There were extenuating circumstances that may have contributed the embassy employe's disposition.

The day before my visit to the Thai Embassy in Singapore was the day I flew out of Thailand to Singapore and as it turned out also happened to be the day of the coup. So I applied for my Tourist Visa the day after the coup in Thailand.

At the embassy the lady in line in front of me was trying to organize visas for a group of Koreans. The lady must have had 10-20 passports in her hand. Anyway I heard the Indian lady behind the window angerly saying somthing about her (the woman trying to organize the Korean visas) just being there the day before. That lady was sent packing with nothing being accomplished...(embassy employee is visably in a very bad mood now)...So then it was my turn. And I was sent packing as well.

**By the way, I was dressed respectably. I was not in a 3 piece suit but I was wearing slacks and a collard shirt, no backpack.

It is possible that my timing was just unlucky or what I don't know. I did not want to argue with her and make my problems worse. I was worried about Thailand's political situation at the time and just being able to get back into the country. So I just got on a plane and hoped I could still get the 30 day visa exemption at the airport on arrival in Thailand. That trip was a big waste of money, oh well **it happens.

This was also the same time period that the new rules regaurding the 90 days within 6 months visa waiver rules were anounced (going into effect in Oct. 2006 I believe) and at the time many people including myself were still confused about the rules. That is why I chose to go to Singapore to get a Tourist Visa from the embassy rather than doing the, what was then, normal border crossing.

It was over a year ago. I have not been back to Singapore since. Don't let my post worry you too much. I think my timing was just bad and I caught the aformentioned lady on a bad day. But, this was my experience and you did ask.

As I remember applications were being accepted at 9 AM till 12 noon. And you go back the next day to pick-up at 1 or 2 PM (sorry a bit fuzzy on the times).

As for Singapore I think it's a great city and worth a trip if you have not been there before. There is plenty to see and do. The food is terrific, taxis (will use the meter and are reasonably priced) and subways are very efficient. Both will get you to and from the airport easily. If you want to use the subway to get to the Thai embassy, get off at the Orchard Metro Station and walk about 2 or 3 blocks west on Orchard Blvd it's on the right hand side of the street (about 1 kilometer).

If you have not booked a room I found the visitors stand near the airport exit on the arrivals level very helpful.

Yes, I like Singapore and I would have been back several times were it not for my last experience at the Thai embassy.

Good Luck, Enjoy, Happy New Year!

By the way....Is it just me? Or are Singapore women just Drop-Dead Gorgeous? Serious Question!!!

I also went to Penang for a Tourist visa and left with a Transit visa and the same red stamp saying do not apply again. I did not get the REMARK stamp that you got though. My entry to Thailand is Dec. 4 and I have till Jan 2. On Dec. 13 I went to Phuket Immigration to ask about getting an extension. I was told that I could extend for 7 days for 1900 Baht. I did so and now I have till Jan 9.

I do wish you luck getting a 30 day extension. Just be prepared in case they only give you a 7 day extension.

I did 30 day visa runs to Myanmar, Kaw Thaung via Ranong 3 times in a row. The most recent was Nov. 6 crossing and back same day. I was not asked about onward travel at any of those 3 times Sept. to Nov. 2007. I hope things there have not changed. Good luck.

Good for you!

I have never heard of this.

How does one apply for a Tourist visa X 2?

Does that mean you received 2 separate Tourist visa stickers in your passport?

Did you submit 2 applications at the same time?

Thank You for any additional information you may be able to provide.

I just returned from Penang where I was denied a Tourist visa and given a Transit visa. I also had a stamp on the Transit visa saying "Do not apply for a visa in Penang again".

Hi Pakaty, sorry to hear you were refused a tourist visa in Penang.

The OP is referring to a 'double-entry' tourist visa. It's the same sticker you get for a single-entry only it indicates that you are allowed 2 entries within the validity period of the visa which will also be indicated and is usually 3 months.

What this means is that when you enter Thailand they will give you 60 days and mark the visa with a "1". If you leave and enter again before it expires you'll get a futher 60 days with a "used" stamp on the visa.

If you time it correctly and extend both 60 day entries by 30 days you can get 6 months. It cuts down on your visa run expenses considerably, all for an additional 1,100 baht.

Thanks Tropo. That helps my understanding a lot. I'm just a bit confused on how to apply for one.

To apply for a double entry tourist visa...On the visa application form, for the type of visa I am applying for I would check the box that says tourist visa???

Then write in "double entry" next to that???

I do not recall seeing a double entry option on any of the visa application forms I have ever filled out.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the replies so far - good to know. My app for an Irish Passport is going to take about 4 weeks to process, which unfortunately is no good to me in the short term as my Transit visa issued for 30 days will expire on 6th Jan.

Has anyone had experience with a transit visa? Can I get it extended at local immigration for a fee, much like the TV? Or is it up to whoever I see on the day's discretion?

I might take a trip in to ask them today, as I don't fancy having them not grant an extension and giving me 24 hrs to get out of the country!

I went to Phuket imigration yesterday and asked about an extention on my Transit visa. I had the same problem in Penang as you. They told me I could get a 7 day extention so I applied and got it. My Transit visa expires on Jan. 2, 2008. The fee was 1900 Baht. Now I have till Jan. 9. So don't wait for the last day you can apply for the extention now. I need the extention as I can't find flights to the USA around the New Year.

So it seems to me that when I was getting 30 day extentions on my Tourist visas I did not need to wait until the last day as I was doing. I was afraid that I would lose a few precious days by applying too early thinking they would start the 30 days from the day that I applied. But since that was not the case for my present Transit visa maybe that would not be the case for Tourist visas as well. Or am I applying too much logic? Maybe even a bit off topic as well, sorry.

There is hope for us though...I just read a post from someone that also got the red stamp from Penang. "Do not apply for a visa in Penang again".

Here is the link. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=158561

I however, am scared to go to another embassy/consulate for fear I will be denied a Tourist or Transit visa effectivly locking me out of Thailand. I have already used my 3 on arrival visa waivers for this 6 month period. I'm going back to my country and getting a new passport. I do not want that 'do not apply' stamp as I am worried it will be a red flag to other Thai embassy/consulates later.

Good for you!

I have never heard of this.

How does one apply for a Tourist visa X 2?

Does that mean you received 2 separate Tourist visa stickers in your passport?

Did you submit 2 applications at the same time?

Thank You for any additional information you may be able to provide.

I just returned from Penang where I was denied a Tourist visa and given a Transit visa. I also had a stamp on the Transit visa saying "Do not apply for a visa in Penang again".

Go into the bank itself and ask for as much as your home bank withdrawal allows. This will save fees.

I did not realise they would do this. I pay about $15 per ATM transaction. Do you know what a Thai bank would charge for this service? It might be a good option as long as it is not too much of a hassle.

I have taken out as much as $10,000 via a bank clerk at Bangkok Bank. You need to get pre-approval from your bank before doing this for large sums.

However, when an ATM machine isn't working, I have got 10,000 or 20,000 B from inside the bank. I have never been charged a fee by Bkk Bank or my US bank. Probably takes 10 minutes if no problems.

That is good info! Thanks.

Go into the bank itself and ask for as much as your home bank withdrawal allows. This will save fees.

I did not realise they would do this. I pay about $15 per ATM transaction. Do you know what a Thai bank would charge for this service? It might be a good option as long as it is not too much of a hassle.

Thanks for the input folks. The ATM having only Bt500 notes sounds likely. It is the first time in 3 years that has happened to me.

Today I went to Bangkok Bank at the Jungceylon mall in Patong. I tried to get 25000 Baht from my overseas account as I have done for several years and I could not. On my second attempt I paid more attention to the screen and it said the max withdraw amount was 12500 Baht. Not wanting a fat wallet of Bt500 notes I opted for withdrawing Bt12000 expecting to get 12 Bt1000 notes. I still got Bt500 notes. I like to take out the max amount of Baht out per transaction to save on ATM fees. I use Bankok Bank ATMs because they let me take out Bt25000 where as other banks seem to limit me to Bt20000 (though I haven't used other banks in a long time).

Is this policy new for this branch, this bank or Thai banks in general?

Has anyone had a similar experience?

I wanted to ask someone there and then, however there were many customers and I do not have an account. I will try to call the bank tomorrow.

(Not related) I have browsed this forum for years and have have found much useful information, thanks. So it's about time I started participating. This is my first post.