jay1980

23 hours ago, bungcheese said:

Didn't see any recent posts on dentists in Pattaya, was hoping to find a recommendation for a good dentist that can do both implants and crowns. Thanks in advance for any insight.

I had a crown at Jomtien Soi 5 Dental clinic, Jomtien soi 5, (almost opposite Jomtien Immigration) over 2 years ago now and it is fine. It cost about 6000 baht. There is a poster on the wall advertising implants so I am sure they do them.

Was pretty painless and I go for checkups here also.

tel: 038231158

To the OP, can you say 'ผมคิดเกี่ยวผมชีวิต' (phom khit-keiyw phom chiwit) which is 'I think about my life' in Thai with perfect pronunciation?

If you cannot I find your criticism of slight pronunciation errors of Thai people's English you have encountered rather arrogant.
 

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

The Thai authorities didn't introduce the METV to make it easier for long term tourists to stay in Thailand, but to make it easier for visitors (especially the Asian market) to visit frequently. Every change they have made to visa exempt entry and tourist visas since 2006 has made it harder for someone to live in the country as a 'tourist'. You are not breaking any laws by living in the country as a 'tourist', but the message from Thai authorities is clear. They want short term tourists, and the only long term options to stay are for non-tourists.

 

 

then why do they issue METV's in non Asian countries to non Asians?

why can you buy a car/motorbike and get a driving license etc on a tourist visa?

why can you buy a condo (in the farang allocation) on a tourist visa or a visa exempt?

anyway I am not going to get into an argument on 'what thai authorities want' because pretty sure no members of Thai visa who post here are in the Thai government or have any idea above their own speculation what 'Thai authorities want'

Personally if I cannot stay here as a tourist I will get an ED visa, and yes I would attend the classes, and improve my reading and writing, but for now I like being a tourist and having the freedom to tour different places in Thailand in my own pace

On 4/4/2018 at 11:32 PM, onera1961 said:

So why stay in Thailand? Why don't they become a world traveler and experience the World till they become 50 and then can retire in Thailand.

I get really bored with these questions, there are lots of reasons people would like to stay in Thailand on Tourist visa's that don't include working illegally here.

Personally I stay here for longer periods because:

1. I own a condo here - I don't own any other property in anywhere else in the world except here and my investment properties in home country

2. I speak the language (not perfectly but enough to hold conversations and say what I want to say), I don't speak any other languages except for Thai and English

3. Because of the above I have made several good Thai friends, that hold similar interests and have similar hobbies to my own

4. And I like it here

5. I hate the cold dark winters in my home country.

I am in a financial position where I am financially independent younger than the official Thai retirement age, with an income from overseas of around 100,000 baht per month I can prove to any Embassy or consulate official or immigration official should they want to see it. I begrudge those who assume because I am under 50 years old and enjoy spending more time in Thailand on a tourist visas than the average tourist assume I am doing something illegal here.

I did not buy an 'Elite visa' not because I cannot afford one but because I did not get to be financially independent at the age I am by spending a big chunks of money on something that doesn't offer great value to me.

Also I enjoy visiting other places in Asia every few months anyway. In 3 years of living like this I have only done one budget boarder hop at Poipet, and I have never overstayed in Thailand, not even for 1 day or 1 hour. When I have to exit Thailand it is normally for a few days or a week to enjoy a city break in another Asian country. (plus once a year for a longer trip to my home country)

I enjoyed Penang in the past and am sad it is no longer a good place to get a SETV, but HK or Vientiane will get my money for my next SETV combined with a city sight seeing/shopping trip to take me to the Summer time where I will get a MTEV in my home country. (I more than meet the financial and other requirements to get an METV there)

I work a month or so every year back in my home country to help over see my brother's business while he is on his own summer holidays and that along with my investment and rental income from my home country affords me a very nice life in Thailand.

I do not work in any way shape or form while I am here.

The dictionary definition of tourist is:

And I am here because it pleases me to live here and I am interested in living here, so I do not feel I am cheating the system or breaking any law being here on tourist visa's longer term because this sums up my life here exactly.

I have visited many countries in the world already, including North and South America, most of Europe, north Africa and many other Asian countries and I enjoy having Thailand as my base for most of the time.

If Thai immigration wanted to make people stay less time on Tourist visa's,  they would not have introduced the METV within the last couple of years IMO, so not sure why the farang 'bar stall immigration officials' have a problem with it.

I also enjoy touring around different places in Thailand in my own fully legally owned, taxed and insured car (driving on my fully legally obtained Thai driving license) often.

Not sure why people come to these threads and judge other peoples lifestyles by their own standards and opinions or timescales of what they consider to be the correct length of time to get pleasure and be interested in visiting Thailand, because I am not judging them as long as they are not working illegally or doing anything illegal or disrespectful to Thailand or Thai people.

Anyway sorry to go off topic and I hope the thread can get back on topic about the changes at the Thai consulate in Penang again.

5 minutes ago, chingmai331 said:

I thought this thread about the new digital TV (television) signals to be rolled out soon.  And the OP needed a modern device to view.

BTW, what is SETV?

Single Entry Tourist Visa

Just now, darrendsd said:

Why not look at getting a SETV while you are in the UK? If you still want a few days break outside of Thailand you could get a re entry permit to keep that visa valid

 

If not Vientiane would be your best bet, they don't ask for hotel bookings or bank statements there

Thanks for your reply, sorry if I was unclear, I am currently in Thailand and my METV is expired, just done a 30 day extension which will take me to just after Songkran, but don't want to go back to the UK until at least mid June.

Hate how the weather is looking there 555

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/936379/UK-weather-storm-easter-weekend-forecast-snow-latest-met-office

Thanks for the suggestion re Vientiane, do you know if they require a ticket out of Thailand? I was aware they are fairly laid back however I have been there before and ideally would prefer a more modern city but will go there if no where else suitable.

cheers

Hi, I am a UK passport holder and currently on an METV from the UK, I will return to the UK in the summer time for a couple of months (ticket not booked yet, but will book it before this visa trip if necessary).

I stay in my own condo when in Thailand (charnote in my name) so I don't have any hotel bookings.

I have over £15,000 in my UK bank account and can show statement printouts that show regular payments of about £2k a month from the UK agents that handle my UK BTL properties proving I don't need to work illegally in Thailand, as well as about 200K baht in my Thai account.

I went to Penang last year to get an SETV and like the place for a short stay and would go there again but have read in this thread they have recently become more strict regarding issuing SETV's:

Would prefer a short break to a modern city, wouldn't mind KL but not sure if they would accept my charnote instead of a hotel booking as requirement 6 on they checklist:

http://www.thaiembassy.org/kualalumpur/contents/images/text_editor/files/TR non list_kc (1) (2)(1).pdf

Noticed some reasonably priced flights on Air Asia to Hong Kong, any knowledge of what is required to get a SETV there, or any other suggestions?

Many thanks in advance for any replies.

6 minutes ago, chado said:

For instance?

If buying a phone in a non-online shop check Jaymart, I bought a smartphone there 1000 baht cheaper than the same model on Lazada, with a full manufactures guarantee

http://www.jaymart.co.th/

They have many offers, often cheaper than online.

I would prefer to buy from Lazada than an independent phone stand like the ones in MBK etc.

Also check out

https://www.invadeit.co.th/category/smartphones/

hope that helps

I got a SETV from Penang earlier this year, I already have several tourist visa's including a previous SETV from Penang, a METV, and an old double entry tourist visa and triple entry tourist visa from before they were abolished.

I did not use an agent. I took proof of my bank accounts (UK and Thai) which both have healthy bank balances as well as proof of where my income is from (investment income from outside Thailand) but I was not asked for any of this.

All that was required was a completed visa application form, 2 passport photos, the visa fee, my passport and a signed copy, and proof of onward travel within 60 days which I provided in the form of an airline e-ticket.

No extra fee's were required or questions were asked.

No but i had it on me when and i passed through Don muang immergation just in case. 20,000 baht is not a big deal for me tbh, i always have it it it me when i pass through Thai immigration just to be on the safe side, but i have never been asked to show it so far

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

24 minutes ago, danielbehcy said:

Hi, there is a van outside thai consulate. they provided internet wifi, printing service, visa instant photo, document copy, bus trip and air ticket booking if you need. cheers

I used the guy outside who runs that van to arrange a taxi for me back to Georgetown, he is a Chinese Malaysian guy, seemed like a nice guy. I had all my photo's, documents, copies pre-prepared, I would imagine it would work out slightly more expensive to use him for photo's, documents etc but he is a useful fail safe for anyone missing any documents. He also can arrange transport to Hatyai, Krabi, Phuket, Samui etc

I was traveling back to BKK via air so I have no personal experience of his services beyond booking a taxi but again it might help someone to know there is that option. His number/whatsapp is +60164144451 should it help anyone.

12 minutes ago, vinniekintana said:

Is it fair to assume that only the e-ticket is what they are after?

I was never asked for anything over the years btw

I never assume anything TBH, but this was the case earlier this month, last year this was not required for me also.

Just to update, I got my SETV at Penang, I provided the completed application form, 2 passport photo's, visa fee, passport copy and onward flight e-ticket.

I went armed with a copy of e-ticket for my next flight out of Thailand as well as copies of my condo charnot, blue-book, recent electric bill and a letter from my condo office stating I stay there, as well as a copy of my Thai bank book and a print out of my home country bank statement, both showing a decent balance.

They gave me back all the additional documents apart from the e-ticket of the next flight out of Thailand so at least when I visited earlier this month only proof of the onward ticket was required.

This is my second SETV from Penang (not back to back) and I was traveling in and out by air.

Hope that helps.

I was at the Penang consulate some day ago, I already have 3 SETV from 2015-2016 from this place.
 
They asked for a copy of onward flightticket,  didnt mention anything about rental or hotel booking,
 
Everything went smooth as usual.

 

I am planning to get a SETV at Penang next month, when in Thailand I stay in my own condo which is in my name, could anyone advise me if it would be acceptable give a copy of my condo charnote and blue book instead of a hotel booking/rental agreement?

Thanks

49 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

How much do you actually save by doing this?  For me, not having to worry about that much cash is worth an extra bit of money! LOL  Insurance!

Super rich V my thai bank I usually save about 15,000 baht on the exchange plus my UK bank charge about £40 to do an interntional transfier so I save that too. I keep it concealed on my person on the flight, £10,000 in £50 notes isn't that bulky.

I normally bring in £10,000 UK pounds cash when I come back from a trip to the UK. Never had any issues. Reason I bring it is cash and  not a bank transfier is so I can change it up at 'superrich' and get a better rate than the bank rates.

50 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Perhaps a TM30 form. http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/pdf/tm30.pdf

WIll take a completed one to be in the safe side, many thanks for the quick response

Hi

I will do a 30 day extention of my tourist visa at Jomtien immigration next week

I know I need a completed tm7 form as per this link:

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/pdf/tm7.pdf

but last time I did one I remember an additional form was required, could anyone let me know what that is and if possable give a link to download it please.

Many thanks

I wonder if the approxmately 99.7 % of Thai people who were not born on the 5th December feel about this promotion? after all they are also being discriminated against on the baises of the day they were born

10 minutes ago, teacherpaul said:

Hardly the point, is it. The OP is talking about racism, not the food they serve. It's not all about you and your opinions.

The OP did not mention racism, he merely stated what happened, and forums ARE for for exchanging views and opinions accourding to the oxford dictionary definition of a forum.

They did you a favor IMO if you want Pizza for your birthday meal, there are way nicer pizza options in Thailand than the cr@p the offending company produce.

If you are not worried about them being a brand name, check out decathlon

http://www.decathlon.co.th/en/1019-tennis-shoes

http://www.decathlon.co.th/en/c/28-store-location

101

352 King Street, Stamford Brook, London W6 0RX 

http://www.101thaikitchen.com/

definitely aimed more at Thai''s living in London than most London based Thai resturants

27 minutes ago, oliviaaa said:

 I would like to not have to go home every six months....

 

Hi, if you do the final entry a day before your METV expires you will get stamped into Thailand for 60 days which could be extended for another 30 days at a local immigration office for 1900 baht. This would make the METV good for almost 9 months.

You could then get a SETV at a local location in Asia such as Penang or Vientiane that would give you a futher 60 days which also could extended for another 30 days at a local immigration office.

This would give you almost a year before you had to return to Canada.

Hope that helps