danols

Hey frog555

Would be great with an update on what solution you chose and how it worked out.

Thanks

What is the definition of a resident? What is the definition of a tourist? I pay taxes in Sweden if that matters. I stay in Thailand about 7 months a year, 3 months travelling Asia and 2 months in Sweden and I rarely stay less than 2 months in one place. I have a condo in Bkk to store my stuff but I only live there in total maybe 4-5 months a year. In which countries am I considered a tourist? Where am I a resident? The world isn't as easy anymore like 99%+ of people showing up in Thailand either has a job that pays a salary which requires you to perform that job in a physical location, or you have wealth and don't need to work anymore. There are a lot of location independent jobs that you can perform anywhere. And there are a lot of people that don't have one fixed place of residency and move around a lot because they like that lifestyle.

But all that is irrelevant and mine and your definition of what a resident and a tourist is doesn't matter. What matters is what the immigration officer interrogating me next Sunday thinks it is. Sometime with little experience on the job and quite often with limited English. Looking at what ever documents I am producing. Have they had a shitty day? Do they have some quota to fill? Are they getting crap from their supervisor for not being firm enough? And this is the big problem here now. The lack of predictability. They can set what ever rules they want but they should be clear. If people show up with a tourist visa and still get denied entry or get blacklisted for 5 years because they have one to many stamps from an arbitrary number of correct stamps that is a big problem. I realize it is early days and it will hopefully become clearer what those rules are but I expect it to be major inconvenience and stress for a lot of people the next 6 months while they try to figure it out.

Are there really that many illegal Russian real estate agents & tourist operators that it is becoming a major issue? I mean do they really need to boot out the illegal English teachers? Are they stealing that many jobs from the great pool qualified Thai born English tutors? Maybe they need more English teachers, not less? Did I miss any other jobs that people actually perform on illegal visas?

As a fellow Swede I have to ask you, if you spend 7 months of the year in Thailand, wouldn't you agree that your main home is in fact in Thailand? You're saying that you only spend 2 months out of the entire year in Sweden, ie much less than the time you spend in Thailand.

Not to mention the fact that you spend more than 6 months of the year in Thailand, which is what is usually considered the norm for when you should be a resident of a country (since staying over 6 months in a country means that it's impossible for you to spend more time than that in any other country.)

Since you asked, in my opinion you live in Thailand and should arrange your residence permit/visa as such rather than keep using tourist visas.

Honestly I think that should be obvious. And also what should be obvious is that the fact that you do not work in Thailand, or perhaps do not work at all, makes no difference.

If an immigration officer looks at your passport when you are entering Thailand and sees that you spend 7 months a year there on tourist visas, and you are surprised that you get problems. Then you have no one to blame but yourself.

Look I agree with you and according to most definitions I would be called a resident of Thailand. The example I gave you was for last year. Next year it might just be 5.5 months and then what? Maybe I make it 5.5 months if that is what the rules say I can do. The definition is unclear and up to interpretation. Which is my problem. How many months? Calendar year? From what period to what period? Time has to be consecutive? Average over the last 3 years? Etc etc

If I apply for a visa with their embassy overseas and get it granted I expect them to honor that when I show up in their country. That is how it normally works.

And sure I have been using the tourist visas in a way that they were not intended. But so has everyone else and they have silently let people do it for years and years. If you do that for long enough you are basically telling people that it is ok.

I am fine with them changing it and to set any rules they want. But when you set rules and implement consequences they should be clear. I haven't complained about the intention of their rules in any way. But I do think they are butchering the implementation of the new rules/guidelines and that you can expect more from a country like Thailand that has such a large number of visitors and are depending on foreigners coming here spending their foreign money. "Suspect someone is working and they will be deported on arrival", even if they have legitimate paperwork issued by their embassies just isn't a very good way to implement changes in rules. But then maybe this is just a bit of TIT, deal with, which is part of the reason many people like the place in the first place since it is not as strict and rigid as our home countries. But it can be frustrating at times and you just feel like bitching and moaning a bit. And that is when you turn to TV since you know you are in good company.

Read your thread about the Elite Card, 500k for 5 years. Didn't know it existed and I will probably get that even if it is quite a bit of cash to cough up upfront. I thought it was 2M. Coincidence this new 500k option was introduced before the crack down...?

So this global passport system. Is that the same system that the Malaysian immigration used when they didn't identify the 2 passports reported stolen on that flight? If they can't even figure out how to trace passports being stolen between countries it just doesn't feel very likely that they are automatically connecting different passports for the same person. I think cross country capabilities, especially between continents is far less sophisticated than what you would expect. I am unconvinced.

And regarding your story Yahooka. Thanks for sharing. But it seems to me you gave her all the information she required to be able to draw the conclusion you had been taken your 6th entry on another passport.

Slightly off topic but why would you want to live in. Thailand when the USA has warm places and they speak your language?

Because the US sucks? Just <deleted> unless you have something relevant to say.

A fresh passport won't help.

All your previous visits are logged along with your picture.

Of course my old visits are logged but how is the new and old passports linked? By facial recognition? You get a new passport number every time.

I am not sure you are 100% correct here that they can automatically link old & new passports for people from every country in the world. Are you?

Presumably it can be done, but you are right. There is no reason to know for sure that Thai immigration can do it.

Particularly if you are called John Smith. But dates of birth should make it quite easy to match old and new passports and id.

Of course it can be done manually if they want to. It can even be done automatically with decent accuracy if they want to. But that is not what is interesting.

What is interesting is if it is done automatically at scale and is being utilized at this moment. I am yet to see anyone saying they are. I have had multiple tourist visas granted on clean passports (when the rules were, more than 2 in the records and you won't get it.) It doesn't make sense that the boarder immigration officers have access to a system where this can be done but the people issuing visas doesn't. So therefore I think it is bad when someone confidently says that a clean passport wont make a difference. But I am still curious if anyone had any experiences where they actually had this happen to them. Not what some keyboard jockey know it all thinks.

A fresh passport won't help.

All your previous visits are logged along with your picture.

Of course my old visits are logged but how is the new and old passports linked? By facial recognition? You get a new passport number every time.

I am not sure you are 100% correct here that they can automatically link old & new passports for people from every country in the world. Are you?

Well by the looks of it I think Mae Sai is the worse place of all at the moment so you should probably avoid that. I think a flight is probably the safest way to go at the moment.

When you try and do the extension on your tourist visa I would leave yourself with 4-5 days to spare before it expires if it is not granted and you need to leave the country.

And you should probably start planning a trip to see your folks and get a fresh passport in your home country while you are at it.

If you get a new blank passport will they have records of your old passports connected to the new one in their systems?

This is obviously super confusing and seem very inconsistent so I guess anyone's guess is as good as my own but maybe someone been in a similar situation that I will be in next week.

In my passport (Swedish) I have a double entry tourist visa for 2012/13 with extensions (done in Chiang Mai) and 2 extra border runs to Mai Sae for 14 days visa exemptions.

I also have a triple entry tourist visa for 2013/14 with extensions (done in Bkk) and same day border runs to Cambodia to activate the 2nd/3rd entries.

I have several tourist visas in older passports (would they have access to that information?) I work online and haven't worked a single day in Thailand and I don't have a Thai bank account and I just cash out with my overseas VISA when needed. So no paper evidence to show for none Thai based income.

I am leaving Bangkok by air at Suvarnabhumi Sunday next week and I am attending a funeral the day after arrival so delays would be disastrous.

What can I expect when I leave? Questioning and delays? Possibly being detained & delayed several days (lol really? seem absurd) and get blacklisted? Fines? A quick stamp, smile and a 'hope to see you again' greeting?

Obviously no one really knows for sure since it seems so inconsistent but what is your guess, anyone been in a similar situation recently?

Anything I can do to prepare for my exit to avoid problems?

Unrelated but still interesting question in my case> If I get a new blank passport in my home country and a new tourist visas would I be able to get back in? (I have a condo and a lot of possessions here)

Thanks

Is it possible to get a proof of residency on a visa exemption (the 15 days you get when passing a land border)?

I have a serviced apartment contract.

Just back from a border run using Redride private car that someone recommended above. Very good experience with new car & great driver. Left at 6.30 and back at 3pm and didn't do any sights on the way but that option was available if I had wanted it. I can definitely recommend this service. At 1600 baht it might not be for everyone but if you can pool 2-3 people together its a steal.

Any recommendations for English schools. Trying to find a good school for my gf

She is currently on good conversational level and beginner in read & write

Just after medium priced (not rock bottom & not top of the line corporate school) to learn General English in nice, relaxed & fun environment

(So not looking for schools with business & corporate profiles)

Thanks

I live inside the 'barricades' (Langsuan) and am pretty keen on leaving Bangkok til things settle down since i am prisoner in my own home at the moment

Any advice on the best way to make an escape form Langsuan would be appreciated.

Whats the best point of exit? Mode of transport. What roads are closed etc

Thanks

hilarious. especially on this site

amazing how many '**** i am angry, all Thais are idiots but i still want to live here' people there are in thailand

good 1...

Great thanks

Anyone done a visa run to Phnom Penh from Bangkok? Do you need a visa when arriving in Cambodia or can you get back without having to go through Cambodian immigration?

How likely is it to get asked for a ticket out of Thailand? 10%, 50/50, an educated guess will do...

Thanks

I am not sure what its proper name is but the kind of visa for 30 days stay (or visa exemption I think its called) that you get when arriving by air

Is there a limitation on how many times one can get that?

Thanks

Vientiane is the only source for two entry tourist visa in the area that I know of.

You think they will give me a new double entry tourist visa here considering I already have three in my passport?

What are my chances of getting a new double entry tourist visa?

I have Swedish passport, 3 double entry tourist visas in it, two issued in Sweden & one in Laos. The ones in from Sweden I spent a month there before going back.

I am going to Malaysia (regardless) when my current one expires. Kuala Lumpur or Penang for visa application? Which one is to prefer?

Or are they known for being difficult & I am better of going somewhere else? (in SE Asia)

Thanks

My fried has a diamond ring bought for around US 5,000 that she wants to sell in Bangkok.

Anyone have any advice on where to get the ring valued and find a potential buyer? Not really interested in any online ads so it would have to be a legit shop of some kind. Would probably have to visit at least two places to make sure the valuation & offer is fair.

I have no experience in this and no clue of how to go about this so any advice is appreciated

Thanks

6 min reply. Great.

Thanks a lot for great service.

I have been unable to find the answer to this question so I try a quick post and see if anyone knows.

I have double entry tourist visa giving me 90(60+30) + 90(60+30) days.

I am now a coupe of days from my first 90 days period and need to leave the country to activate my second period.

I know I have read somewhere (but can't remember where) that to do so I need to leave the country for minimum 24h and would therefor not be able to do a standard Cambodia over the day visa run.

My question is do anyone know if I need to be out of the country for 24 h or can I just make a standard over the day visa run?

Thanks

Lite beer, simple answer, because I am a lazy unorganized person who pay the prize for this in different ways. This time with a few thousand baht & possibly a day on a bus to Cambodia.

Who knows, maybe I learn something from this. Probably not...

Thanks for your replies guys.

Didnt realize it was past midnight so yes I have overstayed with one day.

Tropo, you are right I am referring to the entry stamp duration.

Went to the immigration office today and of course they are closed on the weekend so I will have to wait till Monday and pay the fine of 3 days overstay.

Lets see if they give me 30 days extension or punish me with just 7 days. In that case I will have to do a visa run to Cambodia to sort of the last month of my stay.

Will keep you posted on the result of overstaying tourist visa and the effect on extension days.

Thanks again

Hi

I have a 60 days double entry tourist visa that I got in Sydney that expired on the June 20th (today)

As I understand I should be able to extend this by 30 days by going to an immigration office, fill out a form and pay another 1900 baht.

However someone today told me that in Pattaya (Jomtien) they will only grant you 7 days extension. Does anyone know if this is true?

In that case I will need to a border run to Cambodia ASAP. True?

Thanks for any prompt replies as I will have to sort this out tomorrow.

Daniel