RetroGTAndrew

On 9/12/2024 at 9:33 AM, MART said:

Thanks!
I did not know one could apply for a Thai driver's license and own a vehicle with an exemption stamp or a TV. Can one get a certificate of residence with a TV for example? I thought one needs to do a 90-day report for such certificates and TH-holders cannot stay longer than 90 days for each permission of stay.

Well, a year ago I tried at SamutPrakan DLT while on a TR60 visa and they require a residence certificate which immigration (went there in person) will only issue to 'Long Term' visa holders, so I was ultimately unsuccesful. I may try eMailing SamutPrakan immigration and ask them if they will issue a residence certificate against a DTV.......... If anyone has acquired a residence certificate from a local immigration office while on a DTV please chime in.

Andrew

I'll be interested to know if immigration will want to see the reason (medical/study/work etc.) each time you re-enter using this DTV. I know you have to show a valid reason for granting it on initial application but will they start quizzing you in a couple of years time to see if you still have for example ongoing medcal appointments?

Also will it count as a 'Long Term Visa' to satisfy a bank to open an account?

Andrew.

4 hours ago, BritScot said:

I got my first bank account in Thailand with a 30 day holiday visa and even got a triton pickup on finance doing 30 day visa runs (waiting for a work permit that never arrived). I've never had a problem opening a bank account in Thailand. 

I've heard this before, but I've asked at a few different banks (both in SmautPrakan and @ Seacon Square) with no success (while on either a 30 day exempt or on a TR60 visa) and they always say need a work permit or long term visa. Same requirements for a residence certificate from SamutPrakan immigration last year for a driving license.

I'm waiting to see if anyone on a Destination Thailand Visa succeeds in getting a Residence Certificate and a Thai drivers license or being able to open a bank account..... Basically is it considered to be a 'Long Term' visa?

Andrew

31 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Based on my personal experience of flying from LHR to BKK just over a month ago, you will definitely not need to stand on the train from the new to old terminals at BKK, provided that you have pre-booked wheelchair assistance, as strongly recommended by @RetroGTAndrew (I, too, have mobility issues which make it difficult for me to walk long distances at airports). In my case I was met with pre-booked wheelchair assistance immediately I had stepped off the plane, and the assistant wheeled me all the way to where I met my wife in the old terminal. I was not forced to stand on what was a crowded train from the new terminal. Hope that this sets your mind at rest on this particular issue.

 

As @Ojas said you won't have a problem either way <provided> you pre book 'special assistance'

23 hours ago, still kicking said:

Yes, my wife is dual (Thai, OZ) Where do you live in the UK no need to answer me on here .

Sent you a message...........

33 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Andrew, I am from OZ 

I am worried about the train connection from the old terminal by train to the new one. Yes, I know about booking a wheelchair, it is the train ride what bothers me in the past we stopped at the old terminal I could get a wheelchair after departing from the plane but now I need to take a train from the new terminal to the old one, as I said it is fast and I never get to sit having problems standing in a fast train and walking steps it makes it very hard but Thanks for your prompt reply. I guess you are from the UK.

Yep, we're from the UK (wife is dual Thai / UK) I think if you book 'Special Assistance' in advance of your flights they will meet you and organise transport irrespective of the arrival gate, might be a bit slow, but I'll stress again that you need to book in advance, preferably when booking your flights which we always do. The Thai assistance staff seem pretty organised with paper lists and handheld devices to confirm passenger names.

Andrew

Try it it on your next trip and report back how it went......

8 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Andrew, 

@still kicking Ooops, some of your text went missing!

I should have said 'Request 'Special Assistance' when you book your ticket or log on and add it after your eTicket is issued' whether you are taking your wheelchair or want an airport wheelchair, either way if booked in advance they will allocate staff to transport you at both ends, at LHR the buggies have hooks on the back to take your own wheelchair to the gate.

Andrew

1 hour ago, still kicking said:

Andrew,

I have the same problems cannot walk too far and normally just ask for a wheelchair at the airport but now we always land at the new terminal at swampy and need to take the train to the old terminal. The train is normally packed and fast, and nobody offers me a seat. So, it is not easy for me to travel to Thailand anymore. Albeit I still travel twice a year to see my Thai family and friends.

Hi, @still kicking

Don't leave it until you arrive at the airport to request a wheelchair. Request 'Special Assistance' when you book your ticket or log on and add it after your eTicket is issued. That way you will be allocated a wheelchair and a pusher at both departure and arrival. At LHR they use a wheelchair to take you to the buggy waiting area which then takes you to the gate where they have chairs to take you to the aircraft door, on arrival at BKK you will be met with a wheelchair and a staffer to take you through the 'Fast Track' immigration, baggage claim and out to the meeting point.

Certainly that's what we did until wifey got her own wheelchair, bought a fairly lightweight folding one in Thailand as she's quite compact!

Andrew

PS. Where do you fly in from?

Last few trips have been EVA Air Premium Economy, well maintained modern B777ER's, good choice of food, staff friendly and usually have at least one or two Thai speaking cabin crew on board.

Thai Airways OK but aircraft looking tired, food a bit boring.

Andrew

My wife uses a wheelchair due to not being able to walk long distances, so far travelling mostly with EVA Air and also Thai Airways has been very positive. I always add her wheelchair use to the booking and have yet to be disapointed. On check in just let them know you'll be dropping the wheelchai at the gate so they can tag it appropriately.

At LHR it's a bit of a shambles if you want to wait for a buggy ride, so I normally push her to the gate which helps keep me fit! Arrival is sometimes a little bit delayed while they retrieve the chair and at BKK there's always an airport staffer to do the pushing (and yes we tip him) LHR is self help but they do direct us to the buggy immigration gate.

Last time departing BKK they were a bit short of staff so rather than waiting for staff I just pushed her myself, same as at LHR, arriving in the UK is the same as arriving in Thailand.

Mostly one of the cabin crew will ask us to stay seated onboard until they've retrieved the wheelchair and it's ready, if people are stil deplaning they'll sometimes pause them for a minute so we can get to the chair or wait until evereyone is off.

Although ours does fold it's still quite awkward, never even considered the possibilty of taking it onboard, my wife is OK walking on board to her seat, airlines do have special narrow wheelchairs available for people who need assistance all the way to their seat.

Andrew

Check in staff (at LHR in my case) can obviously see that the return ticket date is more than 30 days later and have always asked to see my eVisa. Immigration at Suvarnabhumi have variously folded and stapled or tucked the printout in my passport and last time just handed it back, as far as I can see the actual visa is what they stamp in the passport and the eVisa is just like a pre-approval.

Andrew

I would love to know what makes these so 'illegal' as they're just a bike with a different fairing really.....

Especially when there are loads of completely unroadworthy 3 wheeled contraptions on the roads both crappy old sidecar outfits and the badly modified two wheeled cart on the front of an old motorbike.

Andrew

48 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

For divorce yes.

For death of Thai wife no.

Could you expand upon what happens if your Thai wife dies and you are on marriage extension? Is there a grace period to swap to a retirement extension? Or is there some way to maintain the marriage extension legacy?

Andrew

On 11/4/2023 at 9:16 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Very true.... I visit Japan a lot and the degree of social consideration and conformity there is exceptionally high. 

Haha! I often wonder what all the Japanese tourists (and senior company staff) make of (the lack of) Thai manners and the driving standards!

Andrew

On 11/5/2023 at 11:50 AM, StayinThailand2much said:

 

It doesn't work like that. I thought so too; left well before midnight, but still got an 'overstay' stamp in my passport, cause my flight was scheduled for 2 a.m., or so, the next morning...

Not like that for me, in December 2021 came in on a TR60, Thai Airways TG910 flight home to UK was on day 61 @ 00.15 hrs, cleared outbound immigration at about 21.00 hrs without any questions or unwelcome passport stamps (no questions inbound either)..........

7 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

The green line does not include Rangsit.  

 

The green line runs from Khu Kot to Morchit.

 

Khu Khot is on the border of Pathum Thani and BMA

 

The Rangsit statin is part of the RED LINE which is the 20 baht fare

 

The Green line actually runs from Khu Kot to Morchit Kheha in SamutPrakan as of a few years ago now.

11 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

Absolutely! Move to the left actually driving in the breakdown lane before your left hand turn.  

I was mainly refering to the urban environment, down the moobahn where there seems to be more careless riding, although you still need to be careful positioning to turn left.

11 hours ago, Henryford said:

 

Or worse, undertake on the left when i am signalling and about to turn left.

You need to get closer to the left hand margin so they can't sneak up the left side.....

On 11/4/2023 at 12:15 PM, skatewash said:

Exactly correct.  From the application search page itself: "แสดงข้อมูลวันที่เข้าพักย้อนหลัง 7 วันเท่านั้น / Data are shown within only 7 days of Check-in Date".

From https://tm30.immigration.go.th/TM30/Foreigner/TM30TH/FAQ.html

 

Question:  Found a problem, unable to search for information on notification of residence of foreigners dating back more than 7 days.

Answer. According to the policy of the Immigration Bureau, the use of the system can search for accommodation notification information dating back no more than 7 days. If conditions are specified for notification of accommodation going back more than 7 days, it cannot be searched. 

Used the new system to register my stay, (staying until 01/01/24) but due to a family bereavement we're off back to the UK this week (lhelpfully the tickets were fully flexible this time). Is there any need or ability to edit the departure date or re-register with the new departure date? We're probably not going to be back until later in January anyway.

TIA Andrew

On the subject of eVisa application to Royal THai Embassy London, have they simplified the web form by removing some questions? I'm sure that some of my previous applications you had to submit a head and shoulders photograph holding your passport bio page and also download, sign and scan a declaration?

Andrew, Confused of Oxford

14 hours ago, parafareno said:

you cant even compare it to basmati....fluffy basmati....vs sticked up thai jasmine rice....why the thailand just dont replace basmati with jasmin rice...?

Place rice in a seive and wash liberally with running water until the water run into a jug is clear, cook in a rice cooker with more or less water depending on if you prefer it wetter/softer or drier/harder.......

I've been coming to Thailand once or twice a year for >20 years and driving here for the last 15 or so years, so out of interest this year I thought I'd make a concerted effort to try and get a Thai driving licence to save keep getting international driving permits.

I tried at BangPu (SamutPrakan) land trasnsport office when we went to renew the car tax earlier this month, and was ushered in for a chat with the boss who presented me with a printed slip in Thai & English detailing the requirements for a licence.

1: Signed copies of passport bio and latest entry/visa pages. Easy enough to do.

2: Certificate of address from immigration.

Went to immigration, however they were adamant that they can only issue residence certificate if you're on a long term visa and not my TR60 visa (obvious really as a tourist isn't a resident). I did an online TM30 on arrival but that didn't count.

3: Medical certificate. Should be straightforward enough, I still have a pulse!

Evidence of completing 1 hour DLT online eLearning. Easy enough if you can stay awake through some pretty banal rubbish and answer some easy questions.

Went back to DLT and asked the boss man 'if there was any other way' and his only suggestion was to get a residence certificate from the UK embassy, but on their website it specifically mentions that they only do them for long term visas.

So unless anybody has any suggestions for 'shortcuts' it looks like I've drawn a blank until I move here

Andrew