Mattd

Of course I am not suggesting such, don't really see why you would insinuate that even!

However, if a person chooses to work in a place other than Thailand and then spend time here in between these work assignments, then what is so wrong with that?

I'd imagine that their contribution to Thailand is not insignificant, all of the purchases made attract 7% VAT, accommodation, food, supporting families etc. etc. 

Or maybe Thailand should stop any foreigners coming, without disparaging those retired here, then what more are they contributing in that sense?

Fact is that these type of people are not in Thailand as tourists in the pure sense of the word, but they are, without any doubt at all, contributing to the Thai Economy and for the large part abiding by Thai law.

I've lived in Thailand for nearly 28 years (so more than half of my life), the first 13 of those was in a similar situation, during that time, had a ball in my younger days, then got married, had children, property purchased and so on, the last 15 have been spent working here, paying income tax, social security and so on, to be frank, I don't see that there is much difference between the two, other than I don't have to leave, sure the seemingly (to me!!) vast amount of income tax that I've paid over the years has contributed to the economy, though with really no benefit to me other than being here.

As a footnote, the other big advantage for the Thai Economy is that the money being spent by these guys has been earned overseas, so it is 'free money' for the economy, which of course, is why tourism is so important to most countries.

1 minute ago, muzmurray said:

 

There is, and you already mentioned it, the Elite scheme. The cost would be a drop in the ocean to most of the O&G guys.

Only if their long term plans include staying in Thailand for at least 5 years, otherwise not and a lot of these O & G guys do not necessarily have employment right now and no immediate prospects of one, so the 500,000 THB might not be such a drop in the ocean under the current situation, especially when they don't know where the next employment might be.

To my mind, the Elite programme is a perfect solution for a wealthy under 50 year old that isn't working, so therefore can get value out of it.

A friend of a friend had issues entering back at Suvarnabhumi airport the other day, basically he was pulled aside and was told this was because he was on his 6th visa exemption entry and had accumulated 180 + days in Thailand within one year (I'm assuming it is one year from the first entry, not a calendar year) then there is a flag that comes up on the system.

They did let him in, but he was told that next time he MUST get a visa, otherwise he will be refused entry.

Definitely seems to be a trend with all the other reports.

Can't say that I blame immigration, it isn't normal tourist behaviour to do this and it would raise suspicion as to why, the problem is that if somebody is under 50 and not married to a Thai or working here, then apart from getting tourist visas or the joining the Elite programme, then the legal options to stay in Thailand are nil, this particular guy is just waiting out for a new job in the Middle East and doesn't want to go back to UK, especially now!

Must be a lot of folks in this situation right now, with the downturn in the O & G industry, a lot still have the means to stay here, don't work, contribute to the economy etc.

Shame that there can't be some sort of visa for these folks, so that it becomes a win win situation.

8 hours ago, thenewgoo said:

No.  the TM30 was another issue - this was  all about the 90 day reporting.

I am certain it must be misguided advice, I always count the 90 days from the day I enter the country again, as do most.

Below from the immigration website on the subject, seems clear to me, as if you left the country prior to being there for 90 continuous days, then there would be no need for a report.

Note

The notification of staying in the Kingdom over 90 days is in no way equivalent to a visa extension.

If a foreigner staying in the kingdom over 90 days without notifying the Immigration Bureau or notifying the Immigration Bureau later than the set period, a fine of 2,000.- Baht will be collected. If a foreigner who did not make the notification of staying over 90 days is arrested, he will be fined 4,000.- Baht.

If a foreigner leaves the country and re-enters, the day count starts at 1 in every case.

9 minutes ago, sam84320 said:

Why 60 days? A visa based on marriage is not supposed to be extended 1 year ??

Because the OP clearly stated that he does not have a visa, he entered on a visa exemption, i.e. 30 days and wants to extend that by a further 60 days, which he can do as he is married to a Thai citizen.

4 hours ago, monkey4u said:

To stop truck overloading, start with pick ups

They were never designed to carry 5 tonnes plus

But the fools who replace the rear springs with heavy sets think its all good

Look mum I can make my truck lift the front wheels every time I try to stop 

So true, the fools that do this conveniently forget that the wheel studs and brakes etc. were designed for the original payload of the truck (the same applies to the LGV / HGV as well) then stand around in amazement when the studs or similar break off at some point, seen this so many times and will keep on seeing it, no point in 'upgrading' the rear springs really!

14 hours ago, surat04 said:

Tesco have them on their website

Wonder where they originate from?

7 hours ago, balo said:

I wonder when they put up that sign ? It was not there 2 months ago . 

A sign stating this has been there since the day the DLT office moved from Sukhumvit road in Banglamung!

It is quite normal etiquette to go to any Government office building in long trousers etc. wouldn't exactly hurt to comply 

For the photo part, they do actually have shirts that they let folks wear for the photo.

On 23/10/2016 at 10:09 AM, mettech said:

I don't know what is going on with these  airline these days they run the show like they would be the immigration themself.

The airlines are strict on this purely because in the event that a passenger is denied entry into a country due to the lack of a return ticket (or for some other reason that the airline should have checked, i.e. no visa etc.), then the airline is responsible to repatriate the passenger and they get a sizeable fine as well. 

Some useful info here http://foreignresearcher.nrct.go.th/index.php?lang=en&mod=forms&op=regulations_en

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=alienstay

Basically all foreigners apart from those with permanent residence.

works well.

No confusion regarding extension of stay and visas whatsoever, been doing them for 28 odd years.

But it is why it is a good point for debate, as those that are in this situation should know which is the correct information to enter on to the TM6 if arriving back in to Thailand on a re-entry permit in these instances.

Personally I'd use the re-entry permit number, as this would be the last number issued to me against the visa (actually, I suspect that all re-entry permits do relate back to the last visa via the extension to stay), I may well be wrong in this assumption though, it has been a long time since I had an actual visa and not an extension of stay / re-entry permit.

My reasoning would be that this is the latest number that would (should) have been entered in to the immigration computer software and the original visa, by definition, was used upon my first entry and therefore null and void for another entry (nothing to do with the validity of the stay), the new entry is only allowable due to the re-entry permit, the end result would more than likely be the same, as the re-entry permit and stamp upon entry would only be valid to the expiry date of the original permission to stay related to the visa.

It could of course be possible that the number of the re-entry permit in this case would be the same as the original visa number?

As an addition, more reasoning, surely if they did put the original visa number as opposed to the re-entry permit number, then this could well confuse the issue when trying to re-enter, as the IO would see that the visa was stamped used and may not necessarily see the re-entry permit, then stamp in for 30 days visa exempt only (if an applicable passport holder)?

Which is pretty much what the OP was advised.

5 hours ago, muzmurray said:

 

People with valid visas can and do buy re-entry permits, to suggest otherwise is misleading.

Would have thought that if somebody needed a re-entry permit, then their visa is no longer valid, i.e. it would have to be a SE visa and therefore used upon the first entry?

If ME, then there would be no need for a re-entry permit.

22 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Passion Delivery have 100 whole oven roasted turkeys going for 690 baht/kilo.

Note that these are Aussie and precooked.

Unless you are a PR then you cannot get on the blue TB period, only choice would be to try for the yellow one.

9 minutes ago, ianh68 said:

Got it: one tabien ban one name, I thought each book referred to everyone in the household.

 

Thanks.

The one blue Tabien Bahn could have all of the Thai citizens and any permanent resident foreigners living at the address in it, you as a foreigner, so long as you meet the criteria, can have your very own yellow Tabien Bahn based on your wife's blue one.

It is not one per person!

Whenever I've taken my dual citizenship children out of Thailand, then they depart Thailand on their Thai passports, enter UK on their British passports and the reversal upon return, immigration in Thailand has never questioned this, most others I know do exactly the same.

Not sure about the visa question, probably best to call the US Embassy and seek their advice.

Digbeth, perfect thanks, so a copy of my passport only? I do have a copy of the blue book in the car anyway, just in case.

Will give it a go this afternoon, just hope the Rama 4 entrance towards Don Muang office sells them!

Digbeth, thanks for the post, very informative.

Regarding the Easypass, can you recall what you had to provide to get one? I travel between BKK and Pattaya every weekend and do need to get one or the other now that they are unified, for me, Easypass being the easiest to obtain as can get from the offices at the toll gates.

I've researched the documents required, however, this seems to differ whatever you read!

Cheers!

Anybody actually tried to use the Easypass to go through any of the Mpass toll gates on 7 yet? (or the other way)

Want to get the Easypass for use on both on Friday, just would like confirmation the system works as planned though!!

1 minute ago, Don Mega said:

If it has BKK  plates it is registered in BKK.

Negative, as just stated it is 100%  registered to a Company address in Chonburi, this was the address that was on my work permit at the time of purchase.

The car was purchased on finance, however, the book was registered in my name from day one, complete with the Chonburi address, the book is still with the finance company, as they are going to get it changed to the other address, will double check the copy in the car.

I do know that the speeding fine came directly to that company address from the police and not via the finance, so it is on a computer somewhere!

It maybe that because it was on Finance that it was possible at that time to use a Chonburi address, this I'm not sure of.

There are a lot of Chonburi dealers that do sell cars with Bangkok plates, I know several of them and these are registered to a Chonburi address, so it must be possible / legal to do, just not sure how right now, tried asking the owners and they all don't know either, other than the dealers did it for them!

Correct, it has Bangkok plates with a Chonburi address, albeit registered by the finance company at the time.

Boca, if you mean the one for both Bangkok and Pattaya at the Shell petrol station on 36, then this is now open again, as I used it yesterday to go to Bangkok.

It was closed to resurface the concrete on the bit as it swings right towards 7 and Bangkok, not really sure why they closed the junction at 36 for the Pattaya bound traffic, as the repairs are after this, probably coz it was easier to block all rather than have signs that most would ignore!