matador007

Hello Sir.

I was the same as you a few days ago.  METV with initial 60 days about to run out.

I went to the local immigration office, they said (initial greeting person with sanitizer, etc..) free automatic extension to the end of April as you know.

I didnt want to take any chances of overstay or waiting for May to also become free extension, so I said I will do extension anyway.  Worst case the IO could tell me the same thing.

So I filled out form and waited for my turn.  When I got there, to my suprise, they extended me starting May, so now I'm good until 28th May.

Of course I did pay the usual 1900.

Hopefully by then we got flights going and things a bit more normal.

So its up to you, if that works, or you want to wait for a possible free extension in May.

Good luck.

22 hours ago, eggers said:

Guess the choice is yours whether stay or go?? 

 

Happens all around the globe, people don't know how to handle debt, u either take a sympathetic approach & help her out or simply walk away & leave her w/ her problem...that's your choices as I see it!

I agree with this post.

Its all about the context of it.  Hopefully she can tell you the truth of it.

Its completely different if it was blown on doing cash advances (yes bloody crazy, but people do it!) then spending on misc. stuff.

Or was it used on something necessary or unfortunate accident, etc..

We need more people like this in Thailand, and the rest of the World.

1 hour ago, Baggy said:

One of the best and most consistent businesses in Thailand is to be coffin manufacturer/supplier.

Not sure on this, as most do the burning to ashes thing ?  So maybe a earn maker/supplier ?

30 minutes ago, Batty said:

Thanks mate.  Possibly a silly question - but what do you mean by 'AML/KYC'?

 

I feel like I am asking something painfully obvious with that question but cant for the life of me think what it might be ????

Hi Batty, you definitely want to know these as every site is doing it.

AML = Anti-Money Laundering

KYC = Know Your Client (Selfies, Passport, etc..)

Also if in range of BKK we might be able to do some IRL (In Real Life) exchanges for XRP/BTC/LTC, etc..

Take care.

15 hours ago, twig said:

Looks like bitkub has XRP/THB market:
https://www.bitkub.com/market/XRP

Hey could you PM me your BK referral code ?  I may sign up, so might as well make someone else some $.

Thanks.  I guess these guys are picking up where BX left off.

As posters said, looks like there are options for PEA.
 

Last check I did not see those same options for water bill.

@NCC1701A or anyone, what do you use for paying water bill ?  (HH/Prachuap area if it matters)

Its worth it in SE Asia with the sun.

I believe the best way is to size your system correctly, and not sell back to the grid.  Use it to offset your bill as much as possible.

You can have a professional do it without batteries, and just use/lose/make meter go in reverse-backwards.  If you go with batteries, I recommend new Lithium Ion ones (LiFEPO4).

If you make meter spin backwards, be careful to take down the # on your meter when solar installed.

Make sure you keep a positive number so PEA does not get involved.  So that could mean turning off your solar at times (easy with cut off switch) so you can keep a slight positive #, say 10-15 above what you started with at install date.  Then keep above # on each bill forward.

Many look at cost and return based on solely dollars for this.  There is another factor, when the grid goes out and your still fine watching TV and using a fan/AC.

It does not take many panels here to offset your bill, so great if you do it, will be rewarded.

14 hours ago, KhunFred said:

Existing on 500 USD a month and LIVING are two entirely different things. My fiancee has been living here on 300 dollars a month for quite some time. A previous girlfriend lived on 500 dollars a month. NOT much of a life. It CAN be done, but you sure as hell won't LIKE it. You simply could not live in America on that amount without government subsidies such as food stamps and Section 8 housing.

I agree with you both.  I have been watching 'JC' for a while, and I don't believe he is saying one should or should not live on ___ budget monthly.
I believe he is just putting information out there, a lot of sharing of prices of things in different parts of Thailand (and also good series on various Vietnam cities).

His videos cater in part to the American Pensioner, living that equivalent 300-500/mo. existance in America on their $1000 or so monthly pension.  If you sorta get what I mean.  So I believe he's showing those folks a way to get a better living out of said finances.
 

A lot of people struggling in America, but changing Countries and life not for everyone.

http://www.pensionrights.org/publications/statistic/income-pensions

Not sure how folks survive on 10-15k/year in the US.

Anyway, Happy Holidays and a great 2019 to everyone!

20 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is the same list of counties eligible for normal visa on arrival applications at an airport and at some border crossings.

From the announcement about free visas on arrival on immigration website.

 

I count 15 nations on dropdown on main website and application form.

I'm not seeing Bulgaria, or Romania on the dropdown.  So not sure whats up with the discrepency.

Edit: Ok I see https://www.evisathailand.com/21counters.php -- says soon.

23 hours ago, Kirsty83 said:

I'm in Hua Hin. Could I get to Laos by land and if so, could I do that visa in a day?

 

Do I just need the cancellation letter for the visa exempt?

Probably quicker/easier to fly out.  You can do a in/out with Air Asia on their new route to Kuala Lumpur (from Hua Hin).

Otherwise, go to BKK and fly wherever.

As Ubonjoe said, basically the answer is no.

The number of people that post this question and border hop, so amazing.

So you are willing to spend a month in another Country.  Guess how much that is in lodging and flights to/from.

Do what I do -- Go back to Canada and get a METV easily.  I fly back to Toronto, but you could go closer to Vancouver or take your pick where a Thai Consulate is (Calgary, etc.).

Here is a random return flight (from Kayak) to Vancouver and back.  Hotels may not be cheap, maybe you can do a AirBnb or Hostel if funds are an issue.  Of course you can optimize this with other flight searches, and shorten your span to Sun. to Wed. (Fly Sun, Submit Monday, visa next day or Tues. worst case.  Wed. fly out)

For a few days of your life and a $800 flight, you really want to do the SETV game ?

You can do $60-80 return flights to Cambodia and other nearby Countries as others mentioned.  You will need a visa there, approx. $40-50 plus hotels,etc..  Calculate that, etc.. and compare that to 2M+1Month extension's with in/out flights to Malaysia & Singapore where there are no visa fee's.

Good luck and safe travels.

I find that proof of onward ticket is usually asked at departing airport, by check-in staff.

I have had it asked of me just a few times.  Pointing out that I have a visa, can help.

Understand that check-in people are "just doing their job" so arguing is a waste.

You can do a web search for onward tickets/flights.

http://www.returnflights.net/

https://onward.flights/

These kind of things exist incase you get asked.

Good luck and safe travels.

11 hours ago, Thian said:

Call the King Monkul Technical University and let them build a robot...i have one here by the way.

 

 

So the job is cutting/collecting the pineapples from a field like this right? That seems easy for a robot.

 

 

Does a robot need a work permit ? 5555

Sorry but posts like this, wow, pretty incredible.  Because the answer is so easy.

Go back to Australia -- get a new passport, and then apply for another METV.

Come back and you will be good for a while.  Fly back, get another METV, rinse and repeat.
This is what I do (every 5 years when its new passport time) ; and its about 24h of travel to get to my home town and Consulate.

Australia a lot closer, should be no problem for this.

They (Gov't Authorities) obviously don't like us border/visa hopping for SETV's.

Wish you the best.

Hi there,

I would suggest to you, if your staying more than 60d to just get a proper visa.  And if you intend to repeat this within a year, you can reduce the number of border hops without a visa by getting the METV one (150 Euro at Rome).

The best route I found, that I would take, is either a train ride to Consulate in Turin or Milano.
(TrenItalia.it for options/dates)

Or I found you have direct flights from Nice to Rome. (EasyJet Return for ~US$100)  Take the evening flight, stay the night and head to the Embassy in the morning.  Should be able to do 1 day processing, so stay another night and fly out next day.

Requirements for METV are listed here:
http://www.thaiembassy.it/index.php/en/consular-services/visa-application

They say Bank Statement with more than 5500 Eur for METV, and 550 for SETV.

Good luck/Bon chance.

Hi,
 
Short details:
 
-from germany
-23 years old
-current passport has:
1 visa exempt entry
2x SETV from Vientianne
1x SETV from Bali
1x SETV from Penang (this one got the red stamp remark saying: "Remark: The holder of this passport travels to Thailand under a tourist visa several times which may result in the refusal of a visa in the future")
-There are also a couple of old SETVs from various countries in my old passport. (not sure if that matters)
 
First of all the most important thing, I dont work in thailand and have no intention to work here.
I just want to continue to travel around thailand because I love the country. 
Reason I dont get a elite visa is because the 5 year period is too long for me. I would like to stay here for a while but I dont want to commit to something that expensive when its possible that I just change my mind and want to travel further to other countries.
 
So what are my options for staying here longer ?
 
Im very grateful for your thoughts and help guys 
 
 
 

There are many places to live within Thailand. You did not say where you tried and for how long.

Apart from Bangkok, there is the North (Chiang Mai), North-East from Korat all the way to Laos border and everything in between.

Then everything between Chiang Mai and Phuket with countless coastal places. Such as Pranburi, Chumpon, etc..

Find out what kind of life you prefer, and try a few places that suit that style. As in, there are multiple Urban/Rural/Coastal communities.

So judging based on a single experience might be too early to tell whether the Country overall is a good place to live/fit for you.

So my advice is to try a few more areas that suit your style, and hope you find what your looking for. That goes for Thailand, or any other Country you choose.

All the best.

This is pretty straight forward.

METV. Go to your home country and apply.

As other posters indicated, you will have to leave after 60 days, or get a 30 day extension at a immigration office near you for the standard 1900 baht.

Then you will have to leave before that expires.

Good luck.

Friends don't let friends..overstay.

I thought the Immigration at Soi Suan Plu closed, and everything at huge Gov. Complex at Chang Wattana since years ago.

Does that old Suan Plu office still serve a purpose ?

(Sorry to throw thread post off, just didn't want to see anyone take a ride there for nothing.)

Hi,

I have experience in this. I do not want to violate any forum rules, but feel free to contact me for further guidance on this.

As KelinUT said, upon setup of bank account (at HSBC, but probably most any bank there) ; they will require you to make a stop there. For me it was just to shake Manager's hand, and provide some ID documents.

If you have American citizenship, you might think about another place. As due to the new FATCA laws, making it more difficult to use HK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Account_Tax_Compliance_Act

http://fatca.hsbc.com/en

Good luck.

Where is it ? is it nice to visit or only for visa ?

Only for visa(s). Its a bumpy dirt road at the moment after you cross the border.

Gravel would be a step forward at this point

Since Myanmar drives on the right (as a result of a dumb decision made in 1970) does one drive on the left all the way to the Burmese checkpoint, or start drifting to the right somewhere half way? I think due to the lack of traffic and the fact your vehicle is never "officially" entering Myanmar anyway all traffic should stick to the left, but that's just my opinion as I haven't been there. Anyway, I can't imagine there being more than like 10 vehicles traveling on the road between the two checkpoints everyday.

Yes, there are a few cones after the checkpoint. Where the minivan moves to right lane going into Myanmar, and the odd vehicles going across Thai border are oncoming in the left (lane).