BuckBee

21 minutes ago, direction BANGKOK said:

Cant u just buy a refundable flight home, and then get it refunded? i have never done this but seems it would work. i suppose you could get the flight to anywhere too, just whatever was the cheapest flight out of the country.

Most refundable flights have a admin charge that greater than £28-£30 of cheapest flight to malaysia.

exception is usa which has legal clause of 24hr refunds on flight bookings .

You will need an onward ticket as pretty much all airline check in counters will ask for it these days if commencing trip with no issued visa .

Easy enough buy an onward flight to malaysia for like £30 or simply get setv from embassy

Do take into account from next month new online visa system is in operation so no visa by mail and will require whatever evidence asked for during online visa procedure (bank funds proof probably) ... visa price also going up next month and if you not close to an embassy or consulate a disposable ticket and visa exempt 30 day entry suddenly quite cheap easy way start a vacation stay in Thailand .

3 hours ago, PattayaKevin said:

I will double check when I pick my Visa up tomorrow whether it's family or individual.

List all the docs you needed/submitted and grab a pcture of any notice if got one up as interesting see what exact up to date requirements are ...

1 hour ago, Lovethailandelite said:

The concept of the system is actually quite clever. If you watch the tutorial, you can apply through the portal anywhere in the world, get the approval for the visa to be issued and then choose a mission, anywhere in the world to collect the visa. UK passport holders will no longer need to be actually in London to apply through the portal. The only proviso on collecting the visa, will be determined by the Embassy/consulate where you wish to collect the visa being switched over too the system. The idea is to have all Thai embassy's and consulates worldwide switched over within 2 years. That isn't hard to do. It's simply software installed on a local terminal and an Internet connection. Once the switch starts, and it already has with China, it will be a gradual changeover as the system is proved. The UK and France switch over in April and then I think it will be swiftly followed by other country's through 2019. IMO, they will be followed by Vientiane and KL as they have recently switched to a an appointment system anyway. 
For instance, you are in London but will be travelling to KL before visiting Thailand. You apply for the visa, get the approval but rather than going to London, you choose to collect the visa in KL while you are there before travelling too Thailand.
Of course though, due to digital fraud, there is always liable to be a check on your hard copy's of documents before you actually get the visa put in your passport.
The system is able to handle the majority of visa types, not only tourist visas.

Yes could be a benefit to some but for basic visa such as setv the postal service in home country was also highly liked and efficient for all parties .

Ideally for basic visas and applicants passing online, issue at point of entry is most efficient for all parties plus then you can truly get your visa anywhere in world regardless of whether have thai consulate or embassy at that location .

I too can see pretty rapid switch over for most regional consulates for non regional passport holders as system pretty pointless cost/effort unless do .

Only thing that delay it is hassle and cost as thais don't like technical hassle and don't like loosing/spending money .

2 hours ago, Lovethailandelite said:

Lets try one more time....It is NOT an appointment system.

And it not quite a full e-visa either with current setup ...

I quite understand the concept and big change of online system handling application acceptance, but It ends up AN appointment for UK if your visa is excepted by the system and appointment purely for visual checking of any supporting docs and putting sticker or stamp in your travel doc which realistically could be done much same as already is via post but will unlikely done that way (without consulates/embassy requesting it and getting it approved) which will be unfortunate for some who had convenience and sensible cost of postal service .

Most other eVisa systems have setup of eVisa entry points where you get stamp or sticker at point of entry and very practical and efficient for all parties .

The thai way unfortunately will be a ballahe and expense for anyone involved lol ...

I personally don't see post service having intention of implementation, can only see it coming back for perhaps simple visas if appointments become too much of a burden to embassy and they got any powers to control ways they implement the actual issue.

^

it not really good news in any way when look at the full picture .

What should of been simpler VOA and SETV is going be more money and more running about pending on country you from and what current services you had ...

Only thais could add what is a simpler system yet actually make it more work and charge more too ????

Going be fun for London consulate if indeed have do visit appointment for every applicant  lol ... one would hope do keep a post in option of passport but looking unlikely from poor details released so far .

and the visa fees going up too ...

12 hours ago, bananafish said:

Any further details on that? I thought from April 1st I was going to be able to get a visa by applying online and picking up on arrival, like when entering Vietnam, so that isn't the case? 

unfortunately not, that would of been smart thing do for certain criteria but they call it evisa when in reality for likes of setv it nothing more than online appointment booking for the embassy .

https://thaievisa.go.th/Home/

typically thai IT ,  a 404 error ????

does indeed look like a downgrade on the mail in service and be a ballache doing appointments for all who want a visa .

Why they couldn't do setv evisa like cambodia been doing for years is beyond me .

^

The 2 VE a year rule made some difference but still plenty visa run vans running over boarders and most using setv hence why joe average having extended vacations gets some extra hassle.

I been interviewed at swampy, was let straight in as soon as saw money and saw my work card for singapore,

They obsessed with westerners working yet make no effort pull the crime syndicates who running boiler rooms vast amount work in . Big Joke pulls couple guys doing fake stamps, hell anyone trying could pull couple thousand in a few months .

7 hours ago, kd2000 said:

Well, I have arrived at SR few hours ago and booked a flight to Bangkok already. 

 

I'm now seeing posts suggesting that flying in is not the best option. 

 

Is there any reports of refusing entry at Suvarnabumi?

 

I don't have any 30 day stamps in my passport yet.  Only stamps related to 2 years ED visa. 

 

I was able to withdraw 500 US at the airport from an ATM. 

 

Should I book a hotel? 

 

Any further suggestions? 

 

quite a few reports of hassles at swampy and DM airports from those with lot of recent stay history and visa exempt entry .

It pot luck but visa exempt and poor history increases chances of being questioned .

Be prepared and be calm/polite .

have money and perhaps hotel booking, assume you got an onward flight ticket .

You may slip through like butter but can not be assumed these days . Lowest hassle seems be boarders but not Cambo, poipet being the major one avoid .

12 hours ago, LucysDad said:

 

 

Second worst border after Poipet.

 

I would go a tad further to Chong sa Ngam.

I used it twice no issues, far different than poipet but indeed not the best if truly want lowest risk options .

I would do a taxi to chong chom, has a great market on the boarder and good old style immigration practice .

Wouldn't cost too much and be entertaining ...

I wouldn't fly in as has potential for further immigration hassle due to your circumstances ...

His intentions of use of the tourist visa seems more than acceptable and he got funds support it. trouble is DM and Swampy both got bad technique at weeding out the bad from good guys and just do it the easy way much like big joke and latest retirement visa changes .

I been on leisure holidays for 6 months to a year plus quite a few times . Most of the illegally working guys won't be flying as they do it quick and cheap as most close to broke and pretty easy spot visually and by passport routine.

Amazes me how much hassle people getting at these 2 airports but go to changwattana and they happy swap some money for extensions 2 or 3 times no questions or much proof asked (would be good time check funds and bookings but they don't) ...

OP's use seems fair enough, he be better getting another tourist via land if needs it and using medical extension perhaps .

make sure dollars perfect, they not that fussy on photo, I used any junky ones I had .

Seems a mess to me and that before all the offices interpreting the rules differently etc, wouldn't it been wiser/easier to of maintained the law and arrested/prosecuted agents and officers breaking policy for profit !! supose Big Joker thought be easier make farang fix issue and just scribble out new retirement policy ! Guy certainly deserves his name but not salary or credibility ????‍♂️

So a first time retirement guy going need bum around on other visas for a year to build up 12months of monthly payment proof !

If deposit 800K in one go, how long that need sit before applying ? 2 months I assume and full 800K got still remain 3 months after application ????

Monthly income seems a complete hassle and can many having issues due to weak foreign currencies and bahts growth ... For those with 800K to spare it still pretty easy and best way really .

Think a lot who married and used retirement will be swapping to marriage and many immigration offices won't like that as more paperwork lol .

Big Joke indeed !

55 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

that's illegal and soon the gov will be cracking down on this

What bit like they did with taxi mafia and over charging for lottery tickets ?

The way things going they won't need crack down on immigrants as they be leaving of own free wil when next protests or worse kicks off .

OP would be indeed best getting retirement and multi re-entry permit, far simpler and cheaper .

I think OP also need review his lawyer/immigration connection as they given him awful advise and fact he in PP which one of worst for repeat tourists was rather silly .

You could get new passport and educate yourself on better locations for set's but you would be way way smarter going retirement route .

Should be

this is last ones I used (application and visa on arrival)

No need print both sides of consulate application form, I never have .

Lao visa on arrival form.pdf

Savannakhet Thai Consulate visa form.pdf

^

lol

you looking good .

I been across most borders and savannakhet one of most relaxing as easy border cross and consulate plus logistics pretty simple and can work perfect transition from one bus to the next.

Not much of a bonus travel spot but if want make more location interesting trip then Yangon Myanmar can be good choice .

It fine for a few days, plenty do if make effort . seems most penny pinching savannakhet should make you smile as about cheap as can get for a no hassle easy logistics visa run . I always liked trips I made , poipet a proper place of misery, seen groups wait out 3 days in that slum for a setv via jack golf/BB at about 7K cost, at that time could of gone savannakhet diy effort and same day return for half that and had some fun .

yeh poipet best avoided for anyone with repeat setv or visa exempt history . Seen a lot of people turned away at that border, tough tactics and not much opportunity for debate of your actual circumstances/evidence etc .

You got bus minivan or taxi car/bike from chatuchak, bus cheapest and not that slow, taxi about 100/120 baht .

Don't take that long if schedule your times so not catching work traffic .

^

That good result but not a daily repeatable occurrence ...