MarkyM3

Quick mention of my recent experience... I have a METV and have been unexpectedly scrutinised on both arrivals into Thailand. 1st arrival beginning of January, then I went back to the UK for a week end of February and returned beginning of this month. Was in fast track both times having arrived on business class flight. Both times too several minutes to process. First time, was asked if I had someone here and why I spend so much time here (was here just over 2 months last year, and have been coming for maybe that duration each year for last 20 years, never questioned once about it). The most recent arrival, supervisor called over to check my passport (which was only renewed in December 2024). I asked if there was an issue and they said no. But everyone else in my line had been quickly processed. Was asked when I'm returning to the UK (which is in May). Last and previous years, I attracted no scrutiny. I'd bought the METV to attract less of it given the conflicting reports about limiting visa exempt entries. But I'm not sure if it's of any help, if anything it seems to raise more suspicion with IOs. Who knows. Would also report the queues at BKK on arrivals and departures were horrendous, thankfully I was on fast track. Also encountered very rude female IO on departure from BKK last month, looked totally p*ssed off, refusing to process any farang and jabbing finger for us to use auto gates - they don't work my passport. Unprofessional but what can you do, I went to another line...

Thank you! Yes, was aware of the ability to stretch the METV to 9 months but I still work in the UK for the time being so won't be doing that this time. If I'm spending that much time in Thailand in future (which may be possible as I intend to early retire in the next year or two) then I'll go down the retirement visa route for sure.

OP here. I've received approval of the METV e-visa this afternoon from the Royal Thai Embassy in London. Was sent an auto-email with visa enclosed as a PDF. So, just under a week between submitting the application and approval. Wasn't asked to submit further documents once I'd filed the application.

Update - given the lack of other inputs and current uncertainty, I've gone ahead and applied for a METV from the Thai Embassy in London, cost £150. I'm pretty sure I don't fit the profile of a visa exempt abuser and have a clean long-term immigration history but I can't afford any risk of being refused entry with all my stuff sitting in an expensive apartment rental in BKK. The visa application process is a bit time consuming but not onerous and the online system works pretty well. Can save a partially completed application. I will update here on whether I'm successful with that and what the turnaround time was.

Dr Jack - I am entering Bangkok on 31st January and again on 3rd March. So in total 3 months, split by a one week return to the UK. That's already 2 visa on arrivals without accounting for the 1-3 side trips. I know there is no official rule and that immigration is never consistent but I'm canvassing opinion on whether there's a chance I can expect to be pulled up here given I can't afford to be refused entry to Thailand during this period with 3 suitcases of possessions in a Bangkok apartment. I would appreciate more comprehensive feedback from others regards questions in my OP because applying for an METV is probably not straightforward even though finances are not an issue here.

Hi, Apologies if this topic has been covered recently. I am arriving in Bangkok from London on 1st February and will be in the country until 24th February, when I have to return to the UK for one week for work commitments. I am then returning to Bangkok on 3rd March and won't return to the UK until 4th May. These flights are already booked via EVA Air business class. During the 3 month period, I will be renting an apartment in Bangkok to use as my base (rental agreement already made) but I plan to take 1-3 side trips outside of Thailand during the March-May time, each with a return to BKK in between. I did something similar during the same period last year and had no issue with visa exempt arrivals at BKK or DMK. However, I've recently seen quotes stating that only 2 visa exempt arrivals are going to be allowed via air or land in any one year period going forward (I assume Jan-Dec of each year), I'm therefore concerned I'm going to get pulled up here and given I'll have a rented apartment with all my luggage in it, I cannot afford to be refused entry. Should I apply for a METV from the London embassy or is there an easier solution e.g. paid for assured entry via an agent? I've never had to go down this route in the past, just used SETVs from that embassy previously when the visa exempt was set at 30 days or been fine with visa exempt entry. I'm age 54 at present. If I do need to go for METV, how long roughly does that take to obtain and is it done all online or is attendance at London embassy needed? Thanks in advance!

Yeah...only EVA and Thai have direct flights from Heathrow to BKK. Lots of one stop options but I prefer to fly direct. EVA flights are always full ime. British Airways fly direct from London Gatwick but I wouldn't use them long haul. Mediocre airline living off past glories. Think someone else is starting up a low cost direct to BKK from LGW as well.

From a UK perspective... EVA business class experience is preferable to Qatar ime, save for the bar on the Qatar A380 and the fact EVA still use old 777-300ER's (thankfully being replaced by A350 in next few years). Much nicer food and drink offerings on EVA. No way is it a 3* airline. Also, Qatar's customer service left plenty to be desired when I tried to get my money back for Q-suite reservation which was null and void after they changed the aircraft type to 777-300ER, as reported they have a habit of doing earlier in the thread. Nicest seat in business I tried is Gulf Air, more space and privacy compared to other 2. I would use them again but the connections weren't great anymore from UK to BKK and food/service was pretty average. Also, semi-chaotic experience in Bahrain though they have an OK lounge there.

As ChaiyaTH said, you post regularly on your circumstances....recall you live in a gated community around Chiang Mai and cook basic meals at home and don't do much of what tourists would do. So it's really apples and oranges comparison to the topic at hand...which is tourism. More relevant to a long-term retiree discussion. Anyways, I doubt supermarket prices are much different outside Bangkok. I travel between UK and Bangkok and have a pretty good idea of what the cost differentials are for the stuff I buy and what's available. I don't doubt heating, car and util costs are cheaper than Europe but again, it's not related to tourism. Accommodation, including hotels and apartments, is cheaper for sure than UK and other developed countries but so it should be - the average wage in the developed countries far higher than Thailand. As far as tourist costs go and where they stay, it isn't that cheap now vs their local competitors. And places like Phuket, Samui and Pattaya are losing/lost their allure with the over-development and clamour for more tourist numbers

It was in the context of tourist numbers. Tourists usually have to return do they not......?

£500/$500 Heathrow to BKK?! I think not.... I booked a BKK-LHR--BKK flight yesterday for midweek departure late February, return midweek early March and EVA Air economy direct was £900, business which I booked cost £2740. The existing LHR-BKK-LHR I'd I already had booked (Jan-May) were similar priced, just a tad cheaper. When I looked on Skyscanner at those with connections/long layovers...nothing at that priced. £650 is the cheapest. No-one has offered return flight for £500 in economy for a long time that I know of. As for tourist numbers, Thailand is not that cheap now and hasn't been for a while. Yes, if you live away from Bangkok or tourist areas and live a quiet life. My grocery and toiletries bill from is more reasonable in the UK than Big C or Foodland and the choice and quality of produce is far better. Vietnam is cheaper (for now) but I found I still prefer the Thai vibe, despite the gripes. I'm glad numbers are dropping though, they have become too high and led to complacency, overcrowding etc.

Video on X appears to show the left engine fell off during take off roll. Plane barely got off the ground but presumably past decision speed to abort 😞

Thailand's stock market has stagnated for a decade or more, not a good sign of economic health. Also, the population is loaded with debt. Watched a very interesting Channel News Asia (Singapore) documentary exploring this. Basically many middle class Thais have little idea on how to plan financially and the whole "face" situation is exacerbated in terms of "keeping up with Joneses". It wasn't biased against Thailand...most participants were Thai and lots of comments on YouTube from Thai viewers said it was accurate. As far as tourism goes, Thailand is no longer a cheap destination unless you live like a Thai. I've noticed quite a lot of my food and groceries are cheaper in the UK, for example, and the average wage in UK is far higher than Thailand. Vietnam is much cheaper, though I still definitely prefer the Thai vibe. Places like Samui have been screwed over by excessive tourism. Nothing much romantic about them now. It's a mystery to me why the currency remains so strong...

Waiting for the Go Fund Me to start if not done already to pay that $180k USD. She'd basically gone off the rails if the media reports of her whereabouts in the run-in to this event are to be believed. Seem to recall dad lives in Vietnam.

I keep hearing this for years. Every time I fly to Thailand with EVA (which I do several times a year over the last 20 years), the flights are full up, and there's plenty of UK passengers in all cabin classes. And just flown to Europe twice this summer from UK - ditto. For people who can't pay for basic goods that's a surprise..... And yeah, I split my time between UK and Thailand, and travel to other countries too, so I do see what's going on there in person, not just what I read in the media. As for you...I see you posting stuff regularly on the Daily Mail comments. Recently I recall you said no-one from the UK should be allowed overseas in a response to a story about rowdy behaviour on planes (which I agree is obnoxious, yet your comments slag everyone off from the UK). Hard to take you seriously when you post garbage like that tbh.... Yes, the UK govt is broke due to various reasons (but you could apply that to most Western govts), there are currently lots of social issues around immigration etc and the govt is (rightly) far from popular. But, there's plenty of money in the UK still....average earnings rose 4.8% last year and higher amounts in previous years. Unemployment is lower than most other European countries. Real wages are down compared to 20 years ago but people are hardly queueing in the cold outside food banks 😄. You need to take your blinkers off.

The whole vape ban is a farce, all indications appear they are far less harmful than smoking tobacco yet Thailand bans them outright and the only stuff available is black market vapes from China. Seems the tobacco monopoly and govt in Thailand are quite cosy and happy for that situation to continue.... If the govt is truly worried about kids getting onto them, regulate their sale strictly to over 21s and from restricted outlets. And increase the tax on tobacco to discourage cigarette use (which we know won't happen).

Why are you actually commenting on this thread? I've seen you rubbish the UK ad nauseam on this forum over a long period of time to the point where you're a walking cliche. Aren't you an Aussie? Seems odd you'd be here to stick up for Keir, though I seem to see you posting pro-Islam sympathies in the past so who knows who you really are. FYI, Keir has got a whopping -44% net approval rating currently in the UK. That's how well thought of he is. The worst start in history for a UK PM 😄

Highest tax burden since 1945, flatlining economy thanks to employer NI rises and a bloated welfare state that even Keir wanted to trim down but failed totally on due to the backbench revolt. Yep, you sound like an ideal candidate for Jeremy Corbyn's latest venture 😄

I'll take over "woke" over "gammons", at least it actually has some level of meaning to people, as cliched as it may be. I'll also add that the overuse of "super" is pretty lame as well. Crept into everyday language usage like a virus 😄

Says you sitting in splendid isolation. As for the phrase "gammons", possibly the laziest slur around. No, they're just people who care about their country and the ruination of it. Unlike youself who finds it hilarious. WAC.

"You are not ready post" - what does that mean? I'm out, you don't listen. Read up on what Mutually Assured Destruction is.

Politely - you don't understand the concept of MAD. Mutual is the key word - both sides must have the equal capability to destroy each other and hence won't do it for that reason. If only one person has the ability, it isn't MAD.

Think if you look at world events like Cuban missile crisis you'll find that that's complete tripe. It's a power play. Each side knows they have the capability to obliterate each other, even if one gets a first strike in. And even if that happens, the radiation cloud and nuclear winter will get them anyway. Unfortunately pandoras box was opened and MAD and non-proliferation is the best way to deal with it. Nuclear submarines are supposed to unload if they've received no orders for a pre-determined period (though I believe UK sub commanders are allowed to make their own choice).

I remember when the-then moderate Medvedev was featured in the hi-fi press for his ultra high end vinyl system and huge record collection. Presented Deep Purple with some kind of medal when he was PM iirc, having been a huge fan of them and other Western rock bands when growing up in Soviet era. DP handed those medals back some time back, not good optics being associated with this fruitcake 😄

Been parked there for ages along with various other aircraft. The A340s took forever and a day to shift, not sure if they have all gone yet. Many airlines returned their A380s to service post-C19. Far better aircraft to fly in long distance than the crappy 777-300 which can't fly high enough and is noisy. Singapore Airlines making good use of theirs. 4 engine jet economics aren't as favourable but they have other positives so not sure why they don't work for TG, plus they are hardly renowned for tight cost control in any case 😄 TG could have looked at selling to others like Emirates, who are still heavy users and lobbied for an A380neo. Perhaps they have been parked so long they are only good for parts now, so waiting for that write-down. Probably should have gone to the desert rather than sitting in the BKK pollution for years on end.