mockingbird

OP, if immigration stop honouring the multitude of under the table visas they've happily taken money for down through the years ( ed, volunteer or retirement), then people will simply stop purchasing them, and that will end that lucrative slush fund. That's the last thing they want. There's been zero reports here of anybody having issues leaving or entering Thailand after obtaining a volunteer visa, so all you've got is a second hand rumour passed on to you by someone with no affiliation to immigration.

Hate to burst your bubble there chief, but the language school visa mill is alive and well.

You've a real bee in your bonnet as to how Thai immigration police fund their operations. Why don't you send them an email, and tell them you'll expose their shoddy practices unless they stop. Include your real name and passport number, so they know you are serious.

OP,. It's an absolute renters market right now. They may advertise 12 months but many will accept 6. Also, under no circumstances pay 2 months deposit as requested by most. 1 month tops, and the vast majority will agree to that. There are also plenty of condo/hotels doing monthly rentals. Ktk royal residence just off Pattaya Klang are offering rooms for 10000. Nice place, and you'll get your deposit back with those type of places .

Please post a link to 1 example where this has happened.

Yea I get that. The point of my post was that with everything opening up again, pre covid normality on the visa front is returning. It was widely known last month that these agent assisted visas were coming to an end.

Not surprising. I suppose all the covid options will be ending. I would imagine the current covid extension will be the last.

I wouldn't worry about it. They're not going to deny you entry after 18 months out of the country.

This was at Bangkok, and yes I did provide them with a number.(I wasn't going to take a stand over that) Like DrJack said, it may have been new staff training. How long have you been out of Thailand?

Yea, maybe you're right, but they had me standing there for a long time. Then asking me to write down the phone number of a contact in Thailand on a piece of paper... It didn't seem like green horn training to me, but who knows.

2 of them Jack????, one sitting, the other standing, and both of them pointing at the screen. I put it down to a semi deserted airport, and a couple of bored IO's.

I came back in July on a tourist visa after being out of the country for 18 months. I'd spent about 70% of the 2 years previous to that here on tourist visas. Before that I hadn't been in Thailand for 4 years. I've never overstayed, never had a problem. On arrival I had 2 Immigration officers trawl through my history on their pc for what seemed like an eternity. Asked me for a contact number of someone in Thailand. They were perfectly polite, but left me in no doubt that the pre covid crackdown on people deemed to be spending too much time in Thailand on tourist visas/visa exemptions is alive and well.

OP, just be aware... whenever someone comes on here talking about agent 'assisted' visas, be it ED, volunteer or retirement, there will follow a posse of outraged posters banding about words like blacklist, deportation etc . None of these posters will ever provide a link to any of the above actually happening of course.

It really beggars belief the stupidity of some people. I mean low level drug dealers are generally not the sharpest tools to begin with, but to try to set up business on a small Thai holiday island as a foreigner, and think you won't get ratted out in no time is idiocy as it's most idiotic. At least he'll have plenty of time to brush up on his Thai.

Yep. I started another thread asking for agent recommendations, narrowed it down to 3, and those were the quotes. Maybe you can get it for much cheaper if you shop around more than I did.

Those price ranges are about right. I was quoted in the 59 - 65000 range a few weeks ago. (3 quotes)

I'm looking to buy a new scooter in Patts. Nothing fancy, a Honda click/Yamaha Mio 125 type bike. Can anyone recommend a good shop?

Apologies...I thought from your post that you had acquired a non 0 volunteer.

Why would you hit the wall with the Non o volunteer? If there is going to be a final deadline for extending, could you not just get your 12 month extension before the deadline, or am I missing something?

With the government today already making noises about a backtrack on an October reopening, I would say another extension is looking very likely.

I'm curious. Who guaranteed that?

OP, immigration have no interest in digital nomads. They issued a statement to that effect a couple of years ago. Your bigger issue will be your visa. Assuming you're under 50, tourist visas and border hops are an option when normality returns, but immigration have.been cracking down the last few years on people deemed to be spending too much time in Thailand on tourist visas . You could fork out for an elite visa, but it's not cheap.

To state the obvious, the covid extension will end at some stage. I wouldn't want to be relying on its continuation as part of any long term strategy for staying in Thailand. OP, if you have the funds you could always speak to an agent about a longer term visa.

They did. I didn't say they ended restrictions, I said they eased them. In dark red zones indoor and sit down dining is now allowed, as well as other businesses such as salons, massage shops, and shops in shopping centers have all reopened as of September 1.

Firstly, I didn't insult anyone, and secondly, my conversation wasn't with you, so I've no idea why you're getting involved. As for the rest of your post, I'm well aware of the struggles and hardship covid is causing. I've no idea why you feel the need to tell me that, as none of my posts made any reference to said hardship.