khunyod

On 10/11/2022 at 5:33 PM, visabouncer said:

Don Mueang->Roi Et flight of Air Asia 6:45AM. 1000 baht
Roi Et bus station -> Mukdahan bus station trip by bus (2.5 hours). 170 baht
...

Note that you can also fly to Ubon, then bus to Mukdahan, and the reverse.

20 hours ago, fangless said:

It goes without saying that the biggest losers will be the kids themselves, not the fat cats "running" the schools!

No, not really. It depends on the family. My children are doing great, but my wife and I have a huge burden on our time now. Sure, some parents are not involved and the children are largely neglected. Remember also that schools are not just school owners, but teachers, staff... 

The government is really falling down on the job here. They took billions of baht for Covid relief and have only ordered a few million doses so far, with only 102k jabs? Instead they use the money like they usually use Government money as a slush fund for their own private business dealings, instead of taking the direct approach.

They want tourism to rebound but are unwilling to take the first step and vaccinate the local population? Ridiculous. Instead they want to fiddle with quarantines, which won't work because, duh, the rest of the population is not vaccinated, and people don't want to have to stay 15 nights or 11 nights in an ASQ facility. Nor should they. Add on top of that the only two vaccines that the government has approved: Sinovac and AZ are the doggiest of the lot. Sinovac has 50% efficacy! At 45% a vaccine is considered ineffective.

Hospitals and private practices want to import vaccines but they can't until the Thai government gets off their butts and approves more vaccines for use in Thailand. 

Let's look at the rest of ASEAN: Singapore is ahead with 1m doses distributed, and Indonesia has done 9.75m jabs. What a joke is Thailand. This reminds me of Italy which saved about 30 million USD on vaccines because they were willing to wait, and now having to go back into full shutdown, and will lose billions. Setang wise, baht foolish. 

We already know what the cost per day impact on tourism is of Covid, that is not hard to calculate. Yet the Thai government can't grasp the basics. They got lucky with the shutdown orders, that has been largely successful (with the exception of all the Covid-infected immigrants that have been rupturing the economy of a few Thai provinces). 

2021 is a wash because of this governmental idiocy. Don't expect the high season to be anywhere close to normal. Daily policy pronoucement changes and no actual forward movement on the vaccines means it will be 2022 before even half the tourists return. With new and more virulent virus strains mutating, even 2022 looks dodgy.

One possible motive (or at least result) for the now widespread refusal (of 2 months @ 40k deposits) is to force people into the agencies, increasing the income at the IOs. Other commentors above have mentioned as such.

46 minutes ago, john terry1001 said:

It's widely reported that, for an 'initial' extension, only needs proof of two months 40K transfers. But I think refusal of using the 'two month income' can have various reasons but they're just reported on places like TV  without the full reasons given.

 

For example, a lot of people who have been on repeat extensions have, for various reasons, recently changed and obtained a non O visa. (want change from O-A to non O, temporary lack of funds, etc).

 

When they then try to get a 'new' extension they will offer just two months income transfers.

 

But, in Si Racha for example, the IO will look through the persons passport. If, prior to the current non O, there are extensions covering previous years the two month option will be refused and twelve months bank statements is required. The IO will deem that it's not an initial application but a continuation of previous extensions.

 

They say, changing from 'retirement' to 'marriage', (with or without a change of actual visa) doesn't count either.

 

Don't know if this is the same elsewhere.

At CM Immigration the "reason" was that 2 months is not an option. Two printed pieces of paper were handed over with some highlighting. We asked if the rules had changed and the answer was "no".

One agent suggested 25k to switch over to a retirement extension (apparently the bank requirements can be waived due to io-agent relationship), and that a marriage extension might be possible but seems to be more complicated and would cost 30k. Not sure if it was just an upsell or not. Any cheaper agents in CM?

14 hours ago, Phillip9 said:

Not true at all.  A corona virus is completely different than an influenza virus.  You shouldn’t make any comparisons between the two.  
 

Some of the vaccines in development are showing a strong antibody and T cell response and scientists now believe that a very effective vaccine will eventually be developed.  It will just take time.
 

 

We won't know until we know. ALL speculation, pessimistic and optimistic, is equally questionable. Wait and see.

2 @ 40k transfers is NOT an option at Chiang Mai Immigration. I was misled on this forum and others, and am now up <deleted>s creek. They demand 12 months of 40k transfers or 400k for 2 months (or 3 months of employment taxes paid). No discussion and no other options. Buyer beware.

8 minutes ago, Mung said:

China acted terribly originally and tried to cover it up, but after the initial farce they acted in a stellar fashion. South Korea also, and as you mentioned Vietnam too. Thailand cared about money over people and allowed in Chinese tourists up until only a couple of weeks ago, now they are reaping what they have sewn. I just hope nations around the world learn from this because it will happen again, and next time it may be an insanely weaponised virus of some sort. We are far from prepared for even a somewhat tame coronavirus

Here is a rundown of what Vietnam has done in reverse chronological order. They stopped issuing visas to Chinese citizens and banned those who had traveled through China from entering on January 30th. https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnam-business-operations-and-the-coronavirus-updates.html/

On 1/20/2008 at 8:35 PM, ozzydom said:

From this account they are not going very well...

www.chaipat.or.th/chaipat_old/journal/apr02/olive_e.html

Reading the complete report, one does not simply see "they are not going very well" but rather that there are some challenges and in general not enough technical knowledge available to produce good information regarding olive cultivars in Thailand. One actually gets rather a positive sense that with attention and care, some cultivars will show themselves to be viable under Thai conditions and with locally-developed techniques that are needed to bring the plants into effective fruition.

Confirming all information above regarding the Non-O Spousal Visa, document requirements, etc. Everything works fine. Consulate appears to be extremely organized and competent. My first visit took 3 minutes (slid packet of material + passport + 2 @ 100 USD, and was out in 3 minutes). Picked up the next day about 2:45pm (closes at 3pm) and was given my passport in about 30 seconds.

The consulate has a a small waiting room area, but only a few people each time I went. Fastest service I've ever experienced and with a smile. Because this is a 2 hour direct flight from Chiang Mai, it is much better for travelling purposes and costs about the same as CNX-UBP but without the many hour transit from Ubon to Mukdahan and back. 

Because the CNX-SGN Vietjet flights are mid-day, this does require a 3 night stay in HCMC. Day 1 arrive, Day 2 apply, Day 3 pickup, Day 4 depart. This schedule is basically the same for Savannahkhet, though it used to be possible on the Kan Air 6am flight out of CNX and the 7pm Nok Air flights out of Ubon to try and do this in one overnight. Kan Air is out of business, so it is minimumn 2 nights now, and most of a day spent on busses getting to Mukdahan and then Savannakhet, and back. Since there are buses that take about 30 minutes from SGN to district 1, the time spent on travel is reduced by many hours each way.

Visa costs $25 and can be done online (for Americans and others who do not have visa exemption), see: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt Note that the evisa does not have a stamping fee nor extra delay, just hand out the printed copy to immigration along with passport on the way out of the airport.

Overall, for this Chiang Mai resident, HCMC beats Savannakhet for a Multiple Non-O for Spousal Visitation. Not to mention how much more interesting and varied HCMC is compared with Savannakhet when waiting for the visa process to conclude.

Note, the two copy places across from the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet will NOT print from a USB Drive. There was no reason given but likely too many times infected by viruses. They will make copies and also make passport photos. For everything else (emailing documents, faxes, printing from USB) they referr to an Internet place downtown. This is different from last year, if I recall correctly.

It is possible to go from Chiang Mai to Savannakhet in ~8 hours and the reverse in ~10 hours.

Chiang Mai to Savannakhet: Nok flights CNX-UTH, UTH-UBP (same plane, with a stop, disembark, reembark), taxi from UBP to bus station (80 THB metered), bus from Ubon to Mukdahan 111 THB, bus from Mukdahan to Lao boarder (50 THB). 

Savannakhet to Chiang Mai: get visa at 2pm at Thai consulate. Walk to bus station, 50 THB ticket to Mukdahan. Pass through immigration. At Mukdahan bus station, can just catch the 3:30pm bus to Ubon 111 THB. Arrives about 6pm. Taxi from bus station to UBP airport 80 THB metered. Thai Smile has UBP-BKK at 7:50pm arrives 8:55pm and a BKK-CNX at 10:15pm, arrives 23:30pm.

Note on crossing the Mukdahan-Savannakhet bridge (Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge 2), if you arrive by Skylab/Tuktuk/Taxi, the only way across the bridge (Thai side to Lao side) is the hourly bus. There is now a large air-conditioned waiting room that has been constructed. Previously, on several occassions, I had been able to hitch a ride with the Savan Vegas vans, but this time two drivers in a row declined. Obviously there is a new policy in place. 50 THB for the bus from Mukdahan to the bridge, and across the bridge. Skylab/tuktuk from the bus station to the bridge: initial price was 150 thb, bargained down to 120 thb (had to ask two drivers to get this price). Still had to pay 50 thb to the bus to get across the bridge. This is accurate as of 17-June-2018.

P.S., The Aura Residence is in the same building as the Avalon (they both have half of the building). I prefer it over the Avalon. For one thing, you don't have a bait and switch with the converted house next door, whose direct neighbor washes large trucks in the early AM outside your window. Also, same access to Avalon restaurant, the grilled gai baan across the street, and the local restaurant/ice cream parlor/watering hole down the block (8 star restaurant).

On 11/12/2017 at 3:28 PM, ubonjoe said:

My answer to the same post you did in another topic.

"The official closing time for the Lao visa on arrival office is 6pm but they are sometimes open later if they are busy.

If they are closed when you get to Thai immigration they will not let you depart the country."

Earlier in 2017 I crossed the Thai border late. Yes, Thai immigration was a little concerned, but waved me through, and then I waited for the casino van to cross over (50 THB), and was the only one needing a visa on arrival on the Lao side, and the Lao immigration processed it without any problem. The real issue when crossing into Lao late at night is that there are no transportation options. No tuk tuks, taxis, songthaews, skylabs, motorcycle taxis or samlors, nothing. I called to my hotel who rousted an elderly uncle to come and pick me up. I think this was about 8:45pm at the time.

On 6/17/2017 at 1:51 PM, shadowmaster1971 said:

 

I took a Nok Air Fly & Ride  from Don Muaeng (DM) to Mukhadan.

 

The Fly/Ride to Mukdahan are via the following cities:

 

DM to Nakhon Phanom.

DM to Nakhon Sakon

DM to Ubon Ratchathani.

Once you land at the above airports then it is a mini van by Nok Air to Mukdahan dropping off at Ploy Palace Hotel, which is also the pick up point for return flights.  Mini-van travel times is approx 2 hours.

 

Note: The Fly & Ride uses the Ploy Palace Van service. You can save some money if booking the van directly through Ploy Palace Travel service. Even cheaper: Take a tuk/skylab/taxi from Ubon airport to the Ubon bus station, and there are good air conditioned buses going to Mukdahan every hour or so. Way cheaper and about as fast (and also, more comfortable). 

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Did you notice the date on the post you quoted. "On 1/17/2014 at 10:47 PM, Jonmarleesco said:"

Many things have changed since then.

The original poster's info is correct about the requirements. I was just filling in answers to the two questions that had not been answered. This post still comes up often regarding Savannakhet visa searches. I'm not vouching for all the info in this post, obviously but what I added is accurate. 

On 1/17/2014 at 10:47 PM, Jonmarleesco said:

Interesting. Two questions: any idea whether they also issue based on Thai children, as some consulates that did, now are not? And as the Lao visa fee is cheaper in USD than THB - their FX rates are generously in their favour - does the consulate take the Thai visa fee in USD?

The Non-O based on Thai dependents is only single entry 90-days at Savannakhet, not multiple entry 1 year.

The Thai consulate requires Thai Baht.

On 1/23/2016 at 8:14 AM, ubonjoe said:

You should have enough time to get to the bridge before 6 pm. The Lao visa on arrival office closes a at 6 pm unless they are busy. If they are closed Thai immigration will not stamp you out of the country.

On Sunday 02-April, I arrived at the Thai side of the bridge to Savannakhet about 8:20pm. There was about a dozen cars, and a line of around 20 people at the single immigration kiosk, with two Thai immigration officers. Their main concern was how I got there (no buses across the bridge at night). I said "don't worry, I will find a way". I just had to wait and hitch a ride with Savan Vegas minibus, 50 THB. I reached the Lao immigration side and there was no problem (just took a little time) to get the visa form. They had to open up the office where the visas are, but again, no trouble, no immigration officer complained. They had a constant press of Lao people coming back to Laos. This was Sunday night so not sure if this is an everyday occurrance, but my guess is yes. I received my Lao visa at about 9:20pm. There were no tuk-tuk/taxi/skylabs waiting, so I had to call my hotel and ask them to roust someone to come get me. I paid a bit of a premiun for that ($200 THB) but was at the hotel by 10pm.

On 1/23/2016 at 8:14 AM, ubonjoe said:

The bus to Savannakhet leaves Mukdahan about every hour.

The minivan service that runs is called Sahamit. You can buy tickets at the bus station. Current schedule (as of 03/April) from Ubon bus station to Mukdahan bus station is:

06:00

07:10

08:30

09:30

10:45

11:45

12:30

13:30

14:30

16:00

17:30

Just paid 3,900 THB for a new US passport at the US Consulate in Chiang Mai. The letter was included as others report here. I timed the new passport so that my visa expires (I am on my last valid entry) so there are no complications when exiting the country in a few months. Will bring old and new passports and letter at the time of exit (flight or land border, not decided yet). Thanks for all the clear information in this thread. Just thought I would verify this as of Feb 2017.