mamboze

 You've settled very promptly a rather worrying query that I had,. Thanks very much  ????

I am nearing the end of my tourist visa, 2 months plus 1 month extension. I have the choice of returning to Australia and obtaining a tourist visa in Sydney or going to Laos and getting one there. I would prefer the Laos option, as it would cheaper and quicker but I'm concerned that an application there would be refused, necessitating a return to Australia. I would welcome advice on this issue. Thanks in anticipation.

Thanks for the help and sorry for the delay in replying. I'm inclined to go to Laos as I've been there before and I am reasonably familiar with the local embassy up there. BTW love the Sagan quote. Cheers

HI,

I was intending to go to Laos to get a Thai tourist visa. But my Thai wife was told by a friend that it is possible to obtain a visa in Myanmar. Can anyone corroborate this or is it simply not the case? Any help would be much appreciated. Best regards

Thanks for your advice, mate, very much appreciated ?

Hi,

I've got a Tourist TR visa, issued at the Thai Embassy in Sydney, Australia. I will, probably, be applying for a time extension (correct term?) so I'm not sure when exactly I will be returning to Australia. Are there any problems doing this? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you for your helpful comments. they are much appreciated. I can now see clearly what needs to be done.

I've just checked my passport and the visa I got last year was category "Tourist Multiple  TR" and I'm sure that I did not have to present any bank documents documenting 200,000 baht at the Sydney Embassy. I haven't had that kind of money in my account for some time :). Nor did I have to show a return airfare ticket (actually that's an easier ask).

Hi,

I've just checked out the METV (6 month) requirements posted on the Sydney Thai Embassy website and there have been significant changes since last year:

1. documented evidence of a bank balance of 200,000 baht

2. return airfare ticket covering the period of stay

These are quite restrictive compared with previous requirements and I am wondering what alternatives there are. For example, is it possible to get extend a 30 day tourist visa (which I've never used)

Any help would be much appreciated

Thanks for all the helpful comments. My situation is that I am now in Australia, about to apply for a METV at the Thai Embassy in Sydney and I'm concerned about the current requirement on their website https://thaiconsulatesydney.org/en/visas  (scroll down page to Required Documents section and click on Tourist Visa), stating

"Copy of an airline ticket indicating the date of arrival to and departure from Thailand "

My problem is that I'm not sure of the exact date when I will be going to Thailand. In the past the visa stated something along the lines of "must be used within 12 months" or words to that effect..This leaves open the actual time when the visa would be used.

Hi,

I'm in Australia and about to apply for a multiple entry tourist visa. I noticed on the Thai Embassy, Sydney website the following (among several) requirements

• Copy of an airline ticket indicating the date of arrival to and departure from Thailand
• Evidence of adequate finances (THB 20,000 per person, or THB 40,000 per family)
  • For multiple entries, a certified bank’s letter of balance or official bank statement showing recent balance of no less than THB 200,000
• Confirmed reservation of accommodation in Thailand

I had a multiple entry tourist visa last year and I'm sure that item 1 re airline ticket was not a requirement

Item 2 is OK my pension docs will cover that.

Regarding Item 3, I will be living with a Thai friend for the duration of my stay.

Have there been changes to the multiple entry visa since last year?  I had a look at part of the recent very long forum post on the multiple entry visas but could see anything relevant to my queries. I'd be grateful for any help from forum members. Thanks.

@ubonjoe,  I sort of guessed that. Thank you for confirming.  best regards

Thanks ubonjoe and elviajero for your help, very much appreciated!

I'm inclined to return to Australia to get a TR visa rather than go for a Single Entry visa.

Just one question tho, it is not possible to get a TR visa from the Embassy in Vientiane, right?

Hi,

I'm an Australian citizen retired on a pension and currently holding a multiple entry tourist (TR) visa which, with the one month extension, will expire on 11 February 2018.  I'm in a relationship with a Thai lady and I would like to stay in Thailand for at least another 6 months, so it would be convenient to get another TR visa if that is possible.

If I return to Australia, can I get another TR visa? Is this a feasible option or what are the alternatives?

I would greatly appreciate any advice that forum members may care to give.  Thank you

@ubonjoe & Anythingleft?

Thanks for your helpful advice. The problem with the retirement visa is the financial requirements, so perhaps a marriage visa is the way to go. Are there any other alternatives?

Hi all,

Could anyone advise on the advantages of the Retirement visa, and any disadvantages too as opposed to the Marriage visa for long term stay in Thailand.

I guess it is obviously horses for courses, but any comments or advice would be welcome

Thanks

Hi,

Interesting thread :) I checked out the above link to StrongVPN and also found some online info on using StrongVPN with Ubuntu up to 14.04. It looks easy to set up and presumably runs OK.

I'm using Ubuntu 16.04. Has anyone had any experience with StrongVPN on this distro (or any of the earlier ones).

Thanks

Thanks for all your comments.  I'll try an independent repair shop and, as you say, get my wife to go there by herself and do the talking.  best regards

Hi,

I have a Isuzu D-Max 4-door which is nearly 10 years old. I bought the car second-hand 4 years ago. The car is basically in pretty good shape, body-wise and mechanically. It's been maintained at a local Isuzu dealer since I've had it. The problem at the moment is clutch slip. This is apparent when accelerating fairly hard and changing from 3>4 gear. The car is driveable but obviously needs to be repaired.

I'm anticipating a full clutch plate/friction disk replacement. Would this be necessary? Or just the friction disk?

Could anyone give me some idea of what  the cost of repairs is likely to be. And, is it best to take the car to the dealer for repair or to a specialist clutch/gearbox shop (if I can find one).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hi guys,

Thanks for the wealth of information and opinion, and the pics. I'm nearly overwhelmed !

I'm going to have to check out in detail the various brands to see what's on offer. But maximum night-time visibility is a major requirement with cost a much less concern.

Hi,

I've decided to have the windows of my Isuzu D-Max tinted. I want to strike a reasonable balance between comfort (UV and heat reduction) on the one hand and road safety (being able to see out clearly, particularly at night) on the other.

The advice I've got from a local supplier (up here in Lampang) is for 40% front screen and 60% on side and rear windows. This seems little dark to me, but I would welcome any comments or advice from members here.

Also, the window tint brand recommended is Lamina. Has anyone had experience with this?

@khwalbah we were married in Thailand

to everyone, thanks for the great posts, very informative, very helpful

There is just one issue remaining . As I mentioned in my original post. I had intended to get my Australian bank statements authenticated at the Embassy in BKK. Would statements covering the last 6 months be sufficient?

@steve187 thanks for your help

@eclipse I've attached 2 images of passport

@ubonjoe, sorry for the lack of clarity. The sequence of events is this:

23 October 2015 2 entry tourist visa issued by Thai Embassy, Vientiane

29 October 2015 got married

2 December Chiang Mai Office - Application of stay up to 20 January 2016

21 December 2015 Non-Immigrant Visa Chiang Mai Office Stamped "USED" 21 December 2015

24 December 2015 Stamp on passport stating "This person was admitted to change visa to look after the Thai wife in Lampang Province, Thailand" - Note this is a translation from the Thai.

24 December 2015 Stamp on passport "NON-O" Chiang Mai Immigration Admitted 21 December 2015 Until 19 March 2016

So February 19 2016 at Chiang Mai, I will apply for an extension of stay. Will this application require similar supporting documentation to the previous application on 2 December?

Thanks for your patience.

Actually, I've applied for the visa on the basis of my marriage in October last year to my Thai fiance. This application was made on 2 December and I went to Chiang Mai Immigration on 24 December when my passport was stamped UNTIL 19 March 2016.

As I understand it, I will be able to obtain a multiple entry marriage visa when I attend the office on 19 February.

But I would welcome any comments or advice from members here. I'm sorry if I have details wrong, but I must say I find Thai bureaucracy opaque to say the least. Thanks