Questions from a digital nomad

[elviajero]

There are quite a few old threads about the mailing a passport issue, they haven't been removed from the forum because it doesn't explicitly break any of Thailand's laws.

Some individual Thai consulates in western countries have said don't do it, others haven't. There isn't any official policy across the board, and people have done it before without any issues.

Up to you, as they say.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/569072-mailing-passport-to-thai-consulate-in-los-angeles-for-triple-entry-tourist-visa/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/136804-visa-by-mail-while-outside-of-thailand/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/35068-anyone-sent-passport-by-mail-from-thailand/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/204478-mail-your-passport-to-usa-while-staying-outside-thailand-but-not-in-usa/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/43466-passport-by-mail-to-thailand/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/38086-non-immigrant-o-visa/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/173963-non-imm-o-hull-through-the-mail/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/173963-non-imm-o-hull-through-the-mail/

Just because the embassy/consulate doesn't specify that it is allowed on their website doesn't mean it's within the rules.

Maybe Thaivisa should extend their policy to include dishonest activities that lead to obtaining visas! And you don't know if it's lawful to send a passport home.

I haven't read any of your links but unless anyone claims to have sent their application/passport from a foreign country direct to the embassy/consulate and had it posted back to them in the foreign country your scheme is dishonest.

The OP is in a different situation to most as he has two passports and if the embassy/consulate allow postal applications from abroad then he has nothing to worry about.

[elviajero]

Yes there are lots of old threads. This was the update TODAY from the USA Portland Honorary General Consulate (wasn't there yesterday) which for years has been on the list as the most 'friendly' USA Thai Consulate:

EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 13, 2015, THE NEW 6-MONTH, MULTIPLE ENTRY TOURIST VISA (METV) WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE 2-ENTRY AND 3-ENTRY TOURIST VISAS WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 12, 2015. NEW APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THURSDAY. PLEASE SEE THE VISA INFORMATION PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. (Their all caps)

FOR APPLICANTS APPLYING BY MAIL -- You must be physically in the United States at the time of application. (Their CAPS/bold)

No doubt they've done this to spell it out for those that need it spelled out

[JLCrab]

Yes there are lots of old threads. This was the update TODAY from the USA Portland Honorary General Consulate (wasn't there yesterday) which for years has been on the list as the most 'friendly' USA Thai Consulate:

EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 13, 2015, THE NEW 6-MONTH, MULTIPLE ENTRY TOURIST VISA (METV) WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE 2-ENTRY AND 3-ENTRY TOURIST VISAS WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 12, 2015. NEW APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THURSDAY. PLEASE SEE THE VISA INFORMATION PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS. (Their all caps)

FOR APPLICANTS APPLYING BY MAIL -- You must be physically in the United States at the time of application. (Their CAPS/bold)

No doubt they've done this to spell it out for those that need it spelled out

yes -- but that's just one Consulate but one which seems to keep their website up-to-date.

[jspill]

Just because the embassy/consulate doesn't specify that it is allowed on their website doesn't mean it's within the rules.

Maybe Thaivisa should extend their policy to include dishonest activities that lead to obtaining visas! And you don't know if it's lawful to send a passport home.

I haven't read any of your links but unless anyone claims to have sent their application/passport from a foreign country direct to the embassy/consulate and had it posted back to them in the foreign country your scheme is dishonest.

The OP is in a different situation to most as he has two passports and if the embassy/consulate allow postal applications from abroad then he has nothing to worry about.

And you don't know it's unlawful either... agree to disagree?

I know you want it to be explicitly outside the rules, but it isn't yet. Perhaps email the MFA about the grey area.

For forum suggestions see here - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/19-forum-support-desk/

Consulates want to post to a return address within the country so it's the same postage cost each time for them.

Edited November 10, 2015 by jspill

[louse1953]

Assume nothing.

[kanook]

Many digital nomads have moved to Cambodia where the Internet is faster and the visa issues are fewer. If you are coder, you may enjoy spending time in Saigon. Seems to be the best place for coding in Asia. Good luck with Thailand.

faster internet in cambodia? perhaps if you are living under a rock in deepest darkest rural issan, however internet in bangkok puts phnom penh to shamer

Nothing further from the truth.

I have to reload this page 3 times to access server and I am in Bangkapi

Cannot compare the major cities of Thailand with Cambodia, but I'm in Chiang Mai and since I came back in the middle of Sept from Europe I've had nothing but problems with the speed of the internet. I don't want to make it sound like the situation is untenable, and yes at any given time I can test and come close to 20mbps, but it fluctuates so wildly that I find the need to use fibre plus 4G/3G. The speed and service is nowhere near the levels I would prefer.

Edited November 10, 2015 by kanook

[Kitsune]

Many digital nomads have moved to Cambodia where the Internet is faster and the visa issues are fewer. If you are coder, you may enjoy spending time in Saigon. Seems to be the best place for coding in Asia. Good luck with Thailand.

faster internet in cambodia? perhaps if you are living under a rock in deepest darkest rural issan, however internet in bangkok puts phnom penh to shamer

Nothing further from the truth.

I have to reload this page 3 times to access server and I am in Bangkapi

You need to find a new ISP. I just did a speed test and got about 32 down and 5 up with true online (cable).

My ISP is 3BB (600B/month) is that no good?

[anontv01]

A government that promotes Prostitution and violence (Saturday and Sunday muay thai on National tv)

Yet bans porn.

The assumption for me would be that the Cambodian internet might "feel" faster as its not going through any "firewall" or "porn-blocking" filter

Cambodian visas are easy, hassle free, 4-6 fields to fill in the Business visa form (3 of which are First / Last name, Date of Birth and Passport number )

Can be done from ANY travel agency, no need for Visa runs, etc...

Only now they started "enforcing" some work permit for long term stayers, but its basically their way of getting another $100 of expats / digital nomads.

The real flip side in Cambodia is that its far more poor.

So you're more likely to get robbed / scammed, and if you do get @@#$# by the locals in Cambodia the cops aren't gonna help you much.

Edited November 10, 2015 by johnnybb2

[kanook]

A government that promotes Prostitution and violence (Saturday and Sunday muay thai on National tv)

Yet bans porn

and the DailyMail website...555

[OMGImInPattaya]

Oh my God!

You are everything this forum hate : Digital Nomad AND wanting to apply for METV by mail !!

We have dozens of topics hacked by this issue, where people argue for weeks.

Get ready for some serious bashing!

I would use the term "digital vagabond" but that's just me.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Many digital nomads have moved to Cambodia where the Internet is faster and the visa issues are fewer. If you are coder, you may enjoy spending time in Saigon. Seems to be the best place for coding in Asia. Good luck with Thailand.

Not! It's slower and more expensive. Don't know about Saigon but I hear the pho is pretty good. I hear Lopburi has a lot of monkeys...maybe you code monkeys will like it up there.

[yellowboat]

Many digital nomads have moved to Cambodia where the Internet is faster and the visa issues are fewer. If you are coder, you may enjoy spending time in Saigon. Seems to be the best place for coding in Asia. Good luck with Thailand.

Not! It's slower and more expensive. Don't know about Saigon but I hear the pho is pretty good. I hear Lopburi has a lot of monkeys...maybe you code monkeys will like it up there.

You are wrong but even IF you were right, you still get left in peace to just work. If you are serious about getting work done, you should be an a place that allows for that. You can still enjoy all the scholarly pursuits and culture Thailand as to offer on long weekends. Most are like you only arguing over the speed of the Internet. But you added monkeys and that was a nice attempt at humor.

Edited November 10, 2015 by yellowboat

[Sophon]

I have never used the internet in Cambodia, so don't know anything about the relative speed in Thailand vs. Cambodia. However, this article seems to suggest that Thailand is far ahead.

Sophon

[tookwan cottage]

Many digital nomads have moved to Cambodia where the Internet is faster and the visa issues are fewer. If you are coder, you may enjoy spending time in Saigon. Seems to be the best place for coding in Asia. Good luck with Thailand.

Not! It's slower and more expensive. Don't know about Saigon but I hear the pho is pretty good. I hear Lopburi has a lot of monkeys...maybe you code monkeys will like it up there.

You are wrong but even IF you were right, you still get left in peace to just work. If you are serious about getting work done, you should be an a place that allows for that. You can still enjoy all the scholarly pursuits and culture Thailand as to offer on long weekends. Most are like you only arguing over the speed of the Internet. But you added monkeys and that was a nice attempt at humor.

"and that was a nice attempt at humor."

Let's not get carried away, yellowboat. Just look at his username—like the rest of us, you know very well what you are dealing with here.

Edited November 10, 2015 by tookwan cottage

[JLCrab]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't aware of any "in country" regulation, but I do wonder how this can be enforced if a passport is stamped out of Thailand (and any other country) and family members both receive and sent the applications in country (UK).

I do not know about UK or Canada but, with the USA, it seems that while there was no exit stamp from USA, I received an entry stamp on most if not all trips to USA including my last one November 2014 via JFK/NYC -- if an ADMITTED stamp like this isn't there, most likely you ain't either.

Edited November 10, 2015 by JLCrab

[JLCrab]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries. Even if one wants to (or can) mail their passport back to their home country for processing via their family, they still have to settle down for a few weeks in a country that doesn't have an entry stamp so I don't see what is the big idea why you can't go home for a few weeks --

-- unless of course you're working and that is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Edited November 10, 2015 by JLCrab

[JackThompson]

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't aware of any "in country" regulation, but I do wonder how this can be enforced if a passport is stamped out of Thailand (and any other country) and family members both receive and sent the applications in country (UK).

I do not know about UK or Canada but, with the USA, it seems that while there was no exit stamp from USA, I received an entry stamp on most if not all trips to USA including my last one November 2014 via JFK/NYC -- if an ADMITTED stamp like this isn't there, most likely you ain't either.

Whether you get an entry stamp depends on where you enter the USA (if a US-citizen). Unless something has changed recently, it is not a sure-thing.

[jspill]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passport_stamp - Explains they no longer issue US entry stamps as normal practice, it can happen though. Also Google it and a lot of forum threads come up, people report it happening maybe 10% of the time. A nice analogy there to how sometimes rules are in a grey area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passport_stamp#United_Kingdom - Explains UK nationals don't get stamped. Those UK stamps in post 48 (which you then deleted) would be for non nationals.

Edited November 10, 2015 by jspill

[JLCrab]

You will note that stamp for USA is November 2014. I still have more nice tries whereby you could easily be required to prove to a Thai Consulate you are in country but since you gave me that 'nice try' I'll sit on them.

Again the Portland Honorary Consulate website is up-to-date as of yesterday so maybe they are just ahead of the curve. Like anything else regarding Immigration/Visas, if they at a Thai Consulate suspect something, they do not have to prove it but you have to prove otherwise.

Edited November 10, 2015 by JLCrab

[Kitsune]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries. Even if one wants to (or can) mail their passport back to their home country for processing via their family, they still have to settle down for a few weeks in a country that doesn't have an entry stamp so I don't see what is the big idea why you can't go home for a few weeks --

-- unless of course you're working and that is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

How can u get 14 months out of METV?

[JLCrab]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries. Even if one wants to (or can) mail their passport back to their home country for processing via their family, they still have to settle down for a few weeks in a country that doesn't have an entry stamp so I don't see what is the big idea why you can't go home for a few weeks --

-- unless of course you're working and that is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

How can u get 14 months out of METV?

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

[Shiver]

I suppose I could loosely be defined as a Digital Nomad, although I don't work since everything is delegated outside of the country - "build a system that works so that you don't have to".

In another thread a while back (before we knew of the METV) I asked about how many Double 60's I might get before they started asking questions, and consensus was generally 3 of them. At that point I was sending money from one Kasikorn to another, and immediately switched to bringing salary in from HK so that I would have bank passbook entries showing international income. I have to pay for having this as a separate transfer of course, but felt that it would help to be able to show a history of Int'l transfers should the issue arise. Now of course the road has changed, so I can't do better than 60+30 each time, but time will tell if that is effective or not. Going to my home country is probably the least attractive option. If I liked it there I'd be there, and it's also a long long journey.

[kanook]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries.

How can u get 14 months out of METV?

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

The METV is a 6 month visa, impossible to get 14 months stay with it.

[JLCrab]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries.

How can u get 14 months out of METV?

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

The METV is a 6 month visa, impossible to get 14 months stay with it.

[JLCrab]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries.

How can u get 14 months out of METV?

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

The METV is a 6 month visa, impossible to get 14 months stay with it.

Correct -- the one year ME visa is non-imm not tourist for $200. You could get eight months out of a 6-month ME tourist visa.so then maybe one or two 30 day entries before heading back home for a new 6-month ME. Not as I thought but certainly doable if Retirement extension for old farts should drastically change.

Edited November 10, 2015 by JLCrab

[alocacoc]

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

The METV is a 6 month visa, impossible to get 14 months stay with it.

Correct -- the one year ME visa is non-imm not tourist for $200. You could get eight months out of a 6-month ME tourist visa.so then maybe one or two 30 day entries before heading back home for a new 6-month ME. Not as I thought but certainly doable if Retirement extension for old farts should drastically change.

With extension 9 Months.

[JLCrab]

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

The METV is a 6 month visa, impossible to get 14 months stay with it.

Correct -- the one year ME visa is non-imm not tourist for $200. You could get eight months out of a 6-month ME tourist visa.so then maybe one or two 30 day entries before heading back home for a new 6-month ME. Not as I thought but certainly doable if Retirement extension for old farts should drastically change.

With extension 9 Months.

Yes -- but earlier I had mentioned without going to Immigration.

NB I'll just say here that I am not against anybody staying in The Kingdom -- I only got involved here because the OP basically said that, if it's a requirement that I be in-country when submitting a visa application to a Thai Consulate/Embassy, how can I submit an application when I am not in-country? and if I am not in-country, how could they tell?

Edited November 10, 2015 by JLCrab

[Mudcrab]

Why do digital nomads want to stay long term,,,anywhere?

Not very nomadic is it?

[Kitsune]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries. Even if one wants to (or can) mail their passport back to their home country for processing via their family, they still have to settle down for a few weeks in a country that doesn't have an entry stamp so I don't see what is the big idea why you can't go home for a few weeks --

-- unless of course you're working and that is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

How can u get 14 months out of METV?

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

I don"t see how that's 14 months.

The visa is only valid 6 months. So you get 6 months+ leaving on your last days 2months + 1 month extension.

That's 9 months

[JLCrab]

Forget it -- I always wondered what I would do if the retirement extension requirements were to change drastically and this METV might be just fine as an alternative. Seems you could get 14 months out of it without going to Thai Immigration for extension of 60 day entries. Even if one wants to (or can) mail their passport back to their home country for processing via their family, they still have to settle down for a few weeks in a country that doesn't have an entry stamp so I don't see what is the big idea why you can't go home for a few weeks --

-- unless of course you're working and that is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

How can u get 14 months out of METV?

Your last 60 day entry is one day before your ME one-year visa expires.

I don"t see how that's 14 months.

The visa is only valid 6 months. So you get 6 months+ leaving on your last days 2months + 1 month extension.

That's 9 months

Yes -- I corrected myself several posts above. mea culpa. However even eight months without visiting immigration and maybe 2 - 30 day entries before returning to one's home country for a new METV could be an alternative if retirement extension requirements are changed onerously (as some on here maybe hope).

Edited November 10, 2015 by JLCrab