Mae Sai Immigration Tightens Rules For Border Runs

[Sunburn]

All you need for a non imm o multiple entry visa from the thai embassy in HULL  england is NINETY POUNDS for the visa and a letter from someone saying that they will pay your fare home if this is needed.

Ok, that's a new one on me. I'll remember that next time, I've been doing the border run at Aranyaprathet or going on 90 day study visas. One question though (probably a stupid one.) Does the letter have to come from Thailand or U.K.?

If they did do the same thing it Aranyaprathet/Poi pet though, it would close the place down, there's no other reason to go there.

[ChiangMaiThai]

dear chiang mai thai

As i said perhaps i am missing something.All you need for a non imm o multiple entry visa from the thai embassy in HULL england is NINETY POUNDS for the visa and a letter from someone saying that they will pay your fare home if this is needed.

THIS IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED SO THERE SHOULD BE NO EXCUSES FROM ANYONE IN ENGLAND THAT WANTS TO COME TO THAILAND FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

GOONER

Some people have gone to the wrong consulates...

[PREM-R]

One question though (probably a stupid one.) Does the letter have to come from Thailand or U.K.?

It does not matter where the letter is from, your own country or a 'friend' in Thailand. Below is an example of what is required from the website of the Thai Consulate in Hull UK( http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com )

WRITTEN GUARANTEE:-

Persons requiring Non-Immigrant Visas who are not able to provide a letter of employment or appointment or marriage certificate are required to provide a letter of guarantee from someone who is prepared to meet any costs incurred by the applicant which they cannot pay themselves including the cost of repatriation if necessary.

The wording of such a letter to be as follows:-

Name of guarantor

Address of guarantor

Date

I (name of guarantor) have known (name of applicant) for ___ years and understand him/her to have sufficient funds to meet any reasonable costs which may be incurred during their stay in Thailand including the cost of returning to the UK. However, in the event of it being necessary I (name of guarantor) hereby undertake to meet any expenses which may be incurred by (name of visitor) including the cost of repatriation.

Signature of guarantor

I hope this is of use to you.

[francois]

hi'

a friend of mine came back yesterday from Maesai with a 30 days tourist entry, stamped walk on.

no hassle, no photocopy ... easy and fast.

they might count the numbers of time you do so, but ni sign of anykind to tell you that your maximum is up to 3 times.

so, if this new rule is to be applied, they could at least inform the people

and last, even if you cannot get a non-0 visa, get a tourist one, a double entry and renew it when the time is over, pay the fee and go on ...

even in Laos they do it

Please be polite in this topic

right, the least that can be asked !

insulting people ..even lightly, isn't proper here !

francois

ps; may I ask why the questions I asked did not get any answer

[MekhongKurt]

Though I believe what I'm about to say to be true, as I trust the source, he is a single source -- a police senior sergeant major in the Immigration Headquarters in Bangkok. He is *not* in the visa section, but has served in several capacities there. He also has many foreign friends, and has had for years, so has made it a point to bering himself up to speed -- and as up to date as possible -- on visa issues.

After first hearing about anecdotal reports of some people having problems while others didn't, I asked him these stories, if true, meant there is a change in the air and, if so, why changes were coming about inconsistently.

Keeping in mind he isn't a visa official nor was in any way speaking officially, he told me he had asked his friends in visa section the same questions. While they were speaking as friends and colleagues, they told him to the first question the uninformative reply "Maybe." To the 2nd, he told me something I hadn't previously known: they reminded him that each area commander in immigration has considerable latitude in both implementation of policies. At the same time, he added it is is understanding (and has been a long time) that local commanders are required to follow policy sent from headquarters. While he disagrees that this makes little sense -- we finally agreed to disagree on that point -- he did agree it sure makes it hard for us to know.

I guess if what my friend said is true then of course some people are going to breeze through trouble-free while others are go screaming into the wilderness after having been hassled to no end. And who knows what it means to say things maybe will change.

BTW, Thursday night I saw him and he told me to help get word out that from Friday through next Sunday there is going to be a tightening of enforcement of the law requiring foreigners to carry their passports on them at all times, a tightening he swaid would take place in the obvious areas, specifically mentioning Patpong, Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy, and Soi 33. I don't like carrying my passport with me, but I know my friend would not warn me if he didn't believe it. He did say if one was found to be legally in the country and had no other legal difficulties, things would be okay -- but it would take at least some time to go with the police, then wait while they researched your status. It doesn't seem worth the risk to me, even though I am perfectly legal, so would be cleared. But spending several hours at a poolice station is distinctly unappealing.

WHile none of this clarifies the issues, at least we all can assume (if one believes my friend) we know why confusion and inconsistency reign.

[somboon]

The subject of visas and getting stamped out and in seems to be perhaps the most written about topic on the forum.

I'm not gonna give an opinion (everybody else has done that already) but what I would say is that you are all without exception stating your personal experience (s) and nothing more.

I have never seen so many experts as you find here on the forum.

The facts are, nothing more and nothing less "that nothing here in Thailand is or should be taken as read, all authorities and this includes immigration officers apply there own version of or understanding of the respective law (s)"

And "the more things change the more they stay the same" holds ever true.

And that includes the mass of people who have set themselves up as experts on every imaginable subject that arises in the realm.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The subject of visas and getting stamped out and in seems to be perhaps the most written about topic on the forum.

I'm not gonna give an opinion (everybody else has done that already) but what I would say is that you are all without exception stating your personal experience (s) and nothing more.

I have never seen so many experts as you find here on the forum.

The facts are, nothing more and nothing less "that nothing here in Thailand is or should be taken as read, all authorities and this includes immigration officers apply there own version of or understanding of the respective law (s)"

And "the more things change the more they stay the same" holds ever true.

And that includes the mass of people who have set themselves up as experts on every imaginable subject that arises in the realm.

We advise on experience. I agree that that the law is ' elastic ' . You contributed nothing new so perhaps you should butt out. It is doing its best. Your negativity is not welcome. I propose to formally warn you.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The subject of visas and getting stamped out and in seems to be perhaps the most written about topic on the forum.

I'm not gonna give an opinion (everybody else has done that already) but what I would say is that you are all without exception stating your personal experience (s) and nothing more.

I have never seen so many experts as you find here on the forum.

The facts are, nothing more and nothing less "that nothing here in Thailand is or should be taken as read, all authorities and this includes immigration officers apply there own version of or understanding of the respective law (s)"

And "the more things change the more they stay the same" holds ever true.

And that includes the mass of people who have set themselves up as experts on every imaginable subject that arises in the realm.

We advise on experience. I agree that that the law is ' elastic ' . You contributed nothing new so perhaps you should butt out. It is doing its best. Your negativity is not welcome. I propose to formally warn you.

The next warning is OUT

[JuniorExPat]

Red alert - newbie raising his head over the parapet . . . .

Newbie to the forum - relative newbie to Thailand (coming up for 5 years in the Kingdom).

I'm a little confused as to why this debate gets so heated every time it is raised, in my time here I have used tourist visas and non-imm visas both on a pure non-imm B basis and on an 'applying for work permit' basis. I have never been obstructed (for want of a better word) by the Thai authorities.

I don't know anyone who has had any problems at the border and before the sharp wit arrives - yes I do socialise and yes I do have a wide circle of expat friends and associates(!).

The law is elastic as has been mentioned earlier in this thread and if it is used to protect those of us here from those who would abuse Thailand then so much the better.

At the risk of prematurely sounding like an old f@*t here's my tuppence worth of advice to anyone having visa/border difficulties:

BE POLITE.

=======

A polite manner, polite speech and polite dress will get you so much further. The only people I have heard of having problems (second, third and fourth hand stories) have all given the impression of being, or have actually been, undesirables so, quite correctly, the authorities will find a good excuse to help them on their way out of the Kingdom.

Keep things polite and from my experience you will find the elasticity in the regulations bends in your favour.

Obvious? Condescending? My apologies if anyone takes my comments this way.

'til later . . .

JuniorExPat (TooYoungToBeSoSeriousTooOldToCare)

[toufon]

Just got back from Penang visa run yesterday with 3 previous tourist stamps on my ppt, and applied for and got a double entry stamp no problems, tourist visa category. Not a problem yet there at least, but don't doubt that stormier skies in the future may be approaching.

[unbiasbob]

interesting toufon. you got your double tourist but something is telling you that the party is getting close to the end. I will report here after my penang visit in 10 days. thanks

[Maejo Man]

"The next warning is OUT" and we worry about the Thai authorities! Come on Dr. this is a forum, and freedom of speech should prevail.

Successful visa runs to Mae Sai or where ever would seem to be based on many different things. Dress as always is important, even if you are doing a visa run in the middle of Nakon Nowhere. Attitude is another great leveller. I have seen extremely rude people getting put through the wringer, and rightly so.

Over the past fifteen plus years I have been through just about every border crossing in Thailand and neighbouring countries, and not once in all those years have I experienced the slightest problem. The most recent being a border crossing at Mae Sot last week. For those of you interested in the logistics........US$10 or 500 baht is required for the crossing. You will also be required to fill out a Myanmar immigration form and supply a passport sized photograph. You are then free to either walk across the bridge into Mayawaddy or wait for one of the local buses.

A few weeks previous I went on a shopping trip to Tachilek, and the border crossing at Mae Sai was, as usual, trouble free, and swift.

Yes, you do get your passport stamped out at the bridge, and not as before in Mae Sai. Charges are still the same....US$5 or 250 baht. I saw no evidence of travellers being asked for any additional paperwork such as passport copies.

People that have problems are normally guilty of creating their own!

[unbiasbob]

hey pal, not everyone having a problem is sloppy and rude. that is a ludicrous thing to assume

[Ahuramazda]

I have been lurking for almost a year now. I gotta tell ya, this thread had me paralyzed with laughter.

Somone made the comment:

""The next warning is OUT" and we worry about the Thai authorities! Come on Dr. this is a forum, and freedom of speech should prevail."

My quip is this: It seems to me that freedom to FLAME other members prevails in this forum. It sounds a lot like the people who sit in the bars of Sukumvit and Soi Ramutri talking about "business" (the boarding pass jobs they do for some Sri Lanken guy) and their cock sure know it all attitude that I have dealt with since I came to this country 3 years ago.

I'll tell you, in the last three years, very few of these people are still here, and those that are, are hopeless heroin addicts, drunks, struggling english teachers and the like who sit in the bars so they can talk to the "new people" and get a little hero worship from them, and then come and ask me for money because I just came back from Japan, after they told me that they know everything there is to know about Thailand.

I hear a lot of the same words, and feel a lot of the same attitudes from people here.

My question for you is, if you know it all, and you've been here for so long, and your so eager to share, what the %&$* do you care if some snot nosed kid still wet behind the ears wants to talk back to you?

Why do you care? Everyone has the right to open the oriface below their nose and spout a putrid swill of verbal diarrhea, and it seems that most expats in Thailand are going to continue to do just that. You, by contrast, have the right to relocate yourself or ignore the person if you are in a public setting, and to remove the person from you presence if he is in your home or private setting where you have such powers.

This is a public forum. So what's up with all the flamming? Is this what the Expats are throwing fists over in the bar? I thougt it was only becuase of bar girls and the like, maybe I was wrong? Why are things so heated here?

This is a very simple discussion that began with something written in The Nation, a publication that I don't even bother reading, as I find it to be repulsive, I prefer the Bangkok Post, and it has exploded into a bunch of children hiding behind a computer screen and throwing insults at each other. I've seen this happen in many forums, for many months.

Why don't you guys meet up in the outskirts and pound the #($* out of each other? Otherwise, lets have some civil conversations here. There is no need for name calling and insulting. Someone called anoter person a name, and then said there was no need for name calling, and no need to be negative. The hypocrisy here rivals the Torah, the Bible, and the Koran combined!

My advice is to be a bit more civilized. Most of you look very foolish to those of us who lurk and laugh on a day to day basis. I just thought you'd like to know that.

I hope I have not offended the Great Council of Elder Expats who advise on their experience, but, for Christ's sake, chill out people. If someone doesn't agree with you, so what? What does it matter? Let them wander blind through life until they hit their head, you warned them. Why spit venom?

I'm sure I'll be flammed now, but, so be it. I'm just trying to help people in their own personal advancement. Some people really need to learn about diplomacy. I am no diplomatic artist, and I tend to be quite a bastard myself, but, come on. This is foolishness.

I await the flamming of those who cannot deal with their own social inadequacies with great pleasure, as I know I will soon be laughing so hard that I might die.

[Maejo Man]

Firstly Unbiasbob, I'm not your pal, and I nowhere in my post did I call anyone "sloppy"...your words, and if the description is apt....fine.

A wonderfully shrewd observation Ahuramazda. Your three years have not been wasted in the summation of the bulk of expats in Thailand.

"struggling english teachers and the like who sit in the bars so they can talk to the "new people" and get a little hero worship from them, and then come and ask me for money because I just came back from Japan, after they told me that they know everything there is to know about Thailand."

One would assume that a good proportion of them spend their every waking moment monitoring this forum, waiting to pounce on new posts. Members who post in excess of 12 posts a day obviously do not have a "proper" job, and can find nothing better to do than to to make inane comments.

Yes, Ahuramazda, it's better than "joke of the day" I must admit, and a wonderful source of continuous amusement........

[BlackJack]

the som tam lady told me that her cousins brothers sister in laws niece is related to the cleaning lady in Taksins office.

One day she was cleaning under the desk and she overheard that one of the new rules for Visa's will be that all aliens need to carry their passports and at least 500 baht for bribes and tea money

a stamp will be given for every bribe given and every 10th bribe will be free.

[john b good]

Mr Blackjack. Can you get your stamps retrospectively ??

[dr_Pat_Pong]

One question though (probably a stupid one.) Does the letter have to come from Thailand or U.K.?

It does not matter where the letter is from, your own country or a 'friend' in Thailand. Below is an example of what is required from the website of the Thai Consulate in Hull UK( http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com )

WRITTEN GUARANTEE:-

Persons requiring Non-Immigrant Visas who are not able to provide a letter of employment or appointment or marriage certificate are required to provide a letter of guarantee from someone who is prepared to meet any costs incurred by the applicant which they cannot pay themselves including the cost of repatriation if necessary.

The wording of such a letter to be as follows:-

Name of guarantor

Address of guarantor

Date

I (name of guarantor) have known (name of applicant) for ___ years and understand him/her to have sufficient funds to meet any reasonable costs which may be incurred during their stay in Thailand including the cost of returning to the UK. However, in the event of it being necessary I (name of guarantor) hereby undertake to meet any expenses which may be incurred by (name of visitor) including the cost of repatriation.

Signature of guarantor

I hope this is of use to you.

As far as I know, this form of guarantee is unique to the Royal Thai Consulate at Hull

[astral]

WRITTEN GUARANTEE:-

Persons requiring Non-Immigrant Visas who are not able to provide a letter of employment or appointment or marriage certificate are required to provide a letter of guarantee from someone who is prepared to meet any costs incurred by the applicant which they cannot pay themselves including the cost of repatriation if necessary.

The wording of such a letter to be as follows:-

Name of guarantor

Address of guarantor

Date

I (name of guarantor) have known (name of applicant) for ___ years and understand him/her to have sufficient funds to meet any reasonable costs which may be incurred during their stay in Thailand including the cost of returning to the UK. However, in the event of it being necessary I (name of guarantor) hereby undertake to meet any expenses which may be incurred by (name of visitor) including the cost of repatriation.

Signature of guarantor

I hope this is of use to you.

As far as I know, this form of guarantee is unique to the Royal Thai Consulate at Hull

Nothing new about this form of letter.

It used to be a standard requirement for a Non-Imm visa,

even if you had a letter offering a job in Thailand.

[Georgie-Porgie]

Someone should tell ole CMT

No need to gloat Doctor. I'm open to the possibility that things may change, but seeing is believing. I personally know a good half dozen walkers who I only see tomorrow and the next day because they are being allowed to cross over and back no problem. When they are all told to leave and only come back when they have the proper visa, I will declare in unison with you that the times are changing.

I do remember last August when you and others were declaring the imminent end to the walkers. Since then, many guys I know have been to Mae Sai each and every month without incident. No one I know has been told to leave the country. So like I said, seeing is believing. I don't believe yet.

I have said all along though that you are better off on a real visa. For those who complain that they can't stay here because they don't qualify for a proper visa, you simply don't want it bad enough. Get creative. Do some research. And you WILL get the visa.

It isn't a gloat CMT.

Chiang Mai Thai was beside the pool again today with his usual bevy of babes. One of them looked suspiciously like the highest ranking woman official at Immigration in Chiang Mai -wearing a string bikinii. Not bad either.

No wonder this young pup feels like he can thumb his nose at the rest of us.

By the way Doctor, beware of his good mate, "Crazy Jan". If you rub him wrong, he might try to bite your nose off!

[natee1]

My quip is this: It seems to me that freedom to FLAME other members prevails in this forum. It sounds a lot like the people who sit in the bars of Sukumvit and Soi Ramutri talking about "business" .....

I'll tell you, in the last three years, very few of these people are still here, and those that are, are hopeless heroin addicts, drunks, struggling english teachers and the like ...

Youre giving a good example of "flaming' ,actually.

Heroin addicts and English teachers? Which do you belong to? -or are you still trying unsuccessfully- heroin too expensive, English too poor...

[MekhongKurt]

All sorts of garbage is being circulated.

I've said it before and am saying it again now: go to your local Immigration Bureau office and do what they tell you to do -- being careful to document it every step of the way (so you can protect yourself against charges from headquarters in Bangkok).

Do what your told, document it, and you'll be bullet-proof in court. Friends of mine have been there, done that, got the post card and T-shirt.

[ChiangMaiThai]

Someone should tell ole CMT

No need to gloat Doctor. I'm open to the possibility that things may change, but seeing is believing. I personally know a good half dozen walkers who I only see tomorrow and the next day because they are being allowed to cross over and back no problem. When they are all told to leave and only come back when they have the proper visa, I will declare in unison with you that the times are changing.

I do remember last August when you and others were declaring the imminent end to the walkers. Since then, many guys I know have been to Mae Sai each and every month without incident. No one I know has been told to leave the country. So like I said, seeing is believing. I don't believe yet.

I have said all along though that you are better off on a real visa. For those who complain that they can't stay here because they don't qualify for a proper visa, you simply don't want it bad enough. Get creative. Do some research. And you WILL get the visa.

It isn't a gloat CMT.

Chiang Mai Thai was beside the pool again today with his usual bevy of babes. One of them looked suspiciously like the highest ranking woman official at Immigration in Chiang Mai -wearing a string bikinii. Not bad either.

No wonder this young pup feels like he can thumb his nose at the rest of us.

By the way Doctor, beware of his good mate, "Crazy Jan". If you rub him wrong, he might try to bite your nose off!

Yes, be careful of Crazy Jan. He will take you down faster than Mae Sai Immigration takes down a poverty stricken walker.

Doctor, care to comment on the quote from a week ago or so from Immigration which said that they will NOT enforce any rule that states you can have three 30 day stays and then you must leave for 6 months? Come on, I know you don't want to simply ignore it.