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johnsjourney

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Posts posted by johnsjourney

  1. The online visa is enough for me not to come back.  I was about to return for a few months, after more than 6 months in UK, looked at the site which lost my saved state, and then considered the undefined risk of being turned back as unthinkable.

     

    They offer a METV valid for six months plus last entry, but decline entry to people for staying that kind of duration.  Once they make it clear how to avoid rejection at the border, as other countries do, I'll be there.

    • Like 1
  2. I'm not waiting, getting my SETV today.  If they do improve the system, the border runs will make up for not having a double tourist visa.

     

    This seems to be an admission that the change from unlimited border runs, and removal of simple multiple tourist visas a couple of years ago was a mistake.  But whether and how soon they correct it is unknown.

     

    They will be thinking through the evidences needed for easier long stays, like do they ask us to show more money or more traveling plans, hopefully the former as the latter reduces flexibility.

  3. Technically illegal to work online in Thailand, but in practice it is tolerated at some immigration areas more than others.  I would not recommend Phuket or Hua Hin for example, but Chiang Mai would be fine, but I also agree don't mention it if not necessary.  It is of course a grey area as many high value tourists have to respond online while on a normal holiday.  The key thing in implementation is is it an issue for local people and the sort of tourists an area decides to attract or discourage.

  4. I think whichever way you do it will be fine.  If I was in my home country I'd apply for tourist visa even if there was half a chance of denial.  All there is to lose is the fee and a couple of passport pages.  It might be more trouble getting one in a long queue in Laos for example.

     

    If you're coming from home country I think it's ok for a month in Thailand, visiting another country and having another month with no visas, that would be normal tourism.  Once the pattern is longer term, I'd continue with tourist visas or land border visa exemptions, since land crossings are limited to two a year they are automatically less risky to immigration as cannot be used forever.  I haven't yet been questioned doing these and my passport is full of tourist visas.

     

    I don't think the Air Asia flight would be a problem, a normal way to travel around.

     

  5. 54 minutes ago, F4UCorsair said:

    I can't Imagine $25 making a difference unless a traveler was tossing up between two SE Asian countries, and the visa cost for  the other was $100.00, and he  didn't have a strong preference for one or the other.  Too many If's.

    The news item says " had resulted in a 12% increase in foreign tourist arrivals ".

    As with any business drop the price even a little bit and get more customers.  It is a surprising improvement though, perhaps they should drop visa extension charges too :)

  6. I would say that most answers coming from people who are not enforcing the border checks (immigration officer in a city, consulate, etc.) are to be taken with a grain of salt. The rules are vague and open to interpretation. Face culture requires them to give an answer to a question even if they don't really know what to say. Their word is worth nothing anyway facing an angry border immigration officer with a hangover.

    The rules are clear, 60 days x 3 for example, have to be used in quick succession or they expire; must not overstay. My immigration source is also a friend and has worked there longer than I have been in Thailand which is almost as long as this website has existed. There is discretion, for example asking to show the 20k, and mistakes can be corrected by phoning another perhaps local to home immigration officer from the airport worst case scenario.

    Chiang Mai is a border, receiving flights from over half a dozen north Asian countries.

  7. I would say that most answers coming from people who are not enforcing the border checks (immigration officer in a city, consulate, etc.) are to be taken with a grain of salt. The rules are vague and open to interpretation. Face culture requires them to give an answer to a question even if they don't really know what to say. Their word is worth nothing anyway facing an angry border immigration officer with a hangover.

    The rules are clear, 60 days x 3 for example, have to be used in quick succession or they expire; must not overstay. My immigration source is also a friend and has worked there longer than I have been in Thailand which is almost as long as this website has existed. There is discretion, for example asking to show the 20k, and mistakes can be corrected by phoning another perhaps local to home immigration officer from the airport worst case scenario.

  8. Thank you eeworldwide OP for the clear info, just what I have confirmed myself at Chiang Mai immigration and mentioned on a few topics here. I guess people can look at my previous posts.

    There is no change in tourist visas apart from overstay.

    While there's no official Thailand website on visa details journalist disinformation is easy and fear is more profitable than them checking with local immigration.

    People are scared by officers having power of their own interpretation but given the number of borders this is a very rare situation and phone calls to one's local immigration who advised in the first place should fix it.

    Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

    • Like 1
  9. Even with the best intentions, just because a national newspaper and our favourite forum says there is a crackdown on tourist visas does not necessarily mean there is a crackdown on tourist visas.

    Visit your local immigration officer and ask their advice, I did, there is no change. The crackdown is on other things, and otherwise just a mass fingers pointing and panic just like the Cambodians last month, who were quickly urged to return.

  10. <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

    Have you read any? The only people having problems that I have read about, people with numerous visa exempt entries, and people with several back to back entries with Tourist Visas.

    I have back to back tourist visas in my collection and was invited to get an extension at Chiang Mai immigration today to ease my fears smile.png

    I am now even more confused by both of your replies... Lol.

    @ BeechGuy: You didnt specify if you were talking about Denied Entry to Thailand, or Denied Visa Extension. (my question was about Visa Extensions,,, what was your answer about?)

    @ JohnsJourney: you said you were INVITED to get an Extension at CM immigration. Who invited you ???? (immigration invited you??) I have never heard of anyone getting invited to go to immigration before. (please can you explain this fully).

    Also: you said that you were invited to ease your fears. How does an invitation to go somewhere ease your fears ?? (an invitation is not the same thing as actually receiving a Visa Extension).

    Please can both of be more clear with your English Language as this is an important subject that affects THOUSANDS of people right now. So please be as clear as possible.

    Misleading answers are not useful to anyone. so Please can you reply again and tell me (and everyone) what you mean.

    Thank you,

    Well yes I know someone who works there and as they noticed I was not easily taking 'it's ok' for an answer (my misplaced trust in journalism from a national paper) they indicated I was welcome to walk over there and get an extension. That implies I'd likely qualify get it, and saying that would prove there is no problem for tourist visas stamped in the passport however they have been used. Mae Sai daytrips were always ok, as people indeed report they are, no changes to tourist visas.

    The sky is not falling in on frequent tourists as some appear to hope for. Journalists make less money monitoring cases of 'everything is ok' than 'everything might have gone terribly wrong'. It seems most reports of anything different are becoming contradicted by most officials in the country when people bother to ask them. Don't trust these reports including mine, ask immigration directly, and you may end up with a contact to call for assistance in any event they turn out to be wrong.

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