smileplur
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Posts posted by smileplur
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Thank you all for the genuine advice. I have successfully completed my visa run to KL, so I thought I should update the thread with how it went.
I arrived in the afternoon at KLIA2 on Air Asia. It took ages to walk out, but I followed the signs and found the bus ticket counters. I purchased a one-way trip on Star Shuttle to Pudu Sentral for RM 12. I made my way to Step Inn Guesthouse which has a variety of dorm rooms with or without A/C and private rooms, a common area, a kitchen. It was very much like a common European hostel. It set me back RM40 x 2 nights for a fan dorm. The place was okay, but not spectacular by any stretch. For those needing to do it super cheaply, I found a place over on Petaling Street advertising dorm rooms for RM15. I didn't go in, but I would suspect it is pretty dodgy!
In the morning, I walked to the Thai Embassy which took about 45 minutes and arrived 30 minutes before opening at 9:30. There were about 10 others hanging around. They hand you the checklist and an application for if you haven't got one. It appeared that most people were applying for tourist visas. A few were sent away for not meeting the airline and hotel requirements from what I could tell. They all seemed to be Russians.When my number came up after 30-40 minutes of waiting, I walked to counter 3 and handed her the mountain of documents my company had prepared for me. She ticked all the relevant boxes on the checklist, handed me a red slip of paper with my number on it, and told me to wait to make payment.
The second window is where payment is done. They DO accept baht and ringgit. I didn't have baht due to the comments above, so I paid in ringgit. I saw others counting out and paying in baht.
I came back the following day at 2:30 by foot. My number was called within 15 minutes, and I was handed back my passport with a brand new single entry non-immigrant 'b' visa.
I can't say I am a big fan of KL. I probably would not return there unless I had to. Large cans of Carlsburg were RM9 at the guesthouse. I found a shop about halfway down Petaling Street called 101 Supermarket that sold beer at a much better price. Food was abundant and fairly good, but it was a bit more expensive than Thai food. Petaling Street and Chinatown were like being in Star Wars bar!-
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1 hour ago, BritTim said:
For ringgit, use SuperRich in Phuket before departure, assuming it is convenient to visit its Phuket town branch. Phone them before going to ensure they have ringgit on hand.
Gotcha! I live in Phuket Town, so that is an easy one. I will check it out! Thanks!
29 minutes ago, ttkeric said:Just to help you with Q2.
The 8 ringgit bus is the 'AirAsia' bus to town. After the arrival hall, head downstairs to the bus depot. Your stop is KL Central to be precise. No, you can't just tell them to let your off anywhere. If you can, pick up a cheap SIM card with data. KL Central is in a place called Brickfields. Lots of cheap accommodation there and in the morning you can hop on the LRT (Putra Line and your stop is Ampang Park just after the iconic KLCC). About 5 minutes walk from there.
Thanks! Got it! I also found Star Shuttle Bus at 12 RMB which can take me to Pudaraya Bus Station to get me to some cheap room I found at Step Inn Guesthouse. Good tip about the SIM. Any idea what that is going to set me back?
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I think I have answered some of my questions. Bus from the airport is 10-13 ringgit (80-100 baht) = 200 baht round trip
Step Inn Guesthouse has rooms for 180 baht or so = 360 baht-breakfast included
Visa = 300 ringgit = 2,400 baht
The guesthouse is 3.7 km from the embassy, so that's a 45 minute walk. = free
That's about 3,000 baht. I might even be able to eat dinner and have half of a beer!
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Budget: I guess 4,500 all in. It might be 5,500 by tomorrow. To get a new ATM card, I would have to return to China.
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I mean from the low cost terminal (Air Asia).
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As the title would imply, I need a bit of advice about an upcoming visa run to KL for a non-b (single entry). It's a long story involving the loss of my wallet and Chinese ATM card that I won't bore you with the details of, but I need this done extremely cheaply. As such, I have a couple of questions that follow. Any advice would be appreciated. My employer selected the location and bought be a plane ticket despite me telling them I want to go to Penang. Tomorrow, I will be flying out in the afternoon, and I will be returning on Wednesday night. The paperwork is addressed to the embassy in KL, so I can't really change the destination.
1) Where is the cheapest room I can find with some sort of easy access to the embassy? I understand that cheap is a relative term, and I won't be in Thailand. However, I am not fooling around when I say cheap. I don't care if it is a dorm in a hostel in a slum. I need cheap!
2) How do I get from KLCC into town. Where the heck do I tell this 8 ringget bus to let me off to find this cheap room?
3) I read somewhere that the embassy will accept baht as payment for the visa. Is this accurate? I will set 2,000 aside for this.4) Is it best to buy ringgit here in Phuket, or should I wait until arrival?
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That is the list of required documents to convert at Phuket Immigration.
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Isn't this fun. It looks like a trip to Penang will be much easier than this headache!
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Just now, ubonjoe said:
Do you have the financial proof required to appy for it.
You need 400k baht in the bank or proof of 40k baht income.
My income will be higher than that as stated in my contract.
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Just now, ubonjoe said:
The application has to be accepted and verified at the local level before being sent to the division level for approval. A division level office does not accept applications.
That makes it much more clear! Thank you!
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I can get a non-o based on marriage to a Thai (with child).
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I know logic doesn't exist here, but why can't I just go to Hat Yai then? LoL
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My other line of thinking is that I should be able to convert to a non-immigrant o and begin the process now. My employer doesn't seem to like that idea and wants me on a non-b. I understand that takes two weeks even in Bangkok. Can I get the work permit while that is taking place? My head is spinning!
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My understanding is that Phuket will send it to Bangkok anyway, so my thought process is I can just take it there myself!
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That's my fear. Why did they tell me it could be done in Bangkok on the phone? Ok, so I need the work permit application approval to do it.
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Hello Trusty ThaiVISA Experts,
My situation is as follows. I arrived in Thailand on a 30 day visa exemption (US Passport). I found a job in Phuket at a resort. On my first visit to immigration to ask about converting my visa, the less than helpful volunteer claimed it was not possible. As time was running low on my permission to stay, I visited Phuket Immigration and extended my permission to stay for an additional 60 days based on visiting family. When speaking with an actual immigration official, she informed me that I could change my visa. She gave me the attached list of documents. However, the entire process takes them 2 weeks or so to complete. I need it done more quickly than that, so I called Had Yai who said it could not be done. So, I called Chaeng Wattana since I need to go to Bangkok anyway. She laughed, told me to get on a plane and taxi to the government complex, and I could be back home in Phuket in time for dinner. She was vague about if I needed WP3 to do this or not. I am concerned because it would not be the first time I was told one thing on the phone only to appear and be told another.
Is the list of documents the same? Is it possible to convert in Bangkok for a company based in Phuket? Do I need this WP3?Thanks for any help!
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Can/Do people still drive 'around' the border post to go into Burma?
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Just an update from the friend who ended up heading to Savannakhet. It appears that they are also going to be closed tomorrow. They informed him that they would not reopen until Tuesday. For those, like him, who dropped off their applications and passports this morning, they were informed that they could come and pick them up at 4:00 pm today. I don't think it will affect too many people, as most people probably avoid dropping off their applications on a Friday to avoid the weekend stay if possible. I just thought I would let you know ...
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FYI _ Someone in our office called the embassy in Vientiane to make absolutely sure because the documents the person has that was scheduled to go to Vientiane are specific to that location. Some of them are official documents that cannot simply be printed off. The embassy staff confirmed the above information. Upon getting this confirmation, we proceeded to call Savaanakhet to aks them if they would accept the documents even though they are specific to Vientiane. Given the unusual circumstances, they said it would not be a problem and they would accept them. The staffperson on teh phone was reluctant to give any of his details (name, etc.). So, we will just have to see how it goes.
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Yes, I meant Savannakhet which is why I typed 'consulate' rather than 'embassy'. Yes, you are correct. I had marked it as the third. Thanks for the correction. One of our employess we scheduled to head to Vientiane on Wednesday Night, so I am very glad you posted this.
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I think you will find the consulate to be closed on the 3rd as well, National Lao Day.
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Just out of curiosity, why not post the entire report here. Copy and Paste is the same for a large chunk of text as a small one. It wouldn't take any more work than copying and pasting the URL provided. At any rate, thanks for the report ....
Every blogger/site owner wants as much traffic as possible to their blogs/sites...
That's a given; however, I do like to assume that most people know this and would be less inclined to click the link as a result. Who knows what kind of ads, spam, malware, etc. might be at the other end of that link. If the objective of the forum is to assist people, it seems common sense to put the information here. With a link like this and no actual trip report in the post, will it be included in the recent trip reports that so many people frequently read and some rely upon for information about obtaining visas, etc.? I am merely asking out of pure curiousity. Yes, I own several websites, but I seldom link to them here or otherwise.
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Just out of curiosity, why not post the entire report here. Copy and Paste is the same for a large chunk of text as a small one. It wouldn't take any more work than copying and pasting the URL provided. At any rate, thanks for the report ....
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It's also coming down ... Actually, it's coming down and sideways here in Chonburi City. I thought we were going to avoid it, as it was hot and sunny when I first read this post. If I had known, I would have gone out for lunch. Now, we are being held captive by the torrential downpour and my son just keeps saying "pork and rice" because I promised to take him to our favorite restaurant for lunch. Sigh! I guess these aren't real problems, as it will stop eventually and we will have our pork and rice when it does!
Possible 3rd visa exempt in a row
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
I was able to get a non-o from Savanakhet before I was married based on my son. If I recall, I needed the birth certificate and a copy of mom's id card and tabian baan.