underthesky

First I had 9 months on a Special Tourist Visa. Then 1 month out. Then a SETV for 3 months followed by a visa exemption for 2.5 months (no nights spent outside of Thailand between those two stays; no questions asked at the Nong Khai border for that VE). At the end of last month I did a quick visa run to Vientiane and got my latest SETV. However, I was questioned while entering at the Nong Khai border on that most recent entry about why I had been in Thailand so long. The officer asked where I going, had I family here, and what I was doing in Thailand. When I said I was here for tourism, the officer said I couldn't be when I had been in the country so long. He then asked for extra details about the address I was going to stay at before stamping me in. As I was getting my passport, I could hear the farang in the line to my left being asked where he was going to (a somewhat daft question, as this info gets put on the arrival card). I wasn't around to know if he got the same grief as I did though.

10 days ago I got a SETV in Vientiane after being in Thailand the previous 5.5 months, as well as most of last year.

Thank you - that's exactly the info I was asking about. The immigration office? It's likely to be Jomtien.

I'm not British. I've checked the turnaround time and it seems doable. The tourist visa entry gives me 60 days upfront, so that would be the time I have to get the new passport. I've been out of my home country for years and my current passport will be full long before I get home.

If I get a new passport while in Thailand on a tourist visa, can I still get the 30-day extension without fuss? Do any stamps have to be transferred first? If it matters, I will be entering via the Nong Khai land border.

Is a tourist visa with a red stamp on it still valid for entry?

I've just been messaging a poster on another website who says he's had 4 back-to-back tourist visas in the last 12 months. The first was from a Middle Eastern embassy, and the next 3 were from Vientiane, the last of which was in January. He's off to Vientiane again next week for another one.

After the 9 months on the STV, I had 1 month out. Then my current stint (1 SETV from HCM + 1 VE from land crossing) which will amount to 5.5 months and take me to the end of this month.

I've got the same travel history as that guy, as well having spent 9 months here on the Special Tourist Visa in 2022, with a 1-month break before my current stint. I was planning on going to Laos (Vientiane) for another SETV at the end of this month. Looks like I might be wasting my time going to the embassy?

Can such an extension in Jomtien be easily done by an agent?

I might be getting a new passport later this year so I'm curious about this. If I enter Thailand on a tourist visa through the Nong Khai border, then get a new passport, would I have to go to Nong Khai immigration to get the entry stamp transferred over?

I opened one with Bangkok Bank on a tourist visa about a year ago. I had to get a rather expensive residency cert from my embassy first. Bangkok Bank at Siam Paragon let me have a debit card and bank book, but not internet banking. First they gave me a China Union Pay card, but I went back to have it changed to a Mastercard. Fee is 600 thb per year

Nonthaburi

The owner of the condo I would like to rent says he has no idea about tm30. If I have a copy of the blue book and rental contract, can I do the registration myself? Do I have to go to the immigration office or do it online?

What's best way to rent for a condo for 6 months? Airbnb is giving me options, but I wonder if it would be better doing a direct rent. I've checked some of the property websites and a lot of the prices look a chunk cheaper. But having inquired about a few condos, I've been told 'no' to such a short contract. Any tips? Nonthaburi area/near MRT purple line would be my preferred place.