[Dual pricing at Thai hospital case: Decision delayed after case handed to judges]

27 minutes ago, bluejets said:

Dual pricing in a form applies all over the world.

Most would know how airport cafes charge like scrub bulls ....hit the tourist/traveller.

Service station cafes the same thing when travelling around compared to your corner cafe.

Get over it and move on.......

 

That's not an example of dual pricing based on foreigners, skin colour or race though is it? A British person travelling through a Heathrow airport and stopping at a cafe will pay the same as a Chinese person in that cafe. Likewise, in service stations, they are not based on race or skin colour; which is the problem that people have.

 

Anyone who sticks up for the Thai dual pricing that is discriminating non Thais are either those Thai wannabe farangs or agree with discrimination; there is zero argument for it.

[I'm really over old idiots in Thailand]

I lived in a condo in On Nut a few years back and I saw this guy in his 50s (I guess) around the complex. It would wind me up, that he would interrupt my work with no thought of others, but his negativity and slagging off of Thais was non stop. He had no filter in his brain that his negativity would fuel others to avoid him and hence I did. I would literally hide behind walls a couple of times if he was coming in the opposite direction my way; as once you say hi, he'd just stop and talk non stop, be negative, slag off Thais and no escape from him. Glad I left that place ????

[Koh Samui: Immigration nab Hungarian widow on 4,165 day overstay]

16 minutes ago, fakser said:

You guys will always mock and laugh from any official regulatory legal act. Hello, it’s almost 12 years overstay. Not a week. Not a month. We, the normative people sweat our blood every year to arrange the money and the documents to extend our visas but it was not touching her. This woman expressed the lowest level of law abiding and should be punished severely.  

555 are you serious? People should mock and laugh all they want. You really think she is a threat to national security for which the article was hinting? You honestly believe that they just so happened to spot her while walking down the beach? You don't think the authorities have been tipped off by a jealous Thai or that some police or immigration officer is losing some pocketmoney now her husband has died.

So of course, we can mock this legal act. It's pathetic going after a woman like this, all for a photo opp.

She's been dumb and taking the mick for sure, but let's not think for one second we "sweat blood every year"; yeah it's tough, it's hard work and frustrating - but why would anyone have a problem what anyone else does? If it bothers you, you need to reassess what gets you so annoyed.

[Online 90 day reporting available from April 1st]

With the website (frustratingly) down; will send by mail. My 90 day report is due on the 9th March; does anyone know if the 15 days 'before' requirement by mail includes the 7 days after? Or am I too late? As the website is down, I'm 'hoping' they will be a little lenient.

'Your registered mail must be sent to the Immigration office at least 15 days before the due date of notification.'

[Dual OVER pricing still active in Krabi]

Anyone who doesn't see a problem with this, really is missing the point and their reasoning doesn't make sense. It doesn't matter how rich you are or how poor you are (many Thais these days are much wealthier than expats and visiting tourists), signalling out a huge potential audience and penalising a minority is not only rude but discrimination. I know other countries do it too, so shame on them.
Luckily, it sounds like there is pressure and solutions coming such as https://www.facebook.com/foreignerfriendlythailand. When places see that they are being avoided due to their dual pricing, hopefully they will realise the errors of their ways and come on board.

[STV: Worldwide interest is low - and few Elite Card holders keen to return]

47 minutes ago, Ganesh108 said:

With all the STV hoops, the Thai government seems like Somchai, the taxi driver from Roi-Et, who, despite having zero business, still refuses to switch on the meter and demands 200 Baht for a 60 Baht trip.

This ^^

There is nothing more infuriating getting into a car with such Somchais that say "You rich farang! You like Thai girl! Like boom boom? Farang rich. You rich man!"

It's quite obvious that some in power, just think most foreigners have more money than brain cells and will happily depart with it, within Thai constraints. Most people who want to come back are either wanting to see their other half/families, go to their condos or are sexpats looking for some fun and neither will want to stay in a quantine hotel or pay for weeks in hotels.

[Porn star Ron Jeremy hit with 20 more sex charges, including 15 year-old]

It's amazing to think that some people will jump straight away to blame the victims and stick up for the accuser. I think you have to be a bit warped in the head to do that. It's like all those people that were sticking up for Jimmy Saville and accusing the victims of lying and looking for a pay day, the man was a serial molesting, necrophiphiliac paedophile.
These predators will always be in denial that they did wrong, just the same as serial killers and wife beaters, it's never their fault, it's the victims. How people can stick up this lot is beyond thought. yes, innocent until proven guilty, but to quickly jump in and defend the accused and basically hint that the victims are lying, shows a warped sense of morals and priorities.

[Online 90 day reporting available from April 1st]

10 hours ago, Hurricane51 said:

     For further information regarding The 90-day Notification Report Service, please contact the Immigration Branch Office in your residence area.

 

That sounds encouraging, as the last time I asked I got a vague answer and then some pointing in the general direction of "out of this room".

 

 

I got that alert as well after pressing Submit. So does that mean all is working and all okay? (it just refereshes back to page 1 for Personal Information for me.

[Immigration: Reporting Address Changes no Longer Required!]

1 hour ago, onera1961 said:

I never cared about TM28 or TM30 unlike scared farangs who are afraid to pay a meager fine of less than $100 if and when needed. This news does not have any effects on me.

 

I'm sorry but your response is one of the most arrogant replies I've ever read on here, I really hope you are joking if so I take back what I say.
 

1. No-one is "scared" of the TM28 and TM30, it's just a cause of unnecessary time wasted and loss of money for farangs and Thais. The amount of expats etc who have stopped travelling around at time off will hit locals in the pockets too.
2. The news is not based around "you". The world isn't based around you, get a reality check.
3. The only people who wern't annoyed with these stupid forms were Thai Apologists or people are happy for life to treat them like hanging fruit. While registering your address is a complete understandable practice, reporting where you are for going to a different town is just stupid, unrealistic and controlling.

[Immigration: Reporting Address Changes no Longer Required!]

1 hour ago, Lashay said:

Yet the whole issue over last few months is they were using TM30 as an temporary address update and residence form combined. Hence the <deleted> of  you go stay overnight elsewhere and then either you or landlord had to do it all over again. Your legal residence does not change if you go on holiday.

 

While early days highly optimistic this is them walking back whole thing in typical Thai manner, first they misapplied the law and then after fightback repeal wrong law to make whole thing go away

Exactly! ^^ This.

I went to Chiangwattana last week to report moving address; I asked which forms I need to fill in the staff didn't really know so gave me both TM30 and TM28. I filled in both.

They threw away the TM28 and kept the TM30; so hence very confusing.

So, would it be correct saying that TM28 is for if you MOVE address and TM30 is for if you let's say go to a different province for the weekend? However, CW is using TM30 for both?

[Extensions - BE WARNED - TM30 Required. 3 Queues. Disaster.]

This clearly is a dumb move (yes I know it's an old law from 1978, but why make it a big thing now?); okay so registering the Rabbit Card with a passport was dumb (money laundering, really???), but that didn't cause this mass annoyance.

I'm hearing it's causing mass stress for a lot of people at CW Immigration and some of the staff too are visibly getting annoyed by the amount of people who haven't heard about it - but not everyone spends their days on ThaiVisa and are aware of it.

What I can't understand is this - I can understand the registering part, but not if you go away for 24 hours - why does the landlady/landlord need to report these things, if the Hotels do it anyway? It makes you feel like you are on watch and not trusted, causes annoyance with your landlord and annoyance for yourself and this could/will have some impact to the country as a tourist destination and financially. Reasons are:

 

a) The foreigners living here, retired, working, enjoying life and respecting the country, who like to travel around now and again; helping tourism in other areas. Might not think it is worth all the hassle now.
b) Thais who rent out to foreigners. May not wish to rent out now, as not worth all the hassle.

c) Entrepeneurs and Investors - don't wish to deal with being monitored like this. Not worth the hassle.
d) The foreigners who will have enough and just think okay, this is far too stupid. I'm off.

But, will Immigration realise or even care about the above? Would they be too scared to lose face to ever admit the impact? Then, they will come out with another stupid scheme to grab more money from the foreigners that are left.

 

[Have job offer but visa running out]

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Have you done a 30 day extension of that entry?

 

I doubt you will be able to get a single entry tourist visa in Vietnam with a the stamp on the visa. You could try though,

Unless you many visa exempt entries by air I don't think you will have a problem entering the country.

I actually wasn't aware you could do a 30 day extension on a 30 day exempt. Thank you.

I have never done any visa exempt entries by air, only 3 by border. 1 last year, two this year,

[Have job offer but visa running out]

2 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That would not be enough to get a non-b visa for working. A work permit application approval letter or a WP3 is required to apply for one.

Thanks UbonJoe.

I will mention this to the company to get sorted before I fly out of here.

[Have job offer but visa running out]

3 minutes ago, BritTim said:

The obvious solution is to have the company courier you the documents you need to apply for the Non B  in Vietnam, and to apply for the Non B there.

 

You could also get a replacement passport, after which getting an SETV in Vietnam would be possible.

 

I would not recommend trying to return visa exempt via an airport with your history.

Thanks BritTim. If all options point to a replacement passport, will have to do that.

Would flying through be okay though if I have letters etc from the Labour dept re the job and the documents you mention?

[Have job offer but visa running out]

Hi - not sure if anyone can be of any help on my query here.

 

I am currently on my second visa exempt from the border that runs out in a few weeks. Before that I was on an SETV and before that I was on a Non-B for about 4 years while working for an IT company.

 

My situation is this - I have found a position for work with another IT company, but the application etc will not be ready by the time my visa runs out and will all be ready a few weeks afterwards.

 

My query is this - I will move to somewhere - most probably, Vietnam - until the application is ready; but how do I get back into Thailand?

 

* My visa exempts from border run will be over for the calendar year, so I cannot do this.

* If I apply for a SETV in Vietnam (with then this being converted to a Non Imm B when back in Thailand, seems the normal procedure), I have a red stamp in my passport, which was why I get rejected in Vientienne about 6 months back and means I cannot get in other places too. So, not sure what will help me here.

* If I fly back with visa exempt through the airports, worried I will run into issues with the IO etc.

 

Must stress, I'm not working illegally or anything and this company is all legit. Is there anything I can get from the company or Labor dept before I leave for Vietnam to help with any application for a SETV. Or can I just apply for a Non B there?

 

Regarding the company, I know they successfully have employed in other employees from other Asian countries, but I'm one of their first farang I think, so some of my questions to them, they are a little unsure of.

[TM30 for SETV extension at CW required?]

18 hours ago, Brad103 said:

I’m going tomorrow to extend an exempt

stamp. Feeling pretty worried and not

too hopeful after reading that thread, because I don’t think the owner of

my apartment has ever reported me. Never been asked before at immigration, but I’ll report back tomorrow. 

If they refuse me, I suspect I’ll also have to go check into a hotel tomorrow evening and make sure they report me to immigration, and then I’ll go back to CW immigration the following day... hopefully that would work?

 

Hope it goes well Brad, please update us. This whole thing is a mess; apart from on ThaiVisa, most foreigners I've spoken to haven't a clue what the TM30 is and one can guess many Thais who rent out to foreigners have no clue too. Really has not been made properly clear at all. They should drop the fines and if they need the TM30, then implement it, but don't go around fining people who have never even heard about it, will put off many Thais renting to foreigners.

["Big Joke" removed from post of immigration boss]

1 minute ago, geoffbezoz said:

Or maybe on second thoughts his policy of good guys in, bad guys out has back fired ?  Let's face it is the bad guys, the boiler room scammers, retirement visa agents and general criminals that were perhaps wealthy enough to pay the biggest bribes, whereas the good guys amongst us could not.  This has hit the pocket far up the RTP tree perhaps so a new man needs to be brought in who will reverse that policy.

 

So the next phase could well be "Bad guys in, good guys out" ????

Spot on. Bad guys have the money, have the contacts, the non-morals to get past this. Whereas some people who do a lot of good, may not have the financial resources, so get penalized.

["Big Joke" removed from post of immigration boss]

Yeah I heard about this a few hours back. It's apparently being reported on Thai news on the radio. Not 100% confirmed though by the looks of things. It's here but all in Thai:

https://www.sanook.com/news/7736530/

[Tourist Visa Extension denied at Immigration Office due to missing tm30 slip]

Which Immigration office was this? I did an extension recently at CW, but nothing about TM30 was brought up, completely no idea if my landlady has filed it.

[Thai Embassy in Vientiane issues warning to visa runners]

37 minutes ago, sanook 1 said:

Would be great If you could update and also check If the notice published here is still there? I was there on the 7 th dec and didnt see anything outside the gate or inside the counsulate. 

 I didn't see that notice at all, but I did get rejected because I had an old Tourist Visa from there with the dreaded stamp, but have four years of non-B through work since (I ended up getting Visa on arrival for 30 days).

 

What I will say is that it was very busy (I handed in my passport on Thursday 20th), DO NOT listen to the "agents" outside; I know someone recently said they paid an agent out there to do it for them, while they enjoyed a Laos beer, but you certainly can't do that now or on busy days. They say they can line up for you when its busy, but you need to get a queue number first. There is NO lining up for queue number. You line up, hand in your passport, then pick up a queue number for the next day. The queue just for that took about 2-3 hours.

 

Lots of warning signs that say No Agents etc.

 

One tip I will say, for your Queue number the next day, you are likely to be called roughly during these times (well what I noticed anyway):
0-80 - 1.30pm to 2.00pm
80-170 - 2.00pm to 2.30pm
170-250 - 2.00pm to 3.00pm
And anything above 250 fro 3pm onwards.

[Thai Embassy in Vientiane issues warning to visa runners]

Yeah it's tougher in Vientiane. I have just left a company in Thailand after around 4 years and been on a non-b; but because of past Tourist Visas from Vientiane from 4 years ago with a red stamp, my visa was rejected. I assumed because I have a non-b and work permit for four years, it wouldn't have been a problem, but past visas are taken into account.

[Cancelling Visa and Work Permit Question]

Thanks UbonJoe. This is where I am getting confused as a couple of friends were given 7 days without having to pay extension.

 

So you do literally have to leave that day from Bangkok unless you apply for extension too? Madness rule if so as not really even possible unless fly.

[Cancelling Visa and Work Permit Question]

I will soon be cancelling my Visa and Work Permit in Bangkok. I have a couple of questions if anyone can answer (I have looked at previous posts but there seems to be mixed information regarding the 7 days).

 

1. When I cancel my visa and WP on my last working day, do you get a 7 days extension or do you have to leave the country that day?

2. As I understand, there is a 7 days extension, however, is there a charge for this?

3. If you get the 7 days extension do you have to show onward travel? I was planning on going to Laos for a SETV.

 

Any info, gladly appreciated.

[Where Do You Live?]

Keep the photos coming folks. Looks lush and well done for finding something that not only looks beautiful but looks perfect. Though I'm slightly envious, ignore the jealous ones who get off on belittling others to deal with their own hangups. Sure is a wonderful country.

[SURVEY: What can be done to improve Songkran?]

When I lived in Pattaya Tai, the locals only got involved on the last day. Anyone coming down our soi was fair game that day, but they would stop motos, then pour water on their heads/necks, dab some powder on their cheeks and let them go. No one EVER tried knocking a driver/passenger off of their moto. When someone of an obviously elderly age came by, they were treated with dignity and respect by all, including the wee ones barely out of diapers. A small cup of water dribbled over their hands and a little on the backs of their necks and a little daubing of powder on their cheeks. People like me (mid-40s male foreigner) were fair game for everything, even from the little ankle-biters I had supplied with the water pistols and powder !!

A considerable contrast to what happens in other parts of the city of course where people (mostly foreign tourists) deliberately target people on bikes by aiming water cannons or buckets of ice-ladened water directly into their faces. Or the other (mostly foreign tourists) who think it's a hoot to "add a little something" to the water they (usually) try to spray into other peoples eyes. One guy a few years ago had been adding chili or pepper sauce to the water in his super-soaker, because you know, spraying people in the eyes with spicy hot chili (or pepper) water is fun. (What kind of f*ing moron actually thinks that ?) Others have reportedly found that having a super-soaker means never needing a urinal. Kill 2 birds with one stone (or piss) by relieving your bladder and filling your other "squirt" gun. (Again, what kind of moron thinks it's funny to squirt people in the face with piss ? Probably infected with a dozen different STDs too.)

The best thing they could do for Songkran is crack down on those that take it too far. They start throwing people into the slammer for a couple of days and slapping them with hefty fines and it won't be long before they learn that there are certain things you just don't do. Like deliberately trying to injure other people.

Face it, you would not get away with doing that any other time of the year.

The other thing is of course cracking down on the drunk driving (across the whole country). Got a long ways to go on that front.

where people (mostly foreign tourists) deliberately target people

Please. Just as many Thais throwing buckets of water at m'bike riders as farangs. Let's not wear the saffron glasses.

What I don't understand is why they still ride bikes down Beach Rd when they KNOW they are going to be targeted. Not like it's a new thing.

Have you ever been to a celebration in a Thai ( not tourist ) town? Full of morons throwing huge fireworks at people. It's so dangerous I won't leave the house for the duration.

They start throwing people into the slammer for a couple of days

Are you planning to set up a few stalags around the country? There'd be virtually no one left on the streets and Thai jails just aren't big enough for what you suggest.

While I agree that Thais can be just as bad; it does tend to be certain farangs who go way over the top and over excitable and just plain annoying.

Have to agree with KerryD. There is no excuse, zero; for blaming the motorcyclists; it's simple; use your brain. You can get people killed; just don't fire at people who are not involved. Easy solution. People who fire at bikes and risk the people getting killed are lacking IQ. To blame the motorcyclist is like blaming a rape victim for what she was wearing.

Having anyone put urine or child pepper or whatever else - and I blame locals for this as well - are just scum, pure selfish idiots.

I love and hate Songkran; you can have great water fights and have the time of your life. Sometimes, I want to head out without being covered in powder. Just need to use common sense at times, then it's all fine.