[Impossible to apply for a tourist visa online]

On 11/7/2019 at 10:35 AM, MeePeeMai said:

It seems quite obvious that it was created this way so that everyone would simply give up out of frustration.  You gotta hand it to them, they are really good at what they do (when they put their minds to it).

Yes it kind of fits with thai way of not directly telling you get lost but mess you around endlessly until just walk away to save your sanity .
 

As a lot of thai companies have pretty poor websites some of it down fact it outsourced cheap or to someones cousin but it so bad it seems likely it must be intended !

 

It not even a proper evisa option minus the website technical issues, absolute farce and hard believe things gone so bad on attaining visas and actually at immigration counters should you make it that far .
 

Another sad blow for UK is consulates it seems won't be issueing any visa at some point in 2020 !
Once online system spreads further you won't be able apply any other way and need be a resident, the future looks awful for visa issue ...

 

It basically highlights biggest issue in thailand and that is once flexibility of rules and who you can deal with gone you got no hope sorting clerical issues out at any level, it groundhog day or take a punt on vietnam .

 

[Extension after warning at BKK immigration]

1 hour ago, MarcB said:

While I agree with most of your post, I'd like to correct you on 1 point.

I know many foreigners who work at call centers, mostly Filipinas, and they all have a work permit, and make a more than decent income.

I also know 2 guys, who are "digital nomads" as they are called.

1 does SEO for companies in France, independently, and literally makes millions.

The other makes websites, and makes more than millions...

So "close to broke" for both groups is surely a misconception.

 

That being said, I do think that frequent visits or "raids" at schools and language centers might be productive in rooting out illegal workers, especially foreign "teachers".

I think that is the main group of foreigners trying to stay long time in Thailand on Visa exempts or TV's.

 

For drug dealers, or other "under the table jobs" it is more difficult,

Therefor they are checking bank statements and visa histories which show a way too long stay in the country, abnormally.

 

For digital nomads, I don't think they should be barred from being here.

They have a job, take care of themselves and could basically live anywhere in the world.

Unless they are occupied with a Thai business. That's a different story.

 

when working illegally in these sectors most I crossed paths with either at consulates, immi queues or travelling were close to broke .

A lot work in scam call centres or seo outbound leads and hooked on commissions that never happen,  you find most of them on the usual popular visa run services as want half a day turn around as working the next day so immigration police could catch them nicely packed  in a van if put some thought into it .

Numbers have dropped massively on westerners illegally working. filipinos get work visas far easier than westerners in many fields ...

[Extension after warning at BKK immigration]

7 hours ago, Kammie said:

 

Yes thanks guys, I went to Chaeng Watthana with hesitation but to my surprise I could get a 30 extension on top of my 30 stamp so all is well. Weird posts indeed, I'm apparently a dumb blond that doesn't know all the rules and therefore should be hanged!? If at any point someone from the border control or immigration would have told me that I could get in trouble at a later point for doing extensions or border runs I wouldn't have done it at all. 

When you went for the extension did they check/require TM30 ?

interested in current practise on this for visa exempt/setv cases at chaengwattana immigration ...

 

amazing why hassle at airport so bad but hand out the 30 day extensions with little evidence or questioning !

To me when you asking for extension it the proper time to be asking more questions and wanting finance proof and further proof of planned travel etc .

They really need implement better visa options for longer duration leisure tourism and tidy up on implementation of the rules .

A lot of those who spend 2 to 6 months leisure & tourism spend hell of a lot of money ...  When I came on long leisure breaks I spent a lot including dental medical care and picking up a suitcase of new clothes over the months, also spent money on some language courses, cooking, sport activities, new notebook and hdd and sd cards as some good deals and choices can be found here when had few months shop around .

 

The chunk that working illegally doing call centre work or seo work are so easy profile and pick out, most are close to broke so more stringent fund proof for a setv and double entry setv would give more genuine longer tourists better visa and finances already checked and approved. Nobody brings huge amounts cash it just silly have 20K cash when so easy have fee free atm cards with mastercard daily exchange rate from banks like starling or bring money in via app on you phone like transferwise, they need wise up and make the visa options and supporting docs work appropriately and actually hit illegal workers working not just by over zealous  assumptions at couple airports ...

[Visa on arrival extensiom]

Yes overstay even short term of few days not worth contemplating in current regime .

even few hours or 1 day not ignored completely by immi officers like was, I had a verbal reprimand over few hours and if had previous history senior officer said he charged and stamped me a day overstay (that was at swampy)

[Thai Tourism: "Half of foreigners" don't pay their hospital bills; director points finger at three nationalities]

Up airport tax to 150Bt at it cover some new silk shirts for Buck Banana and some new watches for fatty .

 

I would say half these losses got be specific hospital incompetence

Pretty much all hospitals I seen leave you die at the atm if no money comes out .

To think they letting thousands walk/sneak out with unpaid bills is simply not that believable, huge part of this has to be specific hospital incompetence or perhaps internal corruption ...

[E Visa Application From UK (What a nightmare)]

51 minutes ago, mickeymiles said:

hi does anyone know what type of doc you have to upload on no7?

Confirmation of legal residence in a country in which you are applying for the visa. (In case that you are not a national of the country in which you are applying for the visa.)

 

I was born in uk and applying for single tourist visa in london.

 

I was thinking about birth cert, but wanted to check first.

 

Many thanks

Most UK residents applying online for RTC London just use the passport details page again for this as that states your nationality/birth place .

 

I don't think the system smart enough allow no doc be attached here so you got attach something ,

 

Is the worst online system I seen to date .
I use pick uo a tourist when I passing through uk for a easy no extension hassle (tm30 hassle) 60 day stamped entry leisure break in thailand .

I simply don't bother any more, too much ballache and found easier fun places for 2 or 3 month leisure breaks .

[Tourism: Thailand set to introduce "Double Tourist Visa", govt secretary]

was silly to of removed the double entry tourist . just needed sensible financial proof for issue .

trouble is thailand don't do sensible well and current halfwit army government even less sensible than all before it ...
tourism never be what it was and expat community also fall short of what it should be ...

veitnam laughing though ....

[To many entries and denied entry]

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

It is not. 
 

The trend is that IO’s look at the last year +, not Jan to Dec.

Yes it is

the time span is mentioned in immigration act, look it up, it been linked to several times on this forum, one post in last couple months had good detail and links on it .

current trend is 180 day tourism in 1yr calendar year, This even been pressed to regional consulates via immigration .

[To many entries and denied entry]

1 hour ago, DeadFlagBlues said:

I'm sure you were told that,  and maybe that's the criteria that particular IO is using,  but it's most definitely not the norm. 

 

You only have to read the multitude of denial threads over the last few months to know that nobodys getting a clean slate come Jan 1.

It not so much you get a clean slate but you have far more chance of mitigating circumstances in your favour entering in january 2020 over december if had lot of time in thailand during 2019 but how beneficial will also depend on exact previous visa and extension use hence why I asked for OP's 2019 visa usage details .

 

[To many entries and denied entry]

4 hours ago, DeadFlagBlues said:

No disrespect to you, but that's terrible advice. 

 

This 180 days that people are quoting isn't real.  It's not part of immigration law,  and therefore, most definitely, does not refresh at the start of a calender year.  

 

If the IO thinks you've spent too much time in Thailand recently on tourist/ed visa's and/or visa exemptions, then you're done.  What exactly constitutes too much time is completely at the discretion of the IO. 

 

The 2 land border visa exemption runs per year refresh on Jan 1, as that is part of immigration law. 

180 days is referenced in the immigration act and been posted in image and links on here more than once.

You want quote me fully not just on the one line .

 

Also in Thailand rules are not totally important as no one follows them to a T and you don't get far quoting rules, what important is keeping track of IO trends .

Current trend is 180 days in 1yr (jan 1st to dec 31st) . 180 days and repeat almost back to back use of voa and setv and extensions is parameters they using .

[To many entries and denied entry]

OP

exactly what entries you had fro sep 2018 to oct 2019 and in what order, you only get 2 land border voa's .

Did you have extensions on all entries, was it really only 1 setv ?

You likely get in in jan 2020 as the 180 day stay they assess you on refreshes 1st jan every year although exact visa history from your previous rather recent 13months mainly in thailand stay and luck on day going play on final outcome .
Reality is no one really knows exact answers as thai IO's at the airports and even some borders being very awkward at times and not following any exact rules or pattern .

[To many entries and denied entry]

6 hours ago, Timwin said:

It seems a repeat customer is now bad for business! Totally new, brave world tourist economy!

Yes, it getting silly, be far better if let him in even if only for 7 days but stamped a remark in passport so can't do it again with a time lapse or requiring a visa from home country .
 

[Non - O at savankhet]

23 hours ago, Odin Norway said:

Why in the world would you leave any original document at home even if a check list dont say that you need it.Is it really to heavy to bring all the possible documentation you may have in case they ask for it. Im just tired of jumping when they say so.More fun to pull it out when they are trying to make things hard for you.Until they run out of options and give in.

This is some good logic, I tend take bit more than needed and also have blank signed A4 in case need reprint something at a copy shop .

I never failed on any official paperwork and been able resolve issues on the spot due to little bit belt and braces approach.

With current trend of things being more difficult and rules changing daily it very sensible and efficient be sensibly over prepared ...

[Will I be allowed in? Told I need 12 month visa?]

certainly should not be getting a 1 year visa .
He far from living in thailand and basically OI giving him a hard time for nothing .

Suppose best he could is a METV but for price and hassle not much benefit over SETV or trying luck visa exempt .

Technically shouldn't have an issue visa exempt few times a year with his sort of duration and gaps between travel but real issue is way IO's at BKK airport reacting to these cases, totally unjust totally variable rules and wrong/poor advise on what visas should be used .

[Advice from BKK Immigration Officer : Get the correct visa !]

For short term visiting family in thailand, medical trip such as dental work and anything leasure the SETV is the correct choice.

swampy and DMK are taking the p155 currently, gone from encouraging abuse to over enforcing poor rules.
Fact they don't change rules officially or allow some entry but on;y 7days speaks volumes on how this being forced at certain check points.
Going get much worse and shame for those tied to the place, Junta quite simply want keep western influences in thailand totally minimal .

[Tourist visa]

Yes it is a complete mess and not a evisa at all but a online application booking .

If you near a consulate in UK you could get a setv via them while still able to (is rumour the uk consulates won't be doing any visas after first quarter of 2020)

[Refused entry at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from London Heathrow with visa - help returning]

On 10/26/2019 at 6:30 AM, bristolgeoff said:

also they take your picture and your record will come up of visits.maybe away from bkk u do have a chance,but with fingerprints if they use now and face u could be refused still.they are getting tuff now that is what i have being told recently

fingerprints and pictures make no difference as they get same history record purely from passport system history, all face recognition and fingerprint do is make it harder for someone else take the place of person the passport for .
The desk terminals do not show all history and that why still browse passports manually and unfortunately many IO's don't fully look at dates so some people get grief even if long gaps out country as IO's missed that .
When I got question at swampy it took them 20 minutes print out history and even then it was missing details and interpreted wrong, I had old passports and was able show missing entries on Visas and fact I out of country over 10 months .

Between the IT system and staff it a complete farce . I was very polite and middle aged female officer did have a brain so all got sorted, amazing thing too is had 4 officers involved at one point and between 4 of them english was impossible option, I speak thai but how people manage with poor english and poor or no thai is frightening thought lol .
It a very difficult country have problems in, great fun when running smoothly but issues can turn into nightmares in less than 30 minutes in land of smiles hiding incompetence and ignorance .

[visa run still possible]

13 hours ago, Max69xl said:

The official changes in rules are not many, even if you go back years. What happens at the borders, especially land crossings are not official changes and are not easy to anticipate or keep up with. Immigration are just fed up with people with endless visa runs to neighbouring countries. If you show up with a proper visa from your home country and have no strange earlier history,there will be no problem. 

there will be little chance of problems if he do his due diligence and get up to speed on current  rule implementation  .

Official rules mean sweet FA, follow rules or quoting the rules don't work here you got follow/work with the current implementation of rules and use due diligence to give yourself less ballache with cranky officials .

They had tm30 and onward flight rules for decades but I never needed it  in my last 20yrs, turn up at an immigration counter or local office just thinking official rules same so all same same happy days and you in for a big shock lol .
Regional consulate also changed massively too to point of being almost useless even for pretty genuine tourist/leisure use .

Lots of things changed since OP last here from importance of onward travel proof and monetary fund requirement, tm30 regulation, 3 visa exempt system flag in 12month period, 2 visa exempt at land borders in 1 year. 
You can get a lot more questions or be asked for onward flight even if no frequent/current history at the airports as they targeting single male western travellers mainly .

Funny thing is you would get impression don't like longer term tourism leisure stayers but you turn up at immigration for 30 day extension of stay for multiple times and they take your 1900 baht and give very little grief if TM30 in place .

Problem is they happy with it for more than 2 decades and to be honest it incredibly easy make system better/less abusable than current mess of rules and poorly trained staff .

[visa run still possible]

There are many changes since OP last was in thailand, he needs do his own due diligence and act accordingly to make process simple and workable for him .

official rules mean sweat FA, rules/enforcement of the day at different borders/cunsulates are what count and you got keep up if want minimal hassle on your vacation time .

[visa run still possible]

The lady told you wrong , many IO's at the counters barely understand spoken or written english and understand visa rules even less .

You can get 30 day extension at immigration office quite easily .

Do be aware you will need TM30 to get an extension of 30 days.

If you do not know what TM30 is research it .

If the extension seems difficult just do a land border visa run if not done 2 already within the year .

Don't worry but educate yourself as many rule changes recently so not same as your previous experience in thailand .

[Thai Consulate in Savannakhet, Laos (REPORT)]

4 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Maybe that's because you stay "conveniently" around/nearby to the consulate.

People who don't want to be "bored" and are prepared to be "inconvenienced", get out a bit more, explore the place, and have a great night out where there is laughter & music and great food and drink and plenty of uni students enjoying a night out.

A great "ambience" as they say.

I've been coming to Savannakhet for 15 years now, and it is better every year, exponentially better than say, even 5 years ago.

 

Edit,

hanging around with other visa runners is not my idea of a night out, let alone expanding my horizons.

Having a night out with Laos students, eating, drinking and chatting with them, listening to good pub bands playing Laos/Thai songs is my idea of a good night out in a far away town.

You enjoy yourself out there now...

+1
if make a little effort plenty see and do for a night or 2 and far healthier than the convenience of hanging around a hotel with bunch of visa runners .

Even from avalon it only 20 minutes walk down to old town .

[Is Chiang mai airport a good entry point?]

On 10/7/2019 at 10:27 AM, mockingbird said:

Really?  Are you sure about that?

Do you have any links to these 'few'?

 

I've read a couple refusal reports from CM
reality is with more long history users likely turn up at CM they likely adopt a policy like DM or swampy if unlucky .

Any airport ideally you want a plan B .

 

What really amazes me is the hard faced you come too many times line at some entry points yet if go to CW for example with lot of back to back history they give you extension on all your back to back entries with minimal questions and no real bad attitude .

current scenario is bit of a mess, ideally needs proper rules in place across the board. up to 2yrs ago you could pretty much come and go as pleased and if interviewed and you had funds you in, can't really blame the people using the setv or visa exempts as immigration happy for the visitors for last 2 decades and pretty much aided and abetted the usage .
If they want change rules that fine but they need do it clearly and equally across the board .

Vietnam currently what thailand was in term of easy casual visa entry for westerners with some money in pocket . Would assume attitude/immigration change in thailand purely down to junta stance on western farang and that stance has more influence in certain areas of internal contact hence no real structured changes across the board .

 

[Laos still giving visas?]

Lao consulate rule is no setv for previous stay history over 90days.

Things tightened up due to huge numbers of hassle applications visa run companies dumped on them, they became overcrowded and had too many visa abuse applications so policy changed and general policy on visa issue anywhere and at immigration entry has changed abruptly .

 

[Do I need a visa to help gf sell food]

I use go visit/help at a market store, even met the then mayor of bangkok, few news teams and had plain clothe customs police snooping around for arrests and never had an issue but could of if unlucky or had thai's on market who took dislike to it .

It is risky even if not doing much as once busted you got big hassle and likely blacklisted once deported, best approach is play safe and more so these days as really not as forgiving as was even 3 or 4 years ago .
Quite sad really, I had a guy who had english style pub in my soi, he use just sit customer side looking bored and could do nothing as had some hassle with immigration already, his thai wife had do all work or hire thais do simple jobs he couldn't get done himself discreetly .

[Proof of leaving required with METV at DMK]

i think lot of posters and immigration missing point really, the visa covers tourism and leasure and medical use so got lots of scope in reality.

I spent more than 9 months in thailand purely leisure and tourism and certainly never considered myself abusing the visa .

I'll be back for some dental work at some point and maybe like stay for 6 months, once again setv or metv be right for it and not abuse .
Problem is immigration gone from lapse to being overly stringent and completely rude in some cases .