General Reports

[IMembr]

Be interested to know about the opportunities for mongering in and Korea.

Mongering in Korea is expensive, not very accessible to foreigners, and is now about the same as it would be in the US.

[Tugga27]

You contradict yourself. You say misleading but then you admit that you can be Blacklisted if you overstay.

The laws of Thailand are there for them to enforce and create an income source. If you overstay an immigration officer can do whatever they want to you for breaking the law. Fine you and Blacklist you. Don't let them get the satisfaction of taking your money and marking your passport with a negative flag. Extend or go home.

RL.

Come off it buddy.

It's a fear mongering video.

If you're a few days over when leaving, you pay the 500 Baht a day fine and that's it.

Period of overstay Banned from re-entering.

More than 90 days 1 year.

More than 1 year 3 years.

More than 3 years 5 years.

More than 5 years 10 years.

That's assuming you don't get arrested, then all bets are off.

[Robert Long]

Pretty misleading video IMO.

At the start, the guy is pretty much saying you will be banned if you're a day over at the airport.

If you present yourself at Immigration you will only be blacklisted for 1 year if you have overstayed.

By 90 days or more. The periods then increase due to how long you have overstayed.

It then changes if you are arrested.

Then you can be banned from between 1 to 5 years for any overstay.

So for the person who messes up their dates and is a few days over, it's no big deal.

Having said that, it's obviously wise not to go into overstay.

You contradict yourself. You say misleading but then you admit that you can be Blacklisted if you overstay.

The laws of Thailand are there for them to enforce and create an income source. If you overstay an immigration officer can do whatever they want to you for breaking the law. Fine you and Blacklist you. Don't let them get the satisfaction of taking your money and marking your passport with a negative flag. Extend or go home.

RL.

[Robert Long]

A very good explanation on the TM-30.

https://www.thethailandlife.com/tm30...e4e-1204666177

RL.

[Smoothy]

I travelled to North Korea with a Brazilian passport this year. Trump won't know it.

I'm sure Trump personally wouldn't give a shit. How was the North Korean pussy?

[Penguin69]

As a Brazilian, I can stay 6 months a year in Thailand, maximum 3 months for every trip. It's better for me to use my Brazilian passport than my American passport. I only use my American passport when I go to the USA and Canada, I used my Brazilian passport when I travelled to Mongolia, China, North Korea. As an American citizen, I can't travel to North Korea, I travelled to North Korea with a Brazilian passport this year. Trump won't know it.

Be interested to know about the opportunities for mongering in and Korea.

[MongerForSex]

Pretty misleading video IMO.

At the start, the guy is pretty much saying you will be banned if you're a day over at the airport.

If you present yourself at Immigration you will only be blacklisted for 1 year if you have overstayed.

By 90 days or more. The periods then increase due to how long you have overstayed.

It then changes if you are arrested.

Then you can be banned from between 1 to 5 years for any overstay.

So for the person who messes up their dates and is a few days over, it's no big deal.

Having said that, it's obviously wise not to go into overstay.

As a Brazilian, I can stay 6 months a year in Thailand, maximum 3 months for every trip. It's better for me to use my Brazilian passport than my American passport. I only use my American passport when I go to the USA and Canada, I used my Brazilian passport when I travelled to Mongolia, China, North Korea. As an American citizen, I can't travel to North Korea, I travelled to North Korea with a Brazilian passport this year. Trump won't know it.

[Syzygies]

Having said that, it's obviously wise not to go into overstay.

The period of overstay matters a lot. I have been over my automatic 30 days in the past by just 1 to 3 days and paid the fine at the airport. No big deal.

The fine amount is not trivial, so is probably cheaper to extend your stay at Immigation, but wastes your time.

Those that develop a habit of overstay or overstay very long time are looking for trouble. A small number of days is a misdemeanor I guess.

Overstaying extensions may be considered worse than initial overstays.

I think an extension will not be granted if have already reached overstay. Could happen if some guy goes to Immigration only to find they are closed for a public holiday or two. Probably happens a lot. I believe it is a good idea to go for the extension several days before your stay expires, to have a safety margin if something goes wrong. I went a week before last time.

[Tugga27]

I had never seen a report on this in the forum. Something to think about if you are the type that waits until the last day to renew or just doesn't care about Thai immigration rules.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsP9GaCi26g

RL.

Pretty misleading video IMO.

At the start, the guy is pretty much saying you will be banned if you're a day over at the airport.

If you present yourself at Immigration you will only be blacklisted for 1 year if you have overstayed.

By 90 days or more. The periods then increase due to how long you have overstayed.

It then changes if you are arrested.

Then you can be banned from between 1 to 5 years for any overstay.

So for the person who messes up their dates and is a few days over, it's no big deal.

Having said that, it's obviously wise not to go into overstay.

[Robert Long]

I had never seen a report on this in the forum. Something to think about if you are the type that waits until the last day to renew or just doesn't care about Thai immigration rules.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsP9GaCi26g

RL.

[J A Karl]

Nong. One of the owners of Snow White, Cupid and a few other PSE massage shops just opened a restaurant right next to Cupid massage near Thonglor BTS station between Sukhumvit 38 and 40.

There are a few ex SW and Cupid girls working there so there might be a good chance to get a different kind of dessert.

[Syzygies]

To get to the Chaeng Wattana Immigration Building from the lower Sukhumvit area, I ride the BTS train to the Mo Chit station, walk down the steps on the Chatuchak Park side and take a motorcycle taxi at the posted rate of 200 baht right to the front door of the correct building and nearest to the office I need right inside that front door. I don't haggle or negotiate that posted price. It is a once a year trip (prior to this new TM30 report form nonsense, that is) and maybe that is why I have always been taken directly to the right spot.

From BTS Nana to my ultimate destination takes about 45 minutes going that way, for about 250 baht. Same on the return.

But I don't mind riding motorcycle taxis and, as we weave in, out and around the 2-3 dead stopped auto traffic jams between BTS Mo Chit and the Immigration Building, I know I would be a lot less comfortable sitting in a car or bus for an additional 30 minutes or whatever, fretting over how many dozen more people are lining up at the door or getting queue tickets ahead of me during the delay. LOL.

I took taxi straight onto freeway from Nana region of Sukhumvit, Vipavadee Rangsit (Don Meuang tollway), at about 9. 30 am or so, maybe 10 on a Tuesday. Freeway was okay Get off for Chaeng Wattana, it is usually heavy. Can turn off left into Soi 5 immediately after crossing the Khlong (canal) to stay out of traffic jam and go to government building the back way. It is far to hot to take motorcycle. Taxis will go no problem because they can easily get a customer leaving there to go somewhere else.

I got my queue ticket at about 11. I had to go downstairs to Photostat my documents first. Several photostat and passport photo places exist. Would be nice to get queue ticket first but they check your stuff is in order. My wait till got the 30 day extend was 45 minutes. Not bad by picking not so busy day and not too earlier when huge numbers are queued.

Then I had to wait in queue to get a taxi leaving. He took me to Phaholyotin MRT station, since traffic back to Sukhumvit was getting heavy. Had to turn left at Vipavadee Rangsit (the wrong direction) and then do a you turn back to head south.

The key to doing Chaeng Wattana is which day you go and what time of day to avoid traffic jams. There are far to many people waiting at opening time, so somewhat later is better.

Next time I will try one of the regional immigration offices instead. They are generally reported to be much faster.

Here is a Map of Immigration Offices:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...2559928711&z=5

I will probably ring them first to make sure they can do the 30 day extension but should be okay.

[Banana Boi]

I guess I'm in the minority as someone who enjoys having to make a Visa run every 60 days. Breaks up the monotony and allows me to go to Jakarta, Japan, Korea, PP, Vietnam, Singapore, etc. Every 60 days. I enjoy my extra little side trips especially during months when Thailand heat is unbearable.

[Banana Boi]

HEALTH insurance has been made mandatory for foreigners aged 50 years and above seeking long-term stay in Thailand.

The insurance policy must offer up to Bt40,000 coverage for outpatient treatment and up to Bt400,000 for inpatient treatment.

This is one of the measures the government has introduced to ease the financial burden placed on state hospitals by foreigners, many of whom have not paid for treatment.

The Cabinet has already approved the new rule, Health Service Support Department director-general Nattawuth Prasert-siripong revealed yesterday.

According to Nattawuth, the new rule applies to both new applicants for the non-immigrant visa (O-A), which offers a stay of up to one year, and those wishing to renew their visa. Each renewal is valid for one year.

Overseas policies okay too

Such health insurance is good for foreigners too, Nattawuth said.

Foreigners can buy valid health insurance from longstay.tgia.org or if they wish to use health insurance that they bought overseas, they must ensure that the coverage amount is no less than what is required by the rule. We are going to discuss with relevant authorities on to how to check the validity of health insurance bought from overseas, Nattawuth said.

Asked about foreigners who cannot buy health insurance because their health risks are considered too high, Nattawuth said relevant authorities might consider requiring them to have higher deposits in bank accounts so as to make sure that they have enough to live in Thailand.

FYI for those over 50 who want to stay in Thailand on an O-A Retirement Visa. Likely a good thing to have for anyone over 50 anyways.

[Crazy4Thai]

Last year I was in Hua Hin and it was time to extend by 30 days rather than leave. For example, a 60 day tourist visa will actually get you 90 days if you go to the trouble to extend it. In Hua Hin I was amazed at the process. They have an assistant, like a student, who does some pre-screening and gets some details from you. Specifically your address in Thailand. After a few minutes of wait, seeing the IO is almost exactly like when you first stamp into the country. They take your photo, the form has been filled out on their pc with your details and printed for you to sign. Pay your 1900 baht and get that extension. Done, 10 minutes at most including the wait time. This is supposed to become the standard throughout the country. That would be great but I have never, not ever, in my 14 years here seen any 2 immigration offices have a truly standard procedure.