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[QUOTE=TheTank85;1825986]Hi all,
Just thought of sharing this incident with you guys, it might help you of you face a similar issue with passport validity.
[/QUOTE]Good reminder to people. Typically, the airline will not even let you board if your passport is within six months or so of expiring. Glad everything ended up working out.
[QUOTE=FLHawk;1826171]Good reminder to people. Typically, the airline will not even let you board if your passport is within six months or so of expiring. Glad everything ended up working out.[/QUOTE]Agreed. It's well know most countries ask for minimum 6 months remaining on the passport. Also, some countries also require to see a Return ticket if you are going on vacation and are not a permanent resident of the country you are going to. The airline will request that when you check in.
Since this document related discussion is going on, I'd like to mention another point as well.
In some countries there is a rule that, "Your passport must be active & valid from last 6 months minimum meaning if you have got a new passport & before 6 months from the date of getting passport if you are trying to travel, then there is a chance that you won't be allowed". These things are clearly mentioned in Thai Consulate website. But people likely not read it clearly. This kind of minor things might create a prob in later time. Be alert.
[QUOTE=MusicalToM;1826387]Since this document related discussion is going on, I'd like to mention another point as well.
In some countries there is a rule that, "Your passport must be active & valid from last 6 months minimum meaning if you have got a new passport & before 6 months from the date of getting passport if you are trying to travel, then there is a chance that you won't be allowed". These things are clearly mentioned in Thai Consulate website. But people likely not read it clearly. This kind of minor things might create a prob in later time. Be alert.[/QUOTE]I once went to Thailand with a 10 days new passport in VoA scheme. No problem!
P.
Seriously, I really would like to know which countries will not accept a newly issued passport?
A freshly issued passport without stamps might draw a bit more attention and scrutiny though. If the immigration officer sees a lot of entry and exit stamps, such as in a frequent monger's passport (maybe even his own stamp) the risk of a fake passport is lower as well as the probability that you will overstay / work illegally etc.
[QUOTE=PuteNut;1826584]Seriously, I really would like to know which countries will not accept a newly issued passport?
A freshly issued passport without stamps might draw a bit more attention and scrutiny though. If the immigration officer sees a lot of entry and exit stamps, such as in a frequent monger's passport (maybe even his own stamp) the risk of a fake passport is lower as well as the probability that you will overstay / work illegally etc.[/QUOTE]Who cares, unless Thailand is putting special rules for visits from your country? Hypothetically, it's possible in there was a habitual problem of people coming to Thailand, for secret work purposes, from particular origins, and Thailand could try to discourage it by requiring a passport to be at least 6 months of age.
However most western countries are not going to be restricted from tourism in this way. It doesn't make any sense to prevent tourists when tourism is an important part of the economy. I have not had a problem with a new passport.
I am trying to work out what sort of a VISA would suit me, as I do enter Thailand many times per year, totalling up to 4 months per year, but each stay is normally 4 weeks or less. Currently I don't apply for any VISAs and get 4 weeks automatically each visit.
[QUOTE=Syzygies;1826593]I am trying to work out what sort of a VISA would suit me, as I do enter Thailand many times per year, totalling up to 4 months per year, but each stay is normally 4 weeks or less. Currently I don't apply for any VISAs and get 4 weeks automatically each visit.[/QUOTE]
I am in the same situation, travelling quite frequently to Thailand under the visa waiver system (30 days visa excempt stay).
As I understand it the current government abolished some rules about maximum number of stays, and that you can now avail of this excemption indefinate number of stays, at least if you are entering / exiting via airports? Are there any situations where they will be reluctant to grant visa waiver? I have an upcoming trip where I will be in Thailand a while and then do a brief beeline to PH, then re-entering Thailand again one or two weeks later. As I understand it, I should then be granted another 30 days. That would look a bit like a visa run, although it is not (I will exit TH after another 1-2 weeks). Are there any travel patterns one should avoid, when using the the visa waiver extensively?
[QUOTE=PuteNut;1826597]I am in the same situation, travelling quite frequently to Thailand under the visa waiver system (30 days visa excempt stay).
As I understand it the current government abolished some rules about maximum number of stays, and that you can now avail of this excemption indefinate number of stays, at least if you are entering / exiting via airports? Are there any situations where they will be reluctant to grant visa waiver? I have an upcoming trip where I will be in Thailand a while and then do a brief beeline to PH, then re-entering Thailand again one or two weeks later. As I understand it, I should then be granted another 30 days. That would look a bit like a visa run, although it is not (I will exit TH after another 1-2 weeks). Are there any travel patterns one should avoid, when using the the visa waiver extensively?[/QUOTE]No it won't look like a Visa run if you stay away more than one night and don't clearly do it just to avoid 30 day restrictions on a regular basis. Would be simpler to fly to Penang or similar for a VISA Run.
It is possible to go to Thai Immigration and apply for a 7 day extension to the automatic 30 days. I may try that sometime soon. That is a better course of action than and out-in "Visa run" if only needing a short extension. I have paid overstay fines on two occasions.
I've been doing some research into this.
[URL]http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/new-visa-rules.php[/URL]
New rule is there is no longer a 90 day maximum stay every 6 months. However, you still have to do a Visa run (which is a PITA from Pattaya) every 30 days by air and 15 days by land.
When I turn 50 in a few years I can apply for the Retirement Visa. 1 year stay and only have to check into immigration office once every 90 days.
[QUOTE=Syzygies;1826607] I have paid overstay fines on two occasions. That is a better course of action than and out-in "Visa run".[/QUOTE]
Would this ever become an issue with Thai immigration if you do it too many times?
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;1826608]I've been doing some research into this.
[URL]http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/new-visa-rules.php[/URL]
New rule is there is no longer a 90 day maximum stay every 6 months. However, you still have to do a Visa run (which is a PITA from Pattaya) every 30 days by air and 15 days by land.
When I turn 50 in a few years I can apply for the Retirement Visa. 1 year stay and only have to check into immigration office once every 90 days.
Would this ever become an issue with Thai immigration if you do it too many times?[/QUOTE]I updated my post to be clearer. I don't know if becomes a problem by overstaying too many times. I have only overstayed a few days, like 3 or 4 days. The fine per day is quite expensive. I forget how much, but total fine was several thousand Baht.
What do retired people do in long term? I mean 1 year stay is clearly not enough. As I am well over 50, retirement VISA may suit me though I am still intending to work outside Thailand for plenty more years.
[QUOTE=Syzygies;1826607]No it won't look like a Visa run if you stay away more than one night and don't clearly do it just to avoid 30 day restrictions on a regular basis. Would be simpler to fly to Penang or similar for a VISA Run.[/QUOTE]Yes, you are right. Manila will look quite genuine as compared to Penang and the likes. I guess it will hardly raise an eybrow. As a currently quite heavy user of free 30-days waivers I do not want to create unnecessarily strange travel patterns, but this looks like a non-issue. I have never had any questions from Thai immigration (unlike some PH stations, especially the notorious one).
[QUOTE=Syzygies;1826616]What do retired people do in long term? I mean 1 year stay is clearly not enough. As I am well over 50, retirement VISA may suit me though I am still intending to work outside Thailand for plenty more years.[/QUOTE]I'm curious about this as well. Wondering what is the easiest options to stay in Thailand for years, other than marriage of course.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;1826633]I'm curious about this as well. Wondering what is the easiest options to stay in Thailand for years, other than marriage of course.[/QUOTE]I have been living in Thailand for several years on a 1 year retirement visa that I renew a day or two before it expires. As a USA Citizen, for me it is a brief visit to the USA Embassy to pick up an income verification letter (easy, make an appointment online ahead of time). Then I take that and my passport to Thai Immigration for a few hours of waiting and stamping to get the visa renewed. It could all be done in one day if you do the USA Embassy part early in the day and get to Thai Immigration just after Noon (closed from Noon to 1 PM for lunch). Need a couple of new photos each time but that can be done on the Thai Immigration premises, too, or in advance if you want. Cost to renew is, as I recall, 1900 baht. Photo on the premises is another 100 baht or so. I add the multiple entry (without needing a re-entry pass) option, which is the most expensive thing in the process at about 3,000 baht extra. Haven't used it much, but like to have it in the passport in case of an emergency or impulse to just get up and go on a trip out of the country with as few stops in between as possible.
[QUOTE=Syzygies;1826616]I updated my post to be clearer. I don't know if becomes a problem by overstaying too many times. I have only overstayed a few days, like 3 or 4 days. The fine per day is quite expensive. I forget how much, but total fine was several thousand Baht.
[/QUOTE]I am always curious about what data appears on the immigration website when they swipe in your passport number. I suspect they probably note that you have overstayed the visa, so if you become an habitual over-stayer, it might eventually rebound on you.
I have never gone beyond my designated stay but on my last trip to Laos, I needed to extend my business visa from 30 to 60 days and I was delayed by a work issue and couldn't leave until Day 61. I never thought this would be an issue but when I reached passport control I was asked to go (and escorted) to a side office where a very courteous guy explained I had overstayed 1 day and needed to pay a fine (the amount of which I can't remember but it was enough to clean out my excess kip), and an official receipt with stamp etc was issued. There was a laminated scale of charges on the wall which escalated as the days increased.
I then was taken back to the original kiosk and away I went.
I can imagine that if there is a queue of over-stayers then you might be delayed much longer than you anticipated. It's not worth getting any sort of "flag" on your record.
Re comments about "new passports". I always carry my old expired passport with me for the first few trips in case there is ever an issue, but there never has been.
[QUOTE=PuteNut;1826584]Seriously, I really would like to know which countries will not accept a newly issued passport?
A freshly issued passport without stamps might draw a bit more attention and scrutiny though. If the immigration officer sees a lot of entry and exit stamps, such as in a frequent monger's passport (maybe even his own stamp) the risk of a fake passport is lower as well as the probability that you will overstay / work illegally etc.[/QUOTE]I won't take any name but I know there are some south Asia & golf countries for whom the rule is your fresh passport must be valid for at least 6 months (for some it's 3 months). I saw this while doing some research some time back & I'm pretty sure it's still there. But again while booking a ticket if you call up the Airline people & explain them about it, they clearly say "Don't worry, nobody is going to notice this minor information". To be honest I've not heard anybody barred to enter Thailand due to this reason recently. But this rule is there, so you don't know when bad luck will hit you.
[QUOTE=Syzygies;1826593]I am trying to work out what sort of a VISA would suit me, as I do enter Thailand many times per year, totalling up to 4 months per year, but each stay is normally 4 weeks or less. Currently I don't apply for any VISAs and get 4 weeks automatically each visit.[/QUOTE][QUOTE=PuteNut;1826597]I am in the same situation, travelling quite frequently to Thailand under the visa waiver system (30 days visa excempt stay).
As I understand it the current government abolished some rules about maximum number of stays, and that you can now avail of this excemption indefinate number of stays, at least if you are entering / exiting via airports? Are there any situations where they will be reluctant to grant visa waiver? I have an upcoming trip where I will be in Thailand a while and then do a brief beeline to PH, then re-entering Thailand again one or two weeks later. As I understand it, I should then be granted another 30 days. That would look a bit like a visa run, although it is not (I will exit TH after another 1-2 weeks). Are there any travel patterns one should avoid, when using the the visa waiver extensively?[/QUOTE]I don't know from which country at Pute Nut belongs, but irrespective of country we all can opt for Multi-Entry visa instead of single entry (we normally get single entry visa in visa-on-arrival). Multi-Entry includes entry either from your country or from another country by Air / Land and it costs double the amount of single entry (sometimes a bit more costly). Perhaps this what would suit you & you'll definitely save some time when you get a fresh visa every time you enter. And if I recollect perfectly then the validity of multi-entry tourist visa is more compared to single-entry.