Posted 2010-04-29 22:17:43
 Igor, on 2010-04-29 10:23:21, said:
They'd do a lot better by devoting themselves to cleaning up some of the scams that tourism suffers from. Honest cops would be a good start, too. Let's face it, someone planning to spend a few thousand dollars on a vacation are going to be a lot more interested in not getting beaten up by a jet ski rental thug than they will be by the prospect of saving $50 on a visa. Of course, on the good side, it is comforting to know that if you do not shoplift at the airport, you will be locked up in a cheap hotel instead of a nasty jail and the nice policeman will do his very best to make sure you never have to go to prison.
This has to be one of the more sensible responses i have seen on this forum for sometime,unfortunately the thai government doesnt have enough money to pay the police a sensible wage,having said that i see they have found an extra 300 bht extra per day to all the troops and police helping to ...control....the red shirts, no wonder it is taking so long to sort out,extra dosh for doing almost nothing, i just wonder how they have found this extra amount of money,but can only pay the soldiers 208 bht per day to lay down their lives if there should be a war,i expect its more important to protect this corrupt government,at the end of the day when this is all over, i suspect Mr Thaskin and his lot will eventually take back power,and the tables will be turned,and then those that ordered the crack down will explain they were only carrying out orders,brings back memories of the people hung or put up against a wall at the end of the last war...for carrying out orders...
Posted 2010-04-29 22:25:52
Understanding that the 'free tourist visas' start on the 11th of May 2010, would i be correct in thinking that if i were to over stay for 2 days (9th of may being the day i have to leave the kingdom) would i get away with paying 2 x 500baht for over staying and be given a free Thai tourist visa upon re-entry which would have cost me 2000baht 2 days before?
I know, i know, it's penny pinching, but it's just my luck the free tourist visa offer lands two days outside my last day of stay, if i didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all. 
Posted 2010-04-30 01:26:18
alrat, on 2010-04-29 07:40:00, said: If they really want more tourists they should devalue the baht by at least 10%.
It will happen anyway once the economy collapses.
Do it now at least it will stop us expats from going home.
And Sunjunkie wrote:
"Does anybody think that the exchange rate for the Pound and Euro has had an effect on tourism. Thailand does not represent value for the currencies."
Do you know anything about the Thai economy? It's not going to collapse. And it's not Thailand's fault that the Euro, the Pound and the dollar are all weak currencies. The long term trend is that the baht will continue to rise against the 3 major currencies and there's no reason for that to change. If the Chinese allow the Yuan to float freely, the baht will only get stronger.
I live in Chiang Mai and I think Thailand is an excellent value. Sunjunkie, where can you get better value?
And alrat, where are you from??? Do you really think expats will all go home if they don't devalue the Baht? "Home", for most of us, is still twice as expensive as Thailand.
Posted 2010-04-30 01:33:47
Quote I live in Chiang Mai and I think Thailand is an excellent value. Sunjunkie, where can you get better value?
Most cars are three times the price than in the UK, not to mention electronics are almost all more expensive across the board in Thailand, high end electronics up to three and four times the price of elsewhere.
Thailand can be cheap for certain things but you get what you pay for and quality is low.
I'm not sure what you would be doing at home that would be twice as expensive. 
Posted 2010-04-30 02:27:13
It says free from the 11th of May on the London website, 1 week and £54 too late for me.
I had a conversation with a member of staff from the birmingham embassy last week. I asked about the free visa, the reply was intill they get the word from the bossman
at the consulate no free visa.
Posted 2010-04-30 06:41:07
pauln, on 2010-04-29 03:11:46, said: This is not news - it has been announced twice before, the first time was several months back, and the second time a few weeks back. The scheme started on 1 April and was already scheduled to end on 30 March 2011. Why repeat stale news?
That isn't true it was a april foul thing i got new double entry the other day and had to pay, like any from the 5th of mars
Jack
Posted 2010-04-30 07:38:50
does this count for double entry tourist visas too?
Posted 2010-04-30 08:05:05
orang37, on 2010-04-29 17:13:11, said: LPCustom69, on 2010-04-29 10:47:54, said: Gee whiz! Why did they charge me 2000 baht for my 2-month Tourist Visa at Viantiene on April 5, 2010? Could scheme and implementation be not one and the same?
Sawasdee Khrup,
Yes, why did Vientiane charge me 2k baht on the 20th. of April for a double-entry ?
The day I was there, the consul himself was down among the mob with a bunch of angry farangs, most British (judging from their accents), demanding to know why they had to pay.
The consul kept saying : "The cabinet has not notified me."
I was amazed the consul even put in an appearance. Needless to say, I did not join in the conversation, wanting not to ruin my already bedraggled "jai yen."
best, ~o:37
Hmm same same. I was there on April 24, and the jolly Consul was trying to keep his cool again with the Brits.
(I won't repeat the worn out quote about the poms).
After sitting around for 90mins, why get hotter under the collar, well T-shirt then?
Talking of shirts, why do Thai's wear jackets when it is 38c?
Posted 2010-04-30 08:30:54
I've just got back from the Vientianne embassy and it was a bit of a scrum with everyone questioning why they were paying for their visas. I must admit that there was some pretty poor behaviour from foreigners but most of it was caused by complete confusion with the system. The number system wasn't working again but there was no explanation or notice detailing what needs to be done
Why can't borders/embassies post a quick 1 2 3 step of what you need to do. Most of the stress in Vientianne is people coming to the window without all the necessaries then hanging around arguing and looking baffled. The staff were being arseholes demanding hotel, number and contact name which is an impossibility if you've had to run straight from the train to the embassy due to earlier incompetence by train staff. What a great time to start charging for visas!!!
Posted 2010-04-30 09:11:57
Why it's the infamous Cart before the Horse Syndrome, what good will free tourist visas do if no-one wants to visit Thailand. Unless they are for the people already here.
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Posted 2010-04-30 14:50:39
Igor, on 2010-04-29 10:23:21, said: They'd do a lot better by devoting themselves to cleaning up some of the scams that tourism suffers from. Honest cops would be a good start, too. Let's face it, someone planning to spend a few thousand dollars on a vacation are going to be a lot more interested in not getting beaten up by a jet ski rental thug than they will be by the prospect of saving $50 on a visa. Of course, on the good side, it is comforting to know that if you do not shoplift at the airport, you will be locked up in a cheap hotel instead of a nasty jail and the nice policeman will do his very best to make sure you never have to go to prison.
I don't understand why anybody buys duty free in BKK.. I come through BKK Airport 6 to 8 times a year ..After reading about ongoing scams I have not been in a duty free shop at BKK Airport for 18 months.. On principle I will NEVER shop at BKK Airport EVER even if the scam is guaranteed to be fixed.. The truth is they don't deserve our business and in the future I still will never shop at BKK Airport. I can always get duty free goods somewhere else... For the people who have no choice have a good think because usually we don't need what we buy !!!! Yes that right we want some duty free whiskey but WE DON"T NEED IT!!!!
Posted 2010-04-30 20:17:34
wilgoster, on 2010-04-29 10:29:58, said: pauln, on 2010-04-28 20:11:46, said: This is not news - it has been announced twice before, the first time was several months back, and the second time a few weeks back. The scheme started on 1 April and was already scheduled to end on 30 March 2011. Why repeat stale news?
Gee whiz! Why did they charge me 2000 baht for my 2-month Tourist Visa at Viantiene on April 5, 2010? Could scheme and implementation be not one and the same?
I would like to see an automatic 60 day visa stamped at Suv. when I arrive. It would be pretty easy to implement by just changing the number 3 to a 6. That would surely help Falangs to leave a little more money in Thailand with no added cost to Thailand.
In the meantime, say a prayer for Thailand. If you don't believe in prayer, then make a wish for Thailand. OC
Posted 2010-05-01 02:18:12
hhiser, on 2010-04-30 09:11:57, said: Why it's the infamous Cart before the Horse Syndrome, what good will free tourist visas do if no-one wants to visit Thailand. Unless they are for the people already here.
Just had to quote this one just to say I did,
Let me ask, has anyone received a free Thai Tourist Visa anywhere?
Posted 2010-05-04 16:48:11
All I know id I miss out by 4 days!!
Have to travel to Cambodia to do 60 day Visa tomorrow!! As I have to be back on Monday to start new job.
Go figure! Oh well. Only 1,000 Baht Better luck next time hey.
By the way , has anyone here used the 3 day bus trip to Cambodian border to do Visa?
Just wondering what there is to do there for 3 days. ie coffee shops, supermarkets, should I take food, are there rip off merchants blah blah...
Posted 2010-05-05 00:27:56
Not true at all...
Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City charged me USD30 (1,000 baht approx.)...
Besides... this time Bangkok is really wild... few examples are...
1. Many taxis refused to use meter (keep in mind that I am fluent in Thai, unlike an average farang, I can speak Thai in almost native accent)
2. Many shops I went to, were willing to sell me at my bargained prices and I was the first customer of the day for them.
3. Prices are no more competitive as compare to other countries in the region
Posted 2010-05-05 20:17:31
Mario2008, on 2010-04-28 23:04:32, said:
I cannot find it on HULL website nothing is mentioned. London do not accept postal applications. I suppose as last time Hull would only give 1x60 day with admin fee of GBP15.00 per person. USA & Canada were given 3x60 & 2x60 respectivly free. Why is it UK is always a joke nothing for nothing....
Thai immigration should insist on free visas for all & if necessary re-imburse consulates admin fee. However i cannot imagine that happening.
Posted 2010-05-06 12:58:42
I will go Phnom Pehn 12 May for 2 singel entrys Tourist Visas . . hopefully free of charge . , i will try Jack Golf for this service . . .,,
But i have a red stamp from Vientiane . ., but i heard some visarun companies says no problem here in PP ..., 1 know 1 report here with the red stamp that get his TR visa in PP.., does we have any more ?
Posted 2010-05-06 14:13:27
Not just Hull, but all the UK Thai consulates charged an administration fee in lieu of the usual £28 visa fee last time a concession was offered. Apparently Liverpool charged £12 compared with £15 elsewhere. The London embassy will not charge from May 11th, but will only handle personal callers (two visits two days apart necessary) or courier deliveries, but not post. So most people will be lucky to save £13, which seems to pretty much undermine any incentive arising from the concession. A 60 day stamp on arrival would indeed be better.
Edited by citizen33, 2010-05-06 14:14:41.
Posted 2010-05-06 17:59:50
Well I guess it will be cheaper to apply for 3 tourist visas than renew my non immigrant? That will give me 60 days at a time with need to exit/re-enter to avoid the 1900 baht 1 month extension fee? Since my next return will be for about 6 months anyway, this sounds a good way to go?
I don't need to buy anything like a car, etc, or renew driving licenses (I renewed for 5 years before). Hence no need for the non immigrant? Saves me 100 quid!
Posted 2010-05-11 02:53:16
MaiChai, on 2010-05-06 17:59:50, said: Well I guess it will be cheaper to apply for 3 tourist visas than renew my non immigrant? That will give me 60 days at a time with need to exit/re-enter to avoid the 1900 baht 1 month extension fee? Since my next return will be for about 6 months anyway, this sounds a good way to go?
I don't need to buy anything like a car, etc, or renew driving licenses (I renewed for 5 years before). Hence no need for the non immigrant? Saves me 100 quid!
I think the free visa is just for a single entry.
So 60 days then 1900 baht for 30 days more.
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