I have just come back from a 5 night trip to Kuala Lumpur.

I am on a 6 month tourist visa having taken the advice of several expat sites, not to abuse the system.

After about 55 days of arriving in Thailand, I had been to Vietnam for 7 nights and came back into Don Meung no problem.

After 47 days in Thailand, I went to Kuala Lumpur for 5 nights, and was interrogated by a jumped up 12 year old who was convinced that I was not going to leave the country within the 6 month limit of my e-visa that had been bought and paid for, specifically to avoid this sort of situation, I am on holiday and want to relax.

Each of the 3 TDAC's that I have submitted since my first flight out from the UK has shown the date and flight number of my return to the UK in April 2026.

She told me that I must get a retirement visa if I want to come back within 6 months, and that basically, if I try to come back on an e-visa next winter, it will be carefully scrutinized because I might be using it to live in Thailand.

I am still working in the UK, but am fortunate enough to be able to escape the cold of winter in the UK, so to say that I am pee'd off with this is an understatement.

I am able to retire, and was seriously thinking of going for the Non O retirement Visa in November, but if this is the sort of way you get treated for following their rules, I am not convinced that it is right for me.

When I retire, I will want to be able to travel as I please, obviously respecting the Visa rules for Cash and reporting, but I don't want to be pulled up every time I come back into the country, I want to enjoy my retirement travelling around Asia.

Let me know what you think, but please don't be rude or offensive, I honestly thought that I had done the right thing by getting the METV and sticking to the rules, whereas I could have done it easier with visa exempt plus extension.

How’s single people going on with the new Bangkok bank issue, they telling me I need a yellow book

Just posting what happened with us for reference. Arrived end of April (US passport) for first time ever in Thailand planning to stay 90 days. After 60 days, we elected not to file an extension as we wanted to spend a week in Cambodia before returning for a month. We left on time, had a blast in Cambodia.

When we arrived back tonight (BKK) we caught the lecture about this being the last time we would be allowed in for a year. He said the rules had changed and he could only give us 45 days. He said from now on foreigners can only stay a total of 90 days per year. Fine with us we are leaving before then. After a 15 minute back and forth we were allowed to enter. I checked as I exited airport; he stamped 60 days.

Yea, yea, I know that’s not the “rules” or whatever. Just letting people on the every 3 month visa run know they are indeed cracking down if I can catch a lecture for my 2nd entrance ever.

A Bangkok Bank Update (yes, another one)

Background:

Long timer in Thailand. Recent years mostly tourist visas staying on/off in Thailand. Own condos in BKK since 2009 and more recent two condos in Pattaya since 2016 or thereabout.

Am from a Nordic country.

Have had bank account with another major bank but though I would get another one so set up one at Bangkok Bank via an agent about two years ago on a tourist visa.

Kept low balance at the Bangkok Bank but always incoming transfers from another Thai bank in my name. No big money movements.

Went back to the BKK Bank branch in Pattaya as I wanted to update my information (now on DTV visa, digital nomad, issued in my own country).

Had a good conversation with the manager at BKK Bank and they are certainly going through each account as mine was up for review with a high probability of closure.

After updating my info, and showing chanote and purchase contract on one of my condos in Pattaya, my account is now in good standing and will not be closed.

If I did not have property in Pattaya, the manager did not say it flat out, but I could tell my account would be closed. BKK Bank does not recognize the DTV-visa as a long-stay visa since "you can "only" stay max 180 days."

The fact that the visa runs 5-years does not matter to the BKK Bank people.

I am sure much of what I have written here is already known but I wanted to share my first-hand experience and the info given to me.

My strong recommendation is to either go to the BKK Bank branch you opened the account with to update your information if you fall into any of the categories where they will let you maintain your account with the bank even on a tourist visa or move all money out of the account soonest possible.

BKK Bank are actively closing non compliant accounts and there was one guy sitting there told me he just had his account closed.

So just because your account with BKK Bank hasn't been closed as of yet, there is a very big chance it will be. At least according to the BKK Bank manager I talked to.

I hope the above is helpful information for those affected by the same.

Applied for DTV from Singapore as a Singaporean Citizen through digital nomad scheme.

Applied on 23rd feb

Requested more info on 24th feb

Changed to pending approval on 25feb

Changed to interview request on 12th March 4pm

Interview at 1030am on 13th March*

Visa approved 9am 14th March

*I was asked for my exit stamp from Thailand to ensure that I was not applying for the VISA from Thailand. However, I could not provide this as I departed via self-service gantry where there is no officer to stamp your passport. Prepare to bring alternative evidence like your plane ticket and SG arrival card.

Also please check your email regularly as my interview was scheduled the very next day!

I screwed up my 60 day tourist visa application and was rejected.

My flight is booked for Oct 19th and return on Jan 18th.

If I applied for another 60 day visa today I most likely won't get it before I land in Thailand.

Should I still apply then fly out and back in? Or apply for a visa on arrival then extend to get the 90 days? Not sure what my options are.

Anyone that got rejected in BKK airport for having covid extensions can give me some details on what exactly got you rejected? Seems like some people have no trouble at all while others get rejected, so I am not sure what is going to happen in my case

I’m still worried! Need answers.

Got my thai pass approved, flight is tomorrow, ticket going out of thailand is booked, 20k baht cash on hand. What are the possibilities for denial? I entered thailand nov 29,2021 and left april 28,2022. Used covid visa extensions.

Hi guys, quick question.

I have a non-b visa and work permit. My wife is here on a covid extension.

Does anyone know if it will be possible to get a non-o trailing spouse visa under these circumstances? My school says yes, but I'd like to double check.

Thanks!

Yesterday, several of us at Krabi immigration were turned away, for various stamps, including embassy letter loop-closure and non-immigration O visa. We were told that many immigration offices don't have the visa stamps ready, and to call back before returning next time, but to do so sooner rather than later. They didn't know when they would have them ready.