@Stephan **********

having to remember to do it every 3 months is very annoying and stressful and difficult for certain people. Plus you can't stack the initial appointment with your extension of stay application. And if you leave Thailand every 95-100 days or so, it means visiting the IO every single time you return from a trip.

@Stephan **********

so just theoretically, if someone doesn't do any 90d reporting and also doesn't get into any legal trouble or get arrested, what happens to that person? When and where do they get charged the 2000baht fine?

@Boran ****

the weird thing is I typically prefer chaotic and primitive, not sterile and organized. I'd hated on Singapore all these years, especially after spending a lot of time there in my younger years. Singapore was very boring, nothing but a sterile environment and shopping. But it's not just that anymore. I do love all the museums, not just arts, as they're very well curated and educational. I enjoyed how they curate these collections in their own way, with some focus on regional comparative stuff. Singapore is also THE destination for SEA contemporary artists thanks to the number of independent galleries and SG government-sponsored programs. So many of my artists friends from Viet Nam got to use Singapore as their career launching pad. I gotta say of all SEA countries, things I experienced in Singapore recently reflect the most regional mindset. It's also, to me, a sobering case of what type of governance works best for our cultural context in the region.

@Boran ****

Singapore is one of my favourite SEA cities nowadays. It's got a whole lot better in the last 10-15 years. The best museums in SEA, chances to see world class theater, so many learning opportunities everywhere to learn about the local life vs only tourism stuff. Each neighborhood has its own vibrant characters. Super fun, varied, and iconic architecture, especially in terms of reflecting local adaptation and culture, and integrating climate change response. I find Singapore much more fun, easier to manage, and more revealing than, say, most places in Japan. It's a surprising place bc I usually prefer cheap, uncrowded, underdeveloped places.

@Brandon ***********

interesting! I've never noticed there's a difference. In Viet Nam, virtually all the banks dealing with individuals are called "commercial banks" in their official names. And foreign banks like SC and HSBC provide retail/consumer services like in other countries. So you're saying those like SC and HSBC don't provide retail/consumer services for individuals in Thailand, but only serve commercial purposes for institutions? Am I understanding it correctly? I don't know anything at all about banking, and our system in VN is all kinds of weird, so I have no frame of reference.

@Romain ***

I know that even without ChatGPT. The fact that you need ChatGPT for this 😂

OP didn't think of the little trick, and was shown it's possible, and liked the solution, thus learned something new. A great situation in the end. Except for your snarky shaming of someone who's simply trying to learn and adapt to a new environment. Thai immigration can be very very overwhelming unexpectedly. Give people some grace for not doing their clearest, bestest thinking all the time. OP had zero bad attitude and didn't deserve yours.

@Romain ***

so what? Isn't learning new things part of the point of moving to a new country? What's wrong with that?

@Allan ********

you can book a "pay later" ticket on Vietjet and use that booking.

@Tod ********

reminds me of the Mexicans who want SO MUCH to be helpful and friendly that they'd enthusiastically give you any firm answer even if they have no clue what you're talking about 😂

@Ellie ******

thanks, so the window for 1st in person noti would be 2wk before + 1wk after, correct?