@Pete ******

In making payment for a service the customer is entitled to expect a reasonable standard of customer care. Cancellation (or rejection) without stating the reason isn’t reasonable. The applicant has no way of knowing what, if anything, was wrong with their application. Could be inexperienced consulate staff applying incorrect criteria. We have seen reports of applicants submitting the same details again elsewhere and being successful. If no reason provided or you don’t accept the reason is valid the remedy is to request a chargeback from your bank/credit card company. They will request information from the consulate. If your bank isn’t satisfied or the consulate fails to respond within 30 days you will get your money back. Government departments do this because the applicant can’t go elsewhere.

Anonymous participant Your motive is very clear to some of us. You want to make life more difficult for others.

@Thomas ******

Good thinking Thomas! It’s the nature of Tom’s health condition that concerned me. Would he always be able to travel when necessary to avoid complications and keep things simple? It has been debated whether the first 90 day report after entry must be done physically in person or whether in person also includes via post. Visa agents offer 90 day reporting service. Alternatively, Immigration Offices have been known to keep a book where, for a fee, they will stamp you in every 90 days as if you were physically present.

@Luit ****************

Because we read all the posts. Helpful and constructive ones are great. The ones calculated to create unease and uncertainty e.g. ‘Had a grilling trying to get back into Thailand, immigration asked for……..’ and never offering any advice are almost certainly troll posts.

@Luit ****************

Who suggested that everybody should be questioned? If Waqar’s post is meaningless then the value of anonymous posts about immigration officers checking the documents used for the DTV application are total troll drivel. Each consulate has different rules. How could an IO tell if a DTV had been correctly issued?

@Lynnette ******

Some conflict in Tom’s requirements. He wishes to avoid border bounces most of the time but goes to adjacent countries many times. Would agree that if his health condition is unpredictable in nature, a DTV isn’t suitable. As you suggest, a non-0 retirement visa only involves one annual trip to immigration with a 30 day window for extensions.

@Greg *******

Sometimes the girls by the door on the paperwork checking desk aren’t there or there’s a queue. Other staff help out. If they see I haven’t yet got a TM47 or filled it out they say “never mind”. They take my passport, print a confirmation slip at their desk and staple it in. That’s worth 100 baht and brings a smile to their face!

Anonymous participant 501 I’m not from USA. Experience of living in South America taught me how to ‘open doors’. My Thai wife is skilled in picking up when an official would be open to bribery. She says; “They’re all right”. If it makes life easier I’m all for it.

@Ashi *******

TM30 was what I was referring to. I don’t know whether Marie has a new address or not. To date, my immigration office doesn’t require another one even when returning from abroad providing returning to same address. But that could change and I wouldn’t know. That’s when 500 baht comes in handy to avoid another 160km round trip.

@Ashi *******

Exactly. Can download Form TM47 and fill it in before you go. Otherwise, get one at the immigration office and fill it in whilst there. Sometimes they will fill out your TM47 for you. I give them a 100 baht tip for doing that. If they say “you’re missing something” it could be true or they could be holding out for a bribe. 500 baht would save you having to go away and come back.