Archive for October, 2007
At Indonesia Pesta Blogger 2007
Last weekend in Jakarta, attending the Pesta Blogger 2007
Was interesting to see the diversity, not only geographic but also age and interests. More pictures
Mobile Blogging and Mobile Flicker -ing with MMS
I was in Thailand last week at the invitation of the Thai Aids Treatment Action Group and OSI doing a workshop on mobile technologies for documentation. Here is the presentation.
Here is another PDF doc on how to get the video out of your mobile phone to your computer and then post it on YouTube.
You can directly post the videos to YouTube from some phones but make sure you know what your mobile phone data rates are.
Thailand Visa On Arrival Form
Last Updated 17 June 2008
I am often in Thailand and I use the Visa on Arrival facility (People from about 20 countries can use this facility at 12 Thai airports and borders checkpoints). The trouble is that the “Visa on Entry” or the “Visa on Arrival” form is not online at any of the Thai official sites. One ends up wasting a lot of time in usually crowded “Visa on Arrival” area with some rather irritated visa officers - trying to locate the form and then filling it and then applying for the visa.
Thai Visa on Arrival Form
I have scanned the Visa on Arrival form and I am making it available for download here. Hope it saves some of your time and frustration. I will be adding Chinese and Russian legend to the form soon.
Click here to download the Thailand Visa on Arrival Form (in PDF format, take a double sided printout)
NOTE: I have used the printed form couple of times but another reader informed me that hers was not accepted, she had to fill another form. Seems they are inconsistant about this. Try your luck. You can always find the forms next to the Visa on Arrival counter.
What you need for the Visa
You will need
1. One completed visa form per person
2. Passport (need at least six months validity from the day you enter Thailand). Carry a photocopy of the first page of your photocopy.
3. Visa Fee: 1000 Bhat
4. Proof of ability to stay in Thailand: 10,000 Baht per person (or 20,000 Baht per family)
This can be in any major currency as long as it is equivalent to the Thai currency above. I have got around using US dollars, Singapore Dollars, Japanese Yen and Chinese Renmenbi in the past. They will not take this money. They just want to make sure you have enough money. Also, they do not acknowledge Credit or Debit cards. There are ATMs nearby if you need to withdraw cash.
Again about 50% of the time they did not ask me to show the money but don’t take chances. I have seen them give hard time to people who could not show this expense money.
5. Your original ticket or e-ticket printout. Your return date must be within 15 days from the date of entry (Visa on arrival allows you to stay for 15 days only). They might photocopy your ticket to keep a copy. To save time, you may want to carry a photocopy of the ticket with you.
6. Passport size photograph. There is a booth nearby to take pictures. Carry your own to save time and money.
Optional
If I can, I carry a printout of my hotel booking too, if I have booked in advance.
Border Crossings
You can use the same form at the border crossings too. On some of the lesser used border crossings, the visa officers sometimes make noise if you try to get a visa on arrival. I once had such an experience at a smaller border post between Shan State of Burma and Northern Thailand. The guys finally relented and gave me a Visa on Arrival form but after much cajoling and repeadetly insisting that I knew I could get the Visa on Arrival.
I would recommend taking a printout of Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website page on Visa on Arrival and carrying it with you just to prove to them that you know the Visa On Arrival rules and you are entitled to the visa.
The below information is from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website page on Visa on Arrival. Check the website for the latest info.
The citizen of these countries can apply for Visa on Arrival
1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan
2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Taiwan)
3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus
4. Czech : Czech Republic
5. Estonia : Republic of Estonia
6. Hungary : Republic of Hungary
7. India : Republic of India
8. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan
9. Latvia : Republic of Latvia
10. Liechtenstein : Principality of Liechtenstein
11. Lithuania : Republic of Lithuania
12. Maldives : Republic of Maldives
13. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius
14. Oman : Sultanate of Oman
15. Poland : Republic of Poland
16. Russian Federation
17. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
18. Slovakia : Slovak Republic
19. Slovenia : Republic of Slovenia
20. Ukraine
List of Thailand Immigration Checkpoints which have visa on arrival facilities.
1. Suvarnabhumi Airport
2. Don Muang International Airport , Bangkok
3. Chiangmai International Airport , Chiangmai
4. Phuket International Airport , Phuket
5. Hatyai International Airport , Songkhla
6. U Tapao Airport , Rayong
7. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
8. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
9. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
10. Betong Immigration Checkpoint , Yala
11. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint , Songkhla
12. Samui Airport , Surat Thani
13. Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration Checkpoint
14. Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok
15. Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint , Chonburi
16. Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint , Rayong
17. Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai
18. Samui Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani
19. Phuket Immigration Checkpoint , Phuket
20. Satun Immigration Checkpoint , Satun
21. Krabi Immigration Checkpoint , Krabi
22. Songkhla Harbour Immigraion Checkpoint , Songkhla
23. Chiangrai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiangrai
24. Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani