padeakin

I really think this isn't anything to do with servers being at fault. I, indeed, think it thoroughly depends upon which internet security suite you use, and how vulnerable your pc/laptop is.

I taught a grade 9 student who was a genius with computers, as there are many in Thailand. He hacked AVG security, as I watched him do it. I asked him to show me. (He was later expelled for hacking the school system and obtaining exam papers!). However, he went into AVG itself, changed some settings and then hacked his friends laptop on the next table. He could have obtained any info used on that laptop.

I had used AVG for three years, without thinking I ever had a problem, but I did have problems and it is just that AVG could/didn't warn me about them. It doesn't have that facility, or didn't when I last used it. I changed to Kaspersky, and never had a problem. But Kaspersky goes so deep into your computer it really slows operation times down. I settled for Panda Global Suite - THIS I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ALL. It tells you when a hacker is hacking you, and also gives you the IP address, from which you can use other internet programs to get a location.

Panda is probably the best anti-hackproof system available and isn't too expensive. I really would ask that you investigate and consider carefully, assuming you have had problems that is, the security suite you use. AVG is not as good as people say it is, Norton is the most hacked, and others just don't do things that you may think they do.

I am no salesman for Panda or Kaspersky, but they are the two best available currently. I just responded because I do know what it feels like to 'feel' vulnerable online.

B/R

-mel.

Connecting to someone else's computer that is on the same network, and turning off their security software is relatively easy, but to access a computer that is behind a firewall, and then find and decode an encrypted strong password is not so easy. I believe it is most likely to be a problem with someone accessing the Skype servers or intercepting and decoding the password somewhere on route, it was very unlikely to have problem with my security suit. Anyway this is exactly why Skype should be more helpful and honest, it would be easy for them to tell me from which IP address the connection was made when the fraudulent use occurred. With so many people having the same problem, I believe there are some serious security issues with Skype. If anyone wants to risk using it, I would recommend that they keep their credit balance to a minimum.

^ seconded. A teacher at a government school will never be laid off or fired. Once she's in the system she's got benefits, yearly raises and job security for life, with a pension at the end of it. She can also get raises for finishing advanced degrees (which the government will pay for) and for papers published, etc.. She can also get paid generously for after hour or weekend classes.

While I would never condone this sort of thing, it is understandable why she would pay. The only question in my mind is why did she need so much? Is she trying to get a job at a "famous" school, like Triam Udom or Bodin Decha?

I can understand that it is normal practise adn that she will get other benefits, but I don't know why it was so much, it is only a small government school, it is convenient because it is close to where we live, she is qualified but not experienced. It is possible that she is 'exaggerating' the cost, but I don't think she is because I am not paying it anyway. I agree with with response that said the statistics don't add up, even when I take into account the other benefits, she will be working for next to nothing for 5 years while paying back the loan.

My Thai wife is in the process of paying 300,000 Baht to the 'big boss', to get a teaching job that pays 15,000 Baht per month.

Despite me trying to convince her that; 1.it is morally wrong to fuel corruption and 2. it does not make sense to pay so much for so little, she insists that it is normal practise and told me of several friends and family that have paid similar amounts for similar salary positions in local government offices. After much discussion I have refused to give her the money, now she has borrowed it from a cousin and is going ahead. I can not stop her, I think she has already made the first payment, but I am worried that corrupt 'big boss' could ask for more, and dismiss her if she does not keep paying, He knows she is married to a farang so probably thinks she has unlimited funds.

Is this really normal practise?

Anyone had similar experiences?

I was a regular user of Skype, very happy to phone the UK from Thailand for only a few pence, until someone accessed my account and used all my credit.

I can see that someone used all my credit to phone numbers in Africa, so I contactred Skype, Skype customer services would only confirm that my account had been accessed, they would not give any information as to; who? when? where? hiding behind the data protection act, "we cannot disclose this information". I cannot find any security problems on my computer from which I used Skype. I have a strong password. Internet searches revaeal a number of people that have had the same problem, so I suspect the secutrity breach happened at the Skype servers, (IE. someone accessed their database).

They will not refund my credit, or give any information, I am disappointed by the lack of support, they are simply saying it is your problem not ours, so I am no longer a Skype customer, and am warning others about Skype. Any recomendations of a more secure alternative?

I have a 90 day O visa that expires 10 Jan 2012, I am researching and planning an application for a one year Ext based on marriage.

I have few questions

When should I apply? is this normally done a few days before the visa expires?

Do I need to make and appointment or just turn up at immigration (Sakhon Nakhom)

I read somewhere that as well as the wife, I should take someone else with me, a neighbour or someone, is this really required?

Thanks in advance for any advise.

I opened a 6 month deposit account with KTB interest rate is 2.75%

Funds are always available to be withdrawn, but it they are withdrawn before the 6 month term, then no interest is paid on the sum withdrawn.

I have not yet applied for an extension, I will need to before Jan 2012, I hope that immigration will accept this account, I think they should because the funds are available to me at any time.

What type of bank account does it need to be in?

Does it have to be a current account, or Is a savings account or a fixed deposit account acceptable?

I have just transferred 400K (for extension based on marriage) to a KTB fixed deposit account, will they accept this, or do I need to move it to a current account?

As the OP is no doubt becoming aware there are two methods available to him, the 800k in the bank route or the monthly/annual income method.

But the OP asked about interest rates for funds on deposit, presuming he goes the 800k route: the 800K must be available to him on demand during the months the money is being seasoned and whilst the visa is being applied for, that leaves around nine months of the year where the money could be put into a fixed rate deposit which vary in duration, currently around 3.75% (ish) is achievable. The interest ion the deposit is taxable at 15% but it is possible to recover this tax as long as it does not exceed certain parameters.

Can anyone tell me where to find this 21:00 bus at Suw

Please could you tell me where I find this one bus per day running directly from Suwannaphum Airport Terminal to Khon Kaen. Any info appreciated.

I have also had a reply to my Email enquiry, saying they do not require an English translation.

Strange that it states they need and English translation on their documentation, the only reasons that I can think they would require this is if they had a English (who cannot read Thai) admin persons working there, or if they are trying to generate business for the translation service that they offer. Anyway I will send the Thai copy, and also a translation that I will do myself (not legalised) it does not say it needs to be legalised.

That is good to know, but i am still a bit worried that they could tell you that but then still refuse the application. Have you or anyone else actually got a Visa from Hull after sending a copy of the marriage certificate in Thai?

I asked the Thai Consulate in Hull about this by email, they told me I didn't need the translation, the Thai version would be fine.

I am filling in the application form in the UK for a Thai 'O' 3 month Visa to visit Thai wife.

One of the requirements is a copy of the marriage certificate, it states (in English), but my marriage certificate is in Thai, does anyone know if it is just a translation of the one page certificate that they will need to be translated to English? if it has to be legalised\certified or just a copy? Any suggestions where I can get this, preferably by EMail rather than sending bits of paper through the post.

Thanks

Glad I don't do any of that nonsense.

A short holiday to Vientiane/Phnom Penh.

90 day single entry.

Extend for 60 days based on visiting wife.

Repeat. Makes a great break away every 5 months.

60 day extension? How do you get one and where from?

What the costs, fees, commission's and taxes of trading with an online SET trading account such as with AsiaPlus?

I am coming to live in Thailand later this year and am interested in trading.

Sort of you may have to wait a bit more then three days.

I rotate through the socks starting in March once I have qualified for the dividend I wait for a sale point above break even and buy another dividend stock.

You can find even Mai stocks that pay 5 to 8 % dividends. I then reinvest the dividends as a part of growth goals.

How to proof income of 40k per month?

is it enough to show 40k per month going into a Thai account account?

if not what would be required if my income was from my business in the UK? or would I have to put the whole 400k into the bank account?

or

3. Letter from your counsel showing you have an income of 40,000 baht a month

What do you mean;

they will only give an extension for 2 months?

or

You have to report every 2 months?

I was just wondering if I could set up a simple system without inefficient and expensive batteries, so it would supplement my existing power at daytime, would this be possible? what would happen if it was producing power but no electrical devices were using the power?

Anyone tried this?

If this is going to be problematic, then how about a panels not connected to the mains circuit but directly powering fans or air conditioning so it only comes on in daylight, that should be simple, or not?

It is valid until the "Permission to Stay" date, not until the visa expires, and the one year "Extension of Stay" is not a visa. I do agree that it could save the cost of a visa application fee if you return and apply for a new extension rather than let it expire.

Thanks beechguy, that makes sense, it seems this is the way to do it, rather than just returning and getting a new Visa when i am ready to come back.

If someone is in Thailand with a one year ext because of marriage, but they need to return to the UK for six months, is it possible to do this with a re-entry permit?

How long is the Re-entry permit valid for? Is it valid for the length of the Extension of stay, so is it possible to leave for six months and return before the Extension of stay has expired?

Anyone done this? Is this the best way, or is it better to just leave and get a new O visa when ready to return?

I am planningon staying In Thailand with an extension to stay based on having a Thai wife,and I want to help her build her business which is an Internet Café, so I wouldbe installing, configuring and maintaining equipment, but not directly gettingpaid.

The businessis not registered and does not currently have sufficient turn-over to employme.

To add afurther complication I also run an online business, based in the UK and would like to continue doing this when inThailand, although I arrangefor this to be done from the UKif it complicates things too much.

I understandthat I cannot do any of these things without a work permit, but is it possibleto get one without being employed by a Thai company?

What arethe requirements?

Apologies if this has been asked before but Icannot find the answer to this question on the forum.

Just spent a couple of days testing Linux Mint, managed to get it to do everything that I wanted it to do, which has not always been the case with other flavours of Linux, but, I found it to be very slow, running on a reasonable spec machine with Pentium 4 and 1Gb of RAM (not in a virtual machine), it takes 2-3 seconds to respond when clicking on the menu, running XP on the same machine is instant. Opening a browser takes about 10 seconds, compared to 2 seconds with XP

Well, I installed both Ubuntu and Mint in Virtual Box with identical (but quite limited) resources, only half a gig of memory. My superficial impression is:

* Mint desktop is more polished than Ubuntu and fixes some of the niggling annoyances, but

* Mint is noticeably slower than Ubuntu, at least with a desktop running.

But I expect if you run Mint with more RAM you probably won't notice or care. I will be bumping my work PC up to 4 gigs of RAM tomorrow, so I'll probably run the virtual machines with a lot more RAM in future.

Another positive for Mint - it worked flawlessly under Virtualbox. Wish I could say the same for Ubuntu - I'm having problems with the screen resolution resetting on reboot and sound playing back either too slow or too fast.

Also if you are working like you said and have your work permit you can extend the visa using the company documents that you are working for. So you have two options.

Thank you for your help. Where can I find information on getting an extension based on working? What are the requirements?

Can anyone be a bit more specific, what does Mint do out of the box that Ubuntu doesn't?

Already mentioned

Flash

MP3

How easy is it to change to Thai after it has been setup in English?

I am planning moving to Thailand in the near future, I am considering;

Applying for a B visa and working TEFL but later I would like to get an Extension to Stay (because I am married to a Thai National). I don't want to get an O visa and then Extension yet because I do not want to move money (400,000 baht) to Thailand at the moment. So I was wondering If I have a B visa, can I later apply for an Extension to Stay (because I am married to a Thai National) of would I first have to change to an O visa, If this is the case how difficult is it to change Visa types? Would I have to go to Bangkok to do this? Can I still work (I will have a work permit) when I have changed Visa types?

Sorry if this has been covered before, I did search but cannot find all the answers

Paul D

I also willnot invest in property with the visa or permission to stay being so uncertain, Iwould not expect some kind of permanent visa or residency simply because of buyinginto real estate, but I feel that if I could obtain something more reliablebased on the fact that I am married to a Thai and support our children, and canprove that I have the means to do this, only then would I invest in property. Without this why would I invest mysavings in property knowing that I could loose everything for a reason as minoras an official having a bad day at the office?