rotary

I have a condo in Nontaburi and a house near Korat. Both are set up for the electric companies to debit my bank account. We leave the fridges on at both condo and house. Electric bills run about 100 Baht per month but I have not checked the exact amount in several months so maybe this "FREE ELECTRIC"thing makes it cheaper. It is a bit of hassle to get it started but after almost 5 years no problems.

Good point about the W/P Dumpylevel. I see where you're going and I will check.

I have found a Thai lawyer that will take the case on a 10% basis, no win no cost. And I will follow through with that. Of course I will keep this forum updated for the benefit of other souls.

In answer to some of the comments: Yes TIT and I've been here long enough not to let it blacken my heart. It's been good and a new chapter will begin, life will go on. It's the attitude that I'm not comfortable with after being led to believe that if a good job was done there would be no reason to fear a non renewal of contract. I feel aggrieved and will take whatever action I, reasonably, can.

Oh well. Whatever will be...

Did you get a new work permit with each 2 year contact or has your work permit been valid in the one position for 11 years

I have seen several cases of these 10% lawyers taking labor cases. I thought they would have went broke by now.....all the cases I saw they had limited if any success with farangs fight in Thai labor court. Just my observations from cases I have seen on a 1st hand basis

I bet this is not the 1st time this guy has done something a bit silly somewhere in the world. Most of the type guys extort"their selves

No excuse for what this guy done no matter what! If u cannot get along with a woman get away from her. He needs the death penalty without question.

Thats correct on OSHA staying home.....ha ha they have plenty to keep them busy there! LOL

My guess is non certified scaffolding and it was not inspected by a qualified inspector before being used by the workers who should be using a Permit to Work"with a job safety analysis that is issued everyday.

Most of the scaffolding here in Thailand does not use the proper certified clamps that is international standard worldwide. They use a hook type connection that simply lays over other scaffolding.

You can drive anywhere in Bkk and see worker at heights riding on top of crane loads(a big no no), using non certified scaffolding, no proper full body harness for working at heights ,etc. I could go on and on about field made wire rope slings that cranes use that have not be load tested or inspected visual but I would just bore everyone. Until both contractors and clients are held responsible for workers accidents you will see no change.

Would agree with all you say, except what you should have said rather then "Most of the scaffolding here in Thailand.. " is "Most of the scaffolding here in Thailand that I have seen which is admittedly a small sample..."

TH

Seeing as we are playing the generalisation game, In my experience in Thailand in industry, I have worked with scaffolders and riggers who are as skilled, professional and as safe (sometimes better) as anywhere in the "western" world, and it may shock are esteemed TV resident construction "experts" to find they are in fact Thai , indonesian and Malyasian nationals.....

As regards the accident at hand, no one at this stage really knows what happened, but its nice seeing the resident "TV experts" out in force giving their "professional" judgements as always.

On an eariler post somebody commented about OSHA coming to Thailand to see what was going on.....My I humbly suggest that OSHA stay out of Thailand until such time as they get their own backyard cleaned up, some of the best examples of bad scaffolding and rigging practices can be found in the US which I have seen them with my own two eyes, really scarey stuff...

Most of the scaffolding here in Thailand does not use the proper certified clamps that is international standard worldwide.

Ah yes... the same as they use in Malaysia and Japan and... South Africa and... Brazil.

"international standard worldwide".... LOL

I assure you there are world standards such as ASME, Z359 for safety belts, and others that do state standards that are worldwide industry standards which many govt worldwide incorporate into their laws. I never said they were used by all countries but believe me they are in place as references. Many times in contract"s these are referenced to as "Best industry practice". Its a catch all in many contracts.

Do you think this construction firm would have not have been more safety oriented if they were subject to say a 10,000 pound per day fine for scaffolding if it does not meet Industry Standards? Do you think ZEN might have checked their contractors safety practices if ZEN knew that they could also be liable for injury to workers if their contractor did not fulfil their obligation to make sure that safe work practices were put in place by workers on their work site? I think the key word here is enforcement. And yes I have worked in Asia since 1982 everywhere from India to Indonesia to Singapore to Burma. I have seen the worst believe me so don't think I dropped in the airport last week trying to impose European Standards here.

My guess is non certified scaffolding and it was not inspected by a qualified inspector before being used by the workers who should be using a Permit to Work"with a job safety analysis that is issued everyday.

Most of the scaffolding here in Thailand does not use the proper certified clamps that is international standard worldwide. They use a hook type connection that simply lays over other scaffolding.

You can drive anywhere in Bkk and see worker at heights riding on top of crane loads(a big no no), using non certified scaffolding, no proper full body harness for working at heights ,etc. I could go on and on about field made wire rope slings that cranes use that have not be load tested or inspected visual but I would just bore everyone. Until both contractors and clients are held responsible for workers accidents you will see no change.

TIT

Gosh with 23 folks doing this you think they would catch them much sooner

As long as they don't block midget porn sites...

I agree!!!!!!!!!! Leave something better than the political news to read! ha ha

Can someone please educate me as I seem to confuse the definitions of democracy and communist.......

The simple question of where will it all end one would assume to be obvious unless you are the ones in control or simply do not care.

I just wonder if IP Star(Satelitte Dish Internet) has any web sites blocked???? I use a satellite internet dish in the middle east with no blocking what so ever but if you use dial up or use ADSL or use wireless many sites are blocked but on satellite net no blocking whats so ever. I wonder if Thailand is the same>>>

"Active in the real estate sector" :lol: . It's amusing how the Swedish rag fail to mention that the suspect were sentenced to 3,5 year in jail by Swedish court as late as February 2010 because he got busted in his own apartment for running a lab for steroid production.

http://st.nu/lokalt/...brott-i-sverige

He deserves double what ever he gets! Half for the lab part and half for being a big liar

It is not so much as the Baht getting stronger - it is the US dollar getting weaker commensurate with its fiscal management or lack thereof. If you gauge the Baht with other currencies such as the AUD - this has come from 22 Baht to 29 as at today. So by these pages some journalist would suggest the Aussie economy has strengthened by 30%. If that were true Australia would be in deep yoghurt. No one would trade with it as it would cost them too much money to buy goods and services. The fact of the matter is the AUD has strengthened marginally and the Baht has not kept up to Australia's performance.

But n the other hand, the US is in fiscal crisis due to its banking and fiscal management by the Fed and others. It has been in debt for trillions of dollars (literally) for decades and right now there is no way out. Their currency will not buy what it used to and there has to be a leveling. The hiccup could throw the USD to 25 Baht (my prediction) but Thailand cannot really stop that or fend off the fall. If the US were to devalue that far, China, Russia and Europe would become the major's and the US will be left to flounder.

So far we have not heard anything about all the foreigners legally receiving Thai extensions to visas based on marriage or retirement. What is the Thai country going to do to lighten the burden to applicants at immigration trying to qualify with the exchange rate so bad.

When countries live on credit and social security there is not much you can do when continuing to tax business and PAYE salary earners to pay for the mismanagement. It is a death spiral and about time.

Good post, I recall back in 2000/01 when the Baht was at 22 to the Aussie $ and 17/18 to the NZ$, both of these currencies have gone up and not gone down again. Whilst Thailand's economy might be growing, I see no fundamental shifts in its emphasis to suggest that the Baht appreciation is based upon its own merits, or will be as sustainable was in the long term as the Australian and NZ situation.

Fully agree

And the US$ may go much lower and their tax and spend crazy agenda goes on. The US$ is in bad trouble it appears

One point seldom talked about is the fact that the biggest loser are the Thai workers who did work in Saudi before the theft and later after the theft the lost of jobs in Saudi that could have been for Thai workers. The workers lost out and in the end Thailand lost out big because most of the wages earned in Saudi would have been sent back home. Looks like a case where many people lost.

You can get 12 month extensions if you have 400,000 Baht in a Thai Bank.

Out of interest, can this be foreign currency equivalent held at a Thai bank?

I suggest u look at the "rules" for foreign accounts at your Thai bank....walk in with foreign cash and they charge 2% deposit fee, withdraw in foreign cash no matter that you account in is foreign money they charge another 2% to with draw. Anyway thats the way my bank is. I would check these rules out before a large deposit was made.

i dont know why but i get an instant sinking feeling in my stomach when i read your posts... u might be someone who has gone thru alot but u seem really really naive...

yes, u were married village style; as for being some kind of relative of step mom's, how much do u know about your step mom and how much do u respect her opinions, cause i sense a bit of.. ... not sure how to word this, scamableness in this situation... how did u all meet? how much do u love your wife...?

the 'up to u' (taam jai khun) is very very thai, thais dont tend to discuss much, u will have to decide by deciphering what she really wants, and means... my hsuband is fairly straight forward but still baffles me in certain areas that i have to decipher, adn again, i speak thai... so its really not just a language thing ... and to tell u the truth, love is not everything, if things frustrate u now, what will happen when u have a child??? children are teh cause of more then one cross cultural (or cross class, economic, religious or whatever else differnt) marriage.

i take it your step mom is thai? then how comeu know so little really? ... for someone who thinks things thru, i suggest u really really really think this thing out.. or we will be hearing a lot more from u on this forum.... sorry, but im been on this forum for like 7! years, and things repeat....

take my well thought out suggestions and think think think.. good luck...

bina

israel

Trust me naive I aint!! I probably look on the nicer side of things too much which can come across as naive sometimes. My stepmum is Thai but she is hardly ever here as she is off with my Dad on various business trips most of the year! I'm basically figuring things out on the fly! As for how much I love my wife I think thats a stupid question! Would I agree to take her to England marry her there so when im finished helping my Dad in Thailand we can all move back to England together? No I would just say I'll send ya some money once a month to look after the kid! (and trust me THAT would be the easy option!! Not nice but easy!!) Whatever life throws at me I can handle it! I've been through enough to know that much!

Hmmm maybe a few days by yourself just doing some thinking and using a bit of common sense mixed with a few ounces of caution would help. What is it that Trink used to say in his column at the Bkk Post. "Human Manure" I think it was in place of Human Nature. In the end you need to look at things with some common sense.

Time for advice and considering if you like them or not is not the top priority, OK?

Providing things too easily is reducing the amount of respect you will get in return, not increasing it. You obviously have a wife who does not respect you, remember that easy money or whatever it is for her is going to reduce her respect for you even more. You need to stay calm and gather evidence about you being a good father before you do anything else. Your child is your life, or it will be when you realise it, you can wait a couple of months, you can stand this crap another couple of months… with the mission to gather evidence so that you can ensure 50 / 50 custody and more importantly than that even, minimum 50% possession of the child. It sounds like the grandmother and the mother plans to stop you from access to your child in the future, you are NOT in a good position if the assault is true I can tell you, mother gets someone to witness in court and you are looking at very little possession, visitation rights could be in danger even. If you can't also show evidence that you really are a good father

Good of you to give info about the upbringing, you have a difficult case, decently rich Thai upbringing and very spoilt, very selfish on top of that. She needs to be taken down but what would you benefit from doing it? Nothing. So not now and perhaps not you, ensuring as much possession of the child as possible when separation comes is more important. Grand mother running everything is not that unusual, they tend to mean a lot in many cases in Thailand and there are few Thai women who would go against their mother. Your wife were probably brought up by a mother who thought that giving her child any responsibility to take any decisions herself was to take care of the child badly… Thai mothers tend to not realise that it's appropriate to stop when "child" enters or finishes university even. Not unusual

The mother has filed police reports against you so although she has no evidence, you need something to offset or you could end up with only Saturdays and Sundays, or less. You filed a return suit… This is how the judges at juvenile court see it! They are utterly bored with husbands and wives fighting, filing suits is just even lower. To get as much possession as possible, you need to push What Is Best For The Child. The case you filed *could* help your case if you pushed the bad impact on the child in it, if you instead pushed the bad mother / wife then it's not helping you, the judges don't want to know, they take decision regarding the future of the child based on what they see is the best for the child, the father worrying about the child helps, the father verbally attacking the mother does not, full stop

You need to prove that you are a good father, you take child to the zoo, to the sea, to nursery, to hospital, always a plus if the mother does not. You keep the bills as evidence. That the child is calling out daddy everyday is gold worth in a court case – if you have evidence of it. Can you get the nanny to testify in court? That should get you minimum 3-4 (i.e., you get 3 days, the mother 4 days a week). Beware: The second you let the mother know that you want the nanny to testify, then she will do everything she can to make sure that the nanny does not see the child again and can't testify. Approach the nanny quietly and ask for her cooperation, offering money is not bad, if you can provide 100,000 bath per month for the wife, then you can give her 2 - 3 months salary to the nanny if she testifies the truth (and it is in your favour). Minimum, get evidence, record on video when child asks for daddy, record when nanny says child is missing daddy, wants daddy. Witness is best in court, video is second best

You have escalated the whole thing by criticising your wifes mother, filing suit about grand mother interfering with father child relations??? Which lawyer recommended you to do that? Thai law is very clear – Grand parents are Nothing. The father or the mother has the right to demand the child back from anyone, including grand parents, or put in another way – you can demand that the child is taken care of either by you or by the mother and if the mother is not taking care of the child, then she must hand over the child to you. If child stays at grand mothers place, then mother must stay there to (sleep there too), not go away and work in another city. True that both of you have legal grounds for divorce. If law suit you did show a father caring for his child then it's maybe not only bad with it

The grand mother most likely doesn't know and should somehow be informed that child alimony is around a hundred bath per day and that nothing of that is for the mother or her (not informed by you though, the daughter would be the best one to do that), the wife and the grand mother should be told that alimony for the wife does not exist according to Thai law and that she is entitled to exactly zero bath per month when divorce has gone through (you nicely tell wife and wife will tell grandmother for sure…). The law is simple, what you had before marriage is yours, what the wife had before is hers and what was bought during marriage is split 50/50. You may have destroyed the chances of that meaning anything by buying house in her name (if she was married then you had to sign that house is considered "before marriage" and hers). OK, I don't think that money matters in this case but what the law supports when it comes to child alimony and divorce "wife alimony" surprises nearly all Thai women. Money is not a power you can use in your relationship it seems

"she has witnessed the animosity the mother holds for me and her scheming" Maid has lower status, nanny higher. Court cares about child so nanny matters much more than maid. I don't understand the "The maid is my witness as to the lies and plans they cohort together" But to be honest, you bringing up lies and plans the mother has in court is most likely not going to help you get more possession of the child, the Nanny witnessing about the mother screaming – unable to control herself would be good – does help you because that indicate an unsuitable mother. In front of the child is even worse. You should have had the "not in front of the child please" attitude. Judges at Juvenile court are affected by who paints the best picture of being a good parent. Let the mother say that she doesn't want to see you again, good for you. You as a father will of course talk about the childs best interest and that it is important for the child that the father and mother can communicate

Don't send her packing yet, gather evidence and remember rule number one: the one in possession of the child is always at advantage. You should not leave the wife mother now and "let the mother take care of the child" (well, she will take the child and go home to mummy and there is nothing you can do about it – better avoid that) until the divorce goes through – risk of less possession. Keep it together until court case is on the way minimum. Remember rule number two: There is no benefit in you waiting for things to get better, unless you are with the child the majority of the time meanwhile – or you do it to gather evidence of your suitability as father.

"I really think my wife is confused, what do you think I should do, if i run after her like before she may well come home, but the cycle is not broken, If i leave her, like I did once for 3 months 2 years ago, she just gets on with her life...........so what is the solution, I dont understand this Thai woman??? Do you think she is trying to control the situation, how does one break this control, how does one get her to make a move, in any direction , reconcilliation or divorce, I need peace of mind, I am in limbo"

If the child is with her and not you then you should eat the shit and go up to her mothers house and ask her to come home. Come on, it's not that bad, you can spit it out when she and the grand mother doesn't watch. Then at least you are in a good position to gather evidence that you are a good father, that should help you to get 2-5 or 3-4 at least. You write; I don't understand this woman… Oscar Wilde wrote – Women are meant to be loved, not understood You are not alone is this. Personally from what you write; I don't think that you can get your wife to "wake up" about that the marriage and good times whatever are about to finish if she doesn't shape up whatever. She will simply not realise that or care about it either, until it is too late and perhaps not care then either. She is very spoilt so control is one thing – you can't break the control *need* she has, that's a deeply rooted personality, you could possibly break the ability for her to apply the control but I don't see that as priority now. That can be worked on first when the child is with you minimum 50% of the time. Money would be almost the only tool I can think of that has real power to fight a very spoilt Thai woman. But not in the case you describe so you only have two weapons it seems. All women hate to be ignored so turning the back to them will certainly make them angry first of all, anything after that is up to need. I don't see a need so it will probably not work in your case. That's number one. The second weapon is your childs love for you. Also, the child will get older and will have the possibility to influence more himself who he wants to be with - 7 years old and he can voice his wish in court. That will be your best weapon. But if the child is not with you for a longer time, then it disappears. Recognising and accepting that her mother means a lot for the wife is important, if you manage to patch things up, then the advice to encourage visits etc is excellent, oiling relations with both the wife and the grand mother

Negotiations are of course better than a court case. You will find that judges in Thailand don't want to order unless they absolutely have to anyway so they will negotiate extensively. They know that Thais are unlikely to honour something that has been forced on them anyway

What someone wrote about foreigners always being in the wrong is total rubbish. I have followed quite a few court cases between mixed couples in custody cases and you are lucky to be in a country where the implementation of juvenile law is so much in the best interest of the child. There is no bias against fathers and no bias against westerners – that's better than Europe

"What will happen if i go for divorce, is there chance I wont get 50/50 custody" – Strange wording. If you are legally married, then you already have 50/50 shared custody. Since mother filed about abuse, yes, there is a small risk you lose custody if the mother also brings witness, otherwise not. You can also bring witnesses so play it well, show plenty of evidence that you are a good father and that is not going to happen. Removing custody will Only happen if the judges consider you dangerous for the child, that will take a lot. The real question is Not about custody or not, it's about possession of the child. Will you get 2-5, 3-4 or 4-3 or 5-2? Or something else is of course also possible

"What do you think it is my wife wants, does she wnt to be boss and I kiss her backside all the time, thats why she's holding out, or does she really not want to be with me and then why will she not get a divorce???" Think like this: Where is the wife now and where are you? Does it matter *to her* if there is a decision about divorce or not? I don't think it matters so why should she take a decision? Why should she divorce at all by the way? What is the benefit *for her* in doing that? If you want her to take a decision, then you must make it matter for her. Gather evidence about you being a good father first, then make it matter

"thought sueing her mom for interfering might make her go in one direction or the other, but still nothing, very strange!!" Who says that it didn't matter? You attacked her mother, that must have mattered, that is so disrespectful of you. What level did you sue? Was it just file at police station or was it also the second step – pushing it to the district attorney? First step means nothing and the mother probably knows that. Sounds like you did first level only, is it pushed to the courts? Why is it strange that she does nothing? Think from her perspective. Any benefit in formally divorcing? You may find that it mattered in that it will make it more difficult to get her and your son to come back from the grand mothers home. If that is the case, then you should initiate proceedings at juvenile court as quickly as possible as advantage is with the one in possession of the child. Try to get her and the child home first, then start proceedings though. Or here is a strange approach that I don't think would work… Go and live with the mother in the grand mothers house for a month or so. Reason: You are the father and you want to be with your child

Sounds like you love the girl and are in a mess because you don't know what is going to happen. I recognise that feeling I recommend you to think differently, the woman you love now matters much now but the day you realise / accept that she doesn't care about loving you any longer, then you will slowly get over it, you will have to force yourself to get over it – takes a year or so. What already matters and will matter much more once that day comes is your child. Women hate to be ignored, it could even do your case with the girl good, you could make her realise that you after all matter, but regardless, your child is the most important thing

Something you wrote made me think of this; You misunderstand - It is not necessarily what this woman wants, maybe she already has it, it's Why should she act? Does it matter for her? Selfishness is deeply rooted in spoilt people

There is nothing called full custody according to Thai law – you have shared custody, it can change to sole custody, no full custody. Possession of the child is what you will fight for. I think the mother, spurred by the grand mother will fight like a tiger in this case. And they have the financial means too. You are probably looking at 3-4 at best (unless you really can prove with very good evidence that you are a better and more suitable parent). 3-4 means problem – where should the child go to school? Probably close to where the mother lives. Can you utilise 3 days? Or can you only use weekends? But what if it's several hours away from Bangkok? Any better option? 2-5 wouldn't surprise me, mother has all financial means and is well educated etc, grand mother has already started working on you getting even less than that it seems. Don't be patient and gather evidence and you could very well look at 2-5 or worse. Don't expect spoilt selfish women to act morally in a divorce… Play it well and nanny witnessing about you being a good father and the child asking for her daddy can give you 50/50

Always think in terms of what is best for the child and Good Luck

Mikey

Gents.....gosh what a real mess. I have spent the better part of 25 years in Asia and even had a wife issue myself or rather a gf issue that I had 2 kids with. Without going thru each detail:

(1)Cut the cash and cut it now. Giving her 100K baht per month helped start this problem and letting her have maids made it worst . Can you spell "spoiled". Give ger kid money and thats about 5000 baht per month or less

(2)Better get legal proceedings started against her as soon as possible in a divorce or as another guy said 'get the kid and take a very long vacation outside Thailand"

(3)I think she will go for the cash.....You say she never took any money. I guess not with 100K a month being given to her. I would say her purse is too small to hold that much cash!

(4)Gotta bring this up...........does she have a Thai boyfriend???? Really sounds like it to me. Sorry if that offends.

(5)And this last comment...over the years I have seen guys married to university grads and guys married to what I would term as soft core hookers(girls who were on the game for a short period of time less than 1 year). In the end the university grads were no better than the softcore hookers and in many cases the university grads were worst. I do not mean that to offend anyone but just because a girl has a university degree does not mean she will not deal with the loan sharks and pawn your house or sell your car if it is in her name. By the way have you seen your house title deed of late.....I wonder if she had loan sharked that already??????Better check.

I have a buddy from Kroat. That is legally married to a woman here. She works as a supervisor at Western Digital. For 15 years steady. And the U.S turned her down for a two week stay in America.

<deleted>. The US is getting impossible to get in now. I just do not understand.

I have 2 buddies both married to Thai's for more than 15 years, both wifes had 10 yr visa's, both had been to the USA 3 or 4 times in 10 yrs with stays each time of less than 1 month. Both applied for new visa's....denied by US embassy. Go figure that one.

They have a problem giving a Thai wife a visa but they let illegal immigrants with no visa hang around for years working and having babies then Nancy Pelosi worries about breaking up families in deporting them. Beam me up Scotty................there is no intelligent life in the USA.

Love him or loathe him, you can bet this mess would probably have been solved if Thaksin was around.

They have been running around in circles saying that Thaksin damaged the country. One can hardly say that this mess is in the benefit of the "country" can one?

Ofcourse he would have solved. He would have made sure he made billions of baht from it, too.

Progress has a price. See Suvarnabhumi.

If Suvarnabhumi is progress I can do without progress. In my opinion Suvarnabhumi is a step back from Don Muaeng.

Thats right!!! That why banks charge 150 baht intl transfer fee's at ATMs. If thats not crooked what is?

So I am wondering why all those idiots are taking the risk to stay in a China friendly country with the guillotine hanging above their heads.

Well thailand is a well-known haven for criminals and paedophile...

These bank presidents should do 150 years in jail for the crooked 150 baht intl fee. Also folks the exchnage rate ATM vs cash in hand is ATM between 50 stang to 80 stang less than cash plus the 150 baht. can you spell CROOKS??? ha ha

Farang can afford the 150 baht transaction fee. However it is almost 1 day work for Thai people.

Wait a minute; ' farang can afford the 150 bath transaction fee?'.This is pure stupidity.So the fee should be related to the fact you can/cannot afford it!!!!!!So why not introduce a 2.000 ATM fee for the Bangkok elite?They can afford it, for sure....It s the typical thai way of thinking, pure in terms of having/not having money and not in terms of economics.

Are u sure the USA embassy would have paid for this guys trip back?????? I really do not think they would knowing the past history of the US Embassy in other matters. Just my humble opinion.

As an Aussie, what I find disturbing is the the government will allow

one of it's citizens to rot in detention. Regardless of what you think

of the man or his crime, (I personlly think he has mental problems)

I think it's shameful.

It's obviously ok, to transer drug traffickers back to Australia and

pay for that, but not for this.

And before everyone starts jumping up and down about a waste

of taxpayers money etc, I think the government have an obligation

to help Australian citiizens.

Let the barrage begin.

Regards

Will

He was offered and given assistance by the Australian government. But people who commit crimes (particularly those that knowingly commit crimes) in other countries have to go through the justice system of that country. They shouldn't be given a free ride just because they happen to be Australian citizens.

If he was a pedophile or drug trafficker he would still spend a number of years in the foreign jail before some swap was done to bring him back to an Australian jail to serve out his time.

If you have read the story, you will see that he did his jail time, so he didn't get a free ride.

He was left in detention because him or his family could not pay.

If he was an American, the Embassy would've paid for his flight home and billed

him whitch is how I think it should be.

Regards

Will

Maybe he plan it from the very start, to get a free ticket home. Only he did not think that we will lock him up for so long before the free trip.

Yes, my dear, nice remarks, go back sleep again, please

What a shame he did not get a longer sentence at the Bangkok Hilton. Wonder if he will get into politics when he is back home? ha ha

Give them all a good ration of 40 degree whiskey and nam daeng!

Help them get driving licences and insurance.

The lads on my soi seem to require a lot of Hong Tong. Booze is expensive and it's sad to see these guys struggling to get by and scraping the barrel so they can get hammered before lunchtime.

Thanks for the replies and advice. For me (& my Thai wife) this is to be the trip of a lifetime. What a stressful and demeaning way to start it; accessing a website many times a day on the off-chance that you might get an appointment in a couple of months time. Have the Embassy Officials never considered that if/when they have finally got us to jump through sufficient hoops, we still have to book airline tickets!

Surely married couples, Thai ladies who have been granted visas to other countries could be fast-tracked thus cutting down this lottery. If we are finally successful this will be the last time I put my wife or myself through this ridiculous and unnecessary process.

Talking to others who have similar views, there will come a point where the US will not have a Tourist Industry. SOM NAM NA.

I hear you and agree. It is nothing but a pain to try to get a USA visa for a Thai wife. I know several people who had visa's for their Thai wifes and went several times with no problems then when they needed another visa 10 years later the visa was denied......reason was you might try to retire in the USA and keep u r wife there. Anything to do with the USA Embassy is a pain so i avoid them as much as possible but it is a fact as US Citizens we have to deal with them at times.

Also when u get to the USA sometimes no problems and other times I get demands from immigration that "you should get her a green card". What a pain and an headache.