Oink

I thought I was beginning to understand the process, but the more threads I read the more confused I have become.

I had been on an OA visa extension (Retirement) for three years. I got approached last year to join a company and work in Leam Chabang (I live in Pattaya). I went to Singapore and obtained a B Visa.

The Company head office is in Bangkok so that is where my B Visa Extension, multiple re-entry & Work Permit were Obtained.

Things did not work out and I resigned. Due to the nature of my work, having access to highly sensitive information, they agree to release me there and then and pay me in lieu up to March 23rd 2015.

They lead me to believe at the time that they would assist me in regaining my OA visa, same as before I started working for them. They have sent me an email attaching a letter stating that my employment is terminated effective March 23rd and advised that they will cancel Work Permit on March 31st to "allow me time to sort myself out".

Since then I have heard nothing, despite sending emails and phone calls.

I would appreciate any advice on how to proceed.

Do I need to go to Bangkok to cancel my B visa or can it be done in my local Jomtiem office?

Can I convert back to an OA visa from a B Visa in Thailand, or do I need to leave the country?

I have had the necessary 800,000 in the bank. plus the three previous OA extensions.

Just to confuse things further, We had already booked a vacation out of Thailand for Sonkran and are due to fly out on April 12th for a week.

I am married to a UK citizen. she has retained her OA (retirement ) extension thank goodness.

Thanks in anticipation

Oink

There has got to be a joke in there somewhere. Nothing in nothing out etc. I love the Irish logic, if only the Americans had not cornered the market on stupidity.

More Thais get mugged in Detroit than Detroiters get mugged in Pattaya.

Statistical Fact!! Surprising since not many Thais want to got to Detroit.

You will probably find that there are fewer Ford workers in Detroit than Pattaya. Which probably means that it is safer as you wont be run off the road by a Ford Everest on a life or death mission to get an employees wife to a coffee morning.

I have the same fridge. I bought a stand-alone "Pure" filter unit which water passes thru before it reaches the fridge. It has the same style white plastic supply hose/fittings that are compatible with the back of the Samsung unit. It has three filter elements plus UV and sits in a cupboard adjacent to the fridge so easy to service/change filters. Never seen the Samsung filter just reset the light when it comes one. Can't see how any one filter element inside the fridge would be good enough here. Maybe it was intended for use with an already "clean/safe" water supply or maybe the light is just a reminder and the filter is nothing more than a "strainer" element. No manual to check as I inherited the fridge when I bought the house.

http://www.samsung.com/sg/support/model/RS21HKESW1/XST

Oink

Our whole house water filtration system filters down too 0.25 micron so nothing except water molecules can get through (bacteria are too big). We also have a magnetic "bio-buster" which quite literally bursts any bacteria before it gets to the filter. You can drink from any tap in the house. But I still wanted to change the fridge filter. The problem is that over time the activated charcoal in the filter compacts and restricts flow so it takes ages to fill a large glass.

We bought one of the fancy Samsung side by side Fridge Freezers with a water dispenser and icemaker. Problem is we cannot find a replacement water filter. Went to the electrical shop where we bought it. No Have! Went to the Samsung Service Center on Sukhumvit. No have! They can order them from Singapore, but they are not going to!

So Samsung sell refrigerators that require water filters to be replaced, but they don't sell replacement filters, or more likely, too lazy to check. Thanks a lot Samsung.

There must be thousands of these refrigerators out there. I am sure that I am not the only person who actually wants to change the filter once in a while. Ideas anyone?

Thanks

Oink

Mine came unstuck and fell off (or stolen) a year ago. Went to land transport and explained and they issued new one for 20 Baht. I did have copy though and it is indorsed in your green book.

Oink

Do I need permission to bring a towel and a bucket and spade for my kid? Or, will I be arrested?

Don't worry, you wont get arrested. But your kid might if he has not got a work permit!

What is it?

The railway crossing on Soi Siam Country Club.

Any of the railway crossings. Khao Talo at 5pm seems to be the worst.

I had some extra ones fitted on the corners of my bumpers. They can drive you a bit mad as the beeper is constantly going off when motorbikes get anywhere near you such as traffic lights.

Oh, I should also mention - I have a pal who worked in Saudi for many years, and also many years ago, in the early 70's.

When you arrived your luggage was searched for any non-Muslim religious artefacts, and also for any alcohol or pork products. So no sneaking in a few pork pies, sausages, a few rashers of bacon etc ...

One trick which used to work was to stick a few pairs of used underpants (preferably complete with skid marks) on the top of the things in your suitcase. For some reason they did not want to search it!

Been there. Will never go to a country again where they take your passport off you and you need to get a visa (and permission from your sponsor) to leave.

The Friday English language newspaper had adverts on the back page with photographs offering rewards for information leading to the whereabouts of the men or women who had "Escaped from their Jobs". i.e. managed to get out of the country despite their employer refusing to return their passports. Some of these poor sods were only allowed to go home once a year.

Don't forget that you need an AIDS test as part of the visa process. Not sure why as you would get stoned to death if you had a relationship with anyone that you are not married too. And that includes homosexuality which is illegal. So that hot little English teacher is definitely off limits under pain of death, which, incidentally, is carried out by public execution on Friday mornings in the local square. Messy but not totally unlike what ISIS have been doing to a few ex-expats recently except they use a long sword. You also get a warm up act of a good flogging and chopping peoples hands and feet off!

If you are married, don't forget your wife cannot even ride a bicycle, let alone drive. She cannot travel in a car with a male who is not a close relative (chances are you don't have too many of those out there) but on the bright side, she can catch a "women only" bus as long as you write a letter giving her permission.

Oh and don't forget that it is illegal to take any religious symbol, other than Islam into the Kingdom. so no Bible, St Christopher, Cross on a chain as these will be confiscated on arrival. not even xmas lights.

Some people love it, some people don't.

May your God go with you.

eir

Cost of labour only small portion of the car industry , they thinking Phillipines better let them try and I am sure 3-5 years they will back.

CAr industry not only labour but SME of small car componen which import into Phillipines make the costing much higher then in Thailand, the quality of work manship cannot compare in others countries.

He will know Thailand much safer compare with other Asean countries.

I saw an interview some years ago on CNN with a VP of General Motors. He stated that the cost of manual labour in building their cars is about 7% of total cost, he was discussing the off-shoring of production.

Another thing to consider might be the persistent strength of the Baht in recent years? The very steep rise in the minimum in Thailand wage also (when it did my laundry people increased their prices by 60% - so I bought a washing machine) .

Talking of Laundry & Washing Machines. Siemens have closed down their washing machine factory north of Bangkok and moved production to India for many of the reasons stated above.

I saw an announcement the other day that 103 and Mix 88.5 had merged, the article went on to say that their licence had been approved on Friday, (10th Oct) and that they would be back on air in 7 to 10 days.

It's been so long that I have forgotten, was 88.5 the one that's did the BBC Worldservice news on the hour?

Yes, and good reception all the way south as far as Sattahip and north just past Lamchabang too. But, for some reason, poor reception around Pattaya Klang.

IMHO the best of the local radio stations - I miss it.

Ditto: Hope 88.5 has not merged as 103 is for retards.

it would seem you are no longer in the uk toto.

perhaps it is time you get used to that

Yep i am used to living here, I would love to here from a farang real estate Dick Turpin. to hear what story they have to justify the ridiculous fees they charge

Im sure they will come up with some excuse.

They need to earn the same % commission as when they used to sell timeshare.

Had a bottle of Del Rios Vineyard Victoria Chardonnay last night. when we finished the bottle we has a drop of Mont Claire which in our opinion was far superior.

Got the box from Makro. It is all about how old it is. The younger the better. Current stock boxed 04July 14

Put phone jammers in all prisons. They are inexpensive and will solve one of the problems.

We stayed there in May and they told us that the lagoon pool was going to be closed August thru September for renovation. They have posted on Trip Advisor that the pools will be closed until 10Sept and that they are having to do urgent structural renovations to the "Point" due to erosion by the sea.

Umm how about adopting a lovely little doggie instead? Something that is supposed to live in a house rather than a wild animal? Something small, an older one, teach the lad about the throw away culture of thailand and how it is good to take ownership and responsibility. Or a older cat, only a few years left?

Buying animals in Thailand not such a great lesson to teach a kid, where as adopting animals, especially the older ones with less hope of finding a new home, teaches very positive things. I would guess you might even find a squirrel or sugar glider in the adoption centers as well is you look hard enough - the country is crawling with animals bought from the animal shops and chucked away as soon as the owners gets bored with them.

if you can not find a shelter with what you want, then try to 2nd hand adverts - at least buying an older pet from here will prevent that animal being flushed down a toilet or what have you in the near future when the owner is finally bored of it and lost patience trying to get their money back,

in chonburi Region

Rabbits

http://www.olx.co.th/search/?cate=62&r=3%7C%7C16&sc=226

More exotic (including hedgehogsand a squirrel thing in there as well)

http://www.olx.co.th/search/?cate=62&r=3%7C%7C16&sc=227

http://www.olx.co.th/product-7416840/ - don't know what it is, but perfect squirrel replacement.

Adopt, don't shop please

Our neighbor did just that and adopted a poor little doggie.

Had to pay the landlord 30,000 baht this week to replace the furniture it ate when she was out.

Good luck

Due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus in western Africa passangers will be tested on arrival at the airport and are required to give details of where they have traveled from. This is in an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease.

Do the politically correct brigade believe that this is in violation of their human rights?

Should all reasonable steps be taken to prevent the spread of a contagious deadly disease?

Also ensure that your phone is unlocked and not tied to a Network in your home country. Otherwise the Thai network sim wont work.