Rags

Thanks @ubonjoe

I figured that would be the case for non-immigrant / non-resident status, but as you know Thailand often surprises!

Rags

Are you able to apply for a Non-Imm-O visa (Thai wife) and subsequent 1-yr extension of stay with multiple entries, and maintain this arrangement whilst still living and working overseas?  i.e. can you hold non-resident visas for Thailand and another country at the same time in the same passport?

I already have a non-resident visa and work permit in another SEA country that I was hoping to maintain whilst getting myself set-up in Thailand.  Initially making frequent visits to our house in Thailand, and transitioning into a full-time stay in LoS.  Thinking that getting the Non-Imm-O visa in advance would help with local driving license and the like, and would also mean that the final permanent move was an easier step.

Appreciate your thoughts and advice.

Rags

Cheers guys - looks like its back to the Thai style workaround.  Let's see what he comes up with...

Our builder checked Global House but they did not have any readymade channel / slot drains.  They just don't appear to be a popular drainage option in Thailand.  Any other suggestions before I try and get him to construct one insitu?

Thanks Eyecatcher - Is there a local shop or website for Global?

We are building a swimming pool and looking to put a drainage channel along the line where the sandstone tiled pool surround meets the adjacent patio paving.  Do not really want a big industrial style metal grating and was hoping to use either a slot drain or a narrow trench drain like the attached sketches that I found online.  Unfortunately the local builder in Pattaya says he cannot find anything similar in the local market.  Any ideas where we could purchase without having to import?

Many thanks.

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Revised thinking shown in the attached sketch.  I was hoping that the two drains and the second skimmer would improve the water circulation and help with keeping the pool clean, even though the water volume suggests one skimmer should suffice - is this approach actually worthwhile?

I have shown the proposed jets and their direction on the sketch - any comments on these?  Presumably these jets would be near the surface, but is there any benefit in adding some more jets at the bottom of the wall to improve circulation throughout the entire depth of the pool and not just on the surface?

Cheers 

Rags

Just finalising the details for my 8.3m x 4m x 1.4m salt water skimmer type pool with concrete steps to one side and I'd appreciate your thoughts on two areas.

1) Best positions for the skimmer and return jets.  I plan on having a floor drain and two skimmer boxes with the return jets angled to create clockwise water flow.  Concerned about water movement around the steps so was thinking about placing one there plus one further up the pool as well as maybe adding one on the left hand side - any thoughts  on the best arrangement?  Any benefit to also adding a couple at the bottom of the wall as well?

2) Patio drainage ideas around the pool.  The brown areas in the picture show the extent of the existing patio tiling.  My current thinking is to place a slot drain along the full length (shown in red) and then to have a slight slope in the new pool patio (shown yellow) from the pool down to this point.  

Cheers 

Rags

Samsung99 - I like the look of 'The Pavillion' model that you've shown - do you have a link to the manufacturer's website or details of a supplier in Pattaya?

I have been looking at school options in Bangkok for Year 10 / Grade 9, and have automatically focussed on the British Curriculum / IGCSE system which is what my British son has been studying to-date.

From other threads on this forum I have received some useful feedback on the British schools in Bangkok, but I have just come across Berkeley International School in Bang Na.  The location (and especially the price) would be great for us, but the issue is it is a relatively new school and it follows an American curriculum...

What are your thoughts on a) Berkeley as a school, and B) switching from British to US school system at this stage in my son's schooling...?

Thanks

Rags

Anyone with experience of what sort of things customs officers might not consider to be 'personal' belongings...? 

Following this thread myself, as I recently started a separate topic on St Andrews 107, but have now started leaning towards St Andrews 71 for my kids joining Yr10 and Yr4.

The main reason for the change in focus was the better selection of IGCSE subject options available for Yr10... but still interested to hear other views on the school...

Thanks glegolo

I am a British national and have been living in Dubai with my Thai wife for a number of years. 

We have lived in Thailand before so we know that rules in the country can change quickly.  Therefore keen to hear from anyone that has recently gone through the process. 

Rags

My Thai wife and I will be returning to Thailand with our children after having been overseas together for the last 10 years. We are trying to understand the process for shipping our used household goods without paying customs duty, and have reviewed the following page on the Thai customs website:

http://en.customs.go.th/content.php?ini_content=individuals_151007_02&lang=en&left_menu=menu_individuals_151007_02

The rules appear to be quite clear, and as we are a returning family it suggests that under my wife's name we can for instance bring in 2 used TVs duty free, rather than the normal limit of 1 type of each used electrical item duty free.

However, knowing that things are never as simple as they appear in Thailand (TIT) - I wanted to ask whether anyone has recently gone through the process and has any advice on how best to approach it or pitfalls to avoid?

Thanks Strangefish32 - Some really useful background info. 

Despite our original interest in S107 (located close to our house) we are actually now leaning towards S71, as they offer a much wider range of IGCSE options for Y10.  I appreciate what you are saying about the size of the school but guess that is what enables them to offer the larger selection of Y10 subjects.  Definitely some food for thought.

Out of interest, do you have any recommendations for other schools for us to check out?

Thanks guys - so no horror stories regarding St Andrews 107, which hopefully means it is a reasonable school.  However from reading other reviews, the general consensus appears to be that St Andrews 71 is a better option for a school at that that end of town, especially considering Bangkok Patana does not have places for Yr10.

Thanks Big Guns - sounds encouraging.  I will check out the CFBT ratings that you mention.

I like the idea of the small class size, but I have just received their list of Yr10 option subjects and note that there is not a great selection - presumably due to the smaller size of the school and number of teachers.

Obviously not too many parents or teachers from the school currently active on ThaiVisa - any comments or recommendations from others in the group?

We are moving to Bangkok over the summer and have 2 children that are currently in Yr3 and Yr9.  I would greatly appreciate any parent's or teacher's views or first-hand experience of St Andrews International School at Sukhumvit 107.  Whilst we are obviously interested to hear about both the primary and the secondary schools, we are particularly keen to know more about the quality of the secondary programme for our eldest as he will be starting his important final couple of years for GCSEs.

I have tried to search through the forum for existing posts on the subject, but I keep getting side-tracked with comments related to all the 'other' St Andrews schools in Bangkok...!!! 

Thanks for the comments / confirmation guys.

I thought that that was more than likely the case... but always worth a try...!!!

Cheers

Rags

Hi guys

I held an extended Non-Imm-O (support of Thai wife & child) visa for 3 years, but then let it expire whilst working away from Thailand.

With the grandfathering of the old rules for existing visa holders, I was wondering whether there were any similar dispensations for those with a record of previous Non-Imm-O visas....???

I am guessing that I have missed the boat, and will have to start afresh as a newby, but thought it was worth a check....

Cheers

Rags

Just remember that a minimum of 3 consecutive annual extensions are not the only requirement for a Residence Permit. The Immigration Commission will want to see that you can speak, read and write Thai, and that you have lived, worked and paid income tax in Thailand all these years, and a few other things.

--------------

Maestro

Thanks Maestro

I am still working on the other requirements. The main thing is that I don't want to lose the entitlement gained from holding the Non-Immigrant Visa for a number of consecutive years.

Cheers

Rags

No.

Thanks Lopburi - short, sweet and to the point

Oh well, I'll guess I'll have to "force myself" to come back here a couple of times each year to renew the extension.....it's a hard life.......

Cheers

Rags

I have an extended Non-Imm-O visa for support of my Thai wife, and wish to maintain the visa continuously to allow for the option of applying for PR in the near future.

If I were to leave Thailand for a year or two, is it possible to extend the annual 'permit to stay' whilst overseas?

Cheers

Rags

http://www.freelang.net/ectaco/dictionarie...et-pc-thai.html

http://www.lingvosoft.com/main.jsp?do=prod..._item&item=2311

http://www.babblefish.com/babblefish/ectac...tware/thai.html

http://www.ectaco.com.au/Pocket_PC_Thai.html

Thanks tywais.

Rags