TacoBoy

Have not seen anyone blatently flogging the log or flashing outside the local brothels without the assistance of a partner.

Lots of wierdo's in some toilets occassionally, especially in thai disco's shaking it a few too many times at the urinal.

Seen more wierdo's who were exposing/stroking in public in the western world.

If it was a 6.8 epicenter in Chiang Mai it would be very Strong and Violent. The type of quake would determine how much damage and type of shaking from the different type of shock waves.

When the quake hit in Burma last wee, I was in Chiang Rai in a single story detached brick and morter 10 year old house. Decent construction by Thai standards.

Felt and looked like the house was going to fall down. It rocked and swayed very violently. Could not stand up and maintain balance properly. Quake felt here nearly a minute.

And this was maybe 90 kilometers from the epicenter

A Embassy or Consulate is just that. A means to get a visa or other things in referance to Thailand.

Just compy with thier requirements and you will be fine and no hastles. :jap:

Getting increasingly difficult to open bank accounts even when one is needed for Marriage or Retirement Visa's.

Get a single entry from home, then a new single entry in the PI.

Your local Consular officer was correct. I would follow that advice instead of risking having to waste money for a double and it expires and then have to go get a new singel anyhow.

They always have stamped mine and others I have seen 90 days from the day of reporting.

I inquired about it and asked them to adjust, they said they undertood and agreed, but then stamped it 90 days from that date anyhow.

So now I go on that date or within a few days after, during the 7 day grace period.

Yes it could be a slight risk if asked for the passport and report and don't have it current.

By mail in is iffy for the date you will get. Usually 90 days from when they look at it and stamp it.

Thai's tend to use that stuff called Salad Cream over mayo. They just don't buy the more expensive Miricle Whip.

So guess you could always use the local salad cream as a poor substitute for the MW.

No way would I ever use that stuff on a good salad. But hey to each their own.

I prefer Blue Cheese, Roqueford, Caesar's, Ranch, Italian. those are real salad dressings.

Depending on the type of sandwich, mayo or MW.

Don't buy the knock off's from the borders.

Wifey wanted a new mobile for a cheaper price, but then could not send or receive sms messages. Heard of many other problems with the knock off's also from many people.

Dont' buy old stale cigarettes there also.

Be forewarned of electronics and knock off brands.

Khwai, it's Miracle Whip, not Cool Whip ! dhaaaa

Ps video not availabel outside usa or uk and europe on adult swim

Miracle Whip is a Salad Cream to go on sandwiches,

Cool whip is immitation whipped cream for pies, ice cream and such......

Wow, somebody has really gone to outer space.

Be sure to cover the windows with Tin Foil and wear a Tin Foil Cap when venturing outside.

To say or imply a immigration policy or enforcement change by "heresay" is bar room talk and rumor only.

As said so many times. Immigration can ask ANYONE for additional details to satisfy the applicant's application.

This is nothing new. And you are correct that they will not publish such nonsense even if some officers are asking more from any particular country to verify the documents.

As the Boy Scouts say:

"Always Be Prepared"

The rules and regulations apply to all. Either meet them, or not.

Everyone is entitiled to their opinion, but not try to say certain natinalities or embassies are doing things improper.

I have never tried to stymie anyone's opinion other than to counter another's opinion with verifiable supportable facts. Not rumors

Possibly you can apply by post (mail) or in person with the Thai Embassy and submit the appropriate fees.

You would probably have to call or e-mail them to ask how to appy for a double entry visa to cover about 6 months travel in thailand.

Italians and foreigners living in Italy have a couple different requirements for the Tourist Visa's.

Here is the website for forms and other visa info from Thia Embassy Rome

http://www.thaiembassy.it/

might be a bit more appropriate to ask on the forum if anyone, regardless of national origin has been asked to provide supporting documentation of income versus specific to cetain countries

Everyone, regardless of nationaltiy should always be prepared to "answer" if an officer questions details about any required submitted documents for consideration of visa or extension.

Nothing new. They always had the right to "ask" anyone regardless of nationality. This does not make it a new enforcemtn or policy change.

As said many times, a person can then either overload immigration every time with supporing documents and "paper trail", Go back later or to another office or speak with a Supervisor to help clarify one's position, or seek assistance of a Thai Immigration Attorney if one feels wronged.

Always be polite, and not get angry, or argue.

From Trvelskr:

"My concern is that we would have to be making visa runs every 30 days but if we can find a way to have 90 days, that's a totally different story. Can anyone clear this up?

Here are some questions:"

1. how do you get a double entry visa? A. Apply @ any Thai Consulate or Embassy locally.

2. how long is this visa good for? A. Single entry 60 days extend @ local immigration 30 days equals 90 day stay. Double entry is good for Two entires of 60 days each and two extensions of 30 days each equals 180 days stay. You Must Cross the Border at the end of the first entry or extension of Tourist Visa. Then you simply return to Thailand to activate the second entry. Can leave and enter by land, air, or water if the visa is still in effect.

3. after the double entry runs out, do you need to leave the country or do you go to an immigration office? A. go to Immigration office for the 30 day extension, then leave the country the end of that extension either to apply for a new Tourist Visa at a Thai Embassy or Consulate. Or return to Thailand to activate the second entry.

4. how many times can you keep doing visa runs? A. Unlimited at this time. 30 days allowed arrival by air, and 15 days arrival by land or sea.

5. can you keep getting visas from embassies in other countries, or will they stop you after a while? A. For now, no limit on single entry Tourist Visa's, but some places will either limit the amount of double entries, and only issue a new single entry Visa.

6. how can i thank you all for your great info!?!? thanks again!

You should be good for at least 90 days minimum at a time other than having to go to immigration at the end of 60 days TV for 30 day extension, then crossing the border or flying out every 90 days.

then return with either a new 30 day visa exempt by air, or a new Tourist Visa

Rules of amount of entries can and has changed in the past, but think the current rules are gonna stay pretty much standard for a while.

Think most of the resort bungalo's on the left side are fairly new and can't find them on the net yet.

You could always drive by the Khum Chao, and see if that is nice enough, then go compare the others in the left side of the highway and see if it might be worth it before checking in.

Anyone else ever had a problem of a connection stopping sometimes at the same time a person walks by close to the router or other internet ADSL connections ?

Strange, but have observed it over a long time.

Router is not wireless and connections are all solidly connected

So many ways to stay long term even if under 50.

In addition to suggestions before, here are a few more suggestions.

If you are free enough and can afford to travel, then you can get a double entry visa which extended will be 6 months.

Then you can either fly somewhere or to home in Italy and return again to Thailand getting a 30 day visa exemption arrival. Or go to a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside Thailand and get a new single or double entry visa(if possible).

You can fly into Thailand as many times as you like and receive 30 days every time with no limit on the amount of entries (for now).

As for starting a small bar etc. you can't get a visa based on that, nor can you work at the premisis unless you get a business visa. If you invested tons of money, then you could get the visa, but not worth the investment capitol required to obtain a business visa.

Better to chose alternate visa ways to stay for the time frame you will be staying.

Don't think they have limited the amount of single entry tourist visa's you can get which are about every 90 days outside Thailand.

Q. Why pursue this argument when you know full well there is a rational reason behind a new enforcement policy ?

A. Because there does not need undue attention brought upon certian nationalities and their Embassies or Consulates or to imply there is anything improper going on.

Paraphrased; you answered your own question below:

One thing I would like to add that's a bit sensitive. There may indeed be OTHER nation's embassies that have similar policies to grant income letters. Perhaps this is not widely known by immigration in the same way.

That said, for the sake of discretion, perhaps it would not be a good idea to publicize the names of any other countries that have non-proof policies.

Why then would anyone even need to pay additonal fees to get a certified income statement from an Embassy if all they have to do is overload immigration with all their proof of income.

As said by so many, they can ask for whatever they want from any nationality. It is not nation specific rules or enforcement.

So why continue to question if a policy is written or unwritten, or by office or region to apply a certain standard that only applies to a particular nation.

If it is a policy then it is discrimination and violation of Human Rights.

There is nothing in your posts to suggest any policy change specific to one's nationality is truly in effect.

Just rumors and statements of a few people being asked to provide proof.

Many others from the USA here have said nothing more than a proper Embassy letter or proper Bank Documents and Certified Letter was required by immigration for income.

My friend from the us just today got his retirement vsa extended in the north. Immigration accepted the letter and did not ask for anything else to support it.

The rules for consideration by immigration are the same for all Nationalities.

Officers can ask anyone to provide proof at their discretion regardless of natinonality. So it is improper to imply that because a person is of a certain Nationality they are subject to additional scruitny.

The officer can ask you for any documentation above and beyond posted critera at their discretion.

As I have said before, be polite, either comply, go back again or to another office, ask to speak with a supervisor, or if necessary consult an attorney.

The test of whether or not one qualifies is in immigration's own "required Documents". Read them carefully and do not try to read something into this that is not there.

There are a few sources to find what they require.

One is the immigration's own web site and policy. the other is the Police order.

Here again, is the Immigrations own requirements from their own web site for a Retirement Visa Extension.

List of documents for extension of stay in case of Retirement

1. Application Form ( TM 7) with one photograph (size 4x6 cm.)
2. Passport and its photocopy with certified true copy by the alien
3. Application fee: 1,900 Baht
4. Documents required are as follows;
   • The account deposit with the bank in Thailand of not less than 800,000 Baht.
     The proof of such evidence is the updated bank passbook with the certified letter from the bank showing the money in the account of not less than 800,000 Baht which has been deposited in the account for the previous 3 months. OR
   • Income from pension/social welfare of not less than 65,000 Baht per month.
     The proof of such evidence is a letter from the applicant's Embassy or Consulate in Thailand to certify that the applicant receives pension or other income of not less than 65,000 Baht per month. OR
   • A combination of the account deposite in the bank plus income (from pension or other source per yearX witha combined total of not less than 800,000 Baht.

Thailand has had a long standing special Diplomatic and Investment ties with the USA since 1833. Doubtful they would discrimminate or treat American's any differnet.

The Marriage and Visa things are small potato's compared to long standing Diplomatic and Economic ties and Treaties.

Just sayin

Sorry, but I don't see this issue as discrimination. If they do change to this new enforcement policy, it is based on the proof different embassies require to grant income letters. That has nothing to do with harassing based on nationality, rather it is about variant embassy policies. If the French did it like the Americans, one would assume eventually immigration would learn that and add French to the list of countries to apply to the extra proof needed policy. I am still not asserting this is a real enforcement policy change and if so, what the office range is. Just find this talk of "discrimination" way off base. Immigration already had the legal right and did sometimes use their power to ask for further information whenever they liked.

Bungalow style resort rooms. Looks like nice for family. Nothing spectacular, but looks nice for about 600 per room.

This place is just east of the Tesco Lotus. About 5 minutes to the Border.

Have not satyed there, but passed by recently and it looked fairly nice and well kept

Khum Chao Resort 20 M.11, Soi NamCham 5, Pongpha, Maesai, Chiangrai, Thailand 57130.

Tel. : 053-646644, 082-0338322, 081-4550559 Fax : 053-646644

Email: [email protected] Website: www.khumchaoresort.com

There seems to be quie a few Bungalow resorts on the main highway near the Tesco Lotus.

Not high season, so possibley could just check the many bungalow resorts yourself when you arrive.

Thailand has had a long standing special Diplomatic and Investment ties with the USA since 1833. Doubtful they would discrimminate or treat American's any differnet.

The Marriage and Visa things are small potato's compared to long standing Diplomatic and Economic ties and Treaties.

Just sayin

Thailand has had a long standing special Diplomatic and Investment ties with the USA since 1833. Doubtful they would discrimminate or treat American's any differnet.

The Marriage and Visa things are small potato's compared to long standing Diplomatic and Economic ties and Treaties.

Just sayin

I hear the April 1st date is the "Official Grand Opening" for Robinson, altho they supposidely will be open with everyone else from March 30th.

Looks like they just tried to finish a little early and get a few more days of revenue.

Hoping Tops market will not be a dissapointment for us falongs.

Chiang rai is a Wooden not Bamboo Saxaphone.

Prices are from about 12,000 baht.

Nice, but remember they are wood and do not have a heavy brass sound, but still a sax sound, but subdued.

He is still active in Chiang Rai. Saw him a few months ago.

http://www.woodensax.com/2010/

Immigration rules and documents for Long Stay applies to all Nations, and is not specific to one nationality or another.

All persons must meet the same critera to be considered for extension of stay or visa based on Retirement or Marriage or Relationship to a Thai national.

Edit:

Lopburi3 answered the seasoning requirment

•A combination of the account deposite in the bank plus income (from pension or other source per yearX witha combined total of not less than 800,000 Baht.

does the amount in the bank need be seasoned?

i want use part pension as i just started getting one and part in the bank

Immigration documents required says money in the bank must be "seasoned" or in a thai bank for 3 months prior to applying for the visa or extension of visa.

They only say proof of income of 65,000 per month, or combination of the two sources of bank and income totaling 800,000 a year.

I would assume since they require bank deposits to be seasoned for 3 months, that the same bank requirement would apply using the combination method.