Anon999

If there's something I really need that only has a 2 pin plug and has a 3 core cable, usually an import, then I cut the plug off and fit a 3 pin UK plug. My Siemens washing machine. and dishwasher both had vandalised plugs on delivery. International sockets that cater for most types of 2 and 3 pin plugs are readily available in major DIY and electrical stores.

Why a NZ expat is getting in a lather about a UK pension letter I don't know. I have always found the boss of Key Visa to be extremely personable. The 'valuable documentation' was copies of passport/bank statements/Income tax summaries.

I understand a scam to be some sort of a scheme whereby a person is duped into paying money over. Visa company prices are presented to you BEFORE you decide to use their services.

It's not the value of the documentation (beyond the 100 baht the bank charged for a 1-year printed statement), rather the personal nature of it. If I want to throw it away, that's up to me but I wasn't given the option. Do you leave "copies of passport/bank statements/Income tax summaries" with strangers?

I never disagreed with the fees that as you say, are clearly stated up front. It was very convenient as I had two appointments that day and neither could be deferred so using their visa letter service was very agreeable and convenient. Just thought it strange that they would keep the supporting paperwork.

If you are stupid enough, you said it, to throw money away when the BE offer a 10 day guaranteed service by EMS with all your documents returned then that's up to you. No need to pay any money for a 1 year bank statement as most if not all accounts are now paperless. Just print out the statement covering the relevant period for virtually nothing. I wonder what you do about your report every 90 days, due to your aversion and distrust of the EMS system?

29 Baht at the petrol station? Where is that, sounds too cheap.

Filled my car up with 95 gasohol on 22 May at 29.84/l, last month it was 29.04/l

Everything the yellow shirts in that article are quoted as saying is a lie. The red shirts have nailed the situation. So much for the lazy both-sides-are-too-blame thinking of expats who can't be bothered actually to understand the takeover by the forces of reaction in Thailand. The goal of the so-called "reform" effort in Thailand is just to disenfranchise the majority.

I am always amazed at the foreigners who find modern fascism appealing. Too bad you missed the heyday in the 30's.

Well your observations do not have any evidence to support them and as you have been a member of TVF for such a long time I would have thought a little research would have been in order. It is most important when it appears you were not here to experience the situation for yourself.

Point:

"At the moment, no one is fighting, there is nothing worrying - the junta has created a good reconciliation atmosphere so far.

Counterpoint:

"The junta has deepened conflicts because under martial law and Article 44, people are afraid to express their opinion. Reconciliation cannot be achieved under these laws.

Conclusion: Political conflict continues to exist with special thanks to the NCPO.

Conclusion the level of political conflict has to be exaggerated by those with a vested interest. They cannot play it down!

Bureaucracy going OTT and without due consideration on the circumstances. However, retrieving forest land that was subsequently illegally bought and developed is not before time.

The car tax and mandatory government 3rd party insurance should run from the same date. I always get my insurance broker to obtain the tax disc and pay the total amount to them. Saves me a trip to the Transport Office.

ABC. Unless my eyesight is deceiving me Horgan said Muslims in the second paragraph. Maybe a visit to Specsavers would be a good move!

Consider the cost of health insurance as it escalates with age and you never know what's around the corner. Once you have sorted out the existing problems and situation and that will take more than 5 minutes, then consider finding a Thai gf. However, one that works in the public sector, preferably a civil servant will ensure you do not end up with need for a serious and very expensive operation that you are unable to afford. Heart surgery is very expensive even here. Think 20-25 years down the road!

As a matter of interest 1 Thai was arrested too!

They have already recorded your 90 days in their computer system so you will not get charged for late reporting You should be ok

Yes, his report was successful. Problem is he doesn't have a receipt of that report, for his next report.

He can do the next report on-line.

OP - definitely keep a hold of the EMS slips which the PO provided last month and yesterday if I were you. If you still don't receive any acknowledgement back in the post after 30 days, it might be best for you to go to the immigration office in person (despite the 3-hour drive) armed with these EMS slips as evidence that you did report on time. Otherwise, despite what they told you yesterday about the original acknowledgement having already been allegedly posted back to you, you are at risk at having a 2,000 THB fine slapped on you for late reporting if they conveniently (from their point of view) have a collective attack of amnesia and deny all knowledge of you having reported at all.

You can check the acceptance of an EMS and see the signature then print it out. Email it to the Immigration office. Had to do it once when I had a TM47 lost internally. Had to post it again and got the new date a month later than when it was originally due. Nobody is perfect so suspected that two were accidently picked up together or felll on the floor and binned.

Tell her to wait until you are back in the UK. She can renew her passport at the Thai embassy/

This is useful information and a good workaround on this occasion. Though, doesn't resolve obstacles to the OP's wife's next visa application, i.e. FLR or ILR, or holiday abroad. Notwithstanding, applying for a replacement Thai passport in the UK is a pain in the butt due to the in-person nature of the application.

Not an insurmountable problem but I fear this name change is going to cost some hard cash as far as UKVI/Home Office are concerned.

Obviously, the Home Office will need to be approached and there will be some paperwork involved, topped off with a not insignificant charge for administration.

Suradit's advice is sound in that it allows your wife to return to the UK without hindrance on this occasion.

She can then set about informing UKVI/Home Office of her name change.

See my post #39

Convince her , you don't know my wife . She's decided her name is unlucky and that's it so she's hell bent on changing it and nothing i say will make any difference .

So i'm stuck with this problem till i figure a way round it .

I did phone GOV.UK

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

I had an English friend whose last name was HOY (pronounced HO EE)

His Thai wife's given name was OY.

Therefore when she was married her name was Oy Hoy.

Obviously she wanted to have her name changed.

But I don't know if she ever managed it or not.

Dead easy to do just go to a solicitor and get it changed by Deed Poll. My Thai step son did it when he reached 18 because he wanted to have the same surname as his Mum.

Yeah i dunno, i really enjoy motorcycling around these parts, no way near the amount of rules and regulations as there is at home, lots of funny sights like girls done up on a scooter holding umbrellas out in front of them blocking their forward vision in a futile attempt to avoid getting their hair messed up

Not to mention to avoid getting a suntan.

I think the point is, there are problems in paradise.

They hunt foxes in England for sport do they not? He just takes it to another level. Yes I know fox hunting has been banned in England but killing people has not been banned in North Korea.

In that case why raise the subject?

Guys, Guys, Guys..... Whatever way you want to stick your oar into this military government and their road to unite Thai peoples, so far they have succeeded . I see all the infrastructure working well, buses, cars, rail services... peoples are going to work in relative safety and getting home to their families on time. Business is in pretty good shape apart from tourism... I see Thai peoples going on holidays regularly.. cheap weekend trains and buses to Cha-am, Pattaya, etc etc.. I see Thai peoples happy and smiling... thats important.. What I don't see is corrupt politicians and more corrupt policeman like Tarit running their own programs... Rock on Thailand and keep up the good work Mr Prayuth...

Hmm really? Name their successes? I think on another thread someone ticked them off and there were no check marks.

Not sure if you need a white stick or could get away with a visit to Specsavers?

The economy is going down the toilet, and there seems little but fine sounding words from NCPO to prevent it. I wouldn't rate this as a pass, but rather as 'indeterminate' since so little has changed.

An economy is controlled mainly by two things firstly what is happening in the developed countries and secondly the decisions taken for the national economy. Neither are controlled by a switch and take significant time to have a positive effect and even a negative impact is not instantaneous. Additionally information is only available some time after the effect and is therefore history and can only be taken as a guide. Furthermore, like any 'sales chart' the results do not provide a straight line, with short term fluctuations skewing the overall picture. Only medium term data will give you a realistic picture and of course any corrections are behind the curve.

Special zones could be arranged where 1 rai plots could be purchased. Economically there would be some benefit to the country.

That idea would never work and is ridiculous. You live where you want to not where some 'special zone' is dictated as suitable by a government. The reaction from most would probably be 'stuff it'!

Particularly if it is not explained clearly on the ballot paper.

Who cares about the structure? It's alllllllllll about that LAND.

Well if you're a Brit you do because the HMRC have world-wide rights to your assets for tax purposes when you eventually 'kick the bucket'! Therefore the value of the house is included in the total amount of your estate and can drastically effect the tax payable.

Thanks Joe.

Maybe Phuket were just trying to be helpful.

So, in future, if I am not in Chiang Mai at the 90 day time I have no choice. It's either POST or ON_LINE.

Do you have the online weblink please?

Don't worry, I am fully aware of my status in Thailand. However, it is interesting to note that the visa extensions in my passport do not say 'extension'. They say 'application of stay is permitted...'

Regards

James

The following gives the full information:

1. You can find the link for online 90 day reporting by going to the Immigration website and select the ‘Notification of Staying over 90 days’, from the left hand column. At the very bottom of that information page (scroll down) is a link, highlighted in blue, ‘notification of staying in the kingdom over 90 days via internet’.

Alternatively you can just go straight to the website by the direct URL link, which is

http://extranet.immigration.go.th/pibics/online/tm47/TM47Action.do

a ) They specify using IE browser only, at the moment, but it will work on other browsers by copying and pasting the link or,

b ) Use a User Agent for Chrome or Firefox and it will emulate IE. For FF IE Tab V2 for Chrome either User-Agent Switcher for Chrome or User Agent Switcher.

SafariHYPERLINK "http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-activate-user-agent-switcher-in-safari.html" has the ability built in.

hmmmm ... good story, so there are some one thai couples in Thailand who are not out to scam or scew the farang.

Cynic!

Try comparing the charts of the Baht against the US$, GBP and Euro and you see the baht has been very strong up until the recent past. Like all currencies they fluctuate eventually.

The total of the items listed is 7,007 baht. No amount is stated for VAT as it appears to be hidden to avoid making it obvious what percentage is being used. However, anyone who does not add up the individual amounts on a restaurant or other bill is asking to get screwed in any country.