Voltaire

Go to Bahrain. Take :

1. Marriage certificate

2. Copy of both sides of your wife's Thai ID card;

3. Passport (2 blank opposite pages and passport must be valid for the period of the visa-i.e 6 months/year);

4. Completed application form.

The Thai Embassy there is quiet and you can get things done in 1 day.

Why bother with the potential problems in Laos!!

There are 2 Saudi visa agents in Bangkok:

1. Afagco ([email protected]); and,

2. Nili-inter (details unknown, but a quick search should provide you will their contact info)

I strongly suggest Afagco. The agent (Ahmed) in charge is fair, reliable, and providing you have all relevant documents-should be able to help you.Their office is based in SV City shopping centre, Bangkok. If you use afagco, tell them Mr. Stanley referred you.

Good Luck!

If one visits the Chulalongklao Royal Military Academy in Nakorn Nayok, one can see first hand commendations on display for snipers and there is infact an indoor shooting range specifically for sniper training. Also, stickers on 4x4's roaming around Bangkok often have the battalion insignia and number.

The best way to get a Non-O visa or Non-O visa extension is to obtain one from a Thai embassy abroad. For example, a flight to Bahrain from Thailand takes 7 hours, is not expensive, and you can turn it into a short vacation. Make sure you take your original Thai marriage certificates, proof of relationship (i.e recent dated photos, household bills, driver's licence etc.).Although you will need to show you have an income (i.e bank statement showing regular payments) you do not have to have the 400,000baht in your bank account. This requirement is only for applicants in Thailand.

I hope this helps.

To transfer your original entry stamp into a new passport from an old passport, it is much easier (perhaps not as convenient) doing it at a land border crossing. As a UK lawyer in Thailand, I know the following is correct:

1. Take both your old passport and new passport with you (as the information from your expired passport will be used for your current passport);

2. Explain to the immigration officer at border/passport control what you want to do. He will direct you to the appropriate office. Usually the office is in the same place as where overstayers must report to pay their penalty. Tour guides who often have some rapport with immigration, seem to get these people through quickly, so make sure you are not left waiting too long.

3. There is no fee. This is why immigration officers tend to make those transferring their visa wait.

Hope this helps!

The Thai Armed Forces - Even one submarine is about as much use as a barber's shop on the steps of the guillotine!

As an English instructor previously, I tried to teach students of mixed ages and abilities. However, the students were very sleepy and often slept in the classroom!In short a Thai teacher's job at a military academy is to "wake up" the students.. The Thai officers sometimes allowed this (sleeping)as it was easier for them. Rahter than learn English etc,they (Thai teachers) preferred the students to undertake mundane physical exercise, sleep from midnight to 6am, then have English classes at 8am.

In keeping with the 2 faced society which Thailand now has, WHETHER THE THAI PEOPLE LIKE IT OR NOT--

I was once told not to send "THE CHILDREN" out of the classroom when they misbehaved.I was told they are future colonels, generals, (and even dictators) of Thailand!!! This was an incredible reply! How could they be children? The youngest pre-cadet being at least 18 or 19!!! I fear that Thailand is too stubborn a nation to evolve, therefore the armed forces will continue to "revolve" literally.

Why is Thailand always on the defensive? Thailand is not the wealthiest and by no means the toughest of nations in SEAsia. I think the purchase of submarines, helicopters, and other highly expensive military equipment is not a priority. Having an effective fighting force IS THE PRIORITY--AND THE CLEAN UP SHOULD START AT THE ACADEMIES.This would be money well spent.

Also, just for the record, it was the Coup led Abhisit government which authorised the purchase of military hardware (possibly in the hope of getting future backing fo a coup). Ironically, the Yingluck will be digging her "own grave"-maybe..??

EU observers, indeed any election monitoring teams, will have an affect on the election outcome. Particularly, in the case of Thailand, where the present regime has no mandate to govern, inter alia, by definition this means the election commission is not internationally recognised. Hence, the ned for observers.

The unwelcome and politically ignorant remarks of Mr. Suthep - losely translated "we don't need foreigners to medle in our affairs", has been recorded. This coupled with another possible coup (let's face it) and the Veah Phrear Temple legal dispute with the UN (as well as the armed dispute with Cambodia) - all seems to give the green light for the UN peace-keepers to enter throught "the back door"?

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we set out to deceive....?

unconcerned over EU observers

BANGKOK, 14 June 2011 (NNT) – The Election Commission (EC) has voiced no concern after the European Union (EU) announced that it would send representatives to observe the upcoming 3 July general election.

EC Chairperson Apichart Sukhagganond stated that the EU has already informed him of its intention, and his panel has no problem about EU observers since it is confident that it will be able to handle the election in an internationally accepted manner.

The chairperson added that apart from the EU, several other organisations have indicated their intention to observe the upcoming general election although the EC has not yet invited them.

Mr Apichart however stressed that all those organisations coming to observe the upcoming election must comply with the regulations set by the EC. He noted that the permit for EU observers is not made under any agreement or memorandum of understanding.

Asked whether any problem will arise if the EU does not certify the election result, the chairperson responded that the EU will certainly certify the election result in Thailand because it is arranged with recognizable standards. He reiterated that the observation of foreign representatives will have no binding results to the election.

-- NNT 2011-06-14

"A government for the people, of the people, by the people" ----Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States

Why not? They give out Premiership's to almost anyone. Nice to see the farangs are in charge of this country once more..

Indeed. In confusion there is always profit. Maybe PTP could strike a deal to release Juturaporn? It's nice to see that business is still placed higher on the agenda than the welfare of the country-democracy.

I wonder how long the rally will last for? Maybe the police could use there many cameras to control the situation(traffic), or is there real purpose to watch the people (road cameras can't watch demonstrators and traffic!)

A democrat party official asking Thaksin's lawyer where he is! So there is no place for legal confidentiality then..

There is a Latin expression which says "the times are changing and we should change with the times". This was appropriate for the Romans so I think it appropriate for Thailand too. Not as long ago as the Romans, Voltaie-the famed French Parliamentarian and Philosopher, when replying to an opponent in the French parliament- said " I most heartedly disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"!

I can't help thinking that the Blackadder style "bumping -off" of Pheu Thai prospective members of parliament is somehow intrinsically linked to the past, present, and perhaps sadly the future of Thai politics and society? I think Thai people are "waking up" to the political problems in their country.

When parliament has been dissolved in the UK and a general election called, this legally means that the country does not have a PM and there are no members of parliament until they have been elected or new members have been elected. Is this the case in Thailand?

Never mind. Most Thai's can use thei thumb prints or mark an X.

They never lost the requisition order just before the disollution of parliament for the fighter jets, submarines, and tanks though.

As James Hacker in "Yes Prime Minister" 1970's UK sitcom would say... to lose one can be seen as a mistake, but to lose two is carelessness.