PlastikbinLina

If they ask for 300 Baht, pay 300 Baht,

Don't expect a receipt.

Why do you encourage graft? Proof of Residence is a free service. The officer asking for the money should be reported. Always insist on a receipt and if not forthcoming ask to see the senior officer. You will get satisfaction.

Short answer.... No one!

I an only answer for the Phuket Immigration office, it may be different for other immigration offices, but from last week it is not possible to apply for a Non 'O' immigration visa at the moment. It may change later, who knows? TRy Penang if you're desperate.

Singapore is good for a visit but claustraphobic to live in. I lived there and visited there. Thailand is a paradise compared to that miserable place. Just ask any Singaporean taxi driver. They'll tell you as it is

I've been drinking out of the tap for the last 5 years and apart from losing nearly all my hair and half my teeth I'm okay. Go for it. It's cheaper than buying bottled tap water at the supermarkets

I've been to Phuket as a tourist and also on business. Nothing will convince me to return - ever.

Oh yeah, last time it was interesting to listen the local workers speak. I happen to understand Thai to a level and what they spoke was something that most tourists would deplore...if not abhor...

I totally agree with you about Phuket. My last visit there was years ago and there will be no other. Same with Khrabi, especially Riley Beach, where the locals offered one of the most unfriendly, brutal and aggressive 'welcome' I have ever seen in this country. A paradise, yes ... but handled by buffalos (sorry buffalos, that's not nice for you, who are awesome and wonderful animals).

As for what you say about local workers and their comments, especially their comments about white visitors and residents, I'm sure you realize that :

- It's getting worse, and how surprising is that when 'authorities' (of all sides) encourage xenophobia, simply because accusing foreigners for local flaws is the oldest and easiest demagogy trick in the book (Europeans are good at that too).

- It's happening not only in Phuket but almost everywhere, and tourist destinations are on top of that list of course. Most Thais seem to assume that white people are too dumb to learn Thai, let alone understand Esarn, so one of the most popular games among locals is to throw aggressive remarks (preferably with a smile on their face) like "when will you go back to your country, you fat buffoon" ... and that's one of the mildest.

If all the white visitors did understand what is being thrown at them several times a day in Bangkok, Chiangmai, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui etc., I do believe that most of them would seriously consider leaving this country out of their next vacation plans and telling their friends back home to do the same.

I've just moved away from Phuket, after a 5 year stint there and mostly because I no longer find joy in the 'culture' of the place anymore. Greed, crime, traffic accidents, cost of living etc have overtaken the care free ways I once knew. The violence and abuse given by many (including some foreigners) Thai's must only come down to envy. Envy of what they see is the difference in standard of living, income, wealth beyond their imagination. I can understand that. Thankfully most of the country is still very welcoming where kids wave and people genuinely smile. There are decent Thais and they outnumber the 'Ugly Thai' by far.

The article makes no sense. How can a "booming" tourism industry cause more poverty? Perhaps more people are being drawn away from their rural family farmlands, and end up in Phuket, without a real source of income. Not sure that increases poverty. It's just that it's easier for these families to live off the land in the rural areas, whereas Phuket is the most expensive place to live in Thailand.

"How can a 'booming tourism industry cause more poverty?'. According to the law of supply and demand, that's easy to answer; the higher the demand the higher the prices. But I agree with another reply that Phuket is hardly going through a tourist boom. I've never seen it so quiet in the hot spots and especially in the number of Tourist and visa exempt extensions.

Regarding the status of Thai kids suffering from poverty and lack of opportunity a question posed by friends wonder why the very expensive international schools do not provide scholarships and education programs for under privileged Thai children? One well known international school that teaches from the Cambridge curriculum just recently opened a new campus that was constructed with a loan of 600 million Baht. School fees were raised, teachers wages increased, as did the advertising for the school. But not one iota of an idea was offered regarding helping the under privileged Thai kids on Phuket. I too think it should me mandatory for all international schools to provide those services for Thai kids.

In all seriousness there should be some kind of 911 number for those who are so depressed and thinking of taking their own life. This is not a joking matter. It seems suicides happen every two weeks in Pattaya-- we all know the reasons: financial; broken heart; poor health; aging... Most "farangs" come here alone so there is no support system of family or even true friends to get emotional support, whereas back in our home countries we not only have family or friends but professional counselors that can re-direct our moments of depression. (If I my profession was in psychology this would be a great place to retire and open up a part time office.)

I agree with your sentiments as suicide is quite common here. In addition people who suffer from mental illness do not always continue to take prescribed medicines leading to extremely odd behaviour sometimes bringing about injury to themselves and possibly others. But what to do?

It's difficult at the best of times to quickly find access to medical or psychiatric professionals anywhere in the world and it's no different here. Quick response for cries of help is what is needed for unwell people but consider the barriers such as language. More than 100 nationalities come to Thailand every year e.g. French, Italian, German English, Americans et al. The HELP response teams would have to have a diverse range of language experts on hand for just such an emergency. Perhaps one way to assist those affected would be for hotels, resorts etc to have a HELP line stuck on the wall linked to a local hospital or foyer that could be linked to a professional practitioner in a local clinic. Unfortunately there's no easy answer for this serious problem.

The man is a thief and should be reported. Always ask to see the senior officer at the location you make an application for. Another way around it is telling him your accountant insists on a receipt for all your important costs. I would ask to see the OIC ASAP before it dies away for lack of action.

You should be so lucky. Keep complaining and she'll stop doing everything for you. Then at that time, you can complain and she'll give you the reasons why.

A spray from the cold water pipe in European winter.

Thats refreshing

Finding a good plumber in Western countries who can think through installing difficulties including getting a acceptable water temperature is the key to successfully fixing a Bum Gun to a toilet in temperate climates.

This I discovered several years ago in Australia when my search failed to find such a person who could install the device. I was very disappointed as I think they are essential for hygiene reasons. I also believe they are superior to 'bidets' which take up too much room in the toilet and far too expensive.

He has a Thai wife why not get a real visa?

Money perhaps? If he has a wife is it legal and if so does he have income/bank equivalent = Baht 400,000 ? If not that may well be the reason. Even she is the bread winner he cannot get a visa based on her income. I wish him luck.

In Phuket immigration you cannot change direct to a Non B from any other long term extension. You would be asked to leave the country and get a Non Immigrant B 90 day visa in a Thai Embassy/Consulate. On re-entry to Thailand your entry stamp will indicate a 90 day period from the date of entry. After 45 days has expired you can apply for a one year Non B along with the appropriate supporting employee/employer documents.

The victims relatives, can sue the immigration police!

Sorry but did you mistake the exclamation mark for a question mark?

you didn't mention what embassy but dfat I guess is Australia. At the time you submitted the application there is an option for you to fill out a form accepting responsibility to be contacted on you lady's behalf. If you didn't you will be ignored and the DFAT office will only speak to her. One problem I experienced was despite me writing a letter explaining when we intended to travel to Australia to take advantage of cheap fares (October) the dates of entry were issued by them in early September and there is a cut off point. That is if she didn't enter by a certain date she would not be allowed entry. Cost me a small fortune because I had booke ahead and couldn't change the dates, Thai staff make the decision for the visa dates etc.

How is exposing somebody who copied his work considered threatening Thai Society?

It's all to do with loss of face. The worst insult to any Asian is to prove him/her wrong in front of his friends.

There is no limit on the number of tourist visa entries you can do.

Technically you're right but realistically it's hypothetical. The number of complaints I hear from travelers about being pulled aside and interrogated is on the increase and I hear a few are returned to the country they came in from. We discussed this before and as I suggest to those whose work requires them to frequently return and leave after a short time take plenty of evidence of assets here viz-a-viz bank accounts, property, spouse etc etc that should help facilitate their reentry.

Tourist who travel around SEA shouldn't be affected as it should be obvious to the IO by the number of entries in a PP.

I use Ozforex in Australia to transfer money to Thailand either in $AUS, Baht, or $USD. A SCB officer advised me to get Ozforex to transfer in USD because of the better exchange rate they give here.

Ozforex exhange rates, they claim, is better than any other institution in Australia. Amounts over $10,000 are transferred free of charge, anything under that amount $15. Their web site is International Money transfers (IMT)

He hasn't learnt the Thai art of pointing very well!

Give Jock a break, it's his first time.

Just your average high quality tourist from the looks of things, looser with a capital everything.

Did you mean he is a loser or he was just hanging loose. The latter seems to fit.

I heard Richard Gere was in town this week!

Yeah, he probably got his 'gere' off because it was too hot.

There has to be more to this story???

I agree. How, for example, did they get her through Thai immigration and what PP did they use? If she was returned to her dad in Australia they would've had to have presented her Australian PP at immigration? Very interesting story that does raise many so far unanswered questions like did her mum call the police et al?

Becoming frequent here in Phuket and also taking photos of the residence during the inspection. Last week one person was asked to visit the Phuket Immigration Office with more evidence following the Royal Thai Immigration Police visit on the weekend.

i figure he took the moto to Lumpini park, grabbed a taxi to the airport and way before they viewed the first tapes was gone

I presume the airports, BKK and DMK have CCTV cameras 24/7 and the recordings for the period in question would be heavily inspected aned what about the Railway Stations? Searching for a needle in a haystack it seems.