rav

Perhaps one could define it this way:

“You can get a tourist visa from any Thai consulate as long as the consulate where you apply believes that you are a tourist”

2. tourist visa

1. REQUIREMENT

This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for tourism purposes .

2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

- Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months

- visa application form completely filled out

- Recent( 4 x 6 cm.) photograph of the applicant

- Evidence of travel from Thailand (air ticket paid in full)

- Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family)

- Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary

Source: website of Ministry of Foreign affairs (MFA)

How this guideline is applied is up to each individual consulate and consular official, at least unless and until more specific guidelines are issued to the consulates and their enforcement by the consulates is strictly supervised by the MFA.

--

Maestro

Maestro im sorry to say but you are incorrect as to what you say regarding a tourist visa renewal.I went to singapore (tiger airways 2600b rtn)and got issued with a new 60 day tourist visa.However written at the bottom of my passport was a note saying that i would not be issued with another TV at this paticular embassy/consulate.When i questioned this with the officer i was told that this applied to everybody,IE they will only issue one person once.Then you have to go somewhere else.So its nothing to do with whether they believe you to be a tourist or not. rav

nope, I never got any onward ticket nor money checking so far...

I recently got issued with a single entry tourist visa in singapore,they didnt ask to see any onward ticket or proof of funds.However they wrote in my passport that they wouldnt issue another-so dont bother coming back ! rav

Sorry jim ive balls up my reply! What i meant to say was dont bother going to singapore,ive just come back and they only issue single entry permits,so i wasted my bloody time !!!

I know this is the case for Business Visa's - so its the case with Non-Imm "O" as well?

We have emailed them but with no response to ask about multi entry Biz - no response.

Hi Prakanong The embassy last week in singapore assured me that they only issue single entry.As you would expect with SIN the english was perfect,leaving no room for misunderstandings.I asked why was this and the answer was basically they didnt want the work! rav

Sorry jim ive balls up my reply! What i meant to say was dont bother going to singapore,ive just come back and they only issue single entry permits,so i wasted my bloody time !!!

Hi Fleming

Im in the same boat as you,We are a farang family with 2 kids,aged 8 & 6.Weve lived here for 3.5 years and initially had the same probs as you.However we quickly found out that it was nothing to worry about as kids dont need a visa.Trust me, i take my 2 out of the country at least twice a year and have never had any problems.Last month we left phuket by air and had no probs at all.The take you to the immigration overstay room stamp the kids passport and off you go.Trust me you dont need a visa for them.Hope thats put you at ease! rav

Hello All

I used up my 3 VOAs,So i got a cheap tiger airways flight to singapore and thought that id get a tourist visa issued at the embassy.They did issue me with one for 60 days but wrote in my passport the following.This person has had 3 VOAs and now has a 60 day tourist visa.We will not issue you another tourist visa.Why?? i checked at the immigration in phuket town and they told me that i could get tourists visas for ever! Does this mean that i cant get another tourist visa issued anywhere?will penang or KL refuse? Do i have to change my type of visa next time?? PLEASE HELP !!!!!! THANKS RAV

Bloody hel_l ! does anyone ever get the feeling that us farangs are not welcome?? Anyway does anybody know what the visa rules are now for kids ? Were a farang family,daddy mummy and 2 kids.We lived in HKT for 2 years until last year.My kids had overstayed by a year when we left as we knew that kids under 14 could overstay without charge(providing the parents had a valid entry stamp) .when we left and returned to shitty england(£2.90 a pint) we had no grief at all with the immigration at BKK airport.

What i like to know is does anyone know if that is still the case? Id heard that its now up to 7 years old.The consulate here doesnt believe me!! but i can promise it was true. Were returning next month and i dont want to waste £150 on visas for them if i dont have to.

If anyone knows for sure please could they let me know Cheers al rav xx

Immigration confirms the end of border runs from October 1, 2006

Thailand tightens visa rules for tourists to cut illegal workers

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will tighten entry regulations for tourists in a bid to crack down on illegal foreign workers, the Immigration Bureau said.

The move, which takes effect October 1, would affect tourists from 41 countries including Australia, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the US, said Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, the head of the bureau.

Currently, tourists from 41 countries can enter Thailand without visas and stay in the kingdom for up to 30 days.

They can extend their stay by checking out of the country, mainly by crossing the borders of neighboring Cambodia and Laos, and returning with new entry stamps.

'Under the current rules, people from those countries can stay in Thailand as long as they want. Some even stay here for one year,' another bureau official said.

The bureau had learned that a growing number of foreigners from the 41 countries worked illegally in Thailand, Suwat said, adding many were employed in bars and restaurants in the popular seaside resort of Pattaya, east of Bangkok.

'Tourists are taking advantage of the visa exemption law. Instead of sightseeing, they are doing business here,' Suwat said.

From October, tourists from the designated countries can still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but their entry stamps will be renewable twice at most for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Tourists who stayed for 90 days must leave the kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand, Suwat said.

--forbes.com 2006-09-10

Just moved to Phuket recently and I am still looking for some good quality tennis courts.

Is anyone playing at Laguna??

Where are those Championship courts to find??????

Thanks for your feedback!

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I have recently arrived at Evason resort near chalong. Looking to set up tennis program for all levels. Am UK tennis coach. Will set up all sorts of tennis for all ages and abilitys....call for details. 048445549

Darran

When will you return?

At the risk of being called 'insensitive' ...for all those who say they won't return this season 'out of respect' of course that's entirely understandable. I wonder though, are you going to employ thousands upon thousands of locals if you all cancel, 'out of respect' ?

Not suggesting you rush to the remaining areas of rescue/recovery operations where you would be in the way, or even before the last recovery is made. But there comes a point where one must decide how best to support local people (if you think they'll receive full pay cheques from the Govt, think again).

Millions are watching the news networks as the reporters clambor onto smaller and smaller areas of the worst wreckage (to ensure there are no errant camera views of other areas?) This unbalanced reporting, almost completely ignoring the clean up ongoing and rejuvenation effort has now degenerated to a goulish ratings 'competition'...

What are they going to do when there's one last pile of debris? Will there be 20 news people all getting on the same pile, even tighter camera angles?

"Total destruction here, as you can plainly see...back to you Bob"...

Of course there remain areas of utter devastation but the apprehensive tourists out there in cable news land only see that tragic view, over and over and over...

Meanwhile, a devasting economic tsunami is poised to hit, depending on response.

If that should sadly happen, you can bet a vastly reduced amount of news cameras will only then mention the terrible loss of hope surviving locals will be enduring...all too late.

Below is just one statement and there are more like it starting to appear whilst you watch the news services compete for ratings:

-----

Statement from Krabi Seaview Resort

This email comes from André Gysin, the General Manager of Krabi Seaview Resort in Ao Nang:

"The Krabi Seaview Resort is presently still fully booked, but we face lots of cancellations in January and February. Beside of the fact that we are fully operational, please try to convince your clients/friends/relatives/colleagues that they can only help to overcome this disaster BY NOT CANCELLING THEIR RESERVATION. Everybody here, ESPECIALLY THAI PEOPLE, need to keep their job and need to earn money to survive! One more reason which should convince people to not cancel their holidays here in Ao Nang/Krabi.

We are already going out to regions which are badly hurt like Khao Lak and Phuket, bringing them clothes, shoes, medicine, food, water and money (we have collected already more than Baht 350,000 [in the resort]) to help. But we cannot help if we lose all our reservations...

Thank you for considering these words..."

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It is tragic though it feels so inappropriate to describe what has happened so succintly.

Everyone has seen the news coverage of the devastation that has been wrought upon Thailand (I cannot speak for the other countries as I have no first-hand knowledge) but the news is not providing a balanced coverage. Many areas were, by the grace of god, unaffected and some areas were relativley lightly hit. For these places, and the people who trade and work there (the East coast, Chalong, Rawai, Nai Harn, Nui Beach, Kata Noi, Kata and Karon) the economic devastation being wrought is adding to the Tsunami's damage.

I echo the words above. Please spread the word that life must go on.

I worked in Thailand for 3 1/2 years on a fake degree. Made it up in Microsoft Word. It was quite easy. PM if you want to know how to do it. Every teacher I personally knew in Thailand had fake degrees.

Greg

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Your dead right whitey ! An honest man.I too have never met a teacher (?) here who has a legit degree (A girl i know has a KSR degree in english lit, she couldnt tell you who enid blyton was)! Im writing a book about what goes on here.

Ive been teaching here in phuket for 4 years,ive been around the language schools ,goverment schools etc and i can assure you that fake degrees certainly work.I know of so many people that have obtained the kao san degree that i could make up 4 baseball teams! A head i know is as thick as &lt;deleted&gt; (a postman in the uk),has been working here on a dodgy degree (a work permit )for the last four years)! So if your that desperate to work here with a work permit (god knows why) then go for it !

Im unfortunatly a west ham united supporter (ok pee take over)! Now since our very unfortunate relegation 2 years ago we have totally vanished from my TV screen ,nobody even mentions us at all. (along with all the other fans of teams that are not in the prem). Does anybody know how i can pick up a channel that shows chamionship football ? Ive tried malaysian UBC,thai UBC but nothing. I can find dutch, french,german etc (even crap scotish league,er lets guess the results shall we)?! advice welcomed rav in phuket x

Iv'e heard many stories and I'm sure you have as well, that many people claim that they have attained work permits by using fake degrees. Apparently, they either use Khoa Sarn Rd forgeries or purchase them on-line through non-existant universities. Sounds like risky buisiness to me and if they are getting away with it, then I wonder how long it will last, as Thailand can be very unpredictable as to what they will crack down on next.

This is something that I wouldn't and don't need to do, however I am curious to know the reality of these claims.

Is it a myth or a fact?

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what's the cheapest way to get from phucket airport to karon beach?  i will be arriving there around 10 p.m on a saturday night.

thanx

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Im reading your arguments as to the towel stealer with huge interest !

I must confess and clear my concience.

For years my wife ,kids and yours truly have spent a month or so in HH and we always use the melia/hilton pool. and im sad to say that on one occassion the urge to take one of those beautiful soft towels home with me happened ! im going to send a fiver to the hilton in park lane (280 quid a night)so that i can sleep easy.

OOH follow these steps if you want to use the pool.

1 get up early and beat the krauts

2 when the attendent approaches with the towels quickly pass him 50 baht (if its a group of 4 and your feeling flush make it a ton)

3 relax and enjoy the sun before it dissapears behind the 18 story building at around 2 pm)

PS how comes they got planning permission to buid so high ? any influential owners ?!

regards rav in phuket PS the pool attendants here are only interested if the payment made is a minimum of 100baht

Please does anyone have any idea on the prospects of teaching in malta ?

nobody seems to know a thing about it. please help !! rav

hello

We have been living in phuket for a year now.Our kids (5.5 and 4 years old)go to an international school, and to be honest its a pile of crap.the kids have learnt zero (we understand that they not be geniuses)! But even the teachers are fake, and it charges fortunes (140000) a year,not cheap.

Can anybody tell me if there are any int. schools in HH ? are they any good ?

cheers rav

hello all

Please can anybody tell me if its possible to find willing/available farang ladies in thailand? cheers rav