sezzo

All visa applications need to be submitted at the VFS. They are the interface between the visa applicants and the embassy The only time you will be in contact with the embassy is either when they inform your wife/GF of her appointment for the interview or they will inform that the application has been approved. When I was preparing the application for my wife I phoned the embassy a couple of times from Oz and spoke to on of the thai staff there. The advice I received from them was very informative.

Good luck

During the last two days I have been to both the WW and N Joy for food, company and a cold beer.

Whilst I didn't not like N joy I doubt I will be going back.

The WW is in a much better location, has western food and colder beer! It has more customers, the pool table is free (20 baht a game at n joy), there is a plethora of accommodation close by. Ting is very good with the customers and the place is quite large if a little sterile.

The accommodation out he back is 350 baht a night. Sorry for the poor quality of the pic but I only had my phone with me.

If you want some cheaper try this:

Aree mansion. Walk out of the wrong, cross the road and walk to your left for 50 metres.

Ph 045 265518-21

250 baht for a fan

300 for air con

2500 per month for fan

3500 per month for air con.

Small, hard beds (double), hot water, small TV with sat tv (so they say) and a small bar fridge.

If you want something nicer book into the:

Phadaeng mansion.

www.phadaengmansion.com (dosn't seem to work)

phadaengmansion[at]hotmail.com

Ph: 045254600

Brand new, around 500 baht a night, comfy beds, good size tv with sat, fride, balcony. Walk out of the wrong way, ross the street and turn right walk for about 75 m.

I am currently at the Montana paying 400 baht which is better value then the Tokyo.

Hello MeMock,

Not a big issue, but pool is not free at Wrong Way Cafe. Well, unless you win, which despite your back problems, you probably did. Loser pays 20 baht. Apparently, there was a gentleman (?) in last night who thought that we pay him 20 baht when he wins, which is ludicrous no matter how much one drinks. He accused Ting of "cheating" over and over again, and was banned. On an earlier day, he actually paid his bill once, then tried to pay it again, just to see if we would charge him again. He thanked us for our honesty and admitted that he knew he'd paid already. Ting is cracking down on silly people, so, silly people beware the wrath of Ting. Doesn't anybody out there want to mention that we are having a Christmas Eve. . . oops!

Richard,

Everytime I read something about the Wrongway I always start getting homesick for Ubon. Hopefully we will be there for a longer holiday toward sep next year so will definately get time to drop in for a beer and a yarn.

All the best for the festive season and good luck for the future.

Carl

I used Mukdahan on the recomendation of one of the expats in our area. I was treated like a criminal there and stormed out and drove the extra couple of hundred Kms to Phibun. I found out later that the guy who told me to go there also pays about 2000 baht to the lady in the immigration office for his 90 day reporting. I did hear that they had changed the staff there a couple of years ago but obviously no change to the customer service qualities of the office.

Steer clear of this place.

It may be a sad fact, but I think any foreigner wanting to do anything in regard to translating and or certifying docs for himself or Spouse, needs to go to Bangkok.

Korat is supposed to be the second largest city, but after days of frustrating running around, even with Issan Lawyers, I jumped back on the bus and headed to the big smoke back in February to have things done properly.

The messing around in Korat was amazing, even having my Thai Wife with me!

Exactly right there. I am another 5 hours north east of Korat and I had no hope of getting anything done up our way. I packed up the wife and all our documents and drove to BKK to get it done on the spot. We spent 4 days there getting all the relevant stuff done and then submit the application. This also included chasing up the wifes ex to get permission and signature for his child to leave the country. It might cost a bit more in transport and hotel costs but the end result will be achieved much quicker and with less frustration.

Gday Fishooks,

I actually remember during the initial planning stages of our visa application that I rang from Oz to the Oz embassy and asked about the verification of the documents. I was told by a very helpful thai lady there that it was not required. I suppose the best way to get the right info is to call them. I rang a couple of times prior to the application being lodged and was always given good advice and information.

Just thought I would put my 2 cents worth in.

Fishooks,

We didnt have to any registration office. I am guessing you are referring to the MFA where I had english to thai documents verified for my marriage visa when I was living in Thailand. As I said before we only had to get the thai stuff translated to english then submitted them. Nothing else was asked of us.

Hopefully Redwine doesnt have any hassles getting his wifes visa processed.

Sezzo

Redwine,

All we did for translation was take the thai documents (marriage cert, birth cert, authority from amphur for movement of kids, tabian bahn, id card, etc to the translation service at the ground floor of the CC building and have them translated. We then took them upstairs and submitted them with the application. They were checked by the office girl who received the application. No certification required for either english or thai documents.

For documents from Oz, I had certified copies made of them prior to coming to Thailand. That is the only certifying that I had done.

Dont worry too much as its an easy process.

Sezzo

Not too sure if you mean translation as opposed to certifying. My wife and I applied for a spouse visa in feb of this year and there was no requirement for certifying the translation of the thai documents. We had all the thai documents translated to english in Bangkok for around 600 baht per document. This was all done overnight and then presented to the office staff in the Visa application service. They then checked that all documentation that is required was there as well as the corresponding english translation. We used the small translation service on the ground floor of the CC building of which the Visa application service is on the 34th floor.

It was a bit more expensive than others but was very handy for extra translations that needed to be done.

Hope this has helped

Well done, Minty,

I know from the process with my wifes 309 that the waiting period can be anxious but its all worth it when you get the word that its been approved.

Congrats to you and your wife

Sezzo

Mr Din,

You certainly get around. From Coffs and now touring the great Issan.

Good luck mate,

Sezzo

Thats handy to know for the future

Well done to all involved. Good result. Sounds like a lot of hard yakka done by all involved.

Good luck for the future.

Sounds like you have put a lot of effort into it. Well done and good luck.

hi mekka, have just posted a reply in tourist visa for spouse to oz if any info can help. I too am in the same boat as you, but back in Oz no money and trying to get a job after 18 months in Thailand. Pretty hard when you have been away for a while and too old. Life was easy in Ubon but as they say no money no honey so off to the land of milk and honey we went and all I can say if you think Phuket is expensive to Ubon wait till you get home where everything costs an arm and a leg and all we want to do is work and go back to Ubon.

Good luck mate.

Gday Sammycic

I also considered myself too old to work when I had to go back to Oz from Ubon for other reasons but at 49 I did a security course and within weeks got a job in the security field. I found that guys that age or even older are in high demand due to being more reliable than the younger guys. Not brilliant pay but at least its a wage. I also waited until I had been working about 6 or 7 months and then used my employer to write a letter guaranteeing that I had work. I used this letter for inclusion in the visa application.

I have a friend who is presently finishing off a security course at the age of 62 and he has guarantees of work already. You're not too old. I was also in the same boat and just wanted to move back to Ubon to be with my family but now 18 months down the track we are all out here and enjoying the few years that we have decided to stay here for.

Good luck and keep your chin up.

You may be better off just going for the spouse visa straight off.

Get in touch with the Embassy and see what info you can get from them.

In preparation for submitting my wifes visa application I rang the embassy from Oz and asked heaps of questions. The case officers were very helpful and eased my mind on many queries that I had.

With things like photos, especially wedding photos its not too hard to scan them onto a thumbdrive or cd and take copies from that. A friend of mine just gave them a cd and expected them to look at it by themselves. I poured through hundreds of photos on my computer and saved them to my thumbdrive and then when in BKK got them printed real cheap. I also made sure I wrote a summary on the back of what the photo was about. Sometimes something that you would assume to be obvious isnt so obvious to others.

Once again good luck

Your situation sounds similar to mine when I had to move back to Oz. I didnt have a large bank account but had a good secure job. I had my personel dept at work write a letter confirming my position and salary range. I would be aiming at the spouse visa as like I said your situation sounds very similar to mine.

Good luck

I cant imagine what sort of documents cant be copied but my advice to you is to talk to the ladies at the VAC counter when submitting the application and mention your requirements. If they advise that they can be copied it can be done in the office there and the ladies will certify them in front of you.

Hi Trond,

Looks good - must come down your way again soon :-)

Cheers,

Mike

Hi Mike

Looking forward to meet up again!

Btw.............I'll be in Ubon for the hash next Saturday (4th)

Trond

Hash - Is this a new word for PISSUP

Carl

Looks good Trond. Im getting homesick again.

BTW, you can buy Chang here in Oz now. About $40 per carton of 24 but the alcahol is down to 5 percent.

Congratulations. My family have been here about 4 months now and I know that its worth all the effort that you put into the application.

Enjoy

Fishhooks,

From previous posts from another thread earlier this year about spouse visa I am assuming that you and your wife got your spouse visa approved. I heard that the waiting period for PR is 4 years thanks to Howard changing it last year. Is this correct.

Just querying your thread title about 2 year visa.

I flew from BKK to Ubon return about 4 months ago. BKK to Ubon with Thai was out of Don Muang then flew Ubon to BKK landing at Suwanabum. Like the previous poster advised and check the relevant websites for schedules.

Anyone know of any Farang-ish houses to buy or rent around Ubon city, or any ideas with websites.

The one advertised here doesn't have too much.

3 beds min; half a rai; preferably south or west of the city; up to 10km from the ring-road; cost not important.

Can I point out this is NOT a troll; I posed a similar question a while back for Muang Sam-Sip, but have had a change of heart

Thanks

Good idea about a change of heart. Not much to do around there from what I have seen. I have a mate who wifes distant family come from there and there doesnt seem to be much there. Good move to try and find a place in Ubon. Maybe if you can contact Richard at the Wrong Way cafe about possible houses to rent. He seems to have his ear to the ground.

I paid for my wifes spouse visa application at a Dept of Immi office here in Oz prior to going over there in Feb to submit the application. I found through a friend who was also applying for his wife, but in Thailand and paid at the VAC that it was cheaper to pay here in Oz than in BKK. The exchange rate they use at the VAC is lower than the actual official rate, therefore costing you more. The amount he was charge turned out to be about 6000 baht more.