sezzo

I just checked the Dept of Immi website and the fees are still $1390 AUD. I know that if you pay the fee in BKK the currency conversion rate might be a bit different but that still seems to be a tad high.

Anyhow Im glad I paid it when I did.

Have just spent $2060 dollars as an application fee to get my Thai wife a permanent visa for Australia, I have been told the same application in some places is a low as 50 Euro in Europe,

Thought it would be interesting to compare the costs to achieve this in different countries like England .... America .... Canada .... Countries in Europe etc

Using the US dollar as a measurment

Applcation Visa Fee in Australia is $2191.49 US Dollars

Will be interested to see comparison costs for other countries

2191.49 US Dollars seems a bit excessive unless the Dept of Immi have dramatically changed the amount for the fee. I paid $1390 AUD in feb this year.

There is a Swiss or French guy there in Phanom Phrai that has a resort. I have never had the chance to go there but he told me that it is the only one in the area with a swimming pool.

Worth a try to find him to have a yarn over a beer when visiting the family-in-law.

Wow Sezzo, your visa was approved in a week! Was that a migration or tourist visa? Very fast service anyway and congratulations.

Another drama that has come up is that in order to get the police check done for the visa, my husband requires the slip of paper from the army to say that he went into the ballot and either served his 2 years or didn't have to serve. Unfortunately he lost the paper in the tsunami so had to return back home (800+km!) and due to this, that and the other have had to substantially line some official's pocket to get the paper. This country is just so unbelievable sometimes (more often then not )

So, now we also have the Kor Sor 2 wedding thing, the army thing and I'm hoping we haven't forgotten anything else because it's a long long way to go back again if we have!!

Ours was a spouse visa (migration). Keep perservering at the process.

About 3 years ago while in Amnat Charoen there was an english lady who owns a book shop. Not sure whether she was married to a thai but she seemed to be there permanantly. There is also a South African couple who live outside our town who run the local church mission.

I just went through the whole process in Feb this year. We got all our translations done on the ground floor of the CC building where the Visa Application Service is located in. As you enter you veer around the back and to the left from the front door. Its near the 7/11 store. They cost 300 baht for small items and 500 baht for large documents. We took our translation straight up to the VAS office and the girl who was processing our application verified them as true and correct. From what I am led to believe the MFA verification is only required when translating from english to thai for "our" visa process when getting a visa to stay in Thailand.

We only submitted a translated copy of the wedding certificate which was issued at the amphur. No problems there at all and our visa was approved within a week.

Good luck and prepare your application well

This is the adress:

Immigration Office

Amphoe Phibun Mangsahan

Changwat Ubon Ratchathani 34110

The office is in Phibun Mangsahan, 30 min/50 km east of Ubon. The office in Ubon city is not open any more!

Bergen,

Thats the old immigration office thats not open anymore. About 18 months ago a new passport office for thais was opened up at the main amphor office in Ubon.

The passport office is located in the complex of buildings at the Amphur which is across the road from the big park where the candle festival is held. Sorry I cant be more specific about the street names.

In relation to your gf travelling over into neighbouring countries, her thai ID is all they require. If she was to go over using her passport she would probably need to be stamped out and in and therefore would require buying a Lao or Cambodian visa as well. Go the easy option with the ID but keep the passport with her in case.

Hi,

I am shortly moving to Yasothon on an 'O' visa with an intention to obtaining an 'O' marriage

visa within 3 months of arrival.

Just a bit of history - UK resident and married to my thai wife, eight years, we are now moving to her

home village, we have our home built and have a permanent address.

I am familiar with all the requirements of the visa and hopefully should have no problems.

However, I am unsure of the nearest Immigration office.

Could anyone help!!

Regards Dave

There is one in Phibun Mangsaharn,Ubon Province and another in Khemerat

Try it

I used the one in Phibun a few times when going through the 12 month extensions. They are very good and efficient. Once I had the extension I used the Khemarat office for the 90 day reporting. This is a very small office and not experienced in doing stuff like extensions etc.

Hi,

I am shortly moving to Yasothon on an 'O' visa with an intention to obtaining an 'O' marriage

visa within 3 months of arrival.

Just a bit of history - UK resident and married to my thai wife, eight years, we are now moving to her

home village, we have our home built and have a permanent address.

I am familiar with all the requirements of the visa and hopefully should have no problems.

However, I am unsure of the nearest Immigration office.

Could anyone help!!

Regards Dave

Korat or Mukdahan I would think.

Korat is very friendly and helpful

In my experience Mukdahan is definately one to avoid. Very rude and unpleasant staff who wont do anything for you without some "tea money" being paid.

3 of my wifes family members all entered for their one weeks work of monkhood a few years back. Apparently its something they are obliged to do once in their life to gain merit. There was a big party that went on for a couple of days at the mother in laws place. We had family coming from all parts of Thailand so obviously it is important part of their lives.

Not sure about the cost altogether but Im sure I contributed about 5 - 10 k baht for the food, grog, etc. When they eventually did the trip to the temple there were pickups full of presents for the monks. ie. pillows, food, etc. These presents were from other distant family members as contribution to the entering the monkhood. All people attending the party will usually give a donation towards the cost of the party which is customary.

Hopefully this has been some help but its been a while since this particular occasion.

I have a friend who lives nearby me in Thailand who is presently in Oz trying to qualify to get his permanant residency visa. Although he first moved to Oz in the early 60s he has never taken out citizenship and has been relying on his perm residency visa all this time. Now as he has been living in SE Asia for the past 15 or so years the immigration dept have cracked down on him and told him that he has to remain in Oz for 2 of the 5 years to retain this visa.

Wilbur,

Firstly congrats on getting the visa approved. Although mine was a lot easier process than yours it was still a huge relief when it is approved.

I am travelling over to Thailand next month with Jetstar from Melbourne to pick up my family. I found this to be the cheapest option as I have bought one way tickets for the wife and kids. Jetstar seem to set their price by each leg rather than a round trip. There are no stopovers between BKK and Melbourne. There are plenty of airlines that fly BKK - Melbourne. Just do a search on Webjet.com.au or ask your travel agent.

In relation to the school situation I am putting my kids into school in NSW or ACT depending on the job situation. I rang up the NSW education dept section that deals with kids from a non english speaking country. They were most helpful in steering me in the right direction for organising schooling with a ESL (English Second Language) program.

Good luck as Im sure there are a million things going through your mind at the moment.

Out of curiosity I did a google search of his name and it came up with his resume. This resume had links for contact for him.

Give it a try

mistakes I have learnt from in the past with ATM transactions....

I used to withdraw only a few thousand baht at a time, every few days (I guess because I didn't want to have a large amount of THB in my wallet at one time) - and after a while figured that I was getting charged at least AUD$5.00 per withdrawal.

So now any withdrawals I do from my home bank acount while in LOS, I withdraw the maximum amount available from that particular bank's ATM at one time (instead of withdrawing several smaller amounts over several days)

This is probably something everyone here knows already - but I might as well add it in the thread in case there's anyone who is doing what I used to do....

Not even close mate. It was only about $AUD5 a couple of years ago. About 18 months ago they decided to charge $5 for using a non CBA atm then 1 percent of the total withdrawal. So when I was withdrawing 20000 baht I was getting charged $AUD18 per transaction.

This is from one of the banks that just make $AUD2.5 billion profit in the past 6 months. Gee they really look after their customers.

Which bank??

I spoke with the wife when she returned to village after her big day in BKK. She was at the embassy by 10 am and out of there before 11 am with all visas safely tucked away in the passports. Still no indication why it was processed so quickly or accepted without an interview but Im not complaining.

Now its merely counting down the days before I go pick them up.

The interview may have been regarded as just being in person at the Embassy between 10am and 11am, it may have been as simple as a telephone call, an interview can be formal or informal. The interview is not mandatory "may"is the term they use.

You most probably had a good application. Your lucky day.

I thought about that as well but my wife said they just told her the details about the use of the visa ie. how long before the visa has to be used, etc and then sent her on her way.

Anyhow its all a done deal now

I spoke with the wife when she returned to village after her big day in BKK. She was at the embassy by 10 am and out of there before 11 am with all visas safely tucked away in the passports. Still no indication why it was processed so quickly or accepted without an interview but Im not complaining.

Now its merely counting down the days before I go pick them up.

After I posted yesterday I spoke with the wife again and she went through the whole phone call with me. The embassy staff said that the paperwork was all correct and that the visa had been approved. Needless to say we are both very pleased but I will like to stay a bit apprehensive until the visa is in the books.

Congratulation to you as well, Fishooks, my wife was told to be there at 1030 for issuing of the visa. She is calling me as soon as its issued.

To all that have posted and also PMd me on this particular topic over the past few months I thank you for all the excellant advice and information.

Good luck to you all

Guys,

We lodged our application for spouse visa on 28th Feb. I expected not to hear anything for a c ouple of weeks re. interview etc. I flew out of BKK on 5th and arrived yesterday arvo at Sydney. Rang the wife who told me that our friend who applied a couple of weeks earlier and also had the interview a week or so later had received notification that their application was approved and to come to the embassy for issue of visa on 18th. I thought good luck to them. After arriving back in Canberra yesterday evening my wife rang to tell me that the embassy called and our visa application had been approved. This was one week after submission.

I was a bit suspicious that she misunderstood that the embassy staff was just advising when to come for the interview. She tells me that they said the application was approved and to come on the 13th with all the passports for issue of the visas.

Im still a bit sceptical and will confirm again tonight what was said. Has anyone else heard of applications being approved with no interview at all and also so quickly.

Not getting my hopes up until I get word on the 13th that she has the visas in the passports.

Gday guys,

Currently in BKK for a few days to prepare prior to submitting the application for spouse visa. Got all the translations done in the ground level of the CC building where the VFS is located. As you enter you go around to your left and there is a small cubicle there with 2 ladies running the business. Small documents are 300 baht per page and large documents are 500 baht per page. They will also act as sort of a runner for you if you have to send stuff from back at home in Thailand or in Oz.

I went to submit yesterday at around 3pm and was told by the security that it was getting late and the place was quite busy so I asked to have a talk with the embassy representative. Well worth the time to do this as I got some doubts cleared up and also she explained everything inthe process to my wife more clearly than I could. I will be submitting the application tomorrow.

For Graham, We managed to track down the step daughters father and he will sign the necessary papers at the VFS tomorrow morning. When I told this to the embassy official she said thats the best thing to do

Well I will report further after the submission.

Good luck to all

Great pics there Nignoy. Some of those house look like some of the ones in our neighbouring village. Im actually going to go and see a mate of mine in Leong Nok Tha when back in Thailand next week.

They quoted me 13000 baht for a 100mm hole.

I asume that is 100m

The diameter of the borehole was 100mm. They cant really quote on depth as they have to keep boring until they find water. In our case they found water at 21 m but kept boring until 31m. A friend of mine got his borehole down to 50 m depth with similar pricing.

On last trip I got a couple of tractors in to drop the side of 2 mountains by about 6 feet and do a couple of new road routes....great couple of guys .....2 days work and they only stopped for lunch...

9-00am start to sundown ...no complaints and cost me 10 K...

will get thm back again March again to do some drains and another road..

Now I need some bore holes....so.....

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been quoted 700bt a metre......

About 3 years ago I dropped a borehole for water next to my then proposed house. They quoted me 13000 baht for a 100mm hole. They found water at 20 m but went down to 31 m. I dare say that price would be higher now due to price of diesel increasing. If I wanted a electric pump that would have been 7000 baht extra.

Going by experience in our part of Ubon the people in the post office dont read english too well. I was told that they go by the postcode and also the Moo number. In our case the village is Ban Na Wa Noi, but the address is 40 Moo 12, 40 is the house number and 12 is the village or neighbourhood number. The town where the post office is has the post code of 34170. So the letter is sent to the correct post code and then they sort it out into runs in relation to the Moo number.

I hope that sounds clear

thanks sezzo, the bil is actually a mechanic who fixes big buses in bangkok at the moment, so we have the maintenance side covered but fyi, my op was wrong on the price, they (thai hubby & brother) were quoted 5k baht per 2 rai just to level paddies, which imo seems a bit extreme, which is why they were thinking it woud be better to buy a tractor & start their own, more reasonably priced tractor rental business.

I have no idea where the tractor guy came up with that figure cause from reading this thread it seems way ott.

That does seem a bit high if its just levelling the padi. But if they have to rebuild or reshape the padi that may take up to a day to do so it might not be too far off the mark. 2 rai is 80m x 40 m and from experience with our tractor and driver it might take a day to get it done.

We were lucky when we bought our tractor as we recruited a very experienced driver. Having a driver that knows how to do the job properly and efficiently is important. Also he had contacts from previous employment to be able to find the jobs as well. Initially when you buy the tractor you need to get plenty of work straight away to recoup the expenditure.

Good luck