georgey

On 8/10/2020 at 9:01 AM, Nigel Garvie said:

Thanks, lopburi3 and Petrogas for raising this issue.

 

My Thai partner and I have been back in Scotland for 6 weeks, but she has to return to CM for work etc soon. Her KLM return flight was cancelled, and we are also told the only option is a repatriation flight. Endless attempts to contact the Thai embassy in London have failed. The phone menu options just lead you in circles, clearly like so many of them in business this was written by a sadist.

 

If anyone can offer any help or advice about how we should tackle this (Whilst we still retain some sanity!) I/we would be very grateful.

My (Thai) wife & I are also "stuck" in Scotland (though for the purposes of this discussion, I think Scotland is no different to the rest of the UK, particularly as most, or maybe all, repat flights leave from LHR), & have been for 5 months now. My wife originally (sometime last month) attempted to register & join a queue to get on a flight; this drew a blank, & according to Facebook posts, no-one knew how many were in the queue, or what their position was; eventually the embassy gave up on this approach & announced that they would be open for new online registrations/flight bookings at 9am on 31/7. This of course led to a huge number of people trying to get into the system at the same time, & its inevitable crashing. However, it came back to life, & she was confirmed, the same day, on the TG flight from LHR - BKK on 23rd of this month. You need to register via https://thaiembassy.sociallab.co.th/ , & this will lead to your being given a link to set up a password in a process which appears to be v convoluted & frustrating, but which may eventually get you where you want to be. She's going back partly because her permission to stay (180 days) runs out next month. Being Thai, she doesn't need the virus test (presumably so that if she was carrying the disease, she'd be able to infect others on the flight) or insurance, & the fit-to-fly cert. is v. easy to arrange (can be done on a phone call (so you have to wonder about the point of it), the one we'll be using costing £80).

The embassy appears to rely on Facebook for the spread of information (or rumours), which strikes me as being strangely (or hugely, maybe) informal & unprofessional, as well as potentially misleading. My wife has yet to receive any request for payment, or any follow-up confirmation, since the initial communication of 31/7; we would, of course, have expected something more comprehensive soon after that date, in part because we have to arrange domestic flights & other little details. As you say, there is absolutely no hope of getting through on the phone, so we'll just have to wait.

I haven't yet tried to register, but will do soon. I had been hoping that, if I waited long enough, I'd be able to use the return leg of my (Emirates) flight, but I think, unfortunately, that will have to go in the bin. If you'd like to know how I get on with this & all the associated requirements, I'd be happy to share with you.

11 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Thai is easy. Ever tried Hungarian or Finish, I have.

Finish what? Finish learning Hungarian??

Thank you all vm for the advice

thank you vm....that's v helpful

I'd greatly appreciate advice regarding my 90-day situation.

When I realised recently that my 90-day date was approaching, I first tried to report online, which involved traipsing around BKK looking for a place which would allow me to use internet explorer (as we only have Macs at home); of course, when I eventually (internet cafes being a thing of the past) located such a place, online reporting wasn't operational.

I'd read up on this forum about doing the report by mail, & chose to ignore the (as it turns out, apparently very accurate) info to the effect that the docs need to arrive more than 7 days before the relevant date; mine were delivered at CW only 5 days before. I'd enclosed a self-addressed return envelope with 40 Baht stamps on, as advised.

Anyway, I waited for confirmation that either the necessary had been accomplished, or that the docs had arrived too late to process, & that I'd need to make the expedition to CW. It's now 18 days since my 90-day date, I've had no acknowledgement of anything from CW, so I'm obviously going to have to pay the B2,000 fine.

As I'm flying out of the country in 24 days (ie 42 days after the 90-day date), I wonder if anyone could inform me, firstly, if the fine increases over time, or whether it stays fixed at B2,000, & secondly, whether it can be paid, without undue hassle &/or time-wasting, at the airport prior to departure, thus eliminating the need for the tedious trip to CW.

I would have expected the courtesy of some sort of communication from CW; it looks like that was seriously naive.....

I've done this every year for the last 6 or 7. Always completed before their lunch break if I arrive at or slightly before opening time. Otherwise may stretch into the pm, though never failed to complete in one day. 

" He ranged the police for help" . Ranged ? where on earth did this journalist learn his english RUNG as in past tense and there is no such word as RANGED unless you are 3 and making a call to Santa Clause

I Ranged up Santa but he was much busy with the elves and will can't come to the phone.

"realenglish1".....really

RUNG in capitals....."rang" is also a possibility surely?

I pretty much gave up commenting on the use of English on TV a long time ago, because it is typically so abysmal that you have to assume that most hail from countries where English is seldom if ever used. So to criticise would be unfair (unless, of course, you call yourself "real English").

However, a clause could probably be described as part of a sentence; it's not the way Santa spells his surname.

I'm happily married thanks and I'm not trying to impress anyone. What these women did was illegal, what the men were willing to pay for was equally illegal. If I had 10thb for every hypocritical post I've seen on here I could buy an island next to Richard Branstons.

Is that the guy who makes the pickle?? Didn't realise he had an island.....

tku vm for your help

I would very much appreciate any information on this dilemma:

I hold a UK passport with 6 years, but with only a few unused pages, left - in this is my extension of stay based on retirement, which expires in two months.

I also have an Australian passport, with plenty of unused pages and 7 years till expiry.

When I come to renew my extension of stay, will I be able to do so using my Australian passport? If so, I can avoid having to renew my UK passport. This would be the easiest option.

If I can't switch over to the Australian passport, I will have to renew my UK passport when next over there (later this month), which I understand can be done in a day with the necessary financial inducements. I can't renew it in Thailand, as I have to travel more than once a month, so it will take too long.

What is the procedure then in terms of coming back to Thailand using my extension of stay, which will still be in my old passport?

How long before expiry of the extension of stay should I go to extend it?

Thank you.

I for one certainly hope you're not ridiculed.....& if you are, it would be most likely by people who don't understand the attraction of fly fishing. I'd really like to catch a mahseer....

I travel all over the world, from Thailand, to fly fish in other countries - mostly saltwater these days, but fresh as well from time to time. I'd be really interested to hear what you find out, & what sort of experiences you have. So far, in the 7 years I've lived here, I haven't even tried casting a fly in Thailand.

Good luck

georgey thanks for that info. Not to hijack the thread, it's been good, but about Rompin, is there website available? How about other species than sails? Accommodations, leisure hours? I love off-shore fishing, grew up on the Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast fishing for reds, specs, and ling, along with a few others. I think a big problem with Thailand fishing is not only have the fish been over fished, but in general the old slow wooden boats can't cover the distances needed and can't move fast enough to 'hunt' the fish. I had, now lost, a video of a Thai guy, wish I could remember the connection, that had gone out of the Pattaya area in a twin outboard obviously built with fishing in mind. His group used jigging and had a good haul of decent size fish. I don't think they are all gone, one just has to be able to hunt and find. Thanks again for this thread and the posts, there are a few of us that do like to fish.

The outfit we used is: http://rompinbluesailsfishing.com/

I'm sure there must be other species around, but we didn't encounter anything else over 2 days. I've caught Spanish mack & mahi-mahi (& of course bonito) off Tioman, so imagine these must be available off Rompin too. While we saw many Sails finning, & caught a decent number, it's nothing like the fishing off, say, Cairns, where, on a decent day you'll see loads of surface action created by a large number of species, & the birds to go with it.....but, the price is a bit different too!

In response to the post below yours, this particular company doesn't require you to bring your own gear, & in fact supplies decent-quality tackle (or at least used to).....

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Tip nr 1: clean up your mess at the rivers and beaches... You will find out that tourists hate garbage

Tip nr 2: Do something with eco tourism while you have some nice forests and sea life left

Tip nr 3: Learn English to accommodate your tourists

Tip nr 4: Think of tourisme in the long run, it's not good when they feel ripped of

Tip nr 5: Charge the same prices for all, no separate Thai/ Farang

etc , etc

I think some more people can add here !!!

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i can, pls stop making out english is the all of the world, it is not, they have 1.7 billion chinese next door.

to speak english is usefull, but it wont break thailand if 1 million english speakers go and 100 million chinese replace them.

and by the way i speak 5 languages, but even i admit, i should learn chinese, which i dont speak.

And your English needs help too. But the rest of the list is oh so true.

SW, you beat me to it, well done.....

What a ridiculous post....

why should anyone care what this guy spends on what? how can it possibly be of any interest?

I highly suggest you transfer you funds into the country if plan to convert from a visa exempt or tourist visa entry to get non immigrant visa to get your extension. There was a recent report that immigration would not accept a currency exchange receipt as proof that funds came from abroad.

TT rates are better than cash exchange.

EUR Euro Zone 41.59 cash 41.88250 TT.

Todays Bangkok Bank rates.

Vasu money changer (Suk 7/1 - 42.05).

Never change money at the banks, but if you have to, don't use BBL

Thanks, that really went in circles.

IMO: 1 year license is not valid in the UK.

not what I really wanted to hear, but thank you vm anyway.....

Having originally failed to dig up this topic, I've now found a discussion entitled "Thai 1 year Driving Licence in UK", which was closed in Jan this year. <snip>

Please give us a link to that discussion, so you can maybe get some up-to-date information.

it's

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/601531-thai-1-year-driving-licence-in-uk/

tku vm

Having originally failed to dig up this topic, I've now found a discussion entitled "Thai 1 year Driving Licence in UK", which was closed in Jan this year.

As stated above, I certainly appreciate the answers I've received, but it does appear there are other opinions on the matter, &, of course, DVLA isn't prepared to give a straight answer.

There was, however, one comment made in the above-mentioned discussion, to the effect that the writer wouldn't want to meet the holder of a one-year Thai licence on the UK roads - a comment with which I'd previously have whole-heartedly agreed. But I now find myself in a situation where, having driven all over the world for 40 years, without incident, the only licence available to me is one-year Thai. As I stupidly allowed my marriage/retirement visas to lapse for a considerable time, I was neither formally resident here in Thailand (even though this is where I live), nor in the UK where my existing licence comes from. So I was neither able to renew my old UK licence, nor get started with the process in this country.

Based on a number of contributions, it appears that the only country in which I may be able to drive, for the next 12 months, is the only one in which I have consciously decided to keep my driving to a minimum because I'd prefer to live a bit longer. How ironic is that.....

Tks for your replies. Yes, they told me I couldn't get an IDP......

Disappointing

In case you're British, don't go to the Embassy in BKK. It cost me B2,805 the other day.....seemed a tad excessive

Sorry if this has been covered recently. Couldn't find an answer to my specific question.

Recently got a Thai licence because my UK one was about to expire. I was unable (without lying) to renew the latter as I could not state that I am resident there. I hadn't bothered with a Thai one before, though I should have, & am now concerned that the Thai one may not be acceptable when renting overseas, particularly because it clearly states that it is "Temporary". I wonder if anyone has tried using a one year licence overseas? I've seen it stated here before that the 5-yr version is OK in (at least some) other countries, but am concerned that the "Temporary" one may be considered by some to be the equivalent of "Provisional", & therefore completely useless.

Any information on this would be much appreciated.

My wife received a call the other night (around 4 am) from a young niece who'd been done at a nightclub in a remote part of BKK (somewhere in Pra Ram 9) for being both underage (19) & for having some dodgy substance in her system (as ascertained by a piss-test, no idea what she'd taken (nor, of course, did the police)). She was done for B10,000, which seems quite a lot for a young girl, but I've no interest in discussing whether that was the right amount or not, just a fair old bit for most Thais of that age. My wife paid the "fine" straight away, by internet banking, to the account of one of the so-called "police officers" so that her niece could go home. We have the the details of the account to which the money was paid.

Is there anything we can do to ensure that the guy who took the money into his personal account doesn't get away with it? Surely a wonderful example of corruption in Thailand at its best.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not for a moment suggesting the penalty was wrong, maybe it should be a great multiple of that number (though maybe that would cause some relativity issues, if the Thais understood the meaning of the word "relativity"); how much does a bus company have to pay when large numbers of its passengers die in a crash? Is it OK to have a nightclub which burns down killing several patrons? Absolutely right to discourage the young from going out & taking drugs, though that said, they have SO many other more pressing issues to look at.

But the fine going into the personal a/c of one of the "officers'" personal account?? & we know his name & a/c #.....can we use this the way it ought to be used?? Or will they just come & kill the unfortunate teenager in revenge? Is there some honest body to which one can complain?