LeeThayer

Call a Rescue Foundation, in addition to helping people in accidents, they also remove snakes and monitors.

Definately over planned, and as others pointed out, staying at a 5 star resort and stating 1,000 Baht meal for two is expensive, is probably because you are more than likely eating western meals. Thailand is not expensive. You need to try the places not listed in guide books or TripAdvisor, those are tourisy places, and generally ripoffs. If you want to see nature, temples, museums, go surf or river fishing, visit the waterfalls, and a beach or two, do some research on Nakhon Si Thammarat for your next vacation, then go out and meet locals, go to a roadside kitchen for a meal or visit a local viallge market.

But the big question should be why is a meter taxi in Phuket more than a Bangkok taxi?

Since when was it illegal to be an asylum-seeker?

Cannot seek asylum in Thailand, that is it the problem.

Sad and a little strange. But at least no-one can blame a Thai bargirl this time!

True regarding a Thai bargirl, but how about a Korean bargirl? After all, they have Russian bargirls in Phuket.

Excellent video, leave out the sticky rice part and the weaving, it would look like here in the south as well, although the village it was filmed at is a bit larger than the area I am in

I smell another hub!!!

Being #6 in the world for road accidents is not enough. Thailand clearly also wants to be on the World's Most Dangerous Trains list.

I think Thailand is working on a new hub.

Just to follow up on my 1 year extension. The immigration office called me last friday, 26 Jul, and said everything is approved and that I can come in anytime for the extension. Today, 29 Jul, I rode my bike to the immigration office (92 km round trip ride), A female officer said hello when I walked in, and came over and I had my passport open to the temp stamp page, she took my passport, asked me to have a seat. Five minutes later, she came back with the passport, showed me the extension and already stapled a notice for when to do my 90 report.

Overall, very happy with the Immigration Officers at this office.

Fly them down to Phuket to get ripped off by a taxi to the beach then tell them to hire a jet-ski

All you need is water,with such a small pond dont even think about breeding,just stock it with about 100 single sex Tilapia (all male) feed them and watch them grow.

Spot on, and they do get big as well. I have a abandonded fish farm near me, it has not worked as a fish farm in several years, rain keeps it pretty much full, plenty of Featherbacks, huge Tilapia, Snakehead, and Walking Catfish in it. I fish it all the time.

He is married - unless he obtains a divorce and paperwork for same he can not marry in Thailand.

Exactly, having the marriage certificate translated and registered at the Ministry of Foreign Afairs and at the local Amphur, will suffice, you will need to go to the Amphur each year to get a new printout for the extension, about 20 Baht.

I don't recall any reports of Phuket immigration wanting a medical certificate for any extension.

How long ago was that?

2008 to 2012.

By reading the OP I would say yes to all your questions except the one about medical certificate. That is not normal but there are a few offices that ask for it but this is the first time I have seen it for a extension based upon marriage.

Several offices ask for a witness (some want 2) instead of them making a home visit for first extension.

Phuket always required the med cert but never asked for a witness. The officer said they will also visit my house as well.

Just a few questions:

1. Did you apply for Retirement or Thai wife extension?

2. Why did you need a medical certificate? Is this normal?

3. Was the witness needed for the extension? Is this normal?

4. Was this your first extension from this office?

Good questions, thanks.

1. Thai wife extension.

2. Phuket always asked for a medical cert, 200 Baht, takes 2 minutes. I got one here Pak Phanang before going to the immigration office in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The officer did not ask for it.

3 & 4. This was my first extension at this office, I did three extensions in Phuket and never was asked for a witness.

Also, to add to the list of documents presented, a hand drawn map from Pak Phanang to the village where I live.

I went into Immigration in Nakhon Si Thammarat for a 90 report, abolutely no hassles, no copies of anything, the Officer spoke good English, greated me when I entered, showed me where the form was and even asked if I needed a pen, all with a smile on his face.

After the 90 day report, he stated I need to do another year extension in Jun, which I did know already. He explained everything I need to bring and explained everything to my wife as well in Thai.

So in June we went back and presented the following:

Application form.

Marriage paper from the Amphur.

Mariage certificate.

Wife's ID card.

Wife's name change paper.

Wife's house book.

My income affidavit from the Embassy.

My US ATM card and a recent withdrawl slip from a ATM.

Copies of all relavent pages in my passport.

My medical certificate.

Recent photos taken at the house.

And a witness from the village that I lived there.

Two copies of everything plus originals.

The paperwork was reviewed, the witness interview, wife interviewed, then the Officer asked for my Thai bank book, I explained that I use a US ATM to access my money (I am retired military, govt does not deposit my retirement to Thailand.)

The Officer said again that I just need to show a bank book from a Thai bank with my name in it, he said the account does not need 400,000 Baht, as my letter from the embassy covered that. Just said I need a Thai bank account. (I have a Thai bank account, just not on me as Phuket never asked for that, and I did not want to drive another 80 km round trip to just to get my bank book.)

So we left, went and had lunch, found a bank and I opened an account for 1,000 Baht. My name is Thai in the bank book by the way.

We returned to the office and gave the bank book to the officer and and made a copy of the name page. and the page with the 1 deposit on it. Asked for my passport again, said have a seat, after 5 minutes he called me back up and handed me my passport and showed me the 60 day stamp, said they will call me from the office when they would like me to come back to get the rest of the extension, normally in less than 30 days.

The two officers I dealt with with were professional, explained everything, and polite.

Overall a good experience, good service, and no waiting in a que as we were the only ones there.

When you are already married and buying land with a house, if you provide the money but not throught a transfer from abroad, you need to state on the contract that you claim nothing in the event of death or divorce. Only way to get a freehold title in your name is a condo. House, you have no control over.

I get fresh duck eggs for 30 Baht/10

Thailand, the HUB of stupid xxxx!

Had it happen a few times, go to your local immigration office, show the stamps, and they will correct for you.

Get the grill ready

Thailand, the hub of "finacial mistakes."

To the original post, a condo does not have a chanote title, a condo is a lease. If someone told you that you have a chanote title, they are wrong.

A chanote title is for land, which a foriegner cannot own.

Pattaya beach seems to be the most dangerous place in Thailand. Ladyboys harassing tourists, theft, jet-ski mafia, stabbings. Oh dear. Wild west indeed.

Come down to Phuket