davo01

Grilling meat? What about the air pollution genrally, This is what our air purifier filter looks like after just 3 weeks

Has anybody been to the Major Hollywood place this week? I have to go for a retirement extension in the next few days. I was at the Lad Phrao office on December 2 and it was a madhouse. I would really rather avoid going there again if possible. I was hoping to be able to read some reports here on the situation at the other temporary office. Also any tips on how to get there from the Sathorn area?

Hey Roberta, I went there yesterday and everything was running smoothly, that location is far from everything and there were no ques. I managed to extend my non O and update address within 2 hrs

Just to note the office is on the bottom floor at the back of the building next to the carpark, cinemas on the 2nd floor. Just say DOOR MOOR to any of the security guys and they will direct you

Cheers

Went through the wars today, Just my luck to renew my visa during a government shutdown. Started early by taking a Scotter taxi from Mo Chit to Chaeng Wattana only to find it was closed, Scotter driver then managed to con me into going to the makeshift Lad Prao office which was a nightmare trip on the motorway, The lad Prao office is a disaster, Nobody to answer detailed questions and you have to talk through a hole it a window. This time round I didn't take my wife and son because the officer last year clearly told us it wasn't necessary so they then refused to process my extension. Almost completely lost it and threw my stuff at the woman

Can anyone tell me is it OK to extend your non O on the day it expires which will be tomorrow??

Cheers

Yup I went through the wars today, Started early by taking a Scotter taxi from Mo Chit to Chaeng Wattana only to find it was closed, Scotter driver then managed to con me into going to the makeshift Lad Prao office which was a nightmare trip on the motorway, The lad Prao office is a disaster, Nobody to answer detailed questions and you have to talk through a hole it a window. This time round I didn't take my wife and son because the officer last year clearly told us it wasn't necessary so they then refused to process my extension. Almost completely lost it and threw my stuff at the woman

Can anyone tell me is it OK to extend your non O on the day it expires which will be tomorrow??

Cheers

I suspect you have an extension of stay not a OA visa.

Have you confirmed delivery of your 90 day report by using tracking on Thai post website. Suggest you print out the info and take it with you to immigration.

Starting on Monday the 12th immigration has opened two temporary of offices. See this topic: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/695053-bangkok-immigration-opens-additional-offices-during-demonstrations/

There have been changes made to passport validity for new extension applications. But not for transferring stamps in your case.

Hi Ubon Joe, Will Chang Wattana still be open as well as these extra offices? How fortunate I have to renew my visa on this week!!

Cheers

I like to think of Thailand as not being a third world country but then you see things like Council workers made to swim in putrid klong water just to collect rubbish, buy them a small boat for christsakes! Even better, make it compulsory work for the filthy corrrupt government ministers

A big thanks to Lumpini Chao Phraya Management for installing large advertising LCD's throughout our lifts and foyers. Now I can start every day with a pizza company add blaring in my face

Meanwhile half the tiles in our pool have fallen off

"Pizza sib ed sib song"

It seems to me a lot of both.

You mean like a pollution slurry? It does make great sunsets

Since we moved into a high level apartment it became clear that 9/10 days Bangkok is covered in a thick haze, Today is almost white out

Can anyone tell me is this due to the humidity or just straight up pollution?

Since I moved to a high level apartment it became clear that 9/10 days Bangkok is covered in thick haze. Today is almost white out
Can anyone tell me is this due to the humidity or is it just straight up pollution?

It's pollution.

As we are preparing on the Chiang Mai forum for the annual 'whine & flame fest' about the seasonal haze, I checked he Pollution Control Department figures (which show that Chiang Mai is (currently) just fine for the time of year) but I noticed the numbers for Bangkok.. Not pretty. Many stations report a particulate matter (PM10) level of around 150 ug/m3. That's high. Even higher than the already pretty liberal local standard of 120.

See: http://aqmthai.servehttp.com/

Screen shot for today for reference:

Thanks for the Info, last time I looked at that chart there were only 2 red zones. Reason I'm interested is that many Thais are telling me it's due to the weather. The season, humid, its dry and cold at the moment. Im interested how much of that smog is moisture?

I work from home most of the day and have a HEPA air purifier and a couple of layers of 3m filtrate cloth on our AC unit. The filters grey up within a couple of weeks..

The smog over Bangkok over the last couple of months has been a thick white out, The question I keep asking people is wether its partly due to the humidity or wether it's 100% smoke??

Can anyone answer this?

Cheers

The picture below dosnt do it justice, far worse than it looks

Hi People

Can anyone tell me is the white out lingering over Bangkok mainly Pollotion or does it have somthing to do with humidity and the season? I've asked a few Thai's but they dont really pay attention to these things. I'm sure it wasnt this bad last year??

Cheers in advance

My next question would be, Can you can buy a small filtration pump (about the size of a dehumidifier) which actually filters the bad crap. Just to circulate the air in a small condo about 40 sqm. A/C units only have a gause dust filter. Would be worth using while your asleep..

The Pollution Control Dept issues stats daily, their website is something like PCD.go.th, if incorrect simply google the name.

thanks for the link, todays reading is above average/slightly unhealthy.. acording to the govt.

Cheers

Hi People

Can anyone suggest a good website that gives daily pollution levels for Bangkok? I've had severe bronchitis twice in the last few months and I'm wondering if it’s from the air pollution or just the cold bugs which have been going round.

For the last few months the haze over the skyline has been pretty thick. The last 2 days have pretty much been white out in the mornings. I’m not sure if that’s a result from the seasons humidity or a mix of both. I’ve been living here approx 1 year and was surprised by the clear blue skies last October through to September.

I've read some articles claiming Bangkok has dramatically reduced pollution levels over the last decade and has become a role model for other Asian cities.. I find that hard to believe when siting behind a filthy old bus spuing black smoke..

The eyesight testing machines look like some leftover testing equipment from Chernobyl. 555

I bought High Speed Thai about a year ago and finished the course in about 6 months. I regularly review the mp3's which keep it all in my long term memory. If your willing to sit down and study for atleast an hour a day I would recomend It, but if you have a short attention span, I wouldnt waste your time. It's not the most stimulating course out there but It has excellent content. Its not very well presented so you need to figure out where everything is. It's layout is PDF's with links to ANKI flash cards and MP3 reviews. This course will give you solid foundation in reading writing and about 1500 of the most used words, dont expect to be fluent after, that would be impossible. Best thing I found is that it gives you the ability to further study yourself. Once you can read there are tons of vocab and flash card sites to beef up your vocabulary.

Bank books are often asked for, but only to show you have some money to spend. it is not necesarry to show your income with the bank books or to recieve your income in Thailand.

so their not interested in what you do with your income or need proof its being spent here?

How much spending money would it pay to show in your thai bank book

I actually prefer the roaches to ants. little buggers get into everything

For an extension based on marriage, showing an income of 40,000 a month is enough.

Incoem from within Thailand is shown with Thai tax papers, incoem from aboraod with a letter from your embassy. Immigration only accepts these proof of income.

You embassy decides what they will accept as proof to issue a letter. Look for more information on your embassy website.

Thanks Mario2008, so the letter from my embassy will be sufficent? I wont need to take any bank statements or other documents?

This is Thailand, I would take my bank books, I have always been asked for them at Nonthaburi, and my docs go to Bangkok.

Thanks Beano, fustrating thing is my embassy (New Zealand) is hopeless for information, It seems they do things differently. My embassy replies

"you do not need to show the Embassy any documents to support your statutory declaration about your salary as we do not verify what you say in a statutory declaration.

However I expect you will need some proof for the Thai authorities, that is why you need to check with them.

We can stamp ‘ Seen at the Embassy’ on your income evidence such as employer’s letter, pay slip etc.

It looks like they will only give me a statutory declaration. Your embassy gave you an affidavit correct?

For an extension based on marriage, showing an income of 40,000 a month is enough.

Incoem from within Thailand is shown with Thai tax papers, incoem from aboraod with a letter from your embassy. Immigration only accepts these proof of income.

You embassy decides what they will accept as proof to issue a letter. Look for more information on your embassy website.

Thanks Mario2008, so the letter from my embassy will be sufficent? I wont need to take any bank statements or other documents?

Hi Beano thanks for the reply, Im in the Suan Luang area, On Nut.

Do you need to show 40,000 p/m only?

How many months of bank statements would be sufficent? would a print out from online banking be enough?

Are you showing under 100K in your thai account or overseas? I would prefer not to show any savings, just my income

Cheers

Hi everyone

I am here on a non O marriage visa. For my first extension (last year) I used the 400,000k Thai account method to tick the financial requirement. This time round I would like to prove I have an income from my home country. I work for the family business and can easily adjust my income to suit.

If anyone who has used this method before could give me some tips I would greatly appreciate it.

My questions are:

Is 40,000 baht the current accepted income? is this before or after tax? do they even care about tax?

How specific do they get, will they want to see my tax records, bank statements, letter from employer etc, or will they simply accept the stamped declaration from my embassy?

How long must I show I have been on this salary?

Do I need to show funds in my Thai account also?

I am 30 yrs old with Thai wife and child. Wife is on 50,000K+, I live in Bangkok and will be going to Chalermprakiat Government Complex for the extension

Look forward to your replies

Cheers in advance

cheers everyone, that will save me some time