vexape

Thanks phetphet,

I'm also Googling, but would rather have a personal suggestions.

I think I've found a good one now.. will update once we've had a lesson!

Thanks, Tom.

Hi,

I'm not sure if I'm the only one having this problem, but I find it very difficult to learn Thai from my wife/friends/family. I guess it's because they are just telling me what I should know rather than 'teaching' me.

My wife (Thai) and I both work in the US, so I'm not immerssed in the language. However, we've got a three month holiday planned, and I'd like to cram in as much learning as possible. Both, before and during the holiday.

Does anyone know of a good on-line (Skype) Thai tutor? I'd prefer individuals rather than schools or companies.

Thanks, Tom.

Recently when I've been flying to Thailand, either from the US or Europe, the airline has insisted that I have a travel ticket leaving Thailand (within my visa dates). I normally tell them that I will be leaving over a land border, via local bus, and that you can't buy those tickets 'on-line' you need to buy them there and then on the day of travel. This has always worked for me.

However, a friend of mine has run into more stubborn airline staff, and has quickly logged onto AirAsia and got the cheapest one-way ticket he could find leaving BKK. Once in Thailand, he cancelled the flight for a semi-refund. Might be worth doing if you really want something to show them?

Neither of us have had any issues at BKK Immigration however. They've just checked the visa and landing card and stamped us in. Regardless of future travel plans.

Good luck.

Just come in on a 30 day visa exempt. At the end of that, go to immigration with your wife, as stated above, and obtain a 60 day extension. This is what I do on all my stays.

As for the 2nd passport, I was just informed about this in Liverpool passport office in May. I will do this next year, so my 2 passports are staggered slightly on expiry.

You could also get the Non O multi while you are back this time ??

Yes, I think the plan is to get my 30-day on arrival at BKK and then during that period travel to Laos to get a Non-O (Marriage) visa. This isn't too far from where we keep our car in Udon Thani, so we can just drive to the border and get it done.

Also, in my head at least, having the Non-O (Marrige) visa in my passport will look good for future UK/US visa application for my wife. So added bonus.

Will also be applying for secondary passport, by post, once I get on my next ship. Unless this can be done easily and quickly at the British Embassy in Bangkok?

Tom.

Since you will be entering on a regular basis and staying longer than 30 days I suggest you make a trip to Savannakhet Laos and obtain a multiple entry non-o visa based upon marriage to a Thai. This visa would give you 90 day entries for a year.

You will need your marriage certificate (plus copy), signed and dated copies of your wife's hours book and ID card. They do not ask for financial proof.

This certainly seems like the best and most sensible long term option. And the not asking for financial proof is certianly a bonus as all of our assets are in US/UK accounts.

On this Non-O can I 'bolt-on' a work permit? I've been asked by a few universities to lecture. Would need a work permit.

Thanks again all!

Tom.

Why don't you have access to your passports. It's illegal for the ships captain to keep your passport

It is illegal for them to hold our passports against our will, yes. However the ship cannot leave or enter territorial waters of the US (or other countries) without clearing an immigration process. For this process the ship needs to 'present' all passports to the authorities. And as we have 900 crew, and enter and leave US waters every other day... it is FAR easier for everyone for our passports to be held securly in a safe in the HR office.

Besides, even if I did have my passport in my hand... what could I do with it? I can't visit an embassy. And I can't post it as I wouldn't then be able to be on the ship...

Tom.

Doesn't England offer a second passport for exactly these kind of situations. I know Holland does. I used to have an extra one when I traveled a lot for work. One or the other passport was always at a certain consulate getting a visa processed for the next trip.

Yes you can obtain a second British passport. I have one myself.

OP you will need a letter from your company stating that due to your employment situation you require a second passport. It is a very simple process and can all be done via post.

I received mine around a year ago and if I recall correctly, all that was required was a copy of your original passport, two passport photos and the letter from your employer. You can also request the second passport to have more visa pages for frequent use. Mine has 50 visa pages I believe.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Hi,

Yes, I think I will do this for future time saving. Unfortinately it's too late for this visit. As I leave the ship in 32 days. Or postage system is famously slow, so wouldn't want to risk it.

Will apply from my next ship! Thank you.

Cheers, Tom.

You can get one 60 day extension on any entry to"visit your Thai family". You will need a TM7 form, copy of your passport pages and departure card, 1900 baht, wife's ID, House book and wife at your local immigration office.

Why don't you have access to your passports. It's illegal for the ships captain to keep your passport

It is illegal for them to hold our passports against our will, yes. However the ship cannot leave or enter territorial waters of the US (or other countries) without clearing an immigration process. For this process the ship needs to 'present' all passports to the authorities. And as we have 900 crew, and enter and leave US waters every other day... it is FAR easier for everyone for our passports to be held securly in a safe in the HR office.

Besides, even if I did have my passport in my hand... what could I do with it? I can't visit an embassy. And I can't post it as I wouldn't then be able to be on the ship...

Tom.

Hi,

I'm in a strange predicament, so I thought I'd reach out to the expertise of you lot. First, I’m British, I’m married to a Thai national. We both live and work in Miami, US.

Here is where it gets strange. We are both stationed on ships. As a result, we don’t have access to our passports, or have any time to visit an embassy/consulate.

When we leave the ship, at the end of our contract, we are given our passports, holiday pay in cash and our one way flight tickets home. Both of our tickets go to BKK.

We used to arrive, I would get 30-days on entry, and I’d do visa runs until we got flown back to our ship.

However, I know there have been some changes to the system recently. What visas are available, on entry at BKK? My vacation is 85 days.

Ideally I would be able to get a 90-day tourist visa.

At the moment I’m thinking the easiest way is to enter BKK, get whatever visa I can, then apply for a 90-day in Kuala Lumpur? (as this is where I normally get my visas).

Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Tom.

Hi Sceptict,

Thanks, it is a bit of a strange situation that not many people are familiar with, understandably.

For this trip back to Thailand I'll either head to Laos and get a Non-Imm 'O' - Marriage visa. Or head to Kuala Lumpur for a week holiday to get a tourist visa (if they still do them there?).

All I need now is to find out when my next contract begins, so I can plan my stay in Thailand! It could be as short as two weeks!

As mentioned, hopefully, by the time I next have a holiday I will have two passports, and will then be able to obtains visa's through post. Much easier.

Cheers, Tom.

Unfortunately we fall under Bahamian employment law, not US employment law. Althought we are based in the US, the various ships that we operate are flagged in the Bahamas. And therefor fall under Bahamian law.

Not to insist, but when ships are docked in port (internal waters - check definition in link below), they fall all under all the US and State laws. Your case is further enforced from you having an US work Visa but not the passport in your possession while on US soil. I understand you may not want to stir trouble with your employer, but they are in the wrong by holding your passport while in the US. If you don't believe me, just have a chat with the local Port Authority.

http://www.gc.noaa.gov/gcil_maritime.html

Agreed, and even in the Bahamas they are not allowed to keep it against our wishes.

We are only in US waters for eight hours, twice a week. When we arrive/depart US waters my passport is required to be in my possesion (or in our case, held by the ships HR unit). So I still cannot send my passport off to an embassy whilst on contract here. If I did, I would not be allowed back on the ship (to enter the Bahamas or leave the US).

I am able to access my passport at any time. But I'm not able to travel without it being on the ship. The easiest way for the company to make sure all 860 crew have their passports is to have them all in the HR office.

Tom.

We currenlty operate from Port Canaveral (Florida). Our nearest is Coral Gables, but as you mentioned, I think that is Honorary.

Unfortunately we fall under Bahamian employment law, not US employment law. Althought we are based in the US, the various ships that we operate are flagged in the Bahamas. And therefor fall under Bahamian law.

I will approach and see if I can get my passport for the purpose of obtaining a visa. I only have 40 days remaining here, so hopefully I can get it done in that time.

Does anyone have any experience with the speed of postage visas in the US?

Tom.

Thanks Mario and UbonJoe,

Will check the status nearer the time. As I know these things have a habbit of changing overnight.

Thanks again for the help.

Tom.

Hi Sceptict,

Annoyingly it is legal. I am the Communications Manager for a large cruise ship company. Whilst on contract I live aboard their ships whilst updating and testing the systems.

I am however a UK citizen which means I am allowed to carry two passports at once. I will be applying for a second passport. One for me to carry, one for the company to 'hold'. Although I will only have this in time for my next contract, not this one.

Tom.

Sounds like Loas would be a good option. What evidence would I need for the Non-Imm 'O' there? Wedding certificate, passport, photos?

I will be traveling with my wife, so that may assist?

Thanks again, Tom.

Can I apply for the Non-Imm visa, based on marriage, by mail, whilst in Thailand?

What financial points would I need to meet? I know my previous one was 400k in my bank for six months (from Kuala Lumpur). I spotted on other threads it is now as high as 800k!

Either way I would not meet even the 400k marker as my account dipped below that mark last month.

Thanks, Tom.

Note: Whilst in the US, my employer holds my passport until the day I leave.

Hi all,

I've been out of the loop for a while, but heading back to the Kingdom soon. I'd like to know if there are any good Pay As You Go SIM card deals that will work in my iPhone. I will need a fairly chunky data allowance.

I don't want a contract as I will only be back for a maximum of four months.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers, Tom.

Hi all,

I have lived in Thailand previously on tourist visas, and more recently on a Non-Imm 'O' (Marriage) visa. However, since April I have been working on contract in the US. I am due to head back to Thailand (with my wife) on the 5th November. My US visa states that I must leave the country once my contract expires, and my employer has already booked my onward travel. So I have no time to visit a US based consulate to apply for a visa.

I am a UK Passport holder and 26 years old. I have an account with Bangkok bank that I keep 450k THB in for visa purposes. But due a medical emergency with the inlaws that dipped below 380k last month. All other money is in the US, UK or Cash (USD).

We expect to stay in Thailand for no longer than four months, probably closer to 90-days. Is the easiest option for me to just get my 30-day tourist visa on arrival and then extend it? What extensions are available these days?

I will be arriving (by plane) at BKK from MIA.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Tom.

I have to side with the '<deleted>!' users on this one. I've lived all over the world. And never thought, 'wow, I wish I had a gun hidden under my shirt right now'. Concealed weapons are for undercover police/military and movie stars.

As others have said... THAILAND... really?! Do you think ANY situation will get better once you pull out your 'dirty harry'? If anything a passing police officer would jump off his scooter and shoot you!

If you avoid trouble (which would be hard to find even if you wanted to in Chiang Mai) I can't see why you would ever feel an urge to carry a firearm. Thankfully one thing Thailand does trump the US on is gun ownership laws.

Tom.

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a pick-up/4x4 Suziki thing for general farm duties on our families farm way out East. But we'd like to buy it in Chiang Mai area and drive it over to them (as we live in Chiang Mai and it would give us a good excuse to visit).

I know my way around new cars and can change a wheel. But nothing special. I'd like to pay a mechanic to come and test drive a few cars with me and give his/her opinion and if needed, how much to repair etc.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a suitable fit? Also, what would be considered a fair price for a few hours of there time? I'm thinking around 500 Baht?

Regards, Tom.

Thanks for all of the input. We're going ahead with it. I'll keep you updated how it goes and also what kind of production we get.

Carpe diem...

Tom.

Bear in mind you will be lucky to get 150 tapping days a year Trees shut down for 2 months for the annual leaf change. Allow for 2 very wet months, so that's 120 days gone out of 365. Most tap 2 then rest 1. So if say you get 30 kg/day out of your 960 trees and at a current price for mats at 82 Baht. work it out. Bear in mind the family will want at least 40% of the cut.

Sure, I've factored in the two months of no farming at all. And have based the working days on what our family currently operate. We'll be selling raw latex as opposed to matts though. That's something to keep in mind for the future of this mini empire. And yes. All of my sums are based only in my 60% of the gross.

Thanks, Tom.

OP if the trees have not been tapped yet how would you know how much rubber they will produce and I will tell you now that you will not get 1,500 kilos a month from 15 rai. If that were the case I would have a private jet.

Second thing is if the trees are 8 years old and have not been tapped by the family, there is something wrong with the trees.

You will be giving a big wad of money to the family, who will still own the land and you will never see a penny back.

You want to do rubber in Thailand, you need to be here, preferable with a gun, or you are just throwing your money away. Jim

Hi James,

Thanks for your input. I was basing my estimate on our families farm, who have trees of the that are seven years old and were opened in Nov12. They average out at 1.6KG per tree per month (1.6 x 960 = 1,536). What are you getting per tree and where is your farm? Would be keen to know? I assume you've made these calculations?

The farms in Bueng Kan, at least the ones we've visited do not cut until the trees are 6-8 years old. This farm has also been on that market (at a higher price) for a while. And they thought they would be more valuable uncut. What kind of problems would you be able to diagnose from uncut healthy looking trees?

I am in Thailand. And my family will be working the farm. They currently have a larger farm than I do, and they have no need for a gun. Why would I need one?

Regards.

Sorry mate, anyone tells you they get X amount per tree per tap is gilding the Lilly. Trees are not machines, some will be good others bad and it takes years before they get to top output. Most Thai plantations will not give up enough latex to make sheet in the first year.

Only real method of calculating is on a yearly/seasonal basis.

Ask to see the sales dockets from when they sell rubber. Have a look at the branch height, if all the branches are over 3 meters from the ground, that at least says someone was caring for them. If the trees have a lot of limbs under 3 meters no ones looked after them.

My general experience, no one sells good rubber trees, good trees are a income for life and you don't even have to do the work yourself. Thais are not stupid and this in itself says something. If they could get a better price they would take it, but the land title is no good.

Thais sell land all the time and the change is made by the village head or sub Governor, been that way for years, but the lands office will still have the original occupier as the tenant, this type of land can not be sold because it was never owned in the first place, someone was given the right to farm it, not own it.

When if the charnot titles are issued in your area and there is even a slight dispute over who is using the land, they will walk away and tell you to settle it in a court.

If money is no problem to you go for it, but if you are hoping to make a nice littler over the years, think twice and get the real facts, maybe spend a few Baht and see a land lawyer. Jim

Hi Jim,

I made those calculations myself based on the families sales receipts. It amazes me that none of them have ever calculated the performance of the trees in this way... Surely having a average production figure per tree is a basic for any farm to keep track of performance?

Where is your farm? What kind of production (of liquid latex) do you get?

Fully aware of the risks. And I'm under no illusion that until we have the chanote in our hands with my wifes name on... we're at the mercy of Thailand.

We'll be selling liquid latex, as do most of the farms around us (including our family). Sheet production is something I am looking at for the future, but I've not researched it enough to comment at this stage.

Land lawyers don't like discussing acquiring this type of land. For obvious reasons. Have spoken to one though in Bangkok. Who said, it's a risk, but it's not impossible.

Cheers, Tom.

...some thoughts .

..guess this was the wifes idea?

..who informed you about the Chanote being issued?..."free beer tomorrow"? Still waiting for a paved road past our farm "promised" by head man 7 years ago...

...Sounds like you should ask someone other than "interested" parties to evaluate the trees...

..the ROI in rubber is certainly better than many investments but as Jim says, being an absentee gentleman farmer makes it a high risk investment..not to mention the ulcers..

However all the due diligence/research in the world will certainly help but it ain't for the faint of heart.

That said many Farangs are doing it and enjoying it and you should not let us know alls stop you if that is what YOU really want to do....will never know if I would have done it if TV and the like info was available when .......it is a nice life style for sure...

Think if I was your age the last thing I would be thinking about was getting into farming in Thailand...555

Hi, Originally my idea once I visited our families existing farm nearby. Chanote info is from the villagers. Our families farm was converted to Chanote two months ago and they said they are 'working their way around' to the area of the new farm in 2013. But I appreciate this is Thailand and this may be 'extended' for a longer period.

It's certainly one of those if you don't try you'll never know things. I already have investments and property in the UK and Europe.

I'm hoping to break even in 50-60 months (investment of 1.77m THB). Does that sound crazy to you?

Cheers for the pointers, Tom.