animalmagic

4 minutes ago, BusyB said:

More than anything else the fotos from his palace reveal appalling bad taste. Just like Trump's Mar a Lago atrocity.

Same interior designer?

Interesting! Pattaya changing from a boom boom town to just a boom town. I suppose less is more?

6 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Then why are you blaming it on Biden's 3 year administration?

 

As for good representatives of the USA, Biden shored up the damage that his predecessor inflicted on the UN and stood beside Ukraine as opposed to his treasonous predecessor. Biden will have a legacy of being one of the most effective presidents the US has ever had. His predecessor was a laughing stock on the world stage and will be the only modern president not to have a library..

But his predecessor might have a prison named after him?

2 hours ago, nauseus said:

Good question but that doesn't change the idiocy of this.

When have good questions ever changed the idiocy of politics and diplomacy?

7 hours ago, nauseus said:

Do you think Biden might have told Blinken about what he was going to say at the fundraiser before Blinken wasted his time going to China?

 

First appeasement, then insult, Biden is a dangerous fool. 

Do you think Blinken may have told Biden what Xi had said at the meeting before Bidens comment at the fundraiser? 

Not a problem, I stop drinking every time I breathe!

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Thai immigration refer to obtain "appropriate visa" .

 

10 years back I was obtaining triple entry tourist visas to Thailand from Saigon  as I was traveling to Saigon every month at that time.

 

I was over 50.

The immigration officer at Thai consulate told me that I should have a retirement visa because I live Thailand. (shown by pp stamps) .

 

Since visa exempt entries via air have no limit you could argue that I could live in Thailand visiting Vietnam every month.

It won't work. 

I take your point.  I don't think (hope not anyway) Immigration would query a retirement visa in the way I mentioned.

As a holder of an APEC Business Travel Card, which is a pre-approved multiple entry for stays up to 90 days for a 5-year period, I was recently told I need to get a 'long stay (marriage or retirement) visa to keep coming back.  Quite sad that the airport lot can ignore the actions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that issued the pre-approval in the first place.

53 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You do not need to be retired to obtain visa such as non O based on retirement and extensions from that visa based on retirement 

By the same logic, why does he need to be a tourist to continue getting the tourist visa exempt entry?

Would the Immigration officer at the airport be able to question his 'retirement' status as he is obviously travelling overseas to work and is not retired?

I am not criticising your posts, simply pointing out the irony of the situation.

On 6/10/2023 at 10:50 AM, DrJack54 said:

From the OP....

"I've been entering Thailand this way for over 10 years" 

 

The OP is NOT a tourist..

 

In future could consider ME non O retirement from Savannakhet or obtain non O and subsequent extension also multi reentry permit

He may or may not be a tourist, but he's definitely not retired!

"the head of a dating app for conservatives"

an absolute gold mine for 'others' to exploit. I wonder who else gets the data?

41 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

As posted previously Evolution and creation are both just theories.

There is no evidence to support either.

And the bible?

9 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Well if that isn't proof of the Orange blobs involvement with the commie mafia in moscow...

 

Totally agree. I'm surprised E. Jean Caroll is not on the list. But she's probably on the next list with that Scottish guy who blocked the development of the golf course.

4 minutes ago, Regyai said:

Oooops:

 

I would suggest 90% of your problem right there

I would agree.  She also kept telling me she wasn't being rude or impolite whilst being rude and impolite!  But she was the only officer available in the provided channels, and female I.O.'s in the general channels in the recent past have always been polite and helpful.  The last one, pre collection of new ABTC card, asked how long I intended to stay.  I pointed out my travel history pre-covid using the ABTC and said I have another trip scheduled soon so will either get 30 or 60 day extension, or another marriage or retirement extension to cover the period until I go to HK to pick up my ABTC.  She simply smiled and noted that I obviously understood the options and would let me sort it out.

The ABTC is to facilitate legitimate business activities of residents of APEC; 'good guys in bad guys out?'

16 hours ago, orchis said:

will lead to some scrutiny.
also up to the discretion of the IO in front of you.

I can vouch for the fact that the discretion of the I.O. is a concern.

Prior to Covid travel restrictions I used an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) for all my travel around Asia for 3 years.  This card is similar in effect to a pre-approved Visa for all APEC countries and allows visa free entry to all jurisdictions with length of stay in Thailand pre-approved for 90 days.  During Covid I first used the extensions before changing to a Retirement then Marriage extension of stay.  

Now that the travel restrictions have lifted, I have renewed my ABTC and have since arrived from HK and Malaysia.  On the first occasion there was no problem, and I was granted 90 days on arrival on 21 April before leaving on 7th May and returning on 12th April.  On this occasion the I.O. was very unhelpful and did not at first want to give 90 days.  She eventually relented and warned me I should get a retirement visa before entering something in the computer.

Quite strange that an I.O. can unilaterally ignore the decision of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that granted me unlimited entries of 90 days for a 5 year period.  Stranger still is her advice to get a retirement visa when the ABTC is for the purpose of doing business throughout Asia! 

I can get the retirement visa but want to avoid the hassle and unnecessary expense, and I can get a marriage visa, but my wife does not like being interrogated by Immigration; we have been married for over 20 years.

Very disgruntled but do not want to stick my head too far above the parapet.  I am considering approaching the I.O. Main Office at the airport when I travel to the Philippines in June. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

On 5/13/2023 at 10:51 PM, Furioso said:

You know Putin wanted to nuke em'!

Who knows what Putin wants or will consider doing. He's staring at defeat in Ukraine and at home so he's cornered and desperate. He's been throwing threats of nuclear attack for the last few months. Nuking westminster abbey during the coronation may have been his final revenge.

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

"What the country needs is peace and order, ...."

That can only be provided by our tanks and guns............and submarines!

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

Guess all the rich old guys are on alert now. Every scorned woman will now creep forward. More to follow, wonder who's next.

Only the ones that have actually committed sexual battery or rape should worry.  Even then it depends on the evidence produced by the alleged victim shortly after the alleged crime.  The physical and mental state of an alleged victim, as demonstrated by the words and actions of the alleged victim when they make the original claim to family, friends or official persons, is admissible in a criminal or civil case.  In a civil case it is up to a jury to assess all evidence AND testimony of both parties.  In the case in question the accused, Trump, did NOT face his accuser in an attempt to demonstrate his innocence and confront his accuser by giving evidence under oath.  In civil cases, but not criminal, the jury is allowed to take this into consideration as an indication of guilt or innocence and may be reminded of it by the other party's legal representation.

Where's the bar?!

On 4/26/2023 at 5:00 AM, sharksy said:

Took my university educated GF on a trip round Vietnam, Cambodia.

I was astonished that she had never heard of the Khymer Rouge, or anything about what happened in Cambodia.

Similar in Vietnam.  Never heard of the Vietnam war.  Not really interested either, just so long as the photos come out OK.

Is she american?